- Ohio Valley Wrestling
-
Ohio Valley Wrestling 
Acronym OVW Founded 1997 Style Sports Entertainment
Professional wrestlingHeadquarters Louisville, Kentucky Founder(s) Danny Davis Owner(s) Danny Davis Formerly NWA Ohio Valley Championship Wrestling Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance (as NWA Ohio Valley Championship Wrestling) from 1997 until 2000. In 2000, OVW became part of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) developmental program, of which it was a member until February 7, 2008. Since November 2011, OVW serves as the official developmental territory for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).[1]
Contents
History
Jim Cornette was head booker of OVW for a period before being fired by WWE for slapping a student, Anthony Carelli.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] Cornette, who is also executive producer of Ring of Honors HD Net show, stated that Ring of Honor 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 Ring of Honor 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] The announcement led to Jim Cornette's departure from OVW.[5]
Television
Ohio Valley Wrestling TV Format Sports entertainment
Professional wrestlingCreated by Danny Davis Country of origin 
United StatesNo. of episodes 638 (as of November 12, 2011)[6] Production Running time 60 minutes Broadcast Original channel WYCS
WKYT
WOBZ-LP
Online[6]Original airing 1997–present OVW currently airs a 60-minute television program Saturdays on WOBZ-LP in London, Kentucky at 9:00 p.m., and in the Louisville area on WKYI at 1:00 p.m. OVW also has streaming video via their website ovwrestling.com, where new episodes are streamed every Monday following the previous Wednesday's television taping. The television shows originate from the Davis Arena in Louisville.[6]
Current champions
Championship Current champion(s) Date won Won from OVW Heavyweight Championship Rudy Switchblade November 2, 2011 Nick Dinsmore OVW Television Championship Adam Revolver November 16, 2011 Alex Silva OVW Southern Tag Team Championship The Elite
(Ted McNaler and Adam Revolver)September 3, 2011 The Fat and The Furious
(Trailer Park Trash and Mr. Black)OVW Women's Championship Taeler Hendrix November 12, 2011 Lady JoJo 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 in 2001. Roster
Male wrestlers
Ring name Real name Notes Role Adam Revolver Jared Pridgin OVW Southern Tag Team Champion, OVW Television Champion Face Alex Silva Alex Silva Face Andreas Rossi Andy Baker Heel Asher Knight Adam Atherton Face Benjamin Bray Ben Mitchell Face Brandon Espinosa Brandon Espinosa Heel Christopher Silvio Heel Cliff Compton Cliff Compton Face Elvis Pridemoore Elvis Moore Face James Thomas Tom Wabs Heel James Onno Jimbo Onno Heel Jamin Olivencia Jamin Olivencia Face Jason Wayne Jason Light Wayne Face John Brooks John Brooks Inactive due to torn pectoral muscle Face Lennox Norris Comanorris Lane Heel The Great Malaki Zeus Espinoza Face Michael Hayes Michael Hayes Face Mike Mondo Michael Brendli Face Mohammad Ali Vaez Ali Vaez Heel Mr. Black Jack McCubbins Face Nick Dinsmore Nick Dinsmore Heel Paredyse James Long Face Randy Terrez Randy Gutierrez Face Raphael Constantine Clint Garner Heel Raul LaMotta Aaron LaMotta Face Rocco Bellagio Rocco Bellagio Heel Rudy Switchblade Eric Matlock OVW Heavyweight Champion Heel Shiloh Jonze Shiloh Jonze Face Ted McNaler Nick Beckham OVW Southern Tag Team Champion Face Tony Gunn Heel Trailer Park Trash Frank Miller Face Femme Fatales
Ring name Real name Notes Role Courtney Riley Courtney Hazell Face Epiphany Devorah Frost Heel Hannah Blossom Lucy Knott Face Holly Blossom Kelly Knott Face Izza Belle Smothers Mickie Knuckles Face Jessie Belle Smothers Jessie Belle Smothers Face Lady JoJo Josette Bynum Heel Solo Darling Christina Darling Heel Taeler Hendrix Taeler Conrad OVW Women's Champion Face Taryn Shay Tiffany Souder Heel The Great Cheyanne Cheyanne Williams Heel Tag Teams
Team Members Notes The Elite Ted McNaler and Adam Revolver OVW Southern Tag Team Champions The Fat and The Furious Jack Black and Trailer Park Trash Smothers Twisted Daughters Izza Belle and Jessie Belle Smothers The Blossom Twins Hannah and Holly Blossom Other on-air staff
Name Role Bill Clark Referee Brittany DeVore Backstage Interviewer Chris Bolin Manager of Bolin Services 2.0 Chris "The Package" Sharpe Referee Christian Mascagni Manager of Rudy Switchblade Dean Hill Commentator Gilbert Corsey Commentator Joe Wheeler Referee Jordan Barker Referee Kenny Bolin Commentator Mo Green Manager of Christopher Silvio Ron Hed Ring announcer Training Staff
Name Title Al Snow Psychology/Advanced Methodology also appears in TNA as a Road Agent Nick Dinsmore Beginners Class Rip Rogers Head Trainer/Advanced Class References
- ^ a b Caldwell, James (2011-11-07). "TNA News: TNA announces official training program with WWE's former developmental territory". Pro Wrestling Torch. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_54935.shtml. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
- ^ "Santino Marella's profile". OnlineWorldOfWrestling.com. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/santino-marella.html. Retrieved 2009-04-14. "Anthony Carelli was the student that Jim Cornette slapped"
- ^ "WWE to cease affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling". World Wrestling Entertainment. February 7, 2008.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2010-09-09). "ROH/OVW News: Jim Cornette announced as new OVW matchmaker; "working relationship" announced between ROH & OVW". Pro Wrestling Torch. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/ROH_News_29/article_43652.shtml. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
- ^ "Clarifications on TNA-OVW relationship, Cornette's standing with OVW". Pro Wrestling Torch. 2011-11-08. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/quicknews/article_54972.shtml. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
- ^ a b c "Streaming Television Episodes". Ohio Valley Wrestling. http://ovwrestling.com/tv. Retrieved September 30, 2011.
External links
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Championships World World Heavyweight (reigns)Other Tag Team Division World Tag Team (reigns) · Knockouts Tag Team (reigns)Women's Division Women's Knockout (reigns)Accomplishments Talent Programming Impact Wrestling · TNA Today · Xplosion · TNA Epics · Reaction · Pay-per-views · Global Impact! · TNA Weekly pay-per-view eventsDevelopmental
territoryOhio Valley WrestlingMerchandise WWE, Inc. History 1980s boom · Black Saturday · WrestleMania · Monday Night Wars · Montreal Screwjob · The Attitude Era · The Invasion · Brand ExtensionDraft Accomplishments Current champions · Royal Rumble · Money in the Bank · King of the Ring · Triple Crown · Grand Slam · Former championshipsTalent Programming Raw · NXT · Superstars · SmackDown · Pay-per-view events · Other current programming · Former programmingDevelopmental
territoriesDeep South Wrestling · Florida Championship Wrestling (current) · Heartland Wrestling Association · International Wrestling Association · Memphis Championship Wrestling · Ohio Valley WrestlingSubsidiaries WWE Video Library · WWE Studios · WWE Music Group · WWE Home Video · WWE Books · WWE Magazine · WWE NetworkDefunct subsidiaries Notable acquisitions Categories:- Independent professional wrestling promotions based in the Southern United States
- Companies based in Louisville, Kentucky
- Sports in Louisville, Kentucky
- Companies established in 1998
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
