2/26 WWE Ohio Valley TV tapings: Crash, Bradshaw, Kanyon

WWE Ohio Valley TV taping
February 19, 2003
Louisville, Ky.
Report by Aaron Wilson, PWTorch.com correspondent

(1) Seven & Travis Bane (w/Synn) beat Chris Cage & Orlando Jordan in a dark match. Overall a good way to open off the wrestling loaded night of Ohio Valley Wrestling. Seven and Orlando opened things off with Orlando taking the upperhand with an early headlock, and then went on to work on the arm of Seven. A very back and forth paced match which appeared to be nearly over as Chris Cage made a remorseful comeback for his team delivering a nice flying head scissors to Travis Bane, but it was simply not enough to take the big "Disciple" down. Eventually, Bane and Seven hit their tag team finishing move to seal the victory pinning Cage.

(2) J.R. Ryder beat Mark Mercedes in a dark match. A good match for two people making their Ohio Valley Wrestling Debut, as it really seems that OVW is looking at more and more fresh faces from the independent scene these days. The match opened off with Mercedes and Ryder pushing their tie up into the corner and did some basic ring work until Ryder eventually pulled off a nice hiptoss to Mercedes. The two battled back and forth and were received fairly well to the sometimes harsh Davis Arena crowd. A notable moment of the match was when Ryder pulled off a German suplex which followed a rollup which would usually be a pinning predicament. The only reason this was noteworthy was because Mercedes kicked out of the German Suplex as Ryder locked into the pin. The problem here of course is that this particular maneuver is the current OVW Heavyweight Champion, Nick Dinsmore's finishing move. Regardless was an overall good match seeing Ryder picking up the pinfall after a TKO.

(3) Chris Nowinski (w/Crash Holly) beat Nova. Apparently the match was originally scheduled to be Holly vs. Nova, but Nowinski explained to the crowd that he had purchased the right to wrestle Nova from Holly, as he's been wanting a piece of the former OVW Champion for quite some time now. The crowd eventually erupted into a very loud "Elroy" chant followed by "Harvard Sucks" showing their hatred for the two. Nowinski opened off by spitting in Nova's face and immediately followed this action by running outside of the ring towards Crash, who was waiting to attack Nova. Nova avoided Crash and actually was able to whip Nowinski into Holly sending them crashing into each other, no pun intended. This was overall a very solid match which eventually saw Chris Nowinski gaining the pinfall while using the ropes, as well as helpful distraction by Holly to pick up the victory.

(4) Linda Miles beat Passion in a dark match. A very short match with some action, but nothing major. Passion worked on the arm of Linda Miles early on, but Miles was able to gain the rest of the matches offense after a hiptoss. The match came to a quick and abrupt end about two minutes in where Miles gained the three count after a roll up out of the corner.

Jim Cornette was joined in the ring for the next interview segment by Damaja and Jackie Gayda, who was welcomed warmly to a loud "Hot Tub Ho" chant. Cornette mentioned that Nick Dinsmore was the new Ohio Valley Wrestling champion, as of last week, where he pinned Damaja with the german suplex. Damaja claimed that it wasn't because Dinsmore was better, not because he himself screwed up, but because Doug Basham screwed up by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Damaja eventually went on to state that he hoped Doug Basham would win the Title in the TV Main event tonight against Dinsmore because that meant that the fans would finally get to see who the supreme force in the Revolution is. Eventually, Cornette went on to plug the Derby Expo 5 show, that will be taking place this Saturday. The show will feature a match squaring off Damaja and Basham against Dinsmore and WWE's Bradshaw, as well as a return bikini match pitting Jackie Gayda against Nikita.

(5) Mark Magnus beat Johnny Spade in a dark match. A very good showing for Magnus, as well as the OVW Veteran and lacky for the Revolution, Johnny Spade. The two opened off with some basic arm work, until Spade gained the upperhand by delivering strong shoulder blows to the stomach of Magnus in the corner. Spade continued the attack delivering some solid chops to the chest of Magnus, followed by asking the crowd, who was letting him know how much he sucked, "Who Sucks Now?", followed by the obvious Davis Arena response. An overall entertaining match, with both wrestlers having a good showing, which saw Magnus picking up the upset pinfall after a nice rollup into a bridge.

(6) Rene Dupree & Lance Cade (w/Kenny Bolin, Jerome Croney, Maurice & Nurse Lulu) beat B.J Payne & Matt Morgan (The PayneKillers). Referee's opened things off just before the commercial break by forcing Jerome Croney and Nurse Lulu to the backstage area. As the two refused Cornette even had to help get involved in this mess during the break, but was eventually resolved. The crowd was really after Cade from the get go, with a huge "Big Bird" chant directed towards him. Payne and Cade opened things off with a solid tie up and some basic technical wrestling, Cade attempted to tag in Dupree while in control of Payne early on, but Payne easily escaped Cade's hold. Eventually after B.J. was able to tag in his Seven foot tall partner, Matt Morgan did a nice spot slamming his opponents heads into various turnbuckle corners, and followed by ramming them into each other, entertaining stuff. Morgan played the dominant powerhouse in this match, where at one point managed to break a double clothesline attempt by Cade and Dupree and delivered a solid double clothesline of his own to the two of them. The match came to an end as the Butler to Rene Dupree, Maurice stood on the ring apron and distracted B.J. Payne. At this point Cade was isolating Morgan, which the ref was watching, as Bolin slid the BS briefcase into the ring. Dupree then managed to use it on Payne as he turned around and picked up the pinfall and the victory to follow.

During the commercial break Dean Hill announced that Hulk Hogan would be appearing at the 3/18 Smackdown tapings in Louisville.

(7) Nick Dinsmore beat Doug Basham (w/Nikita) to retain the OVW Hvt. Title. The new OVW Champion was welcomed very warmly by a thunderous "Go Nick Go" chant, during the commercial break prior to the TV Main event. This was by far a very technically sound match, and a very impressive performance from both Dinsmore and Basham. Early on the two went to a test of strength, which actually pitted Dinsmore on the receiving end of Basham's superior strength, but the mat technician and experienced OVW veteran was able to maneuver his way out of the grapple of Basham, applying a nice headscissors to Basham after a headlock take down. The match went through a commercial break which saw Basham pull a stunt on Dinsmore, not once but twice. Basham threw Dinsmore over the top rope, which is a disqualification, but the referee was distracted by the lovely Nikita standing on the ring apron. This was followed by Doug Basham getting the referee's attention as Nikita cheap shotted Dinsmore who was laying on the outside. The match continued to it's climactic point as it appeared Dinsmore was about to pick up the victory after his patented series of Atomic Drops followed by a german suplex, but to no avail as the Title Contender was able to kick out at the count of two. Dinsmore regained the offense and went to the top rope to hit a missile drop kick, but Nikita shook the ropes causing Dinsmore to be racked on the top turnbuckle The match progressed, until Basham was able to pull off his finish of a double underhook into a front slam, but the remorseful Dinsmore was actually able to kick out at the count of two as well. At this point it was obvious that the Revolution had seen enough and did not want their leader to lose cleanly to Dinsmore. Just as Dinsmore applied the Crippler crossface to Basham Johnny Spade came out to distract the champion. Which worked, Spade was followed by Kanyon, who still wasn't able to take out Dinsmore, but eventually outnumbered the champion as Damaja came into the ring and delivered the Brain Damage. This caused the ref to call for the bell throwing out the match, but the pummeling of Dinsmore just got under way. After many people tried to make the save, Johnny Jeter showed the greatest effort, but was still unable to clear the ring due to the attack by Kanyon. After a minute or so WWE's Bradshaw stormed his way down to the ring to a HUGE ovation and cleaned house of the Revolution. After the cleaning of the ring, Bradshaw opened a case of Coor's Light, and said at the risk of gimmick infringement, he wanted all the wrestlers in the ring to drink a beer celebrating Dinsmore's Title Reign, as they all did as the cameras went off the air to a tremendous celebration and ovation for Bradshaw. Concluding another solid night of Ohio Valley Wrestling TV, bonus match to follow.

(8) Rob Conway & Johnny Jeter beat Kanyon & Damaja in a dark match. This wasn't your typical Bonus Dark match, which usually takes place in OVW. The match was very in ring oriented, as opposed to the typical crowd-popping, Memphis style match, but was still entertaining to the crowd who had already endured seven good wrestling matches. I honestly can see big money to be made in all four of the competitors in this match in the not too distant future if the WWE plays their cards right, they are certainly dealt a fine hand. Was a good match which saw Rob Conway being isolated by the heelish tactics of Damaja and Kanyon throughout most of the match. Jeter was able to get some high flying offense in, as the crowd really seems to be very happy seeing Jeter get to lay it into Kanyon, after months of build up. Kanyon was mocked by some ringside fans who imitated his rendition of the Boy George song Kanyon sang on Smackdown! Which was some very entertaining stuff. The match came to an end as Kanyon missed a moonsault attempt to Jeter, and Jeter made the hot tag to Conway who really laid it into Damaja. Conway followed by delivering a stiff DDT to Kanyon, but only managed to pick up a two count thanks to the break up caused by Damaja. Eventually after Jeter was made the legal man, he was able to hit his picture perfect top rope spinkick to Kanyon and pick up the three count and the victory.

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