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NEW START-UP VENTURE IN FLORIDA SAID TO HAVE BIG MONEY BEHIND IT SIGNING WRESTLERS TO CONTRACTS, WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR (UPDATED)

A new upstart wrestling promotion, said to have major financial backing behind it, has been quietly putting together a business plan in Florida and signing talents.  A number of wrestlers have been signed to contracts or asked to sign letters of intent they will work for the promotion, along with confidentiality agreements. 

The promotion is still putting together it's business plan - I don't even know if there is even an official name for the promotion yet - and it's believed they wouldn't start actively doing anything until the Fall, with the idea of then focusing on 2011 for a full fledged launch.  There's no word of taping dates or television clearances or anything of the like so far.  They are literally in the early days of the project and putting together their business plan, but with wrestlers being offered (and signing) deals, it's certainly newsworthy.

The money backer of this project is said to be Mr Milton Wilpon, senior member of the famous Wilpon Family that owns many international businesses including Sterling Equities, a New York-based investment firm that owns The New York Mets organization, the SNY cable network, and several real estate and investment companies and the New York Mets. Milton is also a well known financial wizard who has been involved with starting up numerous companies, is the inventor of the first computerized tax software and is currently is the Chairman of the Board of a major international pharmaceutical company, Medix Pharmaceutical International.

The connection to the Wilpon is a businessman named Peter Karoftis, who has worked for a number of years with Sterling Equities. Sean Davis, a long-time independent wrestler in Florida best known as one half of the Heartbreak Express tag team, are pretty much the core of the company at this time.

Kevin Kleinrock (Viva La Lucha, Wrestling Society X, etc.), Cody Michaels (WSX, XPW, etc.) and Mister Saint Laurent (longtime Florida promoter and personality who also did commentary for Ring of Honor) are also signed to work on the project, I have confirmed. Kleinrock will be working production. Laurent (who I believe is working on the talent and creative end) has promoted the "I Believe in Wrestling" indy in Florida. I believe there will be a crossover with that promotion's talent and the school connected to it as well.

In regards to names signed, I have heard a LOT of rumors (including TNA and WWE names) in the last month, but the only talent I can 100% confirm as signed as of this writing is Sean Waltman. Another source indicates Vader is also signed. A number of wrestlers I have heard have signed declined to comment, even off record, when I contacted them, citing the confidentiality clauses.

There are always a number of rumored upstarts that end up nowhere rooted near reality, but in this case, it could very well be a story that is worth keeping an eye on in the weeks and months to come.

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