For those who haven’t heard, Billy Corgan, the lead singer of The Smashing Pumpkins and Zwan has bought the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). This is a real shock for professional wrestling after his failed attempt last year to assume control of Total Nonstop Action (TNA)/Impact Wrestling. There are people who are really divided over this at the NWA celebrates its 69th anniversary this year. Some believe that he will succeed others believe that he will fail. I believe that he will succeed.
I know what some of you are thinking, “WHY?! WHO CARES ABOUT THE NWA?! THEIR CHAMPIONSHIPS WEREN’T IRRELEVANT FOR YEARS!!!”. What some of you don’t understand is that in today’s American pro-wrestling scene, if there’s one group that can make a HUGE comeback is the NWA. The group was around since 1948, and in spite of many promoters who had their own view of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and Vince McMahon’s callous view of the company, their style of wrestling and its fans, it has survived. Also, a lot of promotions (WWE, AWA, ECW, Impact, World Class Championship Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling, United States Wrestling Association, Mid-South Wrestling) evolved out the NWA. The group was also the catalyst for what would become World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and with the combined power of Jerry and Jeff Jarrett, Impact Wrestling.
The NWA was also responsible for a lot of stars who became Hall of Famers (“The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson, The Windhams, The Von Erichs, The Funks, The Rock and Roll Express, The Road Warriors/Legion of Doom, Ron Simmons, Jim Cornette) and for its dominance on TBS. They have the talent and the championships to create new nationwide television shows, and there are promotions that they can work with like Lucha Libre Elite, What Culture Pro-Wrestling (WCPW) for exchanging talent. There’s a whole lot of good that can come from this. The NWA has endured so much throughout the years. Never count them out.
