NWA National Heavyweight Championship
Encyclopedia
The original version NWA National Heavyweight Championship was the major singles title in the NWA
-affiliated Georgia Championship Wrestling
from 1980 until 1986. In spite of its name, the championship was never defended on a national basis but, rather, it was used only within the territorial region in which Georgia Championship Wrestling ran its operations.
In 1984, Vince McMahon's Titan Sports, Inc. (which operated under the World Wrestling Federation brand name) bought Georgia Championship Wrestling, Inc. The National champion at the time of the sale was The Spoiler (Don Jardine). Spoiler went to work for the WWF and was briefly recognized by that company as National Heavyweight Champion.
Meanwhile, a rival group with NWA sanctioning began in Georgia. This group was called Championship Wrestling from Georgia. They awarded the NWA National Heavyweight Championship to Ted DiBiase (proclaiming that he had won the title from The Spoiler, which actually wasn't the case except for storyline purposes).
In 1985, Jim Crockett Promotions purchased the TBS Saturday night and Sunday night television slots from the WWF and began production on a new era of "World Championship Wrestling." JCP essentially consolidated Championship Wrestling from Georgia (taking over that group's Saturday morning time slot as well) and began to recognize their championships.
Eventually Crockett held a unification match between his company's United States champion and the National champion. The U.S. champ won and that version of the National title was abandoned.
Beginning in 1997, the NWA Board of Directors created another NWA National Heavyweight Championship. Unlike some other NWA sanctioned championships that were once inactive, the NWA had to create another title with a separate lineage from the first one as Georgia Championship Wrestling, its video archives and championships are currently owned by World Wrestling Entertainment
. Unlike the original version, the current NWA National Heavyweight Championship is defended in various NWA affiliated promotions throughout the United States.
The current champion is Chance Prophet, who is in his second reign. Prophet won his most recent championship on February 19, 2011 in Franklin Township, New Jersey
by defeating Phill Shatter
.
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
-affiliated Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
from 1980 until 1986. In spite of its name, the championship was never defended on a national basis but, rather, it was used only within the territorial region in which Georgia Championship Wrestling ran its operations.
In 1984, Vince McMahon's Titan Sports, Inc. (which operated under the World Wrestling Federation brand name) bought Georgia Championship Wrestling, Inc. The National champion at the time of the sale was The Spoiler (Don Jardine). Spoiler went to work for the WWF and was briefly recognized by that company as National Heavyweight Champion.
Meanwhile, a rival group with NWA sanctioning began in Georgia. This group was called Championship Wrestling from Georgia. They awarded the NWA National Heavyweight Championship to Ted DiBiase (proclaiming that he had won the title from The Spoiler, which actually wasn't the case except for storyline purposes).
In 1985, Jim Crockett Promotions purchased the TBS Saturday night and Sunday night television slots from the WWF and began production on a new era of "World Championship Wrestling." JCP essentially consolidated Championship Wrestling from Georgia (taking over that group's Saturday morning time slot as well) and began to recognize their championships.
Eventually Crockett held a unification match between his company's United States champion and the National champion. The U.S. champ won and that version of the National title was abandoned.
Beginning in 1997, the NWA Board of Directors created another NWA National Heavyweight Championship. Unlike some other NWA sanctioned championships that were once inactive, the NWA had to create another title with a separate lineage from the first one as Georgia Championship Wrestling, its video archives and championships are currently owned by World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. Unlike the original version, the current NWA National Heavyweight Championship is defended in various NWA affiliated promotions throughout the United States.
The current champion is Chance Prophet, who is in his second reign. Prophet won his most recent championship on February 19, 2011 in Franklin Township, New Jersey
Franklinville, New Jersey
Franklinville is an unincorporated area within Franklin Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08322....
by defeating Phill Shatter
Phill Shatter
Chad Lail is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion, where he performs under the ring name Gunner. In TNA, Lail is a member of the Immortal stable and a former one-time TNA Television Champion...
.
Original version (1980–1986)
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Brisco Jack Brisco Freddie Joe Brisco was an American professional wrestler, better known as Jack Brisco or Uvalde Slim. He performed for various territories of the National Wrestling Alliance , becoming a two-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA Tag Team Champion with his brother Gerald Brisco... |
1 | October 1980 | ||
| Mongolian Stomper Mongolian Stomper Archie Gouldie is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name The Mongolian Stomper.-Stampede Wrestling:Gouldie held the North American heavyweight title a record ten times between 1968 and 1984, quite a streak of longevity for that time frame... |
1 | December 6, 1980 | Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in... |
|
| Steve Olsonoski Steve Olsonoski Steve Olsonoski is a retired American professional wrestler from Minnesota.Steve Olsonoski, purportedly from Edina, Minnesota, began his wrestling career in the late 1970s in the American Wrestling Association. He won the AWA Rookie of the Year Award in his first year and was often described as... |
1 | March 29, 1981 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Masked Superstar Bill Eadie Bill Eadie is a professional wrestler who has competed under the names of Ax as part of Demolition and The Masked Superstar... |
1 | August 15, 1981 | Columbus, Georgia Columbus, Georgia Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795... |
|
| Tommy Rich Tommy Rich Thomas Richardson , better known by his ring name, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, is a professional wrestler. He is best known for his wrestling career in Georgia and Memphis throughout the 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:... |
1 | September 28, 1981 | Augusta, Georgia Augusta, Georgia Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County... |
|
| Masked Superstar | 2 | November 25, 1981 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Tommy Rich | 2 | January 17, 1982 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ron Bass Ronald Herd Ronald Heard is a former American professional wrestler, best known under the name Ron Bass. His gimmick was a Texan cowboy who entered World Wrestling Federation rings to the sound of a bullwhip.-Career:... |
1 | March 15, 1982 | Augusta, Georgia | |
| Tommy Rich | 3 | April 19, 1982 | Augusta, Georgia | |
| Buzz Sawyer Buzz Sawyer Bruce Woyan was a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Buzz Sawyer. Throughout his career, he was also known by the nickname "Mad Dog". He was characterized by his crazy antics inside the ring and out.-Career:Sawyer started wrestling in 1979 in the National Wrestling Alliance 's... |
1 | May 2, 1982 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Paul Orndorff Paul Orndorff Paul Parlette Orndorff, Jr. is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff... |
1 | June 20, 1982 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Vacated | 1982 | |||
| Super Destroyer Scott Irwin Scott K. Irwin was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his tag team with his brother Barney "Bill" Irwin.-Debut and the World Wide Wrestling Federation:... |
1 | August 29, 1982 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Paul Orndorff | 2 | October 3, 1982 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Masked Superstar | 3 | October 17, 1982 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Paul Orndorff | 3 | November 17, 1982 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Killer Karl Kox Herb Gerwig Herb Gerwig was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name of Killer Karl Kox, who competed in the National Wrestling Alliance as well as international promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling, the International Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling during the... |
1 | 1982 | ||
| Tommy Rich | 4 | 1983 | ||
| Paul Orndorff | 4 | March 1983 | ||
| Killer Tim Brooks Killer Tim Brooks Timothy Paul Brooks is a retired American professional wrestler, better-known by his ring name "Killer Tim Brooks". He competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Pacific Northwest Wrestling and World Class Championship Wrestling during the 1970s and... |
1 | March 20, 1983 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Larry Zbyszko Larry Zbyszko Lawrence "Larry" Whistler is a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Larry Zbyszko. Zbyszko is perhaps best known for his feud with his mentor, wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino during the early 1980s.... |
1 | March 20, 1983 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Vacated | April 30, 1983 | |||
| Larry Zbyszko | 2 | June 5, 1983 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Brett Wayne Brett Woyan Brett Woyan was a professional wrestler and is the brother of wrestler Buzz Sawyer.-Career:Brett Sawyer started wrestling in 1981... |
1 | September 25, 1983 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ted DiBiase Ted DiBiase Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Sr. is a retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career... |
1 | November 18, 1983 | Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border... |
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| Brad Armstrong | 1 | February 18, 1984 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| The Spoiler Don Jardine Don Jardine was a Canadian professional wrestler best known for his masked gimmick as "The Spoiler".-Career:Jardine began wrestling in the mid-1950s,making his wrestling debut in 1955 at the age of 15... |
1 | April 12, 1984 | Wheeling, West Virginia Wheeling, West Virginia Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
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| Brad Armstrong | 2 | May 4, 1984 | Marietta, Georgia Marietta, Georgia Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs... |
|
| The Spoiler | 2 | July 1, 1984 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ted DiBiase | 2 | July 14, 1984 | Macon, Georgia | |
| Ron Garvin Ron Garvin Ron Garvin is a Canadian former professional wrestler and referee most known for his time in the National Wrestling Alliance.-Early career:... |
1 | October 11, 1984 | Baltimore, Maryland | |
| Black Bart Rick Harris Rick Harris is a former professional wrestler better known by his ring name , Black Bart. He is the son of the late George "Two Ton" Harris.-Career:Rick Harris started wrestling in 1975... |
1 | June 1, 1985 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Terry Taylor Terry Taylor Terry Taylor , is an American retired professional wrestler best known for his time in the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation... |
1 | September 22, 1985 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Buddy Landel Buddy Landel William Ansor is a professional wrestler better knownas "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel.-Career:Buddy Landel started his career in 1979 as a young talented athlete in ICW. He left high school even though he had received letters of intent to play baseball and football at the University of Tennessee... |
1 | November 28, 1985 | Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S... |
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| Dusty Rhodes Dusty Rhodes (wrestler) Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. , better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler currently working for WWE... |
1 | December 19, 1985 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Tully Blanchard Tully Blanchard Tully Arthur Blanchard is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen.... |
1 | March 4, 1986 | Spartanburg, South Carolina Spartanburg, South Carolina thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of... |
|
| Wahoo McDaniel Wahoo McDaniel Edward "Wahoo" McDaniel was a Choctaw-Chickasaw Native American who achieved fame as a professional American football player and later as a professional wrestler.-Early life:... |
1 | August 28, 1986 | Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... |
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| Nikita Koloff Nikita Koloff Nikita Koloff is a retired American professional wrestler,. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, he wrestled as "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff, which was a play on the nickname of fan favorite "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes .Nikita was brought into the National... |
1 | September 28, 1986 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Title retired | September 28, 1986 | Atlanta, Georgia | ||
Revived version (1997–)
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Slam | 1 | 1997 | ||
| Salvatore Sincere Tom Brandi Tom Brandi is a professional wrestler known for his work in World Wrestling Federation as Salvatore Sincere. He is also known for his current work as The Patriot, working for such companies as Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1, National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions on the East... |
1 | July 18, 1997 | Raeford, North Carolina Raeford, North Carolina Raeford is a city in Hoke County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,386 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hoke County. The county was named after Confederate General Robert F. Hoke, as Tar Heel native.... |
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| Vacated | October 11, 1997 | |||
| Doug Gilbert Doug Gilbert Doug Gilbert is a professional wrestler from Memphis, Tennessee who wrestles on the independent circuit. He is the brother of "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and the son of wrestler/referee/promoter Tommy Gilbert.... |
1 | March 27, 1998 | Mount Holly, New Jersey Mount Holly Township, New Jersey Mount Holly Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States as well as an eastern suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 10,728. It is the county seat of Burlington County.... |
|
| Stevie Richards Stevie Richards Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr... |
1 | August 22, 1998 | Mount Holly, New Jersey | |
| Doug Gilbert | 2 | October 24, 1998 | Cherry Hill, New Jersey Cherry Hill, New Jersey Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census... |
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| Don Brodie | 1 | January 15, 2000 | Memphis, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers.... |
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| Kevin Northcutt Kevin Northcutt Kevin Northcutt is an American professional wrestler.-Total Nonstop Action Wrestling:During his time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as part of the Red Shirt Security, he won the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Joe E. Legend & held the belts from January 28, 2004 until February 4 of the... |
1 | April 14, 2000 | North Richland Hills, Texas North Richland Hills, Texas North Richland Hills is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 63,343 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Tarrant County. In 2006, North Richland Hills was selected as one of the "Top 100 Best Places to live in America"... |
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| Stone Mountain | 1 | September 13, 2000 | Athens, Georgia Athens, Georgia Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city... |
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| Terry Knight | 1 | November 4, 2000 | Cornelia, Georgia Cornelia, Georgia Cornelia is a city in Habersham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,834 at the 2010 census. It is home to one of the world's largest apple sculptures, which is displayed on top of an obelisk shaped monument... |
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| Don Brodie | 2 | January 12, 2001 | Greenville, Mississippi Greenville, Mississippi Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 48,633 at the 2000 census, but according to the 2009 census bureau estimates, it has since declined to 42,764, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Washington... |
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| Vacated | August 2001 | |||
| Kevin Northcutt | 2 | August 22, 2001 | ||
| Hotstuff Hernandez Shawn Hernandez Shawn Hernandez is an American professional wrestler of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, better known by his ring names, "Hotstuff Hernandez" and "Hernandez".... |
1 | October 13, 2001 | St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St... |
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| Shinya Hashimoto Shinya Hashimoto , was a Japanese professional wrestler. Along with Masahiro Chono and Keiji Mutoh, Hashimoto was dubbed one of the "Three Musketeers" that began competing in New Japan Pro Wrestling in the mid 1980s and dominated the promotion in the 1990s.... |
# | May 23, 2002 | Tokyo, Japan Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... |
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| Hotstuff Hernandez | 1 | May 2002 | ||
| Ricky Murdock | 1 | January 11, 2003 | Greenville, Mississippi | |
| Spyder | 1 | October 15, 2004 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | |
| Vacated | October 8, 2005 | Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home... |
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| Ricky Murdock | 2 | October 8, 2005 | Nashville, Tennessee | |
| Vacated | March 31, 2006 | Lebanon, Tennessee Lebanon, Tennessee Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it... |
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| Big Bully Douglas | 1 | April 1, 2006 | Columbia, Tennessee Columbia, Tennessee Columbia is a city in Maury County, Tennessee, United States. The 2008 population was 34,402 according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates. It is the county seat of Maury County.... |
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| Kory Williams | 1 | September 30, 2006 | Lebanon, Tennessee Lebanon, Tennessee Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it... |
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| Chance Prophet | 1 | May 5, 2007 | Salyersville, Kentucky Salyersville, Kentucky Salyersville is a city in and the county seat of Magoffin County, Kentucky, United States. It is located on the Licking River. The population was 1,604 at the 2000 census.-History:... |
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| Pepper Parks | 1 | October 20, 2007 | Lebanon, Tennessee Lebanon, Tennessee Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it... |
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| Crusher Hansen | 1 | April 18, 2008 | McKeesport, Pennsylvania McKeesport, Pennsylvania McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census... |
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| Phill Shatter Phill Shatter Chad Lail is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion, where he performs under the ring name Gunner. In TNA, Lail is a member of the Immortal stable and a former one-time TNA Television Champion... |
1 | January 19, 2009 | McKeesport, Pennsylvania McKeesport, Pennsylvania McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census... |
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| Chance Prophet | 2 | February 19, 2011 | Franklinville, New Jersey Franklinville, New Jersey Franklinville is an unincorporated area within Franklin Township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP Code 08322.... |
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See also
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- Jim Crockett PromotionsJim Crockett PromotionsJim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...