I'm not going to get into a full review of this week's show, especially since Fro usually post one, but I have noticed some mild changes occuring already with OVW.
First, instead of the standard recap of the previous week's show by actually SHOWING what happened (sometimes leading to five minute intros repeating match footage with no editing) we got Ken Anderson doing a promo about himself and what happened between him, Brent Albright, and Dan Puder. As he continued, clips of the previous week's episode were shown in b&w. I liked this approach better than just the snippets they used to show without any narration.
Second, Maria (from WWE) appears to no longer be from an alternate reality where she has a brain. They're dumbing her down to how she is on RAW. She's somewhat likable either way, so I'll call them even on that one.
Third, they reduced OVW's biggest heel - Aaron "The Idol" Stevens - into a jobber for Ken Anderson. Considering Anderson comes off looking like a blonde Matt Morgan in the ring who does a Kurt Angle impression in his promos, I'm not thrilled with it since I think Stevens is WWE gold in the making. So thumb's down to that, unless they're building a feud there and going to turn Stevens face.
Fourth, instead of multiple ads for the next Six Flags show during commercial breaks, Dean and Al Snow announced the matches from the announcers' desk. Something that is for the better, I believe.
Finally, they reduced OVW Champion, Brent Albright, into a jobber for Dan Puder. Puder, btw, is a guy's whose biggest move beyond the keylock has been a jump off the bottom rope for a punch to the head. Honest. So a big thumb's down to that.
So two thumbs' up, two thumbs' down and one in the middle. In other words, I'm hoping they can make something of this change without destroying the things that were working well in OVW.
BTW, for those of you that saw it - when Puder finished his promo, swung open a door and walked through the door, did it appear to everyone else that he had just walked into a closet? There were supplies and a coat hanging there. It was almost like something out of a Pink Panther movie.
Now if this means they plan to make Puder a Inspector Clouseau character, then that would be cool. :-)
Oh, and btw, Seven (Kevin Fertig, the guy who just lost his WWE contract) appeared on the show in a long match with Ken Doane. Make of that what you will.
I've been meaning to ask this. Puder is the Tough Enough guy right? Is there some inside-joke reason that you call him Dave Puder? Because from what I recall (and OVWrestling.com agrees with me), his name is Dan Puder.
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This show was definitely more ECWized as far as all the backstage segments. The promo at the beginning with Ken Anderson was very Tarantino-esque.
And while Puder got the upper hand in a scuffle with Albright again this week, that isn't "jobbing" to him in a match. It's building up a match for Six Flags.
God bless the men of 2nd Bn, 127th Inf, 32d "Red Arrow" Brigade, WI Army Nat'l Guard...good luck, and come home soon.
Originally posted by Snookum...we got Ken Anderson doing a promo about himself and what happened between him, Brent Albright, and Dan Puder.
Geez, I wish I got OVW-TV up here. Learn to love those Ken Anderson promos...if they totally let him be himself, they'll be damn entertaining. More than once, it was a huge effort for yours truly to not drop the camera @ ringside while holding in the laughs.
Originally posted by Snookum...they reduced OVW's biggest heel - Aaron "The Idol" Stevens - into a jobber for Ken Anderson. Considering Anderson comes off looking like a blonde Matt Morgan in the ring who does a Kurt Angle impression in his promos, I'm not thrilled with it since I think Stevens is WWE gold in the making. So thumb's down to that, unless they're building a feud there and going to turn Stevens face.
Whosajiggawhat!? Ken's promos are usually more Rock-esque than anything (wonder if OVW'll let him bring back his generic-insult "ballchez" catchphrase.) I dunno this Stevens fella, but Kurt is usually the last thing I thought of when Ken was on the mic.
Trust me, give him time...you'll dig him. Dude could easily become OVW's franchise.
Anderson is getting a big push and loads of mic time. Definitely seems like he's one of Heyman's favorites and it looks like he's going to be an ECW-style character with some depth and complexity in his tweaked gimmick.
If OVW is ECW, Ken Anderson is shaping up to be OVW's Raven based on 2 shows. Obviously, the gimmick is way different but the underlying style of how everything he does is produced is the same.
Hopefully this week's report will explain it a little better.
Originally posted by The ThrillWhosajiggawhat!? Ken's promos are usually more Rock-esque than anything (wonder if OVW'll let him bring back his generic-insult "ballchez" catchphrase.) I dunno this Stevens fella, but Kurt is usually the last thing I thought of when Ken was on the mic.
Trust me, give him time...you'll dig him. Dude could easily become OVW's franchise.
Thinking about it a bit more, I don't really have a problem with Anderson: I just didn't care for the way they blew off Stevens in order to give Anderson a push this week. Remember, for us in OVW, Anderson is still a fairly new kid on the block who had gone back and forth between face and heel. Meanwhile, Stevens had been OVW's top heel for many months now. So I guess my attitude isn't so much anti-Anderson as pro-Stevens there. Of course, as I said, if they plan to turn it into some type of feud, I have no problems with that. I would just hate to see Stevens get pushed down because I really like the guy.
I think it's Anderson's body movements in his promos that are reminding me of Angle. His favorite word right now seems to be "Freakin'!" (or, rather, "Fa-reekin'!") which he tends to use with a roll of his head like Angle would. Didn't really notice the Rock in his promos, but I'll keep an eye out for that the next time.
But, seriously, he does look like a blonde Matt Morgan in the face. And I liked Morgan, so I don't mean that as an insult. :-)
Fro, I understand what you mean about Puder's attacks being just a setup for Six Flags, but I believe the execution has been pretty weak. I think they should have had Puder work his way through a few opponents first before having him head straight to the OVW Champion. Just too rushed and makes the champ look like easy prey who can be jumped at anytime, in my opinion.
We'll see if they can pull it off at Six Flags, though.
God bless the men of 2nd Bn, 127th Inf, 32d "Red Arrow" Brigade, WI Army Nat'l Guard...good luck, and come home soon.
Originally posted by FroIf OVW is ECW, Ken Anderson is shaping up to be OVW's Raven based on 2 shows. Obviously, the gimmick is way different but the underlying style of how everything he does is produced is the same.
Ironic...considering Ken worked vs. Raven up here in 2003 (shill shill shill...)
Originally posted by SnookumHis favorite word right now seems to be "Freakin'!" (or, rather, "Fa-reekin'!")
Yep, that sounds about right for Kenny. :-)
(EDIT: So he still looks like this?) (ACW-NWA Wisconsin)
(edited by The Thrill on 26.7.05 1915) Rebecca Louise Ross 1947-2005 R.I.P., Mom...
Just a tad older with a more defined beard on him, but yeah he looks pretty much same. They just updated the "superstar" files over at the OVW site (where I should have looked up Dan Puder to get his name right in the first place) and there's a couple of pictures up there.
wanted to like this show overall, but I ended up only liking parts of it. I liked the opening videos; it really made it feel like a PPV was coming up, even if it wasn't. The opening promo segment was good all around.