Do we have enough time and evidence to theorise what happens if Punk and the Bucks don't have that fight? (Though I suspect that means Punk has a fight with someone later....)
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Different sides of different rings: Wrestling PODs and such
- Thread starter Qaz_plm
- Start date
Punk's still injured regardless, still has to spend the next half a year out of action recovering.Do we have enough time and evidence to theorise what happens if Punk and the Bucks don't have that fight? (Though I suspect that means Punk has a fight with someone later....)
Main difference is that the Elite aren't suspended.
Big change for the Trios era. Possibly Hangman screwing over Dark Order early and this ties into Vance leaving & an earlier return to D.O. getting harder?
Punk's return also is a shot at reclaiming the title from the officially interim champion, surely, so if MJF does have the belt this may prevent his face turn.
Punk's return also is a shot at reclaiming the title from the officially interim champion, surely, so if MJF does have the belt this may prevent his face turn.
- Location
- Sandford, Gloucestershire
- Pronouns
- She/They
Wembley last night was my second big non-indie event, the first being the WOS tour at York Hall. Which has me again wondering if WOS could last as a going concern, especially as they already had Ospreay (and Grado!). They have the talent, the hunger, and an ITV contract but you need a completely different editing & better booking in early eps.
A thing that might help is no NXT UK. Britwres would look so different if it hadn't happened.
In fact no NXT UK, moreso no NXT investment in europe (maybe Hunter focuses on Japan first). butterflies flapping, cut to All In last sunday (somehow still happens) British Strong Style as AEW Trios Champions....somehow. Just a thought. NXT UK had some great moments but at least we'd be spared Pete Dunne as Butch
- Location
- Sandford, Gloucestershire
- Pronouns
- She/They
Tiny bit of Alternate Booking
Asuka beats Flair at Wrestlemania.
The streak is ended... by Carmella cashing in on Asuka on the Raw after mania. Can you imagine the heat? Would protect Asuka somewhat with her not being beaten in one on one combat.
Asuka beats Flair at Wrestlemania.
The streak is ended... by Carmella cashing in on Asuka on the Raw after mania. Can you imagine the heat? Would protect Asuka somewhat with her not being beaten in one on one combat.
July-December 2006: Big Show
Looking back at it,Big Show’s ECW was…actually quite good? After RVD got caught with weed by cops and lost his title as a result,Big Show more or less did exactly what WWE planned for RVD and honestly he was the best part about WWECW around this time. Best ringwork and promos in his career since the old WCW days,one of the few actual wrestlers in the new ECW doing hardcore stuff and some of the old fans even eventually warmed up to him.But he had to eventually lose at some point.
Too bad that came at December to Dismember.
December 2006-April 2007: Test
Poor,poor Test. His career in the WWE technically ended on a high by finally winning a World Title against Hardcore Holly,RVD,CM Punk,Big Show and Justin Credible in the first Extreme Elimination Chamber and holding it for some months but it didn’t feel that way. He felt old,too roided in the wrong way and with a beer belly to boot. He still could wrestle but he just didn’t fit in ECW,let alone as its champion. Almost all remaining old ECW stopped watching,not wanting to see him destroy another ECW legend in the ring in less than 10 minutes.
Still,at least he tried to fit in ECW,which can’t really be said of the man who buried him for the belt.
April-September 2007: Randy Orton
Randy Orton’s ECW felt…wrong. Sent there by management as punishment for his behavior,he RKO’d Test out of the company (with some help by GM Tommy Dreamer,in one of the worst heel turns in wrestling so far) and started his own little Reign of Terror with Mike Knox as Hard Facts of Life,burying everyone they came across and openly offended that they’re working for ECW. Orton reached nuclear levels of heat by July,the kind only Roman Reigns has managed to reach nowadays by pure accident.
The problem however is people started leaving the shows due to Orton and his constant burying/retiring of people like The Sandman,Sabu or RVD. Him being on ECW,let alone the Champ,began hurting business.
Thus,they needed a new champion.
September-October 2007: CM Punk
Ah,the Punkster. Love him or hate him,you can’t deny he had a long and prolific career. King of RoH,king of Money in the Back,king of Impact-he won all kinds of belts.
Few remember the ECW one though. And with good reason.
In fairness,his title reign was never meant to be as short as it was. When he defeated Orton in his hometown,it felt like a genuine breath of fresh air for the brand. Punk was great in the ring,great in promos and the fans couldn’t get enough of him.
Then No Mercy happened.
October-December 2007: Big Daddy V
Big Daddy V (i.e. veteran Viscera) was never supposed to win against Punk. The mere idea of him,one of the most clumsy wrestlers in the history of the company,winning a belt in 2007 was preposterous to put it lightly. He didn’t even go into the business for himself in that,he just botched one of his spots and accidentally KO’ed Punk,who couldn’t tap out and thus a new champ happened.
Pushed into a corner,WWE just decided to go with it out of lack of options. As ECW champ,Big Daddy V‘s character turned into a resentful vet who demanded some damn respect from the rookies and the fans. His promos were dreadful. Him turning on Matt Striker was pointless. He won the matches in manners so convoluted it felt like Vince Russo came back as booker. Over time,Nelson Frazier Jr would apologize for his run on many occasions and deeply regretted what happened at No Mercy.
That was in the future though. At that moment people just want him out.
December 2007-June 2008: Mike Knox
June-August 2008: Mark Henry
August-September 2008: Mike Knox (2)
September-October 2008: Mark Henry (2)
October-November 2008: Mike Knox (3)
November-December 2008: Mark Henry (3)
It may seem weird today but The Knox wasn’t always as popular before he broke ties with Orton. His feud with him elevated Mikey in the eyes of the fans and made him popular solely by kicking Randy’s ass outta ECW. With Elijah Burke as his mate and tag team partner,he could rely on The Pope to do all the talking and he all the action. And when he had to talk,he was straight to the point.
At December to Dismember,Knox finally became the guy after winning the belt in the Extreme Elimination Chamber. His run (as well as his and The Pope’s tag team run) is fondly remembered today as one of the few good things out of WWE’s ECW.
His feud with Mark Henry? Hard to say.
Okay,to be fair the first and middle parts were great. Mark Henry and Matt Hardy formed the perfect antithesis to Knox and Burke. Every move one did was matched by the other. A battle of both skill and wits in the ring,outside the ring,no moment of rest. Every kind of match imaginable with any kind of finish imaginable. All culminating at December to Dismember 2009,in the Extreme Elimination Chamber. It felt like the old ECW and a new kind of ECW in the best way imaginable. For a while the illusion was comforting.
Then WWE had to ruin it all again.
December 2008-April 2009: Vladimir Koslov
Ohhhh boyyyy.
Koslov was...well,Koslov. Another failed attempt to create a new Brock Lesnar. Ruined the Mark Henry-Mike Knox feud by KO-ing them and everyone else in mere minutes. It was like the second coming of the James Storm-Chris Harris Blindhold Match in terms of ruining a story. The feud just ended and Koslov randomly won it despite not even being in it. His run would continue this feeling,as well as the worst of WWECW.
He won a title shot match against Chavo and Kane just by entering himself in the match and doing his finishers on them and then all title shots against him were banned forever,by virtue of winning said match he now had the right to choose his own contenders. He won a ladder match against Mark Henry by DQ. He randomly came in and broke up tag teams via random unexplained violence and then GM Estrada forced people like Matt Hardy,Zack Ryder or Mike Knox to be the new tag team partner of Koslov. He won a title on a poll match by countout.
Thankfully,WWECW was going out with a bang.
Sorta.
April 2009-May 2009: Christian
May 2009-June 2009: Tommy Dreamer (2)
June 2009-July 2009: Sheldon Benjamin
July 2009-August 2009: William Regal
August 2009-August 2009: Christian (2)
August 2009-August 2009: Tommy Dreamer (3)
August 2009-September 2009: Sheldon Benjamin (2)
September 2009-September 2009: William Regal (2)
September 2009-September 2009: Christian (3)
September 2009-September 2009: William Regal (3)
September 2009-October 2009: Sheldon Benjamin (3)
October 2009-October 2009: Tommy Dreamer (4)
October 2009-October 2009: Sheldon Benjamin (4)
October 2009-October 2009: William Regal (4)
October 2009-November 2009: Christian (4)
November 2009-November 2009: Tommy Dreamer (5)
November 2009-November 2009: William Regal (5)
November 2009-November 2009: Christian (5)
November 2009-December 2009: Sheldon Benjamin (6)
December 2009-January 2010: William Regal (6)
January 2010-February 2010: Christian (6)
Febuary 2010-March 2010: Tommy Dreamer (6)
March 2010 (title vacated right after Wrestlemania XXVI) : Christian (7)
Looking back at it,Big Show’s ECW was…actually quite good? After RVD got caught with weed by cops and lost his title as a result,Big Show more or less did exactly what WWE planned for RVD and honestly he was the best part about WWECW around this time. Best ringwork and promos in his career since the old WCW days,one of the few actual wrestlers in the new ECW doing hardcore stuff and some of the old fans even eventually warmed up to him.But he had to eventually lose at some point.
Too bad that came at December to Dismember.
December 2006-April 2007: Test
Poor,poor Test. His career in the WWE technically ended on a high by finally winning a World Title against Hardcore Holly,RVD,CM Punk,Big Show and Justin Credible in the first Extreme Elimination Chamber and holding it for some months but it didn’t feel that way. He felt old,too roided in the wrong way and with a beer belly to boot. He still could wrestle but he just didn’t fit in ECW,let alone as its champion. Almost all remaining old ECW stopped watching,not wanting to see him destroy another ECW legend in the ring in less than 10 minutes.
Still,at least he tried to fit in ECW,which can’t really be said of the man who buried him for the belt.
April-September 2007: Randy Orton
Randy Orton’s ECW felt…wrong. Sent there by management as punishment for his behavior,he RKO’d Test out of the company (with some help by GM Tommy Dreamer,in one of the worst heel turns in wrestling so far) and started his own little Reign of Terror with Mike Knox as Hard Facts of Life,burying everyone they came across and openly offended that they’re working for ECW. Orton reached nuclear levels of heat by July,the kind only Roman Reigns has managed to reach nowadays by pure accident.
The problem however is people started leaving the shows due to Orton and his constant burying/retiring of people like The Sandman,Sabu or RVD. Him being on ECW,let alone the Champ,began hurting business.
Thus,they needed a new champion.
September-October 2007: CM Punk
Ah,the Punkster. Love him or hate him,you can’t deny he had a long and prolific career. King of RoH,king of Money in the Back,king of Impact-he won all kinds of belts.
Few remember the ECW one though. And with good reason.
In fairness,his title reign was never meant to be as short as it was. When he defeated Orton in his hometown,it felt like a genuine breath of fresh air for the brand. Punk was great in the ring,great in promos and the fans couldn’t get enough of him.
Then No Mercy happened.
October-December 2007: Big Daddy V
Big Daddy V (i.e. veteran Viscera) was never supposed to win against Punk. The mere idea of him,one of the most clumsy wrestlers in the history of the company,winning a belt in 2007 was preposterous to put it lightly. He didn’t even go into the business for himself in that,he just botched one of his spots and accidentally KO’ed Punk,who couldn’t tap out and thus a new champ happened.
Pushed into a corner,WWE just decided to go with it out of lack of options. As ECW champ,Big Daddy V‘s character turned into a resentful vet who demanded some damn respect from the rookies and the fans. His promos were dreadful. Him turning on Matt Striker was pointless. He won the matches in manners so convoluted it felt like Vince Russo came back as booker. Over time,Nelson Frazier Jr would apologize for his run on many occasions and deeply regretted what happened at No Mercy.
That was in the future though. At that moment people just want him out.
December 2007-June 2008: Mike Knox
June-August 2008: Mark Henry
August-September 2008: Mike Knox (2)
September-October 2008: Mark Henry (2)
October-November 2008: Mike Knox (3)
November-December 2008: Mark Henry (3)
It may seem weird today but The Knox wasn’t always as popular before he broke ties with Orton. His feud with him elevated Mikey in the eyes of the fans and made him popular solely by kicking Randy’s ass outta ECW. With Elijah Burke as his mate and tag team partner,he could rely on The Pope to do all the talking and he all the action. And when he had to talk,he was straight to the point.
At December to Dismember,Knox finally became the guy after winning the belt in the Extreme Elimination Chamber. His run (as well as his and The Pope’s tag team run) is fondly remembered today as one of the few good things out of WWE’s ECW.
His feud with Mark Henry? Hard to say.
Okay,to be fair the first and middle parts were great. Mark Henry and Matt Hardy formed the perfect antithesis to Knox and Burke. Every move one did was matched by the other. A battle of both skill and wits in the ring,outside the ring,no moment of rest. Every kind of match imaginable with any kind of finish imaginable. All culminating at December to Dismember 2009,in the Extreme Elimination Chamber. It felt like the old ECW and a new kind of ECW in the best way imaginable. For a while the illusion was comforting.
Then WWE had to ruin it all again.
December 2008-April 2009: Vladimir Koslov
Ohhhh boyyyy.
Koslov was...well,Koslov. Another failed attempt to create a new Brock Lesnar. Ruined the Mark Henry-Mike Knox feud by KO-ing them and everyone else in mere minutes. It was like the second coming of the James Storm-Chris Harris Blindhold Match in terms of ruining a story. The feud just ended and Koslov randomly won it despite not even being in it. His run would continue this feeling,as well as the worst of WWECW.
He won a title shot match against Chavo and Kane just by entering himself in the match and doing his finishers on them and then all title shots against him were banned forever,by virtue of winning said match he now had the right to choose his own contenders. He won a ladder match against Mark Henry by DQ. He randomly came in and broke up tag teams via random unexplained violence and then GM Estrada forced people like Matt Hardy,Zack Ryder or Mike Knox to be the new tag team partner of Koslov. He won a title on a poll match by countout.
Thankfully,WWECW was going out with a bang.
Sorta.
April 2009-May 2009: Christian
May 2009-June 2009: Tommy Dreamer (2)
June 2009-July 2009: Sheldon Benjamin
July 2009-August 2009: William Regal
August 2009-August 2009: Christian (2)
August 2009-August 2009: Tommy Dreamer (3)
August 2009-September 2009: Sheldon Benjamin (2)
September 2009-September 2009: William Regal (2)
September 2009-September 2009: Christian (3)
September 2009-September 2009: William Regal (3)
September 2009-October 2009: Sheldon Benjamin (3)
October 2009-October 2009: Tommy Dreamer (4)
October 2009-October 2009: Sheldon Benjamin (4)
October 2009-October 2009: William Regal (4)
October 2009-November 2009: Christian (4)
November 2009-November 2009: Tommy Dreamer (5)
November 2009-November 2009: William Regal (5)
November 2009-November 2009: Christian (5)
November 2009-December 2009: Sheldon Benjamin (6)
December 2009-January 2010: William Regal (6)
January 2010-February 2010: Christian (6)
Febuary 2010-March 2010: Tommy Dreamer (6)
March 2010 (title vacated right after Wrestlemania XXVI) : Christian (7)
- Location
- NYC (né Falkirk)
- Pronouns
- he/him
@RyanF @Charles EP M.
Does this count?
I wonder if WCW would have had Linda Tripp as a heel referee as a response.
Does this count?
I wonder if WCW would have had Linda Tripp as a heel referee as a response.
- Location
- Sandford, Gloucestershire
- Pronouns
- She/They
I spent far too much time on this
This REALLY got away from me
List of Title Holders in the "Big 3" of Pro Wrestling, as of November 2023
WWE
Raw
WWE World Heavyweight Champion: Kota Ibushi (Defeated Seth Rollins at Summerslam 2023)
Women's World Championship: Becky Lynch (Defeated Charlotte Flair at Wrestlemania 39, Night 1)
Intercontinental Champion: Budoka Nakae (Defeated Tomasso Ciampa at Extreme Rules 2023)
World Tag Team Champions: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens (Defeated the Usos at Wrestlemania 39 Night 1)
Smackdown
WWE Champion: Cody Rhodes (Defeated Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 39 Night 2)
United States Champion: Logan Paul (Defeated Matt Cardona at Crown Jewel 2023)
Womens WWE Championship: Bayley (Cashed in her MITB contract on Hikaru Shida at Summerslam 2023)
WWE Tag Team Champions: The New Day (Defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at Summerslam 2023)
Both:
Womens Tag Team Champions: Damage Ctrl (Io Shirai and Shotzi Blackheart) (Defeated Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville at Money in the Bank 2023)
NXT
NXT Mens: The Miz (Defeated Bronson Breakker at NXT Takeover )
NXT Womens: Giulia (Defeated Roxie Perez at NXT Battleground 2023)
NXT Tag Team: Chase University (Andre Chase and Duke Hudson) (Defeated The Creed Brothers at NXT Stand and Deliver)
NXT North American Championship: Rey Mysterio (Defeated Dominik Mysterio at NXT Takeover Tokyo)
NXT Japan:
NXT Japan Champion: El Desperado (Defeated Hideo Itami at NXT Japan: Takeover Vancouver II)
NXT Japan Women's Champion: Miyu Yamashita (Defeated Mei Suruga at NXT Takeover Nagoya)
NXT Japan Tag Team Champion: The OC (Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows) (Defeated Keiji Mutoh and Konosuke Takeshita at NXT Takeover Tokyo) III)
New Japan Pro Wrestling:
IWGP World Champion: Kazuchika Okada (Defeated Jay White at Wrestle Kingdom 17)
IWGP Intercontinental Champion: WALTER (Defeated Kenny Omega at Forbidden Door 2023)
IWGP Jr Heavyweight Champion: Pete Dunne (Defeated Hiromu Takahashi at Royal Quest IV)
Never Openweight Championship: Eddie Kingston (Defeated Minoru Suzuki at Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2023)
IWGP Tag Team Championships: Bullet Club (Dan Moloney and Sho) (Defeated Chaos (Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero) at Royal Quest IV)
NEVER Six Man Tag Team Champions: Sacred Ring (Alexander Wolfe, Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel) (Defeated Kazuichka Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii at Wrestling Dontaku 2023)
IWGP Womens Championship: Bea Priestley (Defeated Tam Nakano at All Star Grand Queendom 2023)
All Elite Wrestling
AEW World Champion: Will Ospreay (Defeated Jon Moxley at All In 2023)
AEW Women's Champion: Rhea Ripley (Defeated Nyla Rose at All in 2023)
AEW TNT Championship: MJF (Defeated Darby Allin at Full Gear 2022)
AEW TBS Championships: Bea Priestley (Defeated Taya Valkyrie on AEW Rampage, August 2023)
AEW Tag Team Champions: FTR (Defeated Tommy End and Brody King on AEW Dynamite, June 2023)
AEW Trios Champions: British Strong Style (Defeated The Elite at Double or Nothing 2023)
AEW Women's Tag Team Champions: United Empire (Alex Windsor and Gisele Shaw) (Defeated Kris Stadtlander and Laura Di Matteo at Pro Wrestling EVE: Wrestle Queendom VI)
If people want I might do Impact and Stardom too....
- Location
- Sandford, Gloucestershire
- Pronouns
- She/They
I spent far too much time on this
Would folks be interested in a more in depth TL of this concept? I've got notes for at least the first year of NXT Japan
Yeah sure.Would folks be interested in a more in depth TL of this concept? I've got notes for at least the first year of NXT Japan
- Location
- Sandford, Gloucestershire
- Pronouns
- She/They
Yeah sure.
My brain being what it is and despite me already writing a novel this month, I've written the first post in the TL
1990: The State of Professional Wrestling
It is five years since the bankruptcy of the World Wrestling Federation, following the spectacular failure of closed-circuit television super-card ‘WrestleMania’. Vince McMahon Jr., now an arena and bodybuilding promoter in the Northeast, had drastically overextended his wrestling business and lost his gamble. Other promoters, while drawing a lesson from McMahon’s failure to go national, rushed to fill the void and seize the opportunities of cable television.
#1: National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) or Jim Crockett Promotions
Coverage: National (TBS), with strength in the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.
Owner: Jim Crockett Jr.
Booker: Dusty Rhodes
Announcers: Tony Schiavone, Jesse Ventura, and Dusty Rhodes
Main Event: Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Magnum T.A., Ricky Steamboat, Ted DiBiase, Nikita Koloff, The Road Warriors, Stan Hansen and Bruiser Brody
Rising Stars: The Steiner Brothers, Lex Luger, Dustin Rhodes, Rick Rude, Flyin’ Brian Pillman, Bam Bam Bigelow, Big Bubba Rogers
Once a wrestling alliance spanning North America and the Globe, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) fell under the control of the Crocketts as relationships between the territories broke down during the rush for expansion in the mid-1980s. Jim Crockett Jr. was the first to capitalise on the vacuum left by the WWF, moving into the lucrative Northeast market and booking Madison Square Garden, with his visionary booker Dusty Rhodes looking for opportunities for mainstream exposure. The NWA is dominant on the East Coast and has national exposure through the Turner Superstation and through several pay-per-view super shows every year, notably Starrcade and The Great American Bash. Magnum T.A. is the current NWA World Heavyweight champion having defeated Ric Flair at Starrcade ‘89, only to have been turned on by once mentor “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
#2: World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW)
Coverage: National (ESPN and Syndication), with strength in Texas, Oklahoma, the Mid-West, the South-West.
Owner: H.R. “Bum” Bright
Booker: Gary Hart
Announcers: Marc Lowrance and Skandor Akbar
Main Event: Randy Savage, Kerry and Kevin von Erich, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Big Van Vader, Barry Windham, Scott Hall, Terry and Dory Funk Jr.
Rising Stars: ‘Red’ Calloway, Terry Gordy, Steve Austin, Sting and the Warrior, The Great Muta, Eddie Guerrero.
A story of triumph and tragedy, World Class has repeatedly challenged the NWA’s claim to dominance while suffering from the fallout of events. Kerry von Erich attained significant popularity nationwide as a larger than life hero. Yet at the same time, the company began to suffer from the worst of the oil glut affecting the Texan economy, and the death by suicide of Mike von Erich in the spring of 1987 raised questions about the von Erichs’ ‘clean’ and ‘Christian’ image. In late 1987, however, the company was given a major boost by its purchase by Dallas Cowboys ‘Bum’ Bright, who spent millions to improve World Class’ production. With Fritz in semi-retirement, Booker Gary Hart has been pushing a range of new stars including Scott Hall and Big Van Vader. Figurehead Kerry von Erich is the current champion feuding with Terry Funk.
#3: American Wrestling Association (AWA)
Coverage: National (Syndication), with strength in the Mid-West, Illinois, North-West, and San Francisco.
Owner: Verne Gagne
Booker: Greg Gagne
Announcers: Lee Marshall and Larry Zbyszko
Main Event: Rick Martel, Curt Hennig, Bret Hart, Yokozuna w. Bobby Heenan, Bob Backlund, Terry Taylor.
Rising Stars: Shawn Michaels, Owen Hart, Diamond Dallas Page, Chris Benoit, 2 Cold Scorpio.
Under the watchful eye of traditionalist Verne Gagne, the AWA made slow progress towards expansion before being forced into rivalries with the NWA in Illinois and Ohio, and World Class in the Plains and the West. Initially relying on established talents such as Nick Bockwinkel, Bob Backlund, and Sgt. Slaughter, the AWA has had to adapt to pushing younger talent up the card including Rick Martel, Curt Hennig, and Bret Hart. While attendances are suffering from the competition on television, the AWA are holding their own for now but face an uncertain future. The current AWA World Heavyweight Champion is Curt Hennig who is feuding with babyface Bret Hart.
#4: United States Pro Wrestling (USPW)
Coverage: National (Syndication), with strength in Louisiana, Arkansas, and the Deep South.
Owner: Bill Watts
Booker: Jim Ross
Announcers: Jim Ross and Bruce Pritchard
Main Event: Steve Williams, Ron Simmons, Gino Hernandez, Brad Armstrong, Tully Blanchard
Rising Stars: Cactus Jack, Booker T and Stevie Ray, Brian Armstrong
Combining old fashioned brawling and athleticism with a more modern storyline driven weekly television show, USPW (formerly Mid-South Wrestling) presents a distinctively ‘Southern’ wrestling product. The company suffered greatly through the worst of the ’80s oil glut but the return of the Junkyard Dog helped Watts weather the storm. The main event picture was given further boosts with the arrival of Gino Hernandez from World Class in 1987, and Tully Blanchard from the NWA in 1989. Steve Williams is the undisputed figurehead of the company and current United States Heavyweight Champion.
#5: Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) / Memphis Wrestling
Coverage: Regional
Owner: Jerry Jarrett
Booker: Jerry Jarrett
Announcers: Lance Russell and Dutch Mantell
Main Event: Jerry Lawler, Sid Vicious, Dutch Mantell, Jeff Jarrett, Marty Jannetty.
Rising Stars: Mable, Scotty Flamingo, Kevin Nash, Sabu.
#6: Tri-State Wrestling (TSW)
Coverage: Regional
Owner: Gorilla Monsoon
Booker: Pat Patterson
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes
Main Event: Earthquake, Jimmy Snuka, Paul Orndorff, Tito Santana
Rising Stars: Paul Levesque, Shane Douglas,
It is five years since the bankruptcy of the World Wrestling Federation, following the spectacular failure of closed-circuit television super-card ‘WrestleMania’. Vince McMahon Jr., now an arena and bodybuilding promoter in the Northeast, had drastically overextended his wrestling business and lost his gamble. Other promoters, while drawing a lesson from McMahon’s failure to go national, rushed to fill the void and seize the opportunities of cable television.
#1: National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) or Jim Crockett Promotions
Coverage: National (TBS), with strength in the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.
Owner: Jim Crockett Jr.
Booker: Dusty Rhodes
Announcers: Tony Schiavone, Jesse Ventura, and Dusty Rhodes
Main Event: Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Magnum T.A., Ricky Steamboat, Ted DiBiase, Nikita Koloff, The Road Warriors, Stan Hansen and Bruiser Brody
Rising Stars: The Steiner Brothers, Lex Luger, Dustin Rhodes, Rick Rude, Flyin’ Brian Pillman, Bam Bam Bigelow, Big Bubba Rogers
Once a wrestling alliance spanning North America and the Globe, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) fell under the control of the Crocketts as relationships between the territories broke down during the rush for expansion in the mid-1980s. Jim Crockett Jr. was the first to capitalise on the vacuum left by the WWF, moving into the lucrative Northeast market and booking Madison Square Garden, with his visionary booker Dusty Rhodes looking for opportunities for mainstream exposure. The NWA is dominant on the East Coast and has national exposure through the Turner Superstation and through several pay-per-view super shows every year, notably Starrcade and The Great American Bash. Magnum T.A. is the current NWA World Heavyweight champion having defeated Ric Flair at Starrcade ‘89, only to have been turned on by once mentor “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
#2: World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW)
Coverage: National (ESPN and Syndication), with strength in Texas, Oklahoma, the Mid-West, the South-West.
Owner: H.R. “Bum” Bright
Booker: Gary Hart
Announcers: Marc Lowrance and Skandor Akbar
Main Event: Randy Savage, Kerry and Kevin von Erich, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Big Van Vader, Barry Windham, Scott Hall, Terry and Dory Funk Jr.
Rising Stars: ‘Red’ Calloway, Terry Gordy, Steve Austin, Sting and the Warrior, The Great Muta, Eddie Guerrero.
A story of triumph and tragedy, World Class has repeatedly challenged the NWA’s claim to dominance while suffering from the fallout of events. Kerry von Erich attained significant popularity nationwide as a larger than life hero. Yet at the same time, the company began to suffer from the worst of the oil glut affecting the Texan economy, and the death by suicide of Mike von Erich in the spring of 1987 raised questions about the von Erichs’ ‘clean’ and ‘Christian’ image. In late 1987, however, the company was given a major boost by its purchase by Dallas Cowboys ‘Bum’ Bright, who spent millions to improve World Class’ production. With Fritz in semi-retirement, Booker Gary Hart has been pushing a range of new stars including Scott Hall and Big Van Vader. Figurehead Kerry von Erich is the current champion feuding with Terry Funk.
#3: American Wrestling Association (AWA)
Coverage: National (Syndication), with strength in the Mid-West, Illinois, North-West, and San Francisco.
Owner: Verne Gagne
Booker: Greg Gagne
Announcers: Lee Marshall and Larry Zbyszko
Main Event: Rick Martel, Curt Hennig, Bret Hart, Yokozuna w. Bobby Heenan, Bob Backlund, Terry Taylor.
Rising Stars: Shawn Michaels, Owen Hart, Diamond Dallas Page, Chris Benoit, 2 Cold Scorpio.
Under the watchful eye of traditionalist Verne Gagne, the AWA made slow progress towards expansion before being forced into rivalries with the NWA in Illinois and Ohio, and World Class in the Plains and the West. Initially relying on established talents such as Nick Bockwinkel, Bob Backlund, and Sgt. Slaughter, the AWA has had to adapt to pushing younger talent up the card including Rick Martel, Curt Hennig, and Bret Hart. While attendances are suffering from the competition on television, the AWA are holding their own for now but face an uncertain future. The current AWA World Heavyweight Champion is Curt Hennig who is feuding with babyface Bret Hart.
#4: United States Pro Wrestling (USPW)
Coverage: National (Syndication), with strength in Louisiana, Arkansas, and the Deep South.
Owner: Bill Watts
Booker: Jim Ross
Announcers: Jim Ross and Bruce Pritchard
Main Event: Steve Williams, Ron Simmons, Gino Hernandez, Brad Armstrong, Tully Blanchard
Rising Stars: Cactus Jack, Booker T and Stevie Ray, Brian Armstrong
Combining old fashioned brawling and athleticism with a more modern storyline driven weekly television show, USPW (formerly Mid-South Wrestling) presents a distinctively ‘Southern’ wrestling product. The company suffered greatly through the worst of the ’80s oil glut but the return of the Junkyard Dog helped Watts weather the storm. The main event picture was given further boosts with the arrival of Gino Hernandez from World Class in 1987, and Tully Blanchard from the NWA in 1989. Steve Williams is the undisputed figurehead of the company and current United States Heavyweight Champion.
#5: Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) / Memphis Wrestling
Coverage: Regional
Owner: Jerry Jarrett
Booker: Jerry Jarrett
Announcers: Lance Russell and Dutch Mantell
Main Event: Jerry Lawler, Sid Vicious, Dutch Mantell, Jeff Jarrett, Marty Jannetty.
Rising Stars: Mable, Scotty Flamingo, Kevin Nash, Sabu.
#6: Tri-State Wrestling (TSW)
Coverage: Regional
Owner: Gorilla Monsoon
Booker: Pat Patterson
Announcers: Gorilla Monsoon and Lord Alfred Hayes
Main Event: Earthquake, Jimmy Snuka, Paul Orndorff, Tito Santana
Rising Stars: Paul Levesque, Shane Douglas,
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Further to the above:
List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions
List of WCCW World Heavyweight Champions
List of AWA World Heavyweight Champions
List of USPW United States Heavyweight Champions
List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions
24th May 1984 - 27th November 1986: Ric Flair (3)
27th November 1986 - 26th November 1987: Roddy Piper
26th November 1987 - 10th July 1988: Ric Flair (4)
10th July 1988 - 12th September 1988: Ricky Steamboat
12th September 1988 - 13th December 1989: Ric Flair (5)
13th December 1989 -: Magnum T.A.
27th November 1986 - 26th November 1987: Roddy Piper
26th November 1987 - 10th July 1988: Ric Flair (4)
10th July 1988 - 12th September 1988: Ricky Steamboat
12th September 1988 - 13th December 1989: Ric Flair (5)
13th December 1989 -: Magnum T.A.
List of WCCW World Heavyweight Champions
4th November 1985 - 4th July 1986: Rick Rude
4th July 1986 - 13th December 1987: Kerry von Erich
13th December 1987 - 8th May 1988: Jake “The Snake” Roberts
8th May 1988 - 12th October 1988: Kerry von Erich (2)
12th October 1988 - 4th July 1989: Randy Savage
4th July 1989 -: Kerry von Erich (3)
4th July 1986 - 13th December 1987: Kerry von Erich
13th December 1987 - 8th May 1988: Jake “The Snake” Roberts
8th May 1988 - 12th October 1988: Kerry von Erich (2)
12th October 1988 - 4th July 1989: Randy Savage
4th July 1989 -: Kerry von Erich (3)
List of AWA World Heavyweight Champions
13th May 1984 - 29th December 1985: Rick Martel
29th December 1985 - 12th February 1986: Stan Hansen
12th February 1986 - 10th October 1986: Nick Bockwinkel (4)
10th October 1986 - 3rd December 1986: Bob Backlund
3rd December 1986 - 9th September 1987: Curt Hennig
9th September 1987 - 11th December 1987: Scott Hall
11th December 1987 - 2nd May 1988: King Kong Bundy
2nd May 1988 - 9th May 1989: Rick Martel (2)
9th May 1989 -: Curt Hennig (2)
29th December 1985 - 12th February 1986: Stan Hansen
12th February 1986 - 10th October 1986: Nick Bockwinkel (4)
10th October 1986 - 3rd December 1986: Bob Backlund
3rd December 1986 - 9th September 1987: Curt Hennig
9th September 1987 - 11th December 1987: Scott Hall
11th December 1987 - 2nd May 1988: King Kong Bundy
2nd May 1988 - 9th May 1989: Rick Martel (2)
9th May 1989 -: Curt Hennig (2)
List of USPW United States Heavyweight Champions
30th May 1986 - 9th July 1986: The Junkyard Dog
9th July 1986 - 9th November 1986: One Man Gang
9th November 1986 - 30th May 1987: Ted DiBiase
30th May 1987 - 12th December 1987: Gino Hernandez
12th December 1987 - 10th March 1989: Steve Williams
10th March 1989 - 22nd July 1989: Tully Blanchard
22nd July 1989 - 4th December 1989: Ron Simmons
4th December 1989 -: Steve Williams (2)
9th July 1986 - 9th November 1986: One Man Gang
9th November 1986 - 30th May 1987: Ted DiBiase
30th May 1987 - 12th December 1987: Gino Hernandez
12th December 1987 - 10th March 1989: Steve Williams
10th March 1989 - 22nd July 1989: Tully Blanchard
22nd July 1989 - 4th December 1989: Ron Simmons
4th December 1989 -: Steve Williams (2)
List of AEW Men’s World Champions
31st August 2019 - 29th February 2020: “Le Champion” Chris Jericho (defeated Adam Page at Double for Nothing 2019)
29th February 2020 - 2nd December 2020: Jon Moxley (defeated Chris Jericho at Revolution 2020)
2nd December 2020 - 13th November 2021: Kenny Omega (defeated Jon Moxley at Dynamite: Winter is Coming)
13th November 2021 - 29th May 2022: “Hangman” Adam Page (defeated Kenny Omega at Full Gear 2022)
29th May 2022 - 24th August 2022: CM Punk (defeated Adam Page at Double or Nothing 2022)
24th August 2022 - 4th September 2022: Jon Moxley [2] (defeated CM Punk on Dynamite)
4th September 2022 - 7th September 2022: CM Punk [2] (defeated Jon Moxley at All Out 2022)
7th September 2022 - 21st September 2022: Vacant (Tony Khan stripped CM Punk of the title following the post-All Out press conference and backstage altercation)
21st September 2022 - 19th November 2022: Jon Moxley [3] (defeated Bryan Danielson in a tournament final on Dynamite: Grand Slam).
19th November 2022 - 30th December 2023: MJF (defeated Jon Moxley at Full Gear 2022)
30th December 2023 - 25th May 2024: Samoa Joe (defeated MJF at World’s End 2023)
25th May 2024 - 25th August 2024: MJF [2] (defeated Samoa Joe at Double or Nothing 2024)
25th August 2024 - 29th December 2024: Eddie Kingston (defeated MJF at All Out 2024)
29th December 2024 - 24th August 2025: Swerve Strickland (defeated Adam Cole at World’s End 2024)
24th August 2025 - 26th October 2025: Drew Galloway (defeated Swerve Strickland at All In Wembley 2025)
26th October 2025 - 10th May 2026: Powerhouse Hobbs (defeated Drew Galloway and Swerve Strickland at Full Gear 2025)
10th May 2026 - 27th December 2026: MJF [3] (defeated Powerhouse Hobbs at Double or Nothing 2026)
27th December 2026 - 18th March 2027: Konosuke Takeshita (defeated MJF at World’s End 2026)
18th March 2027-: “Hangman” Adam Page [2] (defeated Konosuke Takeshita at Revolution 2027)
29th February 2020 - 2nd December 2020: Jon Moxley (defeated Chris Jericho at Revolution 2020)
2nd December 2020 - 13th November 2021: Kenny Omega (defeated Jon Moxley at Dynamite: Winter is Coming)
13th November 2021 - 29th May 2022: “Hangman” Adam Page (defeated Kenny Omega at Full Gear 2022)
29th May 2022 - 24th August 2022: CM Punk (defeated Adam Page at Double or Nothing 2022)
24th August 2022 - 4th September 2022: Jon Moxley [2] (defeated CM Punk on Dynamite)
4th September 2022 - 7th September 2022: CM Punk [2] (defeated Jon Moxley at All Out 2022)
7th September 2022 - 21st September 2022: Vacant (Tony Khan stripped CM Punk of the title following the post-All Out press conference and backstage altercation)
21st September 2022 - 19th November 2022: Jon Moxley [3] (defeated Bryan Danielson in a tournament final on Dynamite: Grand Slam).
19th November 2022 - 30th December 2023: MJF (defeated Jon Moxley at Full Gear 2022)
30th December 2023 - 25th May 2024: Samoa Joe (defeated MJF at World’s End 2023)
25th May 2024 - 25th August 2024: MJF [2] (defeated Samoa Joe at Double or Nothing 2024)
25th August 2024 - 29th December 2024: Eddie Kingston (defeated MJF at All Out 2024)
29th December 2024 - 24th August 2025: Swerve Strickland (defeated Adam Cole at World’s End 2024)
24th August 2025 - 26th October 2025: Drew Galloway (defeated Swerve Strickland at All In Wembley 2025)
26th October 2025 - 10th May 2026: Powerhouse Hobbs (defeated Drew Galloway and Swerve Strickland at Full Gear 2025)
10th May 2026 - 27th December 2026: MJF [3] (defeated Powerhouse Hobbs at Double or Nothing 2026)
27th December 2026 - 18th March 2027: Konosuke Takeshita (defeated MJF at World’s End 2026)
18th March 2027-: “Hangman” Adam Page [2] (defeated Konosuke Takeshita at Revolution 2027)