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Florida Championship Wrestling: Developmental, Like Minor League

Florida Championship Wrestling: Developmental, Like Minor League

Posted: Apr 14th 2008 By: CMBurnham

Smoke and lights. Cheering, jeering and leering. Spandex and body slams.

Everything that professional wrestling has, that is, except for the famous names. It's what you'll get at the Florida Championship League, or FCW, which is a developmental program for World Wrestling Entertainment and its numerous shows.

Think of it as a WWE minor league team, which has produced such superstars as John Cena and Dave Batista.

"Actually, it's a lot like a farm league," said retired WWE wrestler Steve Keirn, who now runs the FCW and has trained such wrestlers as Diamond Dallas Page and Dustin Rhodes. "This is where we get them ready to go on TV because not all wrestlers start off good. There are only a few Hulk Hogans out there. You just don't grab professional wrestlers out of the sky.

"It's entertainment, and they have to be taught."

There are four shows a month at the Club Bourbon Street in New Port Richey. Every Tuesday night, wrestlers with no names, but promising futures, suit up, strut their stuff, perform routines and await -- hope for, really -- a phone call from the pros.

Keirn adds that the business always needs new personas.

"This business is very demanding," Keirn said. "You get in, make as much money as you can and get out, because if you don't, you won't have a family. They're aren't many of these places like this and this is the only game in town, so we have to fill the void of talent somehow."

Ralph Mosca, now the promoter of FCW at the club and in the area, was a wrestler for 16 years and had pro-wrestling shows for about 3 1/2 years before the FCW took over about 7-8 months ago. Mosca says there's always a good crowd, generally ranging from 100-200 people.

"People love seeing this," Mosca said. "There are some serious fans out there, some extreme ones, but those are the best guys. They keep coming back. There's nowhere else where you can see something like this."

These hopeful wrestlers aren't all talk. They're here to learn because that's what the league is worth.

Ted DiBiase Jr., son of wrestler Ted DiBiase Sr., who was well-known as the Million Dollar Man during his on-again-off-again 14-year career with the then-WWF, has been with developmental league for about eight months. He says there is a lot of learning at FCW, such as moves, techniques and perfecting a good persona, but DiBiase adds there's more to it.

"It's about learning to respect what wrestling gives you," DiBiase said. "I've been working at this a long time -- for as long as I can remember ... They're grooming us for TV. We hone our skills and talent here and they prepare us for the next level. We're in the entertainment business and we have to learn to be entertainers."

Another young, rising star, Jake Hager, realizes this is his big break.

"This is such a huge opportunity," Hager said. "This a great place to get started, really the only place to get started. Thousands of guys from all over the country apply weekly to join this league and there are so many spots. They teach us the little things you can do to make yourself much better, and those things help from being a millionaire wrestler to not making it."

Hager says they watch a lot of film, to not only perfect the routine, but to learn how to make their show better, that way "we can use anything to become a superstar."

But like any other job, whether in sports or business, this league is about gaining experience and exposure. These wrestlers want to be here, to be called up more than they can dream about.

They're with the FCW because they strive for stardom.

"This is the farm system," DiBiase said. "We come here because we want to be at the top. TV is the finished product, obviously, but every wrestler starts at the bottom. It's not easy, but that's why we're here."

 

Tags: Jake Hager, WWE, Ted DiBiase

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Spotlight in History

  • 1970 Boris Malenko def. Mil Mascaras for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1973 Jose Lothario def. Blackjack Mulligan for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 1979 Mark Lewin became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 2007 Lonnie Valdez & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 2013 The P.I.N.K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) def. Bobby Burns & Sam Stackhouse (substituting for Psycho Sawyer) for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2013 B-Arthur became the SRPW Womens Champion
  • 2013 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Mercenary for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 2014 Striker def. Robert Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 2019 Skylar Slice def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Champion

Week of Sun 05-12 to Sat: 05-18

  • 05-12 2002 Rocco Valentino became the OCW Oklahoma Television Champion
  • 05-12 2012 The New Era [2nd] (Richie Adams & Goldeneye) def. The Dramatic Athletes (Jake McCoy & X-Cal) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-12 2012 Venus became the IZW Queens Champion
  • 05-12 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Bobby Starr for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-12 2013 Impact, Inc. (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Shawn Sanders & Tyson Jaymes for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Garrett Murphy became the NAW Lightweight Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Big Smooth def. Dusty Gold for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Brayden def. Kareem Sadat for the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-12 2018 Gavin Dixon def. Mikey [2nd] for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-12 2023 Ronnie Morton def. Red James for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-13 1979 Wahoo McDaniel def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 1984 Magnum T. A. def. Mr. Wrestling II for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 2006 Justin Lee def. Gary Gram for the NWA-U X Division Champion
  • 05-13 2012 Les Mayne became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-13 2016 Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-13 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
  • 05-13 2017 Garrett Murphy def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Champion
  • 05-13 2023 Lunchador def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
  • 05-13 2023 Rush Freeman became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-13 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. Dark Forces (San La Muerte & Reese) for the WAH Tag Team Champions
  • 05-14 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-14 1975 Danny Miller def. Skandor Akbar for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-14 2004 Butch Dalton def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-14 2004 Devon Monroe def. Mitch Carter for the TPW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-14 2005 John O'Malley became the IZW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-14 2005 Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-15 1959 Mike DiBiase def. Dory Funk for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-15 1962 Bull Curry def. Jack Dalton [1st] for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-15 2010 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Bobby Star) def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-15 2010 Jonathan Cross def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-15 2015 Charlie Haas def. Jerome Daniels for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-15 2021 Killbane def. The Canadian Red Devil for the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-16 1981 Eddie Gilbert & Ricky Morton def. Akbar Army (Jerry Brown & Ron McFarlane) for the TSW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 1983 Chris Adams def. Terry Gordy for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-16 2009 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. Team Bull (Aaron Neil & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-16 2015 Clint Cassidy def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE United States Champion
  • 05-16 2015 Brett Stopp def. Fuel for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-16 2015 Anarchy [2nd] def. Brett Stopp for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-17 1965 Bull Curry def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-17 1986 Bruiser Brody def. Rick Rude for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-17 1987 The Lightning Express (Brad Armstrong & Tim Horner) def. Rick Steiner & Sting for the UWF Tag Team Champions
  • 05-17 1996 The Bad Boyz (Krull Danzig & Brett Knight) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Dan Wilder) for the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
  • 05-17 2008 El Super Colibri def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 05-17 2008 Michael York def. Brett Taylor for the SECW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-17 2008 Michael York became the SECW Eastern Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-17 2009 Kevin Morgan became the AWFUL Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-17 2014 The Sexy Camachos (Angel Camacho & Roberto Camacho & Vinnie Camacho) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-17 2024 Gorilla Militia became the TexPro Texas Champion
  • 05-18 1970 Boris Malenko def. Mil Mascaras for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 1973 Jose Lothario def. Blackjack Mulligan for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 1979 Mark Lewin became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 05-18 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 2007 Lonnie Valdez & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-18 2013 The P.I.N.K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) def. Bobby Burns & Sam Stackhouse (substituting for Psycho Sawyer) for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-18 2013 B-Arthur became the SRPW Womens Champion
  • 05-18 2013 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Mercenary for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-18 2014 Striker def. Robert Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 05-18 2019 Skylar Slice def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Champion
05-18
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