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| OHIO VALLEY WRESTLING St. Therese's Gym - Louisville, KY Tuesday, September 4 |
| OVW holds weekly cards on Tuesday nights at this small gymnasium in downtown Louisville. When the WWF superstars make their cameo appearances here (such as Big Show), this place is pretty packed. This five-match line-up solely featured OVW local talent, thus, the turn-out was a little small, approximately 60 people. However, this was a pretty dedicated, and vocal, crowd who were into the action. Admission was $7 and a program that covered everything leading up to the card was $1. |
| Flair has shed the blonde-haired, psychotic persona last given to him by the creative braintrust at WCW, now wrestling purely scientific. And although the missing maniacal attitude may have lost some of Flair's appeal to today's wrestling fan, believe it or not, he's gotten much better in the ring. Solo, if you have read internet reports, has been making waves due to his clone-like appearance to the Rock, right down to the tattoo. What you've read is right, except that Solo is about a good foot shorter than the Rock. Nonetheless, both wrestlers, still gaining valuable experience, put on a good scientific opener, won by Flair after a slingshot suplex. |
| MATCH 1 DAVID FLAIR VS. SOLO |
| Speaking of clone-like, mix in equal parts Scott Stenier looks, Bill Goldberg's intimidation and Ken Shamrock's fighting style, and you've got blue-chipper Ron Waterman, nicknamed "H20." Waterman's size alone (6-4, 280) is enough to give him the duke, but his competition was Mr. Black, a 400+ pounder, who's role is to play security for heel manager Kenny Bolin. As expected, Waterman's offense was shoot-style based and submission-oriented. Waterman wins by making Black tap out to an ankle-lock submission. Very impressive and a very charasmatic appearance. |
| MATCH 2 RON "H2O" WATERMAN VS. MR. BLACK |
| MATCH 3 PROTOTYPE W/KENNY BOLIN VS. PAYNE W/SYNN |
| Another rising up-and-comer is Prototype, who is making press with his appearance on the UPN series "Manhunt" (unavailable in the St. Louis market). He is also the prize jewel of Bolin Services, rounded up by lead heel manager Kenny Bolin. Bolin's your power-and-money driven leader, right down to the gold "BS" emblazoned on the briefcase, and continues the streak of very good Southern heel managers. Prototype's a very good counter wrestler, the one who gains offense with defense. Payne is the lead charge of Synn, a Southern dominatrix type. Payne is a pretty good brawler to boot. This match started and finished hot, even with the double-DQ finish thanks to both managers entering the ring. |
| As you see above, who do you think wins...the one in black, right? After tossing Payne outside, Prototype holds Synn arms. Meanwhile, Bolin lines up the good 'ol fashioned Samsonite upside the noggin. Alas, Synn makes the drop to the mat upon delivery, and "THWAP!" Prototype's seeing stars and teases a break-up with Bolin. |
| MATCH 4 NICK DINSMORE & ROB CONWAY VS. JOHNNY SPADE & BIG BAD JOHN |
| I've seen both Dinsmore and Conway in the latter stages of the USWA and Music City Wrestling. But that was 3 years ago. Time, and experience, have served them both well. Dinsmore, a Jeffersonville native and star OVW pupil, is a solid technical wrestler. Conway, nicknamed Ironman, has got "it" when it comes to charisma. The guy looked like he was ready-fit for an 8x10. These two have teamed together in the past, and it showed with solid tagwork. |
| Yikes! A wrestler under 200 pounds! Welcome, Johnny Spade, a dare-devilish light-heavy with a mean streak to boot. And although he was the smallest man in the ring, he brought with him Big Bad John, a mountain of a man at 6-8 at 320 pounds. Where are they growing these guys? This was a solid old-school tag match, with Dinsmore and Conway's tag work standing out, featuring a Rocket Launcher. Spade taps out to Conway's submission move at around the 15-minute mark.. |
| MATCH 5 - OVW HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH - FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE MACHINE VS. THE DAMAJA |
| Machine, the current OVW Heavyweight Champion, is based in appearance on the character of the same name in the Nicholas Cage movie "8MM." Although this Machine seems to be a pretty good wrestler all-around, mixing mat-oriented and aerial moves. He's relatively new to the OVW area, and has managed to retain his title through tainted circumstances (including the good 'ol "Two Machines" ploy used in last week's title victory over the Big Show.) I expect if, and when, the mask is removed, there will be a major angle played here that could shock some locals. The Damaja (pronounced "Dam-a-jah") is a brawl-all-over-the-building type of wrestler. Couldn't ask for a better set-up for a main event. |
| And it didn't take long for the main event to hold up to its advertisement. Both spilled outside the ring the first 30 seconds of the match, with Machine stealing Poobah's chair that held his notes and program (HEY, YA LUG!) A quick spill onto the merchandise table, and yep, out the doors we go! I betcha the cooks at the St. Therese's concession stand were fearing that they'd take a trip into their work area first. As the action spilled outside (and yes a good following of fans went outside with them) both men battled on the ring trailer and by a dumpster, with Damaja getting the worse of the exchange. |
| See referee Robert Brisco making the count??? THAT'S 'COZ IT'S FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE!!! |
| The finish saw Johnny Spade and Big Bad John come to ringside to help out Machine retain the title, as John... "ahem"... lent a helping hand to the champion for leverage. A 3-on-1 beatdown on Damaja followed, until Conway and Dinsmore came out for the save. And lo and behold, here comes Jim Cornette, your friendly matchmaker, to set the table for next week's main event at St. Therese's, a six-man tag with Machine, John and Spade against Damaja, Dinsmore and Conway. For the record, Jimbo's wearing a white polo and blue sweatpants, making him the most color co-ordinated I've ever seen him in the last ten years. A challenge laid down to the heels ends a pretty good night of action. |
| 5 matches in under two hours. That may not seem like much to some, but this was about as good as it gets with the small line-up. Many on the OVW roster was sitting out with injuries. And the WWF's live airing of Smackdown that night pretty much meant that no one from "the fed" was coming, but nonetheless, this was a very entertaining card. Standouts included Prototype, Waterman, the Conway/Disnmore tag tandem and Machine. Oh yeah, nothing beats Grape Flavor-Ices at indy cards. |
| Flair applies pressure to Solo. |
| Ron "H20" Waterman |
| Prototype w/ Kenny Bolin |
| Bolin and Synn gear up for a scrap after the Double DQ finish. |
| Dinsmore dropkicks an unsuspecting Big Bad John, holding Conway. |
| Conway's pin broken-up by John. |
| Damaja's head gets ready to meet metal |
| Dinsmore helps out Damaja while Jim Cornette looks on. |
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| And of course...visit the site of the WWF's Developmental Territory! |
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