Everything You Need To Know About The NWA's 70th Anniversary Pay-Per-View

14. 70 Years Of The National Wrestling Alliance

The National Wrestling Alliance, established in 1948, is the oldest wrestling promotion in the United States. It predates WWE by nearly two decades and was the most prominent wrestling group in the world until the 1980’s. With prominent territories under its umbrella -- such as Jim Crockett Promotions in the Carolinas, Georgia Championship Wrestling, St. Louis, affiliations with Japan, and even the World Wrestling Federation at times -- the Alliance was the singular governing body of almost all of wrestling.

By the early 1990’s, however -- following WCW’s withdrawal and ECW turning its back on the group -- the NWA had hit hard times. In 2002 though, the brand saw a slight return to the national stage with TNA Wrestling. That partnership was ended in 2004, however, leaving the Alliance left overseeing small, largely unheard of independent promotions across the country until last year.

An unlikely source stepped in to purchase the NWA brand with an eye on reviving its falling status. Famed Smashing Pumpkins frontman and former IMPACT Wrestling executive, Billy Corgan, took over the day-to-day operations of the National Wrestling Alliance and went to work on executing his vision for the company's future.