How Blind Arrogance Killed Wrestling's Coolest Cult Promotion
5. The Resurrection Of The NWA
As mentioned earlier, it was in 2017 when Billy Corgan purchased the National Wrestling Alliance. Prior to that, the rights to the NWA had been with R. Bruce Tharpe since 2012, with Tharpe having acquired the organisation as part of a settlement for an insurance fraud case.
Under Corgan, the NWA would end up becoming destination viewing for a certain section of wrestling fans. While the Smashing Pumpkins' frontman initially utilised the NWA - much like Tharpe before him - as a licensing tool, where other promotions were able to use the NWA letters and titles, Billy completely changed the game in 2019.
It was '19 when Billy Corgan's National Wrestling Alliance launched its own weekly television series, NWA Powerrr. Pulling on the heartstrings of those with fond memories of the classic studio wrestling format, Powerrr was a glorious hour of action that was doused in nostalgia but had a slew of fantastic present-day talents to showcase.
Before the arrival of Powerrr, the NWA had a brief alliance with IMPACT Wrestling before then striking up a working relationship with Ring of Honor. And it was during this time that Cody Rhodes toppled Nick Aldis at All In to become the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion.
The American Nightmare would drop that prize back to Aldis a month later at the NWA 70th Anniversary Show, and it was the Brit who would lead the charge when the NWA began putting out weekly content with the first episode of Powerrr on 8 October 2019.