Florida Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based
on the former independent Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion, which
operated from 1961 until 1987. From 2007 to 2012, the promotion served as the
official developmental territory for WWE. In August 2012, WWE re-branded
Florida Championship Wrestling into NXT for their developmental territory, with
storylines and championships being discontinued.
History The promotion was started by Steve Keirn
in 2007 and became WWE's second developmental territory when they ended
their relationship with the Georgia-based Deep South Wrestling in
April 2007. It became their sole developmental territory in early 2008
when they ceased affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling.
FCW's debut show was on June 26, 2007 at Tampa, Florida's Dallas Bull. A 21 man
Battle Royal was held during the show, to crown the first ever FCW Southern
Heavyweight Champion. The next year the Florida Heavyweight Championship was
introduced, with Jake Hager becoming the first champion at a February 15 show
after surviving a Battle Royal and defeating Ted DiBiase, Jr.. The Florida
Tag Team Championship was also introduced in February, with the Puerto
Rican Nightmares beating Steven Lewington and Heath Miller to win it in
the finals of a one night tournament. The singles titles were later unified,
keeping the "Florida Heavyweight" name and championship.
On July 7, 2008, WWE confirmed that FCW was based on the original independent
Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion, which operated from 1961
until 1987. The program's ending consisted of various clips from the
ending of CWF's programs, featuring Gordon Solie's classic sign-off line "So
long from the Sunshine State", accompanied by Solie winking one of his
eyes and waving two fingers upward. On March 20, 2012, it was reported that
WWE would cease operation at Florida Championship Wrestling, however this
statement was later refuted after Steve Keirn as well as WWE wrestler and
Executive Vice President of Talent and Live Events, Triple H, denied the claim.
In August 2012, WWE dropped the FCW name, deactivated the titles, and began
running all of its developmental events and operations under the "NXT Wrestling"
banner. WWE had been using the NXT name for a television program featuring
rookies from FCW competing to become WWE main roster wrestlers, though the
"reality television" aspects of the show had been dropped earlier in 2012; WWE
NXT now serves as the primary television program for the NXT Wrestling promotion.
Championships and accomplishments = Queen of FCW=
The Queen of FCW title was a professional wrestling women's title
contested for in the divas division of Florida Championship Wrestling. A crown
was held by the title holder, rather than a championship belt that is
primarily used in professional wrestling.
= Florida Heavyweight Championship= The Florida Heavyweight Championship was
a professional wrestling heavyweight championship contested for in their
heavyweight division of Florida Championship Wrestling. It has since
been retired in favor for the NXT Championship.
= Florida Tag Team Championship= The Florida Tag Team Championship was a
professional wrestling tag team championship contested for in the tag
team division of Florida Championship Wrestling. It has since been retired.
= FCW Divas Championship= The FCW Divas Championship was a
professional wrestling women's championship contested for in the divas
division of Florida Championship Wrestling. It has since been retired.
= FCW 15 Championship= The FCW Jack Brisco 15 Championship was
a professional wrestling championship contested in 15 minute ironman matches.
A medal was held by the title holder, rather than a championship belt that is
primarily used in professional wrestling. It has since been retired.
= FCW Southern Heavyweight Championship= The FCW Southern Heavyweight
Championship was a professional wrestling heavyweight championship
contested for in the heavyweight division of Florida Championship
Wrestling. It has since been retired after being unified with the Florida
Heavyweight Championship. Notable FCW alumni
The following is a list of FCW alumni. See also
WWE, parent company WWE NXT, the developmental promotion
that replaced Florida Championship Wrestling; now currently a developmental
branch within WWE called NXT. References
External links NXT subpage on WWE.com