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World Wrestling Association (Indianapolis)
Encyclopedia
The World Wrestling Association was an Indianapolis
-based pro wrestling promotion which was operated by Dick "The Bruiser" Afflis
and his business partner Wilbur Snyder
. The WWA was affiliated with the larger American Wrestling Association
and recognized its champions, though the WWA also had its own champions. The WWA also recognized the championships of the Indianapolis-based Powerful Women of Wrestling
promotion as their women's champions in the late 1980s.
, who at that time was attempting to start up a promotion in Australia. The name of the promotion was taken from the former promotions in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas.
A talent sharing agreement with American Wrestling Association
(AWA) head (and longtime champion) Verne Gagne
brought forth other talent, including The Crusher
, Baron Von Raschke and Bobby Heenan
. In addition, amateur wrestler Greg Wojciechowski
wrestled for the WWA under the name "The Great Wojo" and held the WWA World Heavyweight Championship three times. In later years, Scott Steiner
got his start in the WWA under his real name, Scott Rechsteiner.
The WWA tried to make a go of it in the mid-1980s, when Vince McMahon's
World Wrestling Federation
was buying regional promotions across the country, but the Bruiser's advancing age and the talent drain to the WWF was too much and the WWA folded in about 1989.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
-based pro wrestling promotion which was operated by Dick "The Bruiser" Afflis
William Afflis
William Fritz Afflis , best known as Dick the Bruiser, was an American football player and professional wrestler.-Early life:...
and his business partner Wilbur Snyder
Wilbur Snyder
Wilbur Snyder was an American football player and professional wrestler.-Wrestling career:Snyder's wrestling debut occurred during the 1953 offseason. He was trained by Sandor Szabo and Warren Bockwinkel in Southern California. In 1954, Snyder retired from football completely to pursue a full-time...
. The WWA was affiliated with the larger American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
and recognized its champions, though the WWA also had its own champions. The WWA also recognized the championships of the Indianapolis-based Powerful Women of Wrestling
Powerful Women of Wrestling
Powerful Women of Wrestling is a defunct professional wrestling promotion based out of Indianapolis, Indiana founded by David McLane, founder of Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and Women of Wrestling.-History:...
promotion as their women's champions in the late 1980s.
Original
The World Wrestling Association (WWA) was established in 1964 by Dick Afflis and Wilbur Snyder. The duo purchased the Indianapolis NWA promotion in 1964 from its longtime owner Jim BarnettJim Barnett (wrestling)
James E. Barnett was an American professional wrestling promoter, and owner of Georgia Championship Wrestling and Australia's World Championship Wrestling.-Professional wrestling career:...
, who at that time was attempting to start up a promotion in Australia. The name of the promotion was taken from the former promotions in the Chicago and Los Angeles areas.
A talent sharing agreement with American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
(AWA) head (and longtime champion) Verne Gagne
Verne Gagne
Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne , is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association , based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout...
brought forth other talent, including The Crusher
Reginald Lisowski
Reginald Lisowski was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, The Crusher ....
, Baron Von Raschke and Bobby Heenan
Bobby Heenan
Raymond Louis "Ray" Heenan , better known as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan , is a former American professional wrestling manager and color commentator, best known for his time with the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation...
. In addition, amateur wrestler Greg Wojciechowski
Greg Wojciechowski
Greg Wojciechowski is a former American amateur wrestler and professional wrestler, best known by his ring name The Great Wojo, who competed primarily for the Indianapolis-based World Wrestling Association during the 1980s, most notably being featured in the The $10,000 Challenge in which he would...
wrestled for the WWA under the name "The Great Wojo" and held the WWA World Heavyweight Championship three times. In later years, Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner
Scott Carl Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Scott Steiner. Steiner is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling alongside his older brother Rick as the Steiner Brothers and as a member of the New World Order...
got his start in the WWA under his real name, Scott Rechsteiner.
The WWA tried to make a go of it in the mid-1980s, when Vince McMahon's
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
World Wrestling Federation
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...
was buying regional promotions across the country, but the Bruiser's advancing age and the talent drain to the WWF was too much and the WWA folded in about 1989.
New owners
In 2007 a new group of owners decided to revamp WWA and start the federation anew with shows that started in March 2008 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.Toledo
The World Wrestling Association was reborn in Toledo, OH on August 30, 2009 under the moniker of WWA Superstar Wrestling. Live shows are now the first Sunday of each month at Sommerset Hall. The matches are currently televised on Buckeye Cable channel 69 on Saturday nights at 11:30pm.Championships
- WWA World Heavyweight Championship
- WWA World Tag Team Championship