OVW 1000
Date: October 13, 2018
Location: 4^th Street Live, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Gilbert Corsey, Shannon the Dude, Ted McNaler

Way back in 2004, I started watching Ohio Valley Wrestling on local TV and stuck with it for a few years. There is something cool about having one of the more important regional promotions of the generation an hour from your house so I almost had to check this one out. It’s a special double length episode featuring a tournament for the OVW Title. I have next to no idea what to expect coming into this but it should be fun. Let’s get to it.

We open from the intro to the very first episode from 1998.

The same Dean Hill who opened the original show welcomes us to this one and it’s time for the first match.

It’s a rather cool and seemingly outside venue. Either that or it’s in the middle of a fairly dark mall/shopping center. It’s a good look.

OVW Title Tournament First Round: Tommy Dreamer vs. Justin Smooth

Smooth has some size to him and OF COURSE TOMMY DREAMER IS ON THIS SHOW BECAUSE HE’S ON EVERY SHOW! There’s no commentary to speak of early on so I’m even further on my own. That’s what online guides are for as otherwise I wouldn’t have known this was a tournament match. They trade wristlocks to start until Dreamer headlocks him down and it’s an early standoff. Smooth grabs his own wristlock but Dreamer reverses with a headscissors for the standoff sequel.

They shove each other a bit and the fans are behind Dreamer (leave it to Louisville fans to be out there). Some standing switches let Dreamer call spots before Smooth gets the better of a chop off in the corner. They head outside with Dreamer hitting him in the head with a drink as what sounds like commentary starts creeping in. Did they just have the audio mix really messed up? Not the best sign for a big anniversary show like this. Anyway they go inside with Smooth kicking him in the ribs. Dreamer grabs a cutter but Smooth kicks him in the face for the pin at 6:10.

Rating: D+. Not much to see here and commentary only coming in later in the match didn’t help things. I know OVW isn’t the biggest promotion in the world, but getting the sound mix right shouldn’t be that complicated. Other than that though, it was a 2018 Tommy Dreamer match. Smooth looked good though and with more seasoning, he’ll probably go somewhere.

There are some commercials between most of the matches, mainly for Al Snow’s Collar X Elbow clothing, OVW training, house shows, and local sponsors. Consider this the big group recap for all of them on the show.

OVW Title Tournament First Round: Billy Gunn vs. Randall Floyd

Commentary is messed up again for the entrances. Gunn does his half of the Outlaws intro and we’re ready to go. Gunn grabs the arm to start and shoves him into the ropes without much effort. Floyd does the same to him and it’s time to get a little more serious. A takedown lets Floyd pull on the leg, sending Gunn outside for a breather.

Floyd follows and gets sent into the apron for his efforts, meaning it’s the chinlock back inside. Back up and Floyd charges into an elbow in the corner but the Fameasser misses. Instead Floyd grabs a t-bone suplex for two and shock sets in for a bit. Gunn is right back with a quick Fameasser for the pin at 5:01.

Rating: D+. Well they’re not exactly wasting time with this thing so far. There wasn’t much to see here but they’re getting the bigger names on the show early on. Moving Gunn forward is a fine idea as it gives whoever beats him a nice win, even if it wasn’t exactly much to see in getting him to the next round. Then again, what exactly should I be expecting here?

OVW Title Tournament First Round: Crimson vs. Jax Dane

Crimson used to be in Impact Wrestling, Dane is a former NWA World Champion, and these two are regular partners. They tease the Fingerpoke of Doom but then get serious with some shoving. Crimson’s overhead belly to belly doesn’t do much and Dane’s belly to belly doesn’t do much more.

Dane’s headbutt and running shoulder do a bit more and now the overhead belly to belly works just fine. Something like a Claymore staggers Dane and a double clothesline puts them both down. Cue Crazzy Steve, someone not named, and Abyss, who chokeslams both guys behind the referee’s back. They get up but Steve and the other guy pull them to the floor for the double DQ at 4:27.

Rating: C-. Match of the night so far, which isn’t exactly covering much ground. Crimson and Dane are two big guys who work well together and you can see why they are a good regular team. They were having a nice power match here before the storyline ending, which was a smart move. There’s no need to have one go over the other if the team is staying together so Abyss and company costing them the match makes sense.

Post match the other four brawl to the back so it’s Abyss grabbing the mic. He spits at the idea of Louisville (I’ve always liked Abyss) and promises to win the title. So get his opponent out here.

OVW Title Tournament First Round: Abyss vs. Shane Helms

This could be interesting….or it could be but here are Abyss’ goons (different goons than before and called The Void) carrying an out of it Helms, in street clothes, to the ring. Helms is out of it and Abyss demands the bell ring. Abyss covers for two a few times and Helms tries to fight back, only to fall down on a slam attempt. Some neck cranking ensues but Helms fights up again and hits a middle rope back elbow. The Void comes in and get chokeslammed by Helms, but the Black Hole Slam gives Abyss the pin at 3:20.

Rating: D+. Nothing to see from a match perspective, which is kind of a shame as there is as natural of a story here as you could have gotten. That being said, Abyss seems to have a big master plan to win the tournament and that’s fine for a story throughout the show. It doesn’t make for the best matches, but it does make sense and that’s important on a major show like this.

Here are the updated brackets:

Justin Smooth

Billy Gunn

BYE

Abyss

Megan Monroe/ODB/Victoria vs. It Girls

The It Girls are Cali, Jaylee (Women’s Champion) and Valerie Vermin (one of those names doesn’t quite fit). ODB and Cali (a rather ditsy blonde) bump chests to start with ODB knocking her into the corner for some chopping. Victoria and Jaylee come in with the latter making some old jokes, earning herself some hair pulls over Victoria’s back. The spinning side slam gets two on Jaylee and it’s Megan coming in for a double clothesline.

A Partisan elbow sends Jaylee over to the corner to Vermin, who is taken down into a quick half crab. Cali makes the save and snaps Megan’s throat across the top rope, allowing Jaylee to kick at Megan’s knee. A German suplex gets Megan out of trouble though and the hot tag brings in ODB to clean house, including a double Bronco Buster to Cali and Valerie. Everything breaks down and it’s a Widow’s Peak to Jaylee, followed by a delayed vertical suplex to give Megan the pin on Vermin at 5:15.

Rating: C-. The wrestling was fine and Monroe looks to have some solid athleticism, but this was about having the OVW stars of days past back. Yeah imagine that: looking at history on a milestone show. We haven’t done that all night save for the quick opening, and I’m really not sure why that hasn’t been the case. They’re keeping things moving on the show, but you can tell who has the star power and it isn’t the regular OVW roster.

Referee Joe Wheeler is brought out for an interview, who has been here since the first show. He sees a lot of fans who have been here since the beginning and is glad to be here. Next up is trainer Rip Rogers (read his Twitter and take notes if you want a great wrestling education), who films the crowd and starts an OVW chant.

Then it’s one of the big ones, with Jim Cornette, who really did need to be at something like this. Cornette talks about how he helped run three hundred some odd shows and the goal was always to make OVW as good as possible. Now look where they are. Dean Hill (longtime commentator and ring announcer) is up next and he can’t believe he was the first person on OVW TV. He gets to start an OVW chant as well in a nice moment. That leaves one possible option to close it out so here’s Nightmare Danny Davis, the founder and longtime owner of the promotion.

Davis puts over Rogers, Cornette and the fans and you can hear the emotion in his voice. This was a very nice moment and something that had to happen on a show like this. Everyone hugs but here’s Nova (in a Simon Dean jacket over a BWO shirt) with his team for the ten man tag.

Nova wants them to show some respect to the wrestlers, so Cornette says go find some wrestlers and he’ll show them respect. Cue Team Capp (presumably for Matt Cappotelli, a former Tough Enough winner and former OVW Champion who had to relinquish the title and retire due to brain cancer, which killed him earlier in the year) with Rocco Bellagio (an awesome name) to get in a HOW DARE YOU. It’s time to fight.

Team Capp vs. Team Nova

Capp: Rocco Bellagio, Melvin Maximus, Michael Hayes, Randy Royal, Tyler Matrix

Nova: Adam Revolver, Jay Bradley, Nova, Paul Burchill, Vaughn Lilas

Nova has Josh Ashcroft and Shannon the Dude with them. All ten are former OVW Champions and Royal knees Revolver down to start. Bradley comes in to shove Royal down and it’s off to Maximus (old and strong) for a test of strength. Melvin gets the better of it and shoulders him down, allowing the tag to Matrix. Bradley misses a knee drop and brings in Lilas (I remember him from around 2008 and this seems to be his first match in four years).

Hayes (the one with a metal leg, not the famous Hayes) to suplex Burchill down. Burchill is back up and drives him into the corner for a wind up lariat. The villains lure the good guys in and the mass stomping keeps Hayes down. Burchill misses a knee drop though and it’s the diving tag to bring in Bellagio. House is cleaned and we hit the parade of secondary finishers. Matrix hits a big running flip dive onto a bunch of villains, leaving Danny Davis to knock Nova into a Rock Bottom from Bellagio for the pin at 6:32.

Rating: C. This is a case of considering the idea. The whole point here was to have some big names from OVW’s past come in and do a big mess of a match (not a bad thing in this case) with Davis getting to punch a known loudmouth in the face. I had a good time with it and it was the most fun out of anything all night, with the legends ceremony before it making things better.

OVW Title Tournament Semifinals: Billy Gunn vs. Justin Smooth

Smooth is the same size as Gunn, which is rather impressive. Gunn grabs a headlock before trying a running shoulder to no avail. An exchange of elbows goes to Smooth but Gunn sends him outside. Some rams into various things have Smooth in more trouble but he avoids a Stinger Splash. Gunn is right back with a quick Fameasser for two and panic ensues. He loads it up again but Justin hits the pump kick for the pin at 4:24.

Rating: D+. Another nothing match that didn’t have time to go anywhere. There is only so much that you can get out of a match that doesn’t even last four and a half minutes, which was on display here. Smooth does look good for surviving the Fameasser and pinning Gunn, but everything has gone so fast for Smooth that it doesn’t really mean much.

Shiloh Jonze vs. Mike Eagle

Jonze is a white rapper with Big D. and David Lee Lorenze III. Eagle on the other hand is an actual rapper who got a wrestling license for the sake of this angle. Before the match, Eagle raps about the three of them so Jonze, carrying a crown, brags about his posse. It turns out Eagle has a posse of his own, so here’s Mr. Anderson, who also brings out Mick Foley (who never actually wrestled in OVW).

Eagle takes him down to start and it’s a hip toss into a slam to put Jonze on the floor. A distraction lets Jonze get in a shot from behind though, meaning the dancing is on. Jonze chops him in the corner but Eagle is back with some atomic drops. Big D. trips Eagle from the floor but Jonze misses a charge in the corner and walks into a hurricanrana. D. comes in and gets Mic Checked by Anderson, followed by the same thing to Lorenze. Foley gets up on the apron with the sock, putting enough fear into Jonze for Eagle to roll him up for the pin at 4:36.

Rating: C-. It’s a celebrity match and that’s all it needed to be. Eagle looked fine here and while I’m not sure what kind of of a star he is, the point here was seeing the heel get beaten up. The legends helped too, as Foley showing up on a show run by Al Snow is hardly shocking. This was perfectly fine for what it was and that’s acceptable in this spot.

OVW Title: Justin Smooth vs. Abyss

For the vacant title and this is joined in progress for the sake of not running out of time. Abyss chokes on the rope to start and there are the loud chops in the corner. Smooth gets in some right hands and a corner splash but here’s the Void (Steve and Amon) to jump him from behind. Abyss cranks on the head but Smooth fights up with a flying shoulder. A spinebuster gives us a double knockdown until Smooth goes up.

Amon pulls him down and posts him though, allowing Abyss to hit a botched chokeslam (it looked like Smooth tried to slip out but then went down for it anyway). Abyss tries to bring in a chair but walks into a DDT with a nip up. The pump kick into the chair into Abyss’ face gets two but another kick misses. The Black Hole Slam gives Abyss the pin and the title at 8:31 shown.

Rating: D+. What a weird ending, as there was only so much that they could do with the rather short amount of time and all of the interference. The ending was surprising as this felt like a place for Smooth to get the big win, though commentary talked about Abyss’ path of destruction/plan to win the title so it was well set up. It’s not exactly a feel good story for the ending, but at least they went with a story that made sense long term.

Overall Rating: C-. This was a rather strange show, as you would expect a bit more history but it never quite got there outside of a few months. It did feel like a big show, with the crowd and venue alone making it seem like an important deal. At the same time though, there were still some moments that felt pretty low level. On top of that, the wrestling was nothing of note throughout the night, mainly due to time constraints. They were trying though and the show doesn’t overstay its welcome at an hour and forty eight minutes. If you’re not a big OVW fan though, I wouldn’t bother with it.

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2004 Monday Night Raw Reviews (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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So I took in the OVW vs. Impact Wrestling One Night Only Show in Louisville’s Davis Arena on Saturday night. That would be the same place where John Cena, Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar and Batista among others got their start (for all intent and purpose). It was a long night and mostly fun, but there was one problem.

I managed to delete my notes because that’s what I get for trying to take notes on my phone instead of on paper as I usually do. Since the show is debuting this weekend I’ll wait for the full thing to do an entire review, but here are some quick highlights.

The Davis Arena is a warehouse on the outskirts of Louisville and if you don’t know it’s there, you would never find the place as it’s the second warehouse from the road. The place holds about 350 seats (400 at best) but there’s certainly a feeling that some important stuff has gone on in here. As you walk in through a small hallway, there are some drawn pictures of some of the legends who have worked there, which is a really nice touch.

I paid for the meet and greet (total cost including general admission seating: $20 for one of the best bargains I can ever remember) with most of the roster, which was quite the disorganized mess and not really worth the extra $10 on top of the ticket. Most of the Impact wrestlers were there while the OVW wrestlers were mainly ignored. I got a handshake from Brian Cage (nice guy), Eddie Edwards (who apologized for being on his phone as I came up and seemed to be having a good time) and Moose (who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else).

Sami Callihan was at the end and I’ve never seen someone who can go from calm and polite (asked him to sign my card that they gave you upon entry and he shook my hand, smiled a bit and handed it back with a thank you for one of the most polite exchanges I’ve ever had) to on in the blink of an eye. Once I got to my seat, you could see Callihan doing various shenanigans with fans, including clapping along for random chants, being carried about by (the gigantic) Sawyer Fulton or just being an energetic guy oozing charisma. He stood out more than anyone else on the show by a mile and it’s easy to see why he’s become a big deal in the last few years.

Since a lot of the show was built around OVW talents I won’t go into all of the matches here but there were some highlights:

Sinn Bodhi (Kizarny) is doing the I’m A Weird Freak thing and actually comes off as weird for a change, which is a nice surprise.

Madison Rayne (who walked by me at the meet and greet as she was setting up) might have had her return match for Impact here and blew away every woman in OVW. The women they haven’t aren’t bad but you can see the difference in experience and quality.

One of OVW’s younger guys is named Justin Smooth, a tall guy with a good build. He’s got a long way to go but there’s some potential there.

Johnny Impact was an unannounced surprise and got involved in a match which became a three way for the World Title. You would think you might advertise an OVW legend but the show was already sold out so it’s not the biggest mistake in the world. He and Eddie Edwards worked most of the match with OVW mainstay Adam Revolver, who did enough to make this match of the night.

The OVW act that really made an impression was a tag team called King’s Ransom, a pair of brothers (Leonis and Maximus Khan. They may be twins but they’re close enough that you need to look at them closely to tell a difference.) who look like muscular Usos and wrestle a power style. From what I can tell they’re still in their rookie year, with the first match I can find for them coming in April 2018. They have a lot of work to do (promos are far from great) but that look and style is going to get them somewhere. The two of them stood out, which doesn’t often happen on a show like this.

Speaking of not standing out, current OVW Champion Tony Gunn is….nothing special to put it mildly. He’s a guy in trunks whose nickname is Shotgun Tony Gunn, who calls himself the Gunn Show and stands 5’11 and weighs 200lbs. His promos are rather weak as well and I don’t get what OVW sees in him. He and Callihan (who have been doing an angle on OVW TV) were the main event, which went about 28 minutes and featured a ton of interference from Impact and OVW wrestlers. It was good, but Gunn isn’t someone I can ever picture myself caring about.

Overall, it was a fun night and you can’t beat the price (Seriously, $20 for a show and meet and greet with free parking?), plus getting to go to the Davis Arena, which is an important place in wrestling history, was the real highlight. Good show, and hopefully that holds up on the broadcast.

Ohio Valley Wrestling
Date: February 18, 2019
Location: Davis Arena, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Gilbert Corsey, Ted McNaler, Josh Ashcraft

Last week’s show was a rather mixed bag but I think I can call it more good than bad. With that one out of the way, I have something close to an idea of what to expect on this one, which should help pave the way for Impact Wrestling showing up next month. We’ll probably get another TV Title gauntlet match this week due to whatever reason they think that’s a good idea. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

The announcers welcome us to the show and talk about the race to be on the big Impact show. Ted talks about his wife Brittany Devore recently losing the Women’s Title and wanting her rematch tonight….as Sami Callihan and Jake Crist are sitting in the front row and shouting a lot. More on this later I’m sure.

TV Title: Gauntlet Match

Justin Smooth is defending but it’s Dimes in first and Nigel Winters in second. Dimes works on the knee to start before it’s off to an early pinfall reversal sequence. It’s off to the arm but Dimes can’t get the Change Maker (seems to be some kind of an armbar) so it’s a quickly broken crossarm choke instead.

Neither of them can get a hiptoss so Nigel misses a charge in the corner. Dimes misses a top rope stomp as well but the Change Maker (ah it’s a Crossface) goes on. Nigel rolls through again and dropkicks Dimes in the back to block a handspring. It’s already back to the Change Maker but Nigel reverses into a cradle for the pin at 5:00.

Drew Hernandez is in third and misses an early splash into the corner to give Nigel two. A sleeper works a bit better for Nigel and a stomp to the back keeps Drew in trouble. He unhooks a buckle pad on the way back up to distract the ref and the trademark low blow finishes Nigel at 6:46.

Justin Smooth is in fourth and sends him into the exposed buckle. Street Justice misses though as Drew bails to the floor and we take a break. Back with Smooth forearming away in the corner but Drew heads outside again at the threat of another Street Justice. A spinebuster takes Drew down back inside but this time Hernandez pulls the referee in front. The low blow is blocked and Smooth kicks him low for the DQ at 10:58, losing the title in the process. Shiloh Jonze with the Entourage is in fifth and dances over for the one finger pin to get rid of Hernandez at 11:55.

Melvin Maximus is in sixth and it’s one on one for the title. Some hiptosses have Jonze in trouble but the Entourage finally gets involved with a quick trip to let Jonze take over. A Hennig necksnap and a chinlock keep Melvin down but for some reason Jonze thinks it’s a good idea to hit a monster in the face. The bearhug goes on until Melvin goes the Entourage, allowing Jonze to Superman punch him in the throat. That and some feet on the ropes are enough for the pin and the title at 15:43.

Rating: D+. Yeah as you had to imagine was coming, there isn’t much of a future to having so many people from the midcard in the same match week after week. Jonze winning the title feels like something that isn’t going to make it past next week as I don’t think OVW’s version of Grandmaster Sexay is going to make it to the Impact show.

Here’s Brittany Devore to say she was cheated out of the Women’s Title on Friday so let’s have a rematch right now.

Women’s Title: Jaylee vs. Brittany Devore

Jaylee is defending and comes out with two women named Cali and Valerie Vermin (who combine to form the It Girls). They’ve been promised title matches first, but Jaylee agrees to give Brittany the title shot tonight. Well that….is likely a screwy finish coming. Brittany charges at her for some bad looking right hands but the It Girls trip her down. Jaylee’s rollup retains the title at 38 seconds.

And indeed, Cali wants her title match RIGHT NOW.

Women’s Title: Cali vs. Jaylee

Jaylee is defending and loses the title in three seconds to a rollup, despite her shoulder being up at one.

The Void wants Crazzy Steve back so they can end this, no matter what the cost.

King’s Ransom isn’t done with the War Kings because they got cheated last week. They have a challenge for the champs: next week one member of each team face off and it’s either a title shot or King’s Ransom walks away.

Here’s OVW Champion (it’s a good looking belt too, kind of a cross between the Winged Eagle and Attitude Era title designs) Tony Gunn for a chat. He’s going to be a fighting champion and it’s time to run off the people who don’t belong here. Callihan and Crist aren’t impressed from the front row and cut him off with an OVE chant.

We get another creepy Sinn Bodhi promo, which really are highlights around here.

Here’s Cash Flo with some money in his hand. It’s time for the Cash Flo Chop Shop Challenge, meaning he’ll put up $1000 to anyone who will face him in a chop off. The interviewer runs away and it’s Ashton Cove, a rather small guy with tape over his nipples, taking the challenge first. Cove tries to tape himself up even more but a single chop sends him outside.

William Lutz, also in a JOB Squad shirt, is the fourth challenger. They trade two chops each and the third makes Lutz tap. Sam Thompson is fifth (yes there have been five challengers) and they trade four chops each as Thompson refuses to quit. The fifth is too much for Thompson to get up from but he doesn’t tap. Here’s Big Zo (the only person of some size) to take the challenge. Flo says the Chop Shop is closed, wrapping this up after a ridiculous THIRTEEN MINUTES.

We look back at Dustin Jackson accidentally knocking out Dani last week despite swinging for Colton Cage.

Here’s Dustin to ask Dani (with a nasty black eye) for his forgiveness because it was an accident. She comes over to him as he gets on one knee but here’s Cage to arrest Jackson for domestic violence. Colton laughs as Dustin is taken away to end the show.

Overall Rating: D-. Maybe last week’s show was a lucky shot because this felt like a bunch of people who had no idea what they were doing here. The show felt all over the place (a thirteen minute chopping exchange) and while the ending angle wasn’t bad, this show was dying for another match in the middle to bridge the gap a bit. There were moments that weren’t bad, but this was a near disaster on almost all levels.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

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Now this is going to be very different. I spent a lot of years watching OVW TV and got to see a bunch of people in the WWE developmental system before they came up to the main roster (hence the old motto: “Tomorrow’s Superstars Today!”). However, Lexington stopped getting the TV show years ago so I haven’t seen this promotion in probably ten years. Then I heard that Imp

act Wrestling was doing a One Night Only show in Louisville with OVW this Saturday and since that’s only about an hour and fifteen minutes away, I’m taking in the show. So I won’t be lost, I’ll be looking at the three most recent OVW TV’s.

I’m not sure what day the TV actually airs so we’ll go with their dates on YouTube.

Ohio Valley Wrestling
Date: February 11, 2019
Location: Davis Arena, Louisville, Kentucky
Commentators: Gilbert Corsey, Ted McNaler, Josh Ashcraft

In something that I don’t get to say very often, I’m coming into this completely blind. I don’t know these wrestlers, I don’t know their stories and I don’t know what they do. That can be fun though as it lets me see what kind of stuff I’m getting into as an outsider, meaning they need to show me something. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence, featuring a bunch of shots of wrestlers with their names included. That’s very helpful indeed.

The announcers (two of whom I recognize from back in the day) recap the recent Saturday Night Special (their big shows) and talk about everything we’ll be seeing, including a new OVW Champion and a tag team winning a tournament to get a guaranteed title shot.

Here’s OVW owner Al Snow to thank everyone for allowing OVW to exist. He has a big announcement though: on March 2, Impact Wrestling is coming for a super show. Didn’t I just say that? Snow wants the best of OVW on the show, which is why champions are guaranteed to be on the card, though there will be some other spots available. This brings out to guys who seem to be named the Entourage and are rather white rappers.

Shiloh Jonze wants in on this show but the other one (unnamed) wants in as well, triggering a fight. A big guy names….well Big Zo actually, comes in to say that they’re both stupid. This brings out Melvin Maximus, who says he’s a two time TV Champion and a former OVW Champion. On March 3, Snow is going to have to make a choice. Actually not as the show is on March 2, which thankfully Snow points out. Now it’s Adam Revolver (another guy I remember) to suck up to Snow as the small entrance way is getting very full.

We’re not done yet as Cash Flo comes in to say the grown folks are talking right now. Flo insults them all (rather badly too as he sounds like he’s having to think of every show) until Drew Hernandez comes out to say he’s proven how worthy he is. He’s proven how much better he is than Heavyweight Champion Tony Gunn and Justin Smooth, which brings out Smooth as well.

Snow has had it and says that it’s true a champion is guaranteed a spot, including possibly the TV Champion (Smooth). He explains the TV Title, which is defended every week in a gauntlet match where the title can change hands on a countout or a DQ. Therefore, let’s have everyone here in a gauntlet match tonight with the winner being guaranteed to be on the big show.

This was really long and felt like a WWE segment with some people who feel like just slightly above average indy wrestlers. Now that being said, they all want something and their motivations are clear, so at least the segment made sense and wasn’t something where you needed an explanation of what was going on. I did however need an explanation of who these people were as even some name graphics would have helped.

Dimes/Eddie Knight vs. The Void

Yes Dimes, who looks to be about sixteen. The Void are Chace Destiny and Nigel Winters, two guys in Void shirts. The audio is really off here as the ring announcer comes in very clearly and sounds great but McNaler sounds like he’s about three feet from the microphone and can barely be heard over the entrance music. Dimes and Knight take turns working on Winters’ arm as the announcers talk about Destiny being suffocated by a plastic bag last week. It’s off to Destiny for his own arm cranking as all four of them are barely above the top rope.

The arm work continues as they’re certainly in first gear but it’s looking crisp enough and I’ll take that over bad execution of more complicated stuff. A legsweep takes Dimes down and a double Japanese armdrag does it again. Dimes manages to get up top but gets dropkicked out of the air as we hear about the Void being the minions of the evil Crazzy Steve and Aamon who broke away from their control. That’s a fine explanation of a backstory and explains their rather heelish sounding names. Something close to a Demolition Decapitator (with a fist drop instead of an elbow) finishes Dimes at 3:53.

Rating: D. This seemed to be a starter win for the Void, who felt like faces in gear that looked heelish, which actually fit the backstory. In other words, while the wrestling wasn’t all that great, the commentary was a nice feature and kept me from having a bunch of questions about what I was watching. The arm work dominated this match and that’s not the most thrilling stuff in the world, but I’ll take it over botching everything left and right.

Before the Void can be announced as the winners, Aamon appears in the balcony to say the worms have forgotten where they came from. The sheep wander away from their home but a good shepherd will bring them back to the flock, no matter what they have to go through first. This was effective stuff as Aamon sounded really creepy and came off like a threat to the Void, who aren’t the most impressive looking people in the first place.

We get a sitdown interview with new OVW Champion Tony Gunn, though the audio is now just only coming through one ear instead of both for some reason. We see a clip of Gunn defeating Abyss to win the title and Gunn talks about being away from OVW for over a year due to an injury. He’s worked hard to get here and is ready to face anyone either from OVW or from outside.

His first title defense will take place at a house show on February 16 against the winner of a Rumble that night. Gunn is cool with that because he’s ready for anyone. As for Impact Wrestling, he took the title from their Hall of Famer, so he’s ready for anyone else. Gunn isn’t a bad promo and I can see his star power, at least on this level.

King’s Ransom (the winners of the Nightmare Cup tournament, two guys with a great look) want their Tag Team Title shot against the War Kings RIGHT NOW so here are the champs (Crimson/Jax Dane). However, they want to be defending the titles at the Impact show. After some insults from the champs, Ransom (Leonis Khan and Maximus Khan) jump the two of them and the match is on.

Tag Team Titles: King’s Ransom vs. War Kings

The War Kings are defending and wrestling in street clothes. Maximus slips out of Dane’s fireman’s carry and it’s quickly off to Leonis for a splash in the corner. A double hiptoss keeps Crimson in trouble and a rollup gives Leonis two. It’s back to the bigger Dane, who shoves both challengers away without much effort. Leonis gets two off a crossbody as everything breaks down. The referee gets crushed by a Stinger Splash and the King’s Landing (a double spinebuster) plants Crimson. Another referee comes in after a fifteen second cover to count two. Dane comes in with a belt shot to the head for the DQ at 4:12.

Rating: C-. Now this was more like it with two teams who looked like professional wrestlers. The War Kings are established names (Dane is a former NWA World Champion) and the King’s Ransom have a great look (almost like muscular Usos). I could see the latter team going somewhere with some more polish, and that’s exactly the point of a place like this.

We look back at Snow setting up the gauntlet match.

TV Title: Gauntlet Match

Justin Smooth is defending and it’s Dave Low (the other rapper from earlier tonight) in first and Zo in second. The huge Zo misses a charge into the corner but shrugs off a kick to the face. David dives off the top but gets caught in a World’s Strongest Slam. A Zo Bomb (Vader Bomb) gets rid of David at 39 seconds.

Shiloh Jonze is in third and charges right into a shoulder block. Zo clotheslines him out to the floor and Big D. (the rappers’ friend, a big man in a black wig) gets on the apron, only to have Zo take the wig away. That means some hairy dancing, followed by rapid fire elbows in the corner. Low offers a distraction so Big D. can come in….and get knocked outside again. Jonze charges into Zo’s hips in the corner and another Zo Bomb gets rid of him at 2:34.

Melvin Maximus is in fourth and has the muscles to match up with Zo. The lockup doesn’t go to either of them so Zo spinwheel kicks him down. It’s too early for the Zo Bomb though and Melvin electric chairs him down for the elimination at 4:41. Adam Revolver, who has been having issues with Maximus, is in fifth as we take a break. Back with Melvin punching his way out of a Figure Four so Adam’s manager Shannon the Dude comes in for a failed interference attempt. They brawl on the floor where, in a classic booking move, Shannon grabs Melvin’s foot from underneath the ring so Adam advances by countout at 8:03.

Smooth is in sixth and hits a quick flapjack to take over in a hurry. Revolver slaps on a sleeper but gets driven into the corner in a hurry. What looked to be a bicycle kick (or maybe a running knee to the chest) gets rid of Revolver at 9:30. Drew Hernandez is in seventh but before anything can start, Colton Cage and Dustin Jackson fight their way to ringside. Jackson’s girlfriend Dani comes to the barricade to yell at them to cut it out as Smooth and Hernandez stand around and watch.

Dani comes over the barricade and Colton accidentally knocks her down. Drew FINALLY remembers that he’s in a title match and jumps Smooth from behind….with a low blow for the DQ at 12:23. Another low blow connects and it’s Cash Flo in eighth to complete the field. Flo chops away on the downed Smooth with a seated senton busting up the ribs. A release German suplex has Smooth in more trouble so Flo goes up and dives (despite Smooth being in the opposite corner) into Street Justice (now clearly a bicycle kick) to retain Smooth’s title at 15:18.

Rating: D+. I’m really not sure what the point is in a gauntlet match unless it’s a way to get this many people onto the show at once. The wrestling wasn’t anything great but some of the people stood out more than others, with Smooth having a great look but clearly in need of a lot of ring time. Smooth retaining is fine, though I’m not sure how many weeks in a row something like this is going to work.

Overall Rating: D+. This was up and down to put it mildly, with some people looking like they have potential to go somewhere with more seasoning and some looking like low level indy talent who have no business being out of a training class. That being said, I had a good time with some of what happened here and kind of want to keep going with the show. There’s enough stuff to keep my interest and the stories are certainly easy to follow. Hopefully the next two weeks hold up a bit better, but what we got here was acceptable.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and pick up the paperback edition of KB’s Complete 2000 Monday Nitro and Thunder Reviews Part 1 (also available as an e-book) from Amazon. Check out the information here:

http://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2019/02/22/new-book-kbs-monday-nitro-thunder-reviews-volume-vii-january-june-2000/

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