Top wrestling states: Florida

November 4, 11:37 PMPro Wrestling ExaminerMark Satrang

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Like many southern states Florida was a hotbed for professional wrestling in the territorial days. Even after the territory system dried up in the ‘80s, Florida remains an integral state in the pro wrestling landscape.

Championship Wrestling from Florida
Championship Wrestling from Florida was ran by Eddie Graham through the ‘60s, ‘70s and the first half of the ‘80s as a charter member of the National Wrestling Alliance. Graham was a popular and key figure in the NWA, even serving as NWA President twice. Graham was well liked and respected by his fellow promoters and his wrestlers. All of the top stars of the NWA came through Florida at some point during the Graham era. Eddie Graham’s son Mike still keeps the family legacy strong as a member of WWE’s front office.

WWE Hall of Fame member Dusty Rhodes often credits Graham as his mentor, and the man who truly showed him the ropes in pro wrestling. Rhodes was often CWF’s key protagonist, battling a variety of monsters and villains that came through Florida to dethrone him. Most noteable of Rhodes’ battles was a long-time rivalry against Kevin Sullivan and his occult-like Army of Darkness. Standing amongst all the chaos of the CWF was perhaps the most loved and trusted play-by-play man in pro wrestling history, Gordon Solie. He brought a sense of credibility and matter-of-fact legitimacy to the chaos that developed around him.

WWE now owns the library of CWF, which has become an integral part of DVD releases and their video-on-demand cable and online services.

Kevin Sullivan introduces The Purple Haze:

World Championship Wrestling
Once wrestling became a global phenomenon and two-horse race between the WWF and World Championship Wrestling, WCW head honcho Eric Bischoff took to taping weeks worth of the company’s syndicated Worldwide program in one shot at Universal Studios Florida. While it was a great cost-cutting maneuver it ended up backfiring as weeks worth of shows being “in the can” made it hard to change up booking plans on the fly if needed. WCW also the area as a home base for their Pro show as well in its final years and was often home to their live Monday Nitro broadcasts during the summer of 1996.

The new World order attack Rey Mysterio and others:

TNA Wrestling
Once WCW went by the wayside in 2001, the WWF became the only game in town until TNA Wrestling formed in 2002. When their Impact television debuted in the summer of 2004, its home base was (and still is) Soundstage 21 at Universal Studios Florida, a place affectionately now known as the “Impact Zone.” Virtually every one of TNA television broadcasts and the majority of their pay per views are broadcast from that Soundstage, effectively making Orlando, Florida the company’s home base.

Florida Championship Wrestling
World Wrestling Entertainment also has it stakes in the Sunshine State thanks to their developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling, which has produced a variety of the company’s new stars, such as Jack Swagger, Ted DiBiase, Jr., David Hart Smith and many others.

Florida is also home to many past and present pro wrestling superstars. Men like the Hall of Fame members Jack & Gerry Brisco and current superstars like Christian call Florida home. With their inexpensive land and property, a lack of state income tax and beautiful weather and recreation options, it is the perfect place for someone who travels for the majority of their days to come home to. Flying into Florida in the depths of January sure beats flying into Minnesota that time of year.

Other top wrestling states:
Michigan
Georgia