Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) is an American developmental professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. As of November 2011, the company is the chief developmental territory for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling after serving as an independent promotion since February 7, 2008.[1] From 2000 until 2008, OVW served as one of several World Wrestling Entertainment developmental territories and was its primary developmental territory, and from its founding in 1997 until 2000 the promotion was known as NWA Ohio Valley Championship Wrestling, one of the territories of the National Wrestling Alliance. As of December 2011, over 100 OVW alumni have appeared in WWE.[2] OVW is run by owner Danny Davis.
[edit] History
Jim Cornette was head booker of OVW for a period before being fired by WWE for slapping a student, Anthony Carelli.[3] He was replaced by Paul Heyman, who booked OVW until being called up to be the booker of the ECW brand. Greg Gagne was supposed to be booker after Heyman, but his knowledge of OVW was limited so the booking was extended to also include Al Snow and Danny Davis. Gagne was later released from the company, leaving booking to Snow and Davis.
On February 7, 2008, WWE announced that it had ended its relationship with OVW as a developmental territory, moving all contracted talent to Florida Championship Wrestling.[4] However, on September 23, 2009, OVW announced via a press release from WWE that Senior EVP John Laurinaitis visited and scouted OVW wrestlers and that WWE will take "a much more active role in recruiting OVW developed talent". OVW and WWE maintained a close relationship as throughout 2008 and 2009 WWE-contracted talent would make occasional appearances on OVW shows and OVW talent has remained a large part of WWE's recruiting classes with eight members of the roster being signed to the WWE since February 2008 and many more being used on WWE programming as extras or enhancement talent. On February 22 and 23, 2010 the WWE in conjunction with OVW held a two-day tryout camp for independent wrestlers. It was the first event of this nature held outside Florida Championship Wrestling since FCW became WWE's sole developmental territory.
On September 8, 2010, in what was dubbed the company's season premiere, Danny Davis, who himself was making his return for the first time in over a year, announced that Jim Cornette was returning to his role as head booker of the company.[5] Cornette, who is also executive producer of Ring of Honor's HD Net show, stated that Ring of Honor (ROH) talent as well as talent from other companies were going to compete in OVW along with the current crop of stars and returning OVW stars in an effort to return the company to its previous reputation as the best independent wrestling company to get recruited from. A similar claim was made by Cornette during the announcement of the ROH HDnet program moving its tapings to the OVW/Davis arena.
On November 7, 2011, it was announced that OVW and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) had reached an agreement for OVW to become TNA's official training and developmental territory.[1]
[edit] Television
OVW currently airs a 60-minute television program Saturdays in the Louisville area on WKYI at 1:00 p.m, and on WOBZ-LP in London, Kentucky at 9:00 p.m. OVW also has streaming video via their website ovwrestling.com, where new episodes are streamed on Thursdays following the previous Wednesday's television taping. The television shows originate from the Davis Arena in the Buechel neighborhood of Louisville.[2][6]
[edit] Current champions
[edit] Defunct championships
[edit] Roster
[edit] Male wrestlers
| Ring name |
Real name |
Notes |
| Adam Revolver |
Jared Pridgin |
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| Anarquia |
Matt Barela |
Also competes in TNA[7] |
| Benjamin Bray |
Ben Mitchell |
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| Brandon Espinosa |
Brandon Espinosa |
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| Christopher Silvio |
Unknown |
OVW Television Champion |
| Dylan Bostic |
Dylan Bostic |
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| Elvis Pridemoore |
Elvis Moore |
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| Jack Black |
Jack McCubbins |
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| James Thomas |
Tom Wabs |
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| Jamin Olivencia |
Jamin Olivencia |
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| Jason Wayne |
Jason Light Wayne |
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| Jessie Godderz |
Jessie Godderz |
OVW Southern Tag Team Champion[8][9] |
| Jimbo Onno |
Jimbo Onno |
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| Joe Coleman |
Joe Coleman |
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| Jose Del Barrio |
Jose Antonio |
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| Johnny Spade |
Josh Adamson |
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| Lennox Norris |
Comanorris Lane |
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| Mike Mondo |
Michael Brendli |
Also competes in Ring of Honor |
| Mohamad Ali Vaez |
Ali Vaez |
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| Paredyse |
James Long |
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| Randy Terrez |
Randy Gutierrez |
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| Raphael Constantine |
Clint Garner |
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| Raul LaMotta |
Aaron LaMotta |
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| Randy Royal |
Randy Royal |
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| Rob Terry |
Rob Terry |
OVW Southern Tag Team Champion Also competes in TNA as "Robbie T"[10] |
| Rocco Bellagio |
Rocco Bellagio |
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| Rudy Switchblade |
Eric Matlock |
OVW Heavyweight Champion |
| Sean Casey |
Sean Casey |
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| Shiloh Jonze |
Shiloh Jonze |
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| Ted McNaler |
Nick Beckham |
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| Tony Gunn |
Unknown |
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[edit] Female wrestlers
[edit] Other on-air personnel
| Name |
Role |
| Brittany DeVore |
Backstage Interviewer & Ring Announcer |
| Chris Bolin |
Manager of Bolin Services 2.0 (James Thomas, Rocco Bellagio, Joe Coleman and Jack Black) |
| Chris Sharpe |
Referee |
| Dean Hill |
Commentator |
| Gilbert Corsey |
Commentator |
| Joe Wheeler |
Referee |
| Jordan Barker |
Referee |
| Josette Bynum |
Talent Arbitrator/Manager of the Family (Rudy Switchblade, Jessie Godderz, Mohammad Ali Vaez and Rob Terry) |
| Kenny Bolin |
Commentator |
| Mo Green |
Manager of Christopher Silvio |
| Ron Hed |
Ring Announcer |
| Trailer Park Trash |
Director of Operations |
[edit] Training Staff
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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