I know nobody follows my reviews, but if you did, you'd know that I'm a fan of Professional Wrestling. I had put off watching this series for a while though, as I thought that it might have to be too basic, in order to appeal to an audience that doesn't follow wrestling. There is an element to which that is the case, but still I was dragged in by the backstage narrative.
Ohio Valley Wrestling, formally a feeding ground for the WWE, now operates as an independent company, producing a weekly TV show but struggling financially. New owners Matt Jones and Craig Greenburg are debating whether it's viable to keep the company operating and plan a summer tour of the Kentucky area, ending with a big show. OVW's creative director is Al Snow, former WWE Superstar, and his desire to run traditional story driven shows is at odds with Jones, who's looking to cut costs or increase attendance.
As with a lot of documentaries actual wrestling is only part of the shows appeal. It does give you a background of how Wrestling works, how they arrive at the angles and how easily it can all be undone by an injury or by someone getting a better offer. Much more the series is about the people involved in the show. Snow is quieter and more contemplative than I thought anyone who performed in the attitude era would be and he comes across really well. Several of the staff and Wrestlers get aspects of their stories show, but the most attention goes to Haley James, a twenty-year-old daughter of another wrestler, whose natural charisma, which could take her all the way, is in danger of being entirely undermined by her damaged upbringing and poor life choices. The nearest the show has to a villain is her misogynistic and bitter boyfriend, who is nearly 15 years older than her and entirely unaware that he's not going to make it.
The documentary is given a lot of access, with many of them so comfortable with the blurred lines of reality that Wrestling already has, they are prepared to have personal conversations in front of the documentary cameras. I'm surprised that Netflix hasn't decided to pick up the OVW show, certainly for international distribution. I like this series and watched it in a couple of sessions. I'd certainly watch another run too, if they went back.
