TNA Wrestling: 5 Ways the Deal with Ohio Valley Wrestling Can Help TNA

TNA Wrestling announced earlier this month that it had entered into a deal with Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Ky.  So far, the deal hasn't resulted in much besides some controversy over TNA wrestler Jesse Neal's status with the company.

It is believed Neal is no longer with the company after refusing to relocate to OVW, according to PWinsider. Neal has denied this on his Twitter account.

However, there is a lot of potential for both sides to benefit from this deal. Here's a look at five ways it can help TNA.

1. Chance to Develop Some of TNAs Younger Talent

TNA has a lot of young talent that have good looks but are in dire need of development—whether it's in-ring skill or personality development—such as Gunner, Crimson, Magnus, Brooke Tessmacher, Jesse Sorenson and others.

This is where OVW can be a major factor for TNA. Anyone who has watched the OVW product knows that most of their talent are usually decent to good in the ring and also have their personalities fleshed out.

That is a credit to trainers like Rip Rogers, Nick Dinsmore and Al Snow. While Neal may or may not have declined to head OVW, hopefully some of the other talent will embrace the opportunity.

2. Use of OVW Talent on TNA Shows

OVW has a lot of talent that could be used as potential stars with TNA or as enhancement talent.

The idea of enhancement talent is a foreign concept in pro wrestling these days—Ring of Honor being the one exception—but it is something wrestling promotions could use to establish talent and their respective signature and finishing moves without having to job out established talent.

With the recent TV tapings ROH held at OVW's Davis Arena, OVW talent like Alex Silva, Shiloh Jonze, Jamin Olivencia and others were used in an enhancement talent role.

Silva wrestled a dark match at the last TNA tapings against Austin Aries.

Talent like Jason Wayne, the Blossom Twins, Michael Hayes, Silva and others also have the potential to make some noise as TNA talent.

3. Talent for TNAs Side Projects

TNA has recently been looking to expand with two projects—All Wheels Wrestling with the Speed Network and a new television show in India that is expected to start next year.

The wrestling promotion does not want to use their talent for either project and are looking to use other names.

OVW gives them a talent base. This could be considered another reason that the TNA/OVW partnership took place.

According to PWinsider, TNA already had their eyes on OVW talents Cliff Compton and Olivencia for the India project.

4. A Way to Prevent Talent from Gettin Stale or to Recover from Injury

One of the best things about the old territory days was that, when a talent had gotten stale, they could go to another territory for awhile and give the fans some time to miss them. That way, they could come back later fresh.

TNA now has a chance to do that with OVW.  Talent that isn't being used or is getting stale can head to OVW for awhile. Talents that fit that bill in TNA currently—like the Pope D'Angelo Dinero and ODB—are no strangers to OVW and would be a hit in a return and come back fresh.

Developmental can also benefit the company when there are injuries as giving a talent somewhere to shake the rust off before returning. Hopefully, Chris Sabin of the Motor City Machine Guns will be returning in 2012 and will make a stop in OVW.

5. New Market for TNA

In the interest of total disclosure, I live in Louisville.

However, that does allow me to say—from personal experience—that Louisville is a great wrestling city. It is a regular stop on the World Wrestling Entertainment touring circuit and has been a favorite of Ring of Honor recently as well with a number of TV tapings held there.

TNA has never really done shows in the city, although they have done shows up in Eastern Kentucky. The OVW relationship opens up the Louisville market for shows.

OVW also would help marketing a show in Louisville similar to how they've marketed their own shows—including using the help of play-by-play announcer Gilbert Corsey, who is also an anchor on the local FOX TV affiliate.