Wrestlers (2023) - OVW documentary series on Netflix

[C.S.]

I'm surprised there isn't already a thread for this.

If you haven't watched "Wrestlers" yet, don't hesitate.

It's fantastic.

[The Thread Killer]

I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I was going to. I decided to check out the first episode and ended up binging the entire series in one night. A lot of it was obviously set up and staged for dramatic effect like most documentary series are, but I found it highly entertaining.

I just can’t believe the news that broke today that Haley J actually has a tryout with WWE. Either she has matured a tremendous amount in the past year, or she was putting on her behavioural and mental problems for this documentary, or WWE has really lowered their standards, because that poor kid is a trainwreck. Either that or she does the tryout and has no shot.

Although you never know. She seems like a natural when it comes to her character and promo abilities. She is just a mess outside the ring.  Between the domestic disputes, the drug use before her matches, and her walking out in the middle of an angle to work some WOW tapings… I don’t see her lasting long in a professional environment.

This documentary did confirm my opinion about Al Snow. He somehow manages to always come across as a simultaneously compelling, sympathetic, and yet incredibly annoying and kind of insufferable “know it all” type person, all at the same time.

Apparently, this documentary has already had a massive positive effect for OVW. Their YouTube and FITE Subscription numbers have gone up dramatically, their attendance is way up, and their next pay-per-view on FITE may actually break 74 buys lol.

[C.S.]

I'll defend Haley J somewhat:

1. WOW, unlike Matt Jones and OVW, was probably able to pay her on time. "Walking away from an angle" - artistic credibility (whatever the fuck that means) and Al Snow be damned - I, too, would walk away from OVW for actual money. I love Al Snow, but him getting on his high horse because she was "delaying storylines" is absolutely ridiculous. As proud and passionate as he is about OVW, and he has every right to be, he also needs to understand that it's not WWE, AEW, or even Impact. It's never going to be anyone's first destination, nor should it be. Matt Jones asking everyone to clear their schedules for the Summer Tour and not accept any other bookings was also tone deaf, especially when he pulled Reverend Ronnie Roberts from a show because the church venue complained, and then didn't even pay him. Fuck off with that!

2. "Domestic disputes" = Her boyfriend is an abusive shithead with a god damn gun tattoo and a fucking Ron Paul tattoo. (I'd say that about any politician, BTW, just not Ron Paul. Just how dumb to you have to be to get a politician tattooed on yourself?) Yes, she said "she gave it to him worse" or whatever, but this isn't the first time a woman has blamed herself for her abusive partner. I hope he never, ever makes it anywhere in wrestling. FUCK HIM!

Edit: I just realized you probably also meant her mother. Yeah, that was not great. But I don't see how it would affect anything she does in WWE if they do sign her - unless the mom gets signed too, which I doubt, but I'd root for her to get her flowers. (I'd also love for Ca$h Flo to get a permanent spot in AEW.)

3. When she isn't putting on the obnoxious hoodrat persona, she's really pretty in the way WWE definitely likes.

I didn't entirely love her. She has massive maturity issues and seems like her own worst enemy in the way CM Punk and Eddie Kingston sometimes are. But as frustrating as she was at times, there's a reason she was made one of the "stars" and focuses of the documentary - she has a dynamic personality that leaps off the screen. 

[Autistic Dragon]

I absolutely loved it and have even started watching OVW proper as a result.

[Autistic Dragon]

Looks like some good news for OVW.

https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1428639-ovw-enters-new-strategic-partnership-with-genvec-ventures-plans-us-tour-in-2024

[The Thread Killer]

Coming out of the show about OVW on Netflix “Wrestlers” a lot of people figured Hollywood Haley J (who was heavily featured) would end up signing with WWE or AEW sooner rather than later. She got tryout matches with both organizations, but for whatever reason she never caught on. It’s been two years now, and it was just announced that she is going to be competing for…

Dana White’s Power Slap.

I guess her career won’t be working out the way we thought it might.

[Al]

Dani Mo was also at the Power Slap...tryout? Combine. AFAIK they haven't worked together or on the same show since the OVW incident.

[C.S.]

On 5/30/2025 at 9:23 PM, The Thread Killer said:

Haley J

I enjoyed her on the show, but was "trailer trash crackhead" ever a gimmick either WWE or AEW were going to give a second look to?

I know there were WWE rumors at one point (I think? Maybe it was AEW?) but that obviously never went anywhere.

I kind of wish Cash Flo had gotten a break, even though he's not exactly young. 

[The Thread Killer]

23 minutes ago, C.S. said:

I kind of wish Cash Flo had gotten a break, even though he's not exactly young. 

Well, he is kind of breaking through in acting, at least. He made a couple of appearances on Tulsa King with Sylvester Stallone last season and he’s actually been added to the cast for next season.

[C.S.]

2 minutes ago, The Thread Killer said:

Well, he is kind of breaking through in acting, at least. He made a couple of appearances on Tulsa King with Sylvester Stallone last season and he’s actually been added to the cast for next season.

Wow, I had no idea. That's definitely a much bigger deal than whatever spot he would get in WWE or AEW even under the best of circumstances.

Is he credited on Tulsa King as Cash Flo?

[The Thread Killer]

33 minutes ago, C.S. said:

Wow, I had no idea. That's definitely a much bigger deal than whatever spot he would get in WWE or AEW even under the best of circumstances.

Is he credited on Tulsa King as Cash Flo?

I believe he is credited as Mike “Cash Flo” Walden. The character he plays is named Bigfoot. Not for nothing, but Tulsa King is actually a pretty good show, FWIW. It’s one of those shows produced by that guy Taylor Sheridan, who is in charge of the whole Yellowstone franchise. I went in not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised at how good the show is. It kind of reminds me of The Sopranos, a bit.

[The Thread Killer]

7 hours ago, Al said:

Dani Mo was also at the Power Slap...tryout? Combine. AFAIK they haven't worked together or on the same show since the OVW incident.

Apparently they settled their beef at a convention a while back, and shook hands. If you are to believe Haley. Which come to think of it, you probably shouldn’t.

[C.S.]

5 hours ago, The Thread Killer said:

I believe he is credited as Mike “Cash Flo” Walden. The character he plays is named Bigfoot. Not for nothing, but Tulsa King is actually a pretty good show, FWIW. It’s one of those shows produced by that guy Taylor Sheridan, who is in charge of the whole Yellowstone franchise. I went in not expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised at how good the show is. It kind of reminds me of The Sopranos, a bit.

Hopefully Sly and Taylor don't have a falling out before the final season.

This does sound like a show I'd enjoy, but so many shows, so little time. 

20 episodes (so far) does seem doable though. 

[sek69]

Funny thing, Haley J wrestles in WOW as Holly Swag. She was in a tag team with her mom as the "Mother Truckers" doing truck driver gimmicks until she turned heel on her mom and joined up with the top heel group basically doing the Hollyhood Haley J gimmick