OVW

OVW, short for Ohio Valley Wrestling, is an American professional wrestling promotion and training facility based in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in the late 1990s, OVW operated as a regional wrestling promotion and gradually developed into a key training ground for aspiring performers and for talent pipelines into larger wrestling companies.

In the 2000s, OVW served as a developmental territory for major promotions, most notably providing a structured program for wrestlers aiming to reach national stages. The organization combines live events with a formal training component at the OVW Training Center in Louisville, where performers learn in-ring technique, character work, and promo skills under experienced coaches.

OVW maintains its own championship lineage, featuring a heavyweight title and other divisions that are contested on OVW events and related media. The promotion has toured across the Midwest and Southeast and has distributed content through various media channels, including streaming platforms and local television partnerships at times.

As an industry contributor, OVW is credited with developing a number of performers who later moved on to larger promotions and achieved higher-profile success. Today, OVW continues to operate as an independent wrestling promotion and training facility, sustaining a regular schedule of live events and a continuing program for aspiring wrestlers.