Category: NWA

Billy Corgan Announced First NWA TV Taping For Planned Series

Billy Corgan has announced the NWA will soon begin producing their own series, with the first taping scheduled for the end of Summer.

NWA posted a video on Wednesday in which Corgan says he’s grateful to the wrestling promotions his company has partnered with in the past — like Ring of Honor — but now it’s time to “bring the NWA back into the spotlight and run on its own oxygen.”

Billy says the first NWA TV tapings will take place in Atlanta this September and October. The specific location of the tapings were not announced in the video.

Corgan did, however, stress the importance in his eyes of taping in front of a studio audience. “The thing that sticks out in my mind about studio wrestling, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s, was anything could really happen,” Billy explained. “You had people getting up very early in the morning, Saturday morning kids television, and it had a real feeling of chaos and anarchy. And I think that really sold to me — as a fan — that there was an element of danger and there was an element of anything could happen. I really want to bring that back to professional wrestling.”

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

WWE Hall Of Famer Harley Race Passed Away

WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race has passed away yesterday at the age of 76.

The unfortunate news was announced via Harley’s official Twitter page:

 

The 8 time NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion had been battling lung cancer.

NWA tweeted about his passing:

WWE issued the following statement on Race’s passing:

WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race passes awayWWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race passed away today at age 76 due to complications from lung cancer.

Harley Race captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship seven times, which stood as a record until Ric Flair broke it in 1991.

To this day, only a handful of Superstars can claim to have won more World Heavyweight Championships than Race.

During the 1970s and early 1980s, Race was the National Wrestling Alliance’s most dominant champion, winning the sport’s oldest World Heavyweight Championship from the likes of Dory Funk Jr., Giant Baba, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes and Flair.

The tough-as-nails Race was so universally respected that WWE, despite having seceded from the NWA and having its own World Heavyweight Champion, chose to recognize Race’s title status as well. As a result, Race was the first NWA Champion to engage in title unification matchups against WWE Champions like “Superstar” Billy Graham and Bob Backlund.

In what seemed unthinkable at the time, Race, one of the NWA’s most influential figures of all time, joined WWE in 1986 during the company’s national expansion. After winning the King of the Ring tournament, Race was the first to don regal robes and a crown. “King” Harley Race was managed by Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and was introduced to a new generation of fans. Race battled all of WWE’s top heroes and pinned Junkyard Dog at WrestleMania III in front of a record-setting attendance of 93,000 fans.

WWE extends its condolences to Race’s family, friends and fans.

Partnership Between ROH And NWA Ends

The partnership between Ring of Honor and the National Wrestling Alliance has come to an end, according to PWInsider. The two sides reportedly had an amicable split, but have left the door open down the road to partner up again.

NWA Worlds Champion Nick Aldis was originally advertised for ROH Summer Supercard on August 9 in Toronto, but he will no longer be working the event.

NWA Vice President Dave Lagana—who had produced numerous videos for ROH over the last several months—also finished up with ROH this past weekend. NWA President Billy Corgan is looking to put together a weekly stand-alone NWA series later this year.

The two promotions worked together for last April’s NWA Crockett Cup where PCO and Brody King won the tournament and are the current NWA World Tag Team Champions.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Bobby Eaton Hospitalized Due To Heart Issues

Jim Cornette took to social media this morning to clarify reports surrounding “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton’s health.

Eaton had reportedly suffered a heart attack recently, but his former manager explained that’s not the case in a tweet on Thursday which included more details.

Cornette tweeted:

BOBBY EATON UPDATE: He did NOT have a heart “attack”, but congestive heart failure/fluid buildup in chest, legs, etc causing heart to work harder. Being treated with diuretics, changing meds, heart rate down, pacemaker is fine, situation improving. He thanks all who are worried!

https://twitter.com/TheJimCornette/status/1141735058614734848

The 60-year-old wrestling legend has dealt with heart issues for years, going as far back as 2008.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Eaton is most famous for his work in tag teams, especially his days as one-half of The Midnight Express. Under the management of Jim Cornette, Eaton originally teamed with Dennis Condrey and, later on, with Stan Lane. He has also worked with a number of other tag team partners, including Koko B. Ware, Steve Keirn, and “Lord” Steven Regal.

More Lucha Underground Stars Reportedly Seek Legal Help To Obtain Releases

Lucha Underground may have recently settled a class action lawsuit with some of their wrestlers, but it sounds like they could be heading back to court soon with more.

Lucha Central reports Matanza Cueto (ROH star Jeff Cobb), Famous B and XO Lishus (AEW’s Sonny Kiss) have all sought legal representation in order to get their releases from Lucha Underground.

Cobb is the most surprising name on the list, as it was assumed he was released from the company after Season 4 when his character was killed off. Lucha Central claims that despite Jeff signing a contract with ROH, his previous employer has tried to block him from working there because they insist he’s still under contract.

The site also suggests Willie Mack could soon be seeking representation as well due to speculation over his LU contract status being the reason for his NWA National title loss over the weekend.

As we previously reported … El Hijo del Fantasma, Ivelisse, Joey Ryan and Kobra Moon were also recently let out of their LU contracts after banding together in a class-action lawsuit.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

2019 NWA Crockett Cup Results

Joe Galli, Jim Cornette, and Ian Riccaboni were the announce team.

Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal (Winner is the 8th entrant into the Crockett Cup) – Winners: Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer advance to the Crockett Cup tournament

Crockett Cup Tournament:

Flip Gordon & Bandido (ROH) vs. Stuka Jr. & Guerrera Maya Jr (CMLL) – Winners: Flip Gordon & Bandido

Royace Isaacs and Thom Latimer vs. (Crimson and Jax Dane) The War Kings (NWA) – Winners: Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer

 

The Briscoes talk about the old Crockett Cup tournament and how the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express couldn’t make it past the first round. The Briscoes fully expect history to repeat itself. The Briscoes says they are going to win the tournament and put Rock ‘n’ Roll Express out to pasture.

Jim Cornette introduces The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, before the match gets started he asks them if they know what they’ve gotten themselves into tonight against The Briscoes. They will feed off the fans support and winning the Crockett Cup is something they want to check off their bucket list. Cornette says it’s good to see The Briscoes, “Good to see you too, Jim, now hand me that microphone!” Cornette hands it over and bounces. They let their opponents decide if they want to head to the back and keep their body in check, or fight and get retired. Morton kicks Jay below the belt before the bell rings.

The Briscoes (ROH) vs. Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (NWA) – Winners: The Briscoes 

Villain Enterprises PCO & Brody King (ROH)  vs. Kojima & Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling) – Winners: PCO & Brody King

 

Madusa headed out to the ring with the NWA Women’s Championship. She will present it to the winner.

NWA Women’s Championship (Vacant): Allysin Kay vs. Santana Garrett – Winner and new NWA Women’s Champion: Allysin Kay

Crockett Cup Semi-Final Match: Flip Gordon and Bandido (RHO) vs. Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer – Winner: Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer

Crockett Cup Semi-Final Match: The Briscoes (ROH) vs. PCO & Brody King (ROH) – Winners: PCO & Brody King via DQ

NWA National Championship: (C) Willie Mack vs. Colt Cabana – Winner and new NWA National Champion: Colt Cabana

Post-match, James Storm headed to the ring and gets on the mic. He initially congratulates Cabana for winning the title, but then yells at management for not wanting a guy like him in the main event scene. He says to Cabana that’s why he came out here to challenge Cabana because they can’t stop him from doing that. He tells Cabana to be ready next time they meet.

Members of the Crockett Family, ROH COO Joe Koff, and NWA President Billy Corgan out with the Crockett Cup and NWA World Tag Team Titles. Caprice Coleman talks with Nikita Koloff who says it’s great to be back and he thanks the Crockett Family for giving him his opportunity. Coleman asks about Koloff losing his accent, and he says after 35 years his English is bound to get better. Magnum TA heads out, Koloff welcomes him. Magnum talks about when he was able to be involved in the very first Crockett Cup and how great the experience was. The two sit ringside for the upcoming finals match.

Crockett Cup Finals: PCO & Brody King (ROH) vs. Royce Isaacs & Thom Latimer – Winners of the 2019 Crockett Cup and new NWA World Tag Team Champions: PCO and Brody King

NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship: (C) Nick Aldis w/Kamilla vs. Marty Scurll – Winner: Nick Aldis via Submission

Post-match, Scurll and Aldis hug and raise each other’s hands up. Scurll gets on the mic and asks Aldis not to leave just yet. Scurll says 15 years ago he started his dream to be a wrestler and said Aldis was the won who took him under his wing and helped him become the man he is today. He says after the match they just had shows how far they both have come. He was hoping at this point he would be double champion, but the better man won. He says Aldis is the champ and nobody deserves it more than him. Aldis says Scurll is the biggest self-made star in wrestling. He then puts over the NWA’s resurgence and thanks the fans.

Transcript via Wrestling Inc.

NWA Crockett Cup Final Card 4/27/19

NWA Crockett Cup will take place tomorrow from the Cabarrus Arena in Concord, North Carolina. Join us for full live beginning at 7 pm ET!

The event will stream live on FITE for $19.99, ROH HonorClub, and traditional PPV.

 

NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship: (C) Nick Aldis vs. Marty Scurll

NWA National Championship: (C) Willie Mack vs. Colt Cabana

NWA Women’s Championship (Vacant): Allysin Kay vs. Santana Garrett

Crockett Cup Tournament: Winners of Block A face Winners of Block B in Finals

Block A

The Briscoes (ROH) vs. Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (NWA)

Villain Enterprises PCO & Brody King (ROH)  vs. Kojima & Nagata (New Japan Pro Wrestling)

Block B

Flip Gordon & Bandido (ROH) vs. Stuka Jr. & Guerrera Maya Jr (CMLL)

Crimson & Jax Dane (NWA) vs. Winner of Wild Card Battle Royal

Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal (Winner is the 8th entrant into the Crockett Cup)

Also appearing the Legends of Jim Crockett Promotions including all three members of Jim Cornette’s Midnight Express, legendary NWA Ref Tommy Young, Nikita Koloff and Magnum TA.

NWA Women’s Championship Vacated, New Champion To Be Decided At Crockett Cup

NWA announced earlier today the Women’s Championship has been vacated by Jazz and a new champion will be decided at this weekend’s Crockett Cup event in Concord, North Carolina. Allysin Kay (fka Impact Wrestling’s Sienna) was originally scheduled to face Jazz, but will now go against an opponent to be named later this week for the vacant title.

Jazz won the championship back in September of 2016, holding it for 946 days, which is the third longest behind Debbie Combs and The Fabulous Moolah.

Below is the updated card this Saturday’s Crockett Cup.

* Nick Aldis (c) vs. Marty Scurll (NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship)
* Willie Mack (c) vs. Colt Cabana (NWA National Championship)
* Allysin Kay vs. Santana Garrett (For the vacant NWA Women’s Championship)
* The Briscoes vs. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Crockett Cup First Round)
* Villain Enterprises (PCO & Brody King) vs. Satoshi Kojima and Yugi Nagata (Crockett Cup First Round)
* Flip Gordon and Bandido vs. Guerrero Maya Jr. and Stuka Jr. (Crockett Cup First Round)
* The War Kings (Crimson and Jax Dane) vs. Winner of the Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal (Crockett Cup First Round)
* Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal (Winner is the 8th entrant into the Crockett Cup)

The event will stream live on FITE for $19.99, ROH HonorClub, and traditional PPV.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

UPDATE:

Jazz revealed on Twitter that she had to vacate the NWA World Women’s Championship due to medical and personal issues.

NWA Reveals 2019 Crockett Cup Bracket

NWA Crockett Cup will take place on April 27 at the Cabarrus Arena in Concord, North Carolina. In NWA’s latest video the full bracket has been announced for the tournament with the following first-round matches.

* The Briscoes vs. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express
* Villain Enterprises (PCO & Brody King) vs. Satoshi Kojima and Yugi Nagata
* Flip Gordon and Bandido vs. Guerrero Maya Jr. and Stuka Jr.
* The War Kings (Crimson and Jax Dane) vs. Winner of the Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal

Image result for NWA Reveals Crockett Cup Bracket

Below is what the rest of the card looks like.

* Nick Aldis (c) vs. Marty Scurll (NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship)
* Willie Mack (c) vs. Colt Cabana (NWA National Championship)
* Jazz (c) vs. Sienna (NWA Women’s Championship)
* Wild Card Tag Team Battle Royal (Winner is the 8th entrant into the Crockett Cup)

The event will stream live on FITE for $19.99, ROH HonorClub, and traditional PPV.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Legendary Pro Wrestler Willis “Roger” Kirby Passes Away At 79

Cauliflower Alley Club took to Facebook to announce that Willis Kirby, better known as “Roger Kirby” in the ring, passed away at the age of 79. Kirby recently suffered a bad fall that left him with a broken hip and lead doctors to discover that he had stage four pancreatic cancer. He then developed a case of pneumonia that ultimately brought on his passing.

Kirby leaves behind a wife, Lila, their seven children, and several grandchildren. At 79, Willis spent nearly thirty of those years performing in professional wresting after his debut in 1960.

Although he had stints in the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, Kirby spent most of his career wrestling throughout the various territories of the National Wrestling Alliance. In the entirety of his career, Kirby held championship gold over 35 times in NWA, including the coveted NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Kirby wrestled in the Memphis Wrestling territory – CWA Memphis Wrestling

Kirby did have a brief experience working with WWE in 1986 but decided to give it up and retire from pro wrestling with the legacy he had created prior to that. He once told SLAM! Sports, “[I] want to be remembered as a top wrestler. I’d done everything that I wanted to do…I didn’t want to go back down the ladder.”

You can read the full Facebook post about Kirby’s passing below:

wRESTle in Peace, Roger (Willis) KirbyI don’t have the words to say just how broken-hearted I am at this moment. I just got a call from Roger Kirby’s wife, Lila. Roger passed away this afternoon at age 79. He fell three weeks ago and broke his hip. In the hospital, they discovered that he had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He contracted pneumonia and died today.

Roger and I traveled together whenever he came to Tennessee. At our reunion here in 2009, he stood up in front of everyone and told them that I had always been his best friend; and that I was the only person who stayed in touch regularly in the years after we got out of the business. We talked regularly, and every time, before he hung up, he always thanked me for being his friend.

Many people come in and out of out lives during our lifetimes, but there are only a select few we can truly say we loved. For me, Roger is one those special few.

I will never forget Roger or the great times we had together on the road. God bless you, Roger. I will never forget you. Thank you for your friendship. wRESTle in Peace.

Photo taken by Scott Teal at the Trevecca Nazarene College yearbook office/studio in 1977.

The full Facebook post and some matches from Kirby’s legendary career are featured below: