Deep South Wrestling
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Deep South Wrestling, LLC (or DSW) is a professional wrestling promotion located in McDonough, Georgia. Deep South Wrestling worked in tandem with World Wrestling Entertainment as a developmental territory from 2005 until April 18th, 2007. DSW was owned by Jody Hamilton, former director of the WCW Power Plant. A previous version of Deep South Wrestling, which had a working agreement with the American Wrestling Association, was also run by Hamilton from 1986 to 1988.
History
WWE developmental territory
DSW held their inaugural show on September 1 2005, and on December 1 of that year, the promotion crowned Mike Mizanin as their first Deep South Heavyweight Champion. The promotion gained a timeslot on Comcast Sports South on Sunday nights at 11:30 p.m.
On July 9, 2006 the promotion debuted a live event at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia. It was announced that Deep South Wrestling would begin performing live shows at venues other than Six Flags, starting in the nearby town of Griffin, Georgia.
On May 18, 2006, High Impact won a tournament to crown the first Deep South Tag Team Champions.
On October 18, 2006, it was announced that DSW had landed a television deal with MavTV.
On April 18, 2007, it was announced WWE had ended its relationship with DSW.[1] DSW confirmed the cancellation of their April 19 television taping on their website.[2] The closure of the promotion was announced on DSW's website on April 19, 2007, although DSW held its final event on April 12.
Management told DSW talent that no one will be released, they will just be moved to a different development territory. All DSW talent was moved to OVW. A few months later, after WWE ended their relationship with DSW, the WWE replaced DSW with a new development territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW).
DSW footage of Nattie Neidhart appeared on the WWE DVD "The Most Powerful Families in Wrestling History".
After WWE
On May 23rd, DSW posted a message on their website with an updated layout that the promotion is remaining in operation.
DSW's website announced on June 24 that the promotion will be having its first event since the split with WWE on July 5 at W.L. Carter's Auction Company in Locust Grove, Georgia.[2][3]. On July 12, 2007 Austin Creed defeated Murder-One to become the first DSW Heavyweight Champion since the split from WWE.
Current Champions
| Championship | Champion(s) | Date won | Won from |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSW Heavyweight Champion | Austin Creed | ||
| DSW Tag Team Champions | Vacant |
References
- ^ "WWE Ends Relationship with DSW". Retrieved April 18.
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- ^ Gerweck, Steve (June 24 2007). "First Deep South Wrestling Event Since WWE Split Scheduled". Retrieved 2007-06-24.
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