Today’s Favorite Quote: Every decision seems easy until you are the one on the line - Jeff Immelt
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Leo “The Lion” Newman 1908
Angel Blanco 1936
Gorgeous George Jr 1937
Happy Birthday:
DeWayne Bruce\Sgt Buddy Lee Parker (64)
Jorge Rodriguez\El Hijo del Santo (63)
Harry Smith\Davey Boy Smith, Jr )41)
Austin White\Austin Theory (29)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Vincente Denigris\Argentina Apollo 8-2-1984 at the age of 46
Flashback 1976
Q3 Analysis
July-September
Championship Wrestling From Florida
Tampa Office
Championship Wrestling from Florida operated at a high level of consistency and storytelling depth in the third quarter of 1976 under Eddie Graham. With Graham serving as NWA President, the Tampa office remained one of the strongest territories in the Alliance. Dusty Rhodes was the clear top babyface and primary draw. The circuit maintained a reliable statewide schedule of roughly 15–16 events per month, covering Tampa, Miami Beach, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Fort Pierce, and secondary stops. The combination of long-term personal angles, specialty matches, and NWA World Champion Terry Funk’s appearances kept houses solid across the territory.
July 1976
July centered on Dusty Rhodes’ pursuit of the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship held by Bob Orton Jr. Multiple title matches earlier in the month ended in disqualifications that protected the champion while building frustration. On July 12 in Orlando, Rhodes defeated Terry Funk two falls to one in a best-of-three-falls match (non-title). Funk answered with successful defenses, including a win over Rhodes in Miami Beach on July 14.
The Florida title program peaked on July 27 at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in Tampa. In a no-disqualification match with special referee Don Curtis, Rhodes defeated Orton Jr. to capture the championship. The win solidified Rhodes as the territory’s top star for the remainder of the year.
Supporting programs were strong. Steve Keirn and Bob Backlund (Florida Tag Team Champions since late June) continued their heated series against the Orton family and Bob Roop, featuring no-disqualification and steel cage matches. The Missouri Mauler and The Assassin remained prominent heels, working taped-fist, brass-knuckles, and multi-man matches against Rhodes, the Briscos, and others. Ray Stevens and Ray Candy filled important upper-midcard roles.
Business was steady. Tampa and Miami Beach drew the strongest crowds, with solid secondary houses in West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, St. Petersburg, and Orlando. The territory’s dual-town scheduling on several nights maximized coverage without diluting the main-event talent.
August 1976
With Rhodes now Florida Heavyweight Champion, August shifted to his first wave of defenses while the tag division and world-title appearances remained active. Rhodes defended successfully against the Missouri Mauler (by disqualification in West Palm Beach on August 23) and continued working with The Assassin and Ray Stevens. One notable setback came in Tampa on August 24 when the Mauler defeated Rhodes in a taped-fists match, keeping the personal heat alive.
Terry Funk made important appearances. He retained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Rhodes by disqualification in West Palm Beach on August 16, defeated Steve Keirn in Tampa on August 17, and beat Bob Roop in Miami Beach on August 18. These matches elevated the entire roster.
The tag team scene stayed competitive. Keirn and Backlund retained against the Ortons and Roop in several no-disqualification bouts while the Hollywood Blondes (Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown) began establishing themselves as serious contenders. The Brisco Brothers worked regularly against both the Orton-Roop unit and the Blondes. Mike Graham, Hiro Matsuda, Greg Valentine, and Ray Candy provided reliable support.
The schedule remained consistent across the core towns—Tampa, Miami Beach, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Pierce—with occasional stops in smaller venues. Attendance held firm as the territory continued its efficient statewide loop.
September 1976
September delivered major title movement and escalating specialty matches. On September 7 in Tampa, the Hollywood Blondes defeated Bob Backlund and Steve Keirn to capture the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship. The Blondes immediately became the top heel team, working against the Briscos, Keirn, and others in the weeks that followed.
Rhodes continued a heavy schedule of defenses and personal feuds. He defeated The Assassin in Sarasota on September 25 and engaged in a series of increasingly brutal matches with the Missouri Mauler, including an “I Quit” match, a lights-out best-of-three-falls bout with special referee Eddie Graham, and a coin-toss best-of-three-falls victory in Miami Beach. Ray Stevens also challenged for the Florida title, producing double count-outs and disqualification finishes that kept the program hot.
Terry Funk returned for high-profile matches. He and Rhodes battled to a double count-out in West Palm Beach on September 27. The following night in Tampa, Funk retained the World title against Ray Candy. Additional action featured Billy Robinson, Bob Orton Jr., Bob Roop, and the Briscos in strong mid-to-upper card roles.
The territorial map stayed the same: Tampa and Miami Beach as primary stops, West Palm Beach and Sarasota as strong secondary markets, and regular appearances in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Pierce, and other Florida towns. Business remained healthy and consistent with the rest of the quarter. No significant downturn was evident; the combination of Rhodes as champion, the new Hollywood Blondes as tag champions, and Funk’s visits sustained interest across the state.
Overall Assessment
The third quarter of 1976 showcased Championship Wrestling from Florida at near-peak form. Dusty Rhodes’ title win in late July provided a clear focal point. The tag division transitioned smoothly from the athletic Keirn-Backlund team to the stylish Hollywood Blondes. Long-running personal programs with the Hamilton brothers (Mauler and Assassin), the Ortons, Roop, and Ray Stevens delivered the hard-hitting, stipulation-heavy matches Florida fans expected. Eddie Graham’s booking emphasized continuity and realism while Gordon Solie’s television work kept the angles coherent statewide.
Houses across Tampa, Miami Beach, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee, and the secondary circuit held steady. CWF entered the final quarter of 1976 with a clear hierarchy, strong storytelling, and one of the most reliable operations in the NWA.
Thank You for Watching and Listening
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