Fred Aberg |
1926-09-09 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Joe Turner |
1926-09-16 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Herb Tighitenberg [2] |
1926-09-23 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Jack Ross |
1926-10-28 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Arnold Minkley |
1926-11-04 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Herb Tighitenberg [3] |
1926-11-11 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Kid Ellis (Demon Ellis) |
1926-12-09 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Joe Turner [2] |
1927-01-27 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Jack Ross [2] |
1927-03-24 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Vacant when Ross no longer wrestles in Florida after 34-03. |
|
|
Babe Caddock |
1934-08-03 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats Rudy Strongberg. |
|
|
John Grandovitch |
1934-09-07 |
Tampa, FL |
Bruce Nolan |
1935-08-21 |
Miami, FL |
Bill Sledge |
1935-10-16 |
Miami, FL |
Still champion as of 36-01-22; vacant "for several months" as of 36-03-18. |
|
|
Pat Newman |
1936-03-19 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Defeats title claimant Doug Wyckoff. |
|
|
Dobie Osbourne |
1936-06-29 |
Tampa, FL |
Dick Powell claims the title in Columbia, SC as of 36-09-14. |
|
|
John Plummer |
1936-11-26 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Osbourne continues to claim the title but loses again to Plummer on 37-01-06 in Miami, FL. |
|
|
Hans Schumann |
1937-01-07 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Jim Hesslyn * |
1937-03-11 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
May be a non-title match; Schumann may continue to hold the title. |
|
|
Pat Newman |
1937-03-18 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
May be a non-title match, but Newman also defeats Hans Schumann on 37-03-25 in St. Petersburg, FL. |
|
|
Alan Eustace |
1937-06-01 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Has defeated Newman on 35-05-25 in St. Petersburg, FL, but the decision is later overturned with a rematch scheduled in the following week; Bill Sledge still/again claims the title in Miami, FL as of 37-06-16; John Plummer still/again claims the title in Orlando, FL as of 37-07-22 but loses to Eustace on 37-08-02 in Tampa, FL; Jack Evans claims the title in Jacksonville, FL as of 37-08 but loses to Eustace on 37-08-13 in Jacksonville, FL. |
|
|
Gene Bowman |
1938-01-21 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Pat McCleary |
1938-03-14 |
Tampa, FL |
Alan Eustace [2] |
1938-03-31 |
Tampa, FL |
McCleary continues to be billed as champion in Jacksonville, FL, where he loses to Gene Bowman on 38-04-22; Bowman vacates his claim in 38-05 due to injury. |
|
|
Ernie Powers |
1938-04-25 |
Tampa, FL |
Bill Sledge [2] |
1938-05-09 |
Tampa, FL |
Jack Vincent |
1938-07-11 |
Tampa, FL |
Stripped in 39-04 when Vincent refuses to defend the title. |
|
|
The Green Dragon (Danny O'Connor) |
1939-04-24 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats Ray Villmer. |
|
|
Ray Villmer |
1939-05-08 |
Tampa, FL |
In Orlando, FL, Villmer is billed as having "recently" defeated Jack Vincent for the title (The Orlando Sentinel, 39-05-28). |
|
|
The Green Dragon / Danny O'Connor [2] |
1939-06-08 |
Orlando, FL |
Unmasked for losing to Ray Villmer on 39-07-03 in Tampa, FL; Villmer continues to be billed as champion in Tampa, FL but loses to Tommy O'Toole in Jacksonville, FL sometime in 39-07 (The Tampa Times, 39-07-20 & 07-24). |
|
|
John Grandovitch [2] |
1939-07-19 |
Orlando, FL |
Also defeats Tommy O'Toole on 39-07-31 in Tampa, FL to end the dispute; Floyd Marshall defeats Grandovitch on 39-10-17 in Jacksonville, FL but Grandovitch refuses to give up the title because of a DQ loss. |
|
|
Red Ryan |
1939-11-07 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Tom Mahoney |
1939-12-05 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Cowboy Luttrall |
1940-01-23 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
The feud between Luttrall and Mahoney continues, and both continue claiming the title; a tournament to settle the dispute is ordered. |
|
|
Jim Wright |
1940-03-12 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Defeats Tom Mahoney in tournament final; also defeats Luttrall, who has continued to claim the title, on 40-03-19 in St. Petersburg, FL. |
|
|
Cy Williams |
1940-05-06 |
Tampa, FL |
Has also claimed Southern Title as early as 40-04-12. |
|
|
Henry Piers |
1940-06-10 |
Tampa, FL |
Claims both titles when Williams is injured during a match; Williams continue to claim both titles but loses to Tommy Nilan on 40-06-18 in St. Petersburg, FL. |
|
|
Don Evans |
1940-06-17 |
Tampa, FL |
Also defeats Tommy Nilan on 04-06-24 in Tampa, FL to end the dispute for both titles. |
|
|
Ted Christy |
1940-07-22 |
Tampa, FL |
Reported as winning the Southern Title but is also billed as Florida champion in the following week. |
|
|
Tommy Nilan |
1940-07-29 |
Tampa, FL |
[...] |
|
|
Rollend Kirchmeyer |
1944-02-05< |
|
Ed "Strangler" Lewis # |
1944-02-26 |
Tampa, FL |
Lewis declared the new champion when Kirchmeyer's head hits the floor knocking him unconscious. |
|
|
Rollend Kirchmeyer # |
1944-02-26 |
Tampa, FL |
Title returned to Kirchmeyer when Lewis refuses it; still champion as of 44-12-19; Jack Dillon is billed as champion in Jacksonville, FL as of 45-03-12. |
|
|
John Grandovitch [3] |
1945-02-19 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Jack Dillon |
1945-02-22 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Nick Carter |
1945-03-22 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Mysterious Mr. X (Jimmy Ray) |
1945-05-10 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Defeats substitute and previous champion Jack Dillon to win the vacant title when Carter is barred from competing by the Navy. |
|
|
Rollend Kirchmeyer [2] |
1945-05-24 |
Jacksonville, FL |
The Cardiff Giant |
1946-08-26 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats Kirchmeyer for the Florida Title and is awarded the Southern Title. |
|
|
|
|
|
Lester Welch |
1966-08-11 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Defeats Sputnik Monroe in tournament final. |
|
|
Louie Tillet |
1967-03-20 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Wahoo McDaniel |
1967-05-01 |
Orlando, FL |
Boris Malenko |
1967-05-16 |
Tampa, FL |
Johnny Valentine |
1967-08-26 |
Tampa, FL |
Joe Scarpa |
1967-12-05 |
Tampa, FL |
Johnny Valentine [2] |
1967-12-27 |
Tampa, FL |
Wahoo McDaniel [2] |
1968-02-06 |
Tampa, FL |
Johnny Valentine [3] |
1968-02-13 |
Tampa, FL |
Red Bastien |
1968-04-30 |
Tampa, FL |
Johnny Valentine [4] |
1968-06-27 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Nick Kozak |
1968-09-23 |
Orlando, FL |
Great Malenko, substituting for Johnny Valentine, defeats Kozak on 68-10-22 in Tampa, FL and claims the title; Kozak defeats Malenko on 68-10-29 Tampa, FL to end the dispute. |
|
|
The Gladiator (Rick Hunter) |
1968-11-23 |
Tampa, FL |
Hans Mortier |
1969-01-28 |
Tampa, FL |
Ciclon Negro |
1969-04-15 |
Tampa, FL |
Dale Lewis |
1969-08-26 |
Tampa, FL |
Mr. Saitō (Masa Saitō) |
1969-12-22 |
Tampa, FL |
Jack Brisco |
1970-02-10 |
Tampa, FL |
Mr. Saitō [2] |
1970-04-07 |
Tampa, FL |
Jack Brisco [2] |
1970-04-14 |
Tampa, FL |
Missouri Mauler |
1970-05-12 |
Tampa, FL |
Jack Brisco [3] |
1970-05-19 |
Tampa, FL |
Tarzan Tyler |
1970-12-15 |
Tampa, FL |
Jack Brisco [4] |
1971-01-19 |
Tampa, FL |
Best-of-3 falls match, for Tyler's Florida title, with Brisco's TV title on the line for the first fall only; Brisco comes back to win the second and third falls to take the Florida title. |
|
|
Paul Jones |
1972-05-16 |
Tampa, FL |
Jack Brisco [5] |
1972-11-28 |
Tampa, FL |
Held up after the match against Bobby Shane on 73-01-23 in Tampa, FL. |
|
|
Jack Brisco [6] |
1973-01-30 |
Tampa, FL |
Wins rematch. |
|
|
Buddy Colt |
1973-02-20 |
Tampa, FL |
Paul Jones [2] |
1973-06-12 |
Tampa, FL |
Buddy Colt [2] |
1973-07-17 |
Tampa, FL |
Tim Woods |
1973-07-31 |
Tampa, FL |
Great Mephisto |
1973-09-04 |
Tampa, FL |
Paul Jones [3] |
1973-09-18 |
Tampa, FL |
Buddy Colt [3] |
1973-11-17 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Eddie Graham |
1973-11-27 |
Tampa, FL |
Buddy Colt [4] |
1973-12-17 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Ron Fuller |
1974-03-20 |
Miami, FL |
Bill Watts |
1974-07-02 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats Robert Fuller, substituting for Ron. |
|
|
Dusty Rhodes |
1974-10-22 |
Tampa, FL |
Bill Watts [2] |
1974-11-12 |
Tampa, FL |
Dusty Rhodes [2] |
1974-11-28 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Bill Watts [3] |
1974-12-05 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Bob Roop |
1975-02-25 |
Tampa, FL |
Terry Funk |
1975-06-02 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Bob Roop [2] |
1975-06-16 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Dusty Rhodes [3] |
1975-09-16 |
Tampa, FL |
Vacant on 75-10-28 after the match against King Curtis. |
|
|
King Curtis Iaukea |
1975-11-27 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Wins a 9-man tournament. |
|
|
Rocky Johnson |
1975-12-23 |
Tampa, FL |
Frank Goodish (Bruiser Brody) |
1975-12-31 |
Tampa, FL |
Thunderbolt Patterson |
1976-02-04 |
Miami, FL |
Pak Song |
1976-03-17 |
Miami, FL |
Jack Brisco [7] |
1976-04-17 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
One report says Brisco wins on 76-03-19, but Song wrestles a title match against Jerry Brisco on 76-04-07 in Miami Beach. |
|
|
Bob Orton Jr. |
1976-05-17 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Dusty Rhodes [4] |
1976-07-27 |
Tampa, FL |
Billy Graham |
1976-11-22 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Dusty Rhodes [5] |
1977-02-15 |
Tampa, FL |
Vacant in 77. |
|
|
Buddy Wolf |
1977-03-08 |
Tampa, FL |
Wins a one-night round-robin tournament. |
|
|
Dusty Rhodes [6] |
1977-05-26 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Ernie Ladd |
1977-07-15 |
Tallahassee, FL |
Dusty Rhodes [7] |
1977-08 |
|
Returned to Rhodes due to the way Ladd wins. |
|
|
Lars Anderson |
1977-09-20 |
Tampa, FL |
Dusty Rhodes [8] |
1977-11-26 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Lars Anderson [2] |
1977-12-15 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Stripped on 78-01-17<. |
|
|
Killer Karl Kox |
1978-02-07 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats Dusty Rhodes?; Kox may have won the title when he defeats Anderson on 78-01-18 in Miami, FL |
|
|
Rocky Johnson [2] |
1978-03-08 |
Miami, FL |
Bob Roop [3] |
1978-03-13 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Jack Brisco [8] |
1978-03-26 |
Orlando, FL |
The Spoiler |
1978-05-23 |
Tampa, FL |
Dusty Rhodes [9] |
1978-06-19 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
The Spoiler [2] |
1978-07-11< |
|
Again defeats Rhodes in a double title amtch on 78-08-02 in Miami Beach, FL to win Southern Title. |
|
|
Steve Keirn |
1978-10-10 |
Tampa, FL |
Pak Song [2] |
1978-10-24 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats Mike Graham, substituting for Keirn; vacant in 78. |
|
|
Dusty Rhodes [10] |
1978-11-25 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Defeats Bob Roop in tournament final. |
|
|
Mr. Uganda (Ciclon Negro) |
1978-12-12 |
Tampa, FL |
Jos LeDuc |
1978-12-19 |
Tampa, FL |
Dick Slater |
1979-01-02 |
Tampa, FL |
Jim Garvin |
1979-01-09 |
Tampa, FL |
King Curtis Iaukea [2] |
1979-05-16 |
Tampa, FL |
Dusty Rhodes [11] |
1979-07-04 |
Miami Beach, FL |
Vacates on 79-08-21 when Rhodes wins NWA World Title. |
|
|
Terry Funk [2] |
1979-09-02 |
Orlando, FL |
Defeats Steve Keirn in tournament final. |
|
|
Manny Fernandez |
1979-10-21 |
Orlando, FL |
Don Muraco |
1980-03-26 |
Miami, FL |
Bugsy McGraw |
1980-08-08 |
Melbourne, FL |
Bobby Jaggers |
1980-10-11 |
Jacksonville, FL |
Dusty Rhodes [12] |
1980-10-26 |
Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
Dory Funk Jr. |
1980-11-04 |
Tampa, FL |
Barry Windham |
1981-01-12 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Dory Funk Jr. [2] |
1981-04-08 |
Tampa, FL |
Wins by forfeit when Windham injured in auto accident. |
|
|
Charlie Cook |
1981-08-11 |
Tampa, FL |
Dory Funk Jr. [3] |
1981-09-01 |
Tampa, FL |
Charlie Cook [2] |
1981-09-21 |
Tampa, FL |
The Spoiler [3] |
1981-11-03 |
Tampa, FL |
Mr. Wrestling II |
1981-12 |
Jacksonville, FL |
James J. Dillon |
1982-03-07 |
Orlando, FL |
Mr. Wrestling II [2] |
1982-03-27 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Jim Garvin [2] |
1982-05-03 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Brian Blair |
1982-07-11 |
Orlando, FL |
Declared vacant on 82-08-23 after a match where Bruiser Brody was declared the winner in W. Palm Beach, FL. |
|
|
Kevin Sullivan |
1982-10-06 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats Barry Windham in tournament final. |
|
|
Mike Graham |
1983-01-05 |
Miami Beach, FL |
Vacant in 83 because of injury. |
|
|
Scott McGhee |
1983-03-23 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats John Heffernan. |
|
|
Jos LeDuc [2] |
1983-07-23 |
Lakeland, FL |
Barry Windham [2] |
1983-09-17 |
Sarasota, FL |
Jos LeDuc [3] |
1983-09-18 |
Orlando, FL |
Barry Windham [3] |
1983-09-19 |
W. Palm Beach, FL |
Vacant in 83-11 when Windham tours Japan. |
|
|
Mike Rotundo |
1983-12-16 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
Defeats Greg Valentine in 5-man tournament final. |
|
|
Kendo Nagasaki |
1984-01-22 |
Orlando, FL |
Billy Jack (Billy Jack Haynes) |
1984-03-29 |
Lakeland, FL |
Billy Graham [2] |
1984-06-10 |
Orlando, FL |
Scott McGhee [2] |
1984-07-29 |
Orlando, FL |
Jesse Barr |
1984-10-14 |
Orlando, FL |
Title held up after the match against Brian Blair. |
|
|
Brian Blair [2] |
1985-01-06 |
Orlando, FL |
Defeats Barr in rematch. |
|
|
Jesse Barr [2] |
1985-02-12 |
Tampa, FL |
Hector Guerrero |
1985-04-28 |
Orlando, FL |
Hercules Hernandez |
1985-06-30 |
Orlando, FL |
Vacant in 85-07 when Hernandez fired after dressing room fight with Wahoo McDaniel. |
|
|
Jack Hart (Barry Horowitz) |
1985-07-23 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats Mike Graham in tournament final. |
|
|
Kendhall Windham |
1985-09-02 |
Tampa, FL |
Cuban Assassin |
1986-02-22 |
Tampa, FL |
Kendhall Windham [2] |
1986-03-05 |
Tampa, FL |
Vacates title in 86-05 after match with Bob Roop in which Barry Windham interfered to help Kendall win. |
|
|
Kendhall Windham [3] |
1986-05-18 |
Orlando, FL |
Wins tournament final by forfeit after Lex Luger DCOR Kendo Nagasaki in other semifinal. |
|
|
White Ninja (Mutō Keiji) # |
1986-05-21 |
Tampa, FL |
Kendhall Windham # |
1986-06 |
|
Belt returned to Windham after films show Ninja illegally used karate to win the belt. |
|
|
Ron Bass |
1986-07-15 |
Tampa, FL |
Barry Windham [4] |
1986-09-01 |
Daytona, FL |
Ron Bass [2] |
1986-09-16 |
Tampa, FL |
Barry Windham [5] |
1986-09-24 |
Ft. Lauderdale, FL |
Title held up after the match against Ron Bass where Bass uses chloroform. |
|
|
Barry Windham [6] |
1986-10-08 |
Tampa, FL |
Defeats Ron Bass in rematch. |
|
|
Kareem Muhammad |
1986-11-25? |
Tampa, FL? |
Ron Simmons |
1986-12-02 |
Tampa, FL |
Bad News Allen |
1987-01-20 |
Tampa, FL |
Sir Oliver Humperdink |
1987-02-24 |
Tampa, FL |
Ed Gantner |
1987-02 |
|
Given title by Humperdink. |
|
|
Mike Rotunda [2] |
1987-03-15 |
Daytona, FL |
Title held up after the match against Dory Funk Jr. in Orlando, FL on 87-05-31. |
|
|
Mike Rotunda [3] |
1987-06-07 |
Orlando, FL |
Defeats Dory Funk Jr. in rematch; wins NWA World Television Title on 88-01-26 and never/rarely defends the Florida Title thereafter; stripped when Rotunda gives belt to Rick Steiner in 88-12. |
|
|