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Ohio Valley Wrestling

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Ohio Valley Wrestling
AcronymOVW
Founded1997
StyleSports Entertainment
Professional wrestling
HeadquartersLouisville, Kentucky
Founder(s)Nightmare Danny Davis
FormerlyNWA Ohio Valley Championship Wrestling

Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] OVW was initially a member promotion of the National Wrestling Alliance from its inception in 1997 until 2000, when it became the primary developmental territory for the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). OVW remained in this role from 2000 until 2008.[2] The promotion was unaffiliated from February 7, 2008 until November 2011, and is run by owner Nightmare Danny Davis.

In 2012, OVW became the farm territory for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).[3] However, the relationship ended on November 2, 2013.[4][5] As of December 2011, over 100 OVW alumni have appeared in WWE.[6]

History

OVW was founded by Nightmare Danny Davis in 1997 as an NWA member. However, OVW separated from NWA in 2000. After, the company became the farm territory of World Wrestling Federation/ Entertainment. Jim Cornette was head booker of OVW and majority investor, but he was fired by WWE for slapping a student, Anthony Carelli.[7] 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.

In 2007, Cornette sold his share of the company back to Davis.[8] 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.[2]

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.[9] Cornette, who is also executive producer of Ring of Honor's HDNet show, stated that Ring of Honor (ROH) talent as well as talent from other companies were going to work 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.[10] TNA's Director of Talent Relations Al Snow returned as booker of the company, replacing the outgoing Jim Cornette. The relationship lasted for two years, before ending on November 2, 2013 after TNA ordered all of their talent to report to Orlando.[4][11]

Television

Ohio Valley Wrestling
Created byNightmare Danny Davis
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes889 (as of September 3, 2016)[12]
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkUnited States WBNA-21
United States WOBZ-LD
Online[12]
Release1997–present

OVW currently airs a 60-minute television program on Saturdays in the Louisville area on WBNA-21 at 9:00AM and replay at 10:00PM, and on WOBZ-LD in London, Kentucky at 9:00PM. OVW also has streaming video via their website, 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.[6][12]

Current champions

Championship Current Champion(s) Held since Days held Previous champion(s)
OVW Heavyweight Championship Rocco Bellagio May 14, 2016 3035 Big Jon
OVW Television Championship Robbie Walker January 25, 2017 2779 Tyler Matrix
OVW Southern Tag Team Championship Team Next Level (Devin Driscoll and Tony Gunn) January 25, 2017 2779 Big Smooth (Big Jon and Justin Smooth)
OVW Women's Championship Rebel November 2, 2016 2863 Maria James

Defunct championships

Championship Final champion Date won Won from Notes
OVW Light Heavyweight Championship Chris Michaels April 12, 2000 Sean Casey Retired on March 1, 2001.
OVW Hardcore Championship Randy Orton May 5, 2001 Flash Flanagan Retired on May 5, 2001.
See also: Triple Crown (professional wrestling)
See also: Ohio Valley Wrestling tournaments

Roster

Male wrestlers

Ring name Real name Notes
Adam Revolver Jared Pridgin
Adam Slade Unknown
Benny Factor Unknown
Big Jon Jonathan Montgomery
Big Zo Cowann D Owens
Billy O Unknown
Bud Dwight Dwight J. Coulter
Carlos Gabriel Unknown
Ca$h Flo Unknown
Colton Cage Unknown
Chris Silvio Unknown
Dapper Dan Van Zandt Daniel Anderson
Devin Driscoll Unknown OVW Southern Tag Team Champion
Elia Baratz Unknown
Houdini Unknown
Hy-Zaya Unknown
Jade Dawson Unknown
Justin Smooth Unknown
Kenny Cannon Unknown
Kevin Giza Unknown
Little Damion Unknown
Lucas Jacobs Unknown
Mitch Huff Mitchell Huff
Paredyse James Long
Randy Royal Unknown
Reverend Stuart Miles Stuart Perry
Robbie Walker Robbie Walker OVW Television Champion
Rocco Bellagio Unknown OVW Heavyweight Champion
Rudy Switchblade Eric Matlock
Ryan Howe Ryan Howe
Shane Andrews Shane Andrews
Shane Mercer Shane Goode
Stephon Smith Stephon Smith
Ted McNaler Unknown
The Assassin Unknown
The Blue Chippa Unknown
The Metal Master Unknown
The Mexicutioner Unknown
The Ringmaster David Lo
Tony Gunn Anthony Gunn OVW Southern Tag Team Champion
Trevor Steele Trevor Foy
Tyler Matrix Kalieb Gibson
Ultimo Stingray Unknown

Female wrestlers

Ring name Real name Notes
Callie Unknown
Madi Maxx Unknown
Maria James Maria James
Rebel Tanea Brooks OVW Women's Champion
Scarlet Shaneya Davidson Valet of The Van Zandt Circus

Others

Name Role
Annie Steele Valet of 'Diamond' Ryan Howe
Gilbert Corsey Play-by-play commentator
Interviewer
Jim Cornette Director of Operations
Josh Ashcraft Manager of the 'Legacy of Brutality'
Ron Hed Color commentator
Occasional ring announcer
Shannon The Dude Color commentator

Referees

Name Role
AJ Lucio
David Crow
David Banyan
Jamie Lynn Female Referee
Joe Wheeler Senior Referee
Jordan Barker

Training staff

Name Title
Dean Hill Majority Owner of OVW
Matt Cappotelli Beginner Class
Rip Rogers Head Trainer/Advanced Class

Notable alumni

WWE

TNA

See also

References

  1. ^ "About OVW | Ohio Valley Wrestling". Ovwrestling.com. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  2. ^ a b "WWE to cease affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling". World Wrestling Entertainment. February 7, 2008. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  3. ^ "TNA Impact Wrestling and OVW Sign Developmental Deal | Ohio Valley Wrestling". Ovwrestling.com. 2011-11-07. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  4. ^ a b "FRI. UPDATE: More TNA cost saving moves, Carters send e-mail to talent denying sale, Video game promotion, real story behind birth of one of greatest world title reigns, Legednary mafch, Classics on Demand, Weekend preview". F4wonline.com. 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  5. ^ "TNA-OVW RELATIONSHIP ENDING, IMPACT ON THE ROAD IN 2014 AND MORE TNA NEWS". PWInsider.com. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  6. ^ a b Marshall, Anne (December 7, 2011). "Learning the ropes". Louisville Eccentric Observer. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  7. ^ "Santino Marella". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-04-14. "Anthony Carelli was the student that Jim Cornette slapped"
  8. ^ "TNA News: Jim Cornette says TNA needs a developmental program, criticizes WWE's developmental program". PWTorch.com. 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  9. ^ Caldwell, James (2010-09-09). "ROH/OVW News: Jim Cornette announced as new OVW matchmaker; "working relationship" announced between ROH & OVW". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  10. ^ Caldwell, James (2011-11-07). "TNA News: TNA announces official training program with WWE's former developmental territory". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  11. ^ "Big Update on Impact Road Tapings, More on TNA/OVW Relationship". Wrestlezone.com. 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
  12. ^ a b c "Streaming Television Episodes". Ohio Valley Wrestling. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
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