Professional wrestling takes hold in Plant City

Fans of pro wrestling don't have to travel out of town to enjoy their sport.

On Saturdays twice monthly, a wrestling school puts on matches at its headquarters based at a former Plant City car dealership.

New Florida Wrestling staged its shows at the Mulberry Civic Center for about a year before making the move to Plant City, said founder E.J. Giglio Jr., a 2006 Durant High School graduate.

He set up his operation in Alexander Crossings, at 633 E. Alexander St., near Wal-Mart. The shopping center was formerly a Chevrolet dealership.

The school held its first professional wrestling show on April 25. It's been thrilling local wrestling fans ever since.

On a recent Saturday night, fans crowded around to watch wrestlers with such ring names such as Viper and Hooligan O'Brady.

"I think the best move they ever made is coming to Plant City," said Louis Seelye, a 28-year-old local resident who cheered from a front row seat.

Giglio, a 22-year-old with a gruff voice and boisterous enthusiasm, is the ring announcer. His 60-year-old mother, Sharon, runs the operation behind the scenes.

Besides the matches, New Florida Wrestling offers training for individuals who want to be wrestlers, referees and ring managers. Classes are held from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

A few of the wrestlers serve as trainers for the students. Dalton Sebastian, Hooligan O'Brady and Viper are three of the star wrestlers who work at the wrestling school.

Giglio said he plans to incorporate his students into amateur wrestling shows and would like to see them transition into the professional wrestling card.

Professional wrestlers at the center include former World Wrestling Championship wrestler Prince Ikaeah and his son, Nick, of Team 808, Flaming Dragon, Jude Mackenzie and Alex Decay of Team Virus, Big Chicken, Southern Rebel No.1, Johnny Oregano, Jack the Bull Mahoney, Torture, The Punisher and others.

Featured wrestlers Macho Mark and Jac La Fleur wrestle as a tag team, Hot and Ready.

Macho Mark, whose real name is Mark Zout, is a 27-year-old from St. Petersburg. He's a nine-year wrestling veteran with a continued passion for the sport.

Zout started his career at an independent show where he saw an advertisement for a wrestling school, which he attended and was trained as a professional wrestler.

La Fleur, 28, of Montreal, joined a wrestling school six years ago.

The tag team trains twice a week at the New Florida Wrestling center, putting a unique spin on their wrestling performance in an effort to entertain the audience.

"We thought it would be funny to just go out there and act silly and prissy, but we're actually both really good wrestlers. It's more of a mind game as you saw tonight. We play around and get into the guys' heads a little bit. We can actually wrestle, but it makes it easier because we've got that psychological edge," Zout said.

Giglio said he has been bombarded with positive feedback since New Florida Wrestling began offering the matches, which are without profanity, scantily clad women or sexual overtones. The emphasis is on good wrestling

"It's a good quality show. It's family friendly enough that you don't have to be afraid for children to come to it. I've seen small children in the audience. I've seen people in their 70s and 80s. None of those people were we afraid would be offended. By the same token, we have younger people that are very hard to please, and they know what they like, and they are very pleased," he said.

Members of the Napolitanos family, who were visiting from Arkansas, said they appreciated the matches.

"It was very entertaining for the kids," said Sarah Napolitano, 28, who brought her two children, Alicia, 10, and Brad, 6.

Napolitano's children cheered and watched in amazement.

"I liked it a lot," Alicia said.

Brad, replied with two words, "It's awesome!"

Napolitano's sister-in-law, Gina Napolitano of Plant City, brought along her son Spencer.

"This is my first experience. It's fun," she said.

Longtime wrestling fan William Goodman, 75, and native of Plant City, said the wrestlers are just as talented as the professionals such as Dusty Rhodes that he's devoted years to watching on TV.

"These are younger guys just learning, but it's just as entertaining," Goodman said.

New Florida Wrestling

WHERE: 633 E. Alexander St., east of James L. Redman Parkway

FEATURES: Wrestling training and regular matches

MATCHES: Twice per month on Saturdays; next matches are Aug. 15 and Aug. 29

TIME: Doors open at 7 p.m.; wrestling starts at 7:30 p.m.

PRICE: Tickets are $10; $5 for ages 12 and under; concessions stand sells snacks and food catered by Denny's

WEB SITE: myspace .com/nfwhardcore

TELEPHONE: E.J. Giglio at (813) 230-7495 or Sharon Giglio at (813) 523-1907