OVWmania 1YA Q&A: Brandon "Espy" Espinosa

Today's Q&A is with OVW Superstar Brandon Espinosa. You can find him on twitter @The_B_Espinosa. Thanks again to Espy for participating in OVWmania's 1-Year Anniversary Q&A.

1. Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up?
Hulk Hogan and Macho Man. Hulk Hogan had a certain aura about him that captured my attention as a fan. Macho Man's attires always captured my attention as well.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be a pro wrestler?
Pretty early in my life I always thought it would be cool to be one, but it was at 15 when I really decided I wanted to try and pursue it as a career. 18 is when I started my journey.

3. Who has helped you most in the industry?
I've learned a lot from Al Snow, John Meschede, and Paredyse.

4. Who do you enjoy working with in the ring the most?
Paredyse. While we had a long heated feud, something just started to click and made it fun. Now we are a team and it's a blast.

5. What is your favorite match that you've been in?
I had a tag team ladder match with Ace Hawkins on my side against Christian Rose and Matt Cage last October. The way the feud was built, and the way the ladder match panned out was just exciting and made it a lot of fun to do.

6. If you weren’t wrestling, what do you think your second career choice would be?
I would be a Music Teacher. I've got 3/4 of my degree accomplished and just waiting to go back and finish it out.

7. What’s your favorite food?
Any type of potatoes.

8. What kind of music are you into?
Covers of songs and Glee.

9. Favorite movies and/or actors?
Any comic book related movies.

10. Any secret talents?
I design and make all of my wrestling attires, as well as a few on the OVW roster. I also play numerous musical instruments.

OVWmania 1YA Q&A: Ref Josh Ashcraft

Today's Q&A is with OVW Referee Josh Ashcraft. You can find him on twitter @JoshAshcraft. Thanks again to Josh for participating in OVWmania's 1-Year Anniversary Q&A.

1. Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up?
HBK, Mick Foley, The Four Horsemen, Raven, Shane Douglas, Diesel…too many to list. As someone born and raised in Louisville, I was always a fan of The Disciples of Synn and The Revolution here in OVW.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be a referee?
Um…kinda hard to say really. I started here in OVW setting up the ring and selling merch. I always wanted to be a part of wrestling and when the opportunity came up one night to go out and ref a couple matches at the last min, I jumped at it. And the more I learned and the more comfortable I became, it was a good fit for me.

3. Who has helped you most in the industry?
First and foremost would be Chris Sharpe, Joe Wheeler, Jordan Barker and Bill Clark. They have taught, and are still teaching me how to be a good referee. The ‘OVW Originals’ who took me in like Jack Black, Johnny Spade, Randy Royal, TPT, and Flash. Synn taught me not to take myself so seriously. Mike Mondo, Randy Terrez and Trailer Park Trash have taught me a lot. Jim Cornette has been someone else who has taken the time to help me, and I'll always be thankful for that. The list is WAY too long to be summed up here…

4. Whose matches do you enjoy watching the most?
I like watching a lot of stuff from Japan, Canada, and older wrestling from like the 70’s and such. I couldn’t really put my finger on just one person.

5. What is your favorite match that you've been involved in?
Again…too many to name. But if I had to pick one, I’d have to say the first match I ever reffed. Ted McNaler vs. Shiloh Jonze…Man was I scared…lol. Sink or swim moment.

6. If you weren’t in wrestling, what do you think your second career choice would be?
I would love to be in radio or work with special needs children. Maybe be a teacher.

7. What’s your favorite food?
I love Chinese food…that or a nice big steak.

8. What kind of music are you into?
I listen to a variety of music...Classic rock, Punk, Metal, a little rap and a ton of The Misfits and The Bloodhound Gang.

9. Favorite movies and/or actors?
American Psycho, The Boondock Saints, Tropic Thunder, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and The Big Lebowski. No particular order, just what came to mind. Bradley Cooper is a good actor...so is Liam Neeson and Norman Reedus.

10. Any secret talents?
Not really. Unless you consider still being alive after all of the dumb stuff I’ve done in my life!

OVWmania Presents: OVW Top 20 (Ed. 50)

This is the OVW Top 20 for the week of April 30-May 6, 2013 exclusively on OVWmania. Each category features the champion followed by the top contenders. As we approach the May 11th Saturday Night Special, where do the superstars rank this week?

OVWmania 1YA Q&A: Randy Royal

Today's Q&A is with OVW's "Double R Superstar" Randy Royal. You can find him on twitter @RRSuperstar. Thanks again to Randy for participating in OVWmania's 1-Year Anniversary Q&A.

1. Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up?

Austin Idol, Buddy Landell, Dusty Rhodes, Jerry Lawler.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be a pro wrestler?

Once I saw Memphis wrestling as a kid, in my grampa's living room on TV.

3. Who has helped you most in the industry?
Vic the Bruiser, without a doubt. Without him, I would've probably gave up the business 3 years in.

4. Who do you enjoy working with in the ring the most?
Kassius Ohno (Chris Hero), Dylan Bostic, Johnny Spade...so many & all for different reasons.

5. What is your favorite match that you've been in?
If you would've asked me before Oct 23, 2012, my answer would've been different. But now I have to say my return match after my heart attack against Mr. VIP, Joe Rosa. Those fans believed in me when my closest friends didn't.

6. If you weren’t wrestling, what do you think your second career choice would be?
I would've finished nursing school and been a Psychiatric nurse.

7. What’s your favorite food?
Crab legs!!! Lol.

8. What kind of music are you into?
My iPod is so random. Volbeat to Brantley Gilbert to Amos Lee.

9. Favorite movies and/or actors?
I'm a sucker for "chick comedies"! Shhh. Sweet Home Alabama. The Proposal. I just don't like gory movies. Mila Kunis, Rachel McAdams, Samuel L Jackson, Johnny Depp.

10. Any secret talents?
I turned down an Art scholarship. I draw. Play guitar.

OVWmania 1YA Q&A: Hannah & Holly Blossom

Today's Q&A is with OVW Femme Fatales Hannah & Holly, the Blossom Twins! You can find them on twitter @TheBlossomTwins. Thanks again to Hannah & Holly for participating in OVWmania's 1-Year Anniversary Q&A.

1. Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up?

Both: Jeff Hardy was our favorite wrestler growing up without a doubt! We were also big fans of Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Trish Stratus.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be a pro wrestler?

Both: We were 14 when we started looking up schools and saving up!

3. Who has helped you most in the industry?
Both: We have had the most amazing trainers and have been so lucky to have learned from some of the best like Rip Rogers, Jim Cornette, Al Snow and Danny Davis. We also couldn't have got this far without guys like Damon Leigh, Nick Dinsmore, Mike Mondo, Chris Sharpe, Chris Silvio, Paredyse and Ali Vaez.

4. Who do you enjoy working with in the ring the most?
Both: It was great to step in the ring with Mickie James, she is just incredible and really steps up your game and makes you work that much harder!

5. What is your favorite match that you've been in?
Both: Two highlights/matches that we were excited to get the opportunity to have were Impact vs. Madison Rayne and Gail Kim and for Impact at Wembley Arena with Marty Scurll against Gail Kim, Tara, and Jessie Godderz!

6. If you weren’t wrestling, what do you think your second career choice would be?
Both: Teaching assistants or cupcake shop!

7. What’s your favorite food?
Hannah: Anything our Nanna and Granddad make!!!
Holly: Anything Italian!

8. What kind of music are you into?
Hannah: Johnny Cash, The Doors, John Mayer are some of my favorites!
Holly: The Overtones are my current favorites!

9. Favorite movies and/or actors?
Hannah: I'm a big fan of Tom Hardy and Zachary Levi and I love Emma Watson, she's beautiful! Hard to pick a favorite movie!
Holly: Rupert Grint, Tom Hardy, and Zachary Levi too! Big fan of Emma Watson also!

10. Any secret talents?
Both: Hmmm...not any that we can currently think of!

OVWmania 1YA Q&A: James "Moose" Thomas

Today's Q&A is with OVW Superstar James "Moose" Thomas. You can find him on twitter @OVWMoose. Thanks again to Moose for participating in OVWmania's 1-Year Anniversary Q&A.

1. Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up?

Mick Foley, because he wasn't the typical BodyGuy, and Mr. Perfect and Bret Hart because they were so good technically.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be a pro wrestler?

In Your House: Hart vs. Diesel, when Undertaker pulled Diesel through the ring.

3. Who has helped you most in the industry?

Too many people to list, but Ken Patera for giving a fat kid a chance, and Rip Rogers for giving me a little bit of the vast amount of knowledge he has. The man is a wrestling genius.

4. Who do you enjoy working with in the ring the most?

Mike Mondo, Brad Maddox, Rudy Switchblade, and Chris Silvio to name a couple. I just felt like we had good chemistry, and I'll take Mike Hayes on my side any day of the week. I love that guy like a brother. Chris Sharpe as a ref, as he is the best I have worked with period. I could go on about others.

5. What is your favorite match that you've been in?

Moose vs. Beef Wellington in a ladder match. If you haven't seen it, check it out. Moose vs. Mondo in a hardcore match, both in Clarksville and the TV match were up there. Eugene (Nick Dinsmore) and Damien Sandow (Idol Stevens) vs. Moose and Anthony Bravado. Too many favorites to list, but those pop in my mind first.

6. If you weren’t wrestling, what do you think your second career choice would be?

Stay at home dad. I love my daughter and have a second on the way. Nothing is better than being their hero.

7. What’s your favorite food?

Steak.

8. What kind of music are you into?

Anything that has heart and gets you moving.

9. Favorite movies and/or actors?

Gladiator, Old School, Shawshank Redemption.

10. Any secret talents?

If I told you, they wouldn't be secret!

***Moose also had the following message for me and the fans:
Keep doing your thing and please let the OVW fans know they haven't seen the last of Moose. I'm a fighter!

OVWmania 1YA Q&A: Ref Chris Sharpe

Today's Q&A is with OVW Referee Chris Sharpe. You can find him on twitter @RefChrisSharpe. Thanks again to "Sharpie" for participating in OVWmania's 1-Year Anniversary Q&A.

1. Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up?
Everybody. Hogan, Warrior, Big Boss Man, The Undertaker, Million Dollar Man, Stone Cold, The Rock. So many. I just never grew out of it.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be a referee?
I didn't decide it at first. It was a decision made for me by Silvio. I was training to start doing this when I was 16 and I would always work my butt off, but I'm not naturally athletic. So it was suggested that I be a ref for a while. I did that as well as wrestled and managed for a few years before moving here, and when I did, I knew my best shot at making my dreams a reality would be to stick to trying to be a great ref.

3. Who has helped you most in the industry?
Silvio, Paredyse, Rip (Rogers), Danny (Davis), Jim (Cornette), & Al (Snow). Everyone really.

4. Whose matches do you enjoy watching the most?
My own. That way I get to see matches from everyone on the roster.

5. What is your favorite match that you've been involved in?
It was a Richmond Lucha Libre reunion show in Virginia with a Steel Cage Triple Threat Match between Paredyse, Silvio & That Guy Dave, 2 days before I got to be an extra for WWE. Awesome energy that week.

6. If you weren’t in wrestling, what do you think your second career choice would be?
I would create the story side of rides for Disney theme parks. I will probably still do it one day.

7. What’s your favorite food?
It's more of a food genre, Italian.

8. What kind of music are you into?
I like most artists on a Lil Wayne or Drake Pandora station.

9. Favorite movies and/or actors?
That's too hard to say. I will say that I get a lot of good movie recommendations from Ted McNaler.

10. Any secret talents?
Many. But if I told you...

OVWmania 1YA Q&A: Sam Shaw

Today's Q&A is with OVW Superstar Sam Shaw. You can find him on twitter @RealSamShaw. Thanks again to Sam for participating in OVWmania's 1-Year Anniversary Q&A.

1. Who were your favorite wrestlers growing up?

Ultimate Warrior, Flair, Bret Hart, Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Sid.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be a pro wrestler?

Always wanted to, but made the choice to fully pursue it at age 15 when I went to a live ECW event.

3. Who has helped you most in the industry?

Team 3D.

4. Who do you enjoy working with in the ring the most?

Anyone who's good.

5. What is your favorite match that you've been in?

Don't know.

6. If you weren’t wrestling, what do you think your second career choice would be?

Artist. (EDITOR'S NOTE: If you haven't seen his work, check it out on his twitter page. It's incredible! One of his pieces is shown to the right here, and if you like them, you can purchase some of them from Sam!)

7. What’s your favorite food?

Chinese food.

8. What kind of music are you into?

Rap.

9. Favorite movies and/or actors?

Point Break, Denzel Washington.

10. Any secret talents?

Yep, they're secret.

OVW TV #715: "King Mo, Queen Trina, & Checkmate"

Happy Anniversary! This is the OVW Report for Wednesday, May 1, 2013. This episode can be seen online starting tomorrow at www.ovwrestling.com/tv. In this episode, Michael Hayes makes a special announcement regarding the Coalition and the main event, Women's Champion Trina goes 1-on-1 with Jessie Belle, Jamin Olivencia wants to send a message to Doug Williams, Rockstar Spud defends the Television Title against "Mr. Pec-Tacular" Jessie Godderz, plus more!

Without further ado:

Here we go...

OVWmania Turns 1!

Let me start off by saying thank you. Thank you to all of the talent at Ohio Valley Wrestling, from the superstars to the referees, announcers to fan advocates, and everyone in between for their support of OVWmania. Of course, a big thanks to all of the fans out there that read my weekly reports and previews, and make this site what it is. After all, this is a fansite for the fans, and to help promote OVW and all the great talent.

I can't believe it's been a year, and to pay tribute to the fans and the site, I managed to get several talents to agree to do a small Q&A to learn more about them, and as a way to celebrate this monumental occasion.

Since the 1-year anniversary fell on Wednesday, I will have the regular report up tonight, but starting tomorrow, I will run the series of special Q&A's. I will have a new interview every day from tomorrow (Thursday, May 2) through May 10, posted at 12 noon ET. This series of Q&A's will also happen to lead up to the Saturday Night Special on May 11. They will be titled "OVWmania 1YA Q&A", with the 1YA standing for 1-Year Anniversary obviously. I've lined up several talents, so you will have to log on to OVWmania every day to find out who was interviewed! Tune in tomorrow for the first Q&A with TNA GutCheck winner and former OVW Southern Tag Team Champion, Sam Shaw!