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New Main Event Training Center launched NWA Ring Warriors and Coastal Championship Wrestling, South Florida’s two leading wrestling organizations, announced today that they have signed a joint venture agreement to launch a new Fort Lauderdale based professional wrestling school called the Main Event Training Center. Formerly doing business under the name Body Slam University and owned by former WWF and ECW talent Pablo Marquez and CCW co-owners Dan Ackerman and Bruno Sassi, the new Main Event Training Center combines the marketing strength and organization of CCW with that of NWA Ring Warriors and its three principles: CEO Paul Jones, COO (Talent) Larry Brannon and COO (Business) and former NWA president Howard Brody. “This is an important step for us,” said Ackerman, who acknowledged that despite running a successful school for eight years it was time for BSU to go to the next level. “We knew if we partnered up with the right team that had the same objectives as we did, it would get us to where we wanted to be quicker than if we chose to do it by ourselves. Once we all sat down to see what we could do together, it just made sense. We’re very happy to have partners with the same mind set of success.” Jones agreed. “We each bring something unique to the table and that’s what makes this such an exciting project. When you have several people who bring different perspectives to a venture, yet who all have the same goal and you can recognize and leverage the strengths of each of those viewpoints, then you have the foundation to build something really special.” Marquez, who will remain the school’s head trainer and who is also a principal in the three-way joint venture, brought it all back to the students. “This is a great opportunity for them,” he said. “This partnership is going to open more doors for the people we train and will allow us to provide a state-of-the-art facility to students who really want to learn pro wrestling as a trade. This school is going to be more than just learning how to take bumps – it’s learning about pro wrestling’s culture from the inside and how to present yourself in general; how to do promos, self-promotion, understanding and abiding by locker room etiquette and so much more. Like the sign says, it’s the Main Event Training Center.” Jones noted that the new facility means that those in South Florida who want to learn how to become a professional wrestler, will now be able to do so the right way in an environment that encourages, prepares and nurtures aspiring wrestlers and future main event performers. He also noted that part of the Main Event Training Center’s appeal will be that future stars can find themselves training alongside established performers at any time. Ackerman pointed out that while under the BSU banner, several major stars have used the facility to hone their skills and keep in ring shape between matches such as Cody Rhodes, MVP, D’Lo Brown, Headbanger Mosh, Stevie Richards and “Tough Enough” winner Andy Leavine. The WWE’s Alberto Del Rio also used the facility as part of his rehabilitation prior to WrestleMania. Another feature of the Main Event Training Center will be to provide specialty training seminars to its students and younger wrestlers who want to learn from those who’ve been on the road and have made an impact in the business. The first such seminar will take place on Friday, July 13th at 6 p.m. with former NWA World Heavyweight Champion “Scrap Iron” Adam Pearce. The Main Event Training Center is located at 312 East Oakland Park Blvd in Fort Lauderdale. For more information on the school and the July 13th seminar with Pearce, visit them online at www.maineventtrainingcenter.
