The Crystal Ball 11.18.05: Johnny Jeter

Posted by Steve Sullivan on 11.18.2005

Scouting Report On 2 Time Former OVW Heavyweight Champion Johnny Jeter

“You definitely made my life better by me simply knowing you.” Jim Ross on Eddie Guerrero

First, let me join the wrestling world in mourning the loss of a hero and a great man Eddie Guerrero. This past Monday’s show nearly had me handling emotions I’ve never experienced for this sport. I found a new respect for some of the superstars of the WWE, especially Kurt Angle. When you think of what Kurt Angle has been through recently…the seperation of his wife, neck surgery, and now the loss of his friend, you can’t help but to admire him. And I know the show must go on and the crowd needed to do something to lighten the mood in Minneapolis…but for one night, Kurt Angle did not suck.


Latino’s heat flame shall always be eternal. Rest in piece Eddie.

By the way….


Dear ESPN,


Bite me.


Love,
Steve Sullivan

Though Randy Orton is currently the youngest World Champ in WWE history, he's not the youngest world champ ever. Last week we discussed the 19 year old phenom Ken Doane, whose supreme OVW TV Title run has been quite impressive, which included a clean pin of Smackdown Superstar Bobby Lashley. And while Doane is the current TV Champ down in Louisville at the age of 19, someone else that wrestles in OVW was the WORLD champ at the same age. That person is none other than "The Thrillseeker" Johnny Jeter!

Johnny Jeter moved to Louisville at the age of 19 to join OVW's wrestling school. At that same age, he started out feuding with several former WWE superstars including Chris Kanyon, who would put him down with an MCL tear early in his career. Jeter recovered and he quickly climbed his way up the rankings and not even a year after he made his debut on OVW TV, he would be a part of one of the most memorable nights in OVW history.

If the OVW included a Hall of Fame, there are certain names that would always come to mind as shoe-ins. Wrestlers such as Nick Dinsmore (Eugene), Rob Conway, & The Damaja (Danny Basham) always come to mind, as they have been apart of OVW since its beginnings. Johnny Jeter found himself in the middle of all 3 of these guys on a hot summer night in 2003. Current champ The Damaja was scheduled to fight Mark Magnus (Mohammad Hassaan) but Magnus faked an injury and allowed Rob Conway to fight in his place. Conway defeated The Damaja to grab the OVW World Title with the help of Magnus. But then former OVW Matchmaker Jim Cornette would come down to the ring and announce that Rob Conway would now have to face HIS regularly scheduled opponent and defend his newly won title just after he won it! That opponent was OVW Rookie Johnny Jeter! Jeter pulled off the upset and made history that night, ending the shortest reign as OVW Champion in history and becoming the youngest OVW Champion ever.

Jeter lost the belt a couple of months later to a young Mark Magnus, with the help of his stable "The Revolution". Jeter found himself in a triangle between Nick Dinsmore & Mark Magnus. Dinsmore would eventually turn his back on Jeter & The Fans which would lead to a great feud between the two. Inspector Impact (more commonly known to you as Luther Reigns) would also get involved in the feud. Jeter would also team up with Sean O'Haire and defeat Dinsmore and Impact in tag action, which was sanctioned by WWE's Jim Ross, who said Jeter was shades of Shawn Michaels. Jeter would also get quite a few title shots at Dinsmore, but would come up short. Dinsmore was the Hulk Hogan of OVW so if he wasn’t holding the title, something was wrong.

Jeter would take some time off of wrestling shortly after the end of 2003. In July 2004, Johnny Jeter returned to OVW TV and challenged Matt Morgan for the OVW Championship, only to be betrayed by his partner, Seven (Kevin Fertig/Mordecai). Seven would make Jeter's life hell all summer long as he would try to convince Jeter to be his partner again. Seven even figured for some reason if he sent someone to beat him senseless, Jeter would team up with Seven again. He was wrong. Jeter would team up with Matt Cappotelli and form one of the most exciting tag teams in OVW History, "The Thrillseekers", who would defeat Seven and his teammate "The Prophesizer".

I absoultly loved The Thrillseekers as a tag team and am really disappointed the WWE didn't call them up as a tag team. These guys had the makings of the next Hardy Boys or Edge/Christian. High flying, fast paced wrestling would lead Jeter and Cappotelli to the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles in January 2005, when The Thrillseekers defeated current WWE Tag Team Champions, MNM. Jeter & Cappotelli would defend the titles several times, defeating WWE teams such as MNM & The Heart Throbs. In April of 2005, Jeter and Cappotelli would lose the Tag Titles to the Blonde Bombers (The Dicks).

A hard blow to the Thrillseekers would follow during the summer of 2005 when Johnny Jeter's partner Matt Cappotelli broke his leg. This was most unfortunate to any WWE fan because this prevented a great tag team from being called up that could potentially save WWE's Tag Team Division. But I'm not going to say this was necessarily a bad thing, because this also allowed us to see a different side of Johnny Jeter that would lead to one of the biggest brawls and rivalries in OVW history.

OVW Champion Brent Albright would ignite a small fire between Cappotelli and Jeter before Cappotelli's leg injury. Johnny Jeter would defeat Brent Albright for his 2nd reign as OVW Heavyweight Champion, and would turn his back on his former friend and tag team partner Matt Cappotelli. Cappotelli would break his leg at a house show the next weekend, preventing a match between Jeter and Cappotelli. Cappotelli would come out to the Danny Davis arena to explain his recovery to the fans. Johnny Jeter was not pleased about having the attention off of him and his newly won OVW Heavyweight Championship. Jeter would brutally beat down Cappotelli on the ring floor, crutches and all.

In a couple of weeks, Johnny Jeter had gone from playing a high flying fan favorite to the top heel of OVW. Jeter plays the part very well and would make a great heel on WWE TV when the WWE is ready for him. Jeter would continue to run amuck in the OVW, defending his title when it was necessary and cheating his way through victories. But despite his broken leg, Cappotelli would not stay at home, and would continue to attack Johnny Jeter and vow revenge for the brutal attack during his speech to the OVW fans. Jeter would align himself with Tough Enough winner Daniel Puder and Ken Anderson (Mr. Kennedy) in a plot to keep Cappotelli and other challengers from winning his OVW Title. Eventually, Puder and Anderson were forced to fight each other and the winner would have to fight Jeter for the OVW Championship! Puder would win the match, but Jeter would retain. Shortly after, WWE released Puder.

Jeter's reign continued and his torment over the lockroom got so bad, that OVW Head Trainer Danny Davis would even get involved. (And just for the record, this is not the same Danny Davis that used to referee in the WWF). It wouldn't help though, as Jeter continued his reign as OVW Champion. However, the last week of October 2005 saw the return of Matt Cappotelli and the long awaited battle between Jeter and his former partner. This was by far the greatest match I've ever seen on OVW TV. You can see the results from the OVW TV Reports from a few weeks ago. Jeter's ring style was better than that of Chris Beniot's. We saw moves from Jeter such as a varied Cloverleaf and a top rope Boston Crab! Jeter even hit a couple of superkicks that put Shawn Michael's superkick to shame! In the end, with the help of Mr. Kennedy, Jeter would retain the OVW Title. But this was certainly not the end of the Jeter/Cappotelli feud.

This past Saturday, OVW held their biggest TV event in the history of the organization, and Johnny Jeter headlined it, defending his title against Cappotelli. This, by far, was my favorite match I’ve ever seen since I started watching OVW. I normally don’t stand up or get goosebumps when I watch wrestling, only during a few great matches has that ever happened. But the conclusion of this match was incredible. The match would be a best of 3. Jeter took the 1st match. Cappotelli took the 2nd. In the end, Cappotelli would defeat Johnny Jeter using a flying mid air superkick that put Shawn Michaels’ kick on Shelton Benjamin to shame. When OVW releases the month of November’s programs on DVD, you need to buy it so you can see what I’m talking about. Both men performed absolutely incredible and Jeter lost gracefully.

Johnny Jeter is a mix of The Hardy Boys and a hint of Chris Beniot and Shawn Michaels. He's got the technical skills, he's got the mic skills and he has the high flying skills. And unlike some OVW Superstars, Jeter has actually appeared on a WWE Pay-Per-View! Flashback to Vengeance 2003. The 1st ever APA Bar Room Brawl. Ringing any bells? Johnny Jeter was one of the conquistadors that would lose to the APA.

Here are Johnny Jeter’s stats:
Age- 22
Height- 5’10
Weight- 222lbs
Hometown- San Diego, California
Finisher- Top Rope Spinning Wheel Kick

Some of Jeter's better wins in OVW, including tag team action would include:

Johnny Jeter defeats Rob Conway (OVW Title)
Johnny Jeter defeats Nick Dinsmore (Eugene)
Johnny Jeter defeats Mark Magnus (Mohammad Hassaan)
Johnny Jeter defeats Inspector Impact (Luther Reigns)
Johnny Jeter defeats Brent Albright (OVW Title)
Johnny Jeter defeats Deuce Shade (Jimmy Snuka Jr)
Johnny Jeter defeats Matt Cappotelli (Retains OVW Title)
The Thrillseekers defeat MNM (OVW Southern Tag Titles)
The Thrillseekers defeat The Heartbreakers (The Heart Throbs)

Jeter is by far one of the most exciting wrestlers in Ohio Valley Wrestling, followed closely behind his rival Matt Cappotelli. The matches that are used in Ohio Valley Wrestling are better than the higher midcard on WWE TV, and the WWE should seriously consider calling both Jeter and Cappotelli up and continue their rivalry in front of a worldwide crowd. He can play a fan favorite but he plays a better heel. Some of the matches I'd love to see Jeter in on WWE TV would include:

Johnny Jeter vs. Shawn Michaels
Johnny Jeter vs. Shelton Benjamin
Johnny Jeter vs. Chris Benoit
Johnny Jeter vs. Matt Hardy
Johnny Jeter vs. Rey Mysterio
Johnny Jeter vs. Edge
Johnny Jeter vs. Juventud Guerrera
Johnny Jeter vs. Matt Cappotelli
Johnny Jeter vs. Randy Orton
Johnny Jeter vs. Ken Kennedy


Jeter's skills are also complimented in tag team action. If the WWE would like to get the next great tag team, they could get matches such as:


Johnny Jeter & Matt Cappotelli vs. Matt Hardy & Rey Mysterio
Johnny Jeter & Matt Cappotelli vs. The Mexicools
Johnny Jeter & Matt Cappotelli vs. MNM
Johnny Jeter & Matt Cappotelli vs. The Dicks
Johnny Jeter & Matt Hardy vs. Edge & Chris Masters
Johnny Jeter & Matt Hardy vs. MNM
Johnny Jeter & Paul London vs. The Mexicools
Johnny Jeter & Shawn Michaels vs. The Big Show & Kane

My anticipation for Johnny Jeter's debut as a WWE Superstar is high. Though we will likely see Matt Cappotelli (Cappotelli is being used in dark matches) on WWE TV before we see Johnny Jeter, I hope that the WWE has a program planned for the two on their programming. Bringing Cappotelli in as a fan favorite and feuding with a current WWE superstar would be good. Then Cappotelli's opponent could mention his friend from OVW is coming to assist him in disposing of Cappotelli. This would be the greatest situation for any OVW fan when Johnny Jeter appears as the heel and the two continue their rivalry in front of a worldwide fan base.

Letters…we get letters!

I’m going to do something a little different this week. Since the debut of The Crystal Ball two weeks ago, I’ve had quite a few emails and messages regarding the column and OVW and instead of wasting a good question and a good point on one person, I’m going to share all of them with you. So here goes! And I apologize if I didn’t use yours.
Jeff Pegus is a fellow OVW fanatic:

I was wondering if you would do a piece on Brent Albright, Johnny Jeter, or Chris Cage. I'm just getting started watching OVW and I wonder who are some of the better wrestlers on the show.

There are a lot of good wrestlers in OVW right now, and it’s difficult to put them all in one class as “better”. Brent Albright is a combination between Bret Hart and Chris Beniot. He just needs to learn some better mic skills, as all he usually says is “You just tapped out!” Johnny Jeter and Matt Cappotelli are involved in a great feud right now and are both equally as good as the other. Chris Cage has just made his return from an injury. Da Beast is also an unknown to keep your eye on. He’s highly underrated and all but a “who?” to the internet world. And of course there are others who have been featured in The Crystal Ball such as Elijah Burke and Ken Doane. There really isn’t a bad wrestler down here.

JP has a million dollar idea:

Wow, cool column and I have to admit that DoaneHelms team would rock. I’ve been thinking for months that there could be an OVW stable in the WWE, with Doane, Jeter, and Kennedy. It could be really cool if these guys were able to get called up and make something of their pasts as opposed to no mention at all of guys like Eugene and Conway because when they get called up there is no mention where they came from. This could be an invasion type angle and they could even have Eugene turn and become Nick Dinsmore again(that promo would rock when he shits all over creative and becomes the real wrestler we know he is). And then after the dominate the mid card move up to a feud with a Jericho or Flair type to give these guys the rub because we all know if nothing else they'll do the job without bitching and moaning. But great column.

Thanks JP. I absolutely LOVE the idea of an OVW Invasion. Just think of the possibilities. And who better to lead an invasion than the original invader Paul Heyman?? With Survivor Series coming up and a Raw vs. Smackdown match leading the pack, what better way to stir up some fresh new talent than make an OVW callup to 5 stars to interfere with the whole match. Another n W o type group that could wage war on both Raw AND Smackdown stars on both shows! This is the perfect idea to create your next big superstars. Just imagine watching TV and all of a sudden, Brent Albright, Ken Doane, Johnny Jeter, Matt Cappotelli, and Ken Doane all run down to the ring and raise hell on all the WWE Superstars. And then an “evil” Paul Heyman comes down and introduces “The Future” of professional wrestling. You’re going to have fans tuning in every single day as they did with the n W o to see who they are going to interfere with this week. It’s also a great way to bring up even MORE OVW Talent in the future. This is the best idea I’ve seen for the WWE in a LONG time.

As for Dinsmore, I doubt we’ll ever see the real wrestler. He’s fallen way down the midcard and even though he did recently get a Pay Per View win on Taboo Tuesday, he’s still not going to get any kind of major push like he did when he was involved with Triple H and Evolution. It would be difficult to pull Eugene out of this character unless they “kill off” the character. Put him through such an injury that we never see him again, but then bring in Eugene’s brother Nick who has a shaved head. We can cross our fingers, but the WWE seems content on the mentally handicapped character. It’s a shame because Dinsmore held the OVW Title a lot. Like 5 times, and carried the company over a 4 year period. He can be a great leader and it’s a shame we’ll never those leadership skills in the WWE.


I got a lot of feedback for my special report on The Boogeyman last week as well.

In the words of “The Ladies’ Man” …”Ooooh…It’s a Lady!” Amber Johnson made some money:

Steve this column just won me 50 bucks!!!!!! I bet my husband and
ARGUED him down that this was thee SAME person in TOUGH ENOUGH but I could not remember his name to verify it with him and now your column is my proof.....thanks soooooooooooo much!!!!!!!

Haha! That’s awesome! I’m glad my column is keeping the economy rollin’. I just hope your husband doesn’t hunt me down and beat me like I owe him money!

Larry argues my point about Paul Heyman:

The only problem with your argument is that alot of heyman's top talented guys never really seem to fair well in the big leagues:
Examples from past history
mikey whipwreck
justin credible
taz
911
jerry lynn
lance storm
Heyman is good for a mini company but if the talent goes on to the bigger stage (WWE) they don't do to well.

Ken Kennedy, they (WWE) are not even really doing anything with him. Unfortunately his cool catchphrase is starting to get a little stale.
great column, though.
The boogieman rescued WWE!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

True, Paul Heyman had some bad projects in ECW, but he had some great ones too. Examples: Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Steve Austin, Chris Beniot, & Rob Van Dam just to name a few. And do you think Vince hasn’t had the best of ideas in mind. Wrestlers such as Matt Morgan & Mordecai, and events such as bringing the n W o to the WWE come to mind. Not to mention the entire Juniors division.

Heyman has only been matchmaking for the OVW for a few months now. You can’t really critique what kind of job he’s done thus far, as there haven’t been a whole lot of callups during his era. The Dicks, Mr. Kennedy, & The Boogeyman are the only callups that come to mind since he took over for Jim Cornette. And Mr. Kennedy has already been given a large push with the Batista/Eddie angle when he teamed up with Orton. And this was a rare gimmick call up that Kennedy started in OVW and was brought up to do it in the WWE. This was Heyman’s creative mind at work. So you can expect to see great things from Ken Kennedy soon. Give Heyman some time with these guys.

Tim is a Boogey “Fan” :

I thought the Boogeyman was going to be retarded until they re-introduced him. When Palmer Cannon told us that the Network was going to make a show called The Boogeyman, remember the commercials we were airing for it here on Smackdown, and that it had been cancelled, but the star was still under contract to the network, was a genius way to change a retarded 1995 style character into something bizarrely humorous. That's what sold me right there, well that and the scene where he was backstage while Super Porky ate the Honey Baked Ham. I know this wasn't your point, but I'm enjoying the Boogeyman….

A lot of people thought those previews were for Kane’s movie. But I agree, it was a genius way to get the character on WWE TV. Even Goldust had a “preview movie” back in the day.

As for being a “Boogey Fan”. I am enjoying him too. I’ve never actually been so intrigued about a new Smackdown gimmick as I am with this guy. This character has the potential to be The Undertaker’s next Wrestlemania gimmick. The DeadMan vs. The Demon. It sets up a classic and dark style match between the two that I think could get a few buys. The Orton/Taker matches have been great, but this should end around Survivor Series. There’s no way we rematch this again at Wrestlemania. Taker needs a new opponent and The Boogeyman is a great candidate.


That’s it for this edition of The Crystal Ball. If you have any questions about OVW or anybody mentioned in The Crystal Ball, please email me! Your question could appear here next week!

Next week we’ll look into the career of the only Grand Slam Champion of OVW, Brent Albright. We’ll have more of your emails and comments so please send them. Also, I will hopefully have attended my first OVW live event by the time this is published and I will walk you through a typical taping of OVW Television. All that and more in next week’s Crystal Ball!