These days, World Wrestling Entertainment currently has one devoted developmental promotion in the form of NXT, which has been running since 2012. But before that, WWE has boasted numerous farm leagues over the years -- sometimes several at the same time -- with the most successful of which being Ohio Valley Wrestling.
Based in Kentucky, OVW was WWE’s developmental system from 1999 to 2008, after which WWE shifted to Florida Championship Wrestling as its sole territory. But OVW was a pretty interesting company that produced a ton of great, notable talent, so let’s take a look at some things about the promotion that some fans might not know about.
10 It Introduced Countless WWE Stars
As the promotion’s primary developmental territory for much of the 2000s, Ohio Valley Wrestling is responsible for many of WWE’s stars during the Ruthless Aggression Era. Even if you’re just talking about main event top guys, that list includes John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, and Batista. But the hits didn’t stop there -- OVW can also boast wrestlers who became stars further down the line Cody Rhodes, Natalya, Beth Phoenix, The Miz, and CM Punk as alumni.
9 It Opened in 1993
While many fans know it best as WWE’s developmental system, Ohio Valley Wrestling actually started in 1993 as the National Wrestling Alliance affiliated NWA Ohio Valley. Founded by journeyman wrestler Danny Davis, OVW broke away from the NWA in 1997. Jim Cornette, who was working for WWE at the time, bought into the company in order to establish it as a developmental promotion. From there, Cornette took to running the promotion, booking, and even providing commentary.
8 Ryback Debuted There
For most WWE fans, Ryback debuted in 2012 after a less-than-stellar stint as game-show era NXT contestant and Nexus member Skip Sheffield. However, that fateful Monday Night Raw was not the first appearance of “The Big Guy.”
When he was in WWE developmental, he wrestled under his real name of Ryan Reeves in both Deep South Wrestling and Ohio Valley Wrestling until 2008, where he suddenly started going by Ryback and ended up winning the OVW Heavyweight Championship. Ryback kept the name until it was changed to Skip Sheffield in Florida Championship Wrestling in 2009.
7 Paul Heyman Worked There
After Jim Cornette was fired from WWE in 2005, Paul Heyman took over the gig running creative for OVW. Around the same time, CM Punk debuted for the promotion, and Heyman took an interest in the former Ring of Honor star and new WWE signee. Eventually, Heyman was tapped to spearhead the ECW revival in 2006, and CM Punk was one of the first new stars to debut on the show.
6 It Was Affiliated With Ring of Honor
Speaking of ROH, a couple of years after WWE cut ties with Ohio Valley Wrestling, the promotion forged a relationship in 2010 with Ring of Honor, which at the time was being run by Jim Cornette. This partnership only lasted until late 2011 but did result in ROH filming its weekly show at OVW’s Davis Arena as well as Cornette returning to book the promotion as he did during his WWE days.
5 It Was TNA’s Developmental, Too
In 2011, just after its working relationship with Ring of Honor, Ohio Valley Wrestling became the developmental territory for TNA (now known as Impact Wrestling), and wrestlers signed to the larger promotion underwent training in Kentucky. Eventually, it would have a role in TNA’s various talent competitions like Gut Check and British Boot Camp, with winners of those competitions going to OVW to get ready for roles on TNA television. However, this relationship only lasted a couple of years.
4 It Had Its Own Developmental Promotion
Given the recent talk about WWE establishing a new developmental promotion below NXT, it may surprise some fans to find out that there’s actually precedent for developmental to have its own developmental.
From 2007 to 2008, Derby City Wrestling was OVW’s own devoted farm league, but after WWE cut ties and moved contracted talent to Florida Championship wrestling, OVW was forced to fold Derby City’s roster in with its own.
3 It Still Exists Today
Despite a tumultuous history and on-again, off-again relationships with various promotions as a developmental system, Ohio Valley Wrestling has managed to outlast even some of the WWE developmental promotions that followed it and is thriving to this day. It still promotes itself as a developmental league responsible for creating future stars and has been home to such notables as Brian Pillman Jr. and Jessie Godderz. In recent years, it’s even rekindled its working relationship with Impact Wrestling.
2 Its TV Show Has Been Running Since 1998
There are a lot of options when it comes to weekly wrestling shows, especially when you factor in the various shows you can watch for free online like AEW Dark and whatever NWA’s got going on this month. Ohio Valley Wrestling is no different, and its weekly show has been running since 1998 -- before the WWE deal -- and has racked up over 1,100 episodes to date.
1 It’s Owned By Al Snow Now
Al Snow has been a prominent figure in OVW’s history since 1999, first wrestling and later assuming a leadership role in the promotion in both its WWE and TNA affiliated eras. His role in Ohio Valley Wrestling increased in 2018 as a retiring Danny Davis ended up selling the promotion to Snow. Nowadays, it’s affiliated with Al Snow’s wrestling school, which has collaborated with OVW to forge a vocational wrestler training program that’s actually accredited by the state of Kentucky.