After the pivotal moment in 1994 when Shane Douglas rejected the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) entered a period of significant decline. With its prestige severely damaged and lacking a major national promotion, the NWA transitioned into a much smaller and less influential organization. However, the NWA managed to survive this period through strategic alliances with independent promotions and by maintaining its brand as a historic entity in the wrestling world. This period from 1994 to 2002 saw the NWA continue to function, albeit with a much-reduced presence, eventually leading to its alliance with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling.
1994-1998: Survival and Reorganization
Post-Shane Douglas and the NWA's Search for Relevance:
After Shane Douglas rejected the NWA title and declared ECW independent, the NWA was left without a prominent representative on the national stage. Many within the wrestling industry saw this moment as a death blow to the NWA’s credibility.
The NWA continued to sanction wrestling events and titles, but these were primarily held by smaller, regional promotions. The NWA World Heavyweight Championship continued to exist, but it was defended in small independent promotions that lacked the visibility and influence of major wrestling companies.
Affiliations with Smaller Promotions:
Throughout the mid-to-late 1990s, the NWA maintained a network of smaller independent promotions across North America and even abroad. Some notable NWA-affiliated promotions during this period included NWA New Jersey, NWA Florida, NWA Midwest, and NWA UK Hammerlock.
These partnerships were mainly to keep the NWA’s name alive in professional wrestling, but they were not enough to restore the organization to its former prominence. The NWA World Heavyweight Championship was contested, but the lack of television exposure meant it was no longer considered one of the most prestigious titles in the sport.
Attempts to Rebuild the NWA Brand:
In the mid-1990s, the NWA made several attempts to rebuild its brand and increase its visibility. For example, the NWA entered into an agreement with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was defended at some NJPW events. This partnership brought some level of exposure, but not enough to significantly elevate the NWA’s status.
The NWA continued to crown champions and promote its titles, but these events were mostly confined to smaller venues and regional audiences, with little impact on the national or global stage dominated by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
1998-2000: The NWA Joins the Emerging Independent Scene
Emergence of New Independent Promotions:
As the WWF and WCW continued to dominate the wrestling scene, a new independent wrestling circuit began to emerge in the late 1990s. This included promotions like Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW), and the newly revitalized NWA Wildside, which became one of the more significant NWA affiliates during this time.
These promotions offered a different style and approach to wrestling, often focusing on more hardcore or alternative styles, and began to gain attention from hardcore wrestling fans who were disillusioned with the mainstream product.
NWA’s Partnership with Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW):
One notable NWA affiliation during this period was with Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW). SMW became an NWA affiliate and helped keep the NWA World Heavyweight Championship relevant in the Southern U.S. wrestling scene until SMW’s closure in 1995.
The NWA titles were defended in SMW shows, which helped maintain some level of visibility, but ultimately SMW’s closure meant another significant loss for the NWA’s efforts to regain prominence.
Formation of NWA Wildside:
In 1999, the NWA aligned with National Championship Wrestling (NCW) to form NWA Wildside, based in Cornelia, Georgia. Under the leadership of Bill Behrens, NWA Wildside became a prominent affiliate of the NWA and acted as a developmental territory for various talents.
NWA Wildside gained a cult following and helped provide a platform for up-and-coming wrestlers who would later become stars, such as A.J. Styles, Ron Killings (R-Truth), and Christopher Daniels. While NWA Wildside did not achieve mainstream success, it provided a much-needed boost to the NWA's profile in the wrestling community.
2000-2002: NWA's Alliance with TNA and the Beginning of a New Era
The Decline of WCW and ECW:
By 2001, the wrestling landscape changed dramatically with the demise of both WCW and ECW. WCW was purchased by WWF in March 2001, while ECW declared bankruptcy and closed its doors shortly thereafter.
With the WWF (now WWE) standing as the sole major wrestling promotion in North America, the NWA sought to take advantage of the vacuum created by the closure of WCW and ECW by positioning itself as a key player in the emerging independent scene.
Formation of Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling:
In 2002, wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett and his son Jeff Jarrett founded Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling. TNA sought to provide an alternative to WWE by offering weekly pay-per-view shows instead of a traditional television deal.
TNA entered into an agreement with the NWA to use the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship as its primary titles. This alliance was seen as mutually beneficial: TNA would gain credibility by using the NWA’s historic championships, while the NWA would gain a national platform for its titles.
NWA-TNA Partnership and Initial Success:
On June 19, 2002, the inaugural NWA-TNA pay-per-view was held, and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was declared vacant for a new tournament to crown a champion. Ken Shamrock became the first NWA World Heavyweight Champion under the TNA banner.
The partnership with TNA gave the NWA its most significant exposure since its split from WCW in 1993. TNA's weekly pay-per-view model allowed the NWA to reach a broader audience, providing an opportunity for its titles and brand to regain some of their former prestige.
Plans for the Future:
The alliance with TNA marked a new chapter for the NWA, positioning it within the modern wrestling landscape. While the NWA's direct influence was limited within TNA's operations, the agreement allowed the NWA brand to remain in the public eye.
Over the next few years, the NWA's relationship with TNA would evolve and eventually end, but for the moment, the NWA was back in the national conversation, aligned with a promotion that aimed to challenge WWE's monopoly on mainstream wrestling.
Legacy of the NWA from 1994 to 2002
From Decline to Renewal:
The period from 1994 to 2002 marked a time of survival and reorganization for the NWA. Following the loss of WCW and the rejection by ECW, the NWA managed to maintain its presence through affiliations with smaller promotions and eventually found a new national partner in TNA.
Maintaining Tradition in a Changing Landscape:
Despite its diminished status, the NWA continued to maintain the lineage of its historic titles and serve as a steward of traditional wrestling values in an evolving industry. The alliance with TNA represented a crucial opportunity to reintroduce the NWA to a new generation of wrestling fans.
The Road to Modern Relevance:
The NWA's partnership with TNA set the stage for a new era, providing a platform for its titles and brand to gain renewed relevance. This partnership was a critical step in the NWA’s efforts to adapt and survive in a wrestling world increasingly dominated by WWE.
As the NWA entered the 21st century, its ability to adapt and align itself with emerging promotions like TNA would prove essential to its continued existence and legacy in professional wrestling.
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