All the way back in 2015 when this blog premiered I posed a question about the NWA World Championship and discussed it in a two part blog. I've decided to do a follow up to that blog and see what has changed in the world of the NWA. Check out the first two parts if you'd like..
 |
| Hiroyoshi Tenzan champion February 14, 2015 - August 29, 2015 |
 |
| Jax Dane champion August 29, 2015 - October 21, 2016 |
During his 14 month run as champion the title continued to primarily be defended in the south east states of Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, and Tennessee. I can't find a major event or significant match during Dane's reign.
In my opinion the NWA was no longer a priority for Bruce Tharpe as he was no longer traveling with the champion as he was when Rob Conway held the gold. The title just continued to descend into obscurity.
On October 21, 2016 in Sherman, Texas at the age of 51 Tim Storm defeated Dane to become the oldest man to hold the championship. I remember when Storm won the title my first thought is who the hell is Tim Storm?!? My second thought was why the hell did Dane drop the title. He showed up in Ring of Honor a week later.
 |
| Tim Storm champion October 21, 2016 - December 9, 2017 |
During his run as champion he had one match in Japan February 23, 2017 defeating Ryota Hama in six minutes for DSW in Tokyo. Otherwise his reign was more obscure than Dane's, until the company changed hands.
On May 1, 2017 Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan purchased the NWA, rights, trademarks, championship belts from Bruce Tharpe. This was not Corgan's first foray into wrestling, a long time fan he did a couple things with ECW but it was most recently that he almost bought Impact Wrestling.
On October 1, 2017 all the existing licenses that Tharpe has granted to other promoters expired and Corgan took over full ownership. No other promotion is allowed to use the NWA name and for either their promotion or championships. For the first time the NWA was a single entity and no longer a territorial promotion.
Back in 2015 I wrote that the NWA should start a weekly YouTube show focusing on the championship, not a 1 hour television show but a 15 minute documentary style show. On October 5, 2017 on the official NWA YouTube channel a teaser was released about Tim Storm. On October 20th the first episode of Ten Pounds of Gold debuted relaunching the NWA.
Storm would finally be featured in his first high profile program as champion on Championship Wrestling from Hollywood. He defeated Nick Aldis then started a feud with Jocephus. Storms run would come to and end at the CZW Cage of Death 19 PPV in Sewell, New Jersey when Nick Aldis won the title in just over 4 minutes.
Nick Aldis debuted in 2005 in his home country on England. His first foray in the States from as Magnus for TNA in 2008 staying with the promotion until 2015 winning the Tag Team and World Heavyweight championships.
Aldis' first run as champion he brought attention to the championship like no champion had done since Adam Pearce over a decade before him. Aldis defended the championship in many promotions across the country and around the world in high profile matches against contenders like David Starr, Tommy Dreamer, former champion Colt Cabana, Matt Cross, Robbie Eagles, Mr. Anderson, and more. He defended the title in the United Kingdom, Australia, and China with his journey being chronicled on Ten Pounds of Gold.
Aldis would bring the championship into the mega event All In promoted by Cody Rhodes & The Young Bucks defending the title against Cody Rhodes. The build for this match would be featured on Ring of Honor television, Ten Pounds of Gold, Being the Elite, and Cody's YouTube channel Nightmare Family. This would be the most high profile match for the championship since TNA had control of it.
On September 1, 2018 just outside Chicago in front of 11,263 fans Cody would defeated Nick Aldis to win the championship and with his father "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes become the first father and son to hold the historic title.
Cody's short 50 day run as champion brought tremendous exposure to the title. He had it with him on Ring of Honor television, in Japan for NJPW, and more. He had on successful title defense on September 29th defeated Willie Mack in Las Vegas.
The re-match would take place at the first Billy Corgan promoted NWA event The NWA 70th Anniversary show on October 21, 2018 in Nashville at the historic Tennessee State Fairgrounds Arena.
The show drew a sell out and saw Aldis recapture the title from Cody after almost 37 minutes in a two out of three falls match. This show was significant in the year plus the Corgan was running the promotion only the World Championship was active, at this show he brought back the NWA Women's and National Heavyweight Championship.
Since regaining the championship Aldis has continued his quest to return the championship to prominence. He defended it in North Carolina for the first time in years, Puerto Rico, England, and at the NWA Pop Up Event January 5, 2019, Corgan's second promoted show. He wrestled the likes of Jack Swagger, Brian Cage, Billy Gunn, Jimmy Havoc, PJ Black, & James Storm.
Aldis is defending the championship for the first time in the titles history in New Hampshire on March 31, 2019 against Tommy Mack in Concord. If he's still the champion his next big title defense will be at the returning Crockett Cup on April 27, 2019 in Concord, North Carolina against Marty Scurll.
Without a doubt Nick Aldis is bring the prominence back to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. I still hope to see the title defended in Maine one day, but until then I'm looking forward to what's next.
Nick Aldis debuted in 2005 in his home country on England. His first foray in the States from as Magnus for TNA in 2008 staying with the promotion until 2015 winning the Tag Team and World Heavyweight championships.
 |
| Nick Aldis Two Time and Current Champion First Reign December 9, 2017 - September 1, 2018 |
Aldis would bring the championship into the mega event All In promoted by Cody Rhodes & The Young Bucks defending the title against Cody Rhodes. The build for this match would be featured on Ring of Honor television, Ten Pounds of Gold, Being the Elite, and Cody's YouTube channel Nightmare Family. This would be the most high profile match for the championship since TNA had control of it.
 |
| Cody Rhodes champion September 1, 2018 - October 21, 2018 |
 |
| "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes 3 time champion Cody Rhodes 1 time champion |
The re-match would take place at the first Billy Corgan promoted NWA event The NWA 70th Anniversary show on October 21, 2018 in Nashville at the historic Tennessee State Fairgrounds Arena.
The show drew a sell out and saw Aldis recapture the title from Cody after almost 37 minutes in a two out of three falls match. This show was significant in the year plus the Corgan was running the promotion only the World Championship was active, at this show he brought back the NWA Women's and National Heavyweight Championship.
Since regaining the championship Aldis has continued his quest to return the championship to prominence. He defended it in North Carolina for the first time in years, Puerto Rico, England, and at the NWA Pop Up Event January 5, 2019, Corgan's second promoted show. He wrestled the likes of Jack Swagger, Brian Cage, Billy Gunn, Jimmy Havoc, PJ Black, & James Storm.
Aldis is defending the championship for the first time in the titles history in New Hampshire on March 31, 2019 against Tommy Mack in Concord. If he's still the champion his next big title defense will be at the returning Crockett Cup on April 27, 2019 in Concord, North Carolina against Marty Scurll.
Without a doubt Nick Aldis is bring the prominence back to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. I still hope to see the title defended in Maine one day, but until then I'm looking forward to what's next.
Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast The Wrestling Insomniac on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network.
Later Readers!
No comments:
Post a Comment