Deep South Wrestling (DSW) was a promotion based in McDonough, Georgia. Deep South worked in tandem with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a developmental territory from 2005 until April 18, 2007. Deep South was owned by Jody Hamilton, former director of the WCW Power Plant. A previous version of Deep South, which had a working agreement with the American Wrestling Association, was also run by Hamilton from 1986 to October 1988.
Deep South Wrestling held their inaugural show on September 1, 2005. Two months later, the promotion crowned Mike Mizanin as their first Deep South Heavyweight Champion. The promotion gained a timeslot on Comcast Sports South on Sunday nights at 11:30 p.m.
On July 9, 2006, the promotion debuted a live event at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia. It was announced that DSW would begin performing live shows at venues other than Six Flags, starting in the nearby town of Griffin, Georgia. On May 18, High Impact (Mike Taylor & Tony Santarelli) won a tournament to crown the first Deep South Tag Team Champions. It was announced on October 18, 2006, that Deep South Wrestling had landed a television deal with MavTV.
On April 18, 2007, WWE announced that they were ending its relationship with Deep South. Deep South confirmed the cancellation of their April 19, 2007 television taping on their website. The closure of the promotion was announced on Deep South's website on April 19, although Deep South held its final event on April 12. Because of Deep South parting ways, talent not under WWE developmental contracts left the promotion. Those that remained under contract were reassigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling.
On April 30, 2009, it was announced to the wrestling media that Hamilton, under the DSW banner, had filed a lawsuit against WWE. The suit claims WWE committed breach of contract and intentional interference with contractual and business relations. The suit was filed on April 20 and is pending in Fulton County, Georgia.
Championships
DSW Heavyweight Championship[]
- Tommy Rich - February 12, 1986
- Flame - July 4, 1986
- Mr. Wrestling II - September 25, 1986
- Flame - November 9, 1986
- Ranger Ross - January 25, 1987
- Botswana Beast - March 1, 1987
- Tommy Rich - May 27, 1987
- Randy Rose - July 1, 1987
- Assassin #1 (Formerly Flame) - June 6, 1988
Vacated - October 18, 1988 - Promotion closed
- Mike Mizanin - December 1, 2005
- Derek Neikirk - December 22, 2005
- Roughhouse O'Reilly - June 22, 2006
- Bradley Jay - September 7, 2006
- Vito - January 25, 2007
- Bradley Jay - February 22, 2007
- Roughhouse O'Reilly - March 1, 2007
- Bradley Jay - March 8, 2007
Vacated - March 15, 2007 - Title held-up after a match with Roughhouse O'Reilly when the agreement between WWE and DSW ends.
- Austin Creed - July 12, 2007
Vacated - October 11, 2007 - DSW closes down in October 11, 2007.
DSW Tag Team Championship[]
- The Nightmares (Danny Davis and Ken Wayne) - March 15, 1986 - Recognized as champions upon promotion startup
- Ted and Jerry Oates - November 10, 1986
- The Nightmares (Danny Davis and Ken Wayne) - January 1, 1987
- The Assassins - January 10, 1987
- The Nightmares (Danny Davis and Ken Wayne) - November 7, 1987
Vacated - September 10, 1988 --- Deactivated - October 18, 1988 - DSW closed
- High Impact (Mike Taylor and Tony Santarelli) - May 18, 2006
- The Untouchables (Deuce Shade and Domino) - October 5, 2006
- The Majors Brothers (Brian and Brett Majors) - October 12, 2006
- Urban Assault (Eric Perez and Sonny Siaki) - November 30, 2006
- The Regulators (Mike and Todd Shane) - December 14, 2006
Vacated - January 19, 2007
- The Majors Brothers (Brian and Brett Majors) - January 19, 2007
- Team Elite (Derrick Neikirk and Mike Knox) - March 8, 2007
Vacated - January 19, 2007 - Title vacated when WWE ended its developmental deal with DSW
- Caleb Konley and Sal Rinauro - July 26, 2007
Deactivated - October 11, 2007 - DSW closed