History Center Explores Tampa Bay's Ties To Pro Wrestling

TAMPA, FL — Wrestling fans will have a chance to meet WWE Superstar Titus O'Neil and explore Tampa Bay's roots in wresting when the Tampa Bay History Center opens its newest exhibit, "Sunshine State Showdown: Pro Wresting in Tampa Bay," Saturday, March 7.

"Sunshine State Showdown: Pro Wrestling in Tampa Bay" focuses on the Bay area’s pro wrestling roots, from Dusty Rhodes to Hulk Hogan, and features artifacts on loan from the WWE including Tampa wrestler Rocky “Soul Man” Johnson’s robe and boots.

Also on loan to the museum is the NWA Championship title belt, Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake’s shears, posters, programs and photos. Visitors will learn about the origins of professional wrestling in America, classic wrestling moves and wrestling jargon.

Tampa Bay resident and philanthropist, WWE Superstar Titus O'Neil, will be on hand to meet with visitors from noon to 2 p.m. There will be a members preview show Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The cost for nonmembers is $10. RSVP at membership@tampabayhistorycenter.org.

For decades, Tampa Bay has been the place where professional wrestlers hang their belts. The area became a hub for pro wrestling in the 1950s when Championship Wrestling was based in Tampa and fans flocked to the old Fort Hesterly Armory to cheer them on.

Tampa Bay continued to be a base for wrestlers when the WWF began in the 1980s and later morphed into the WWE.

WWE legends like Jimmy Hart, Jerry Brisco and Steve Keirn as well as current WWE superstars John Cena, Nattie Neidhart, Titus O’Neil, Paul "Big Show" Donald Wight II, Baron "King" Corbin and Roman Reigns make their homes in Tampa Bay.

Hulk Hogan grew up in Tampa Bay and Randy Savage's father, who retired to Indian Rocks Beach in 1985, enticed his son to follow.

Former wrestler and "Guardians of the Galaxy" star Dave Bautista makes his home in South Tampa while Chris Jericho lives in a $3 million mansion in Odessa. "Macho Man" Randy Savage settled a bit further south -- in Sarasota.

Nattie Neidhart followed in the footsteps of her father, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, who died in 2018 at his home in Wesley Chapel.

Rocky "Soul Man" Johnson, who settled in Lutz, was eagerly looking forward to participating in the upcoming WrestleMania in Tampa before his sudden death last month. Although credited with tearing down barriers for black pro wrestlers, Johnson claimed his biggest accomplishment was teaching his son, international film star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, the sport.

Dusty Rhodes, who died in 2015, was a fixture at Fort Homer Hesterly Armory Championship Wrestling bouts every Tuesday. He went on to become a National Wrestling Alliance champion and star in the NWA and WWF/WWE.

In the 1970s, Buddy Colt was the villain everyone loved to hate. Wrestling fans were sure he was on his way to winning an NWA world title in 1975 when the plane he was piloting carrying three other wrestlers crashed into the waters off Davis Islands, killed Bobby Shane. Colt was severely injured and never wrestled again.

In fact, about a fifth of all the wrestlers on the WWE listings live in Tampa Bay.

And there's little doubt that the sport is more popular than ever in the Bay area now that Tampa has landed its first WWE's WrestleMania event. There's been four WrestleMania events in Florida, but never in Tampa.

WrestleMania 36 is scheduled April 5 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. It will stream live on the WWE Network.

WrestleMania Week kicks off Thursday, April 2 with the 2020 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Amalie Arena. The event will be headlined by the historic inductions of "The Animal" Batista and the New World Order (nWo), featuring "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman.

On Friday, April 3, Amalie Arena will host FOX's "Friday Night SmackDown." The final stop for SmackDown Superstars on the road to WrestleMania will feature WWE Superstars "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Bayley, Sasha Banks, King Corbin, The New Day and more.

Saturday, April 4 will see WWE's global third brand NXT take center stage as NXT Takeover: Tampa Bay comes to Amalie Arena. NXT Superstars Adam Cole, Velveteen Dream, Shayna Baszler, Johnny Gargano, Matt Riddle, Bianca Belair and many others will be in action.

On Monday, April 6, fans can witness the fallout from WrestleMania 36 when USA Network's "Monday Night Raw" invades Amalie Arena. The event will feature WWE Superstars Brock Lesnar, Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair and more in what has become one of the most memorable nights of the year for WWE.

Tickets for all WrestleMania events can be purchased through Patch promotional partner, Ticket Network.

While waiting for the big event in April, wrestling fans can see how it all began at the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water St., Tampa.

“Sunshine State Showdown” will be on view March through Oct. 18. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

See related stories:

WWE Star The Anvil Dies Following Fall In Wesley Chapel Home

Wrestling World Mourns Death Of 'Soulman' Rocky Johnson

Hulk Hogan to Open Retail Shop on Clearwater Beach

WWE Road to WrestleMania at Amalie Arena Feb. 14

Tampa Designer Creates Viral Costume For Wrestler Sasha Banks

WWE Raw Returns to Tampa