CCW, Dan Lambert, Kevin Sullivan present the return of Championship Wrestling from Florida

Coastal Championship Wrestling, the longest running indie pro wrestling group in Florida and one of the longest in North America, is resurrecting Championship Wrestling from Florida.

Remember CWF with the late, great Gordon Solie. Noon on Saturdays in South Florida on WCIX-Ch.6.

So many stars made their way throughout Florida for CWF or received their start there, under the direction of another great mind for the business, the late Eddie Graham, who also wrestled for CWF. The company’s roots began with Cowboy Luttrall in 1949. Graham bought into the promotion in 1961 and took over in 1971 when CWF started to really take off. The doors closed in 1987.

CWF is where “The American Dream” persona of Dusty Rhodes was born in 1974. The crowd erupted when Dusty turned face by punching his evil tag partner Pak Song Nam with manager extraordinaire “Playboy” Gary Hart. That began a journey, a ride like no other, and Dusty Rhodes became the top babyface in the business, while amazingly vying for all three world titles simultaneously - AWA, NWA, WWWF.

So many more greats (including Jack & Jerry Brisco, Dory Jr. and Terry Funk, Mike Graham, Steve Keirn, Ric Flair, Harley Race, Andre the Giant, Sato & Saito, The Great Malenko, Hiro Matsuda, The Masked Assassins, “Big Cat” Ernie Ladd, Sir Oliver Humperdink, The Hollywood Blonds-Buddy Roberts & Jerry Brown, Billy Robinson, Bob Roop, Dick Slater, Luna Vachon, Buddy Colt, Thunderbolt Patterson, Mark Lewin, King Curtis, “Superstar” Billy Graham, Sweet Brown Sugar, Ox Baker, Len Denton, Blackjack Mulligan, Barry Wyndham, Pedro Morales, Bubba Douglas, “Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff, Pat Patterson, Jos LeDuc, The Fabulous Freebirds, Exotic Adrian Street, Big Tex McKenzie, Dick Murdoch, The Super Destroyer, Lord Alfred Hayes, Don Serrano, Tiger Conway Jr., Killer Karl Kox, The Spoiler, Jim Garvin, Paul Ellering, Don Muraco, Raul Mata, Bobby Jaggers, Cyclon & Omar Negro, Bob Orton & Bob Orton Jr., Frank Goodish-Bruiser Brody, Sonny King, Dino Bravo, Bob Backlund, Roger Kirby, Bobby Duncum, Bugsy McGraw, Gordon Nelson, “The Haitian Sensation” Tyree Pride and Kevin Sullivan) wrestled throughout Florida for CWF during the territory days with shows in South Florida. Each Monday at the West Palm Beach Auditorium, Wednesday at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and some Fridays at the National Guard Armory-Fort Lauderdale. Big shows at the Orange Bowl.

In the early days of CWF in South Florida, The Arena-Belle Glade, the Causeway Arena-Miami and Coral Gables Coliseum housed shows. Spot shows in the 1970s at the Dinner Key Auditorium-Miami and The Armory-Fort Pierce. Spot shows in the later years (late 1980s) at Bobby Maduro Stadium-Miami, Sunrise Musical Theater and War Memorial Auditorium-Fort Lauderdale. Weekly TV tapings were conducted in a small Tampa TV studio, the Sportatorium, 106 N. Albany Ave.

CCW, led by Nelio Cuomo Costa and the OG Dan Evans, assembled their own CWF Dream Team, which includes former CWF referee Bill “Fonzie” Alfonso, American Top Team founder and AEW, Impact Wrestling and MLW star mouthpiece Dan Lambert; WWE alum, CCW head trainer and South Florida’s own Gangrel David Heath; and CWF mainstay and leader of the Army of Darkness “The Taskmaster” Kevin Sullivan.

Big fans, Gangrel and Lambert grew up watching CWF. Gangrel is an active wrestler, competing throughout the country.

Lambert is also a belt collector with an incredible array of old school title belts, including some worn during the CWF days.

Alfonso transitioned successfully to a managerial role during his career, a manager of champions.

Sullivan will lead creative, the head writer. His work in front of the camera during his CWF days and later behind the scenes in WCW just outstanding.

Bruce Owens, who was a referee and ring announcer for CWF, is the head referee for the newer version. Also a belt collector of the old days of the sport, Owens is a popular referee, who’s worked the indies, too, throughout Florida.

What started with Evans and Bruno Sassi, CCW is reaching new heights via Costa, Evans and their team. The indie company, titled “The Last Remaining Territory,” recently celebrated its 19th anniversary.

CCW expanded, running shows throughout Florida and in Nashville.

The CWF project is a new opportunity for this established company, and having Alfonso and Sullivan on board adds much credibility to the venture.

The new CWF roster features pro wrestling legend and CWF alum Kevin Sullivan, WWE alum Martin Stone, former NWA champ “Tokyo Monster” Kahagas, MLW alums Brian Brock and Ricky Martinez, Florida indie talents Alex Chamberlain, “Prince of Rome” D3, Eddie Taurus, and Romeo Quevedo, fan favorite Cha Cha Charlie, NWA star Blake Troop, CCW champ Ariel Levy, and up-n-comer Damian Fenrir. Plus, Anthony Catena, Angel Fashion, and Andrew Anderson along with WWE alum Gangrel, CWF alum Bill “Fonzie” Alfonso and ATT’s Dan Lambert and more. Trevin Adams of the World Wrestling Network will be calling the action.

Plans are to develop CWF into a regular occurrence in the Sunshine State.

The inaugural TV tapings for the new CWF are May 27 and 28 at the CCW Arena inside The CCW Training Center, 1411 SW 30th Ave., Suite 9, Pompano Beach 33069.

Ticket info: https://www.coastalchampionshipwrestlingfl.com/

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