From 1963 to 1971, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) continued to be a major force in professional wrestling, but this period was marked by significant challenges and transformations. The NWA faced increasing competition from new promotions, internal conflicts, and changes in the landscape of the wrestling industry, which began to affect its dominance.
1963: The Emergence of Competition
The World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) was officially founded in April 1963 by Vincent J. McMahon and Toots Mondt after breaking away from the NWA. The WWWF crowned Buddy Rogers as its first World Heavyweight Champion, which was a direct challenge to the NWA's claim of having the only recognized world champion.
Despite the split, the NWA continued to be the predominant governing body for professional wrestling. The NWA maintained its strength through a wide network of regional territories, all of which were committed to recognizing the NWA World Heavyweight Champion as the ultimate champion.
1964-1966: The Reign of Lou Thesz and the NWA’s Continued Dominance
Lou Thesz regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1963, reinforcing his role as the face of the NWA. Thesz was a highly respected figure and one of the most credible champions in wrestling history. His reign continued until 1966, during which he defended the title in various territories across the United States, Canada, Japan, and even parts of Europe, helping to solidify the NWA's global presence.
During this time, the NWA remained a powerful organization due to its territorial structure and the cooperation between its member promotions. The NWA territories continued to thrive on regional television and live events, with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion traveling from territory to territory, drawing large crowds.
The NWA's leadership, particularly through figures like Sam Muchnick, who served multiple terms as NWA President during this period, worked hard to maintain stability within the organization. Muchnick, based in St. Louis, was known for his integrity and fair business practices, which helped him maintain a unified NWA despite rising tensions and external competition.
1966-1969: The Rise of New Stars and Territories
In 1966, Gene Kiniski won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Lou Thesz, marking the beginning of a new era for the NWA. Kiniski was a rugged Canadian wrestler known for his brawling style and charismatic personality. His title reign lasted until 1969 and was marked by numerous high-profile title defenses across the NWA territories, particularly in Canada, Japan, and the United States.
The late 1960s saw a shift in the landscape of professional wrestling, with several NWA territories beginning to gain prominence. The Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (later known as Jim Crockett Promotions) in the Carolinas, under Jim Crockett Sr. and Jim Crockett Jr., started to grow in influence, becoming one of the NWA’s premier promotions. Similarly, Georgia Championship Wrestling under Jim Barnett and Fred Ward became a major player, especially with its innovative use of television to reach a broader audience.
New stars also began to emerge during this period, including Dory Funk Jr., Jack Brisco, Harley Race, The Sheik (Ed Farhat), and Terry Funk. These wrestlers helped reinvigorate the NWA territories with fresh rivalries and new styles, appealing to both regional and national audiences.
The NWA also expanded internationally, with a strong presence in Japan through partnerships with Japanese promotions like Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA), and later All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), which continued to recognize the NWA World Heavyweight Champion as a major title.
1969: Dory Funk Jr.’s Championship Reign and Consolidation
In 1969, Dory Funk Jr. won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Gene Kiniski in Tampa, Florida. Funk Jr.'s reign marked a period of consolidation for the NWA. Coming from a prominent wrestling family (his father, Dory Funk Sr., was a well-known promoter in Texas), Dory Funk Jr. was known for his technical wrestling style, toughness, and ability to have compelling matches with a wide range of opponents.
Funk Jr. would go on to hold the title for over four years, one of the longest reigns in the championship’s history. His reign helped stabilize the NWA during a period of transition and reaffirmed the organization’s status by defending the title against top stars from various territories, including Jack Brisco, Harley Race, and Johnny Valentine.
Meanwhile, the NWA continued to experience internal tensions, particularly as some territories began to push back against the central authority of the NWA board and the champion’s booking schedule. There were ongoing debates over which territory should host the world champion and how often he should defend the title in each territory.
1970-1971: Internal Struggles and the NWA’s Future
The early 1970s marked the beginning of a period of struggle for the NWA as the regional promotions continued to deal with both internal and external pressures. While Dory Funk Jr. continued his reign as NWA World Heavyweight Champion, other territories began to push for greater autonomy, wanting more control over their champions and television deals.
The NWA faced growing competition not only from the WWWF in the Northeast but also from new promotions such as World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in Australia (run by Jim Barnett) and International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE) in Japan. The WWWF continued to expand its influence under Vincent J. McMahon Sr., positioning itself as a rival to the NWA and solidifying its own world championship as a credible alternative.
During this time, the NWA also experienced turnover in its leadership. Sam Muchnick stepped down as NWA President in 1960, and various other leaders, including Fred Kohler and Frank Tunney, took the helm. However, Muchnick returned to the presidency in 1963 and remained a stabilizing force until his final retirement in 1975.
By 1971, Dory Funk Jr.’s lengthy title reign was beginning to wind down, and the NWA was preparing for another major transition. The NWA board of directors began planning for the next phase of the world championship, including identifying potential challengers who could be credible, draw audiences, and maintain the prestige of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Key Developments from 1963-1971:
The WWWF Split: The departure of the WWWF in 1963 and its continued growth as an independent promotion was the most significant event of this era. Although the WWWF remained technically a member of the NWA, it operated largely independently, and its world championship was a direct challenge to the NWA's dominance.
Expansion and Consolidation of Territories: The NWA's continued expansion saw new territories like Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and Georgia Championship Wrestling rise in prominence, while established territories like St. Louis Wrestling Club, Maple Leaf Wrestling (Toronto), and Championship Wrestling from Florida remained key components of the NWA's structure.
The Rise of Television: The growing importance of television shaped the wrestling business during this period. Territories with strong TV deals, like Georgia Championship Wrestling (which would later secure a national TV deal on WTBS), began to exert more influence within the NWA, highlighting the shifting dynamics of the wrestling industry.
The Changing Champion: The transition from Lou Thesz to Gene Kiniski and then to Dory Funk Jr. represented changes in the NWA’s vision for its world champion. Thesz and Funk were more traditional wrestling champions known for their technical skills, while Kiniski brought a brawler style and intense persona that reflected the changing tastes of wrestling fans.
Internal Struggles and Disputes: The NWA’s organizational structure, which depended on cooperation between often-competing promoters, began to show signs of strain. Disputes over title defenses, talent-sharing agreements, and the scheduling of the world champion’s appearances led to increasing tensions among the members.
Legacy of the NWA from 1963-1971:
The period from 1963 to 1971 was characterized by both continuity and change for the NWA. Despite the challenge posed by the WWWF's emergence and growing internal conflicts, the NWA managed to maintain its status as the primary governing body in professional wrestling, holding together a loose coalition of territories and successfully promoting its world heavyweight championship as the most prestigious title in wrestling. However, the seeds of future challenges were sown during this era, setting the stage for the turbulent years ahead as the wrestling industry continued to evolve.
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