by J.D.Missouri Valley Wrestling owner Ray McAvay and Chief Business Officer Juliette LeBlanc held a company meeting yesterday morning with MVW wrestlers and backstage staff to review recent events and relate how they will affect MVW going forward.
McAvay started the meeting by telling everyone recent events concerning the Phoenix Wrestling Alliance means the landscape has changed dramatically since the last house show before the summer break took place in Springfield, Missouri back on June 18th.
The Obvious Elephant in the Room-PWA
LeBlanc announced the recent additions to the Phoenix Wrestling Alliance: sanctioned Violence organization and Online Championship Wrestling, joining High Octane Wrestling, PRIME Wrestling, SHOOT, and MVW.
What does all this mean for MVW?
McAvay assured everyone nothing will materially change for MVW- other than the fact MVW shows will not only appear on HOTv but also the new PWA network. The big upside for MVW is the opportunity for more eyes to be on the product. McAvay called that huge and a win-win for a small company looking to grow and find its footing among five much larger companies.
Ads for sVo, OCW, and SHOOT will begin to appear on MVW’s Wrestling Night in the Heartland when it returns on Wednesday August 3rd to go along with the ads for HOW and PRIME.
The State of Missouri Valley Wrestling
McAvay said MVW is in really good shape.
The pay per view numbers for Wrestling Night in America were where he and Juliette hoped they’d be.
The return of Adam Ellis has helped out immensely even though McAvay admitted he wouldn’t be surprised if Ellis ended up at a larger company sooner than later. ‘Redneck’ Bill Dickinson, J.J. Bittinger, John O’Reilly, and the emergence of Captain Jack will give the division some depth.
Scott Stevens’ indefinite suspension is over and he’ll be back to spread the Gospel according to Lee Best.
The Women’s Division is also strong. Tori McGill completed her three-year journey to the top with her win over Shizuko Yamazaki at Wrestling Night in America. Even with the loss, Yamazaki will continue to be a top contender in the division along with four-time champion Lisa Barbosa-Stevens. Debbie the Destroyer should creep up into title contention as well and you can never overlook Kirsten Canfield.
The Stevens Dynasty arrived in MVW with great fanfare and they’ve lived up to their end of the bargain. But again, the Men’s Tag Team Division has depth with The Kentucky Redneck Mafia gunning for a return to the top, The Kardoucheian Empire all but begging for a title run, and the former champions Dark Overlords of Wrestling lurking.
The Women’s Tag Team Division will get very interesting. The Hanson Sisters have brawled their way to the top again. The Missouri Valley Fight Club remains dangerous. Jill Berg Enterprises will be a team to be reckoned with. The division is stacked with The Rose Warriors, former two-time tag champions The Pinups, and Bethany Stewart/Shelley Briscoe also aiming to get into the title discussion.
There were two additions to the roster during the five-week summer break. The Alabama Gang (R.G. Jenkins and Mark Hendry) earned a promotion to the main MVW roster to compete in the Men’s Tag Team division. McAvay believes the Dickinson brothers will eventually align with them to form a faction.
Also brought in- the Latina Extreme aka LATX- to further bolster what is already a very strong Women’s Tag Team division. Raqual Ramirez and Christina Garcia both bring years of experience in the ring and come to MVW the from Independent Western Wrestling World aka… I3W.
McAvay also secured the signature of Yamamoto Tanaka Jr. to a development deal. Tanaka is the son of PCW legend Yamamoto Tanaka and will spend some time out at Joe Bergman’s Barn to get a little more work before he makes his MVW debut.
Ray also mentioned the possibility of two more new wrestlers coming in. But… with the recent rise and success of John O’Reilly who trained at Joe Bergman’s Barn and numerous others on the MVW roster, MVW isn’t actively looking outward for new talent when there’s a talent pool to draw from within.
That being said…
The 2nd Obvious Elephant in the Room- Darin Zion
Ray acknowledged Darin Zion’s challenge to Adam Ellis came out of the blue. He thought for sure if anything Zion would get a HOW Dead or Alive PPV match against Joe Bergman. However, Ellis took exception what Zion’s comments about MVW and wants Zion one on one. Zion wants a MVW Men’s Title shot- Ellis has no issue with that. How will this work out? McAvay has been in constant contact with HOW about the logistics of a match taking place at the HOW Dead or Alive pay per view and expects the match to take place.
Wrestling Night in the Heartland
Wednesday August 3th will be the return show after Summer break. Then WNITH will move to Tuesday nights. The shows will now be ninety minutes instead of sixty. The return episode will review what happened at Wrestling Night in America and feature a #1 contender’s match between Shizuko Yamazaki versus the #2 ranked contender in the Women’s Division.
Lock and Loaded
McAvay again confirmed with Wrestling Night in the Heartland going to 90 minutes every week, Lock and Loaded will go back to being a weekly 60 minute syndicated show.
6:05
The bi-weekly cable show will continue to air live from the MVW Studios,
McAvay then answered a few questions.
At the end, he told the wrestlers to rest up and get ready because the next round of house show take place in less than a week.
UPCOMING MISSOURI VALLEY WRESTLING ROAD SHOWS
July 29th – Ralph Nolan Gymnasium / Atchison, KS
–#3 vs. #4 vs. #5 WOMEN’S HEARTLAND: #3 Libertie Bell vs.#4 Ninja Kitty vs. #5 Lani Harlot
-#3 vs. #4 vs. #5 MEN’S HEARTLAND: #3 Ken Kardoucheian vs.#4 Average Joe vs. #5 Stan
-#3 vs. #4 vs. #5 WOMEN’S TAG TEAM: #3 The Rose Warriors vs. #4 The Pinups vs. #5 Bethany Stewart/Shelley Briscoe
-#3 vs. #4 WOMEN’S DIVISION: #3 Debbie the Destroyer vs. #4 Kirsten Canfield
July 30th – Nellis Hall / Coffeyville, KS
–#2 vs. #3 WOMEN’S HEARTLAND: #2 ‘Precious’ Patty McBride vs. #3 TBD
-#2 vs. #3 MEN’S HEARTLAND: #2 ‘Big Don’ Dickinson vs. #3 TBD
-#2 vs. #3 WOMEN’S TAG TEAM: #2 Jill Berg Enterprises vs. #3 TBD
-#2 vs. #3 WOMEN’S DIVISION: #2 Lisa Barbosa-Stevens vs. #3 TBD
July 30th – MVW’s Six-O-Five / St. Louis, MO
–Live drawing for the Carmondy Cup Tournament
July 31st – Cook Center / Dodge City, KS
–#1 CONTENDER-WOMEN’S HEARTLAND: #1 Yosemite Samantha vs. #2 TBD
-#1 CONTENDER-MEN’S HEARTLAND: #1 ‘Rock Star’ Robbie Marrs vs. #2 TBD
-#1 CONTENDER-WOMEN’S TAG TEAM: #1 The Missouri Valley Fight Club vs. #2 TBD
-#1 CONTENDER-WOMEN’S DIVISION: #1 Shizuko Yamazaki vs. #2 TBD
August 5th – Lynn Farrell Arena /Hastings, NE
August 5th – Lynn Farrell Arena /Hastings, NE
August 5th – Pershing Center / Lincoln, NE
August 6th – Wilkert Event Center / Columbus, NE
August 6th – Qwest Center / Omaha, NE
August 7th – The Viaero Center / Kearney, NE
August 13th – MVW’s Six-O-Five / St. Louis, MO
August 16th – Knapp Center / Des Moines, IA
August 19th – Show Me Center / Cape Girardeau, MO
August 19th – Five Flags Center / Dubuque, IA
August 20th – Gibson Arena / Rolla, MO
August 20th – Peoria Civic Center / Peoria, IL
August 21st – Black River Coliseum / Poplar Bluff, MO
August 27th – MVW’s Six-O-Five / St. Louis, MO
August 30th – Athletics-Recreation Center / Valparaiso, IN
**September 25th – Heartland PPV- Indiana Farmers Coliseum / Indianapolis, IN**
**December 18th – Evening of Champions- Wintrust Arena / Chicago, IL**