Is the NWA World Championship Still A Premier Championship? Part 3

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..

Part 1     Part 2

Hiroyoshi Tenzan champion February 14, 2015 - August 29, 2015

When I last left off in April 2015 Hiroyoshi Tenzan was the current champion.  During his 6 month run he never left Japan but Tenzan defended the championship in against former Satoshi Kojima and Big Daddy Yum Yum.  In August 2015 he traveled to Texas and defeated Nathan Briggs on the 22nd before losing the championship to Jax Dane on August 29th in San Antonio, Texas.

Jax Dane champion August 29, 2015 - October 21, 2016

Jax Dane debuted in 2009 in Texas joining NWA Houston in 2012.  He won numerous NWA regional championships along with holding the NWA National, North American, and Tag Team Championships before winning the top prize from Tenzan.

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

Tim Storm had been wrestling for over 20 years when he won the championship barely wrestling outside of Texas where he is a school teacher.  He never had a run in a national company, he had one match in the WWE on an episode of WW-ECW getting squashed by Big Daddy V on July 17, 2007.

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.

Nick Aldis Two Time and Current Champion
First Reign December 9, 2017 - September 1, 2018

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.

Cody Rhodes champion September 1, 2018 - October 21, 2018

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.

"American Dream" Dusty Rhodes 3 time champion
Cody Rhodes 1 time champion

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.

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!

The Amarillo Territory: Dory Funk Jr vs. Lord Alfred Hayes

Dan Black is a wrestling fan who grew up in Amarillo, Texas attending the matches at the Amarillo Sports Arena from 1969 - 1979.  Here are some of his memories;

NWA World's Heavyweight Champion: Dory Funk Jr. 

"Lord" Alfred Hayes

2 out of 3 Falls - 1 hour time limit  

Amarillo Sports Arena, Amarillo, Texas

June 8,1972

Lord Al Hayes came to the Amarillo Territory in late 1971 and quickly won the hearts of the fans when he upset hated villain Cyclone Negro and captured the Western States Title the area's top prize at the time. He had two disputed draws with favorite son and World Champion Dory Funk, Jr in early 1972. With the exception of Ricky Romero previously and Dick Murdock after Funk's reign never had someone come into the area with such popularity.

The match was billed for a month out and Hayes had promised he would break the famed spinning toe hold and counter it with his own devastating submission. Both men received astounding cheers upon their introductions, this was before entrance music practically ruined wrestlers introductions. Long time ring announcer Steve Stack always did it right.

Ken Farber was the referee, Junior removed his belt as he always did, with supreme confidence. They shook hands before the bell. I should preface as you read this, that my account has a different interpretation than Bill Apter's as he told it in THE WRESTLER magazine. I honestly never saw him there, I can't say for sure that he wasn't, I can tell you that I was only a few feet from ringside and this is what I saw and recalled.

Both were respectful and cautious of each other after trading holds and counter maneuvers. After around 15 minutes Funk locked Hayes up in a full nelson. Twice Hayes slip out only to have the champ locking him back up, however on the third try Junior cradled his legs for the pin and claimed the first fall. Hayes quickly jumped up to shake his opponents hand. It would be as warm and fuzzy as the two would get the rest of the match.

The second fall was evenly contested, to add a interesting twist Dory Funk, Sr. appeared and started filming Hayes with his home movie camera from various angles inside the arena. Funk starts to take control as he set up his famous finishing maneuver the spinning toe hold!  The crowd is at a roar and as promised the challenger swiftly breaks the hold, stunning the champ!  Hayes looks to the crowd for approval and somewhat to his surprise he gets it.  Could this be the end of Juniors run?  Quickly back on his feet Junior moves in again and reapplies the hold this time Hayes answers with a counter, a variation of the Indian Death Lock and Funk submits!

Tied 1-1 doubt suddenly crept in to a stunned crowd. The fans loved the Funk family to have competition, however unseating their beloved champion was a different story.  As the bell sounds for the final fall a look of focus crosses the champs face, or could it be desperation?

In an uncharacteristic fashion Funk becomes more physical looking more like his father or brother's style when suddenly Hayes catches the Champion in a counter hurling half way across the ring slapping on backside cradle locking it in tight near the ropes.  Referee Ken Farber goes in to count 1..2..3, however Juniors legs are drape in the ropes...the crowd goes silent.

Senior jumps to the ring apron in an attempt to let the ref know he missed Dory's foot in the ropes, he seems angered as he grabs a hold of his collar, as he does so Hayes reaches for the movie camera and rips the film from it. Senior responds with a hay maker across his jaw. Immediately Junior clamps on the double arm suplex, he covers for the pin and Farber counts to 3 awarding Junior the title.

Apter said that the Funks needed an escort out of the arena, all I know is that there was a line to pat Junior on the back as he made his way back to the dressing room as I was one of them.

For years I've tried to get answers on what the work was on the finish.  I even made several inquiries to Junior himself with no reply.  No surprise really as he always stayed pretty close to the cuff with Kayfabe. It's doubtful that that kind of finish was planned, the territory was never known for screwball endings and it had to hurt Funks credibility.

The most plausible explanation was Hayes had been known to go into business for himself and later on he feuded with Senior in which Funk out foxed him for the Western States Title, which could have been payback for trying to swindle Juniors belt. Who knows?

Dan Black