Title: WWE officially done with OVW.
Description: Let the FCW era begin!
SamoaRowe - February 7, 2008 08:05 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
WWE sent out the following press release today.
WWE® To Cease Affiliation With Ohio Valley Wrestling
STAMFORD, Conn., February 7, 2008 – World Wrestling Entertainment® announced today that Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) will no longer be affiliated with World Wrestling Entertainment as an official developmental territory, making Florida Championship Wrestling™ (FCW™) WWE's official development training facility for talent around the globe.
"Ohio Valley Wrestling has been a tremendous partner with World Wrestling Entertainment through the years, and we thank them for their work in developing many of today's WWE Superstars," said John Laurinaitis, Senior Vice President of Talent Relations. "We look forward to Florida Championship Wrestling playing host to the next generation of WWE Superstars recruited from around the world."
Last November, WWE announced the formation of Florida Championship Wrestling, a new training center for future WWE Superstars. The facility has four wrestling rings and approximately 35 contracted athletes, with plans to increase that number to more than 70 in the near future. The facility is now fully operational, as WWE undertook large-scale renovations to FCW in order to accommodate its training needs. The finished training facility is more than 10,000 square feet, including an arena that will seat nearly 300 fans. The new training facility will also host a weekly show in front of a live audience, to be broadcast for regional television.
FCW is owned and operated by Steve Keirn, a former professional wrestler and producer for WWE. WWE trainer Tom Prichard oversees all talent training at the facility. |
Big F'N Swigg - February 8, 2008 09:31 PM (GMT)
I wonder how this will affect OVW's business?
SamoaRowe - February 9, 2008 03:50 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Big F'N Swigg @ Feb 8 2008, 03:31 PM) |
| I wonder how this will affect OVW's business? |
I'm sure it will destroy it. They'll need to completely reset, since I'm sure most of their angles and top stars are under WWE contract. Matt Sydal is the OVW champion, and he's going to be leaving for FCW.
Mad Dog - February 9, 2008 02:50 PM (GMT)
They'll probably go out of business. They have the base but you're talking they'll have to replace 90% of their roster. The only blessing I can see is their roster was pitiful with the new batch of talent so they could go out and build with some new guys. Or Cornette will work some deal out with TNA.
dynamite kido - February 11, 2008 10:56 PM (GMT)
TNA might actually be able to use something like this to their advantage, although I doubt it.
I doubt this would totally destroy OVW as I'm sure they've built some sort of a fanbase but it'll probably take them sometime to get used to it. If done right they can keep going, but who knows.
Mad Dog - February 11, 2008 11:27 PM (GMT)
Deep South Wrestling is still going without the WWE and they were much less established
dynamite kido - February 11, 2008 11:41 PM (GMT)
That's actually a really good point, although there is a better fanbase for wrestling there I would think.
Mad Dog - February 12, 2008 12:11 AM (GMT)
Yes and no. Georgia has a really food fanbase but DSW has to compete with NWA Anarchy, Georgia Championship Wrestling and a few other feds. But then again, the state has been supporting those promotions for a few years now. It's also done ok for them because they've started using more local talent.
OVW though is a decade old promotion. They have a very established fanbase and on top of that they get great tv ratings.
Viceroy Virus - February 12, 2008 12:17 AM (GMT)
So, will the OVW roster be split between FCW and released?
Big F'N Swigg - February 12, 2008 03:01 PM (GMT)
From what I've read, OVW started Derby City Wrestling as a means to train young local talent for just a scenario as this. Not a bad idea, really.
dynamite kido - February 12, 2008 05:55 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Mad Dog @ Feb 11 2008, 06:11 PM) |
Yes and no. Georgia has a really food fanbase but DSW has to compete with NWA Anarchy, Georgia Championship Wrestling and a few other feds. But then again, the state has been supporting those promotions for a few years now. It's also done ok for them because they've started using more local talent.
OVW though is a decade old promotion. They have a very established fanbase and on top of that they get great tv ratings. |
Gotcha. Although I would say that if there are three companies consistantly running in an area, then there is a decent fanbase.
I'll be curious to see how OVW ratings drop after they get their roster redone after the WWE takes their prospects.
Mad Dog - February 12, 2008 11:03 PM (GMT)
They've remained good even with the WWE yanking talent left and right for years. So I think as long as they bring some big local names and they should be good to go.
SamoaRowe - February 13, 2008 03:42 AM (GMT)
I read somewhere (think it was 411) that it seemed likely that Rob Conway, Nick Dinsmore, and a few other former OVW guys who were released after being on WWE television might be coming back due to loyalty to the territory and their popularity with the local crowds. That would be a nice boost, for sure.
Mad Dog - February 13, 2008 04:09 AM (GMT)
Yeah, rebuilding with guys the WWE released would help them a great deal.
SamoaRowe - February 13, 2008 04:11 AM (GMT)
I'm so high on Conway right now. He's been a blast in the NWA Showcase episodes thus far.
Mad Dog - February 24, 2008 02:16 PM (GMT)
Nick Dinsmore is your new OVW Heavyweight Champion.
SamoaRowe - February 24, 2008 03:51 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Mad Dog @ Feb 24 2008, 08:16 AM) |
| Nick Dinsmore is your new OVW Heavyweight Champion. |
That's good news from OVW. He is very over in that area.