GFW 2002 - Jeff, Jerry... Mutoh... and the NWA

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Moore
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GFW 2002 - Jeff, Jerry... Mutoh... and the NWA Jun 20, 2020 18:51:35 GMT 1 Asaemon, Big Boss Man, and 2 more like this

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Post by Moore on Jun 20, 2020 18:51:35 GMT 1

The Jarrett's Fishing Trip

The year is 2001. WWF purchased a dying WCW and Jeff Jarrett, one of WCW's top tier wrestlers wasn't on WWF's takeover equation. His father, Jerry Jarrett, famed promoter, wanted to take a gamble at promoting with his son after the death of USWA five years before. So it's obvious both of them wanted to continue being involved in the world of professional wrestling. At a fishing trip, Jerry asked Jeff what was his thought about co-promoting, and something was born. That something?

Enter Vince Russo / Out Goes Vince Russo

A friend of Jeff Jarrett from Double J's tenures at WWF and WCW, Vince Russo was mixed up into the brainstorming part of the process of creating a new federation. He even suggested the name: Total Nonstop Action («TNA? T... &... A... get it guys? That's edgy, men!»). However, the Jarrett's made it clear that it wasn't their intention to turn the new promotion (TNA) into a reborn WCW. Specially if that meant it would feature non-sense crash TV and a short living. After some discussions and disagreements, Vince Russo left the project, ending up in Australia's short-lived World Wrestling All-Stars.

Enter... Keiji Mutoh

Not many people knew about the Jarrett's intentions, as not many people were trusted neither they wanted to turn the whole process public yet. However, Jeff Jarrett reached Keiji Mutoh (aka The Great Muta - also a former WCW worker) in order to get contact with a different, international vision. That's what he got: «What about having the spotlight on the sports aspect of wrestling, at a big level? Like here in Japan», said Mutoh. Jeff was the most relutant one, but Jerry actually liked the idea. Mutoh, who spoke more that a few words of english, also suggested a name change. Jeff Jarrett then came up with... GLOBAL FORCE WRESTLING.

Branding the Concept

GFW's shape was being drawn by the Jarretts and a brand new group of people. It was rumored on the internet that the promotion would feature several elements that were also common of japanese wrestling, such as tournaments, while the american audience would still be pleased to see some traces of their "sports entertainment". On paper, it seemed fresh and captivating.

Jerry Jarrett's influence as a former promoter also helped GFW getting the exclusive rights to use NWA championships, such as the World Heavyweight Championship and the World Tag Team Championships. And naturally, the NWA board was more than happy that the three letters that once dominated the business would be under lighting again. Things were definitely looking bright for GFW. That would be the beginning of a new brand.

The rest... is history... still to be written here.

anthonymm13 Midcarder Hall of Legends I have made 359 posts Location:	GFW 2002 - Jeff, Jerry... Mutoh... and the NWA Jun 20, 2020 20:32:59 GMT 1 Moore likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by anthonymm13 on Jun 20, 2020 20:32:59 GMT 1 Sounds like a fun twist on things, looking forward to where you take this

Moore
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GFW 2002 - Jeff, Jerry... Mutoh... and the NWA Jun 24, 2020 20:49:58 GMT 1 Asaemon and Big Boss Man like this

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Post by Moore on Jun 24, 2020 20:49:58 GMT 1

GFW announces Global League for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship

It was Mike Tenay the one to give the news. In a press conference, the former WCW commentator announced a GFW Global League to be held from June 21st to July 21st 2002. According to Tenay, the Global League will feature 16 wrestlers, divided into two groups (blocks) from 10 regions of the globe. Therefore, seven group stage matchdays will take place, from 06/21 to 07/12, every friday and sunday. The finals, between the winners of both blocks will happen 07/21 in GFW's first large event, called GFW Reclamation.

In exciting news, the Global League was also designed to crown an interim NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Interim, though, because current title holder, "The Beast" Dan Severn can't take part in the League himself, due to his Mixed Martial Arts commitments. However, a unification match will most certainly happen between Severn and the winner of the Global League, when the time is right.

That's not all, however, as GFW has established a partnership with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre [CMLL] and New Japan Pro Wrestling [NJPW], two of the top promotions in both Mexico and Japan, and one wrestler from both parties will be in the official Global League participant list. There's no further information on participants just yet, but a new press conference is scheduled for June 1st, 2002. As for the regions, the representants will be divided as follow: two participants from Canada, Europe, Japan, Mexico, United Kingdom and United States of America; one participant from Asia, Australia, Latin America and Rest of the World.

The group stage of the tournament can be seen in a whole as a pay-per-view available in a all-in-one package. GFW Reclamation will be Global Force Wrestling's first solo Pay-Per-View Special.

Last Edit: Jun 24, 2020 20:50:44 GMT 1 by Moore

Moore
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GFW 2002 - Jeff, Jerry... Mutoh... and the NWA Jun 29, 2020 19:53:13 GMT 1 CJ and Big Boss Man like this

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Post by Moore on Jun 29, 2020 19:53:13 GMT 1

GFW
Global League participants and schedule revealed<o:p></o:p>

Three weeks away from the
debut of Global Force Wrestling and its revolutionary Global League, the
wrestling community finally know who they will see in action from June 21^st
to July 21^st and who will be in contention for the interim NWA World
Heavyweight Championship.<o:p></o:p>

We were also treated to some
more details regarding the league, as we are now aware of the point system: 2
points for clean win, 1 point for Count-Out/DQ win, 1 point for Double Pin
Draw, 0 points for Double Count-Out, 0 points for Loss.<o:p></o:p>

As announced before, a total
of 16 wrestlers from 10 regions of the globe were divided into two blocks of 8,
where they will do battle in a League system, with the winners of both blocks
facing each other in the final.

<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>-------------

GFW
Global League Participants<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

BLOCK
A

“The
Sicilian Silencer” Big Vito<o:p></o:p>

From: Sicily, Italy | Age: 38 | Height: 6’2’’ | Weight: 255lb |
Trademark: Code of Silence<o:p></o:p>

WWF, ECW, WCW: Big Vito is a
big-three alumni and found moderate success in the latter two. Entering the
Global League as one of Europe’s representants, the former Tag Team and
Hardcore champion will, most likely, be considered as a filler participant, but
he can represent a big threat to anyone’s success in the competition.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p style="">

</o:p>

“El Galeno del Mal” Dr. Wagner Jr. [CMLL]<o:p></o:p>

From: Torreon, Mexico | Age: 36 | Height: 5’10’’ | Weight: 216lb |
Trademark: Wagner Driver<o:p></o:p>

CMLL’s representant in the
Global League comes in the form of Dr. Wagner Jr. A former champion in CMLL,
UWA and in NJPW, Wagner is one of the top rudos in Mexico and has been so for
10 years. Dangerous, Wagner can make you tap out or finish you with one of his
high-impact moves. Plus, he isn’t afraid to break the rules too.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“Chosen
One” Jeff Jarrett<o:p></o:p>

From: Nashville, USA | Age: 34 | Height: 6’0’’ | Weight: 230lb |
Trademark: The Stroke<o:p></o:p>

One of the minds behind GFW,
Jeff Jarrett, will be in the Global League, and, of course, is a top pick to
win it all. The most accomplished wrestler in the USA of the tournament, truth
be said no one knows what to expect from “Double J”: will he behave like the
wrestler’s wrestler he can be, or will he break the rules to reach stardom in
his own backyard?<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“Natural
Born Master” Keiji Muto<o:p></o:p>

From: Fujiyoshida, Japan | Age: 39 | Height: 6’2’’ | Weight: 243lb |
Trademark: Shining Wizard<o:p></o:p>

NJPW’s G1 Climax winner in
1995 as well as AJPW’s Champion Carnival winner just two months ago, it’s more
than safe to say Muto is versed and successful in this kind of field. One of
the, if not the most legendary Japanese wrester in later years, enjoying
success everywhere he went, Muto is probably giving Jarrett (and the rest of
Block A) some nightmares already.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“El
Comandante” Konnan<o:p></o:p>

From: Santiago, Cuba | Age: 38 | Height: 5’11 | Weight: 250lb |
Trademark: Tequila Sunrise<o:p></o:p>

The most recognizable star
of the 1990s below the border line, the former nWo member and AAA pioneer walks
into the Global League as a major threat too. The big charismatic Cuban is yet
to win a world title outside Mexico and this can be his chance. However, let’s
not forget about the tough competition he faces in his Block.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“Screamin’”
Norman Smiley<o:p></o:p>

From: London, England | Age: 37 | Height: 6’2’’ | Weight: 240lb |
Trademark: Norman Conquest<o:p></o:p>

The friendly Englishman
enters Block A as the first representant of the United Kingdom. No stranger to world
title glory, as he was a World Heavyweight champion in CMLL, he’s more famous
because of his stint in WCW where he was mainly a comedic wrestler. Probably
not a contender to win the League, but he’s undoubtedly a tough man to beat.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“The
Samoan Machine” Samoa Joe<o:p></o:p>

From: The Isle of Samoa | Age: 23 | Height: 6’2’’ | Weight: 282lb |
Trademark: Kokina Clutch<o:p></o:p>

When you’re named after your
whole country, people expect you to be big. The youngest competitor in the
tournament, be no fool if you think Joe will be nothing but stomping ground.
The incredibly agile big man has tapped out and pinned people lately in the
state of California and doesn’t plan on holding back in a national sized
promotion.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“El
Vampiro Canadiense” Vampiro<o:p></o:p>

From: Thunder Bay, Canada | Age: 35 | Height: 6’2’’ | Weight: 250lb |
Trademark: Nail in the Coffin<o:p></o:p>

The dark violent Canadian
spent his career so far as a major player in Mexico and Puerto Rico. However,
WCW icon Sting is no stranger to Vampiro’s antics as both had a memorable feud
just two years ago. “The Canadian Vampire” comes as a huge threat and a
potential winner of Block A, where he’ll face his toughest challenge to date.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

-------------

</o:p>

BLOCK
B<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“Das
Wunderkind” Alex Wright<o:p></o:p>

From: Nuremberg, Germany | Age: 27 | Height: 6’4’’ | Weight: 225lb |
Trademark: Bridging German Suplex<o:p></o:p>

You probably won’t see him
dancing this time. From Germany comes Alex Wright and long gone are his
blonde-haired days from WCW where he was billed as the next big thing before
too much stepped in his path. The technical wrestler, who claimed to be unhappy
with wrestling, surprises many, coming to this League in hope of better things.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“Anarchist”
Doug Williams<o:p></o:p>

From: Reading, England | Age: 29 | Height: 5’11’ | Weight: 225lb |
Trademark: Chaos Theory<o:p></o:p>

Relatively unknown to
American audiences, Williams comes to the Global League as one of the best in
England and Europe. In contrast to his nickname, Williams employs a very
methodical technical wrestling style, common in the United Kingdom. Also known
there as the “Human Torture Device”, Williams looks to make waves at a world
scale.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“The
World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock<o:p></o:p>

From: Sacramento, California | Age: 38 | Height: 6’1’’ | Weight: 243lb |
Trademark: Ankle Lock<o:p></o:p>

25 wins, 7 losses, 2 draws,
that’s Shamrock’s Mixed Martial Arts record. Also a former WWE Intercontinental
champion, the shooter/wrestler is one of the heaviest favorites to take the NWA
World Heavyweight title home at the end of the league. He’ll face tough and
varied competition, but when he shouts he’s the most dangerous man in the
world, few can argue. Ankles, beware.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“Power
Warrior” Kensuke Sasaki [NJPW]<o:p></o:p>

From: Fukuoka, Japan | Age: 35 | Height: 5’11 | Weight: 254lb |
Trademark: Northern Lights Bomb<o:p></o:p>

Is there a wrestler more bad
ass than Kensuke Sasaki today? A complete hoss with incredible endurance that
NJPW sent to GFW with the goal of taking the ten pounds of gold back to Japan.
Twice the G1 Climax winner, three times the IWGP Heavyweight champion and also
a former WCW United States champion, if accomplishments in pro wrestling speak
loud enough, he’s the favorite to win Block B.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“The
Chairman” La Parka<o:p></o:p>

From: Monclova, Mexico | Age: 36 | Height: 6’1’’ | Weight: 255lb |
Trademark: La Parkinator<o:p></o:p>

The original La Parka will
be a feature at the Global League, and in Global Force Wrestling going forward,
as GFW bought the rights to his name. WCW’s favorite dancing skeleton
personally thanked the board and vowed not to disappoint them and to make
Mexico interested in GFW. He probably won’t win the League, but he’ll be fun to
watch.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“The
Boggo Road Colossus” Nathan Jones<o:p></o:p>

From: Gold Coast, Australia | Age: 31 | Height: 6’11 | Weight: 320lb |
Trademark: Gutwrench Powerbomb<o:p></o:p>

A living redemption story,
Jones is a former convict turned powerlifting champion in Australia. In WWA, he
has been the homegrown star of the company and comes to GFW as a personal
project of Jeff Jarrett. However, this beast made it clear he’s more than that,
denied any affiliation with Jarrett and promises to take the League and America
by storm.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“The
Death-Defying Maniac” Sabu<o:p></o:p>

From: Saudi Arabia | Age: 37 | Height: 6’0’’ | Weight: 237lb |
Trademark: Arabian Facebuster<o:p></o:p>

A man that must feature in
every Global League highlight reel for the ages. A storied hardcore wrestler
and ECW legend that will go to crazy levels of risk to get a win (or just for
the sake of it), it’s really a doubt if Sabu wants to win the Global League or
if he’ll simply be happy to cause chaos and make an impression. Violence is surely
expected.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>

</o:p>

“The
King of Old School” Steve Corino<o:p></o:p>

From: Winnipeg, Canada | Age: 29 | Height: 6’3’’ | Weight: 242lb |
Trademark: Old School Expulsion<o:p></o:p>

Obnoxious? Check. Arrogant?
Check. Dangerous? Check. Talented? Check. Corino is one of the best heels in
the game today. A marquee of ECW’s last years, the former world champion feeds
on gold and wants to get back the NWA World Heavyweight championship that he
held and lost in November 2001, only due to injury. By any means.

<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>-------------

</o:p>

GFW
Global League main events announced<o:p></o:p>

Also known by now are the Block-respective
main events for each day of the Global League, as well as the location of the
eight events in which the tournament will take place. Here’s the partial
line-up.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

GFW
Global League Night 1 - 06/21/2002 (Nashville, TN)<o:p></o:p>

Block A: Konnan vs. Vampiro<o:p></o:p>

Block B: Ken Shamrock vs. Steve Corino<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

GFW
Global League Night 2 - 06/23/2002 (Memphis, TN)<o:p></o:p>

Block A: Dr. Wagner Jr. vs. Jeff Jarrett<o:p></o:p>

Block B: Ken Shamrock vs. Sabu<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

GFW
Global League Night 3 - 06/28/2002 (Columbus, OH)<o:p></o:p>

Block A: Keiji Muto vs. Vampiro<o:p></o:p>

Block B: Ken Shamrock vs. Nathan Jones<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

GFW
Global League Night 4 - 06/30/2002 (Cleveland, OH)<o:p></o:p>

Block A: Jeff Jarrett vs. Vampiro<o:p></o:p>

Block B: Alex Wright vs. Kensuke Sasaki<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

GFW
Global League Night 5 - 07/05/2002 (Philadelphia, PA)<o:p></o:p>

Block A: Jeff Jarrett vs. Samoa Joe<o:p></o:p>

Block B: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Sabu<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

GFW
Global League Night 6 - 07/07/2002 (Buffalo, NY)<o:p></o:p>

Block A: Keiji Muto vs. Konnan<o:p></o:p>

Block B: Ken Shamrock vs. Kensuke Sasaki<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

GFW
Global League Night 7 - 07/12/2002 (Tampa, FL)<o:p></o:p>

Block A: Jeff Jarrett vs. Keiji Muto<o:p></o:p>

Block B: Kensuke Sasaki vs. Steve Corino<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

GFW Reclamation
- 07/21/2002 (Nashville, TN)<o:p></o:p>

GFW World League Finals for
the interim NWA World Heavyweight Championship<o:p></o:p>

GFW 2002 - Jeff, Jerry... Mutoh... and the NWA

Post by Moore on Jun 20, 2020 18:51:35 GMT 1

Post by anthonymm13 on Jun 20, 2020 20:32:59 GMT 1

Post by Moore on Jun 24, 2020 20:49:58 GMT 1

Post by Moore on Jun 29, 2020 19:53:13 GMT 1