History of the NWA and the NWA Southwest

The 59-year-old National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is the oldest wrestling organization in America with its initial organizational roots dating back to the 1930's as the National Wrestling Association. It was officially formed under its current name on July 14, 1948.

The legendary NWA Texas Heavyweight Belt, in particular, represents one of most coveted and prestigious belts in all of wrestling. From the early 60's through the early 80's, it was the most sought after and prized belt in this part of the country and played a major role with title matches packing arenas throughout the State.

Texas was one of the major NWA "hotbeds" for nearly four decades; but in 1986, the NWA era ended in Texas when it withdrew from the NWA. The NWA did not return to Texas again until 1997, when Promoter Ken Taylor revived the NWA back into Texas as NWA Southwest. He was awarded the State of Texas in November 1997. Taylor was later awarded the State of Oklahoma. The first NWA Southwest show was in February, 1998.

For a history of the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship, Texas Junior, and the Texas Tag Team Championship click on the symbol for each one below.

TEXAS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY

(1945-1986, resumed 1998)

1945 - Bobby Managoff, Dave Levin, Buddy Rogers, Ted Cox, Buddy Rogers (2),Jim Casey, Buddy Rogers (3).

1946 - Lou Thesz, Buddy Rogers (4), Kay Bell, Dave Levin (2), Ted Cox (2)

1948 - Danny McShain, Miguel Guzman, Dizzy Davis, Antonio Rocca, Danny McShain (2), Antonio Rocca (2)

1949 - Dizzy Davis (2), Red Berry, Miguel Guzman (2), Danny McShain (3),
Sonny Myers, Bob Wagner, Rito Romero, Sonny Myers (2), Miguel Guzman (3),
Red Berry (2), Leo Newman Verne Gagne

1950 - Danny McShain (4), Rito Romero (2), Sonny Myers (3), Buddy Rogers
(5), Killer Kowalski, Miguel Guzman (4), Verne Gagne (2), Rito Romero (3)

1951 - Danny Savich, Miguel Guzman (5), Wayne Martin, Miguel Guzman (6),
Duke Keomuka, Ray Gunkel, Mighty Atlas

1952 - Ray Gunkel (2), Duke Keomuka (2), Cyclone Ayala , Duke Keomuka (3),
Ray Gunkel (3), held title throughout 53.

1954 - Bull Curry, Enrique Guzman , Ed Francis, Johnny Valentine, The Shiek, Polo Torres

1955 - Mr. Moto, Pepper Gomez, Duke Keomuka (4)

1956 - Pepper Gomez (2), Buddy Rogers (6), Pepper Gomez (3), Gene Kiniski, Pepper Gomez (4), El Medico.

1957 - Pepper Gomez (5), El Medico (2), Pepper Gomez (6), Don Leo Jonathan,
Ivan the Terrible, El Medico (3), Pepper Gomez (7), Boris Malenko, Bill Melby.

1958 - Johnny Valentine (2), El Medico (4), Pepper Gomez (8), El Medico (5),
Dick Steinborn, Tosh Togo, Pepper Gomez (9), Danny McShain (5) Pepper Gomez (10)

1959 - Joe Christie, Luis Hernandez, Corsica Joe, Nick Kozak

1960 - Pete Managoff, Torbellino Blanco, Danny McShain (6), Torbellino
Blanco (2), Duke Keomuka (5), Torbellino Blanco (3), Don Leo Jonathan (2),
Ciclon Negro

1961 - Dan Manoukian, Pepper Gomez (11), Waldo Von Erich, Dory Dixon,
Sputnik Monroe, Pepe Gonzales, Jack Dalton

1962 - Dory Dixon (2), The Mummy, Art Thomas, El Medico II

1963 - Rip Hawk, Sweet Daddy Siki, Art Thomas (1),Bill Watts, Pepper Gomez
(12), Mark Lewin, Billy White Wolf, Joe Blanchard

1964 - Antonio Inoki

1965 - Fritz Von Erich, Ernie Ladd, Fritz Von Erich (2)

1966 - Joe Blanchard (2)

1967 - Fritz Von Erich (3), Buddy Austin, Buddy Moreno, Red Lyons

1968 - The Spoiler, Grizzly Smith, The Spoiler (2), Dan Miller

1969 - Johnny Valentine (3), Jose Lothario, Johnny Valentine (4)

1970 - Wahoo McDaniel, Johnny Valentine (5), George Scott

1971 - Johnny Valentine (6) ,Pepper Gomez (13), Johnny Valentine (7), Jose Lothario (2)

1972 - Red Bastien, Stan Stasiak, Jose Lothario (3)

1973 - Blackjack Mulligan, Jose Lothario (4)

1974 - Great Mephisto, Red Bastien (2)

1975 - Al Madrill, John Tolos, Al Madrill (2), Buddy Wolfe

1976 - Rocky Johnson, Seigfreid Steinke, Rocky Johnson (2), Seigfreid Steinke (2)

1977 - Moondog Mayne, Scott Casey, Jimmy Snuka, Ox Baker

1978 - Al Madrill (3), Dale Valentine, Bruiser Brody, David Von Erich, Gino
Hernandez, David Von Erich (2), Gino Hernandez (2)

1980 - Gino Hernandez (3), Mark Lewin (3),Gino Hernandez (4),David Von Erich (3)

1981 - Killer Tim Brooks, Al Madrill (4)

1982 - Bill Irwin, David Von Erich (4)

1983 - Jimmy Garvin, David Von Erich (5), David Von Erich (6)

1984 - David Von Erich (7) - vacated when he dies in Tokyo, Gino Hernandez (5)

1985 - Brian Adias, Gino Hernandez (6), Brian Adias (2), The Grappler

1986 - The Grappler (until 2-10)

1987-97 - VACANT

1998 - Rod Price-wins 8-man tournament* 5/1, Brian Adias (3) 7/3, Action
Jackson 7/31, Rodney Begnaud 11/27

1999 - Khris Germany 2/5, Brian Adias (4) 2/19, Steven Dunn 3/26, Kevin
Northcutt 6/10, Rodney Begnaud (2) 7/29, Kevin Northcutt (2) 9/25

2000 - Cedric Hollywood 2/18, Kevin Northcutt (3) 4/8, Mike Fox 4/28 ,
Rodney Begnaud (3) 5/26, Al Jackson 9/22, Hotstuff Hernandez 12/1

2001 - Gary Toole 2/2, Hotstuff Hernandez (2) 3/16, Kevin Northcutt (4)
5/23, Hotstuff Hernandez (3) 8-17, Kevin Northcutt (5) 10/26, Mike Anthony 12-14

2002 - J. P. Black 3/22, Steve DeMarco 6/21, J.P. Black (2) 8-1, Steve DeMarco (2) 10-26

2003 - JP Black (3) 5-31, Al Jackson (2) 9-20

2004 - Tejas 4/24

2005 - Kevin Northcutt (6) 4-16

2006 - Mark Orton 7-15, Chaz Taylor 8-11

2007 - Seth Korbin 7-14, Chaz Taylor (2) 8-10, Kevin Northcutt (7) 10-14

TEXAS JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY

(1950-64, resumed 1999)

1999 - Zane Morris 11/12

2000 - Jeremy Jett 3/10, Zane Morris (2) 3/31, Samir 6/2, Kevin Duncan 9/1, Mike Thunder 11/3

2001 - Joey Corman 2/23, Mike Thunder (2) 3/23, Dash Riproc 5/11, Samir (2)
5/25, B. J. Turner 8/3, Joey Corman (2) 10/26

2002 - B. J. Turner (2) 1/19, Jeramy Jett (2) 3/22, Cyclone 7/19, Kevin Duncan 9/21

2004 - Cyclone (2) 2/1, Livewire 5/1, JT Lamotta 10/29

2005 - Robert Evans 3/13, Joey Corman (3) 4/28

2006 - JT Lamotta (2) 5/28

2007 - David Stahr 2/9, Golden Prince 9/14, Cody Jones 10/13, Cyclone 12/1 (3)

TEXAS TAG-TEAM TITLE HISTORY

(1949-1981, resumed 1998)

1949- Rita Romero & Miguel Guzman

1950 - Rita Romero & Carlos Moreno, Duke Keomuka & Danny Savich, Killer Kowalski & ? , Dave Keomuka & Danny Savich (2)

1951 - Timothy Geohagen & Big Humphrey, Duke Keomuka & Danny Savich (3), title vacated.

1952 - Duke Keomuka & Ivan Kalmikoff, Miguel Guzman & Ray Gunkel, Duke
Keomuka & Mr. Moto, Rito Romero & Miguel Guzman (2), Duke Keomuka & Danny
Savich (4), title vacated, Gory Guerrero & Cyclone Anaya wins tournament and then vacates title in 53.

1953 - Ray Gunkel & Ricki Starr wins tournament over Duke Keomuka & Kinji Shibuya, Rito Romero & Migual Guzman (3)

1954 - Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Krauser, Rito Romero & Sugi Suto, Duke Keomuke
& Don Evans, Rito Romero & George Drake, Roy Shire & The Great Scott, Rita Romero & Pepe Mendietta.

1955 - Maurice Vachon & Pierre LaSalle, Larry Chene & Raul Zapata, Hard Bold
Haggerty & Stu Gibson, Rita Romero & Pepper Gomez, Duke Keomuka & Danny
Savich (5), Ray Gunkel & Wilbur Synder, Duke Koemuka & Tiny Mills.

1956 - Pepper Gomez & Luigi Macera, Duke Keomuka & Kinji Shibuya, Mike
DiBiase & Bulldog Plechas, Duke Keomuka & Tony Martin, Ray Gunkel & Herb
Freeman, Gene Kiniski & Len Crosby, Ray Gunkel & Amazing Zuma.

1957 - Duke Keomuka & Tokyo Tom, Pepper Gomez & El Medico, Ivan the Terrible
& Paul Vachon, Duke Keomuka & Mr. Moto, Pepper Gomez & Bill Melby.

1958 - Danny McShain & Casey McShain, Enrique Torres & Albert Torres, Johnny
Valentine & Eddie Graham, Pepper Gomez & Larry Chene, Duke Keomuka & John
Tolos, Pepper Gomez & El Medico (2) -vacated title after winning the World Tag Team title in Houston.

1959 - Frank Valois & Andre Bollet -wins tournament of vacated title,
Amazing Zuma & Johnny Walker, Frank Valios & Andre Bollet (2), Chief Big
Heart & Little Eagle, Ben Sharpe & Mike Sharpe, Corsica Jean and Corsica
Joe, Nick Kozak & Jerry Kozak, Danny McShain & Bad Boy Hines, Cyclone Anaya & Leo Garilbaldi.

1960 - Ciclon Negro & Torbellino Blanco, Maurice Vachon & Paul Vachon,
Ciclon Negro & Torbellino Blanco (2), Danny McShain & Sputnik Monroe,
Maurice Vachon & Duke Keomuka.

1961 - Sputnik Monroe & Rocket Monroe, Pepper Gomez & Hogan Wharton, Tony
Borne & Dan Manoukian, Pepper Gomez & Dory Dixon, Angelo Poffo & Bronco

Lubich, vacate title with Dick Hutton & Sam Steamboat winning the tournament, The Mighty Yankees

1962 - Jack Dalton & Jim Dalton, leaves Texas and there is no title matches until 66'

1963-65 - title vacated

1966 - Nick Kozak & Dory Dixon win 6-man tournament. Vacated in 67-68'

1969 - Wahoo McDaniel & Antonio Pugliese

1973 - Black Goldman & Goliath, Jose Lothario & Mil Mascaras, Jose Lothario
& Ivan Putski, Black Gordman & Goliath (2), Jose Lothario & Ivan Putski (2), Black Gordman & Goliath (3).

1974 - Red Bastien & Tex McKenzie

1975 - Blackjack Lanza & Blackjack Mulligan, vacated title - Jose Lothario & Al Madril win tournament.

1976 - Killer Tim Brooks & Stan Hansen, Jose Lothario & Ricky Johnson, Tony Charles & Les Thornton.

1977 - Jose Lothario & Glen Caras, Brusier Brody & Mike York, Gino Hernandez
& Jimmy Snuka, Bull Ramos & John Studd.

1978 - Jose Lothario & Al Madrill (2), Killer Tim Brooks & Leroy Brown,

Kevin Von Erich & David Von Erich, Gino Hernandez & Brusier Brody, Kevin Von
Erich & David Von Erich (2) - vacated title when Von Erichs win NWA American
Tag Title, Mark Lewin & White Night wins vacated tournament, Bull Ramos & Tiger Conway.

1979 - Kerry Von Erich & Brusier Brody - title vacated when Brody leaves
Texas, Von Erich replaces Brody with Tiger Conway in 80.'

1980 - Kerry Von Erich & Tiger Conway, Gino Hernandez & Pak Song, Kerry Von
Erich & Sweet Brown Sugar, Killer Tim Brooks & Stan Stasiak - vacated in 81'
when Stasiak is suspended from Texas wrestling.

1981 - Raul Mata & Billy White Cloud defeats Killer Tim Brooks & Raul Castro
(Stasiakís replacement). Mata & White Cloud leaves Texas, title becomes vacant and abandoned.

1982 -97 VACANT

1998 - Ian St. James & Zane Morris wins 8-team tournament 7/10, Khris Germany & Kit Carson 8/7

1999 - Bull Schmitt & New Doctor X 3/12, Kit Carson & Khris Germany (2) 6/4,
Canyon & Bull Schmitt 10/1, Mike Fox & Trint Atkins 11/5

2000 - Kurt Reigns & Tejas 1/1, Tully Champion & Rude Sherron 3/24, Kurt
Reigns & Tejas (2) 4/7 , Jimmy James & Action Jackson 7/14, Larry Green &
Chris Young 11/17, The Gravedigger & Dark Angel 12/8

2001 - Mike Anthony & Al Jackson 1/19, Chris Young & Larry Green (2) 3/16,
Mike Anthony & Al Jackson (2) 4/13, J.P. Black & Mike Thunder 9/7, Mike

Anthony & Al Jackson (3) 9/30

2002 - J.P. Black & Mike Thunder (2) 2/8, Chris Young & Larry Green (3)
2/22, Justin2Fine & B.J. Turner 6/21

2003 - Harley Johnson & Hugh Rogue 6/26, Joey Corman & Samir 11/26

2004 - Harley Johnson & Bobby2Badd 6/9

2006 - Seth Shai & Mace 1/28, Chaz Taylor & Fast Eddie 5 /12, Pop'N Dusselldorf & Loc Dusselldorf 8 /25

2007 - DJ King and David Ramirez 2-9, Chaz Taylor & Mr. Destiny 10-12