Prior to 1948, professional wrestling was regulated by several athletic commissions under the banner of the National Wrestling Association. Alongside several promoters, Sam Muchnick founded the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in Waterloo, Iowa to create wrestling's official sanctioning body. The NWA firmly held its spot as the premier authority for professional wrestling until Vince McMahon changed everything in the 1980s. The idea behind it was that promotions under the NWA banner would share wrestlers, split revenues, and more or less monopolize the business over which they were actually sued. More importantly, the NWA also established its own World Heavyweight Championship - with the champion touring each NWA promotion to drive revenue. Eventual winners of the title include legends such as Ric Flair, Lou Thesz, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, and Buddy Rogers. Having been a successful promoter prior to the NWAs birth, Muchnick was named NWA President in 1950. Over the next 25 years, Muchnicks guidance turned the NWA into an unstoppable juggernaut.
Eric Delgado has been writing about professional wrestling for five years and has been involved in the professional wrestling business as a performer for ten. He is also the former host of Steel Cage Radio and has an irrational love for The Ryback.