I had a couple of extra vacation days left on my calendar and I decided to spend them on a wrestling junket. The original plan was to do five promotions in five days, but after looking at the logisitical, mental and financial restrains of such a journey, better judgement prevailed.
Instead I decided to take a two-day trip to a WWF developmental territory. I had been to Memphis Power-Pro earlier this year, but now that they have folded, I was left with my only other option, Ohio Valley Wrestling, based out of Jeffersonville, IN.
The group promotes weekly cards in Louisville, Kentucky and produces weekly television that runs in that market. They also run occasional spot shows in both Indiana and Kentucky.
OVW is used by the WWF as a training ground for up-and-coming talent as well as reconditioning purposes for athletes returning from injury. A current WWF star may also be sent down there for "re-evaluation." Now that the WWF has purchased the contracts of many former Atlanta-based WCW stars, OVW has become an important rung on the WWF ladder.
OVW has been the strongest of the WWF "farm clubs." Owner Danny Davis, a longtime star in Memphis, is known as a top-notch trainer. Jim Cornette, one of the most successful, and despised, managers in wrestling history, handles the promotional aspects of the group. Surrounding them were a top-notch staff, shaping and molding the future professionals of this industry.
And of course, the emphasis was on the wrestling. The first thing you notice when you seen an OVW show is that it looks like these guys belong here. I can on;y think of one or two wrestlers out of the group of approximately 20 that I saw who weren't over 6-feet tall and at least over 200 pounds. Even David Flair, who I had assumed was just a scrawny kid, was adding mass to his frame. Many of them had chiseled physiques. They definately had a certain "look" to them. |
