The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is one of the most influential wrestling promotions of all time. The brand has helped establish names like Sting, Vader, and Ric Flair, and has also provided future companies such as WCW, ECW, and TNA with the credibility needed to be taken seriously. From the inception of TNA in 2002 until 2007, the NWA legacy was closely tied to what we now know as TNA Wrestling, largely due to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In this article, I’ll highlight how NWA Championship matches proved to be crucial in TNA Wrestling’s early years.
NWA Championship : The Gauntlet For The Gold (NWA TNA PPV #1)
We start with the very first NWA title match in TNA history. On June 19, 2002, during the inaugural TNA Wrestling event, MMA legend and professional wrestler Dan “The Beast” Severn was scheduled to appear as the reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion. However, due to other obligations, Severn was stripped of the title weeks before the show.
To ensure the event ended on a high note, the main event featured a Gauntlet For The Gold match with wrestlers like Abyss, Christian York, Konnan, and Scott Hall competing to become the new NWA Champion. The final two participants were Malice (aka The Wall in WCW) and Ken Shamrock, a former King Of The Ring winner and Intercontinental Champion. After a five-minute battle, Shamrock forced Malice to tap out, with special guest referee Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat declaring Shamrock the new NWA World Champion and the first world champion in TNA history. Although Shamrock’s reign lasted only 49 days, he defended the title against notable names like Malice, Tako Omori, and Sabu before making history with his loss.
NWA Championship : Abyss vs. Sean Waltman vs. Monty Brown vs. Raven: King Of The Mountain Match (Slammiversary 2005)
Following his WWE departure, former ECW champion Raven made a dramatic entrance at the January 22, 2003, event by attacking Jeff Jarrett and running off with the NWA Title.
Raven’s pursuit of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship faced numerous obstacles, including his rivalry with Jeff Jarrett. Raven’s breakthrough came at the first Slammiversary pay-per-view in 2005 when he replaced Jarrett in the King of the Mountain match for the NWA Championship, after Jarrett ‘assaulted’ a fan and ‘went to jail’.
In this second-ever King of the Mountain match, Raven competed against reigning champion AJ Styles, “The Monster” Abyss, Sean Waltman, and “The Alpha Male” Monty Brown. Despite the odds, Raven climbed the ladder to fulfill his destiny and win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. This victory was significant not only for Raven’s career but also for TNA’s golden era, demonstrating the value of ex-WWE talent.
NWA Championship : Christian Cage vs. Jeff Jarrett: Against All Odds 2006
Continuing the trend of former WWE stars finding success in TNA, Christian Cage’s debut was treated as a major event. At Against All Odds 2006, Christian faced Jeff Jarrett in the main event, with fans eager to see Christian win or boo Jarrett if he retained the title.
Despite some overbooking, the match concluded with Christian hitting his Kill Switch on Jarrett, winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. The Impact Zone erupted with cheers as Christian was celebrated as the new champion. This win solidified Christian as a main event star and marked the beginning of TNA’s Golden Age from 2005 to 2009.
NWA Championship : Raven vs. Jeff Jarrett (NWA TNA PPV #43)
In one of TNA’s most anticipated matches, Raven faced off against his nemesis Jeff Jarrett on episode 43 of NWA TNA’s weekly pay-per-views. Raven had been targeting Jarrett and the NWA title since his debut, making this match highly anticipated.
The venue was packed with fans, leading to reports that the company had to turn away paying customers due to the high attendance. The match was filled with weapons, outside interference, and ref bumps. Jarrett ultimately won with his signature move, “The Stroke,” leading to widespread fan dissatisfaction and chants of “Bullshit” and “Super Jarrett.” Despite Raven not winning the title, this match demonstrated the rising popularity and intense fan interest in TNA Wrestling.
NWA Championship : Ron Killings vs. Ken Shamrock (NWA TNA PPV #8)
Earlier, I mentioned Ken Shamrock’s historical loss of the NWA title. On August 7, 2002, Ron “The Truth” Killings, known as R-Truth in WWE, had been demanding an opportunity to prove himself as a world champion. After delivering an impactful promo, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat granted him a title shot against Shamrock.
In a competitive match, Killings became the first and, to date, only African American wrestler recognized as NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Although his reign lasted 105 days before losing to Jeff Jarrett, Killings’ victory was a significant milestone in wrestling history. He later regained the title as part of the Three Live Kru.
NWA Championship : Sting vs. Kurt Angle vs. Christian Cage (Sacrifice 2007)
On May 13, 2007, it was announced that the NWA was ending its partnership with TNA Wrestling after a five-year association. This was due to the fact that names like Team 3D and Christian Cage had not defended their titles in NWA territories. Despite the announcement, TNA went ahead with its scheduled pay-per-view, using the existing NWA titles for the event. The title matches ended in screwy finishes to write the NWA lineage out of the company. Team 3D was awarded new TNA World Tag Team titles, and Kurt Angle won the NWA Championship in a controversial finish.
To establish a new championship lineage, TNA created its own world title and crowned Angle as the first TNA World Heavyweight Champion at Slammiversary 2007. This marked the end of the NWA/TNA partnership and the beginning of a new chapter in the company’s history.
