| National Wrestling Alliance | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Acronym | NWA |
| Established | 1948 |
| Style | American Wrestling |
| Location | see List of NWA territories |
| Founder(s) | Paul "Pinkie" George Al Haft Anton "Tony" Stecher Harry Light Orville Brown Sam Muchnick |
| Owner(s) | National Wrestling Alliance Promoters |
| Website | NWAWrestling.com |
The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is the largest governing body for a group of independent professional wrestling promotions and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. This is a list of National Wrestling Alliance territories which are a group of smaller independent Professional wrestling promotions that use the NWA name Orville Brown ( March 10 1908 &ndash January 24 1981) was a Professional wrestler. Sam Muchnick ( August 22, 1905 - December 30, 1998) was an American Professional wrestling promoter from St Professional wrestling, or pro wrestling, is a non-competitive professional Sport, where all matches are scripted by the promotion's booking staff In Professional wrestling, a championship or title is a recognition of a wrestler being the best in their promotion The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The NWA has been in operation since 1948. Prior to the 1980s, it acted as the sole governing body for most of professional wrestling, operating as a talent and brand name franchiser for the inter-regional "territory" system. A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function
Contents |
History
1940s
Before the NWA was founded in 1948, there existed many regional promotions across North America (each promoting its own “World” champion). A professional wrestling promotion (also federation or fed) is a company or Business that performs regular shows involving Professional None of them, however, had backing or recognition outside of their own respective geographic base-areas. The concept of the NWA was to consolidate the championships of these disparate regional companies into one true world championship of pro wrestling, whose holder would be recognized worldwide. [1] In 1948, Paul "Pinkie" George, a promoter from the Midwest, founded the original version of the National Wrestling Alliance with the backing of five other promoters (Al Haft, Tony Strecher, Harry Light, Orville Brown, and Sam Muchnick). Orville Brown ( March 10 1908 &ndash January 24 1981) was a Professional wrestler. Sam Muchnick ( August 22, 1905 - December 30, 1998) was an American Professional wrestling promoter from St This newly-formed NWA Board of Directors wanted Brown to be the first-ever NWA World champion. [1] During the reign of the second NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Lou Thesz (1949–1956),[1] the title was further unified with several more previously-competing "World" titles, such as those recognized jointly by the National Wrestling Association and American Wrestling Alliance (in Boston), plus another version promoted from the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium. The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA World Heavyweight Championship is the primary Professional wrestling title in the National Wrestling Alliance Aloysius Martin Thesz ( April 24 1916 - April 28 2002) also known as The Great One, was a professional wrestler and The National Wrestling Association was an off-shoot of the National Boxing Association, formed to sanction Professional wrestling. The American Wrestling Association (AWA was an American Professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis Minnesota that ran from 1960 The Grand Olympic Auditorium is the former name of a sports venue in Los Angeles California, United States. This legitimized the NWA's claim that its title was a “Unified World Title,” and its lineage continues to this very day.
The territorial system was well-suited to the days before any one wrestling promotion received nation-wide television exposure. The NWA members divided up North America, as well as Japan, into territories that each promoter would “own” and operate in. Having a territory meant that no other NWA member could promote wrestling in that area. If non-NWA promoters tried to promote their show in an NWA territory, then the other member groups were obliged to send stars to help force the intruder out. Reportedly, threats of violence or physical retaliation were used against any promoters (and/or talent) who disregarded the territory system. If any member territory broke the NWA's rules, it faced expulsion, and thus risked missing out on having nationally-known wrestlers appear on their local shows. For most promoters under the NWA umbrella, the benefits of membership were well worth the dues. Usually, the NWA President's territory was the main territory of the entire alliance.
Beyond the benefit of having other promotions to draw on in case of an intruder, each territory also received periodic guest visits from the NWA World Heavyweight Champion. The champion did not have a “home territory” as such, but instead traveled from territory to territory, defending the title against the top stars of each territory. Many promoters would build up to the appearance of "The NWA World Heavyweight Champion" weeks or months in advance, making the local World title matches that much more special, and the shows they headlined more lucrative. In addition, each NWA member promotion usually produced a TV show that aired in their territory only, meaning that the local fans only saw the World champion when he came to their area, not year-round. It was not just the champion that would travel the territories; often, wrestlers from a different area would come into a territory (often the heels / “bad guys”), and run an angle or two with its top local faces ("good guys"). In Professional wrestling, a heel is a Villain character In non-wrestling jargon heels are the "bad guys" in pro wrestling storylines. In Professional wrestling, a face or babyface is a character who is portrayed as Heroic relative to the heel wrestlers who are analogous to villains Also, if the local fans ever tired of a wrestler, he could go to a whole new area and perform the same act for new audiences, who would think the act was brand-new.
1950s–1960s
Upon becoming the booker for Lou Thesz in 1950, Muchnick, who was the head of the St. Louis Wrestling Club, became the new NWA President and maintained that position until 1960. The St Louis Wrestling Club was a Professional wrestling promotion based in St
In the mid-1950s, serious disputes broke out within the NWA. There were antitrust problems with the government and there were a number of competing factions who wanted to replace Thesz as champion with different wrestlers such as Verne Gagne. Verne Gagne (born February 26 1926) is a former American Professional wrestler, football player Pro wrestling Trainer, and There were also disputes over the number of dates wrestled by the champion in various parts of the country. The first break within the organization occurred in 1957 when Montreal promoter Eddie Quinn walked out of the August NWA meeting in St. Louis. Quinn had fallen out with Sam Muchnick over a number of issues. Quinn was a partner in the St. Louis territory and disagreed with how it was being run. Quinn was also angry that Muchnick had business dealings with rogue promoter (and Quinn rival) Jack Pfefer. At the time Quinn walked out, a wrestler of his named Edouard Carpentier was involved in an angle where he and Lou Thesz were both being presented around the NWA as champion. Édouard Carpentier (born July 17 1926) is a retired French Professional wrestler who garnered several world championships in a career that spanned This occurred after Carpentier had a disputed win over Thesz on June 14, 1957, and some of the NWA promoters considered it a legitimate title change, while others did not. Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) [2] The original idea was to build the idea of the "disputed" NWA title into a high profile rematch. When Quinn left the NWA, Muchnick announced that Carpentier had never been an official champion and had no claim on the title.
In 1957, the American Wrestling Association (AWA) broke away from the National Wrestling Alliance due to a dispute over the booking of the world champion. The American Wrestling Association (AWA was an American Professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis Minnesota that ran from 1960 [2] Lou Thesz was scheduled to win back the championship, despite the popularity Pat O’Connor had attained after winning it in 1959 and successfully starting the television program Wrestling At The Chase. Patrick Pat O'Connor (1924-1990 was a Professional wrestler from New Zealand who held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship The AWA named the then-NWA World Heavyweight Champion Pat O’Connor the first AWA World Heavyweight Championship and then gave him ninety days to defend the title. The American Wrestling Association (AWA World Heavyweight Championship was the highest ranked championship in the now defunct American Wrestling Association. When O’Connor did not defend due to contractual obligations to the NWA, he was stripped of the title and Verne Gagne, promoter of the AWA, was named the champion. Verne Gagne (born February 26 1926) is a former American Professional wrestler, football player Pro wrestling Trainer, and In reality, Verne was the first active world champion for the AWA. Initially, the AWA promoted out of Minnesota, and usually only ventured outside their “home territory” when working with local promoters like Jerry Jarrett in Memphis, who booked the AWA World Heavyweight Champions through the late 1970s and 1980s. Jerry W Jarrett (born September 4, 1942 in Nashville Tennessee) is an American promoter and former professional wrestler When Vince McMahon started to expand to a national level, the AWA tried to counter him by working together with various federations in the “Pro Wrestling USA” initiative. Vincent Kennedy McMahon (born August 24 1945 popularly known by his Ring name Mr Pro Wrestling USA was a Professional wrestling promotion in the United States of America in the mid 1980s In the end, the AWA folded in 1991, when their attendance fell to unprofitable levels.
Afterward, Quinn saw the financial possibilities in the Carpentier situation and began to negotiate with factions within the NWA. He offered to have Carpentier lose a title match to their prospective champion thus giving them if they decided to break away a legitimate claim on the world title. In 1958, it was arranged that Carpentier would drop his title to Verne Gagne in Omaha. [2] But at the same time, Quinn also arranged for Capentier to drop his title in Boston to Killer Kowalski which formed the basis for the AAC/Big Time Wrestling (Boston) title which lasted until 1975. Gagne tried for two more years to work things out with the NWA but finally in 1960 left the organization forming the American Wrestling Association. The American Wrestling Association (AWA was an American Professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis Minnesota that ran from 1960 [2] Gagne's win over Carpentier was used to legitimize the world championship status of the AWA title.
In 1959, Quinn began negotiating with the Los Angeles NWA affiliate. The promotion recognized Carpentier as NWA champion in 1959. In June 1961, Carpentier dropped the title for a third time to Fred Blassie. Frederick Blassie ( February 8, 1918 &ndash June 2, 2003) better known as "Classy" Freddie Blassie, was an American The promotion then left the NWA officially and became the WWA until it returned to the NWA in 1968.
Muchnick's replacement at the NWA's helm in 1960 was Toronto's Frank Tunney; he in turn was succeeded by Fred Kohler, who was the main booker for the new NWA World champion, "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Francis Martin “Frank” Tunney was born on November 12, 1912. Fred Kohler ( April 20, 1888 &ndash October 28, 1938) was an American actor known for his "heavy" style of character "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, born Herman C Rohde Jr, ( February 20 1921 &ndash June 26 1992) was a Professional October 1962 saw Rogers defeat Killer Kowalski, a match which was promoted by Doc Karl Sarpolis, the NWA member promoter in Amarillo, Texas. As a result, Sarpolis rose to the NWA presidency. In 1962, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion was ”Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers. "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, born Herman C Rohde Jr, ( February 20 1921 &ndash June 26 1992) was a Professional [3] Vincent J. McMahon began planning to take Rogers away from the NWA to start a new promotion. Vincent James McMahon, better known as Vince McMahon Sr ( July 6, 1914 – May 24, 1984) was a U [3] The NWA, however, stripped Rogers of the NWA title in Toronto in 1963. [3] After the loss, McMahon withdrew from the NWA and created the World Wide Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment) with Rogers as the star performer. World Wrestling Entertainment Inc ( WWE) is a publicly traded privately controlled integrated media (focusing in Television, Internet, [3] The WWWF recognized Rogers as its first World champion in April 1963. [3] The WWWF claimed that Buddy Rogers won a title tournament in Rio De Janeiro, a tournament that did not in fact exist. Rio de Janeiro ("River of January" ˈhiw dʒi ʒʌˈnejɾu in Brazilian Portuguese, /ˈriːoʊ di ʒəˈnɛroʊ/ in English is the second largest city of Brazil [3] Although both Verne Gagne and Vince McMahon promoted their own World champions, their promotions continued to have representatives on the NWA Board of Directors and regularly exchanged talent with NWA promotions.
Decline of the territory system
In the 1980s, video tape trading and cable television paved the way for the eventual death of the NWA's inter-regional business model, as fans could now see for themselves the plot holes and inconsistencies between the different regional storylines. Also, the presence of stars like Ric Flair on TV every week made their special appearances in each region less of a draw. Richard Morgan Fliehr According to WWE and PWI Flair is an eight-time National Wrestling Alliance (NWA Champion, six-time WCW Champion Vince K. McMahon, who had bought the WWWF from his father and renamed it the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1982, used these gathering trends, as well as raids of competing promoters' talent pools, to turn his Northeastern territory into the first truly national promotion. Vincent Kennedy McMahon (born August 24 1945 popularly known by his Ring name Mr To compete against this threat, various NWA promoters, along with the AWA, attempted to co-promote shows under the Pro Wrestling USA banner. Pro Wrestling USA was a Professional wrestling promotion in the United States of America in the mid 1980s However, internal disputes over power and money caused this deal to eventually fall apart. The AWA ended up owning the group's ESPN timeslot, and used it to broadcast its own weekly shows. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to
In the 1980s, NWA member Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) was sold to Vince K. McMahon and merged into the WWF, with the WWF taking over GCW's long time TV slot on TBS. Georgia Championship Wrestling was a Professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta Georgia superstation Vincent Kennedy McMahon (born August 24 1945 popularly known by his Ring name Mr [4] Meanwhile, to hold off the threat of the WWF, Charlotte, North Carolina-based Jim Crockett Promotions decided to unify certain NWA territories and "go national" itself. Jim Crockett Promotions was a Professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett Jr Accordingly, Jim Crockett, Jr. began buying out some of the other NWA member promotions or, in some cases, allowed them to quietly die and just absorbed their rosters. Jim Crockett Jr (born 1944 is a former Professional wrestling promoter and the owner of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions Because of his acquisition spree, and because he failed to consistently match the WWF's ambitious marketing, TV production values, and merchandising, Crockett was facing bankruptcy by the late 1980s. In turn, Ted Turner bought Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) and renamed it World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III (born November 19, 1938) is an American Media proprietor and philanthropist. Jim Crockett Promotions was a Professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett Jr [5] With the backing of Turner’s money, it grew into a national promotion. With time, WCW became the main NWA territory with the JCP versions of the tag-team, United States, and Television Champions being recognized on a national scale. Up until this point only the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship had had national recognition. The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was for the lighter wrestlers WCW was still a member of the NWA, but with time felt that the NWA needed WCW more than WCW needed the backing of the NWA, especially since both WCW and the WWF toured the entire country instead of staying within a confined territory. To make matters even more confusing, WCW spent much of 1992 and 1993 recognizing and promoting both WCW-brand World Champions and NWA-brand World Champions.
Another federation that withdrew from the NWA to operate on their own was Mid-South Sports. Originally owned by Leroy McGuirk (who booked the NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion for the NWA), the promotion was sold to Bill Watts in 1979. Bill Watts, (born May 5 1939 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma) is a former American Professional wrestler and promoter Watts changed the name of the promotion to Mid South Sports and declined to join the NWA. Watts did have a working agreement and exchanged talent with Jim Crockett Jr. , allowing him to book the NWA World Champion. In 1986, Watts renamed the promotion the Universal Wrestling Federation in a bid to expand nationally, but was eventually brought out by Jim Crockett Promotions in March 1987, after going bankrupt. [6]
In 1986, promoter Fritz Von Erich withdrew World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) from the NWA in a bid to become a national promotion. Jack Barton Adkisson ( August 16 1929 - September 10 1997) was an American Professional wrestler under the Ring name World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW was a popular regional Professional wrestling promotion run out of Dallas and Fort Worth Texas. They joined up with another former NWA member, Continental Wrestling Association and the AWA to try to compete with WCW and the WWF, but soon fell apart due to interpromotional politics. The Continental Wrestling Association (later on “Championship Wrestling Association” was a wrestling promotion managed by Jerry Jarrett. WCCW and the CWA later merged to form the United States Wrestling Association. The United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a Professional wrestling promotional organization based in Memphis Tennessee. The USWA folded in 1997. Abroad, the defections of Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid-1980s was mostly regionalized as not many American fans followed or even knew about these promotions. ( AJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972 is a major Professional wrestling federation in Japan and is a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972
1990s–2000s
In 1991, World Championship Wrestling officially separated from the NWA. While it is believed by some that the NWA World title was simply renamed the "WCW World title" that is not the case. Ric Flair -- who had just defeated Sting to regain the NWA World championship was recognized as the first WCW World champion in 1991 as of this win. Flair was simultaneously recognized as the World champion of both the NWA and WCW (except for a short NWA title reign by Tatsumi Fujinami) until he left WCW over a dispute with top man Jim Herd (with the actual title belt in his possession) to join the WWF. is a Japanese Professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as "The Dragon. Upon leaving Flair was stripped of the WCW World title causing the separation of the WCW and NWA titles, but continued to be recognized as the NWA World champion until his arrival in the WWF a few months later when he was officially stripped of the NWA World title as well. Afterwards, the NWA World title lay dormant for a year, until New Japan Pro Wrestling hosted a tournament to crown a new champion, a champion that was recognized as the “NWA Heavyweight Champion” on WCW broadcasts. is a major Professional wrestling federation in Japan and is a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972 In 1993, WCW withdrew completely from the NWA, and, despite Ric Flair's possession of the physical belt, made no mention of the NWA name on air after the split.
In 1994, Philadelphia-based Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) withdrew their membership from the NWA in somewhat spectacular fashion. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə As one of the most popular independent federations of the early 1990s, they hosted a tournament to crown a new NWA World Heavyweight Champion after WCW had withdrawn from the Alliance. The finals of the tournament saw Shane Douglas defeat 2 Cold Scorpio for the world title. Troy Shane Martin (born November 21 1964) is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his Ring name Charles "Charlie" Scaggs During his simultaneous reign as Television and Tag Team Champion he insisted on being referred to as 2 Gold Scorpio. Then, in a surprising turn, Douglas threw the title belt to the ground, claiming that he did not want to be the champion of a federation that died “seven years before” (when JCP was sold to Turner). He then announced that ECW's new name was Extreme Championship Wrestling, and he was the ECW World Heavyweight Champion. Extreme Championship Wrestling ( ECW) was a Professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1992 by The Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW Championship is a Professional wrestling world championship in World Wrestling Entertainment.
After the AWA's bankruptcy in the early 1990s and the secession of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in 1994, the NWA was a shell of its former self. Extreme Championship Wrestling ( ECW) was a Professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1992 by Through the mid to late 1990s, the all-but-forgotten organization was left with a small collection of independent promotions during the peak of the Monday night ratings war between WCW and the WWF. Monday Night Wars is the common term describing the period of mainstream televised American Professional wrestling from September 4, 1995, to
In a bid to become the "number two" national wrestling federation, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) split from the NWA in 2005. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ( TNA) is an American Professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry Jarrett TNA was founded in 2002 as NWA: TNA and quickly came to hold exclusive booking rights to the two NWA world titles (Heavyweight and Tag-Team). In 2004, TNA withdrew from the NWA, but cut a deal with the Alliance to keep the promotional rights to the NWA World Heavyweight and Tag Team championships until 2014, thus leaving the NWA without an official world heavyweight title for the first time since its inception. However, due to TNA not reporting to the NWA about title changes in accordance to NWA bylaws, TNA and NWA worked out a split and the titles were returned to the NWA on May 13, 2007. Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The NWA began a tournament in June 2007 to crown a new NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
NWA today
- See also: NWA Hall of Fame
Today, there is still a group of promoters which hold membership in the NWA and continue to use the NWA name, although no members are holdovers from the membership of the promotion's "glory days" of the 1940s–1980s. In Professional wrestling, the NWA Hall of Fame is an institution that honors selected former employees of the National Wrestling Alliance.
In order to join the NWA, a promoter must have been operating for at least one year in a territory uncontested by any other NWA member, and their application must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors -- although, there are numerous exceptions to this bylaw currently within the organization. In August 2005, the presidency of the NWA was dissolved and the duties of the office assumed by the Board of Directors, following the resignation of Ernie Todd (promoter of NWA: Canadian Wrestling Federation). On his promotion's site, not only did he explain his reasons for resigning from the NWA and its Board of Directors, but Todd stated that he would be joining AWA Superstars of Wrestling. The American Wrestling Association (AWA was an American Professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis Minnesota that ran from 1960 Other members on the NWA's message board posted their thoughts on Todd's departure, and his decision to join the AWA. It was announced on the NWA's website on Monday, October 10, 2005, that current NWA legal counsel Bob Trobich would become its new Executive Director. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. An executive director is the senior manager or Executive officer of an Organization, company, or Corporation. As NWA Executive Director, Trobich is the primary contact and decision maker for all NWA business.
Promotions
Regional promotions of the past
Several smaller promotions that were once cornerstones of the NWA ceased to exist as the WWF and WCW grew to national levels. Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW) was one of the main NWA territories into the 1980s, but, due to the aging of promoter Don Owen and dwindling profit, PNW closed down in 1992. Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW also known as Portland Wrestling (PW is the common name used to refer to different Portland Oregon based Professional Don Owen (1912 – 2002 was an American Professional wrestling promoter. Another territory that was once considered a main territory of the NWA was promoter and two-time NWA President Sam Muchnick’s St. Sam Muchnick ( August 22, 1905 - December 30, 1998) was an American Professional wrestling promoter from St Louis-based promotion, the St. Louis Wrestling Club, which ran until 1982 and was then sold to a promotion that Jim Crockett Promotion absorbed in 1985 in their attempt to create a national federation. The St Louis Wrestling Club was a Professional wrestling promotion based in St NWA Mid-America, booked by Nick Gulas, and the Continental Wrestling Federation, booked by the Fullers, both folded in the 1980s, but were long-time members. Nick Gulas (1915?– January 21, 1991) was a Professional wrestling promoter in the Southern United States. Southwest Championship Wrestling out of San Antonio, Texas was a member from 1978 until it was bought by WCCW in 1985. Southwest Championship Wrestling (SCW was a Professional wrestling promotion that was owned by Joseph Blanchard and based in San Antonio Texas, from When Detroit promoter and NWA Member Ed Farhat made several wrestling appearances as the Sheik in an “Outlaw Territory,” his promotion, Big Time Wrestling, was expelled from the NWA, since that was against the charter of the NWA. Edward "Ed" George Farhat ( June 9, 1926 - January 18, 2003) was an American Professional wrestler best known Another American former NWA member is Ohio Valley Wrestling, which was a member until it was made a WWF developmental territory in 2001. Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW is an American independent Professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.
The NWA is not an organization restricted to the United States alone. At various points, promotions in Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Japan and Australia were members of the Alliance, further strengthening the “World” aspect of the group. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Frank Tunney Sports was a Canadian promotion that was a long-time member of the NWA, with its promoter serving as the NWA President in the early 1960s. Maple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the Professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto. Frank Tunney Sports withdrew from the NWA when it was incorporated into the WWF in 1984.
Another Canadian federation that was a key player in the NWA, until being bought by the WWF in the 1980s, was Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Alberta. Stewart Edward "Stu" Hart CM ( May 3, 1915 – October 16, 2003) was a Canadian amateur wrestler Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian Professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions Calgary (ˈkælgəriː is the largest city in the Province of Alberta, Canada When Stampede was reborn in 1999, it did not become a member of the NWA. Another Canadian territory, encompassing Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, was known as the Eastern Sports Association, and operated only in the summer months. Nova Scotia (ˌnəʊvəˈskəʊʃə ( Latin for New Scotland; Alba Nuadh Nouvelle-Écosse is a Canadian province located on Canada 's New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally Prince Edward Island (ˌprɪns ˌɛdwɚd ˈaɪlɨnd ( PEI or P The Eastern Sports Association was a Canadian Professional wrestling promotion based in Halifax Nova Scotia. The federation dissolved in 1977, and promoter Al Zink’s subsequent ventures into wrestling were not affiliated with the NWA. Out of Vancouver, British Columbia came promoters Gene Kiniski and Sandor Kovac’s NWA All Star Wrestling, which was a member until 1985, and then recognized a fictitious sanctioning body known as the “Universal Wrestling Alliance". Vancouver (vænˈkuːvɚ is a coastal Eugene Nicholas Kiniski (born November 23 1928) better known as Gene Kiniski, is a retired Canadian Professional wrestler and NWA All Star Wrestling is a former Canadian Professional wrestling promotion based in Vancouver British Columbia.
In Mexico, the primary NWA member was Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre (now called CMLL). Founded in 1933, it precedes the creation of the NWA. EMLL joined with the NWA later on, but broke away from the group in 1980. Despite not being a member of the NWA since 1980, CMLL still recognizes three titles with NWA lineage: NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Middleweight Championship & NWA World Welterweight Championship, which are all unsanctioned and only defended at CMLL events. The NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship ( Campeonato Mundial Semi Completo de NWA in Spanish) is a Professional wrestling championship currently promoted The NWA World Middleweight Championship is a Professional wrestling championship promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The NWA World Welterweight Championship is a Professional wrestling championship governed by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.
In the Caribbean, long-time promotion the World Wrestling Council, owned by Carlos Colon and based out of Puerto Rico, was a member from 1973 until 1988, when the territory concept became semi-obsolete due to WCW’s growth. The World Wrestling Council (WWC is one of Puerto Rico 's two main Professional wrestling promotions the other one being the International Wrestling Association Carlos Edwin Colón Sr (born Carlos Edwin Colón Gonzalez on July 18 1948 in Santa Isabel Puerto Rico) is a retired professional wrestler better known in Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} Rival Puerto Rican promotion International Wrestling Association, founded in 1994 by Victor Quiñones, was a member of the NWA from its inception until its withdrawal in 2001. The International Wrestling Association (IWA is a Wrestling promotion in Puerto Rico, started in Japan in 1994 by promoter Victor Quiñones. Victor Quiñones (died 2006 was the founder and owner of International Wrestling Association.
The NWA’s presence in Japan was established in 1953, when legendary Japanese wrestler/promoter Rikidozan founded Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance, which quickly became the main promotion in Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. better known as Rikidōzan ( Japanese: 力道山 Korean: 역도산 November 14, 1924 - December 15, 1963) Do not confuse this promotion with Riki Chōshū 's Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion which was spelled "Japan Puroresu" (ジャパンプロレス instead In 1972 JPWA’s two top draws Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki left to form their own federations, All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) respectively. Shohei Baba ( Baba Shōhei, January 23 1938&ndashJanuary 31 1999 was a Professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. real name, born February 20, 1943) is a Professional wrestling promoter and retired Japanese Professional wrestler and mixed martial ( AJPW) is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972 is a major Professional wrestling federation in Japan and is a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972 As a result, JPWA soon folded. AJPW became an NWA member upon its inception in 1973 and stayed with the Alliance until the late 1980s. NJPW was also a member of the NWA at various points between 1975 and 1985, mainly in order to gain control of the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was for the lighter wrestlers In 1992 and 1993, NJPW joined with the NWA once more to re-establish and promote the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, but left the NWA when WCW withdrew. NJPW returned to the NWA in 2004, again mainly for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, and it is not a connection that is strongly emphasized these days. Between NJPW's departure in 1993 and its return in 2004 NWA representation in Japan was scattered among a few independent promotions: International Wrestling Association of Japan (1994–1996); Wrestle Yume Factory (1995–1997), Universal Fighting Organization (1999–2000); and Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE (2001–2004). International Wrestling Association of Japan, more commonly known as IWA Japan, is a Japanese Professional wrestling promotion operating since 1994 "ZERO-ONE" redirects here ZERO-ONE is also the name of the vehicle in Pokémon Snap. In June 2007, it was announced that Inoki Genome Federation would replace NJPW as the Japanese affiliate of the National Wrestling Alliance. Inoki Genome Federation ( IGF) is a Professional wrestling promotion in Japan founded by Antonio Inoki in 2007. In February 2008, however, New Japan returned to the NWA.
Current major promotions
The NWA brand name has been seen most prominently in recent years in conjunction with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), a former NWA member promotion started by Jeff Jarrett and his promoter father Jerry Jarrett in 2002, which withdrew from the NWA in 2004. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ( TNA) is an American Professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry Jarrett Jeffrey "Jeff" Leonard Jarrett (born April 14, 1967) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Jerry W Jarrett (born September 4, 1942 in Nashville Tennessee) is an American promoter and former professional wrestler In 2004, TNA negotiated a new deal to license the NWA name and the use of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship, for ten years. The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA World Heavyweight Championship is the primary Professional wrestling title in the National Wrestling Alliance The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA World Tag Team Championship is the premier Tag team title within the NWA framework On May 13, 2007, the NWA announced that it had ended this deal, revoked official World Heavyweight and World Tag Team championship statuses from the current (TNA-based) holders, and announced tournaments for both newly-vacated titles. Events 1497 - Pope Alexander VI excommunicates Girolamo Savonarola. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. In reality, both sides wanted to end the arrangement, as TNA wanted to brand its own World titles, and the NWA membership wanted final say on (and control of the booking dates for) NWA-brand champions.
The most visible NWA member promotion in the United States in recent times was undoubtedly NWA Wildside. NWA Wildside was an American independent Professional wrestling promotion based in Cornelia Georgia, with an office in Atlanta Georgia It aired 300 consecutive weeks of syndicated television before closing in April 2005, when the promoter, Bill Behrens, signed a deal to work as a television syndicator for WWE. NWA Pro Wrestling, operated out of Los Angeles by David Marquez and John Rivera, has been successful in running arena events throughout the American Southwest using top Lucha Libre stars to draw houses. NWA Pro also has affiliates throughout California, New Jersey, and Australia. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.
The largest and most successful member promotion of the NWA was New Japan Pro Wrestling, the second-largest and most profitable wrestling promotion in the world (after WWE). is a major Professional wrestling federation in Japan and is a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972 NJPW was sanctioned by NWA member, and legendary wrestler, Antonio Inoki, who at times has also sanctioned Zero One and the Universal Fighting Organization as NWA promotions. real name, born February 20, 1943) is a Professional wrestling promoter and retired Japanese Professional wrestler and mixed martial "ZERO-ONE" redirects here ZERO-ONE is also the name of the vehicle in Pokémon Snap. The Universal Fighting Arts Organization (UFO is a Japan -based Mixed martial arts (MMA organization NJPW holds events consistently throughout Japan, and has also run shows in Europe and the United States. However, it is no longer an NWA territory, as Inoki transferred the rights to his Inoki Genome Federation when he left New Japan. Inoki Genome Federation ( IGF) is a Professional wrestling promotion in Japan founded by Antonio Inoki in 2007.
The late 1990s also brought in the first European member, NWA UK Hammerlock. NWA UK Hammerlock is a British Professional wrestling promotion based in Kent. Due to European recognition of the UK-based All Star Promotions World Heavyweight Championship and the match rule differences (matches in Europe were usually divided into rounds), the NWA did not have a presence in Europe on its heyday. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located All Star Wrestling are British Professional wrestling promotions known as All Star Promotions, and Big Time Wrestling run by Brian Dixon
NWA Wrestling Showcase
On January 3, 2008 Colours TV on Dish Network and the NWA announced that starting January 16, Colours TV would be airing an hour-long show entitled NWA Wrestling Showcase, featuring the NWA's current lineup of stars in action. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Colours TV (or CoLours TV, see logo is a Multicultural American TV network produced by the Non-profit organization Black Star Communications Not be confused with Indian Service Dish TV DISH Network is a Direct broadcast satellite (DBS service that provides Satellite television The NWA Wrestling Showcase (sometimes called "The NWA Showcase" "NWA Showcase" "The NWA Wrestling Showcase 08" or just simply "NWA" The show is hosted by David Marquez (with Rob Conway co-hosting the first four episodes) with match commentary by announcers Todd Kenneley, Kris Kloss and Rick Otazu. As of episode five, all matches are taped at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Plaza Hotel & Casino is a casino-hotel located in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada owned by the Tamares Group and operated by Navegante. Las Vegas ( Spanish: "The Meadows" is the most populous City in the state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally
Personnel
PresidentsSince the NWA was founded in 1948 there have been twenty different presidents of the company. In 2005, at the NWA's annual meeting, the position of President was abandoned in favor of the position of "Executive Director".
1 Brody replaced Jim Crockett, Jr. Jim Herd born on ( March 24, 1939 in St Louis Missouri) was the Executive Vice President of World Championship Wrestling from 1988 to 1992 is a retired Japanese professional wrestler who was a mainstay of All Japan Pro Wrestling and also competed for the World Wide Wrestling Federation and the National is a major Professional wrestling federation in Japan and is a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972 Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa Florida wrestling office existing from 1961 when Eddie Graham NWA Wildside was an American independent Professional wrestling promotion based in Cornelia Georgia, with an office in Atlanta Georgia a short time into this term. | Current champions
|
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c Shaun Assael. World championships Upon its founding in 1948 the NWA Board of Directors recognized only three championships as world titles The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA World Heavyweight Championship is the primary Professional wrestling title in the National Wrestling Alliance Adam Pearce (born June 24 1978 is an American Professional wrestler. Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA World Tag Team Championship is the premier Tag team title within the NWA framework Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a secondary title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was for the lighter wrestlers Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The NWA World Women's Championship is the National Wrestling Alliance 's women's singles Professional wrestling title MsChif is an American Professional wrestler. She is the current NWA World Women's Champion and the current SHIMMER Champion. Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The NWA North American Heavyweight Championship is the second most prestigious title in the National Wrestling Alliance that was created in 1994 after World Championship Michael "Mike" DiBiase DiBiase added the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship to his collection on August 6 2008, defeating Chaz Taylor in Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The title histories presented here show all five "versions" of the NWA North American Tag-Team Championship Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The NWA National Heavyweight Championship was the major singles title in the NWA -affiliated Georgia Championship Wrestling from 1980 Events 1025 - Bolesław Chrobry is crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common World championships Upon its founding in 1948 the NWA Board of Directors recognized only three championships as world titles This is a list of National Wrestling Alliance territories which are a group of smaller independent Professional wrestling promotions that use the NWA name In Professional wrestling, the NWA Hall of Fame is an institution that honors selected former employees of the National Wrestling Alliance. Sex, Lies, & Headlocks (p. 8)
- ^ a b c d Canadian Hall of Fame: Edouard Carpentier. SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-04-30. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule
- ^ a b c d e f Shaun Assael. Sex, Lies, & Headlocks (p. 14–15)
- ^ Shaun Assael. Sex, Lies, & Headlocks (p. 61)
- ^ Eric Bischoff (2006). Eric Bischoff: Controversy Creates Cash. Simon & Schuster, 60. ISBN 141652729X.
- ^ Shaun Assael. Sex, Lies, & Headlocks (p. 69)
References
- Tim Hornbaker (2007). National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling. ECW Press. ISBN 9781550227413.
- Shaun Assael and Mike Mooneyham (2002). Sex, Lies, and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. Crown. ISBN 1400051436.
External links
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic