post48.gif (2610 bytes)This history of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1948 until July 25, 1986 was taken from The Official NWA Website.  The linage for the NWA fantasy wrestling league separated on November 26, 1986 and has been apart ever since.  From November 1983 until October 3, 1997 we were unofficially known as the N.W.A. until official sponsorship was granted by the National Wrestling Alliance and their President Howard T. Brody. To validate that sponsorship we invite you to email Mr. Brody at your own convenience. 

PLEASE NOTE: The NWA and NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE and any variations thereof are the property of PRO WRESTLING ORGANIZATION, LLC. All names and logos are used with permission. All rights reserved.
For more information on the real National Wrestling Alliance, visit their website at NWA-Wrestling.com

The following history of the "NWA Fantasy Leauge" is official and recognized by all members of the National Wrestling Alliance fantasy Board of Directors.

1948
On July 14th, the
National Wrestling Alliance is formed by Professional Wrestling promoters throughout North America in order to avoid stringent U.S. anti-trust laws. Although run as separate "territories," promoters agree to work with each other under the NWA banner. The first President is P.L. "Pinkie" George, while Orville Brown, the reigning Midwest Wrestling Association World Heavyweight champion, is recognized as the first NWA World champion, as the MWA is absorbed into the NWA.
On July 20th,
Lou Thesz defeats "Wild" Bill Longson in St.Louis to capture the National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight title.

1949
On November 1st,
Orville Brown is injured in an automobile accident and is forced to retire from the ring, thus relinquishing his claim to the title.
On November 25th, the unification match between Orville Brown and
Lou Thesz in St. Louis is cancelled.
Two days later [November 27th], the National Wrestling Alliance awards the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Lou Thesz at its annual convention in St. Louis.

[Note: Over the next few years, Lou Thesz unifies several titles to become the Undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, as those organizations are absorbed by the NWA.]

1950
On July 27th,
Lou Thesz defeats "Gorgeous" George Wagner in Chicago, to merge the old Boston-based American Wrestling Association version of the World title into the NWA World title.

1952
On May 21st,
Lou Thesz defeats Baron Michele Leone in Los Angeles, to merge the California version of the world title [also referred to by some historians as the Olympic Auditorium version of the World title] into the NWA World title.   The match draws a record $103,277 gate, the first gate of $100,000 or more in U.S. history.

1956
On March 15th,
"Whipper" Billy Watson defeats Lou Thesz in Toronto via a count out.
On November 9th, Lou Thesz defeats "Whipper" Billy Watson in St. Louis.

1957
On June 14th,
Edouard Carpentier defeats Lou Thesz in Chicago, when Thesz cannot continue due to a back injury. The NWA Board of Directors, however, rule that the title cannot change hands through an injury and gives the belt back to Thesz. Despite the reversed decision, Carpentier remains recognized as World champion in both Omaha and Los Angeles by the World Wrestling Association in order to legitimize the lineages of their respective world titles.
On October 7th, Lou Thesz faces
Rikidozan, the father of Japanese Professional Wrestling in Tokyo, for the first ever NWA World title match held in Japan. The match ends in a 60-minute time limit draw.
On November 14th,
Dick Hutton defeats Lou Thesz in Toronto.

1959
On January 9th,
Pat O'Connor defeats Dick Hutton in St. Louis.

1960
On June 30th,
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers defeats Pat O'Connor in Chicago's Comiskey Park.

1962
On August 2nd,
Bruno Sammartino is awarded the NWA World title after defeating "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers in Toronto, Ontario Canada, but refuses to accept the strap because Rogers had wrestled with an injury.

1963
On January 24th,
Lou Thesz defeats "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers in a one fall contest in Toronto. Promoters in the Northeast U.S., however, refuse to recognize the one-fall decision and form the World Wide Wrestling Federation with Rogers as their first World Heavyweight champion. Rogers would later lose the title to Bruno Sammartino in Madison Square Garden, a rematch of their 1962 Toronto bout. The WWWF would eventually become the World Wrestling Federation [WWF].
On February 7th, Lou Thesz defeats "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers in a return two out of three falls match in Toronto. The result has largely been forgotten in the annals of wrestling history, primarily because of the result of the first match: which was the creation of the WWWF.

1966
On January 7th,
Gene Kiniski defeats Lou Thesz in St. Louis.

1969
On February 11th,
Dory Funk Jr. defeats Gene Kiniski in Tampa, Florida, USA. For more information on Dory Funk Jr. check out his "Official" home page at http://www.dory-funk.com.
On December 2nd, Dory Funk Jr. wrestles
Antonio Inoki to a 60-minute draw, in the first NWA World title match in Japan in 12 years. Inoki's strong showing makes him a international superstar. [Note: A rematch was never held and video tapes of this bout are still sold in Japan].

1973
On March 24th,
Harley Race defeats Dory Funk Jr. in Kansas City.
On July 20th,
Jack Brisco defeats Harley Race in Houston.

1974
On December 2nd,
Giant Baba defeats Jack Brisco in Kagoshima, Japan.
On December 9th, Jack Brisco defeats Giant Baba in Toyohashi, Japan.

1975
On December 10th,
Terry Funk defeats Jack Brisco in Miami.

1977
On February 6th,
Harley Race defeats Terry Funk in Toronto.

1978
On January 25th,
Harley Race wrestles WWWF Champion "Superstar" Billy Graham to a one-hour draw in a best 2-out-of-3 falls contest in Miami's Orange Bowl, each taking one fall with the third going to a draw. The match includes special guest referees Gorilla Monsoon and Eddie Graham.

1979
On August 21st,
Dusty Rhodes defeats Harley Race in Tampa.
On August 26th, Harley Race defeats Dusty Rhodes in Orlando.
On October 31st,
Giant Baba defeats Harley Race in Nagoya, Japan.
On November 7th, Harley Race defeats Giant Baba in Amagasaki, Japan.

1980
On September 4th,
Giant Baba defeats Harley Race in Saga, Japan.
On September 9th, Harley Race defeats Giant Baba in Ohtsu, Japan.

1981
On April 27th,
"Wildfire" Tommy Rich defeats Harley Race in Augusta, Georgia, USA.
On May 1st, Harley Race defeats "Wildfire" Tommy Rich in Gainsville, Georgia, USA.
On June 21st,
Dusty Rhodes defeats Harley Race in Atlanta.
On September 17th,
"Nature Boy" Ric Flair defeats Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City.

1982
On February 9th,
The Midnight Rider [Dusty Rhodes] defeats Ric Flair in Tampa, but returns the belt when asked to indentify himself by NWA president Bob Geigel, as it is ruled by the NWA Board of Directors that a masked man cannot wear the championship. Ric Flair continues to be recognized as the champion.
On July 4th, Ric Flair wrestles World Wrestling Federation [WWF] World Heavyweight Champion
Bob Backlund to a 20-minute double disqualification in Atlanta's Omni.

1983
On June 10th,
Harley Race defeats Ric Flair in St. Louis.
On November 24th, Ric Flair defeats Harley Race in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.

1984
On March 21st,
Harley Race defeats Ric Flair in Wellington, New Zealand.
On March 23rd, Ric Flair defeats Harley Race in Kallang, Singapore.
On May 6th,
Kerry von Erich defeats Ric Flair in Irving, Texas, USA.
On May 24th, Ric Flair defeats Kerry von Erich in Yokosuka, Japan.

1985
On October 2nd,
Ric Flair wrestles American Wrestling Association [AWA] World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel in a title versus title match in Tokyo. The bout ends in a no decision as both champions are counted out of the ring.

1986
On July 25th,
Dusty Rhodes defeats Ric Flair in Greensboro.
(From this point on, NWA and NWA fantasy wrestling history officially separate)
On November 27th at Starcade '86,
Ric Flair defeats Dusty Rhodes by disqualification to regain the title.

1987
In April, the NWA wins a battle over the WWF as far as talent goes when "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, recently retired from the WWF at Wrestlemania 3, comes back to the NWA after a three year absence.  Within two weeks of his arrival, He subs for Magnum T.A. in a U.S. title bout and defeats Arn Anderson, resulting in several World title shots at Ric Flair.
On May 5th, Roddy Piper defeats Ric Flair in Greensboro, N.C.
On June 2nd,
Barry Windham (whom at this point is a member of the Four Horsemen as a 'Bountyhunter'), with help from James J. Dillon defeats Roddy Piper in a cage match in St. Louis, Mo.
In July and August, Barry Windham repeats Ric Flair's feat by defending the World Heavyweight title several times during the Great American Bash.   He goes undefeated and wins the Mid South/UWF title in the process.  Windham is also co-holder of the NWA World tag team championship with Ric Flair.
In September, at the Battle of the Belts in Tampa, Florida, Barry Windham steals the AWA American Wrestling Association title from
Curt Hennig and claims to be the undisputed champion.  The title belt is returned soon after.
Windham almost loses the NWA title to '
Lord Humongous' who is actually Roddy Piper.  Piper had not been allowed by either Windham or the NWA to challenge for the title.
On November 26th during Starrcade '87, Roddy Piper defeats Barry Windham in Chicago, IL.   Piper wrestled this bout with an injured knee.  This event also saw an attempt to unify the Mid South/UWF and NWA World Television Championships.  UWF Champion
Terry Taylor and NWA Television Champion Tully Blanchard wrestled to a double disqualifaction.
In early December, during a Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards show, NWA World Champion Roddy Piper was brutally attacked by World Tag Team Champions
Awesome Al and Basher the BruteBasher severally damages Piper's already injured knee with a monkey wrench.  Al and Basher are soon stripped of NWA tag team titles for this action by President Bob Geigal.
On December 25th, Steve "Doctor Death" Williams defeats a badly injured Roddy Piper to win the World title in Atlanta's Omni Coliseum.  Piper had been instructed not to wrestle that night by NWA Promoter Jim Crockett.  Piper ignored Crockett's instruction stating that he did not want to disapoint the paying crowd.
On December 31st, Barry Windham defeated Steve Williams via submission to capture his second NWA title in Kansas City, Mo.

1988
On November 5th, Barry Windham was injured in an automobile accident and was unable to defend the World title against arch rival Roddy Piper on November 11.
On November 11th, the NWA Board of Directors apointed National/United States Champion
Lex Luger the interm champion.  That night, He went on to defend and lose the title Roddy Piper.
On November 27th. at Starrcade 88 - "Over the Top", Piper defeated Luger by Disqualification.  Luger also saw his U.S. title say goodbye when he allowed fellow Horsemen,
Sting to defend the title against The Blue Blazer.  Blazer won, and was later reveiled to be Pete JacksonJackson had been previously refused a title shot by promoter, Jim Crockett.

1989
On February 2nd, On the nationally televised event, "The Main Event", Barry Windham wins his third NWA World title when special referee and former NWA Champion Gene Kiniski stopped the bout due to severe bleeding on the part of Roddy Piper.  Kiniski had said in later interviews he had stopped the bout not only to stop further harm to Piper but also because the program was being shown on the CBS television network.
On March 15th, Barry Windham is stripped of the NWA World title after attacking NWA President
Bob Geigal in an altercation after a "Chi-Town Glory II" event in Chicago, IL.
On April 19th,
Greg Valentine wins the NWA title and $10 million in a "Tournament of Champions" tournament over 35 other wrestlers.  He defeats "Freebird" Micheal Hayes in the finals.
In July, one of the longest NWA World title bouts in history goes close to the two hour mark.  Special referee
Nikita Koloff haults the "Wargames" cage title bout between champion Greg Valentine and Roddy Piper citing that both men were too exhausted to continue.
On November 24th, during Starrcade '89, Barry Windham defeats Greg Valentine in Detroit.

1990
On July 28th, at the Great Amnerican Bash, Roddy Piper defeats Barry Windham in Tampa, Florida.
On August 15th, a special tournament was held to crown an Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion.  With both men holding victories over AWA World Champion
Nikita Koloff and WWF World Champion Ultimate Warrior, both the NWA champion Piper, and WWA champion Owen Hart wrestle for the first time in the tournament finals.  Hart defeats Piper to become the undisputed World Heavyweight champion.

1991
On September 1st, The NWA championship committee strips Owen Hart of the NWA World Heavyweight title.
On September 17th,
Ric Flair defeats Ron Garvin in an eight man tournament final
On November 24th at Starrcade '91, in Charlotte, North Carolina,
Roddy Piper defeats Ric Flair. (This also marks the date when the NWA was run on paper via video games.  Actual in-ring wrestling bouts were semi-retired.)

1992
On January 11th, in San Francisco, California, Rick Steamboat defeats Roddy Piper.  Many observers called this bout a shoot.
On February 13th,
Barry Windham defeats Rick Steamboat in Charlotte, North Carolina.
On May 10th, Barry Windham is stripped for missing several defenses.
On May 25th,
Steve DiSalvo defeats Ted Dibiase in a one match tournament at the Mid South Coliseum in Nashville, Tennessee.
On July 4th, Ted Dibiase defeats Steve DiSalvo  in Macon, Georgia.
On August 3rd,
Nikita Koloff defeats Ted Dibiase in Greensboro, North Carolina.   Many observers called this match a shoot.
On August 21st, Nikita Koloff is stripped of the title and banned from the NWA for a number of actions.
On October 12th, Roddy Piper defeated Ted Dibiase in the finals of a 36 man tournament.   This tournament was hosted by the IWGP, the only regularly promoting NWA member at that time.
On October 20th, The NWA enters a period of inactiveness.  As a result, Roddy Piper is stripped of the title.

1993
On April 22nd, NWA World title is revived in an 18 man tournament in Tokyo, Japan.  The Tournament is hosted by World Championship Wrestling and All Japan Wrestling.  Barry Windham defeats Ric Flair in the finals to capture the title.
On July 18th,
Bret Hart defeats Barry Windham  in Atlanta, Georgia.
On September 15th,
Sid Vicious defeats Bret Hart  in Kansas City, Missouri.
On November 25th at Starcade '93, Barry Windham defeats Sid Vicious in Las Vegas, Nevada

1994
On January 19th, Barry Windham is stripped by NWA President Jack Brisco for attempting to blind Roddy Piper in Tokyo, Japan
On February 5th at Wrestlemania X,
Jon Stewart defeats Richard Barron in a one bout tournament.  Roddy Piper and Jon Stewart became the first father and son to ever both win the title.
On June 4th, Barry Windham defeats Jon Stewart in St. Louis, Missouri.

1995
On April 1st the NWA title lineage is put in question.  Paramount Sports whom owns the World Wrestling Alliance bought WCW World Championship Wrestling's NWA membership out.  WCW was at the time the last NWA promotion in the United States.  Paramount then claimed to own the corporate entity "National Wrestling Alliance" without consulting any of the non-active members.  Paramount Sports planned to unify the NWA World title with their WWA World title to give it more credability.  Barry Windham, decided to retire instead of taking part in a unification bout.  Paramount/Viacom Sports went ahead with "unifying" the NWA and WWA titles in their own minds.
In March, the non-active members in Japan who made up the NWA Board of Directors started promoting once again and offered membership to other independant promotions
On July 1st,
Pete Jackson defeats Dan Severn in the finals of a twelve man tournament in St. Louis, Missouri.
On July 30th, Dan Severn defeats Pete Jackson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1996
On January 20th The Great Muta defeats Dan Severn in Tokyo, Japan.  The referee stopped the bout when Severn could not continue.  Muta sprayed a clear mist, undetected by the referee,  into hthe eyes of Severn.
On February 4th, Dan Severn defeats
Michael Hayes for the NWA Missouri title when the referee stops the bout after Severn injures Hayes' back.
On February 17th at Slamboree '96, Dan Severn defeats The Great Muta in Kansas City, Missouri.
On February 20th, Dan Severn is stripped of the NWA Missouri title due to his World title win.
On June 1st at the Battle of Busch, Dan Severn defeats WWA World Heavyweight Champion,
Barry Windham via a points system to become the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion.
On July 3rd, in one of the most bizarre events in the history of pro wrestling, Dan Severn fakes his own death.  He is subsequently stripped of both the NWA and WWA World titles.
On July 21st,
Tommy Cairo defeats Roddy Piper in a one match tournament in Newark, New Jersey.
On August 7th,
Frans Joule defeats Tommy Cairo  in Berlin, Germany.

1997
On January 22nd,  Terry Funk defeats Frans Joule via forfeit in Los Angeles, California.  Randy Savage challenges and defeats Funk.
On April 23rd at Wrestlemania 14,
Roddy Piper defeats Randy Savage in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In May, during a rematch between Piper with Savage, WWA World Champion
Barry Windham shoves Piper down and steals the NWA World Heavyweight title belt. That same month, the NWA has an exact replica presented to Piper.
On June 1st at the Battle at Busch, Roddy Piper defeats Barry Windham in a ladder match by grabbing both belts in St. Louis, Missouri.
On July 1st, Roddy Piper is stripped for being unable to defend the belt.
On September 1st, Frans Joule defeats
Sam Hell in a tournament final  in Berlin Germany.  Hell was later revealed to be Roddy Piper.
On October 3rd, NWA President
Howard Brody, representing the National Wrestling Alliance, gives full permission and approval to the National Wrestling Alliance fantasy wrestling league making it the "official fantasy league of the NWA".
On November 23rd, Frans Joule is stripped of the title due to a dispute with the NWA board of directors.  This also marks the official date at the alliance was named the National Wrestling Alliance fantasy wrestling league.
On November 25th at Battlecade '97,
Chris Worrall defeats Siva the Warrior in a one match tournament in Houston, Texas.
On December 18th,
Richard Barron defeats Chris Worrall in Osaka City, Japan.

1998
On March 8th, Siva the Warrior defeats Richard Barron in Las Vegas, Nevada.
On June 7th at the Battle of Busch,
Roddy Piper defeats Siva the Warrior in St. Louis, Missouri.
On July 4th at the NWA's 50th Aniversary PPV, Roddy Piper defeats ECW World Heavyweight Champion,
Shane Douglas to unify the two titles in Seattle, Washington.   ECW becomes a member of the NWA
On August 16th at the Miller Lite Main Event, Roddy Piper wrestled to a time limit draw with WWA World Heavyweight Champion,
Barry Windham.  This was Piper's retirement match from Wrestling.
On August 17th, the NWA title is officially vacated, and plans are made for it to be filled in a tournament on September 13th during the "Battle of the Belts V" PPV.
On September 13th during "Battle of the Belts V",
Adam Riggs defeats Dan Jesser in a tournament final in New York, NY.
On October 31st at "Halloween Hell '98",
Dan Severn defeats Adam Riggs in Portland Oregon.
On December 28th at Battlecade '98,
Nightmare defeats Dan Severn in Seattle, Washington.

1999
On March 20th at The Wrestling Classic '99, Stephen Greer defeats Nightmare in Toronto, Ontario.  Greer "snaps" after the match and severely burns Nightmare's face.
On May 28th, Masayastsu Funaki defeats Stephen Greer in Tokyo, Japan.
On July 22th, "Psycho" Sid Vicious defeatsMasayastsu Funaki in Tampa, Florida
On August 29th at The King of the Ring '99, "Awesome" Albert Smith defeats Sid Vicious at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA. Al finally achieves his lifelong goal of winning the NWA World Heavyweight title after 13 years in the sport.

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