It’s been a while since I was a regular at Davis Arena, but after two weeks in a row, it’s clear to see why Hotpoint Arena is absolutely packed this summer.
The talent continues to churn in and out of the building as it always has. New faces appear. Beloved stars move on – or step aside temporarily, either to rehab injuries or take a few bumps elsewhere.
OVW looks very different now than it did in the post Netflix Wrestlers era. Some top stars continue to shine: Freya the Slaya, Tony Gunn, Jack Vaughn, Big Zo. Some stars have come into their own: Kal Herro, Crixus, Super Z.
And some stars are just beginning their journey.
Eric Surge is a newer face at OVW. He’s already carrying one of the company’s top titles. He’s got size, he’s got charisma, but most important, he has the love of the fans. One young fan seated near me became very incensed when Crixus used a baseball bat to steal a non-title win tonight.
Surge is just one of a few new faces the fans seem to love. Take Tommy DeNiro, for instance. Tommy’s the “son” of Jay DeNiro, who has stepped out of Tony Evans’s shadow and turned babyface. As cool, calm, and collected as Jay is, Tommy is the exact opposite. Excitable. Frenetic. It’s like the old Looney Tunes with the bulldog and his little brown dog pal who wants to be big and strong. And it works. Tommy’s got skills in the ring, but more than that, he knows how to get over. He’s got a great mentor at his side in Jay, and he’s one of the new kids to watch.
The man behind Percival Goodington XIII is not a new face to many in Kentuckiana. Long time Grindhouse fans would recognize him immediately as Dude Baddington. (He also had a few featured extra roles in Queen of the Ring. Goodington made his debut tonight as the butler for Super Z. Dressed in a black suit, wearing a Robin-like mask, and carrying a black umbrella, Goodington feels part Alfred, part Kato. He dispatched Super Z’s rogues gallery of villains, giving the super hero some much needed back up in his ongoing feud with Star Rider and company.
Anthony Catena is not exactly a new face at OVW, but the persona he’s giving off in the ring certainly is. Catena was a solid mid-carder a few years back, a reliable babyface who would defeat a low level heel one week and lose to a big name the next. In his time away from OVW, he found his voice, and a new level of swagger. Now the front man in the heel faction called The Trifecta, Catena’s promos and commanding ring presence have put him on a level playing field with top babyface Kal Herro.
And then, there’s Stephen Steel.
The fans at Hotpoint Davis Arena used to hate Stephen Steel. He was arrogant. Slovenly. Pale. And definitely not the 169 pounds he claimed to weigh. Steel has done nothing to change his appearance or his persona, and yet… the fans have come to adore him.
When Steel speaks, you can hear shades of Dusty Rhodes in his voice. There’s a touch of Adrian Adonis, and of Chris Farley. He’s absolutely fearless with his body, confident in ways most people can only dream of.
It wasn’t a surprise to see him slink out of the ring to hide out before the Number One Contender Battle Royal tonight. It’s the way he did it that was so darn entertaining. The knowing look to the crowd. The gleeful smile that said, “I know how to win this thing.” The endless posing for the fans at ringside.
Stephen Steel is a star. And once you’ve experienced Stephen Steel, you’ll find him hard to hate.
I haven’t even touched on the women’s division and The Lovely Miss Larkan. Or the return of American Gladiator J-Rod. Or the electrifying work of OVW legend Jamin Olivencia. Or the way Kal Herro has completely transformed from the Fanny Pack Kid into The Face of OVW.
Though I have to think Jessie Godderz will have something to say about Kal’s new status if/when he returns.
The bottom line is OVW is firing on all cylinders right now. The building is more than 3/4 full. The action is terrific. And new stars continue to rise.
If you’re in the Louisville area, you need to pay a visit.
If you’re not from Louisville, but it’s on your travel agenda, add a stop at OVW to your plans.
A big thank you to OVW Fan Zone member Wendy Tayloe for the “hot” photo of Stephen at the top!Â