Ohio Valley Wrestling, the former WWE feeder promotion responsible for training John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Batista, and Randy Orton, has been bought by two prominent businessmen local to the Kentucky area.
Founder of Kentucky Sports Radio Matt Jones and Craig Greenberg, the former CEO of 21c Museum Hotels, are the two most prominent names listed in a four-person investment group that has purchased the majority interest in the company.
Speaking on his radio show Jones said he hoped to increase the company’s standing within the wrestling industry while also transforming the Al Snow Wrestling Academy, OVW’s associated training school, into a world-class institution:
“I’m not kidding — I think we can make the biggest wrestling school in America.”
Al Snow will continue to run the day-to-day operations of OVW alongside previous owners Larry Benz, Chad Miller and Joe Reeves.
As well as producing some of the most popular and recognisable wrestlers of the last 20 years, OVW is also responsible for training and enhancing the talents of such current stars as Cody Rhodes, The Miz, John Morrison and Kofi Kingston. It also provided the basis on which WWE shaped large elements of its own in-house training program and facility.
New owner Jones seems to have a clear vision of how he wants to grow the organisation, starting with expanding into more local markets and venues:
“I want to take it to small towns all over the state…my idea is we should be doing this at county fairs, everywhere.”