Al Snow was released as a developmental trainer in a follow-up announcement in the WWE/OVW situation. I read somewhere, (sorry, I don't remember which site), that WWE cites Al Snow as the primary reason that OVW 'failed'. If this is true, I hardly think it's fair to blame one man for the 'downfall' of an organization, when the truth of the matter is, WWE wanted all their 'minor leaguers' under one roof.
I imagine my beloved WWE must be a pretty tough company to work for. It surely seems like a fickle organization. One moment they build you up and love you, the next they release you.
We'll miss you Al... but I'm sure we'll see you pop up elsewhere... at least I hope so.
Wrestlepalooza '98
Al Snow vs. the Minis (Silly, but Al screaming due to salad tongs on his yam bag is priceless)
Al Snow as European Champion
Self-Hardcore Matches (Purposely moonsaulting yourself through a table is hilarious)
'Hardcore Bowling'
Rock vs. Al Snow 11/30/98 (You probably shouldn't moonsault onto the floor, Al... or Peoples' Elbow a mannequin head, Rock)
Friday, February 8, 2008
What Does Everybody Want? Remembering Al Snow
Thursday, February 7, 2008
WWE Press Release Regarding OVW
WWE® To Cease Affiliation With Ohio Valley Wrestling
STAMFORD, Conn., February 7, 2008 - World Wrestling Entertainment® announced today that Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) will no longer be affiliated with World Wrestling Entertainment as an official developmental territory, making Florida Championship Wrestling™ ( FCW™ ) WWE's official development training facility for talent around the globe.
"Ohio Valley Wrestling has been a tremendous partner with World Wrestling Entertainment through the years, and we thank them for their work in developing many of today's WWE Superstars," said John Laurinaitis, Senior Vice President of Talent Relations. "We look forward to Florida Championship Wrestling playing host to the next generation of WWE Superstars recruited from around the world."
Last November, WWE announced the formation of Florida Championship Wrestling, a new training center for future WWE Superstars. The facility has four wrestling rings and approximately 35 contracted athletes, with plans to increase that number to more than 70 in the near future. The facility is now fully operational, as WWE undertook large-scale renovations to FCW in order to accommodate its training needs. The finished training facility is more than 10,000 square feet, including an arena that will seat nearly 300 fans. The new training facility will also host a weekly show in front of a live audience, to be broadcast for regional television.
FCW is owned and operated by Steve Keirn, a former professional wrestler and producer for WWE. WWE trainer Tom Prichard oversees all talent training at the facility.
Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/
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Media Contact: Gary Davis, 203-353-5066
Investor Contact: Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ECW is a trademark of WWE Libraries, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, feature films, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant.
WWE Cuts Ties with OVW?
"World Wrestling Entertainment has severed all ties with Ohio Valley Wrestling. Effective immediately, OVW will no longer be a WWE developmental territory. Here are the details:
A meeting was held today with all contracted developmental talent. WWE's John Laurinaitis and Ty Baily made the announcement that all of the contracted wrestlers training at OVW there would be heading to Florida Championship Wrestling - which is now WWE's only developmental territory.
WWE wants all of their developmental talent in one place. From a logistical standpoint, it didn't make business sense to have their developmental talent in Kentucky, specially since so many WWE employees live in Florida.
Talent was told that there will be no releases stemming from OVW shutting down and that they will all be relocated to Tampa after finishing a few more weeks in OVW.
Talent was told the trainers in FCW would be Tom Prichard, Steve Keirn, & Former WWE Star Billy Kidman
FCW is slated to run its first official TV taping later this month and there have been plans in place to run a regular schedule of live events in Florida.
The move had been suspected for some time as the amount of contracted talents working in Louisville had dwindled greatly in the last year and morale in OVW overall had fallen. Over the years, OVW has groomed a number of WWE's biggest stars, including Brock Lesnar, Batista, John Cena and Randy Orton, among others."
Source: www.wrestling101.com
