Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling

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Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling
AcronymTCW
Founded2000
StyleSouthern
HeadquartersMarietta, Georgia, United States
Founder(s)Dusty Rhodes
Owner(s)Dusty Rhodes (2000–2003)
ParentTurnBuckle Entertainment, Inc.
WebsiteDustyRhodes.net (Archived)

Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling was a

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dusty Rhodes[1][2] in 2000 and, during its three years in operation, held events throughout the Southern United States in Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and Alabama;[3] it was especially popular in Atlanta, Georgia and Dothan, Alabama where the promotion regularly held events. TCW also cooperated with rival independent promotions by holding interpromotional shows with Florida Championship Wrestling. The promotion, at its height, had a successful weekly television series in the Atlanta-Macon, Georgia area and had planned to air one live pay-per-view
event before its closure in 2003.

TCW later became home to many high-profile wrestlers after the closure of

World Wrestling Entertainment as Goldust, also had a central role in the promotion and briefly held the TCW Heavyweight Championship in early 2002.[14][15][16][17][18]

From ECW,

The Extreme Horsemen was formed by ex-ECW stars Steve Corino, Barry Windham[17][19][20] and C. W. Anderson.[21][22][23] Windham's brother, Kendall, also made occasional appearances for the promotion.[8]

Older stars such as father and son

World Wrestling Federation as Tekno Team 2000, also competed in the promotion.[26]

History

Dusty Rhodes began plans for organizing a new promotion based in the state of Georgia in 1999,

Sunshine Network hoping to build on the traditional wrestling fanbase in the Southern, Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic region.[12]

In early 2001, the closings of

Kim Nielsen, Leilani Kai and Malia Hosaka.[6]

A house show in

Scott "The Clap" Anton
and "The Extreme Dream" Erik Watts became the first TCW Tag Team Champions defeating Glacier and Jorge Estrada in Dothan, Alabama.

In April, Rhodes announced that the promotion would be airing its first PPV event that fall, originally on

Scott Hall also joined the promotion and made his official in-ring debut at a special house show in Dothan on May 12.[34]

On June 16 in Calhoun, Georgia, Larry Zbyszko made an appearance to take on Dusty Rhodes in the main event. Though starting off as a singles match, it was turned into a tag team match following outside interference by Luther Biggs and Bobby Hayes. The match was eventually won by Rhodes and Hayes.[35] The promotion also continued to hold regular monthly shows at the Houston County Farm Center in Dothan, Alabama between July and December 2001.[36]

The next month, Rhodes teamed with his son Dustin, then making his TCW debut less than three days after his WCW contract expired, at a Dothan house show on August 4. Together they faced C. W. Anderson and the masked wrestler American Nightmare in the main event. Dustin Rhodes was highly supportive of TCW as he explained in an August 2001 interview with Greg Oliver, "TCW is the alternative to the World Wrestling Federation. To me in my mind, my opinion, and my dad's opinion, we are the World Wrestling Federation's competition. We are not an independent, we are a company. We want to be treated as one. So we're going to do everything we can to make it a respectable, family entertainment business."[37]

Having begun holding events in Florida that year, Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling began branching out to rival promotions. Among these was

The New Heavenly Bodies (Vito DeNucci and Chris Nelson) would appear at TCW house shows in late August.[38] A secondary title, the TCW Hardcore Championship, was established when Lodi defeated "Raging Bull" Manny Fernandez
in Carrollton, Georgia on September 15.

The promotion held its first television taping, TCW Halloween Horror Slam I, which was later released on VHS. It featured the tag team of

World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s as Tekno Team 2000. In the main event, Glacier defended the TCW Heavyweight Championship against Barry Windham.[39]

On December 28, 2001, TCW and NWA Florida held an interpromotional event at the

Scotty Riggs kept his title via disqualification against Barry Windham. The sixth and final match was an "ECW vs. TCW" match in which Steve Corino and Jack Victory took on father and son Dusty and Dustin Rhodes.[41]

On January 26, 2002, Dustin Rhodes defeated Scotty Riggs to win TCW Heavyweight Championship but surrendered the title the following day with the announcement that he would be returning to WWE as a full-time competitor. Dustin wrestled a few last matches before leaving TCW. The first, on February 2, was a 6-man tag team TLC match with his father Dusty and Ron Studd against Scotty Riggs, Jason Sugarman and an impostor Goldust.[4] A second match took place days later in Carrollton and resulted in a victory over Steve Corino.[42][43] His third and last match was against Scotty Riggs who defeated him for the TCW Heavyweight Championship in Carrollton on March 1. With this victory, Riggs became a record 3-time heavyweight champion.[44][45]

In July 2003, Rhodes appeared alongside sports director Mike Raita on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network and discussed both his wrestling career and Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling.[46] However, partially due to declining business as well as increased competition from WWE,[4] Rhodes was forced to close the promotion shortly after The Dusty 35th Anniversary Tour that same year. The announcement followed after Rhodes signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

In December 2023, Nightmare Factory LLC, under the leadership of WWE star Cody Rhodes, filed for the trademark of "Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling". This filing hints the revival of the original TCW brand, initially founded by Cody's father, Dusty Rhodes. The trademark application, covering various merchandise and entertainment services related to wrestling contests, is about preserving TCW legacy while adapting to the evolving landscape of entertainment.[47]

Alumni

Male wrestlers
Birth name: Ring name(s): Tenure: Notes
Scott Antol Scotty Riggs 2001-2002
Larry Brannon Vivacious Vito 2001
Luther Biggs Disgraceland 2001-2002
Bradley Cain Lodi 2001
Edward Chastain Iceberg 2002
Jonathan Clark Chase Stevens 2003
Steve Corino Steve Corino 2001–2002
James Cox James Storm 2003
Damien Dothard Damien Dynamite 2004
James Duggan Jr. Jim Duggan 2003
Sean Evans Sean Evans 2001-2002
Stephen Favata Steve Madison 2001
Emanuel Fernandez Manny Fernandez 2001
David Fliehr David Flair 2003
Chad Fortune Chad Fortune 2001
Glenn Gilberti Disco Inferno 2003
Terry Ray Gordy Jr. Ray Gordy 2003
Michael Gossett Mike Graham 2001
Steve Gower Steve Lawler / Liberty McCall 2001
Scott Hall Scott Hall 2001
Joseph Melton James Bob Armstrong 2001
Joseph Scott James Scott Armstrong 2001
Christopher Klucsaritis Chris Kanyon 2001
Raymond Lloyd Glacier / Ray Lloyd 2001-2003
Dustin Fordham Dustin Fordham 2001-2003
Jorge Moraza Jorge Estrada 2001-2003
Ronald Reis Big Ron Studd 2001-2002
Francisco Islas Rueda Super Crazy 2001
Dustin Runnels
 		Dustin Rhodes 2001-2002
Virgil Runnels Jr. Dusty Rhodes 2001-2003
Jason Seguine Buck Q 2001
Sonny Siaki Sonny Siaki 2002-2003
Jason Sugarman Jason Sugarman 2001-2003
Yoshihiro Tajiri Yoshihiro Tajiri 2001
Christopher Tipton
 		Casanova Chris 2001
Chris Vaughn Chris Vaughn 2003
Erik Watts Erik Watts 2001
Lawrence Whistler Larry Zbyszko 2001
2003
David Williams David Young 2003
Barry Windham Barry Windham 2001-2002
Kendall Windham Kendall Windham 2002
Chris Wright C. W. Anderson 2001
Jerome Young New Jack 2001-2003
Unknown Bobby Hayes 2001
2003
TJ Gray
Fake Goldust
 2001–2002
Unknown Henry Hoss 2002-2003
Unknown Lee Thomas 2003
Unknown Palm Beach Boy Jon / Jon Holcombe 2001–2002
Unknown Palm Beach Boy Scott / Scott Ross 2001–2002
Unknown The Reverend 2002–2003
Unknown Scotty Beach
Unknown Silky Boom Boom 2002
Unknown Simon Sermon 2002
Unknown Spanky Malone 2001
Unknown Terry Austin 2002
Unknown TJ Gray 2002
Female wrestlers
Birth name: Ring name(s): Tenure: Notes
Malia Hosaka Malia Hosaka 2001
Selina Majors Bambi 2002–2003
Kimberly Nielsen
 		Desire 2001
2003
Patty Seymour Leilani Kai 2001
Shannon Spruill Daffney 2001–2002

Championships

TCW Heavyweight Championship

The TCW Heavyweight Championship was the primary

Jorge Estrada in tournament final held in Ashburn, Georgia on July 6, 2000. It was defended primarily in the state of Georgia but throughout the Southern United States, most often in Dothan, Alabama, until the promotion's close in 2003.[48]

Wrestlers: Times: Date: Location: Notes:
Glacier[49] 1 July 6, 2000 Ashburn, Georgia Defeated
Jorge Estrada in tournament final to become the first champion.[48]
Barry Windham 1 October 28, 2000 Warner Robins, Georgia [48]
Scotty Anton
 1 June 2, 2001 Dothan, Alabama[50] the match ended with Daffney counting the pinfall and Anton left with the title.[48]
Barry Windham[51] 2 June 7, 2001 Milledgeville, Georgia Title is returned to Windham due to the controversial finish.[48]
Scotty Anton
 2 September 15, 2001 Carrollton, Georgia [48]
Dustin Rhodes 1 January 26, 2002 Carrollton, Georgia [48][52][53]
Scotty Anton
 3[54] March 1, 2002 Carrollton, Georgia [48][55][56]
Title is vacated when Scotty Riggs forfeits the championship after suffering an elbow injury.[48][54]
Glacier 2 September 14, 2002 Carrollton, Georgia Defeated Damien to win the vacant title.[48][57]

TCW Hardcore Championship

The TCW Hardcore Championship was the secondary professional wrestling singles title of Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling. It was first won by Lodi after defeating "Raging Bull" Manny Fernandez in Carrollton, Georgia on September 18, 2001. The Hardcore title, like the Heavyweight title, was mostly defended in Georgia but also in other parts of the Southern United States such as Dothan, Alabama.[58]

Wrestlers: Times: Date: Location: Notes:
Lodi 1 September 18, 2001 Carrollton, Georgia Defeated Manny Fernandez to become the first recognized champion.[58][59]

TCW Tag Team Championship

The

Scott Anton & Erik Watts who defeated Glacier & Jorge Estrada, coincidentally opponents for the TCW Heavyweight Championship, in Dothan, Alabama on March 3, 2001. Unlike the singles titles, the tag team titles changed hands very often when the promotion toured outside the state of Georgia, as far away as Alabama and Tennessee.[60]

Wrestlers: Times: Date: Location: Notes:
Scott Anton & Erik Watts[61]
 1 March 3, 2001 Dothan, Alabama Defeat Glacier & Jorge Estrada to become the first champions.[60]
Jorge Estrada[62]
 1 April 21, 2001 Cleveland, Tennessee [60]
The Public Enemy
(Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge)[63][64] 		1 July 7, 2001 Dothan, Alabama Public Enemy also held the MECW Tag Team Championship at the time of the match.[60]
Title is vacated in August 2001 when The Public Enemy leave the promotion to return to Main Event Championship Wrestling.[60]
Southside Trash
(Randy Harris & David Parrish) 		1 September 15, 2001 Carrollton, Georgia Defeated Jorge Estrada & Sonny Siaki to win the vacant titles.[60]
Glacier (2) & "Big" Ron Studd 1 March 1, 2002 Carrollton, Georgia [60][65]
Title is vacated in 2002.
Jorge Estrada (2) & Sonny Siaki[10] 1 July 27, 2002 Carrollton, Georgia Defeated the Dobbins Brothers (Chad & Jason Dobbins) at the VFW Fairgrounds to win vacant title.[60]

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Further reading

External links
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