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OVW TV REPORT: CODY RUNELLS' FIRST BIG PROMO, JAY BRADLEY, PAUL BURCHALL, MIKE KRUEL, BETH PHOENIX, DAN RODMAN, STEVE LEWINGTON, AL SNOW, SHAWN SPEARS

When last we left OVW, Cody Runnels had been laid out by his former OVW tag team partner, OVW TV champion Shawn Spears. Paul Burchall had regained the OVW title from Idol Stevens but the so-far unnamed Bradley Jay was waiting in the wings. The drunken ODB wants to get her hands on OVW Women's champion Katie Lea while Beth Phoenix was scared of Jacob Duncan stalking her, which led to Dan Rodman picking her up. Mike Kruel was out to declare Canada the 51st State and Vladimir Kozlov...sucked. Onto the latest!

For a visual aid of who some of the WWE developmental talents featured here are, visit www.OVWrestling.com

Ohio Valley Wrestling TV Report & Thoughts 5/19

Earlier today, OVW champion Paul Burchall and Idol Stevens were arguing over Stevens getting a rematch tonight with Troubleshooter Al Snow. Snow finally laid down the law that Stevens had a rematch clause in his contract so it would be tonight. Bradley Jay showed up again saying he wanted his own title shot, tonight. Burchall said that he doesn't even know who he is (and at this point, the viewers don't even know either) so Jay reiterated that he'll either get his opportunity or he'll take it. He walked off. Stevens promised Burchall he'll see him in the ring.

Dean Hill and Kenny Bolin run down the card, noting Chet the Jet will face the debuting "Jay Bradley" so that's his new OVW ring name.

"Gothic Mayhem" Johnny Punch and Platinim Pat Buck vs. The Major Brothers - Mayhem do a punk rock gimmick although only Punch looks the part. Buck looks like he'd be better served for a surfer gimmick in the vein of Sunny Beach or Ray Odyssey. They have two valets including Ronnie James. The Majors do a lot of fast double team moves. Kenny Bolin said they were identical twins, when they actually aren't even related. The Majors kiss the valets when they get on the apron before hitting their finisher, a Side Russian Legsweep by one/neckbreaker by the other, which is titled the Long Island Express.

Backstage. Beth Phoenix was looking for Dan Rodman where Jacob Duncan showed up. In the background, Rodman saw this and ran the other way, closing a door. Duncan told Phoenix not to be scared of him and that he had a treasure for her inside a paper bag. Phoenix told Duncan she didn't want it and she has a boyfriend. Duncan looked down. Rodman grabbed Phoenix, saying they had a match and then pulled her through the door, slamming it shut. The masked Duncan pounded on the door in frustration.

Dan Rodman vs. Michael Hutter - As Rodman and Phoenix entered the ring, Phoenix had these great facials that said "What am I doing?" Phoenix is a total hottie. Duncan was above the entranceway looking down on them. Rodman hiptosses Hutter (who signed a few months back and was a regular for AIW in the Midwest) then asked for a kiss on the cheek. She was hesitant. The story is she doesn't really want to be around Rodman but needs protection from Duncan. They kept going to Duncan for reaction shots. Rodman nailed a full nelson slam for the pin. Squash city. Rodman tried to kiss Phoenix who turned her head then tried to acquiesce him. Duncan was pounding his own head in frustration. It's something like Randy Savage and George Steele with Phoenix as the hesitant Miss Elizabeth.

It was time for another Mike Kruel paid announcement. Kruel said that Canadians were "socialistic scum" for having having public health care, while Americans tries to take care of things themselves. He called Canada a communistic country for not having a President. He demanded it become the 51st State. Rouka's delivery of the catch phrase is growing on me.

Mike Kruel vs. Atlas Da Bone - Da Bone is a really muscular version of Disco Inferno with a colorful afro and big gold chain around his neck. Da Bone's look is such an overpowering colorful cartoon character I can see him as an eventual call up. Since he's 34 and around the business around six months, I really can that happening, too. Kruel escapes a press slam, then goes right after the arm to weaken it for the Liberty Lock. Da Bone hits a Samoan Drop then rolls him up for a two count. Kruel nails a belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Kruel goes back to work on the arm. Da Bone missed a charge in the corner, nailing his shoulder in the ringpost. Kruel rolled him up for a near fall. Kruel goes right back to the arm. They are telling a good story in the ring with Kruel as the wrestler working on an extremity while Da Bone has flashes of offense with power. Kruel finally got the Liberty Lock. Da Bone fought hard to get out before finally tapping. I enjoyed this.

Backstage, Justin The Ox LaRoche stormed into Jamin Olivencia's locker room and told him that everyone knows Ox had him beat last week. He told Jamin they were having a rematch tonight. Jamin is way smaller but still stood his ground in LaRoche's face.

Justin The Ox LaRoche vs. Jamin Olivencia - No Charles Evans again this week. Jamin charged right into LaRoche and got laud out. He sent Jamin into the air letting him crash to the mat. Jamin fought back but got caught with a slam. LaRoche suplexed Jamin into the ring from the apron but Jamin's partner TJ Dalton tripped him and held the leg. Jamin gets the pin. LaRoche destroyed both. LaRoche plays a convincing monster when he's in with smaller guys. The Major Brothers finally hit the ring for the save, so I guess we know what the next OVW Tag Title feud will be.

Backstage, OVW Women's champion Katie Lea was admiring herself in a mirror. ODB showed up, dragging Al Snow into the room demanding he tell Lea something. ODB is awesome as the overbearing loud trailer park girl. He told Lea her 30 days were up and she was required to defend the title. Lea tried to claim there was a list of contenders, but Snow said ODB was the top contender. ODB laughed in Lea's face. Lea stepped backwards and claimed she "twisted her ankle." Lea said she didn't think she could wrestle for at least "two weeks." Snow said that was perfect because they run Six Flags in two weeks, so he made the match. Wouldn't that be at least 44 days without a title defense? Snow left. ODB told Lea that in two weeks the title was coming home to her and left, toasting her with a beer. Lea looks angry, then pouted, stomping her foot...with the "bad ankle". I thought that was priceless.

KC James was in the ring and demanded that Jake Hager come to the ring to finish their differences once and for all. His music played but Cassidy James came out carrying a scarecrow dressed like Hager complete with Oklahoma State sweatshirt and singlet. Cassidy began talking in a falsetto "as Jake" saying he knows that KC is superior to him and is nothing but a yellow belly coward. KC began beating the crap out of their scarecrow. All we need is a Jim Cornette to manage the James Boys to add to the Southern dimension. Jake Hager hit the ring and ran them out of the ring. He grabbed the mic and screamed at them that at Six Flags he has a partner and it will be a big surprise for them. The James Gang looked surprised at ringside. The James Boys are really my favorite act in the company right now.

Jay Bradley vs. Chet the Jet - Bradley worked as Brad Bradley for IWA Mid-South and some other Mid-Western independent groups before signing. He's got a great smug look on promos and sort of reminds me of a young Steve Corino. They go back and forth before Bradley nails a lariat for the pin. Match was decent.

Bradley grabbed the ring mic and said that he warned everyone that he would get a shot or he'll take it. He challenged OVW champion Paul Burchall to come to the ring right now and give him a title match. Burchall came out and grabbed a mic at ringside. He said that Bradley was confused and doesn't know what Burchall is capable of. He grabbed a staffer and began menacing him. Idol Stevens came out and challenged Burchall to fight him right now. Bradley got involved and it turns into a three-way brawl. Security was unable to break them up so Bill Watts, er, Al Snow arrived on the scene with a baseball bat. Snow warned them he would shove the bat up their a**. He said he was tired of all three of them and were to leave the building immediately or he was going to crack their head open with the bat, then call the police on all of them. Security dragged all of them out as Snow was screaming at them. Good old school angle. Snow was great as the figurehead.

Dean Hill and Kenny Bolin said that it appears they had lost their scheduled main event because everyone was suspended and thrown out. They announced a standby match with Steve Lewington challenging OVW TV champion Shawn Spears instead.

OVW TV champion Shawn Spears vs. Steve Lewington - from a visual standpoint, Spears looks a little like Jamie Noble, so maybe that's a role he can be slotted into down the line for the main roster. Lord knows we could use some Jamie Noble on TV. Lewington looks like the second coming of Davey Boy Smith in the late 1980s. Spears plays cowardly heel early, stalling. Lewington hits a European uppercut with Spear falling through the ropes to the floor, where he continued to back off. Lewington chased him into the ring, but was cut off. Spears tried to throw a chop but Lewington grabbed his arm. Spears "Oh crap" reaction was funny. Lewington hit headscissors off the corner. Spears took over after catching Lewington in the eye. Lewington cleaned house and finally nailed a bulldog. Lewington went for a suplex but Spears escaped and kicked him in the gut. Spear dropkicked him in the mush and scored the pin. Good match. Spear's crybaby persona is evolving.

On the OVW screen, Cody Runnels was sitting on a coach in a neck brace with his pet bulldog on his lap. He asked Spears why he took away his chance from getting the OVW title. He asked Spears why he wanted to cripple him and asked what he was telling his fans and family. He wondered if Spears was claiming he has a no good second generation daddy's boy. Perhaps he was frustrated they were teaming and Spears had to cover for Runnel's inexperience. He wondered what Spears' excuses were. He said for the last two weeks, he was sitting at home not able to talk to anyone and not able to get in the ring. He said that he knows the truth - and that is that every time they teamed or traveled or trained, Runnels wanted it a little more then Spears and Spears couldn't take it. He told Spears that if he didn't want to be his partner anymore, that would have been fine but there are other ways to deal with things then what Spears pulled. Runnels said that Spears holds dear - the OVW TV title, "Laura" (I'm assuming a girlfriend), and his career... "You will lose everything." They went back to Spears who looked scared in the ring and looked down at his title and at the crowd as they went off the air.

This was actually an important moment in history as it was Runnels' first big promo on the babyface side of a singles feud. He was OK from a talking standpoint, but visually he looked intense and at the end when he promised to take everything away from Spears, I bought he meant it. One thing I was happy to see is he isn't trying to emulate or even imitate his father, which bodes well for his own development. The only thing I would have done differently is had Runnels looks like he hadn't shaved in two weeks and as if he had sat through hell. I'll never forget when Gary Wolfe broke his neck in ECW and when he came back to give a "farewell promo", he legitimately looked like hell because he was...so even if the visual is created, that sense of realism goes a long way.

Of the recent weeks I've caught up on, this was easily the best. Some good wrestling here, a good storyline evolution with the Runnels promo and a fun brawl/angle in the OVW title picture. The storylines are coming together and it feels like a smaller version of Monday Night Raw, which is what it should be. Good solid stuff. I still think its a travesty Beth Phoenix isn't on the main roster, but that's a rant for another day.

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