Netflix’s Wrestlers docuseries was a blessing for Ohio Valley Wrestling but has also given the promotion its share of challenges.
The docuseries was released in September of last year and focuses on the current stars of OVW, which was once WWE’s developmental ground.
On a recent edition of the “Developmentally Speaking” podcast, OVW head Al Snow spoke about how the docuseries has changed things for the promotion. He said,
“It comes with its own challenges. Now is the time where we really have to work even harder. I mean, it’s fantastic and the rub or the shine from Netflix has been amazing, and I’m so grateful to Gret Whiteley… he and his talented crew made everything here look amazing. And we’re on a great run. We just got to now capitalize on that and…when the novelty wears off, keep that audience. Keep that ball rolling. So the pressure’s on.
“It’s even more…it’s awesome, we’ve been selling out repeatedly, week after week, both live television and…we’re sold out for our February 10th PPV already. We sold out last week. Great! But that just puts more pressure that we’ve got to deliver a certain level of experience to keep…not only keep the audience we’ve garnered from Netflix coming back, but gaining more, and just building off of what we have. The stress never ends, it just keeps going, every single week.”
WWE & TNA legend Mickie James recently joined OVW in an executive role. Netflix will be airing wrestling relatively soon as WWE RAW will move to the streaming platform in 2025.
Netflix’s docuseries “Wrestlers” has had a significant impact on Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), both positive and challenging. Released in September of last year, the series focuses on the current stars of OVW, which was once WWE’s developmental ground. Al Snow, the head of OVW, recently discussed how the docuseries has changed things for the promotion.
According to Snow, the docuseries has brought its own set of challenges. While the exposure and recognition from Netflix have been fantastic, it has also increased the pressure on OVW to work even harder. Snow expressed his gratitude to Gret Whiteley and his talented crew for making everything in OVW look amazing on screen. The promotion has experienced a great run since the release of the series, consistently selling out live television events and even their upcoming pay-per-view on February 10th. However, this success only amplifies the need to deliver a certain level of experience to retain and expand their audience.
Snow emphasized that the pressure is on to keep the momentum going. The novelty of being featured on Netflix will eventually wear off, and OVW must ensure that they continue to captivate their audience. The promotion aims not only to retain the viewers they have gained from the docuseries but also to attract new fans and build upon their current success. Snow acknowledged that the stress of meeting these expectations never ends and persists week after week.
In an exciting development, WWE and TNA legend Mickie James recently joined OVW in an executive role. This addition further strengthens the promotion’s position and potential for growth. Additionally, Netflix’s involvement in wrestling will continue as WWE RAW is set to move to the streaming platform in 2025.
The impact of Netflix’s “Wrestlers” docuseries on OVW has been both a blessing and a challenge. While it has brought increased exposure and success to the promotion, it has also raised the bar for delivering an exceptional wrestling experience. OVW, under the leadership of Al Snow and with the addition of Mickie James, is determined to capitalize on this opportunity and continue to thrive in the ever-evolving world of professional wrestling.