The NWA - An Alternate History

NWA Press Conference

Jim Ross, here from National Wrestling Night and I’ll be the moderator of today’s press conference, introducing all of the gentlemen involved.  I’ll also be the host of National Wrestling Night, with the great Gordon Solie doing the play by play, I’ll be on hand for the interviews and helping out where I can.  Without further ado, let me introduce everyone we have here today.

The owners from each NWA territory around the world on stage include: Bob Geigel (St. Louis/KC), Fritz Von Erich (Dallas), Jim Crockett Jr (Charlotte), Don Owen (Portland), Stu Hart (Calgary), Verne Gagne (Minneapolis), Ron Fuller (Knoxville), Carlos Colon (Puerto Rico), Eddie Graham (Tampa), Bill Watts (Oklahoma/Louisiana), Shohei Baba (Tokyo), Antonio Inoki (Tokyo) and Vince McMahon Jr. (New York). (Each man acknowledges the crowd in their own way after being introduced)

Bob Geigel former president is coming to the podium to speak.

Bob Geigel: Thank you, ladies, gentlemen, esteemed colleagues and press from all over the world.  We have quite a bit to talk about this morning.  As you all know, I stepped down as president of the NWA almost 2 months ago.  It all stems from what is being referred to now as Chaos in KC.  It was on my watch, in my territory and though I’ve been told it wasn’t my fault, I take full responsibility for what happened and I’d never be able to live with myself if I wasn’t punished for the actions of those men.  Enough about that, we’re here to move forward and name our new President of the NWA.  It was near unanimous for this gentleman's election.  Normally, we’d elect one of the owners of our great NWA territories, but we’re all getting older, have children entering the business and other business ventures, so we decided to elect someone who would be objective, not play favorites over where the NWA Titles would be defended and truly have a world wide alliance.  It’s my pleasure to introduce the new President of the NWA, Ric Flair!

(JR Voiceover): Camera flashes nearly blind everyone.  There’s a lot of shock, gasps and whispering in a variety of languages happening.  Flair is being wheeled out in his wheelchair, he does however look much healthier than he did when we first checked in after his beating in KC.  Flair shakes hands with all the owners and hugs Geigel.  Flair actually stands behind the podium to everyone’s astonishment.

Ric Flair: Thank you Bob, gentlemen of the NWA.  It’s my pleasure to accept this position.  My doctors have said I’ve made incredible improvement.  I bet no one ever thought they’d see me stand again.  It’s not without great effort that I do this.  I managed a couple of steps and everything has started coming back, however, the doctors still don’t believe I’ll ever wrestle again.  (Flair has to sit back down), they may be right, but I’m gonna bust my ass in rehab everyday and exhaust every avenue before I give up, before I quit.  I’m NOT Retired!  Professional Wrestling is my life, it’s in my blood, I love it and if I can’t wrestle anymore, I still want to be around it, so when this was offered to me...I couldn’t turn it down.  

Now, before we open it up to questions from the press, I’m going to introduce to everyone, the 16 competitors of the NWA World Title Tournament.  We shall have two matches per week on our great program, National Wrestling Night.  That means you get TWO Main Event worthy matches each week on National Wrestling Night.  With the final two to meet at our first Super Show, which has yet to be named.  

We’re going to have fans submit their best names and the winner will receive a weekend at the matches.  They’ll get tickets, meet wrestlers, get flight and hotel accommodations.  I want to take the NWA to the MTV generation. 

Now without further ado, I’ll be introducing the former NWA champions who have accepted automatic spots for the tournament and then all the other men from all over the world.  The first two matches will be announced tonight, with all the others to be announced the week before on National Wrestling Night.

Each man will walk through the curtain and be available for questions afterwards.  

Here we go:

Dusty Rhodes, former champion and representing JCP, he’s our most recent World Champion

Tommy “Wildfire” Rich, former champion and representing the NWA

Terry Funk, former champion and representing the NWA

Harley Race, former champion and representing Central States, yes...this means Mr. Race has been reinstated.  Mr. Orton Jr. and Mr. Slater are still on suspension

Non Champion invitees in no order:

Ted DiBiase, representing Mid-South (DiBiase raises his gloved hand and strokes his beard)

Bret Hart, representing Calgary Stampede (a quick waive from Bret)

David Von Erich, representing World Class (the hulking David nods to everyone in attendance)

Antonio Inoki, representing New Japan (Inoki stands up and bows)

Jerry Lawler, representing Continental Wrestling (Lawler appears with a big smile, holding his crown)

Curt Hennig, representing Pacfic Northwest (the young Hennig is very polite to everyone)

Carlos Colon, representing Puerto Rico (Colon stands up)

Barry Windham, representing Florida (another huge man walks through with a big smile)

Rick Martel, representing the AWA (Martel smiles and shakes hands with Flair)

Stan Hansen, representing All Japan (Hansen’s face is covered in chewing tobacco spit and snot, he’s given plenty of room)

The Junkyard Dog, representing Mid-South (“Another One Bites the Dust” starts and people are smiling and dancing...DiBiase is visibly pissed and didn’t know...Watts smiles to himself)

Last but certainly not least...the man comes running out before his name is announced…

Bob Backlund, representing the WWF (Backlund’s shaking hands with everyone and I mean everyone. All you can hear is, "Nice to meet you." "Hey there sir." "Oh, I heard of you, you're real good." McMahon rolls his eyes)

One of these men will be the New NWA World Heavyweight Champion!

The first two matches on National Wrestling Night will be..

Jerry Lawler vs Antonio Inoki and Carlos Colon vs David Von Erich.  As far as we know, these matches have never happened before.

(Applause and camera flashes overwhelm everyone)

Questions???

Ric, do you feel left out of this?

Ric Flair: Even if I did, there’s nothing I can do about it right now.  All I can do is keep doing what I’m doing with my rehab and represent the NWA best I can.

(Through translator): Why Hansen and not Tsuruta, Baba-san?

(Baba through translator): I need Tsuruta in Japan.  Hansen will bring victory and honor back to Japan.

Mr. Race, since you’re responsible for all of this happening, how do you feel about being in the tournament?

Harley Race: I feel great.  I mean, all of these men here should be thanking me personally.  Most of these gentlemen would never get this shot, but they all do, because of me! (Total smugness)

Just then, Terry Funk moves a chair trying to get closer to Race, who's just smiling, but it turns into snickering.  Tommy Rich and Dusty Rhodes grab Funk.  Race leaves the stage laughing louder and louder.

Ric Flair: I believe that’s all for today...see you at National Wrestling Night.  I know each match would be a Main Event anywhere in the world.

Jim Ross: Hello everyone and welcome to another fantastic night of NWA Pro Wrestling.  I’m Jim Ross and before I toss it to Gordon Solie, I’m going to run down tonight’s action.

Tonight we’re going to see the debut of the masked tag team known as The Technicians, they’ll go up against the duo of Rip Rogers and Gene Ligon.

The other debut will be manager Gary Hart’s new team from the Far East, known as the Rising Sons.  They’ll be taking on the team of the Mulkey Brothers.

The first of two NWA World Heavyweight Tournament matches will feature Jerry Lawler vs Antonio Inoki

The second tournament match is David Von Erich vs Carlos Colon.

An excellent night of wrestling wouldn’t you say, Gordon?

Gordon Solie: Well Jim, we get not just one, but two Main Event quality matches, plus the debut of two new tag teams.  I think the NWA is heating up all around.  Without further ado...let’s get to the action about to begin in the ring.

Rip Rogers & Gene Ligon

Vs

The Technicians

With Rogers and Ligon already in the ring, The Technicians are talking behind the curtain.

Technician 1: I don’t wanna wear this mask for very long.

Technician 2: What’re you complaining about?  We’re about to be on national television.

Technician 1: Yeah, but nobody knows who we are.  

Technician 2: They will soon enough.

Technician 1: I hate that you agreed with Boris Malenko, “wear a mask and your wrestling skills will make you popular.”  How does that make sense?

Technician 2: Shut up, here we go.

Jim Ross: The Technicians!!

Both teams trade moves.  The Technicians showing that they really do live up to their name, displaying moves that are unfamiliar to the average crowd.  However, the two ring vets of Rogers and Ligon manage to hang with them, just not as fluidly or crisp.  More of a workingman’s, blue collar style, but still effective.  They have control of the match.  

Technician 1 yells audibly: “Stop screwing around!”

Technician 2 buries a knee into Ligon’s mid-section, then smashes Rogers in the face.  He tags Technician 1, then their finishing move is hit.  Technician 2 hits a quick snap suplex on Ligon and just as that’s completed, Technician 1 hits a running corkscrew elbow drop on Ligon’s head, then rolls over and hooks the leg for the 1-2-3.

Winners: The Technicians in 7:35

Gordon Solie: Once the Technicians got it together, they were extremely impressive.

Jim Ross: I agree Gordon, but what a match for Rogers and Ligon, they were right there with them for about half the match…An outstanding showing by them.  After the break, we’ll have the Jerry Lawler vs Antonio Inoki in the first of our two NWA World Title Tournament matches...after these messages.

--Commercial Break--

We’re back from our break and there’s some confusion going on at Gordon and Jim’s podium position.

There’s some technical workers trying to get what looks like a wrestler to leave the set.  You hear Gordon say, “I’ve got it...we’ll be fine.”

Gordon Solie: Let me introduce my new co-host to the audience at home, Roddy Piper ladies and gentlemen.

Roddy Piper (mugging for the camera): Hi there everyone.  Looks like I wasn't invited to the party. I really like parties. Who doesn't like parties? I said to a friend of mine, that I was gunna go down to the NWA and find out why I wasn't invited to the NWA World Heavyweight Tournament Party. In fact, I promised my friend and I always keep my promises.

Jim Ross looks confused.

Roddy continues: You (at Ross) can go now.  I like him (pointing at Solie), I don’t know you...so, you can go.

Jim Ross: You can’t just come in here and take my..

Roddy Piper: I’m Gordon’s co-host now.  I said, you can go...go to the movies, go home...I don’t care.  We’re shooting a wrestling program and you’re interrupting...that’s very rude, sir!

Gordon gives Jim a nod, Ross throws up his arms, turns and leaves.

Roddy Piper: So Gordo, what’s up next?

Gordon Solie: We’re about to be joined by new NWA President Ric Flair, who’ll be here to watch the tournament matches.

Just as Gordon finishes saying that, Ric Flair dressed in a designer suit is wheeled out by an extremely gorgeous and buxom blonde, dressed in a nurses outfit.  They take a position just off camera, but near the ring.  The nurse leaves after Flair whispers in her ear.

Roddy Piper can’t help himself and walks over with a microphone.

Roddy Piper: Well, well Ricky!  Look at you...still down and out.  

Ric Flair: I’m getting better there Rod, be careful.

Roddy Piper: Oh really?  What’s gonna happen?  Bubbles, the nurse is gonna slap me?

Ric Flair: Not Bubbles Rod...Bundy will

Roddy Piper: You call your nurse...Bundy?  That’s hilarious!!

Just then, an enormous man puts his gigantic hands on the shoulders of Piper.  Piper’s head whips around and mutters the word, “Bbbb-BIG!”  Piper scurries back to the podium with Solie after dropping the microphone.  Flair picks it up.

Ric Flair: Rod, meet Bundy...6’4” Four Hundred and Forty...wait a second...did you eat lunch yet?  (Bundy nods) Four Hundred and Fifty Pounds.  If any of you guys out there want to get to me...you gotta go through him!

Jim Ross: Up Next after the break, Lawler vs Inoki!

--Commercial Break--

Piper is still visibly upset as Gordon begins to talk about the tournament match.

Gordon Solie: Roddy you’ll get your turn after the match.  Let’s get to the NWA tournament match as Jerry Lawler enters the ring with his crown in hand.  Known as “the King” of Memphis Wrestling, he waves to the fans in the studio.  His opponent, the man from Japan, the man who once took on Muhammed Ali, Antonio Inoki.  To my knowledge, they’ve never met in a ring before.

Jerry Lawler

Vs

Antonio Inoki

In a classic brawler versus submission wrestler match, they went back and forth.  Lawler wanted to shake hands before the match, but Antonio didn’t care for the smirk Jerry had on his face, so Inoki slapped it off of him.  From there on, all niceties were thrown out.  Lawler fired back with his famous right hand, dropping Inoki.  They went back and forth with Inoki showing that not only did he know a lot of holds, but could brawl with the best of them.  Lawler showed he was more than just a piledriver and a punch, by surprising Inoki with his own submission holds.  After 20 plus minutes of action, we saw the finish.  

Lawler pumping up the crowd with a couple of lefts that had Inoki weary.  Lawler throws the right hand, but Inoki is able to duck it and hit a kick to the gut.  Inoki looks as if he’s going for Lawler’s own move the piledriver!  Lawler somehow kicks his legs out to block the vicious move, he then powers out and back drops Inoki.  Lawler climbs slowly to the top turnbuckle, pulls down his strap, looks at the crowd and jumps off with the diving fist drop.  Inoki rolls at the last minute...Lawler’s fist connects with the mat...Lawler is hurt, Inoki transitions quickly into a cross armbreaker and Lawler gives up immediately.  Lawler’s hand could be broken.

Winner: Antonio Inoki in 22:11

Gordon Solie: What an amazing match.  Fans all around the world, that’s the type of action packed match we have in the NWA.  We’ll be back after some commercials!

--Commercial Break--

Gordon Solie: Okay Roddy, before our next match, I’m going to let you have your say.  

Roddy Piper: Thank you Gordon (Piper responds calmly).  I’m going to address the NWA.  I don’t care that I’m not in the tournament anymore.  I get it.  I don’t want it handed to me, I’m gonna earn my way here in the NWA!  If I have to start at the bottom, I’ll do it...I’ll find a way to get on top.  I want a shot at whoever turns out to be champion after this tournament.  Friend...haha...not that I have many in this business or Foe...that’s better...I got plenty of those...I’m gonna be the champ!  I ain’t going nowhere...I’m here to stay...I’m tired of being overlooked and I’ve either beat or wrestled just about everyone in this tournament!  You ain’t got nothing on the Hot Rod.  Looks like I’m moving in Gordo.  See ya next week!  (Piper leaves the interview area)

Gordon Solie: Jim Ross and I will be joined by Gary Hart and his new duo from the Orient in just a minute.  What’d you think about our first tournament match Jim?

Jim Ross: Outstanding...what a fight.  Glad to be back after..

Gordon Solie: Use caution there Jim, Rod could be anywhere and he’s been known to hold grudges.  To the ring…

The Rising Sons w/ Gary Hart

Vs

The Mulkey Brothers

Just as the match gets underway, Gary Hart walks over to the interview area.

Gordon Solie: Nice to see you Gary, it’s been a long time.

Gary Hart: Likewise Gordon.  (Looking at Jim Ross) I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure (holding his hand out)

Jim Ross (shakes hands): Jim Ross, Mr Hart.

Gary Hart: Please call me Gary.

Gordon Solie: Gary please tell us about the two men you’ve brought from Japan.

Gary Hart: You see these two men here.  Mr Onita, who is in the ring as I speak and Mr Fuchi who awaits patiently for his turn, on the ring apron...they are like a fine wine.  It’s taken both of them a few years to age to perfection.  They have traveled the world gaining experience in different styles of wrestling.  Whether it's been Mexico, Canada or at home in Japan, they’ve learned it all and now they’re here to conquer America.

Once Hart stops talking we see the quick finish to the match.

Mr Fuchi hits an enzuigiri and the stunned Mulkey brother is immediately hit with a bridging fallaway slam by Mr Onita for the 1-2-3

Winners: The Rising Sons in 4:38

Jim Ross: We’ll back with our Main Event, just after these messages.

--Commercial Break--

Gordon Solie: Our Main Event is about to begin as young David Von Erich heads to the ring.  Jim Ross spoke to David briefly during the commercial break.

Jim Ross: I’m here with David Von Erich.  David, first I want to say how sorry we are to hear that your father passed away a week before the event here.  What will be done now in Dallas?

David Von Erich: Yes, it was very sudden.  He had a heart attack while working on the farm.  He thought he could do everything.  Going forward, let’s see.  Kevin’s gonna continue wrestling in Dallas.  I’m gonna stay in the NWA thru the tournament, hopefully with the NWA World Championship around my waist.  

Jim Ross: What about your other brothers?

David Von Erich: Kerry’s training for the Olympics and Mike will be joining the fire department.

Jim Ross: Are either interested in wrestling?

David Von Erich: Kerry, maybe in the future, but Mike has never liked it other than watching as a fan.

Jim Ross: Good luck, David

David Von Erich 

Vs 

Carlos Colon

The first thing to notice is Von Erich is nearly a foot taller than Colon.  Colon is nearly a 20 year veteran at this point and has been in every known wrestling match there is.  The two men go at it.  Von Erich wrestling cleanly and Colon only cutting corners to stay ahead of his much younger, larger and more athletic opponent.  You see the fire in Von Erich’s eyes when he feels Colon has taken liberties.  The finish comes after nearly 20 minutes.

Von Erich goes to deliver a high knee to Colon in the corner, but Colon manages to get out of the way.  David’s knee connects with the turnbuckle.  He falls to the mat and Colon seizes his opportunity to end it.  He grabs the injured leg and tries to put on the figure four leg lock he’s won hundreds of matches.  David’s massive legs are giving him trouble locking it in.  Von Erich sits up in the hold and grabs Colon’s head, applying the Von Erich claw.  Squeezing as hard as he can, he manages to break the figure four leg lock.  He stands up while still grasping the hold on Colon’s head.  Colon wildly swings with punches.  Von Erich releases the claw long enough to slam Colon’s head on the top turnbuckle.  Colon has started bleeding and Von Erich quickly reapplies the claw...squeezing, as more and more blood is spilled.  The referee calls the match as Colon can no longer continue.

Winner: David Von Erich in 18:47

Gordon Solie signs off for the night, but not before saying: Next week’s tournament matches will be…

Dusty Rhodes vs Stan Hansen and Harley Race vs Curt Hennig