Paul Pinkie George

Pinkie George (1905-1993) (NWA Founder & NWA Iowa Promoter)

Pinkie George was a key figure in the world of professional wrestling during the mid-20th century and is best known for his role as a founding member of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 1948. He was a promoter based in Iowa, where he ran a successful wrestling territory that played a crucial part in the development and expansion of professional wrestling in the United States.

Early Career of Pinkie George

• Background and Entry into Wrestling:

  • Pinky George (Paul Georgeacopoulos) started his career in professional sports as a sportswriter & flyweight boxer before transitioning into a wrestling promoter around 1928. George was booking World Champions like Joe Stecher, Jim Londos & Ed Strangler Lewis, long before the NWA was even thought of. He was based in Des Moines, Iowa, and began promoting local wrestling shows in the Midwest, particularly in Iowa and nearby states.

  • George was known for his promotional savvy, keen understanding of the wrestling business, and his ability to build relationships with wrestlers and other promoters. By the 1940s, he had established himself as a respected promoter in the Midwest wrestling scene.

• Building the Iowa Territory:

  • George's territory covered much of Iowa, including cities like Des Moines, Sioux City, Davenport, and Cedar Rapids. He built a network of venues and talent to run regular wrestling shows. This territory became known for its loyal fanbase and consistent attendance at wrestling events.

  • George cultivated a pool of local and regional talent and also booked popular national stars to draw larger crowds to his shows. This approach helped him maintain a profitable wrestling territory and keep wrestling popular in Iowa throughout the 1940s.

  • George's Iowa territory worked closely in sharing talent with Kansas (George Simpson), Nebraska (Max Clayton), Missouri (Tom Packs) & even Minnesota (Tony Stecher), long before the AWA came around.

  • George was also an NBL Owner and brought Iowa their only professional sports team ever, the Waterloo Hawks, from 1948-1951

The Founding of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)

• Need for a Unified Governing Body:

  • In the late 1940s, the professional wrestling industry in the United States was fragmented, with numerous promoters across the country each operating independently and often in competition with each other. This situation created a chaotic and unstable business environment, with disputes over champions, wrestlers jumping from one promotion to another, and little cooperation among promoters.

  • Recognizing the need for a unified governing body to help regulate the industry, provide a clear structure for championships, and stabilize the wrestling business, George took the initiative to bring together a group of promoters to form such an organization.

• Formation of the NWA (1948):

  • In 1948, Pinkie George invited several key wrestling promoters from across the United States to a meeting in Waterloo, Iowa, to discuss the creation of a new alliance. This meeting was attended by influential promoters such as Paul "Pinkie" George (Iowa), Orville Brown (Kansas City), Sam Muchnick (St. Louis), Max Clayton (Omaha), Wally Karbo and Tony Stecher (Minneapolis), and Fred Kohler (Chicago). Soon after, another meeting in Minneapolis hosted by Tony Stecher would add Al Haft (Ohio) & Harry Light (Detroit) to the NWA Founding Board.

  • At these meetings, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) was officially founded. The promoters agreed to cooperate by sharing talent, recognizing a single world heavyweight champion, and respecting each other's territorial boundaries. The NWA would sanction and regulate matches, maintain the legitimacy of the championship, and provide a framework for resolving disputes among promoters.

  • Pinkie George was the first NWA President in 1948 and 1949, and in 1950 the honor was bestowed upon NWA Founding legend Sam Muchnick who would be NWA President for 22 of the next 25 Years. George's presidency oversaw the NWA grow from 6 to 26 Members in 2 years and expand from the Midwest as far as Quebec & Hawaii.

• Impact on Pinkie George’s Iowa Territory:

  • As one of the founding members of the NWA, Pinkie George became a key player in the newly formed alliance. His territory in Iowa became a recognized member of the NWA, which gave him access to a broader pool of talent and helped ensure stability for his local promotions. National stars like Verne Gagne, Bob Orton, Johnny Valentine & Pat O'Connor would come wrestle in George's Iowa Territory, while up & comers like Crusher Lisowski, Dick the Bruiser & Wilbur Snyder would hone their craft before stardom in the 1960's.

  • George’s involvement in the NWA also elevated the profile of his Iowa territory, as he was now part of a national organization that carried significant prestige and influence. This affiliation helped attract larger crowds and allowed him to feature marquee matches with NWA-recognized champions like Orville Brown & Lou Thesz.

Development and Success of the Iowa Territory (1948-1950s)

• Booking NWA World Champions:

  • With the formation of the NWA, Pinkie George was able to book NWA World Heavyweight Champions like Lou Thesz, Orville Brown, and others to headline his shows in Iowa. These events drew significant attention and helped boost ticket sales and the overall popularity of his territory.

  • The NWA’s unified approach allowed George to create storylines and rivalries that were recognized on a national level, bringing more excitement and legitimacy to his local shows.

• Key Wrestlers and Storylines:

  • George’s Iowa territory became known for its hard-hitting wrestling style and featured several prominent wrestlers, both local talents and national stars. Some of the key names who wrestled in Iowa included Verne Gagne, Wilbur Snyder, Pat O'Connor, and others. The territory often emphasized technical wrestling, which resonated well with the Midwestern audience.

  • His territory also became a proving ground for up-and-coming wrestlers who could gain experience and exposure before moving on to larger territories within the NWA.

• Regional Television and Media:

  • Like many promoters of his time, Pinkie George capitalized on the growing popularity of television in the 1950s. He arranged for regional television broadcasts of wrestling matches, which helped expand the audience for his events beyond those who could attend in person.

  • By getting wrestling on local TV stations, George increased the visibility of his promotions and helped maintain a steady interest in wrestling throughout his territory.

Decline of the Iowa Territory and Pinkie George's Influence

• Challenges and Decline 1950s):

  • Despite his early success, Pinkie George's influence began to decline in the 1950s. The wrestling business was evolving, with larger territories like St. Louis (under Sam Muchnick), Chicago (under Fred Kohler), and the Minneapolis territory (under Verne Gagne) becoming more dominant.

  • As television further expanded, it also centralized power among certain NWA territories with better access to national TV networks, which made it harder for smaller, regional promoters like George to compete.

• Departure from the NWA:

  • As the larger territories grew, smaller NWA territories like Pinkie George's in Iowa began to feel squeezed out by the larger promoters. Tensions over power and influence within the NWA continued to grow.

  • In 1951, George left the NWA Board of Directors over a dispute with new President Sam Muchnick. He would soon receive death threats from rival promoters over working with non-NWA Talent like former World Heavyweight Champion Wladek Zbyszko. In 1957, he received a phone call telling him to "leave wrestling or we will deliver your body to your wife". He purchased a gun and joined the Government's Anti-Monopoly Case against the NWA in 1958.

  • By the late 1950s, George's promotion was no longer as competitive or financially viable as it once was. Eventually, he sold his interests in the wrestling business, and his territory was absorbed into larger NWA promotions in the Midwest, such as those run by Sam Muchnick and Verne Gagne. Sam Muchnick would take this opportunity in 1959 to start the Wrestling At The Chase TV Program for the St. Louis Wrestling Club and branch out across the Midwest & Great Plains.

Legacy of Pinkie George and the Iowa Territory

• Founding Role in the NWA:

  • Pinkie George's role in the founding of the NWA remains his most significant contribution to professional wrestling. His vision for a unified wrestling alliance set the foundation for what would become the most influential governing body in professional wrestling for decades.

  • The NWA's creation in Waterloo, Iowa, under George's leadership, marked the beginning of a new era in professional wrestling, characterized by a more organized and cooperative approach among promoters.

• Pioneer of Midwestern Wrestling:

  • As a promoter in Iowa, Pinkie George helped establish the Midwest as a strong wrestling territory with a loyal fan base and a focus on technical wrestling. His efforts contributed to the long-term success and popularity of wrestling in the region.

  • Though his territory eventually faded, the legacy of his contributions lived on through the continued success of the NWA and the impact of Midwestern wrestling promoters like Verne Gagne.

Conclusion

Pinkie George played a crucial role in professional wrestling history by founding the National Wrestling Alliance and promoting wrestling in Iowa. His efforts to unify wrestling promoters and create a more organized industry helped shape the landscape of professional wrestling in the mid-20th century, laying the groundwork for its growth and expansion across the United States.