OVW TV Show Results - 7th Apr 2007

This was Ohio Valley Wrestling’s 400th show and I can personally say, as someone who saw my first OVW show around 9 years ago, it is amazing to see how far the company has come. As a company that used to tape their TV shows in the rinky-dink gym of the seemingly 500 year old St Therese school and whose biggest star at one time was Rip Rogers, I think they have a lot to be proud of. From that rinky-dink gym they have gone to the very nice Danny Davis arena which is one of the few places that I can think of in this day and age that still has that old-school 1980’s TBS Saturday night feel. In addition to that they have held large scale shows at the Louisville Gardens, which seats around 6,000, and while I’m not sure if they have sold the Gardens out, they have come pretty close.

There are also very few WWE superstars of the last five years or so who haven’t graced an OVW ring at one time or another during their career. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Kurt Angle, Undertaker, Kane, and the New Age Outlaws all appeared during the height of the attitude era. More recent superstars such as John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, Johnny Nitro, the Spirit Squad, Brock Lesnar, Shelton Benjamin, Melina, Maria, and Victoria, were all trained there and had memorable runs in OVW long before they were household names to any WWE fan. And in addition to that prestigious list, OVW has also hosted its fair share of legends in the business. Such legendary names as Jim Cornette, Jim Ross, Jerry “the King” Lawler, “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant, the Fabulous Ones, “Fabulous” Jackie Fargo, “Dirty” Dutch Mantel, “Superstar” Bill Dundee, “Superfly” Jimmy Snuka, Michael P.S. Hayes, and “the American Dream” Dusty Rhodes among others have made appearances at OVW shows.

I feel that OVW has a unique distinction of having a small-time independent feel with big-time or soon-to-be big-time names as you never know who might pop up at an OVW event. Hopefully the company will be able to continue to thrive and flourish here in Louisville and go on to produce another 400 shows. Now that my sentimental rambling is done, on to the show:

The show begins with Dean Hill and Kenny “the Starmaker” Bolin announcing that this is OVW’s 400th show and that they have a lot in store for us this evening. Bolin cuts Hill off and takes all the credit for the company’s success. Bolin goes on to say that since he is such an important facet of the promotion he doesn’t have the time to be everywhere at once and that he has taken the liberty of cloning himself. Bolin then introduces mini-Bolin, a little-person of Bolin’s ample stature, armed with a little Bolin Services briefcase comes to the announce booth to accompany the real Bolin throughout the night.

Next Maria, looking stunning in a blue evening gown, comes out to the ring and introduces current OVW heavyweight champion Aaron “the Idol” Stevens. Stevens comes out with a 400th episode birthday cake and dedicates it to Danny Davis and especially to the OVW fans. Kenny Bolin gets all up in arms and asks why Idol would thank the fans, who he feels deserve no acknowledgement. Idol and Bolin have a face off that ends peacefully enough, but it is clear whose face is going to eventually end up covered in cake.

1st match: “Ironman” Rob Conway vs. CM Punk

Both men came out to a loud ovation, but Punk’s reception was deafening. Punk had his ribs taped up and Conway immediately took advantage with several knee shots to Punk’s injured ribs. Punk countered with a number of forearms and Conway ducked out of the ring to regroup. Punk followed suit and chased Conway around the ring until Conway rolled back in. Punk went up to the top, but was quickly knocked down by Conway. Conway then Irish whipped Punk into the corner and went back to working on the ribs before hot-shotting Punk onto the top rope. Conway then gets Punk into an abdominal stretch using the ropes for leverage. Finally the ref notices Conway's illegal use of the ropes and forces him to break the hold. Conway then argues with the ref leaving his back turned to Punk. Punk runs up and hammers Conway from behind and the two trade blows. Conway then goes for a side kick but Punk grabs the leg and hits a kick to ConwayR17;s exposed crotch followed by several more kicks to the front and side. Punk then comes off the ropes and connects with a flying forearm, followed by a clothes line, an inverted atomic drop and a spinning heel kick into a pin attempt for two. Conway gets a shoulder up but is then met with a knee to the face and ribs. Punk whips Conway into the corner then connects with his patented shining wizard, but misses the bulldog when Conway pushes him into the corner. Conway comes off the ropes but Punk catches him with a slam then locks on the anaconda vice for the win.

Winner: CM Punk

John Cena is the first of several OVW superstars to come on the screen and congratulate OVW on 400 episodes

2nd match: Mike Kruel, Vladimir Kozlov, and Mr. Stronko w/ Rouka vs. Elijah Burke, and Cryme Tyme (6-man tag match)

Elijah Burke comes out to a large pop to interrupt a Mike Kruel promo in the ring. Burke then challenges Kruel and the two Russians to a match, but as they converge on him Burke says that he has some friends to watch his back at which point Cryme Tyme comes out. An all out brawl ensues and Burke and Cryme Tyme clear the ring. Once the ref gets the situation under control Kozlov and JTG are left in the ring to go at it. Kozlov wastes no time in getting JTG in a big bear hug, he crushes JTG for a while then drives JTG into the corner and tags in Stronko in the process. Stronko lands several fists to the head before whipping JTG into a neutral corner and follows him, but JTG leap frogs him and Stronko flies face first into the turnbuckle. Stronko misses a clothesline which JTG ducks and rolls over to his corner to tag in Elijah Burke. Burke then cleans house with several clotheslines to Stronko and Kruel followed by a beautiful dropkick which clears the top rope and hits Kozlov standing on the outside apron. Still on a role Burke takes Stronko down with a flying, rolling forearm. By this time Kozlov has climbed into the ring and clubs Burke in the back. Shad Gaspard makes the save with a big boot to Kozlov’s head and the two spill outside. JTG quickly dispatches with Mike Kruel allowing Elijah Burke to duck a Stronko clothesline and catch him with the Experience as he comes back off the ropes. Burke quickly hooks the leg and takes the pin.

Winner: Elijah Burke & Cryme Tyme

Eugene is the next WWE superstar to appear on the screen to congratulate OVW. What a lot of people may not realize is that before he was saddled with a ridiculous, dead-end gimmick Eugene was actually “Mr. Wrestling” Nick Dinsmore, one of the first two graduates of Danny Davis’s wrestling school, 8 time OVW heavyweight champion, and a phenomenal in-ring worker who has the ability to go hold for hold with anyone on the WWE roster.

3rd match: Melody, Rouka, Beth Phoenix, & Katie Lea vs. Serena, Maryse, Victoria Crawford, & ODB (8 women tag match)

This was a pretty quick match in which every diva with the exception of Melody and Maryse was able to get in some limited ring time. ODB took Katie Lea down with a fall-away slam to score the pinfall. After the match Katie Lea had to submit to a paddling courtesy of ODB per an apparent pre-match stipulation.

Winner: Serena, Maryse, Victoria Crawford, & ODB

Coach was the next WWE persona on the screen and he gave OVW props for 400 episodes before stating that maybe some of the OVW wrestlers would one day be lucky enough to join him on a national television show.

4th match: Jacob Duncan vs. Boogey Man

This was pretty much a battle of the big men as the two have feuded in OVW in the past. The match started out mostly with the two trading kicks and punches until they both went to the outside and Boogey pulled a table out from under the ring and set it up. Later in the match Duncan set a table up inside the ring. The two teased the table spot on the outside for a while until Boogey was finally able to put Duncan through the table with the two handed choke slam. Boogey Man then goes back into the ring to do the crowd pleasing BOOGEY dance. Duncan takes this opportunity to get back up on the apron and grab Boogey by the throat. While his hand is still around Boogey’s throat Duncan steps over the top rope then choke slams Boogey through the in-ring table and pins Boogey for three.

Winner: Jacob Duncan

Johnny Nitro is next on the screen for the 400th episode celebration.

The main event is announced as being a “Run for the Roses” match which is a multi-person match that has two stipulations and the winner will get a future OVW heavyweight title match. The first part of the match will be a Royal Rumble style battle royal in which two wrestlers will come out to the ring first and every 30 seconds an additional wrestler will come out. The only way to get eliminated is by being thrown over the top rope and having both feet touch the ground. After all ten wrestlers have come out then the second part of the match starts. For the second part a golden envelop has been hung at the top of a pole in one of the corners of the ring. The first wrestler to climb to the top of the pole and grab the envelop wins the match. If these rules sound confusing it’s because they confused the hell out of me when I first heard them.

Main Event: Shawn Spears and Cody Rhodes were out first and the heat that has building between the two over the last several weeks was teased. Next out was Charles “the Hammer” Evans and Rhodes and Spears were able to work as team against Hammer as he was eliminated in short order. Daniel Rodimer, Chet the Jett, and Boris Alexiev were out next and all five men engaged in a brawl. Next out was “Platinum” Pat Buck, but as he came to the ring Rombola chased out after him and Buck ran for his life around the ring before ducking into the ring and just as quickly jumping over the top rope and running to the back effectively eliminating himself. Rombola, who wasn’t scheduled to be in the match anyway, closely followed suit. Justin “the Ox” LaRouche was next out, but he suffered the same fate as Hammer and was quickly eliminated. Steve Lewington and Paul Burchall were the last two men out and the second part of the match began. By this time there were seven men left in the ring and up to this point it was a typical battle royal. After a few moments of this all the wrestlers, except for Cody Rhodes, ended up outside the ring. Rhodes briefly teased going for the envelope, but ultimately he chose to help out his partner and he quickly ascended to the top rope and hit a high cross body to the outside effectively taking out Burchall, Rodimer, Alexiev , and Lewington. At this point we went to the last commercial break of the night.

The Highlanders are the last OVW alumni to come on and thank OVW and the fans for all their support.

Back to the main event all seven men are back in the ring once again brawling but Burchall quickly goes to the corner and attempts to shimmy up the pole. However, as he grabs a hold of the pole he inadvertently shakes the envelop free and the envelop floats to the mat. The action immediately comes to a halt as the remaining six men eye each other and the envelop before diving into a pile up. The one man who is apparently unaware that the envelope is no longer at the top of the pole is Paul Burchall as he continues his ascent up the pole. It must not have struck him as odd that no one was trying to stop him. Cody Rhodes emerges from the bottom of the pile up, golden envelope in hand, at the exact same moment that Burchall grabs a bouquet of roses that was at the top of the pole. Burchall seems to think that because he has the roses he is the winner of the match, and as it is announced that Cody Rhodes is the victor Burchall turns around to see Rhodes holding the envelop and immediately blows his stack. While Burchall is stalking around the ring hollering at the ref, Rhodes and Spears are locked into an intense stare, and it is made clear that Shawn Spears is definitely not okay with Cody Rhodes’ winning of a heavyweight title shot.

Winner: Cody Rhodes

Paul Burchall is still raising havoc around the ring and he then eyes current OVW champion Aaron “the idol” Stevens, who has been doing guest commentary during the main event. Burchall gets up in Idol’s face and accuses him of being happy that Burchall failed to secure the title shot. Idol says that he would be happy to give Burchall a title shot and the two engage in a brawl that takes a legion of OVW officials to break up. Burchall is ushered to the back and Kenny Bolin then gets up in Idol’s face and says that he agrees with Burchall, and that Idol was unduly happy that Burchall failed to win the run for the roses match. Without a word Idol grabs Bolin by the head and shoves him face first into the cake that has been sitting unnoticed on a nearby table. Bolin, with a face full of cake, writhes around on the floor kicking and screaming and as mini-Bolin goes up to Idol to protest he gets a face full of cake as well.

After all the action has died down Al Snow comes out to the ring to introduce former OVW heavyweight champion Matt Cappotelli. Matt Capotelli comes out to a thunderous ovation, definitely the loudest of the night, and the ring is surrounded by all the OVW wrestlers and divas. Cappotelli delivers a very heart-felt speech talking about how OVW is his home and his family. He also thanked all the people who have sent him emails and cards for their kindness and prayers. Cappotelli went on to say that his brain tumor has slightly grown and that it is going to require surgery to be removed. Cappotelli said that “game day” is going to be on May 1 and he asked that everyone continue to keep him in their prayers. Matt went on to say that God performs miracles every day and that he knows God has another miracle left for him. It was a very touching talk Matt Cappotelli gave and a very fitting ending to what I thought was a great show. No one better represents what I love about this business better than Matt Cappotelli; he is a tremendous worker in the ring, and a more outstanding person outside of it. I wasn’t personally at this event live, but I was there for Cappotelli’s last OVW appearance and I personally witnessed him staying in the building for several hours after the event was over so that each and every fan that wanted to would have time to talk to him one on one. Matt Cappotelli truly exemplifies class and dignity and I hope that everyone reading this will keep him and his family in their thoughts and prayers as he undergoes brain surgery on May 1.