National Wrestling Alliance facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
National Wrestling Alliance

Trade name	NWA
Type	Private
Industry	Professional wrestling Sports entertainment Streaming media
Founded	July 14, 1948; 76 years ago (July 14, 1948) in Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
Founders	Pinkie George Orville Brown Al Haft Harry Light Sam Muchnick Don Owen Tony Stecher
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California , U.S.
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Billy Corgan (president) Pat Kenney (Director of Talent Relations) Billy Trask (director of Television)
Products	Television Merchandise Home video Live events
Services	Licensing
Parent	National Wrestling Alliance, Inc. (1948–1993) Pro Wrestling Organization LLC (1993–2012) International Wrestling Corp. (2012–2017) Lightning One, Inc. (2017–present)

The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling company. It is owned by Billy Corgan and run by his company, Lightning One, Inc.

The NWA started in 1948. It was a group that oversaw many smaller wrestling companies. These companies worked together. They had their own local champions. But they all agreed on one main world champion. This champion would travel and defend their title everywhere. The NWA was very important in wrestling until the mid-1980s. At that time, many original NWA companies closed down. This happened because the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) grew very big across the country.

In 1993, a big NWA company called World Championship Wrestling (WCW) left the NWA. The NWA continued as a group of independent wrestling companies. From 2002 to 2007, a company called NWA: Total Nonstop Action (NWA:TNA) had special rights. They controlled the NWA's main World Heavyweight and Tag Team titles.

In 2012, the NWA stopped having members. Instead, it started letting other wrestling companies use its brand name. In 2017, Billy Corgan bought the NWA. He bought it through his company, Lightning One, Inc. By 2019, the NWA became a single wrestling company.

In October 2023, the NWA brought back its old system. This system allows different wrestling areas to be connected. Michael Hutter's NWA Exodus Pro Midwest was the first company to join this new system.

History of the NWA

How the NWA Started

The old NWA territory system in North America.

In 1948, a wrestling promoter named Paul "Pinkie" George started the National Wrestling Alliance. He had help from six other promoters. These promoters wanted to bring together the champions from their local companies. They wanted one true world champion in wrestling. This champion would be known all over the world. The NWA leaders decided that Orville Brown would be the first ever NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

The NWA as a Governing Group

The Golden Age (1950s–1970s)

Lou Thesz

In 1950, Sam Muchnick became the President of the NWA. He stayed in this job for a long time, until 1960. During this time, television became popular. Wrestling matches started to be shown across the country. This meant more people watched wrestling than ever before. This period is known as the "Golden Age" of professional wrestling.

In 1956, some people said the NWA was acting like a monopoly. This means they were trying to stop other companies from competing. The U.S. government looked into it. Some promoters left the NWA around this time. For example, Eddie Quinn left in 1957.

As the 1950s ended, fewer people watched wrestling on TV. Many TV stations stopped showing wrestling. The remaining wrestling shows were small and local. They were often shown late at night.

Verne Gagne

In 1963, Lou Thesz won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. But Vincent J. McMahon and Toots Mondt did not agree with this. They ran a wrestling company in the Northeast. They left the NWA. Then, McMahon and Mondt started their own company. It was called the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). This company later became WWE. Even though they had their own champions, these companies still worked with the NWA sometimes.

Gordon Solie

Wrestling's popularity went down in the 1970s. The WWWF changed its name to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979. The NWA became very strong again. Their show, Georgia Championship Wrestling, was the first wrestling show on national cable TV. It aired on TBS in 1979. They brought in Gordon Solie to be the main announcer. He was known as "The Walter Cronkite of Professional Wrestling."

Changes and Challenges (1980s–1993)

Ric Flair

In the 1980s, people could trade videotapes and watch cable TV. This meant they could see wrestling shows from different areas. They started to notice when stories didn't match up. Also, big stars like Ric Flair were on TV every week. This made their special visits to different areas less exciting.

The WWF completely left the NWA in 1983. Vincent K. McMahon, who owned the WWF, wanted his shows to be seen all over the U.S. That same year, the NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) started a big event called Starrcade. It was the first wrestling show shown on closed-circuit TV. It was their most important event.

Ted Turner

On July 14, 1984, something called "Black Saturday" happened. McMahon bought an NWA company called Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW). He put it into the WWF. The WWF took over GCW's TV spot on TBS. But this did not go well. The TV ratings dropped, and the WWF lost money. Then, Jim Crockett, Jr., who owned JCP, bought the TV show back. NWA shows returned to TBS. By 1985, JCP became the main NWA company. They bought more TV time and joined with other NWA companies. They tried to compete with the WWF.

In 1987, the WWF had a very successful event called WrestleMania III. The WWF then scheduled another big show, Survivor Series, on the same night as NWA's Starrcade. The WWF wanted cable companies to show only their event. So, Starrcade had to move to December the next year. The WWF also started their Royal Rumble event in January 1988. The NWA responded by creating Clash of the Champions on TBS. This was to compete with WrestleMania IV.

By 1988, Jim Crockett Promotions was having money problems. On October 11, Ted Turner's company, TBS, bought JCP. They renamed it World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Turner promised fans that WCW would keep the NWA's athletic style. By September 1993, WCW fully left the NWA.

New Directions (1993–2012)

On August 27, 1994, a company called NWA: Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) held a tournament. It was to find a new World Champion. But it was a trick! The winner, Shane Douglas, threw down the NWA title belt. He picked up the ECW Heavyweight Championship belt instead. He said he was the ECW World Heavyweight Champion. ECW then left the NWA and changed its name to Extreme Championship Wrestling.

In 1998, the World Wrestling Federation used the NWA titles and history for a storyline. This was on TV. Even though the NWA got international attention, it was not very popular with viewers.

In June 2002, Jeff and Jerry Jarrett started a new company. It was called NWA: Total Nonstop Action (NWA:TNA). They made a deal with the NWA. NWA:TNA got to control the NWA World Heavyweight and World Tag Team championships. This deal ended in March 2007.

In 2010, a show called NWA: Championship Wrestling from Hollywood started airing in Los Angeles.

New Ownership and Changes (2012–Present)

R. Bruce Tharpe and International Wrestling Corp. (2012–2017)

In 2012, a lawyer and wrestling promoter named R. Bruce Tharpe took over the NWA. His company, International Wrestling Corp., got the rights to the NWA name and trademarks. The NWA changed how it worked. It stopped having members. Instead, it started letting companies pay to use its brand. This made many companies leave the NWA. For example, Championship Wrestling from Hollywood left in 2012.

In 2013, the NWA started working with New Japan Pro-Wrestling again. Bruce Tharpe even appeared on their shows as a character. Over the next two years, NWA titles changed hands at New Japan Pro-Wrestling events.

Billy Corgan and Lightning One, Inc. (2017–Present)

Nick Aldis as the NWA World Heavyweight Champion in April 2018.

On May 1, 2017, it was announced that Billy Corgan was buying the NWA. He is the lead singer of the band Smashing Pumpkins. He bought the NWA's name, rights, trademarks, and championship belts. Corgan's ownership officially started on October 1, 2017. He now had full control of the NWA brand and its championships.

On September 23, 2017, Nick Aldis joined Championship Wrestling from Hollywood. He challenged Tim Storm for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. This was the first title match under Billy Corgan's new NWA. On December 9, Aldis defeated Storm to become the new NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

In 2018, the NWA worked with Impact Wrestling for a short time. They held a special match. The NWA also worked with Ring of Honor (ROH). NWA wrestlers appeared at ROH events. ROH wrestlers even won NWA titles. On September 1, 2018, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was defended at a big event called All In. Cody won the title from Aldis.

After All In, the NWA started holding its own events again. The NWA 70th Anniversary Show was the first event fully produced by Corgan's company. It was shown live online. Aldis won back the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Cody.

The Fourth Crockett Cup was held on April 27, 2019. It was a tournament to find new NWA World Tag Team Champions. This was the last event co-promoted with ROH. In July 2019, the NWA announced they had ended their partnership with ROH. The next month, the NWA announced they would film a new TV series. It was later named NWA Powerrr.

Recent Times (2020–Present)

In 2020, the NWA faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many wrestlers also left the NWA. The NWA World Women's Champion, Thunder Rosa, appeared for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) while still with the NWA.

On March 2, 2021, the NWA announced it would start holding events again. They launched new Powerrr episodes. These were part of a new deal with FITE TV.

In January 2022, the NWA launched a special subscription package on FITE TV. It included past and future events. It also had new episodes of Powerrr and a new weekly show called NWA USA. Powerrr also returned to YouTube. The NWA planned to have six big events each year. The partnership with FITE TV ended in 2023. NWA shows returned to YouTube, but FITE still shows NWA events.

On October 9, 2023, the NWA brought back its old system of connected wrestling areas. EC3's NWA Exodus Pro Midwest was the first to join. On December 4, Joe Cazana Promotions (JCP) also joined.

In October 2023, it was reported that the NWA signed a deal with The CW network. This deal was to show Powerrr and a reality show. In November, episodes of Powerrr were added to The CW's app. In January 2024, the NWA announced that new Powerrr episodes would be on The CW app starting February 6. The NWA also launched new connected areas in Chicago and Sevierville, Tennessee, in 2024.

NWA Presidents

NWA Shows and Events

Current Shows

NWA Powerrr

Powerrr is the NWA's main show. It streams on Tuesday nights on The CW's app. The show first started on October 8, 2019. It originally aired on the NWA's YouTube channel. From 2021 to 2022, it first aired on FITE TV. Then, it would be on YouTube later in the week.

There is also a show called NWA Power Surge. It started on April 13, 2021. This show has interviews with wrestlers, matches you haven't seen, and summaries of Powerrr episodes.

Past Shows

Ten Pounds of Gold

Ten Pounds of Gold is a documentary series. It tells the story of the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. It also follows other wrestlers in that division. It started on October 20, 2017, on the NWA's YouTube channel. It was the first series made after Billy Corgan bought the NWA.

NWA Shockwave

NWA Shockwave was a show on the NWA's YouTube channel and Facebook page. It started on December 1, 2020. Matches from another show, UWN Primetime Live, were also shown on Shockwave.

NWA USA

NWA USA was a weekly show. It started on January 8, 2022, on YouTube. This show focused on the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship division. The last episode was released on May 8, 2023.

NWA Championships

Current Champions

Men's Division

As of June 24, 2025

Single Champions

Championship	Current champion(s)		Reign	Date won	Days held	Location	Notes	Ref.
NWA World's Heavyweight Championship		EC3	1	August 27, 2023	667	St. Louis, Missouri	Defeated Tyrus in a special match at NWA 75 Night 2.
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship		Alex Taylor	1	June 28, 2024	361	Highland Park, Illinois	Defeated Joe Alonzo at NWA: Chicago's Endless Summer.
NWA National Championship		Thom Latimer	1	March 2, 2024	479	Dothan, Alabama	Defeated three other wrestlers for the vacant title at Hard Times 4.
NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship		Jeremiah Plunkett	1	June 1, 2024	388	Knoxville, Tennessee

Tag Team Champions

Championship	Current champion(s)		Reign	Date won	Days held	Location	Notes	Ref.
NWA World Tag Team Championship		Blunt Force Trauma (Carnage and Damage)	1	August 26, 2023	668	St. Louis, Missouri	Defeated La Rebelión at NWA 75 Night 1.
NWA United States Tag Team Championship	—	Vacant	—	—	—	—	The previous champions gave up the titles to challenge for the NWA World Tag Team Championship.

Women's Division

Single Champion

Championship	Current champion(s)		Reign	Date won	Days held	Location	Notes	Ref.
NWA World Women's Championship		Kenzie Paige	1	August 27, 2023	667	St. Louis, Missouri	Defeated Kamille at NWA 75 Night 2.

Tag Team Champions

Championship	Current champion(s)		Reign	Date won	Days held	Location	Notes	Ref.
NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship		The King Bees (Charity King and Danni Bee)	1	January 14, 2024	527	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	Defeated Pretty Empowered at Paranoia.

Open Championship

Championship	Current champion(s)		Reign	Date won	Days held	Location	Notes	Ref.
NWA World Television Championship		Max the Impaler	1	January 14, 2024	527	Fort Lauderdale, Florida	Defeated Mims to combine the NWA World Women's Television Championship into this title at Paranoia.

Images for kids

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  Billy Corgan

See also

• National Wrestling Alliance on television
• List of National Wrestling Alliance championships
• List of National Wrestling Alliance territories