PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

OVW TV REPORT: PAUL BURCHALL VS. IDOL STEVENS, THE MAJOR BROTHERS, KATIE LEA, STEVE LEWINGTON, MIKE KRUEL, SHAWN SPEARS & MORE

Note from Mike: To read the previous TV report leading into this one, click here. For visual aids on who the wrestlers mentioned are, visit www.OVWrestling.com.

OVW 5/12 Report & Thoughts

Ohio Valley Wrestling TV opened with Dean Hill and Kenny Bolin discussing Shawn Spears' attack on Cody Runnels, voicing over still photos of the incident. They showed clips of Runnels being stretchered out of the ring. Chet the Jet came out and demanded that Spears give him and the fans an answer about why he pulled what he did last week. Spears came out, immediately playing heel. Jet told him that what Spears did sucked. He said that they traveled on the road together and he wants to know why Spears pulled what he did. Spears said that he'll give everyone an answer, and that was, "It's none of your damn business."

Jet slaps him and says it's now his business. He challenges Spears to a match right now and they are on. Spears is now doing a chickensh** heel deal where he begs off and wants to shake hands. Jet cleans house on Spears and goes for his big boot. As he charges, Spears nails an awesome dropkick to the mush and pins him.

They ran a promo announcing Chris Benoit was coming for their Super Summer Sizzler event at Six Flags.

Backstage, Beth Phoenix, is crying upset about Jacob Duncan stalking her. Dan Rodmer (last seen as Daniel Rodimer when I was recapping TV) told her that what she needed was a boyfriend and began rattling off all the things she could do for him and places he could take him. Phoenix had pretty funny flustered facial reactions. Rodmer's delivery was pretty good as the smug guy full of himself.

The Major Brothers vs. Los Locos - Locos are sort of like Public Enemy in ECW, doing a deal where they are always stealing and pawning stuff backstage in vignettes. The Majors had just debuted on WWE's ECW brand at this point. They are originally from the NYWC promotion in New York. Your standard tag match early with the Majors using babyface wrestling moves to control the action. Majors get the win with "The Long Island Express". Quick squash.

Michael W. Kruel and friends did another paid announcement. The Russian and Rouka hummed the Star Spangled Banner as Kruel continued to bury Canada and demanded it be made the 51st state of the United States, using the fact that Canada is located on "North America" as proof America deserves to own it. So far, Kruel's delivery makes me smirk, but he's still finding himself on the mic. Rouka does an OK job on the mic telling everyone, "God bless America, God bless me, and God bless Michael W. Kruel." The whole idea of Kruel ripping on our foreign enemy Canada with two Russians standing behind him is hysterical.

Mike Kruel vs. Steve Lewington - On paper, this should be a decent match because both are good on the mat. Kruel drapes the flag around him like Kurt Angle does in TNA. The Russians are announced as "Team America." Lewington seems a step behind in the ring sometimes. After some back and forth, Kruel goes for his finisher the Libert Lock but Lewington fought out of it. Kruel's facials in the ring have improved insanely well since he's come to OVW. Kruel finally gets the Lock and after struggling, Lewington taps. Kenny Bolin asked if Lewington was, "English or French?" That cracked me up. Decent match.

Backstage, Justin LaRouche confronted TJ Dalton and the back saying he can't believe they actually showed up this week for their match with him and Charles Evans.

We get a shot of the winners of tonight's pizza party.

Jamin Olivencian vs. Justin LaRouche - It turns out to be a singles match, which I didn't realize based on the TV build. Jamin reminds me of a younger version of Xavier, the first ROH champion. Since there's a 5 minute time limit, Jamin jumps out of the ring and runs around to burn time. Justin finally grabs him and drags him to the apron then hits a beel over the ropes into the ring. Justin began working him over with clotheslines and mauling shots. Justin made a quick comeback but got killed. Justin powerbombed him but the time ran out during a 2 count, so Olivencian won the five minute challenge.

Backstage, The James Boys were laughing about how stupid Jake Hager for trying to find another partner. KC said Hager is supposed to be an All American from Oklahoma but he's been able to outwrestle him. He claimed Hager was jumping him from behind, so he needed his "baby brother" from Memphis with him. They laughed about how great they are. Good promo. You'd think KC and Cassidy were actually related.

James Boys vs. Jake Hager & mystery partner - The Fargo Strut is part of the James Boys deal. Hager's partner was named Dirty Money. No idea who Money is. Cassidy and Hager started. Cassidy works like he's got something to prove. KC reminds me somewhat of Tommy Rich as a heel. Hager shows some decent fire. Dirty Money tagged in and didn't do anything but a few clotheslines before being caught with a DDT. The James Boys win.

OVW Women's champion Katie Lea vs. Serena (Non-title) - Lea has great poise and is putting it together as a performer. Serena is a young girl, about 20 years old. She's got a fresh, young, natural look. ODB, the drunken female character, joins Bolin and Hill on commentary, drinking and being loud. She reminds me of a white trash Rosie O'Donnell in personality, not in look. Lea and ODB are a perfect feud with Lea as the polished uppity Brit and ODB as the female Sandman. Serena gets an early two count with a rollup and works Lea over with a few armdrags and hiptosses. Story was Lea kept being distracted by badmouthing ODB, giving Serena chances to take over the bout. Lea finally took over but began screaming at ODB, tripping over the beaten Serena in the process. Serena had a quick flurry of offense and went for a spear, but got caught with the Catnip, Lea's finisher, where she slams the back of the opponent's head into her knee. ODB promised she was going to take the title.

Backstage, OVW Troubleshooter Al Snow was arguing with an unidentified wrestler (Deep South's Bradley Jay) saying that he had been a Heavyweight champion elsewhere but he would need to earn his chance at the OVW title now that he was here. The wrestler said Snow could either give him the opportunity he wants or he'll take it. Snow asked if that was a threat and the wrestler walked off. He walked right into Paul Burchall. They stared down, but OVW champion Aaron Stevens shows up. He and Burchall face off and Stevens asks the new wrestler who he thinks he is. He smirks and says the next OVW champion. Snow warned Burchall and Stevens they are to keep it in the ring tonight or both will be suspended indefinitely.

OVW champion Idol Stevens vs. Paul Burchall - Bradley Jay was watching from the entranceway. Burchall and Stevens go back and forth. Burchall misses a senton splash from the top. Stevens runs him into the turnbuckle. Burchall begins kicking Idol's legs and back. Stevens gets a two count with a jacknife forward roll. Burchall worked over Stevens with a side chinlock. Stevens nails a pair of dropkicks for a two count. Steven whips Burchall, who does the Flair flop over the ropes to the apron. They battle with Stevens pulling Burchall to the top rope, then superplexing him into the ring. Burchall kicks up at two, with Stevens landing on the referee. Burchall crotches Stevens on the top rope, then drags him into the ring, pinning Stevens. Winner and new OVW champion, Paul Burchall. Bradley Jaye points at him from outside the ring, then leaves. We go off the air with Burchall standing over Stevens with the gold title.

Thoughts: Overall, an OK episode. It was nothing worth killings yourself to find but you can see they are trying to give everyone a chance to learn how to do TV. Burchall is great. They did a nice job putting over the mystery of who Bradley Jaye was, especially given he only pops up in the last two segments. The James Boys are showing good charisma together. Obviously the partner story with Jake Hager is going somewhere so this was a nice way to build to that storyline point. Serena is OK in the ring but needs works - at the same time, hey, she's only 20. Katie Lea has got it as far as I'm concerned. ODB's character is funny in small doses. Shawn Spears shows some promise as a heel although my feeling is his best bet to get to the main roster at this point is as a tag guy. Chet the Jet has a perfect look for the main roster and I can see him as a monster type down the line. Where was Charles Evans this week? Majors looked OK. I am happy to see Mike Kruel developing as I thought he was a diamond in the rough back when he was working all the New York City independents. Giving him an entourage is a nice way to add some pizzazz.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet