The following article refers to the commonly misnamed Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF). For the WWE development territory, see Florida Championship Wrestling. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office starting in 1961 when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion. It is commonly incorrectly called Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), but the name was Championship Wrestling from Florida until the promotion closed in 1987. The rights to the name lapsed and were acquired by an outside party, and when Mike Graham tried a return to promoting, he was forced to use another name, so he chose 'Florida Championship Wrestling'. Before you can upload images you will need to register an account Only use this if you hold the copyright on the image. ... Year 1949 (MCMXLIX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Florida. ... Nickname: Location in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida. ... Eddie Graham Edward Gossett was a professional wrestler better known as Eddie Graham. ... Hiro Matsuda was the trainer of Hulk Hogan, Mr. ... Hisao Tanaka (born in California) was a professional wrestler. ... A wrestling promotion is a company or business that performs regular shows involving professional wrestling for monetary gain. ... Eddie Graham Edward Gossett was a professional wrestler better known as Eddie Graham. ... Michael Gossett was a professional wrestler better known as Mike Graham. ...

History

The original owner and promoter was Clarence P. 'Cowboy' Luttrell, 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 was worked but Cowboy took a severe beating. Cowboy opened the office in 1949, and Eddie Graham bought into the promotion in 1961 and took over completely in 1971, some say forcing Cowboy out. The promotion thrived with stars such as NWA champions Lou Thesz and Gene Kiniski, Graham, Don Curtis, Sam Steamboat, the Great Malenko (Larry Simon), Johnny Valentine, Hiro Matsuda, Bob Orton Sr. and later Jr., Joe Scarpa (later Chief Jay Strongbow), Wahoo McDaniel, the Funks (Terry and Dory, Jr.), the Briscos (Jack and Jerry), Buddy Colt (Ron Read), Dusty Rhodes, Barry Windham, Mike Rotunda, Mike Graham (Eddie's son), Kevin Sullivan---who had a cult gimmick (The Army of Darkness) that got tremendous heat from 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'. William Harrison Jack Dempsey (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983) was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title between 1919 and 1926. ... The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship is the primary professional wrestling title in the National Wrestling Alliance. ... This article includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Gene Kiniski was a professional wrestler. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lawrence Boris Simon (born 1933), better known by his ring name Boris Malenko, is a former American professional wrestler who wrestled for the AWA and NWA in the 1960s in 1970s. ... Johnny Valentine (born John Wisniski, September 29, 1929 – April 24, 2001) was a professional wrestler with a career spannig almost three decades, ending prematurely due to an airplane accident in 1975 which left him crippled. ... Hiro Matsuda was the trainer of Hulk Hogan, Mr. ... Robert Dale Orton Sr. ... Robert Keith Orton, Jr. ... Chief Jay Strongbow. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Terrance (Terry) Funk (born June 30, 1944) is an American professional wrestler, known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the later part of his career that inspired many later wrestlers, most notably Mick Foley. ... Dorrance Funk, Jr. ... Freddie Joe Brisco most to known as Jack Brisco (born September 21, 1941 in Blackwell, Oklahoma) was a popular and successful professional wrestler during 1970s, and into the 1980s. ... Gerald Brisco Floyd Gerald Brisco (born January 24, 1950 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is an American former professional wrestler. ... Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. ... Barry Windham (born July 4, 1960, Sweetwater, Texas) is a professional wrestler and the son of the infamous heel wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. ... Lawrence Michael (Mike) Rotunda (born March 30, 1958), also known as Captain Mike Rotundo and Irwin R. Schyster, is a former American professional wrestler. ... Michael Gossett was a professional wrestler better known as Mike Graham. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Army of Darkness The Army of Darkness was a professional wrestling heel stable in Championship Wrestling from Florida in the 1980s. ... Gordon Solie Gordon Solie, real name Francis Jonard Labiak (January 26, 1929 – July 27, 2000), was a professional wrestling play-by-play announcer working for World Championship Wrestling. ...

When Eddie Graham committed suicide on Super Bowl Sunday in January 1985, due to a combination of personal and business reverses, responsibility for the office went to Hiro Matsuda and Duke Keomuka, both of whom bought in 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 closed in 1987. Most of the stars had gone to Jim Crockett Promotions or the WWF by that point. Hiro Matsuda was the trainer of Hulk Hogan, Mr. ... Hisao Tanaka (born in California) was a professional wrestler. ... Jim Crockett Promotions was the name of a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. ...

The office 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 filmed and later taped its weekly TV wrestling show at the famed Sportatorium at 601 N. Albany in Tampa, FL---really 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 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. The Dallas Sportatorium, as it looked in the mid-1990s The Sportatorium, located in downtown Dallas, Texas (not to be confused with the Hollywood Sportatorium in Hollywood, Florida or the Tampa Sportatorium in Tampa, Florida), was a barnlike arena used primarily for professional wrestling events. ...

On March 2, 2006, it was announced that the CWF library was purchased by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for the DVD on Dusty Rhodes. is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. ...

Offshoots

Howard Brody started NWA Florida in 1990 and he booked for it until 2002.

In 2003, Kevin Rhodes started Championship Wrestling from Florida as a member of the NWA. He occasionally has some legends of the 1980s wrestling appear in his promotion.

In 2007, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), launched a development territory under the same name, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), but has no connection to this NWA owned promotion. World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Former FCW and CWF stars

• Abudadein
• Bad News Allen
• Brad Armstrong
• Steve Armstrong
• The Barbarian
• Ron Bass
• Black Bart
• Brian Blair
• Jack Brisco
• Jerry Brisco
• Bruiser Brody
• Ray Candy
• Chris Champion
• Cuban Assassin
• Fallen Angel
• Robert Fuller
• Dory Funk, Jr.
• Jimmy Garvin
• Eddie Graham
• Mike Graham
• Superstar Billy Graham
• Chavo Guerrero
• Hector Guerrero
• Billy Jack Haynes
• Hercules Hernandez
• Oliver Humperdink
• Steve Keirn
• Teijho Khan
• Brian Knobbs
• Ivan Koloff
• Mark Lewin
• Lex Luger
• Hiro Matsuda
• Wahoo McDaniel
• Bugsy McGraw
• Butch Miller
• Blackjack Mulligan
• Kendo Nagasaki (Kazuo Sakurada)
• Al Perez
• Harley Race
• Chasyn Rance
• Dustin Rhodes
• Dusty Rhodes
• Gentleman Jim Holiday
• Mike Fever
• Jake Roberts
• Bob Roop
• Sean Royal
• Rick Rude
• Jerry Sags
• Buzz Sawyer
• Ron Simmons
• Dick Slater
• Tracy Smothers
• Kevin Sullivan
• Luna Vachon
• David Von Erich
• Pez Whatley
• The White Ninja (Keiji Mutoh)
• Luke Williams
• Barry Windham
• Kendall Windham
• Mr. Wrestling II
• Jay Youngblood
• Mark Youngblood
• Aaron Arispe

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about professional wrestler. ... For the Australian rules footballer, see Steven Armstrong. ... Sionne Valahi Sionne Valahi is a professional wrestler best known under the name of The Barbarian. ... Ron Bass Ronald Herd was a professional wrestler best known as Ron Bass. ... Black Bart Rick Harris was a professional wrestler better known as Black Bart. ... Brian Leslie Blair aka B. Brian Blair / Brian Blair (born January 12, 1954) is a local politician in Florida, who gained fame as a professional wrestler especially as a part of the Killer Bees. ... Freddie Joe Brisco most to known as Jack Brisco (born September 21, 1941 in Blackwell, Oklahoma) was a popular and successful professional wrestler during 1970s, and into the 1980s. ... Gerald Brisco Floyd Gerald Brisco (born January 24, 1950 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is an American former professional wrestler. ... Frank Goodish (1946-1988) was a professional wrestler better known in the professional wrestling world as Bruiser Brody. ... Ray Candy (December 3, 1951 - May 23, 1994) was a professional wrestler for the Jim Crockett Promotions. ... Chris Champion Chris Champion was a professional wrestler. ... ... Nancy Daus as Woman Nancy Elizabeth Daus Benoit (born May 17, 1964 in Daytona Beach, Florida) (more commonly known by her in-ring names as Woman and Fallen Angel) was a professional wrestling valet and manager who has since retired from the business. ... Robert Fuller (born Robert Welch on May 14, 1951 in Dyersburg, Tennessee) is a professional wrestler and manager. ... Dorrance Funk, Jr. ... Jimmy Garvin (born James Williams on September 25, 1952 in Tampa, Florida) is a former professional wrestler. ... Eddie Graham Edward Gossett was a professional wrestler better known as Eddie Graham. ... Michael Gossett was a professional wrestler better known as Mike Graham. ... Superstar Billy Graham Eldridge Wayne Coleman, better known by his stage name Superstar Billy Graham (born September 10, 1943), is an American professional wrestler. ... This article is about Chavo Guerrero, Sr. ... Hector Manuel Guerrero Llanes (born October 11, 1954) is a Mexican-American professional wrestler, better known simply by his paternal name, Hector Guerrero. ... William Haynes, Jr. ... Hercules Ray Hercules Fernandez (1957–2004) was a professional wrestler who primarily wrestled in Florida and Texas. ... Sir Oliver Humperdink Oliver Humperdink was a professional wrestling manager who worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, Florida Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation. ... Steve Keirn (born September 10, 1951) is a retired professional wrestler. ... Teijho Khan Teijho Khan (born Tom Kasat or Cassett) was a professional wrestler. ... Brian Knobbs Brian Yandrisovitz, better known as Brian Knobbs, is an American former professional wrestler, best known as one half of the tag team The Nasty Boys. ... Ivan Koloff is a professional wrestler. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Lawrence (Larry) Wendell Pfohl (born June 2, 1958), is an American former bodybuilder, professional wrestler, and American football player better known by his wrestling ring name, Lex Luger. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Bugsy McGraw is the ring name of former professional wrestler Michael Davis. ... Butch Miller Robert Miller was a professional wrestler best known as Butch Miller. ... Blackjack Mulligan with the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship Blackjack Mulligan (Born Robert Joseph Windham on November 26, 1942 in Toiletwater, Texas) was a professional wrestler and a former football player. ... Kendo Nagasaki with manager Lloyd Ryan Kendo Nagasaki is a Professional wrestling stage name, used as a gimmick of that of a Japanese Samurai warrior with a mysterious past and even supernatural powers of hypnosis. ... Al Perez Al Perez was a professional wrestler. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Virgil Riley Dustin Runnels III (born April 11, 1966) is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Black Reign/Dustin Rhodes. ... Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Bob Roop is a wrestler whose career has spanned high school, college, Army, amateur and professional wrestling. ... Chris Champion & Sean Royal The New Breed Sean Royal was a professional wrestler. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Jerome Saganovich, better known as Jerry Saggs, is an American former professional wrestler, best known as one half of the tag team The Nasty Boys. ... Buzz Sawyer (born Bruce Woyan June 14, 1959-February 7, 1992) was a professional wrestler who went by the nickname of Mad Dog. He was known for his crazy antics in the ring and out. ... Ron Simmons[1] (born May 15, 1958) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. ... Dick Slater was a professional wrestler in the 1970s and 1980s who often wrestled in the NWAs Mid-Atlantic region. ... Tracy Smothers (born September 2, 1962) is an American professional wrestler. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Gertrude Vachon (born January 12, 1962) is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by the ring name Luna Vachon. ... David Adkisson David Allen Adkisson (July 22, 1958 - February 10, 1984) was an American professional wrestler famous under the ring name David Von Erich (of the famous Von Erich Family). ... Pistol Pez Whatley Pez Whatley (born Peter Whatley January 10, 1951 - January 18, 2005 was a professional wrestler in the 1980s. ... Keiji Mutoh , born December 23, 1962) is a Japanese professional wrestler who first gained international fame in the National Wrestling Alliance. ... Luke Williams Brian Wickens was a professional wrestler better known as Luke Williams. ... Barry Windham (born July 4, 1960, Sweetwater, Texas) is a professional wrestler and the son of the infamous heel wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. ... Kendall Windham was a professional wrestler. ... John Johnny Walker (born in Charleston, South Carolina), better known as Mr. ... Jay Youngblood Steven Romero was a professional wrestler better known as Jay Youngblood. ... Mark Youngblood Mark Romero was a professional wrestler better known as Mark Youngblood. ...

Titles

• NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
• NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship
• NWA Florida Television Championship
• NWA Florida Bahamian Championship
• NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Championship
• NWA Florida X Division Championship
• NWA Florida Women's Championship
• NWA Florida Junior Heavyweight Championship
• NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
• NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship
• NWA Florida Southern Tag Team Championship
• NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship

The NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship was a major title in Championship Wrestling Florida and is now the major title in NWA Florida. ... The NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship was the major singles title in the National Wrestling Alliances Florida territory, Championship Wrestling Florida. ... The NWA Florida Television Championship was a secondary title in Florida Championship Wrestling. ... The NWA Florida Bahamian Championship was a minor title that existed in Championship Wrestling Florida from 1982 until 1987. ... The NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Championship was a secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliances Florida territory, Championship Wrestling from Florida. ... The NWA Florida X Division Championship is a title defended in the Florida territory of the National Wrestling Alliance. ... The NWA Florida Junior Heavyweight Championship was a the top title for lighter wrestlers in the National Wrestling Alliances Florida territory, Championship Wrestling from Florida. ... The NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in NWA Florida. ... The NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship was a secondary tag team title in Florida Championship Wrestling from 1978 until 1986. ... The Florida version of the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship was a top tag team title in the National Wrestling Alliances Florida territory, Championship Wrestling from Florida. ... The NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship was a minor tag team title in Florida Championship Wrestling froom 1982 until fall 1983, when it was replaced by the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship. ...

External links

• C.W.F.L. official site
• CWF Archives
• Florida Title Histories
• NWA-Florida official site