Florida Championship Wrestling

Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) is a professional wrestling promotion based on the former independent Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion, which operated from 1961 until 1987. Currently, the promotion serves as the official developmental territory for WWE.

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History

The promotion, in its current form, was started by Steve Keirn in 2007 to be WWE's second developmental territory when they ended their relationship with the Georgia-based Deep South Wrestling in early 2007. It became their sole developmental territory in early 2008 when they ceased affiliation with Ohio Valley Wrestling.

FCW logo (2007–2008)

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 (Eddie Colón and Eric Pérez) 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.