Let’s get right to it. Wavell, in February of this year you were invited down to Ohio Valley Wrestling. Let’s start by having you tell the fans at home what OVW is.

Actually, it was Feb of last year, and I started there last September remaining there for the better part of one year. OVW is the official developmental training grounds for WWE

How did you get invited to their camp?

I read about it in Jim Ross’ Ross Report detailing the camp and immediately applied. I was one of 55 selected out of thousands, and one of about 10 that were invited back.

Were you guaranteed a spot on their roster just by attending camp?

No- they were to evaluate our ability and potential and only those WWE and OVW staff felt had potential for a future with their company were invited back. Many were told to keep at it for reconsideration down the line, some were told to keep it as a hobby and nothing else.

So how did you earn your spot?

We were put through drills, promos, and matches in front of WWE and OVW agents. I guess I impressed them with my performance in those. My character is something that territory has seen for over ten years.

What was a typical day like in OVW?

OVW is full time- like no other territory anywhere. Practices were 8am- 1pm Monday-Thursday, with weekly TV tapings Wed eve, and house shows on the weekend. We had one or two days off per week at the most. The practices were very thorough and revolved around the fundamentals. The same way a football player does tackling technique drill everyday, and the same way basketball players practice shooting, passing and dribbling everyday, we would mat wrestle, do pinning drills, and perform promos all the time.

What was your name in OVW, and were you able to keep any of the trademark moves you used in POW?

I performed as “Standing Thunder”, very similar to “Stands With the Thunder” as I had been using in the IWA Winnipeg territory and wrestled as I normally do, except I no longer use a frog splash. So many guys use it, and I feel I am capable of drawing the same reaction with other moves. Originality is important to me. The style down there just happens to be the style I have been wrestling practically all my career, so it didn’t take much getting used to. I am an old school rassler- I don’t need to use tables, or weapons, or every high spot in the book in order to accomplish my goal. I will find a weakness and wear the opponent down with that weakness. Too many Indy guys go out there and "get their shit in” without any logic behind it other than doing it just because they know how to do it. Any move I do in a match is in the calculated attempt at wearing down a body part and trying to win the match in order to earn money. That is the reason for having the contest in the first place- to win money.

I followed your career down in Kentucky, and you got a couple of major pushes, one as a singles competitor for the heavyweight belt and one as part of a tag team. Tell us what was happening.

I progressed very quickly as a singles competitor, having accumulated the longest running undefeated streak in recent OVW history and surpassing everyone else in order to become the number one contender for the heavyweight belt. My tag matches were usually issues that arose due to my keen “save the good guy in trouble” record. I saved everyone and their dog! I tagged with Nick Dinsmore (Eugene), and Matt Cappatelli on occasion.

How did the call up to “The Fed” come about?

First, no one calls it the Fed anymore but how would you know. The office was familiar with me from the scouting efforts and developmental reports being done by the agents in Louisville. I heard WWE was going to be doing TVs in Calgary, so I asked Jimmy (Cornette) to put in a word for me, and that was that. I have been doing a fair bit of work with WWE as of late.

What have your WWE matches been so far?

April 19- VS GMS on Heat in Calgary
July 5- VS Nova Dark in Wpg
July 6- VS Colon Dark in Wpg
Aug 16- VS Maven Heat in London, Ont
Aug 17- VS Jindrak Velocity in Hamilton
Sept 13-14 coming up as well in Seattle/ Spokane

Tell us a bit about each of those matches and what it was like being on the road with the WWE.

The highlight of my career was hearing the overpowering heel reaction I received in Winnipeg July 5 versus Nova. We were the opener, and the crowd is anxious to boo or cheer anything. We locked up and I quickly hit him with a short armdrag then turned to taunt the crowd. I heard a low rumble that just erupted into a resounding BOOOOOO that echoed throughout the arena. I got chills and finally felt very comfortable in the WWE ring. If I could freeze any moment in time, it would be that time.

The very next day, I wrestled Carlitos “Caribbean Cool” Colon and the crowd decided to get behind me. We had a very good match that WWE agent Tony Garea was very happy with. My Heat match versus Maven a few weeks ago was another of my favorites, as I became increasingly confident performing in front of the WWE audience.

I understand you don’t talk to Vince McMahon unless you’re asked to talk to Vince McMahon. How did the introduction come about?

Your understanding is erroneous. I turned the corner and there he was. I introduced myself and we shook hands.

Now back to OVW, you wrestled some tremendous talents down there, who were some of your favourites to work, and who are going to be major players in the WWE one day?

Eugene is the most over character in a long while and there is a reason for it- Nick Dinsmore. Renee Dupree (who I defeated in my singles debut at OVW WHILE he was tag champ in WWE by the way) is a strong player right now and will continue to be for a long while due to his youth. I defeated Stevie Richards, Luther Reigns, and John Heidenriech as well, all of whom are major players right now. Joey Mathews is one of the best workers I know and he is very young. He has worked for ECW, WCW, and WWE by the age of 23. His career will take off sooner than later. Oh yeah, I beat him too.

Now even though you took some time off to come home for a bit, are you still under contract with OVW?

I am able to work anywhere OVW doesn’t, and have an open invitation to OVW whenever I want.

Are you still training in OVW?

Not currently. I am back home, wrestling mostly at WWE events, with the odd Indy shot here and there. I look forward to working in Saskatoon in the near future. (cough cough)

There are some new talents down there since February, including Lance Storm becoming a trainer, has the OVW environment changed at all?

Administrative changes have occurred as they often do in the business world, but the purpose and intent remain the same. That is to produce WWE superstars.

Are you also under contract with WWE?

I am pursuing a developmental contract with WWE and hope to become an employee of WWE in the near future. As of right now, I am not under contract.

Last month on Velocity you wrestled Mark Jindrak, does this mean more TV appearances?

I have appeared on WWE television three times, but this does not necessarily mean more appearances. However, I am more interested in a developmental deal than more television time.

Your career’s going to start skyrocketing very soon, where can your fans go to keep up with your latest news?

Only at POW’s website. I’m too busy wrestling and stuff to maintain a website of my own.

Here’s your chance to put someone over, if OVW asked you to bring a tag team partner with you from POW, who would you bring?

I would not take anyone if they didn’t deserve it. The boys are not ready for this level as of yet, however I would take anyone that wanted it enough to get themselves to the point where they are ready. There is a HUGE difference between OVW/ WWE and Indy wrestling. Having said that, the entire POW roster is loaded with potential and any of them could go far if they put in the hard work. Not many guys do though.

And what if they asked you to bring a writer?

I heard this Drake kid was pretty good, but I just keep asking myself “who is this guy?”. OVW has no time for internet writers anyway, as any kid with a computer can get acknowledged as an “expert” without paying any dues what-so-ever.

Always a gentlemen. Thank you for your time Wavell.

As always, comments, questions, praise is always welcome. Now that the mighty POW website is rolling again you can post them on the message board.

The Drake