There were some real big events in the NWA this past week or so.
Perhaps none were bigger than NWA Branded Outlaw Wrestling Extreme Anniversary 3. However, with Hayden and Conway dropping their titles, it was probably not as big as it was supposed to be. Hayden in fact lost her match. Jax Dane did pick up the National Title, so his match with Luke Gallows was for the National Title, and Dane wins. Carson and Lance Hoyt are obviously going to have another go soon, and Andy Dalton defeated Raymond Rowe in what some called the match of the night.
Inspire Pro had a big event on the 15th that saw ACH become the #1 contender to their title. It has to be said that Inspire Pro may have the best collection of female wrestlers in the world, not just the NWA. Barbi Hayden won here as did Vanessa The Mountain Kraven, Athena the Wrestling Goddess, and Delilah Doom. Count em up that is four matches on this card featuring women wrestlers. I do hope a Women's World Title match is held at Inspire Pro real soon.
NWA Rage also fought on the 22nd, and William Huckaby retained the top title by DQ. Interestingly Joe Black pined Beau Crockett.
NWA Top of Texas and Texoma both had events. Texoma had a North American title defense by Tim Storm, but I can't find the results as three other belts were on the line and Teddy Hart was in action. Top of Texas is also not available.
NWA Elite had a show too. Vordel Walker retained his title. John Saxon won and issued a challenge to Junior Heavyweight champ Jushin Thunder Liger. New tag team chaps were crown in an interesting twist. Xtian Blake and Andy Dalton are the new champs even though Andy Dalton left the ringside so Xtian could get a beat down. One roll up later, and the two are the champs.
Watch John Saxon give a pretty good challenge to NWA President Bruce Thawrp. I want to see Saxon vs. Liger.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Monday, February 16, 2015
Tenzan is new NWA champ
I am a big fan of the NWA, but this move is awful.
This is bad for several major reasons.
#1. This puts all the men's World Titles in Japan. The World Junior title is still in the hands of Jushin Liger. The World Heavyweight title now belongs to Tenzan. The World Tag Team Champs are KES, but they have wrestled primarily in Japan for some time. Not good.
#2 This formula has been done before . . . last year. We sent the World Title over there for half a year last year. There is no reason to expect it will come home prior to the Cauliflower Club match this year either and no reason to assume they will keep it past that date. Once is nice, twice is unoriginal. Not to mention we are already following that formula for the World Junior title. Bad idea.
#3 It means New Japan is better than the NWA. New Japan is not an NWA territory. Instead, it is a different organization, which if you watch those shows, the NWA is trying to prove it is better. Yet, now our World Champ loses all the time over there. So has Owens, and so has our World tag champs. How do you not come to the conclusion that New Japan is simply better. Remember we are not even going against their top guys.
#4 Tenzan is simply a bad champ. Kojima, I understood. Tenzan has had more IWGP World Titles, but Kojima was the better wrestler. Kojima had a big run in All Japan, was the first man to win the Triple Crown and the IWGP World title. Kojima won the G1 Climax and IWGP World Title in 2010. Thus he had been in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom in 2011, less than four years ago. Tenzan has not had a world title shot of any kind since 2006. Tenzan has been out of the main event for a long time. Yet, now he is the NWA World Champ.
Ultimately this does not elevate the NWA, makes it look formulaic, and now Rob Conway is damaged goods. I like Conway, but he cannot regain the title after this. It is someone else's turn now. If he does regain it in Las Vegas later this year, I will be disappointed.
This does lower the excitement for big cards that had Conway on it such as the Branded Outlaw card that was headlining Claxton vs. Conway.
If you are looking for some sort of positive, I suppose this clears the deck for a good look at Jax Dane. He now has the National Title, and there is nothing else to book in the NWA. The North American Title has never really been the number 2 title, so Dane gets a clear booking look to see if he can be the man to carry the World title in the future.
Again, this is bad for Bruce Thwarp and the NWA as a whole.
This is bad for several major reasons.
#1. This puts all the men's World Titles in Japan. The World Junior title is still in the hands of Jushin Liger. The World Heavyweight title now belongs to Tenzan. The World Tag Team Champs are KES, but they have wrestled primarily in Japan for some time. Not good.
#2 This formula has been done before . . . last year. We sent the World Title over there for half a year last year. There is no reason to expect it will come home prior to the Cauliflower Club match this year either and no reason to assume they will keep it past that date. Once is nice, twice is unoriginal. Not to mention we are already following that formula for the World Junior title. Bad idea.
#3 It means New Japan is better than the NWA. New Japan is not an NWA territory. Instead, it is a different organization, which if you watch those shows, the NWA is trying to prove it is better. Yet, now our World Champ loses all the time over there. So has Owens, and so has our World tag champs. How do you not come to the conclusion that New Japan is simply better. Remember we are not even going against their top guys.
#4 Tenzan is simply a bad champ. Kojima, I understood. Tenzan has had more IWGP World Titles, but Kojima was the better wrestler. Kojima had a big run in All Japan, was the first man to win the Triple Crown and the IWGP World title. Kojima won the G1 Climax and IWGP World Title in 2010. Thus he had been in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom in 2011, less than four years ago. Tenzan has not had a world title shot of any kind since 2006. Tenzan has been out of the main event for a long time. Yet, now he is the NWA World Champ.
Ultimately this does not elevate the NWA, makes it look formulaic, and now Rob Conway is damaged goods. I like Conway, but he cannot regain the title after this. It is someone else's turn now. If he does regain it in Las Vegas later this year, I will be disappointed.
This does lower the excitement for big cards that had Conway on it such as the Branded Outlaw card that was headlining Claxton vs. Conway.
If you are looking for some sort of positive, I suppose this clears the deck for a good look at Jax Dane. He now has the National Title, and there is nothing else to book in the NWA. The North American Title has never really been the number 2 title, so Dane gets a clear booking look to see if he can be the man to carry the World title in the future.
Again, this is bad for Bruce Thwarp and the NWA as a whole.
Friday, February 13, 2015
NWA Updates from Japan
The NWA has had a nice week in Japan and a little mid week action from Smoky Mtn.
Smoky Mtn had a Thursday match that had Jason Kincaid retain the NWA Southeastern Title in a falls count anywhere match vs. Chris Richards. On a national scale it was probably the first National Title defense for Jax Dane as he beat Benny Conley. Dane teamed with Vince Bret, but failed to claim the US Tag Team Championship from the Heatseekers. Dane and Bret won by DQ.
More importantly in Japan Rob Conway and Chase Owens teamed together to win a tag match against Jushin Thunder Liger and Tenzan. Tomorrow night the two split out for individual matches.
Also the NWA World Tag Team Champs were in action on the 11th this time in Pro Wrestling Noah. They are part of an invasion story line as New Japan and Noah continue to work together. The Killer Elite Squad beat TMDK to become the GHC Tag Team Champs.
Stay tuned to see if Owens and Conway can come back from Japan as champs.
Smoky Mtn had a Thursday match that had Jason Kincaid retain the NWA Southeastern Title in a falls count anywhere match vs. Chris Richards. On a national scale it was probably the first National Title defense for Jax Dane as he beat Benny Conley. Dane teamed with Vince Bret, but failed to claim the US Tag Team Championship from the Heatseekers. Dane and Bret won by DQ.
More importantly in Japan Rob Conway and Chase Owens teamed together to win a tag match against Jushin Thunder Liger and Tenzan. Tomorrow night the two split out for individual matches.
Also the NWA World Tag Team Champs were in action on the 11th this time in Pro Wrestling Noah. They are part of an invasion story line as New Japan and Noah continue to work together. The Killer Elite Squad beat TMDK to become the GHC Tag Team Champs.
Stay tuned to see if Owens and Conway can come back from Japan as champs.
Monday, February 9, 2015
New Women's World Champ
Barbi Hayden's year long reign as champ is over. She was defeated by Santana Garrett at NWA Signature Pro event on the 7th.
Hayden had a great run, but I like the change over all. I hope Hayden stays around the NWA, maybe even making a nice rivalry. Garrett is a higher flyer than Hayden, who was a more powerful wrestler. The two contrast very nicely. There was a lot more drama with the post match handshake than when Hayden won it from Kacee Carlisle.
From a business perspective the change is good. The NWA Women's title is the only real wrestling title out there for women. Divas and Knockouts don't even sound that flattering. This title ought to be showcased a bit more; however, a lot of these small NWA territories are lucky to have one woman wrestler, much less a stable of talent. And that was where Hayden seems to have hit a ceiling.
Hayden had beaten just about everyone she could. She was based mostly out of Houston, which has left the NWA. She was well known in Texas, but seldom appeared in other NWA strongholds like the Tennessee territories. Garrett's already scheduled for NWA Signature Pro, her apparent home base, and NWA Vendetta, which is on the other side of the country. The better news for NWA is that she is also booked in Jersey All Pro wrestling, Shimmer, and other places. It is these sort of events that will help raise the profile of the NWA Women's title. These are doors that are open to Garrett probably because of her TNA background, and the NWA is wise to take advantage. Still, I enjoyed Hayden's run, and I hope she does not disappear in the Lonestar wrestling, which is not good. She should stick with the NWA.
Take a look at the match. It is pretty good.
Hayden had a great run, but I like the change over all. I hope Hayden stays around the NWA, maybe even making a nice rivalry. Garrett is a higher flyer than Hayden, who was a more powerful wrestler. The two contrast very nicely. There was a lot more drama with the post match handshake than when Hayden won it from Kacee Carlisle.
From a business perspective the change is good. The NWA Women's title is the only real wrestling title out there for women. Divas and Knockouts don't even sound that flattering. This title ought to be showcased a bit more; however, a lot of these small NWA territories are lucky to have one woman wrestler, much less a stable of talent. And that was where Hayden seems to have hit a ceiling.
Hayden had beaten just about everyone she could. She was based mostly out of Houston, which has left the NWA. She was well known in Texas, but seldom appeared in other NWA strongholds like the Tennessee territories. Garrett's already scheduled for NWA Signature Pro, her apparent home base, and NWA Vendetta, which is on the other side of the country. The better news for NWA is that she is also booked in Jersey All Pro wrestling, Shimmer, and other places. It is these sort of events that will help raise the profile of the NWA Women's title. These are doors that are open to Garrett probably because of her TNA background, and the NWA is wise to take advantage. Still, I enjoyed Hayden's run, and I hope she does not disappear in the Lonestar wrestling, which is not good. She should stick with the NWA.
Take a look at the match. It is pretty good.
Saturday, February 7, 2015
New NWA National Champion
At NWA Southern All Star wrestling Jax Dane defeated Lou Marconi to be the new National Champion.
This I think concludes the very sad episode of Marconi's third National Title reign. Going into the middle of 2014 Marconi vs. Nitro for the National Title was the hottest thing going. They had a best of seven series set up. Then NWA Championship Wrestling based in Toledo Ohio folded, which happened to be Nitro's base of operations. I do believe it ended up being bought out by NWA World Wide, which was the Carolina based company that featured Marconi. Marconi won round 1 of the best of seven series at a World Wide event. Then everything went south.
World Wide Wrestling was supposed to have a Tag Team Tournament and the winner would face the winner of the tournament held in Smoky Mtn. Wrestling and the winner would become the US Tag Team champs. Well, World Wide advertised the event under the name the Crockett Cup, which they did not get permission, and then they handed out the US Tag Titles to their tournament winner. All of this was against NWA policies and orders. Thus, World Wide ended up being stripped of its NWA affiliation. Probably as a result Nitro vs. Marconi and the National Title feud died. There was never a second round. Nitro did defend the title in several places, but it was no longer as prominent as it had been and Nitro totally fell of the map until a few months ago when he showed up at another NWA Ohio promotion NWA SEW (now NWA mid west). The purpose there seems to have been to unify Nitro's old Championship Wrestling title with the SEW title, which Nitro lost. And now Marconi has dropped the belt.
I have not made a secret that I love Marconi as a wrestler. He is great. I hope he does not drop out of the NWA. However, it has also been clear that Jax Dane has been groomed to take a belt. I think that this is probably the next step to see if he is worthy to wear the World Title one day. Dane has made himself a regular all around the NWA. He can be seen in Branded Outlaw, SAW, Next Level, and has been in Smoky Mtn several times. You name it and chances are Dane has been there. Dane made several trips to Japan and is being used as a face for the new NWA.
So congrats to the new champ, and it will be interesting to watch the new National champ.
This I think concludes the very sad episode of Marconi's third National Title reign. Going into the middle of 2014 Marconi vs. Nitro for the National Title was the hottest thing going. They had a best of seven series set up. Then NWA Championship Wrestling based in Toledo Ohio folded, which happened to be Nitro's base of operations. I do believe it ended up being bought out by NWA World Wide, which was the Carolina based company that featured Marconi. Marconi won round 1 of the best of seven series at a World Wide event. Then everything went south.
World Wide Wrestling was supposed to have a Tag Team Tournament and the winner would face the winner of the tournament held in Smoky Mtn. Wrestling and the winner would become the US Tag Team champs. Well, World Wide advertised the event under the name the Crockett Cup, which they did not get permission, and then they handed out the US Tag Titles to their tournament winner. All of this was against NWA policies and orders. Thus, World Wide ended up being stripped of its NWA affiliation. Probably as a result Nitro vs. Marconi and the National Title feud died. There was never a second round. Nitro did defend the title in several places, but it was no longer as prominent as it had been and Nitro totally fell of the map until a few months ago when he showed up at another NWA Ohio promotion NWA SEW (now NWA mid west). The purpose there seems to have been to unify Nitro's old Championship Wrestling title with the SEW title, which Nitro lost. And now Marconi has dropped the belt.
I have not made a secret that I love Marconi as a wrestler. He is great. I hope he does not drop out of the NWA. However, it has also been clear that Jax Dane has been groomed to take a belt. I think that this is probably the next step to see if he is worthy to wear the World Title one day. Dane has made himself a regular all around the NWA. He can be seen in Branded Outlaw, SAW, Next Level, and has been in Smoky Mtn several times. You name it and chances are Dane has been there. Dane made several trips to Japan and is being used as a face for the new NWA.
So congrats to the new champ, and it will be interesting to watch the new National champ.
Monday, February 2, 2015
NWA January
The NWA Heavyweight Champion spent a lot of January recovering from emergency appendectomy surgery. So, not a lot of action on that front.
However, the other belts had some notable movement.
NWA Top of Texas had a scramble match where the top two finishers got either a shot at NWA Heavyweight champion Rob Conway or NWA North American champion Tim Storm. Nathan Briggs and Chad Thomas finished one and two and will at some point in the future receive these shots.
NWA National Champ Lou Marconi defended his belt at NWA Rage by pinning Beau Crockett.
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champ Jushin Thunder Liger defeated El Desperado on January 5th. It seems the next defense is against Chase Owens on Valentine's Day, but Tiger Mask was announced at one point as his next opponent, so I am not quite sure here.
Some of the regional belts were on the line as well.
NWA Continental Champ (Rage) Will Huckaby pinned Lance Erickson.
NWA Southeastern Champ (Smoky Mtn) Jason "the Gift" Kincaid won a cage match against Chris Richards when Richards threw Kincaid through the cage. Rematch scheduled for early Feb.
NWA Sports Entertainment Wrestling champ Seth Allen defeated NWA Mid West champ Phil "Nitro" Monahan. The two belts are now one, the NWA Mid West Champion. To go along with that change NWA SEW changed its name to NWA Mid West Wrestling.
Pro Wrestling Vendetta crowned the NWA Western States champ, and it is Matt Rivera. He won the tournament defeating Matt Kendrick in the final.
NWA Wrestling Revolution saw Tony Strong defeat Paul London to regain the Grand Warrior championship. He also defended it successfully at least once.
February looks like a real big month ending with some major matches. Expect to see the World Champ back in action soon.
However, the other belts had some notable movement.
NWA Top of Texas had a scramble match where the top two finishers got either a shot at NWA Heavyweight champion Rob Conway or NWA North American champion Tim Storm. Nathan Briggs and Chad Thomas finished one and two and will at some point in the future receive these shots.
NWA National Champ Lou Marconi defended his belt at NWA Rage by pinning Beau Crockett.
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champ Jushin Thunder Liger defeated El Desperado on January 5th. It seems the next defense is against Chase Owens on Valentine's Day, but Tiger Mask was announced at one point as his next opponent, so I am not quite sure here.
Some of the regional belts were on the line as well.
NWA Continental Champ (Rage) Will Huckaby pinned Lance Erickson.
NWA Southeastern Champ (Smoky Mtn) Jason "the Gift" Kincaid won a cage match against Chris Richards when Richards threw Kincaid through the cage. Rematch scheduled for early Feb.
NWA Sports Entertainment Wrestling champ Seth Allen defeated NWA Mid West champ Phil "Nitro" Monahan. The two belts are now one, the NWA Mid West Champion. To go along with that change NWA SEW changed its name to NWA Mid West Wrestling.
Pro Wrestling Vendetta crowned the NWA Western States champ, and it is Matt Rivera. He won the tournament defeating Matt Kendrick in the final.
NWA Wrestling Revolution saw Tony Strong defeat Paul London to regain the Grand Warrior championship. He also defended it successfully at least once.
February looks like a real big month ending with some major matches. Expect to see the World Champ back in action soon.
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