Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it closed down. It is also referred to as Florida Championship Wrestling . When Mike Graham tried a return to promoting, the rights to the name had been acquired by an outside party, forcing him to use another name, Florida Championship Wrestling .
47-751: (Redirected from NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship ) Professional wrestling championship NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship [REDACTED] A version of the championship belt Details Promotion Championship Wrestling from Florida Date established March 17, 1962 Date retired February 1987 Statistics First champion(s) Eddie Graham Final champion(s) Kevin Sullivan Most reigns Dusty Rhodes (10 reigns) Longest reign Steve Corino (521 days) Shortest reign Bobby Duncum (7 days) The Florida version of
94-568: A ring announcer . When Eddie Graham committed suicide in January 1985, due to a combination of personal and business problems, responsibility for the office went to Hiro Matsuda and Duke Keomuka , both of whom bought in during the 1960s. The other remaining owners were Mike Graham, Eddie's brother Skip Gossett, Dusty Rhodes and Buddy Colt . The promotion continued losing money and merged with Jim Crockett Promotions in February 1987. Most of
141-1008: A TV tape delay on January 23, 1985 127 Brian Blair April 10, 1985 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 46 128 Hercules Hernandez May 26, 1985 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 1 — Vacated July 1985 — — — — Hernandez was fired for a dressing room fight with Wahoo McDaniel 129 Rick Rude July 21, 1985 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 2 73 defeated Mike Graham in tournament final 130 Wahoo McDaniel October 2, 1985 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 48 131 Lex Luger November 19, 1985 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 57 132 Jesse Barr January 15, 1986 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 30 132 Lex Luger February 14, 1986 CWF Battle of
188-572: A double title match as Spoiler was the NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion 92 Wahoo McDaniel August 23, 1978 CWF Show Miami Beach, Florida 1 81 93 Dick Slater November 12, 1978 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 3 48 94 Terry Funk December 30, 1978 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 2 21 95 Thor
235-822: A level necessary to enhance the territory further. In May he decided to part ways with the PWF and join the World Wrestling Federation as a wrestler. Before departing, Rhodes was defeated by The Big Steel Man on May 13, 1989 for the PWF title at an event in Sarasota, FL. His final match with the company was on May 20, where he wrestled Steel Man at an event in Fort Lauderdale. The promotion closed shortly after holding its last show June 29, 1991, in Nassau, Bahamas, which saw Tyree Pride beat Steve Keirn for
282-527: A match against Dick Murdoch ended in controversial fashion. 34 Bobby Duncum October 7, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 7 Won tournament 35 George Gaiser October 14, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 40 36 Bobby Shane November 23, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 84 — Vacated February 15, 1972 — — — — Vacated after
329-4356: A match against Paul Jones ended inconclusively 57 Dusty Rhodes October 23, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 3 105 Defeated Paul Jones in rematch 58 Jos LeDuc February 5, 1974 CWF Show Florida 1 35 59 Dusty Rhodes March 12, 1974 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 128 — Vacated July 18, 1974 — — — — Vacated after Pak Song defeated Rhodes 60 Dusty Rhodes July 20, 1974 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 5 5 Defeated Pak Song in rematch 61 Pak Song July 25, 1974 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 1 19 62 Jerry Brisco August 13, 1974 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 63 Bill Watts 1974 CWF Show Florida 1 64 Jos LeDuc November 11, 1974 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 2 22 65 The Stomper December 3, 1974 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 77 66 Bob Armstrong February 18, 1975 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 14 67 The Stomper March 4, 1975 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 13 68 Pepper Gomez March 17, 1975 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 89 69 Killer Karl Krupp June 14, 1975 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 70 Mike George 1975 CWF Show Florida 1 71 Killer Karl Krupp 1975 CWF Show Florida 2 72 Harley Race August 25, 1975 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 1 21 73 Dusty Rhodes September 15, 1975 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 6 8 74 Harley Race September 23, 1975 (NET) CWF Show Florida 2 75 Jerry Brisco November 1975 CWF Show Florida 2 76 Masked Destroyer November 16, 1975 (NET) CWF Show Florida 1 77 Billy Robinson December 29, 1975 CWF Show Florida 1 106 78 The Assassin April 13, 1976 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 21 79 Dusty Rhodes May 4, 1976 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 7 35 80 The Assassin June 8, 1976 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 144 81 Steve Keirn October 30, 1976 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 82 Ox Baker 1976 or 1977 CWF Show Florida 1 83 "Superstar" Billy Graham 1977 CWF Show Florida 1 84 Steve Keirn 1977 CWF Show Florida 2 85 Ivan Koloff May 24, 1977 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 126 86 Pedro Morales September 27, 1977 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 161 87 Dick Slater March 7, 1978 (NLT) CWF Show Florida 1 51 88 Jerry Brisco April 27, 1978 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 3 4 89 Dick Slater May 1, 1978 CWF Show Florida 2 48 90 Dusty Rhodes June 18, 1978 CWF Show Sarasota, Florida 8 45 91 The Spoiler August 2, 1978 CWF Show Miami Beach, Florida 1 21 Won
376-2566: A match against Tim Woods ended in controversial fashion 37 Tim Woods February 29, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 116 won the rematch 38 The Zodiac June 24, 1972 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 5 39 Dale Lewis July 1972 CWF Show Florida 2 40 The Zodiac August 1, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 6 11 41 Tim Woods August 12, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 24 42 Buddy Colt September 5, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 14 43 Tim Woods September 19, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 3 42 44 Buddy Colt October 31, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 21 45 Tim Woods November 21, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 27 46 Buddy Colt December 18, 1972 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 3 22 47 Mark Lewin January 9, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 28 48 Buddy Colt February 6, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 22 49 Mr. Kleen February 28, 1973 CWF Show Miami, Florida 1 12 50 Paul Jones March 12, 1973 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 1 29 51 Ron Fuller April 10, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 77 52 Johnny Valentine June 26, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 49 53 Bill Dromo August 14, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 22 54 Dusty Rhodes September 5, 1973 CWF Show Miami Beach, Florida 1 27 55 Thunderbolt Patterson October 2, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 7 56 Dusty Rhodes October 9, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 7 — Vacated October 16, 1973 — — — — Championship vacated after
423-1867: A match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 102 Dick Slater August 3, 1980 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 177 103 Mike Graham January 27, 1981 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 7 104 Dick Slater February 3, 1981 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 5 1 105 Sweet Brown Sugar February 4, 1981 CWF Show Ft. Myers, Florida 2 76 106 Rene Goulet April 21, 1981 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 107 Bobby Jaggers June 1981 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 108 Jack Brisco November 22, 1981 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 4 34 109 David Von Erich December 26, 1981 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 202 110 Derek Draper July 16, 1982 CWF Show Lakeland, Florida 1 9 111 Sweet Brown Sugar July 25, 1982 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 3 17 112 Jimmy Garvin August 11, 1982 CWF Show Florida 2 81 113 Dusty Rhodes October 31, 1982 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 10 22 114 Kevin Sullivan November 22, 1982 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 1 Defeated Barry Windham to win
470-1258: A tournament 11 Tarzan Tyler February 24, 1966 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 2 12 12 The Missouri Mauler March 8, 1966 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 13 Johnny Weaver 1967 CWF Show Florida 1 14 The Missouri Mauler 1967 CWF Show Florida 2 15 Johnny Weaver July 1968 CWF Show Charlotte, North Carolina 2 16 Red Bastien July 1968 CWF Show Florida 1 17 The Missouri Mauler January 1969 CWF Show Florida 3 18 Jack Brisco February 11, 1969 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 19 The Missouri Mauler 1969 CWF Show Florida 4 20 Jack Brisco July 8, 1969 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 — Vacated November 1969 — — — — Vacated after Jack Brisco left
517-408: Is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 39 and 54 days. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 16 and 58 days. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 43 days. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that
SECTION 10
#1732790649204564-823: Is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 26 days. ^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 36 and 56 days. ^ The date the championship was abandoned is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 4 and 34 days. References [ edit ] ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ^ Hoops, Brian (February 19, 2017). "Daily Pro Wrestling History (02/19): Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker at No Way Out 2006" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved February 27, 2017 . ^ Hoops, Brian (March 3, 2017). "Daily Pro Wrestling History (03/03): Sting wins
611-528: The Carolinas . Title history [ edit ] Key No. Overall reign number Reign Reign number for the specific champion Days Number of days held No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref. Date Event Location Reign Days 1 Eddie Graham March 17, 1962 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 68 Won tournament to become
658-756: The Fabulous Kangaroos . They dropped the titles to Buddy Rogers and Johnny Barend . That same year, Ellis feuded with NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers in main events unsuccessfully winning the tile. On September 10, 1964, he defeated The Destroyer to win the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in Los Angeles. He dropped the title back to the Destroyer two months later. In 1965 he toured Australia where he feuded with Killer Kowalski . In 1969, he won
705-570: The IWA World Heavyweight Championship (Australia) where he defeated Skull Murphy and held the title for a week. He dropped it to Killer Karl Kox . In 1970, he returned to New York this time for World Wide Wrestling Federation . In 1973, he defeated Baron Von Raschke for WWA World Heavyweight Championship the Indianapolis version where he held it for nearly a year dropping it to Jimmy Valiant . He won
752-872: The NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship defeating Bob Geigel . Ellis held the title for over a year until January 22, 1960. In 1960, he would go to Detroit where he defeated Dick the Bruiser for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) . He dropped the belt back to Dick the Bruiser. In 1962, he teamed with Johnny Valentine in New York to win the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) defeating
799-686: The NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship was the major singles professional wrestling championship in the National Wrestling Alliance 's Florida territory, Championship Wrestling Florida . It existed from 1962 until 1987, when the title was abandoned. It was revived by NWA Florida in 1996. At various times, different NWA affiliated promotions used their own regional version of the title including promotions based in Georgia , Tennessee , and
846-750: The United States Army as a paratrooper , making 53 jumps during the Korean War . In 1954, he briefly was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles . Ellis owned several gyms in San Angelo, Texas . Ellis was trained to wrestle by Sandor Szabo . Ellis made his professional wrestling debut in Denver, Colorado in 1957. He initially wrestled as "Bob Elliott" before becoming "Cowboy" Bob Ellis. On November 28, 1958 Ellis won his first title
893-507: The ring name , Cowboy Bob Ellis for over 20 years in various wrestling promotions in the States, Canada and Australia. He was a two-time WWA World Heavyweight Champion in Indianapolis. He is known as the inventor of the bulldog and as of 2024 is the oldest-living former professional wrestler in the world. Ellis played high school football. He went on to attend McMurry College where he again played football. Ellis served three years in
940-977: The Belts 2 Orlando, Florida 2 158 134 Masked Superstar July 22, 1986 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 7 135 Lex Luger July 29, 1986 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 3 171 136 Kevin Sullivan January 16, 1987 CWF Show Daytona, Florida 3 15 137 Bad News Allen January 31, 1987 CWF Show Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 1 25 138 Kevin Sullivan February 25, 1987 CWF Show Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 4 — Deactivated March 1987 — — — — Championship abandoned after promotion
987-647: The Giant , Jim Duggan , Butch Reed , Rick Steiner , The Freebirds , Cactus Jack , Scott Hall , Terry Allen (later more famous as Magnum T. A. ), Percy Pringle (later more famous as Paul Bearer ), Luna Vachon , Jimmy Garvin , Adrian Street , Héctor Guerrero , Chavo Guerrero Sr. , Oliver Humperdink , One Man Gang , J. J. Dillon , Gary Hart (wrestler) , Bob Roop , Mark Lewin , Dutch Mantel , Mike Graham (Eddie's son), The Sheepherders , Kevin Sullivan – whose cult-like Army of Darkness got tremendous heat from
SECTION 20
#17327906492041034-619: The Great Malenko (Larry Simon), Johnny Valentine , Hiro Matsuda , Bob Orton Sr. and later Bob Orton Jr. , Joe Scarpa (later known as Chief Jay Strongbow), Wahoo McDaniel , the Funks ( Terry and Dory Jr. ), the Briscos ( Jack and Jerry ), Buddy Colt (Ron Read), Dusty Rhodes , Blackjack Mulligan , Bruiser Brody , Kendall Windham , Barry Windham , Mike Rotunda , Lex Luger , Rick Rood (later Rick Rude ), Harley Race , André
1081-572: The PWF Florida Championship. CWF filmed and later taped its weekly TV wrestling show at the famed Sportatorium at 106 N. Albany in Tampa, Fla., which was in reality a small television studio with seating for a live audience of about 100 people (1/40th of the seating capacity of its Dallas counterpart ), with the wrestling office and gym in the same building. Arena footage was always also used, and full arena show broadcasts began in
1128-4530: The TNA title" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved March 7, 2017 . ^ Hoops, Brian (January 13, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/13): TNA Genesis 2013" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved January 18, 2019 . ^ Hoops, Brian (February 28, 2017). "Daily pro wrestling history (02/28): Andersen & Hansen win NWA Tag Titles" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved February 28, 2017 . ^ Meltzer, Dave (June 22, 2015). "June 22, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Part 1 of giant Dusty Rhodes obituary, GFW's 1st shows, and much more" . Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Campbell, California : 20–23. ISSN 1083-9593 . ^ "Southern Heavyweight Title [Florida]" . wrestling-titles.com . Retrieved July 23, 2018 . ^ Hoops, Brian (March 7, 2020). "Daily Pro Wrestling history (03/07): Bruno Sammartino vs. Giant Baba" . Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved March 8, 2020 . ^ Hoops, Brian (January 20, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/20): HHH returns, wins 2002 Royal Rumble" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved January 18, 2019 . ^ Hoops, Brian (November 24, 2019). "Daily Pro Wrestling history (11/24): The First Starcade" . Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved November 24, 2019 . ^ Hoops, Brian (May 30, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 30): Inoki beats Andre to win MSG league, Garea & calhoun win WWWF Tag titles, Gagne vs. Funk Jr., UFC booker wins title" . Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved March 21, 2020 . ^ Hoops, Brian (January 16, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/16): Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton win WCW Tag Team Titles" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved January 18, 2019 . ^ Hoops, Brian (January 15, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/15): Big John Studd wins 1989 Royal Rumble" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved January 18, 2019 . ^ Hoops, Brian (February 25, 2017). "Daily pro wrestling history (02/25): WWF No Way Out 2001" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved February 27, 2017 . v t e Championship Wrestling from Florida Championships World NWA World Heavyweight Championship NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version) National NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Florida version) NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) Regional NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) NWA Florida Bahamian Championship NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship NWA Florida Junior Heavyweight Championship NWA Florida Tag Team Championship NWA Florida Television Championship NWA Florida Women's Championship NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Florida version) NWA Southern Women's Championship (Florida version) Personnel Eddie Graham Mike Graham Duke Keomuka Hiro Matsuda Dusty Rhodes Gordon Solie Home base Tampa Sportatorium Portal : [REDACTED] Florida Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NWA_Southern_Heavyweight_Championship_(Florida_version)&oldid=1188641491 " Categories : Championship Wrestling from Florida championships National Wrestling Alliance championships Heavyweight wrestling championships Regional professional wrestling championships Professional wrestling in Florida Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description matches Wikidata Articles with hCards Championship Wrestling from Florida The original owner and promoter
1175-1068: The Viking January 20, 1979 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 70 96 Jimmy Garvin March 31, 1979 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 58 97 King Curtis Iaukea May 28, 1979 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 1 98 Ernie Ladd October 1979 CWF Show Lafayette, Louisiana 1 99 Sweet Brown Sugar October 26, 1979 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 29 100 Leroy Brown November 24, 1979 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 84 101 Dusty Rhodes February 16, 1980 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 9 — Vacated July 1980 — — — — Vacated so that Rhodes could focus on
1222-612: The WWF). Dusty Rhodes made his debut for the company on March 4, 1989 at an event in Titusville, FL when he teamed with Steve Keirn to defeat the duo of The Big Steel Man and Dick Slaytor. A week later at the PWF Homecoming event in Tampa, FL he pinned Big Steel Man to become the first PWF Heavyweight Champion. Later that spring as the PWF began to grow Rhodes received a surprise backstage visit from Bobby Heenan , who inquired on
1269-1784: The championship — Vacated 1982 — — — — Championship vacant after Sullivan tries to give it to Jake Roberts in gratitude for his interference. 115 Barry Windham December 18, 1982 CWF Show Sarasota, Florida 1 89 Defeated Greg Valentine in tournament final 116 Frank Dusek March 17, 1983 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 44 117 Ron Bass April 30, 1983 CWF Show Ft. Myers, Florida 1 147 118 Mike Rotunda September 24, 1983 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 60 119 Ron Bass November 23, 1983 CWF Show Miami, Florida 2 180 120 Mike Rotunda May 21, 1984 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 2 9 121 Angelo Mosca May 30, 1984 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 74 122 Jim Neidhart August 12, 1984 CWF Show Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1 13 123 Pez Whatley August 25, 1984 CWF Show Sarasota, Florida 1 25 124 Kevin Sullivan September 19, 1984 CWF Show Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 2 3 125 Pez Whatley September 22, 1984 CWF Show Miami, Florida 2 116 126 Rick Rude January 16, 1985 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 84 aired on
1316-455: The championship reign is too uncertain to calculate. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 31 days. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 154 and 214 days. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 11 and 41 days. ^ The date
1363-409: The championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 72 days. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 72 days. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 72 days. ^ The date the championship was won and lost
1410-400: The championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 136 and 166 days. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 41 and 70 days. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 145 and 174 days. ^ The date the championship was vacated
1457-423: The championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 146 days. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 146 days. ^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 116 and 145 days. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that
NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1504-632: The dormant CWF territory. Once Dusty departed from WCW they reached out to him, and ultimately partnered to launch the new Professional Wrestling Federation in February 1989. Rhodes had larger visions for the fledgling regional territory, which included a name change from FCW to the non-regional PWF. The new startup promotion featured a raft of current and future stars, including Terry Funk , Dick Slater , Bam Bam Bigelow , Al Perez , The Nasty Boys , Scott Hall , Dustin Rhodes , Mike Awesome , Dallas Page and The Big Steel Man (who would become Tugboat in
1551-437: The early '80s. CWF Spin-off shows were Championship Wrestling Superstars , Global Wrestling , North Florida Championship Wrestling , United States Class Wrestling , American Championship Wrestling and Southern Professional Wrestling . In 1960, Gordon Solie became the lead announcer for CWF's Saturday morning television shows, a spot he would occupy for the next quarter-century. In 1980, he hired singer Barbara Clary, who
1598-405: The fans – and, in the words of the promotion's legendary commentator and a star in his own right Gordon Solie , 'a host of others'. Solie's deadpan interviewing style often buoyed the outlandish behavior and actions of Sullivan and his minions, bringing a legitimacy to the on-air segments no matter what depths Sullivan would descend to. Dusty Rhodes stands out among the noted performers because of
1645-1412: The first champion — Vacated May 24, 1962 — — — — Eddie Graham was injured and unable to defend the championship 2 Boris Malenko July 25, 1962 N/A N/A 1 127 Awarded after Malenko injured Graham to cause the title to become vacant 3 Eddie Graham November 29, 1962 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 2 82 4 Hiro Matsuda February 19, 1963 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 163 5 Eddie Graham August 1, 1963 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 3 149 6 Bob Orton December 28, 1963 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 1 66 7 Bob Ellis March 3, 1964 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 93 8 Bob Orton June 4, 1964 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 2 208 9 Tarzan Tyler December 29, 1964 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 — Vacated April 1965 — — — — Championship vacated for undocumented reasons 10 Bob Orton June 17, 1965 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 3 252 Won
1692-562: The number of rivalries he had on air through most of CWF's broadcasting history. Well known heels, newcomers and babyfaces who turned heel during their tenure with CWF often sought out Rhodes to make their names in the territory. His rivals over the years included Superstar Billy Graham , Ray Stevens , Ernie Ladd , Ivan Koloff , Ox Baker , Ron Bass , Kamala , Abdullah the Butcher , Ric Flair , his old Texas Outlaws partner Dick Murdoch and of course, Kevin Sullivan. Mike Moore served as
1739-729: The promotion began operating under the NXT banner, dropping references to FCW. On June 28, 2013, the WWE formally shuttered the Florida Championship Wrestling Arena, moving all equipment and personnel to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. General Specific Bob Ellis (wrestler) Robert Ellis (born March 15, 1929), is an American retired professional wrestler . He wrestled under
1786-420: The reign lasted between 7 and 37 days. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 31 days. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 89 days. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 89 days. ^ The date
1833-435: The reign lasted between 1 and 143 days. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 143 days. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 126 and 151 days. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 26 days. ^ The date
1880-567: The stars had gone to Jim Crockett Promotions or the WWF by that point. CWF continued operating as a JCP subsidiary until its last card on November 14, 1987, in Robarts Arena in Sarasota; in the main event, NWA Western States Heritage champion Barry Windham battled Dory Funk Jr. to a 20-minute time-limit draw. In late 1988 during the acquisition of Jim Crockett Promotions the duo of Mike Graham and Steve Keirn were attempting to revive
1927-498: The state of the company's business. Shortly thereafter Vince McMahon reached out to Rhodes and made an offer to acquire the PWF as a developmental territory and to bring Rhodes into the WWF. He refused, as his desire was to grow the territory into a national brand that could compete with WCW and the WWF. However the Professional Wrestling Federation's backers did not have a desire to fund the company at
NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1974-1725: The territory to work in Japan 21 Danny Miller January 3, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 10 22 The Missouri Mauler January 13, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 5 49 23 Bob Orton March 3, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 39 24 Dale Lewis April 11, 1970 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 1 66 25 Hiro Matsuda June 16, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 58 26 Great Mephisto August 13, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 50 27 Hiro Matsuda October 2, 1970 CWF Show Tallahassee, Florida 3 34 28 Great Mephisto November 5, 1970 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 2 96 29 Rene Goulet February 9, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 42} 30 The Grappler March 23, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 22 31 Terry Funk April 14, 1971 CWF Show Miami, Florida 1 7 32 Dick Murdoch April 21, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 48 33 Jack Brisco June 8, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 3 108 — Vacated September 24, 1971 — — — — Vacated after
2021-568: The title for the second time defeating Valiant four months later. Then dropped the title to Ox Baker in August 1974. On February 21, 1976 he won the WWC North American Heavyweight Championship defeating Carlos Colon . He dropped the title back to Colon on April 17. In 1977, Ellis made his debut for International Wrestling Enterprise in Japan. In the early 1980s, Ellis retired from the ring. After
2068-414: Was "Cowboy" Clarence Preston Luttrall, a former journeyman heel wrestler who once fought a widely publicized boxing match, resulting from a wrestling angle, with a forty-something Jack Dempsey . It worked but Cowboy took a severe beating. Cowboy opened the office in 1949, and Eddie Graham bought into the promotion in 1961, then took over completely in 1971, because of health reasons with Cowboy. The office
2115-848: Was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance during the entire CWF era, Eddie Graham serving two terms as NWA president, and loosely aligned before that, with other 'world' champions sometimes defending their titles. CWF became a staple in many Southern households in the 1970s and 1980s, with Dusty Rhodes arguably its most noted headliner, his babyface turn beginning May 14, 1974 against former partner Pak Song . The promotion competed against other syndicated shows on Saturday night like The Lawrence Welk Show and Solid Gold for years. The promotion thrived with stars such as NWA champions Lou Thesz and Gene Kiniski , Graham, Bobby Shane , Robert Lee Schoenberger, Don Curtis , Sam Steamboat , The Magnificent Muraco (Don Muraco) ,
2162-531: Was bilingual to conduct interviews in both English and Spanish. Solie was joined on commentary by Buddy Colt during the program's final years. On March 2, 2006, the CWF library was purchased by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for the DVD on Dusty Rhodes . In 2007, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) revived the promotion as a developmental territory under the name Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). In 2012,
2209-464: Was purchased by Jim Crockett Promotions See also [ edit ] List of National Wrestling Alliance championships NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Georgia version) NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Tennessee version) Footnotes [ edit ] ^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 93 and 122 days. ^ The length of
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