In early 2009, Buck formed a team known as Top Shelf Talent with J.D. Maverick. In their first match as a team, they defeated Tony Mann and Hog Wild. They continued to wrestle teams including Knuckles and Knives (Johnny Punch and Rudy Switchblade) and Tilo and Shiloh for the next few months. On April 22, Top Shelf Talent defeated Fang and Igotta Brewski and Totally Awesome (Sucio and Kamikaze Kid) in a three-way match to win the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship. The pair held the championship for 49 days, before losing it to Totally Awesome on June 10.
