#National Wrestling Championships

[heishook]

HOOK

Battle of the Belts • Saturday, April 13, 2024

[bbytae07]

pls i love him so much but im so scared JOE IS A MENACE 😭

on the real, this will be a banger and hook is getting more opportunities already in the new year 🧡🔥

[captainfreelance1]

Cactus Jack on Funk’s Grill with Terry Funk, were he utters this memorable quote.  

[wrestlingmgc]

NWA World Women's Tag Team Champions Pretty Empowered

[wrestler-smash-or-pass]

How about stevie richards?

[astralbondpro]

November 27, 1986 -

Jim Cornette falls from the scaffold and crashes in a heap at the NWA's Starrcade 1986 event. The plan was for Big Bubba Rogers to catch Cornette, breaking his fall. As you can see, the plan failed. Cornette would end up tearing tendons, breaking a bone, and damaging the cartilage in his knee. The subsequent blood drained from his knee was said to fill a bedpan.

[wcwworldwide]

Sting - JCP/NWA Danger Zone Calendar [1988]

🦂⚡️🦂

[wrestlinghistorywithkay]

Jim Cornette: A Wrestling Icon

In honor of Jim Cornette’s birthday, I wanted to write an article celebrating his storied career in professional wrestling.

Jim Cornette is a wrestling manager, agent, booker , promoter, trainer , photographer, color commentator, promoter, and a part time professional wrestler . He is also an author , wrestling historian, and the host of popular podcasts , ‘ The Jim Cornette Experience’, and ‘ Jim Cornette’s Drive Thru’ alongside producer and co-host, Brian Last. Cornette began his storied career in professional wrestling at the age of 14, working at the Louisville Gardens in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. He would have jobs such as a photographer, ring announcer , magazine correspondent, PR Correspondent, and a time keeper. Cornette also befriended Christine Jarrett, a wrestling promoter , and the mother of the promoter of the CWA ( Continental Wrestling Association ), Jerry Jarrett ( The father of Jeff Jarrett. Christine is Jeff’s grandmother.) . The CWA is also known as the Memphis Territory. The photos that Cornette took while in the Memphis Territory would be published regularly in a Japanese wrestling magazine , called ‘ Gong’. The photos would be a regular occurrence from 1977 to 1982.

In 1982, Jim Cornette would begin writing the programs for local arena shows , continuing to have his photography work published in popular wrestling magazines , and being a contributor to Championship Wrestling Magazine . Thus, the same year , Cornette would be hired as manager by Jerry Jarrett after attending a match between Jerry ‘ The King ’ Lawler and ‘ The Nature Boy ’ Ric Flair. Cornette would also state that this would be the first time he would be allowed to enter the locker room after being tolerated at live wrestling shows and TV tapings for almost ten years. Cornette would choose the name , James E. Cornette as the one he would use during shows. This was a tribute to promoter, James E.Barnett. On September 25,1982 , Cornette would make his debut as a manager for Sherri Martel , who would become a manager herself and later be known as ‘ Sensational Sherri’. Cornette adopted the gimmick of a spoiled rich kid turned clumsy manager who would be fired by his clients after their matches. Wrestlers in this angle would consist of Crusher Broomfield ( also known as Akeem and One Man Gang ) , and Dutch Mantell. Cornette would go on to make his Mid-South Wrestling debut in 1983 and manage the tag team, The Midnight Express. He would also adapt his signature tennis racquet. Cornette said that he got the inspiration for that from a movie. He would have feuds with stars such as Magnum TA before taking The Midnight Express to WCCW in 1984. They were looking for more bookings as they couldn’t get a huge rivalry with the Von Erich family . Therefore , they would leave Dallas, Texas, and head to Charlotte , North Carolina to Jim Crockett Promotions.

While in JCP, Cornette would lead The Midnight Express ( Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane ) , to success as the three time NWA United States Tag Team Champions. Nevertheless, Cornette would be known for the tennis racquet and his extremely loud mouth. He was a Heel manager as The Midnight Express were a Heel Tag Team. They would have to have a police escort making their way to ring and going back to the locker room at house shows as well as to the city limits due to being hated by fans. This was also a precaution to their safety due to worrying about being attacked by fans as well. Cornette would suffer a knee injury at Starrcade ‘ 86 after falling off of a scaffold. Cornette said the stunt went too far due to his fear of heights , also known as Acrophobia. This stunt happened during a match between The Midnight Express and The Road Warriors. Thus, Big Bubba Rogers ( Big Boss Man / Ray Traylor ) , an ally of The Midnight Express, would be the one to catch Cornette instead of Bobby Eaton after he fell. He became a Color Commentator in 1989 , while Jim Ross ( JR ) , would be the play-by-play commentator for JCP’s Saturday Night TV shows. He would also become a Booker for WCW the same year. He would return to WCW in 1993 after leaving in 1990 as a part of a talent trade with Smoky Mountain Wrestling ( SMW). He would manage The Heavenly Bodies ( Stan Lane and Tom Pritchard ) and feud with The Rock N Roll Express ( Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson ). He would start his own promotion, Smoky Mountain Wrestling , in 1991.

With SMW, Cornette would begin a partnership with Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF) in 1993. Thus, SMW would have financial trouble and in November 1995, would shut down. Cornette would sell the promotion’s rights and videos to McMahon the same year . He would say that he chose the wrong time to start Smoky Mountain Wrestling due to a recession in the business.

While in the WWF, Jim Cornette would be a booker , color commentator, and a manager. He would be in his most well known role as a manager for being the American Spokesperson for the WWF Champion , Yokozuna, in 1993. He would be a full time employee of the WWF in 1996. He would take on the role of scouting talent and developing them for TV and house shows. Cornette would start his own Heel stable called, ‘ Camp Cornette ’ , which consisted of himself , Owen Hart , Yokozuna , Vader , and The British Bulldog ( Davey Boy Smith ). Cornette would become a full time color commentator in 1997. Therefore , he would leave the company the same year due to having conflicts with Vince Russo and Kevin Dunn. At the height of the Attitude Era, in 1998, he would return with a stable consisting of Barry Windham , The Rock N Roll Express, and Jeff Jarrett. They would be known as the NWA Invasion. He would also manage a new Midnight Express and Dan Severn. He would also provide color commentary the same year . Cornette would also participate in the Gimmick Battle Royal at Wrestlemania 17 in 2001.

Cornette would go on to be the head booker and part owner of Ohio Valley Wrestling ( OVW ) in 1999. OVW was the lead developmental territory for WWE before FCW ( later to be known as NXT.). He would influence the careers of John Cena, Randy Orton , Batista , and Brock Lesnar as they were training there. He did the same for stars from the Attitude Era such as Al Snow, Sunny , D’ Lo Brown , and Kane in SMW. He would be let go from WWE in 2005 after being involved in two separate incidents . One being slapping Anthony Carelli ( WWE Legend and TNA Director of Authority, Santino Marella. He is the father of WWE NXT Wrestler and Liasion , Arianna Grace ). He would also appear in TNA , ROH, and ECW. He would return to OVW in 2010. He would make an appearance in What Culture Pro Wrestling ( WCPW ) in 2016 and 2017. He would make appearances in WWE from 2017 to 2020 and return to TNA in 2017. Cornette would also appear in NWA in 2018 and 2019 before appearing in Major League Wrestling ( MLW ) in 2019. He retired from managing in 2017 and announcing/color commentary in 2019. He would go on to make a numerous appearances on ‘ Dark Side of The Ring ’.

Jim Cornette’s most well known match would be with Paul E.Dangerously ( Paul Heyman ) in a Tuxedo Match in 1989 at the Great American Bash in WCW. He would be defeated by Dangerously.

Jim Cornette is considered one of the greatest managers of all time according to fans, including myself.

My Final Thoughts:

Jim Cornette is a legend of professional wrestling. In my opinion, he deserves to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. To me , he has one of the most storied careers and it amazed me how he paid his dues in the business at a young age. I also admire how he honest he is about wrestling now and on DSOTR. Knowing he is a wrestling historian , I’ve studied him and he is also a reason I started this blog . So, happy birthday, Jim! Hope it’s a good one!

Love You All,

- Kay

[mmmsimpsons]

Doom managed by Bootleg Bart [via]

[symbolicdecree]

Throwback: Lex Luger, Sting, and Magnum T.A. with the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Trophy (1988)

[blueonwrestling]

My latest hyperfixation is Terry Funk and I don't see this music video anywhere on tumblr.

So here it is.

DESPERADO

[heishook]

FTW Championship - THANK YOU HOOK!❤️‍🔥🪝🔥👏🏼

AEW Dynasty • April 21, 2024

[bbytae07]

ok if hook ever goes for the roh pure championship and if he wins (hopefully) you’re telling me that we might see hook vs daniel garcia one day like my two favs 😭

on another note, i hope hook beats yuta’s ass!

[blowflyfag]

Pro Wrestling Illustrated: October 1993

NWA OR WCW

THEY CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS 

WCW’s restoration of the NWA title has been an abject failure. In a sport already muddled with confusion, the dual titles have just further confused fans and wrestlers. It is time for the federation to pick three letters-and stick with the

By Stu Saks

[Barry Windham (opposite) is NWA champion. Big Van Vader (right) is WCW World champion. WHich man sits atop WCW? Both would say themselves, but nobody else knows for sure.]

THE HOLLYWOOD BLONDS Strutted down the runway toward the ring. The bravado that Steve Austin and Brian Pillman carry with them was certainly present, but something else normally in their possession was clearly missing. 

The duo-the NWA and WCW World tag team champions- usually arrive for matches wearing one set of belts, with the other draped over their shoulder. This time, though, they wore just the WCW championship hardware.

Are Austin and Pillman still the NWA World tag team champions? Of course. But here’s a better question: Does anyone care that they are still NWA champs? 

In fact, outside of NWA champion Barry Windham, seven-time former NWA titleholder Ric Flair, a handful of Japanese competitors, and some U.S. old-timers, does anyone even recognize the NWA?

[Steve Austin goes for the pin of Rick Steamboat during an NWA/WCW World tag team title defense. The lineage of tag team championships is not as snarled as the split histories of the singles titles.]

The answer, sadly, is no.

In resurrecting the NWA, WCW hoped to add a sense of history and prestige to its federation. Instead, all it has done is confuse wrestlers and fans while diminishing the value of its other championship belts. 

What does a WCW competitor mean when he says he is going after the world title? Is he going after Windham’s NWA title? Or is he pursuing the belt held by WCW World champion Big Van Vader? Who should be the top-ranked singles wrestler in WCW? Should it be Windham, the NWA champion? Or Vader, the WCW World champion.

Which title carries more prestige? The NWA’s which has the acronym that ties it to the origins of professional wrestling in America? Or the WCW’s, which carries the accrual championship lineage dating to the turn of the 20th century?

[Masa Chono’s defeat of Rick Rude to win the revived NWA title (right) and Barry Windham’s title victory over The Great Muta at SuperBrawl III (left) were both great matches in the NWA tradition. Unfortunately, the title itself doesn’t have a direct link to that tradition.]

Ask five wrestlers these questions and you will get five different answers.

Flair returned to WCW earlier this year seeking to reclaim “the belt he never lost.” That would be the NWA belt. Unfortunately for the “Nature Boy,” a tournament was held to determine his successor after he left WCW as champ in mid-1991. Lex Luger defeated Windham in the finals and became WCW World champion. The NWA name had been dropped. The belt Flair “never lost” is now draped over the shoulder of Vader. 

Suppose Flair had never left WCW and lost the title to Luger, the number-one contender, that July night in 1991. Luger, in turn, relinquished the belt to Sting, who lost it to Vader, who lost it to Ron Simmons, who lost it back to Vader, who lost it to Sting, who lost it back to Vader. So which belt should the “Nature Boy” be pursuing?

Flair says he wants the NWA title currently held by Windham, but the history of that belt is less than a year old. In August 1992. Masa Chono won the title by defeating Rick Rude in a tournament final. He later lost the belt to The Great Muta, who dropped it to Windham at SuperBrawl III in February.

(As an aside, we should be grateful that Chono defeated Rude in the final. Rude was U.S. champ at the time and winning the tourney would have forced him to drop one of the belts. Had Rude won, he may have kept the U.S. belt and dropped the NWA title, to the embarrassment of WCW executives trying to restore importance to the NWA name.)

[Former WCW champion Ron Simmons tries to take current WCW champion Big Van Vader down with a sunset flip. Both men are battling for what they feel is WCW’s top belt-but is it?]

Because Flair is a 20-year veteran, a nine-time world champion, and one of the sport’s all-time greats, his words carry a great deal of weight. But this is one instance where he’s misinformed. Flair apparently won’t acknowledge there have been some major changes in WCW since his departure, the biggest one being the three initials preceding the federation’s most covert prices. 

The tag team title picture is less complicated, because one team has always held both sets of belts. Steve Williams and Terry Gordy won the WCW title from Rick and Scott Steiner in June of 1992, then captured the NWA tourney final from Windham and Dustin Rhodes two weeks later. Windham and Rhodes defeated Williams and Gordy in September, then lost both sets of belts to Rick Steamboat and Shane Douglas in November. Austin and Pillman won both titles in January.

The big losers here, as usual, are the fans, many of whom aren’t quite sure who is WCW’s top dog. Vader was clearly the federation’s champion until Flair returned and began shooting off his mouth. Caught up in the hysteria of the “Nature Boy’s” return, some fans believe Windham’s NWA belt carries the most prestige.

But if that’s so, why did Cactus Jack challenge Vader? Why has Davey Boy Smith entered WCW with his sights on Vader? Why does Sting continue his relentless pursuit of Vader? None of these three challengers have targeted Windham’s title, though Sting’s feuded with him in the past.

The only solution is to have Windham wrestle Vader to a decision in a unification match, with the winner agreeing to terminate the lineage of one of the titles. Pillman and Austin must also agree to drop the NWA tag team title, something they seem to have done on their own already.

Despite the history that accompanies the NWA belt, it would be best for that championship to be terminated. The federation calls itself WCW and has done so since Ted Turner bought it in 1988. Its top wrestler should be known as the WCW World champion.

Let’s end the confusion now–before it only gets worse. 

[wrestlingmgc]

Campeón Nacional de Peso Semicompleto Bárbaro Cavernario

[wrestler-smash-or-pass]

Farooq?