Report: Major New Wrestling Company To Form In Florida?

Source: Pwinsider.com

A new wrestling promotion is starting up out of Florida. The promotion, which has quietly been putting together a business plan, is said to have major financial backing. The new promotion is already signing wrestlers up, and along with the contracts, are having them sign confidentiality agreements.

There is no name known for the promotion at this time, but it is known that they will not actively do anything until the fall. A full promotional launch is expected at the beginning of 2011, As of this time, there is no information of TV deals or TV tapings.

Businessman Peter Karoftis is said to be the main backer for the promotion. Karoftis previously worked with Sterling Equities, which is a New York-based investment firm that owns The New York Mets organization, the SNY cable network, and several real estate and investment companies. Karoftis, along with Florida independent wrestler Sean Davis are said to be the core of the company right now.

Also working with the company are Kevin Kleinrock (Viva La Lucha, Wrestling Society X), Cody Michaels (WSX, XPW) and Mister Saint Laurent (longtime Florida promoter). Kleinrock will be working production, while it is expected that Laurent will work on the creative end. Laurent has previously promoted the "I Believe In Wrestling" company, and there may be a crossover between the new company and the "I Believe In Wrestling" talent and wrestling school.

As of this time, the only confirmed name to sign with the company is Sean Waltman. Many wrestlers asked about the company have declined comment, due to the confidentiality agreements.

Building a company around xpac.
It sound's very vague at the minute,but there is a lot of compitation but with the right investment you never know.

The combination of Waltman and one of the guys behind Wrestling Society X does not fill me with confidence.

is there room for more? Why not just back roh massively?

I agree, there's no need for another "major" promotion, at least not in my view.

there is not enough talent about anyway for 3 major companies. Especialy starting from scratch NOW.

I think there is. If you look at the guys who are either unattached to anyone, or working in Mexico / Japan, there's the likes of...:

Shelton Benjamin
Waltman
Jack Evans
Bryan Danielson
Paul London (can't remember if he's in the US or abroad)
Carlito
Mike Knox
Christopher Daniels (again, can't remember if he's with TNA or RoH again)
even someone like Ken Shamrock

That's enough recognisable names to headline the opening shows, then you add the unknowns no-one's heard of to build the mid-card. Make a company that is more 'adult' than WWE, not built around WWE / ECW / WCW rejects that TNA is, and more (and better) marketing than RoH, and I think there's definitely an opening. Not so sure about basing it in Florida, with TNA coming from Orlando and FCW being based there too, I'd look at starting it in California (with any number of MMA fighters and bodybuilders already there), and given the right ideas, financial backing and no Vince Russo or Wrestling Society X crap, then it'd stand a chance...

but people are so judgemental they would just see, carlito and benjamin, what a tonne of crap

it would have to be so much differant to the band stand, super main event style wrestling.

it would need to be either fully technical, or fully hardcore to stand a chance of holding a niche audiance.

it would stand a chance if tna is leaving though as the live crowd will already be there, maybe thats the plan?

I honestly don't think TNA will still be here in 5 years, they're losing money everywhere, and if Panda Energy withdrew their support, TNA would fold in a matter of weeks.

If TNA starts going on the road, then maybe the audience would be in place, but due to the financial side of things, I'm not convinced they can afford to - at least, not until they start making money and lashing out loads on the likes of Kevin Nash, Hogan, Flair and co.

Don't agree with the niche audience bit - if you can create wrestlers and storylines that people care about, people will watch it. If (for argument's sake) it launched on TV, you're going to get the hardcore fans watching. If you launch at a time away from TNA and WWE in the schedules, fans of both companies will watch. If you can hook them from the start, without going massively OTT on trying to produce surprises, then any company would stand a chance.

but you cant hook people with the people you suggested, which is my point.

i dont mean live audiance for tna, i mean if tna moved state then this new company could just nick all the tna fans who would want a live show to go to every week still.

but you cant hook people with the people you suggested, which is my point.

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TNA started with the likes of Jeff Jarrett and Ken Shamrock on their first show, alongside the wrestling giants of Brian Christopher, K-Kwik / Ron Killings and the current mainstays, most of whom people had never heard of prior to TNA starting.

Honestly, the guys I mentioned could be enough. They're all recognisable names, open it up with a 4 man ladder match for the title (Shelton vs London vs Carlito vs Jack Evans would be awesome for this, and would draw WWE's and TNA's audience in to get the initial following, then look to draw in the casual viewers as word spreads), hurl money at JBL to commentate, if you need a huge name to draw the crowds, then hurl money at Goldberg to sign a 6 month contract or something, or even look to poach Kurt or someone from TNA.

I think it's a bit short-sighted to say that a new company would have to appeal to a niche audience - if you can do what you want to do well, people will watch. Doing it well enough consistently to keepo those viewers is something different.

they are going to want top top names anyway i'd think, dont think if they start up it will start shite.

they will imo try to outdo tna with their first show

Vader has signed with them too.
he is getting on a bit now like.

Quote :

Shelton Benjamin
Waltman
Jack Evans
Bryan Danielson
Paul London (can't remember if he's in the US or abroad)
Carlito
Mike Knox
Christopher Daniels (again, can't remember if he's with TNA or RoH again)
even someone like Ken Shamrock

Great starting list, you could also add guys like

Booker T
Sycho Sid
Billy Gunn
Jesse James
Prince Albert/Giant Bernard (which is a far better name)
Val Venus
Brian Christopher
Scotty 2 Hotty
Rikishi
Sylvester Terkay
Hardcore Holly
Gregory Helms
Jimmy Wang Yang
Nick Dinsmore





To go with Younger guys like

Muhammed Hassan
Bryan Danielson
Tyler Black
Necro Butcher
Teddy Hart
Manu
Reno Anoa'i
Kenny Dykstra
Charlie Hass
Lance Cade
Kevin Thorn
Cliff Compton (Domino)
Marcus Cor Von/Monty Brown (not very young but fresh)
J.D. Michaels/J.D. Maverick



If the backers are so loaded then they could also try and entice Goldberg and/or Batista to legitimise the company for a short period of time.

The roster is said to include Sean Waltman, Scott Steiner, Shane Douglas, Larry Zbyszko, and Vader. Yes, Vader.

The reason for Vader is because Jim Ross recently blogged how Vader's son should be considered a major find for the future, so Vader was approached about signing alongside his son. No word on if Vader's son signed yet.

Quote :

Seven names have been confirmed as signing with the upstart Florida promotion being run by Sean Davis: Booker T, Paul London, Rocky Romero, Sonjay Dutt, Super Crazy, Hijo Del Rey Misterio and 2 Cold Scorpio. There are reportedly some younger talents who have also signed, but they remain unconfirmed. Also unconfirmed is the rumour that some big-name Ring of Honor talents have signed with the new promotion.

The contracts reportedly to not kick in until October, which suggests that the project will get underway then. No dates or locations have been set for tapings yet. The plan as it stands is to expand beyond Florida and to try and get a national TV deal, though those involved realise that the deal won't happen overnight. Indications are that the promotion does not intend to buy a TV slot, a move that has killed off several new promotions.

Reports say that the secrecy around this promotion is due to the promotion not wanting there to be a big buzz around it. That buzz would leave fans anxious for the promotion to start while they are still building the infrastructure of the company. One big thing that is rumoured is a benefits package for wrestlers that includes full medical coverage and a 401k, as well as stock options. This package was something Milton Wilpon wanted after hearing the stories from older talent on how they were treated.

Credit: PWInsider.com

Well Booker is obviously there for name value, and all the other guys are certainly capable of puting on good matches (although I haven't actually seen El Hijo De Rey Misterio, but I've heard he looks quite promising).

The benefits package sounds really good, and hopefully is a sign of the future for all major wrestling promotions.

Sounds good this wrestling company and I hope they get a TV deal (just not on MTV like WSX).

Grecian wrote:

Shelton Benjamin
Waltman
Jack Evans
Bryan Danielson
Paul London (can't remember if he's in the US or abroad)
Carlito
Mike Knox
Christopher Daniels (again, can't remember if he's with TNA or RoH again)
even someone like Ken Shamrock

Am I to guess from this that Shelton Benjamin, Bryan Danielson, Carlito, Mike Knox don't work for WWE anymore???