Saturday, February 1, 2014

Reviewing the new NWA



In August 2012 R. Bruce Tharpe became the owner (basically) of the NWA thanks to a lawsuit.  This of course caused a major sensation, especially when he changed how the NWA would do business.  Groups no longer are members, but rather license the NWA for their organizations.  Many groups immediately left the NWA as did champ Adam Pearce and Colt Cabana after the NWA refused to sanction their final match in a best of seven series that had been going on prior to the change, and was going to result in Cabana regaining the world title.

Now we have had one full calendar year to see the new look NWA, and it is time to decide if it was a good or not.  

First, it has to be admitted the change from members to licensing cost them territories.  Good territories too such as NWA All-Star in Virginia, Battle Zone in Mississippi, NWA Capital in New York, Championship Wrestling from Hollywood, and another of the same name from Florida, Dynamo Pro Wrestling in Kansas, Empire Wrestling from California, and many more.  Really, only a couple of other Texas promotions, NWA Mid-Atlantic in WV, and Smoky Mtn. Wrestling in TN stuck with Tharpe, who runs NWA Houston.  

However, this year past year saw the creation of several new organizations including Florida Underground, which seems to be doing rather well.  They have established relations with an organization in England, Australia, and have made several appearances back in New Japan.  More groups are starting up in 2013 so that the NWA appears to be recovering.

it has to be said that Tharpe has brought stability to the belts once again.  They basically turned over the champs quickly.  Kahagas won the World Title, which vacated his National Title allowing them to put it on Damien Wayne.  Chance Owens won the Junior Title in a tournament because Kevin Douglas would not defend it (probably in protest of new management, but I am unsure).  Kacee Carlisle won the Women's belt in October, and Carson won the North American belt in October, and the Tag Belts were won by December.  You need to remember the belts were really badly managed prior to this as Douglas had won his belt after Classic vacated in protest for the NWA's treatment of World Champ Shiek, who claims a miscommunication is why he did not defend it.  The Tag Belts were barely defend, and often defend by one half of the Dark City Fight Club with a local stand in as his partner.  

The belts were used wisely and well.  The Junior Title was basically controlled by NWA Smoky Mtn, but those  guys were brought in to NWA Invasion to show off their matches.  Florida Underground got the North American belt when Kahagas won it, and has used it wisely.  The Tag Belts were mostly defend in Japan, but it helped the NWA presence in Japan.  The Women's title has not changed hands making it look more prestigious.  Nitro has been able to be in Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio with the National title, and of course Rob Conway was based out of Houston, and from there could easily make appearances at many Texas affiliates.  Conway made several trips to Japan, and was often used to open new territories as he did in January to open a Knoxville territory.  

Overall, I am happy with the more focused direction of the NWA.  I like spreading the titles out to different places, but the question I have is will those companies have to give up control of that belt to another company?  For example, when will Smoky Mtn have to relinquish control of the Junior Heavyweight title?  Will it go to NWA Atlanta?  And maybe just as important, will the World Title go somewhere other than Houston?  Yes, it is in New Japan right now, but will it be won by a Michael Tarver from Florida or Charlie Haas from a different Texas promotion?  Or will it simply be more guys from Houston who pass around the title?  

Overall I am very encouraged about the NWA right now.  It is a great place to watch wrestling.  I look forward to the second year of this new group.  

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