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Florida Championship Wrestling comes to Miami, FL on April 2

Posted: Apr 1st 2010 By: CMBurnham

WBFS-My 33 in South Florida and Florida Championship Wrestling teamed to broadcast FCW programming leading to a show at the Miami-Dade County Fair, 10901 Coral Way/SW 24th Street, on Friday, April 2.

Under the direction of former World Wrestling Entertainment and Championship Wrestling from Florida star Steve Keirn (Skinner, Doink the Clown, The Fabulous Ones), FCW is based in Tampa. See future WWE stars as FCW is the top feeder system to WWE.

``Steve has done a tremendous job with FCW,'' said WWE Hall of Famer and former Championship Wrestling from Florida star Jerry Brisco.

Keirn and Brisco know the history of Florida wrestling very well. They lived it, competing daily up and down and throughout the Florida territory, when it was a territory run by WWE Hall of Famer Eddie Graham.

WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, a legendary name, especially in Florida, is one of the FCW TV commentators and trainers, and former wrestlers like Tom Prichard and Norman Smiley, a 1984 Miami Beach Senior High School graduate, work behind the scenes.

``FCW's been a phenomenal success,'' Brisco said. ``[WWE Raw star] Sheamus is from FCW, and he immediately made a huge impact in WWE. He won the world title in first month there.

``Drew McIntyre is another. The list goes on and on. There have been 30 competitors from FCW on the main roster in WWE. It is one of the few places we can get talent who have the knowledge and know how, and that's because of the method they are trained, working with Steve, Dusty, Norman, Tom Prichard who help coach these young men, get them ready. Look what they've accomplished.''

When scanning the names of FCW alums currently in WWE, the list includes Ted DiBiase Jr., Alicia Fox, Tyson Kidd, Drew McIntyre, Primo, Tyler Reks, Sheamus, DH Smith, Jack Swagger, Tiffany and Dolph Ziggler.

``I'll go there [FCW] quite frequently and discuss ring psychology and mannerisms with talent and also show support,'' said Brisco, who lives in Tampa.

``John Laurinaitis [WWE Executive Vice President/Talent Relations] has been the backbone of this whole operation. He has done a tremendous job communicating with Steve and everyone there on how to train these guys, to get them WWE ready.''

Just like old times when Championship Wrestling from Florida and legendary voice Gordon Solie was seen/heard each Saturday morning on WCIX-Ch.6 (now WFOR-Ch.4) in South Florida, FCW programming broadcasts one more time on My 33 from 11 a.m.-noon on Saturday, April 3.

Prior, FCW will run a live event at the Miami-Dade County Fair at 8 p.m. Friday, April 2. WWE stars Big Show, Carlito and Miami's own MVP are tentatively scheduled along with FCW stars. There is a meet-n-greet tentatively scheduled from 4:30-5 p.m.

``My 33 has been very generous with this,'' Brisco said. ``Part of the agreement with My 33 was for FCW to put on a show at the Miami-Dade County Fair with a few WWE main stars.''

Brisco made the call.

``I spoke to John Laurinaitis, and he talked with Vince [McMahon] because they know the importance working with TV and the market in South Florida. They are all for it.

``We hope the fans in South Florida get behind the TV product, and we hope to be able to continue the TV programming down there and then have more [live] shows there.''

FCW talent reads like a Who's Who of second and third generation stars including Mike Rotundo/IRS's sons Bo and Duke; Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase's son Brett; Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig's son Joe; Rikishi's sons Jimmy and Jules Uso; Superfly Jimmy Snuka's daughter Tamina; and Jerry Brisco's son Wes.

``FCW has so many second generation and third generation wrestlers, and a lot of their fathers competed in the old CWF,'' Brisco said. ``It really means a lot to be back in South Florida. The traditionalists in South Florida who are aware of the roots of FCW will be thrilled.''

Kaval, formerly Low Ki/Senshi in TNA, and the rookies on WWE NXT (10 p.m. EST Tuesdays SyFy) are also from FCW.

``It's so much bigger now from when I wrestled, and the pressure is so much greater,'' Brisco said. ``I really respect these young men, and you can tell when they're ready. You can tell by their face and body mechanics, if they are ready.

``It's the most intimidating thing for them to walk into that [WWE] dressing room for the first time -- and there's Cena, Taker, HBK. It's like you're a rookie on the Miami Dolphins, and the first time you go into the locker room, and there they are, these guys you've seen on TV, and now you're in the locker room with them.

``Here you're wrestling in front of 200 people and then it's 20,000 people. Your stomach is tied in knots. It's mind blowing that these kids are able to do it. With the preparation work from Dusty and the rest of training staff, these kids are ready for it.''

South Florida viewers can continue watching these future WWE stars on My 33 TV. If the FCW TV block clicks with viewers/ratings in South Florida, FCW hopes to lock a permanent slot on My 33.

Tickets for the fair start at $10, but there are discounts online, and there is no additional fee for the FCW show and meet-n-greet.

Visit fcwwrestling.info/index.html and fairexpo.com/thefair/index.php.


? To send comments concerning FCW continuing on My 33 TV in South Florida, e-mail viewerfeedback@cbslocal.com.


? Brisco recalls wrestling in South Florida for Championship Wrestling from Florida.

``I have so many fond memories of South Florida. After wrestling collegiately for Oklahoma State, one of my first pro matches in Florida was at the Miami Beach Convention Center, a great place. That's where a few years earlier Muhammad Ali fought Sonny Listen.

``The place was packed, and I was in the middle of the card in a match with Buddy Colt. Buddy, a former Marine, was a really tough guy. If you messed up, you knew it. He would just lay it on you.

``So I just listened very closely, followed very closely and did the right moves at the right time. Did what he wanted. You better be able to read his body language. I was very fortunate that I didn't make many mistakes against him.''

With the success of his older brother, the late, great Jack Brisco, in the Florida territory, Jerry had an advantage. Rather than the opening match, he found his starting ground in the middle of cards like the one in Miami.

``My brother was an established star, so they looked to move me up pretty quick,'' Brisco said, ``and it was a thrill walking out in that place in Miami. The fans were so knowledgeable.''

Tags: WWE, Jerry Brisco, Dusty Rhodes, Jack Swagger, Ted DiBiase, Rikishi, Buddy Colt, Jack Brisco