Full Impact Pro

Last updated

Full Impact Pro
Type Subsidiary
Industry Professional wrestling
FoundedAugust 2, 2003;19 years ago (2003-08-02)
FounderSal Hamaoui
Headquarters Largo, Florida, U.S.
Key people
Sal Hamaoui – President
Trevin Adams – VP
Parent WWNLive [1]
Website Official website

Full Impact Pro (FIP) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is currently part of the World Wrestling Network (WWN) along with Shine Wrestling. Sal Hamaoui founded the company and serves as the President while Trevin Adams is the Vice President of FIP.

Contents

FIP was founded in 2003 and has run the majority of their shows in Florida. The promotion was inactive from late 2011 until early 2013. They currently promote the FIP World Heavyweight Championship, FIP Tag Team Championship, and the FIP Florida Heritage Championship.

History

Homicide, the first FIP Heavyweight Champion Homicidal....jpg
Homicide, the first FIP Heavyweight Champion

Full Impact Pro was founded in 2003 by Sal Hamaoui. It was originally the sister promotion of Ring of Honor. The first show was held on August 2, 2003. The main event saw Mike Awesome defeat Justin Credible and New Jack. [2] On September 25, 2004, FIP introduced the FIP Heavyweight Championship at Emergence: Part Two, where Homicide defeated CM Punk in the finals of a tournament. [3]

On April 22, 2005, FIP introduced the FIP Tag Team Championship. Eddie Vegas and Jimmy Rave defeated the teams of Roderick Strong and Jerrelle Clark and CM Punk and Don Juan to become the inaugural champions. [4] On March 3, 2007, Roderick Strong successfully defended the FIP Heavyweight Championship against Pac in Liverpool, England at ROH's "Fifth Year Festival: Liverpool" event, after which the title was renamed the "FIP World Heavyweight Championship". [5] On March 10, 2007, FIP introduced their third championship, the FIP Florida Heritage Championship. Erick Stevens defeated Roderick Strong at Battle for the Belts to win the championship. [6] In 2009, FIP and ROH parted ways.

After the partnership with ROH was dissolved, FIP became part of the World Wrestling Network (WWN), a governing body for various independent promotions in the United States.[ citation needed ] WWN was founded by FIP founder Sal Hamaoui and Gabe Sapolsky, formerly of Ring of Honor. In 2011, WWN launched "WWNLive", a web based, live-streaming service that featured internet pay-per-views from all its affiliated promotions. [7] On October 29, 2011, FIP held the 2011 Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, [8] its last show before its hiatus, which lasted until 2013. [9] FIP returned to running events regularly in Florida on February 1, 2013.

In November 2014, FIP, Evolve, Dragon Gate USA and Shine Wrestling participated in a WWNLive-organized tour of China. [1] The following month, WWNLive announced a long-term deal with Great-Wall International Sports Management for regular tours of Asia. [10] During the tour of China, Rich Swann defeated Trent Barretta to win the FIP World Heavyweight Championship and later defended it against A. R. Fox while still in China. [11] [12] [13]

FIP has a training facility in Trinity, Florida, which they share with Evolve and Shine under the name "World Wrestling Network Academy". [14]

On October 24, 2016, WWNLive and FloSports announced a new streaming service, Club WWN, which would host events held by the WWNLive promotions, including FIP. [15]

Recurring shows

Austin Theory wearing the FIP World Heavyweight Championship in 2018 Pro wrestler Austin Theory September 7 2018.jpg
Austin Theory wearing the FIP World Heavyweight Championship in 2018

Over the years, Full Impact Pro has established a series of recurring shows that they produce almost every year they have been active. Starting in 2004, FIP has held the "Florida Rumble," often highlighted by FIP's version of the Royal Rumble match, with the winner becoming the number one contender for the FIP World Heavyweight Championship. [16] [17] Early in the year they usually hold a show billed as "New Year's Class" and also used show names such as "Fallout," "Everything Burns," "Heatstroke," "Declaration of Independence" and "Violence is the Answer" on multiple occasions. [18] [19] [20]

From 2009 through 2011, FIP hosted the annual Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup tournament, an annual tournament held over several nights. In 2009, Davey Richards defeated Silas Young to win the tournament. [21] In 2010, Sami Callihan won the 32-man tournament by defeating Jon Moxley in the finals. [22] A. R. Fox defeat Johnny Gargano to win the 2011 tournament. [23] In both 2007 and 2009, honored long time Championship Wrestling from Florida promoter Eddie Graham by holding the "Eddie Graham Memorial Battle of the Belts," using the name of one of Graham's major shows. [24] [25] While working with Ring of Honor, FIP co-promoted the show "Impact of Honor" on June 10, 2006. [26] In 2006, 2007 and 2010, FIP promoted a show called "Cage of Pain" (I, II and III respectively) with each show featuring a steel cage match. [27] [28] [29]

Championships

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays heldLocationNotesRef.
World Heavyweight Championship Karam1November 14, 2021519 Clearwater, FL Defeated Jon Davis at WWN Supershow: Battle of the Belts. [30]
Florida Heritage Championship Anthony Greene 1November 14, 2021519 Clearwater, FL Defeated Troy Hollywood at WWN Supershow: Battle of the Belts. [30]
World Tag Team Championship The Island Kings
(Jaka and Sean Maluta)
1November 14, 2021519 Clearwater, FL Defeated previous champions The Skulk (Adrian Alanis & Liam Gray), OAO (Hunter Law & Snoop Strikes) and The NYC Crew (Nino Cruz & Steve Pena) in a four-way tag team match at WWN Supershow: Battle of the Belts. [30]

Triple Crown

Full Impact Pro defines a "Triple Crown" winner as someone who has held every championship in Full Impact Pro at some point in their career. [31] To date, only two wrestlers have won the FIP Triple Crown, Erick Stevens, achieving it when he won the FIP Florida Heritage Championship on December 20, 2008, [32] and Jon Davis.

ChampionWorld Heavyweight ChampionshipWorld Tag Team ChampionshipFlorida Heritage Championship
Erick Stevens December 30, 2007December 20, 2008
(with Roderick Strong)
March 10, 2007
Jon Davis February 1, 2013July 31, 2010
(with Kory Chavis)
April 2, 2017

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roderick Strong</span> American professional wrestler

Christopher Lindsey, better known by his name Roderick Strong, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand, as the leader of the stable Diamond Mine, but is currently inactive due to an ankle injury. He is also known for his 13-year tenure with Ring of Honor, where he is a former one-time ROH World Champion, a two-time ROH World Television Champion, and a one-time ROH World Tag Team Champion with Austin Aries, which made him the second-ever ROH Triple Crown Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davey Richards</span> American professional wrestler

Wesley David Richards, best known under the ring name Davey Richards, is a retired American professional wrestler. Best known for his time in Impact Wrestling and Ring of Honor, and for several independent promotions, including Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Full Impact Pro, he was previously signed to Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he was a former MLW National Openweight Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sal Rinauro</span> American professional wrestler (born 1982)

Salvatore Rinauro is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in Ring of Honor, Full Impact Pro and National Wrestling Alliance in addition to being a member of The Embassy. He currently wrestles for WrestleMerica NWA Power, Southern Fried Championship Wrestling, Anarchy Wrestling and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabe Sapolsky</span> American wrestling executive

Gabriel Sapolsky is an American professional wrestling promoter, creative writer, and booker who currently works for WWE. Sapolsky has also held various creative and marketing positions in the professional wrestling industry, notably as Paul Heyman's personal assistant with Extreme Championship Wrestling, the co-founder and head of talent relations (booker) at Ring of Honor, the vice-president of Dragon Gate USA, vice-president of talent relations, creative and marketing of the World Wrestling Network (WWN) and creative writer (booker) and founder of EVOLVE. Sapolsky also worked in a booking capacity for various other promotions including Full Impact Pro and Style Battle, as well as for special events like the WWN Supershow and the Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FIP World Heavyweight Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The FIP World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned by the Full Impact Pro (FIP) promotion. It is currently the highest ranked championship in FIP.

Eric Koenreich is an American professional wrestler. He is known by his ring name Erick Stevens and for his time in Ring of Honor.

The FIP World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship owned by the independent professional wrestling promotion Full Impact Pro (FIP). It was created and debuted on April 22, 2005, at FIP's The Usual Suspects event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragon Gate USA</span> American professional wrestling promotion

Dragon Gate USA (DGUSA) was an American professional wrestling promotion founded in 2009 as an international expansion of the Japanese promotion Dragon Gate. Gabe Sapolsky, former head booker of Ring of Honor, served as the promotion's Vice President.

The Dark City Fight Club are a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Jon Davis and Kory Chavis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Beretta</span> American professional wrestler

Gregory "Greg" Marasciulo, better known by the ring name Trent Beretta or Trent?, is an American professional wrestler signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is also known for his time with WWE as Trent Barreta and New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Ring of Honor under the ring name Beretta. As part of Roppongi Vice alongside Rocky Romero, Beretta is a former four-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his tenures with Pro Wrestling Guerilla and various independent promotions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhett Titus</span> American professional wrestler

Everett Lawrence Titus is an American professional wrestler working for Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former ROH World Television Champion, an overall two-time ROH Tag Team Champion individually, as well as winning the now-defunct Top of the Class Trophy once.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evolve (professional wrestling)</span> Defunct American professional wrestling promotion

Evolve Wrestling was an American professional wrestling promotion founded in 2010 by former Ring of Honor booker and Dragon Gate USA vice president, Gabe Sapolsky.

Kory Chavis is a professional wrestler, also known by the ring name Rainman. He works for several independent promotions, including Dragon Gate USA, Full Impact Pro, and Evolve. Chavis wrestled with tag team partner Jon Davis as The Dark City Fight Club , and with Davis is a former co-holder of both the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Davis (wrestler)</span> American professional wrestler

Jonathan Davis is an American professional wrestler, working for independent promotions including Dragon Gate USA, Full Impact Pro, and Evolve. Davis is a two-time former NWA World Tag Team Champion and a former NWA Florida Tag Team Champion as part of The Dark City Fight Club with Kory Chavis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Elgin</span> Canadian professional wrestler and promoter

Aaron Frobel is a Canadian professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name Michael Elgin. He most recently worked for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he was a one-time GHC Tag Team Champion with Masa Kitamiya. He is best known for his work with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former NEVER Openweight Champion. In NJPW, he was also a one-time IWGP Intercontinental and a one-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He is also known for his work in Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a one-time ROH World Champion. He has also worked for the Southern California-based company Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, where he is a one-time PWG World Tag Team Champion with Brian Cage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AR Fox</span> American professional wrestler

Thomas James "T.J." Ballester, better known by his ring name AR Fox, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling. He is also known for his work in promotions like Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Dragon Gate USA, and Evolve. Fox has also worked for Dragon Gate in Japan, Full Impact Pro (FIP), where he won the 2011 Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup, and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG). He currently serves as the head trainer of the WWA4 wrestling school in Atlanta, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evolve Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The Evolve Championship was a professional wrestling championship owned by the Evolve promotion. The inaugural champion was crowned on April 5, 2013, when A. R. Fox defeated Sami Callihan in the finals of an eight-man tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evolve Tag Team Championship</span> Professional wrestling tag team championship

The Evolve Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship owned by the Evolve promotion. The inaugural champions were crowned on January 24, 2016, at the end of an eight-team tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWNLive</span> Professional wrestling promotion and online streaming website

The World Wrestling Network is an American professional wrestling organization known for and branded after its video streaming service, WWNLive. WWNLive hosts content both from WWN's "brands", including Full Impact Pro (FIP) and Shine Wrestling, as well as content from third-party organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWN Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The WWN Championship was a professional wrestling championship promoted by the WWNLive governing body. The inaugural champion was crowned on April 1, 2017, when Matt Riddle defeated five other men for the title.

References

  1. 1 2 Johnson, Mike (September 19, 2014). "Evolve heading to China (no, really)". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved September 19, 2014. WWNLive, the parent company of Evolve, Shine, FIP and Dragon Gate USA.
  2. "FIP's Inaugural show". Full Impact Pro. August 8, 2003. Archived from the original on December 8, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  3. "Emergence: Part 2". Full Impact Pro. Archived from the original on August 12, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2010.
  4. Radican, Sean (March 25, 2006). "Radican's Quick Hits: FIP The Usual Suspects". PW Torch.com. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
  5. Vetter, Chris (July 1, 2007). "DVD review: ROH, "FYF: Liverpool" (3-3-07), with Joe-Nigel, Delirious-Sydal, Richards-Homicide". PW Torch. TDH Communications Inc. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  6. "Full Impact Pro Florida Heritage Title". wrestling-titles. February 12, 2016. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  7. "About". WWN Live. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  8. Alvarez, Bryan (September 23, 2011). "FRI UPDATE: WWE survey on moving Mania to WWE Network, another wacky WWE show, Jones vs. Rampage odds, win a call from Jay Briscoe, new TNA girl identified, ROH affiliate list for this weekend's TV, full weekend schedule, tons more". Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Weekly. F4Wonline.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  9. "Full Impact Pro (FIP)". Cage Match. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  10. Caldwell, James (December 3, 2014). "Newswire: WWNLive announces long-term China plan, Ross talks importance of Tokyo Dome, New Japan's subscription goals, latest World Tag League standings, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  11. Johnson, Mike (November 14, 2014). "New FIP Champion crowned, big crowd for WWNLive in Emieshan City, China". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  12. "WWNLive In China – Tag 3" (in German). CageMatch. November 14, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  13. "WWNLive In China – Tag 4" (in German). CageMatch. November 15, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  14. Caldwell, James (February 19, 2015). "WWNLive news: Official new training facility announced". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  15. Nason, Josh (October 24, 2016). "FloSports announces deal with WWNLive, launches pro wrestling streaming service". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  16. "FIP Florida Rumble" (in German). CageMatch. December 17, 2004. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  17. "FIP Florida Rumble" (in German). CageMatch. December 9, 2005. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  18. Trinfo, Richard (February 1, 2013). "Complete FIP Everything Burns report: New FIP World Champion crowned; tag titles and Florida Heritage title defended; and more". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  19. Gee Schoon Tong, Chris (August 10, 2013). "Show results – 8/9 FIP Heatstroke iPPV: Baretta wins FIP Title, mixed tag TLC match, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 10, 2013.
  20. Trionfo, Richard (July 4, 2015). "FIP Declaration of Independence report: Swann versus Konley for the world title, Savages versus Solow and Cade for the tag titles, ladder match, and more". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  21. Csonka, Larry (November 23, 2009). "Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup 2009: Night Two Results". News. 411mania.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  22. Wojcik, Alan J. (December 5, 2010). "Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup Night 2 results". Results. OnlineWorldofWrestling.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  23. Martin, Adam; Shannon Rose (October 26, 2011). "Indy News #4: Jeff Peterson Memorial Cup details". Wrestleview.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  24. "FIP Eddie Graham Memorial Battle Of The Belts 2007" (in German). CageMatch. March 10, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  25. "FIP Eddie Graham Memorial Battle Of The Belts 2009" (in German). CageMatch. February 8, 2009. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  26. "FIP / ROH Impact of Honor" (in German). CageMatch. June 10, 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  27. "FIP Cage of Pain" (in German). CageMatch. December 5, 2006. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  28. "FIP Cage of Pain II" (in German). CageMatch. September 29, 2007. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  29. "FIP Cage of Pain III" (in German). CageMatch. July 31, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  30. 1 2 3 Kreikenbohm, Philip (November 14, 2021). "WWN Supershow: Battle Of The Belts 2021 - Pay Per View @ OCC Road House in Clearwater, Florida, USA". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  31. "First FIP Triple Crown Winner". PWInsider. Retrieved December 18, 2010.
  32. "FIP Florida Heritage Championship". Cage Match. Retrieved March 20, 2016.