Ohio Valley Wrestling was once owned by WWE and was where the likes of Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Dave Bautista, The Miz, and Randy Orton earned their stripes.
Since then, the sports entertainment giant has created a new development territory we all know as NXT, but OVW lives on...for now, at least. A new Netflix series, appropriately titled Wrestlers, promises to deliver an intimate and emotional behind-the-scenes look at the world of pro wrestling, revealing the hardship and sacrifice that goes into creating this highly complex feat of performance art and athleticism.
Spearheaded by director Greg Whiteley (Last Chance U, Cheer) and BBC Studios Los Angeles, the show will follow a number of little-known independent wrestlers and former WWE Superstar Al Snow as they attempt to save the promotion from going under.
"Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky was once a proud finishing school for young wrestlers who hoped for a chance at a career in big time Pro Wrestling but times have changed," reads the official description. "With new owners in the picture, once-famous pro wrestler Al Snow has been given the summer to turn OVW's dire financial situation around."
"Wrestlers tells the story of a handful of eccentric misfits who attempt to come together to help Al save this historic gym while achieving their own wild dreams of wrestling professionally."
The series will also "depict the brawls between ambitious athletes managing their stressful lives off the ring (though watching a rage-fueled fighter and a hardened vet go head-to-head in a violent, hair-pulling tussle is thrilling - especially when you consider they’re mother and daughter)."
Honestly, it sounds like a blast and the opportunity to explore a side of pro wrestling we don't typically get (especially with WWE and AEW dominating the headlines). Like anything in the wrestling world, who knows how much will be a shoot or work, but we're nonetheless intrigued.
Wrestlers is set to premiere on Netflix on September 13.