WOW had its first national tryouts outside of Los Angeles in August 2025 while company executives were in Tampa, Florida, and in December 2025, WOW once again sought future Superheroes in the Sunshine State, a cornerstone in the history of professional wrestling, rich with legacy and homegrown talent. It was also a prominent example of how wrestling territories operated- acting in the role of a governing body, the NWA's model was that territories controlled specific geographic areas, with each state having key markets. Tampa, Orlando, and Miami were the key markets of NWA affiliate Championship Wrestling From Florida (CWF). One of its championships was the NWA Florida Women's Championship, which was held by legends including Mae Young, June Byers, Betty Jo Hawkins, and Ella Waldek. By recruiting in the former home of the CWF, WOW aligns its Superheroes with the prestige of the legends who held that championship, bridging the gap between pioneering legends and modern sports entertainment.
WOW recruits athletes from a variety of athletic backgrounds, homegrown talent that it could train from the ground up, including cheer, dance, gymnastics, martial arts, CrossFit- and stunt performers. WOW's expansion to Florida puts the talent search in proximity to the world’s largest and best pool of theme park stunt performers in the US. In addition, the Florida independent pro-wrestling scene has a high concentration of talent with the ability to perform for a national television audience on a platform that has a large production scale and pays a very competitive local rate that beats what most independent wrestlers make on the road after expenses.
The Florida market is already well-represented within WOW. Several current Superheroes call the state home, including former WOW World Champion Santana Garrett, judo / jiu-jitsu black belt Gabriella Cruz, former WOW World Champion Penelope Pink, new Superhero Catalina Speed, multi-time WOW World Tag Team Champions Miami’s Sweet Heat Lindsey and Laurie Carlson, and heavy metal sister Fury. This connection establishes a bond between WOW and the local community.
While the Florida market holds deep roots in the industry, WOW is approaching its expansion there with a long-term vision. David McLane, who lived in Miami’s Coral Gables and Coconut Grove for 14 years, notes that the state has a "built-in fan base that is possibly not matched in terms of a statewide appeal." Because of the extensive organization required to establish a permanent presence, the Florida expansion is slated for 2027. In the meantime, WOW's 2026 focus will remain on its West Coast foundations in Las Vegas and a potential new venue in Los Angeles, currently under negotiation. Also, Los Angeles remains a permanent home for co-owners Jeanie Buss and David McLane, where their long-standing business roots and partnership with Paramount SkyDance provide a stable base for the brand.
For 25 years, WOW has been a West Coast-based brand. But as we look to the future landscape, the expansion to Florida represents a transition to a company with a broader physical footprint and East Coast presence, leveraging the established wrestling market in Florida for new talent and audience reach, moving beyond its traditional base to become a more distributed national entity. However, knowing WOW isn't abandoning the bright lights of the West- the company's "Fights At Fremont Street Experience" residency in Las Vegas, combined with its expansion to Florida, is a multi-hub strategy.
Instead of spending money on touring, WOW seemingly is positioning itself in three of the most production-friendly, high-traffic tourist destinations in America, giving shows mainstream visibility and exposing WOW to millions of potential new fans who might not typically seek out wrestling content. This organic exposure in major entertainment hubs is valuable for brand building and engagement. In addition, this model is both high-impact in terms of visibility and low-travel for talent, while also simultaneously reaching 100% of US markets through syndication and keeping overhead anchored to three locations, insulating itself against the unpredictability of the travel and of the touring industry.
This multi-hub strategy will also provide WOW with a valuable edge against environmental and logistical elements. While the Las Vegas “Fights At Fremont Street Experience” offers a high-spectacle, outdoor atmosphere that captures the energy of Las Vegas tourists, a Florida residency provides a studio-style environment. By balancing the bright, open-air environment of Nevada with the specialized production infrastructure of the Tampa-Orlando or Miami area, WOW creates a year-round content cycle. This indoor-outdoor model will ensure that the company can produce high-quality television regardless of seasonal weather shifts, further insulating WOW from the volatility that typically plagues promotions on a standard city-by-city tour.
With WOW’s Los Angeles and Florida markets having a deep talent pool, Las Vegas providing amazing backgrounds during matches, and the marketing support of the casinos, WOW, just as it changed the status quo for women's professional wrestling, is changing the status quo of brand building. If this model succeeds, we could see the company again be ahead of the curve, with the rest of the industry looking at their jet fuel bills and wondering whether frequently going on the road is still the best way to travel.
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