Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) presented Battle of the Belts II, a supercard event under the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) banner. Held at the Eddie Graham Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida—renamed in honor of the late promoter Eddie Graham, who had tragically passed away the previous year—this event served as both a tribute to Graham’s legacy and a desperate attempt to revitalize a struggling territory.
CWF was overshadowed by the expanding empires of the WWF and Jim Crockett Promotions, yet it drew upon star power from across the NWA to deliver a night of high stakes matches broadcast live in syndication. With commentary from the legendary Gordon Solie and Mike Graham, and backstage interviews by Buddy Colt, the show blended regional flavor with national talent, culminating in what many regard as one of the era’s hidden gems. Longtime employee of the Tampa booking Office and referee for the territory, Bruce Owens told us in Episode 41 of The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show, the promotion was still drawing relatively strong cards in 1985 and into 1986.
Orlando was a long-time strong city for presenting pro wrestling as booked from the Tampa, headquarters. It had been the Monday-night town for the office going back into the 1950s, when local town promoter Milo Steinborn organized Monday night shows at the American Legion Arena. Steinborn was essential to lay the groundwork for what would become a thriving scene, introducing local audiences to the dramatic flair of the sport. Steinborn’s efforts were part of the broader Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion, originally established in 1949 by Cowboy Luttrall as a territorial operation covering much of the state.
