World Wrestling Network
Encyclopedia
The World Wrestling Network was a short-lived National Wrestling Alliance
-affiliated professional wrestling promotion which was owned by promoter Jim Crockett, Jr.
, his last attempt to rebuild a national wrestling promotion after selling Jim Crockett Promotions
to Ted Turner
in 1988. As part of a no-compete clause
agreement he signed with Turner, Crockett was unable to promote professional wrestling events for three years.
and World Wrestling Federation
veterans such as Road Warrior Hawk
, Jake "The Snake" Roberts
and Paul Heyman
. Heyman, who had recently left on bad terms with WCW, eventually became head booker for the promotion although he and Crockett would eventually part ways due to his commitments to then Eastern Championship Wrestling
and ECW's eventual breakaway from the National Wrestling Alliance.
Holding its first event in Killeen, Texas
in August 1993, the show proved moderately successful with 2,156 in attendance. The following year, the promotion held its first televised event at the Manhattan Center
in New York City, New York on February 27, 1994 which featured Road Warrior Hawk and Jake Roberts as well as Public Enemy
, Sabu, Terry Funk
, Shane Douglas
and Missy Hyatt
in her first appearance since being fired by WCW.
Both Crockett and Heyman had hoped to provide a unique concept of producing televised matches in high definition television via internet broadcast, using much of ECW's television production and other resources to do so (this is one of the reasons that Eddie Gilbert resigned his position as head booker and left the promotion in September 1993), however, the event was the only HDTV-television taping broadcast and eventually Crockett closed the promotion by the end of the year.
in New York City, New York on February 28, 1994.
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 professional wrestling promotion which was owned by promoter Jim Crockett, Jr.
Jim Crockett, Jr.
Jim Crockett, Jr. is a former professional wrestling promoter. From 1973 to 1988, he owned Jim Crockett Promotions , a wrestling company affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance...
, his last attempt to rebuild a national wrestling promotion after selling Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim 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:...
to Ted Turner
Ted Turner
Robert Edward "Ted" Turner III is an American media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel. In addition, he founded WTBS, which pioneered the superstation concept in cable television...
in 1988. As part of a no-compete clause
Non-compete clause
A non-compete clause , or covenant not to compete , is a term used in contract law under which one party agrees not to pursue a similar profession or trade in competition against another party . As a contract provision, a CNC is bound by traditional contract requirements including the...
agreement he signed with Turner, Crockett was unable to promote professional wrestling events for three years.
History
In 1993, he began contacting former World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and 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...
veterans such as Road Warrior Hawk
Road Warrior Hawk
Michael James Hegstrand was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors or The Legion of Doom , with Road Warrior Animal.-Early life:While living in Chicago, Hegstrand met Joe Lauranaitis, who would be later...
, Jake "The Snake" Roberts
Jake Roberts
Aurelian Jake Smith, Jr. is a second-generation American professional wrestler, the son of former wrestler Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith...
and Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman is an American entertainment producer, best known for his career in professional wrestling as a promoter, manager, commentator and journalist. He is also an occasional actor in film....
. Heyman, who had recently left on bad terms with WCW, eventually became head booker for the promotion although he and Crockett would eventually part ways due to his commitments to then Eastern Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
and ECW's eventual breakaway from the National Wrestling Alliance.
Holding its first event in Killeen, Texas
Killeen, Texas
Killeen is a city in Bell County, Texas, The United States. The population was 86,911 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, Killeen had 119,510 people. In 2010 Killeen's population shot to 127,921...
in August 1993, the show proved moderately successful with 2,156 in attendance. The following year, the promotion held its first televised event at the Manhattan Center
Manhattan Center
The Manhattan Center building, built in 1906 and located at 311 West 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, houses Manhattan Center Studios , its Grand Ballroom, and the Hammerstein Ballroom, one of New York City's most renowned performance venues...
in New York City, New York on February 27, 1994 which featured Road Warrior Hawk and Jake Roberts as well as Public Enemy
The Public Enemy (professional wrestling)
The Public Enemy was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge. The duo competed in many promotions, including Extreme Championship Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , National Wrestling Alliance , and the World Wrestling Federation...
, Sabu, Terry Funk
Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
, Shane Douglas
Shane Douglas
Troy Alan Martin is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. In the course of his career, which has spanned nearly three decades, Douglas has wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling and briefly...
and Missy Hyatt
Missy Hyatt
Melissa Ann Hiatt is an American professional wrestling valet, better known by her ring name, Missy Hyatt. She gained the majority of her fame while working for World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling....
in her first appearance since being fired by WCW.
Both Crockett and Heyman had hoped to provide a unique concept of producing televised matches in high definition television via internet broadcast, using much of ECW's television production and other resources to do so (this is one of the reasons that Eddie Gilbert resigned his position as head booker and left the promotion in September 1993), however, the event was the only HDTV-television taping broadcast and eventually Crockett closed the promotion by the end of the year.
World Wrestling Network in New York
This was a high profile televised event, featuring a number of former NWA/WCW and WWF wrestlers as well as from Heyman's Eastern Championship Wrestling promotion, which took place at the Manhattan CenterManhattan Center
The Manhattan Center building, built in 1906 and located at 311 West 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan, houses Manhattan Center Studios , its Grand Ballroom, and the Hammerstein Ballroom, one of New York City's most renowned performance venues...
in New York City, New York on February 28, 1994.
- Jake "The Snake" RobertsJake RobertsAurelian Jake Smith, Jr. is a second-generation American professional wrestler, the son of former wrestler Aurelian "Grizzly" Smith...
defeated "Cowboy" Bob OrtonBob Orton, Jr.Robert Keith Orton is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Cowboy" Bob Orton. He is the father of wrestler Randy Orton, who is signed to World Wrestling Entertainment... - The Bruise Brothers defeated Keith Scherer and The Kodiak Bear
- The ConvictKevin WacholzKevin Wacholz is a former professional wrestler who once worked for the World Wrestling Federation in 1992 as Nailz. He was also known as "Mr...
(with manager Sherri MartelSherri MartelSherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri....
) defeated Jason KnightJason KnightRonald Jason Knight is an American professional wrestler and manager. He is best known for his stints in Eastern / Extreme Championship Wrestling, where he was a one time World Television Champion.-World Wrestling Federation :... - 911911 (wrestler)Al Poling is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, 911.-Professional wrestling career:He achieved his greatest national exposure in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the mid-1990s. He debuted in ECW as a "handler" to Sabu...
defeated Mike WatsonMikey WhipwreckJohn Watson , better known by his ring name Mikey Whipwreck, is a retired American professional wrestler best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling where he became the third ECW Triple Crown Champion....
and Paul Warrior in a handicap match - Public EnemyThe Public Enemy (professional wrestling)The Public Enemy was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge. The duo competed in many promotions, including Extreme Championship Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , National Wrestling Alliance , and the World Wrestling Federation...
(Rocco RockRocco RockTheodore James Petty was an American professional wrestler better known as "Flyboy" Rocco Rock, one half of The Public Enemy.-Career:...
and Johnny GrungeJohnny GrungeMichael "Mike" Durham was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Johnny Grunge...
) defeated Badd CompanyBadd CompanyBadd Company was a professional wrestling tag team in the American Wrestling Association in the late 1980s, which later went by the name the Orient Express. It is rumored that the team name was derived from the rock band Bad Company...
(Pat TanakaPat TanakaPatrick "Pat" Tanaka is a semi-retired American professional wrestler best known for his work in the American Wrestling Association as one half of Badd Company and the World Wrestling Federation as one half of The Orient Express...
and Paul Diamond) - Tommy DreamerTommy DreamerThomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
defeated Gino Caruso - Terry FunkTerry FunkTerrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
defeated The Kodiak Bear by submission - J.T. SmithJohn T. SmithJohn T. "J.T." Smith is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the 1990s.-Tri-State Wrestling Alliance:...
and Tommy CairoTommy CairoThomas "Tommy" Cairo is an American retired professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his 1994 feud with The Sandman in Extreme Championship Wrestling. He is the former co-owner of the New Jersey-based Force One Pro Wrestling promotion and school.-Career:Cairo was a bodybuilder before...
defeated Mike B and The Captain - Road Warrior HawkRoad Warrior HawkMichael James Hegstrand was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors or The Legion of Doom , with Road Warrior Animal.-Early life:While living in Chicago, Hegstrand met Joe Lauranaitis, who would be later...
defeated Keith Scherer - Mikey WatsonMikey WhipwreckJohn Watson , better known by his ring name Mikey Whipwreck, is a retired American professional wrestler best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling where he became the third ECW Triple Crown Champion....
defeated Jason Knight by disqualification - Knight was disqualified when he refused to take off his jacket to wrestle Watson.
- The Convict defeated Mikey Watson by submission
- The TasmaniacTazzPeter Senerchia is a retired American professional wrestler and current color commentator best known by his ring name Tazz, originally Tazmaniac and later shortened to simply Taz...
defeated "Surfer" Ray OdysseyRay OdysseyRay Samalonis is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Surfer" Ray Odyssey, who competes primarily in Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions... - Public Enemy defeated Paul Warrior & Mikey Watson
- "Cowboy" Bob Orton defeated Tommy Dreamer
- Keith Scherer defeated Jake "The Snake" Roberts
- Scherer pinned Roberts after outside interference by Sherri Martel and Shane DouglasShane DouglasTroy Alan Martin is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. In the course of his career, which has spanned nearly three decades, Douglas has wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling and briefly...
. - Terry Funk and Sabu (with Paul E. DangerouslyPaul HeymanPaul Heyman is an American entertainment producer, best known for his career in professional wrestling as a promoter, manager, commentator and journalist. He is also an occasional actor in film....
) fought to a double-disqualification