United States Wrestling Association

American professional wrestling promotion

United States Wrestling Association

Acronym| USWA
Founded| 1989
Defunct| November 1997
Style| Rasslin'
Headquarters| Memphis, Tennessee (1989–1997)
Founder(s)| Jerry Jarrett
Von Erich family
Owner(s)| Jerry Jarrett and Kevin Von Erich (1989–1990)
Jerry Jarrett (1990–1995)
Jerry Lawler (1995–1997)
Larry Burton (1997)
Predecessor| Continental Wrestling Association
World Class Championship Wrestling
Successor| Unofficial:
Power Pro Wrestling
Kick-Ass Wrestling
Memphis Championship Wrestling
Memphis Wrestling

The United States Wrestling Association (USWA) was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. The company was founded when the Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Association merged with the Dallas-based World Class Championship Wrestling.

## History

[edit]

### Foundation

[edit]

The USWA was founded as an attempt to create a fourth national promotion, alongside Jim Crockett Promotions/WCW, AWA and the WWF (now known as WWE). The USWA was created through a merger of the WCCW (from Texas) and the CWA (based in Memphis, Tennessee). It originally promoted shows, usually headlined by Jerry Lawler, in both Tennessee and Texas.

### WCCW withdraws

[edit]

The Dallas promotion (formerly WCCW), which was 40 percent owned by the Von Erich family, withdrew from the USWA in September 1990 due to a revenue dispute. According to Skandor Akbar, there were lawsuits involved, most notably when Jerry Jarrett was sued by Kevin Von Erich. That promotion reverted to the World Class name, but ceased operations two months later due to lack of revenue.

Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler brought the USWA back to Texas, but only on a limited basis, while promoters Joe Pedicino, Max Andrews, and Boni Blackstone were getting the new Global Wrestling Federation ready for a spring 1991 debut at the Sportatorium. Several of the former World Class and USWA Dallas wrestlers joined the new GWF, while others from the old CWA remained with the USWA.

### Talent exchange with the WWF

[edit]

In 1992, the USWA began a talent exchange with the WWF, which saw Lawler sign on to Vince McMahon's federation, while several high-profile WWF stars appeared in the USWA. Dallas wrestler Gentleman Chris Adams spent a few months in the USWA in an angle involving Brian Christopher and Toni Adams, splitting his time between Memphis and Dallas' GWF during this time frame.

### Struggling to stay relevant during the "Monday Night War"

[edit]

The wrestling landscape changed in 1995 - the Monday Night War began, with WWF and WCW battling for cable television supremacy on Monday nights each and every week. As for the USWA, their biggest crowds came every Monday night at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. With a growing wrestling viewership on Monday nights that could watch pay per view-quality wrestling matches for free on television, the live attendance at the marquee events for the USWA began to dwindle. A move to Thursday nights did not help what was becoming inevitable - the demise of the USWA.

### Closure

[edit]

A combination of a poor line up, sub-standard venue, lack of talent and holding the show on a Thursday night led to a show on October 3, 1996, drawing the smallest crowd in the history of Memphis wrestling: just 372 fans, paying $1,800, to the Big One Flea Market. The future of the promotion was being questioned, following the previous week's resignation of general manager Randy Hales. The Louisville and Nashville crowds had stayed consistent, but the Memphis crowds, which in the past had carried the promotion, had fallen over the past few months. In addition, the Big One (Flea Market) pavilion was less than inviting, the zigzag roof of its original owner (The Treasury Stores) causing its major leaking problem.

## Major USWA cities

[edit]

* Memphis, Tennessee
* Dallas, Texas
* Nashville, Tennessee
* Louisville, Kentucky
* Evansville, Indiana
* Jackson, Tennessee
* Jonesboro, Arkansas
* Tupelo, Mississippi

## Championships

[edit]

* USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship[1]
* USWA World Tag Team Championship[2]
* USWA Television Championship[3]
* USWA Junior Heavyweight Championship[4]
* USWA Middleweight Championship[5]
* USWA Texas Heavyweight Championship[6]
* USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship[7]
* USWA Women's Championship[8]

## Alumni

[edit]

Deceased individuals are indicated with a dagger (†).

* Steve Keirn
* Stan Lane
* Curtis Thompson
* Sabu
* Sapphire†
* Jim Cornette
* Rob Van Dam
* Lanny Poffo†
* Skandor Akbar†
* Doug Gilbert
* Mr. Hughes
* Jimmy Hart
* Jerry Lawler
* Dirty White Boy
* Mil Máscaras
* Dick Murdoch†
* King Cobra
* Scott Bowden†
* The Shadow
* King Reginald
* Tony Williams
* Jo Jo Jackson
* Dog of War
* Bubba Fangman
* The Bounty Hunter
* Tessa
* Bill Dundee
* Big Business Brown†[9]
* Brian Christopher†
* King Kong Bundy†
* The Spellbinder
* The Soultaker
* Ricky Morton
* Robert Gibson
* The Rock 'n' Roll Express
* Todd Champion
* Jeff Jarrett
* Master of Pain/The Punisher
* Tojo Yamamoto†
* Jimmy Valiant
* Butch Reed†
* Billy Jack Haynes
* Cactus Jack Manson
* Austin Idol
* Dustin Rhodes
* Kamala†
* Eddie Gilbert†
* Koko B. Ware
* Junkyard Dog†
* "Dr. Death" Steve Williams†
* Doug Basham
* The Tazmaniac
* Reggie B. Fine
* Judge Dread
* Michael St. John
* Nate the Rat
* Man of The 90s
* The Spider
* Khris Germany
* The Gravedigger
* Sgt. Victor
* Rock 'n' Roll Phantom
* Dave Brown
* Corey Maclin†
* J. C. Ice
* Nightmare Danny Davis
* Wolfie D
* Flex Kavana
* John Tatum
* The Dragon Master†
* Jeff Gaylord†
* Terry Funk†
* Chris Youngblood†
* Mark Youngblood
* Dutch Mantel
* Sid Vicious†
* Tom Prichard
* Jimmy Del Ray†
* Pat Tanaka
* Bart Sawyer†
* Paul Diamond
* Eric Embry
* Tommy Rich
* Gorgeous George III
* Buddy Landel†
* Chris Bullock
* Clyde Coleman
* Brian Lee
* Brickhouse Brown†
* Jesse James Armstrong
* Miss Texas
* The Harlem Knights
* Chris Adams†
* Toni Adams†
* Scotty Anthony
* Robert Fuller
* Ron Fuller
* Kerry Von Erich†
* Kevin Von Erich
* Spike Huber
* The Hornet
* Richard Lee
* Freezer Thompson
* Bruiser
* The Power Twins (Larry and David Power)
* The Barroom Brawlers
* The Gambler
* The Texas Hangmen
* Marty Jannetty
* The Masters of Terror
* Matt Borne†
* Eddie Marlin†
* The Harris Brothers
* Tracy Smothers†
* Cody Michaels
* Brad Armstrong†
* Jerry Lynn
* Downtown Bruno
* Steve Doll†
* Doomsday/Christmas Creature
* Jimmy Jack Funk
* Billy Travis†
* Cowabunga†
* The Ninja Turtle (or Cowabunga II)†
* Chris Candido†
* Steve Austin
* Jeanie Clarke
* Rod Price
* The Snowman†
* William G. "Dutch" Nichols
* Joey Maggs†
* Leatherface†
* Flash Flanagan
* Candi Devine†
* Axl Rotten†
* Ian Rotten
* Scott Braddock
* Tekno Team 2000
* Brakkus
* Chris Champion†
* Reno Riggins
* Scott Studd
* Terry Gordy†
* Rex King†
* New Jack†
* Pez Whatley†
* Johnny Hotbody
* Iceman King Parsons
* Jack Hammer
* Steven Dane†
* Chris Walker
* The War Machines
* The Phantoms
* Mr. Clyde
* Homeboy
* The King Killer
* The Star Chaser
* The Scorpions
* Bert Prentice†
* The Colorado Kid
* Mike Samples
* Shawn Venom
* Todd Morton
* Ric Hogan
* Tony Falk
* Gary Young
* John Paul
* "Mean" Mike Miller
* Awesome Kong
* Jim Florence
* Ronnie P. Gossett†
* Keith Eric
* Super Mario
* Jed Grundy†
* Angel of Death†
* The Sandman
* Moondog Fifi†[10]
* Moondog Spike†
* Moondog Spot†
* Moondog Rex†
* Moondog Cujo†
* Moondog Splat
* Big Black Dog
* Lauren Davenport
* "Dirty White Girl" Kimberly
* The American Eagles

•Bear Man (Ed Swinger)

## Talent exchange wrestlers in USWA

[edit]

Home promotion in parentheses

* Owen Hart† (WWF)
* Bret Hart (WWF)
* Mr. Perfect† (WWF)
* Razor Ramon† (WWF)
* Randy Savage† (WWF)
* Papa Shango (WWF)
* Kerry Von Erich† (WCCW)
* Chris Adams† (GWF and WCCW)
* Sensational Sherri† (WWF)
* Luna Vachon† (WWF)
* Bob Backlund (WWF)
* The Big Bossman† (WWF)
* The Steiner Brothers (WWF)
* Eddie Gilbert† (GWF)
* Jim Cornette (SMW)
* Jesse James Armstrong (WWF)
* Men on a Mission (WWF)
* Giant González† (WWF)
* The Headshrinkers (WWF)
* Tommy Dreamer (ECW)
* Psycho Sid Vicious† (WWF)
* Tatanka (WWF)
* Ahmed Johnson (WWF)
* Beulah McGillicutty (ECW)
* The New Razor Ramon† (WWF)
* Vince McMahon (WWF)
* Koko B. Ware (WWF)
* Hacksaw Jim Duggan (WWF)
* Shawn Michaels (WWF)
* Sunny (WWF)
* Mankind (WWF)
* Doink the Clown† (WWF)
* Big Van Vader† (WCW and WWF)
* Lex Luger (WWF)
* Harvey Wippleman (WWF)
* Isaac Yankem/The New Diesel (WWF)
* Sgt. Slaughter (WWF)
* The Undertaker (WWF)
* The Rock 'n' Roll Express (SMW)
* The Godwinns (WWF)
* The Bushwhackers (WWF)
* The Bodydonnas (WWF)
* The Smoking Gunns (WWF)
* The Orient Express (WWF)
* Adam Bomb (WWF)
* Bob Armstrong† (SMW)
* The Sandman (ECW)
* Steve Lombardi (WWF)
* Howard Finkel† (WWF)
* Jimmy Hart (WWF)
* Paul Bearer† (WWF)
* Barry Horowitz (WWF)
* 1-2-3 Kid (WWF)
* Justin Bradshaw (WWF)
* Bam Bam Bigelow† (WWF)
* Mark Henry (WWF)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "U.S.W.A. Unified World Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
2. ^ "U.S.W.A. Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
3. ^ "U.S.W.A. Television Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
4. ^ "U.S.W.A. Junior Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
5. ^ Brian Westcott; Royal Duncan; Gary Will (1998). "USWA Middleweight Title History". Solie's Title Histories.
6. ^ "U.S.W.A. Texas Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
7. ^ "U.S.W.A. Southern Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
8. ^ "U.S.W.A. Women's Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
9. ^ "Big Business Brown's website". Big Biz. Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
10. ^ Oliver, Greg (July 6, 2017). "Diane Von Hoffman dead at 55". SLAM Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved July 6, 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Memphis Wrestling History
* Regional Territories: USWA
* CageMatch.de - United States Wrestling Association (in German)

* v
* t
* e

Continental Wrestling Association and United States Wrestling Association Championships

Continental Wrestling Association|

* CWA Heavyweight Championship
* CWA Tag Team Championship
* CWA Southwestern Heavyweight Championship
* CWA Super Heavyweight Championship
* CWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship
* CWA World Heavyweight Championship
* CWA World Tag Team Championship
* NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship
* NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship
* NWA United States Tag Team Championship
* NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship
* CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Championship
* CWA/AWA International Tag Team Championship
* AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship
* AWA Southern Tag Team Championship

United States Wrestling Association|

* USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship
* USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship
* USWA Tag Team Championship
* USWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
* USWA Television Championship
* USWA Women's Championship
* USWA Junior Heavyweight Championship
* USWA Middleweight Championship

* v
* t
* e

Professional wrestling in the United States

Active promotions

National promotions|

* All Elite Wrestling
* Major League Wrestling
* National Wrestling Alliance
* Ring of Honor
* Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
* WWE

Women's:|

* Women of Wrestling

Independent promotions|

* AAW Wrestling
* All Pro Wrestling
* Beyond Wrestling
* Championship Wrestling
* Chaotic Wrestling
* Combat Zone Wrestling
* Coastal Championship Wrestling
* Deadlock Pro-Wrestling
* DEFY Wrestling
* East Coast Wrestling Association
* Empire Wrestling Federation
* Exodus Pro Wrestling
* Full Impact Pro
* Game Changer Wrestling
* Hoodslam
* House of Glory
* Independent Wrestling Federation
* Innovate Pro Wrestling
* Juggalo Championship Wrestling
* Kaiju Big Battel
* Keystone State Wrestling Alliance
* Main Event Championship Wrestling
* MCW Pro Wrestling
* Northeast Wrestling
* Ohio Valley Wrestling
* PCW Ultra
* Pro Wrestling Guerrilla
* Premiere Wrestling Xperience
* Reality of Wrestling
* Southern States Wrestling
* Ultra Championship Wrestling-Zero
* Warrior Wrestling
* World League Wrestling
* World Xtreme Wrestling
* Xtreme Pro Wrestling

Women's:|

* Shine Wrestling
* Sukeban
* Women Superstars United
* Women's Wrestling Army

Puerto Rican promotions|

* IWA Puerto Rico
* La Liga Wrestling
* World Wrestling Council

Governing bodies and interpromotional alliances|

* United Wrestling Network
* WWNLive

Notable TV programs|

* AEW Collision
* AEW Dynamite
* TNA Impact!
* WWE NXT
* WWE Raw
* WWE SmackDown

Notable streaming programs|

* NWA Powerrr
* Ring of Honor Wrestling
* TNA Xplosion
* WWE Evolve
* WWE Main Event
* WWE Speed

Defunct promotions

National promotions|

* American Wrestling Association
* Extreme Championship Wrestling
* Jim Crockett Promotions
* Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)
* Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)
* World Championship Wrestling
* World Class Championship Wrestling

Independent promotions and regional territories|

* 50th State Big Time Wrestling
* American Wrestling Federation
* Assault Championship Wrestling
* Big Time Wrestling (Boston)
* Big Time Wrestling (Detroit)
* Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco)
* Capitol Wrestling Corporation
* Century Wrestling Alliance
* Championship Wrestling from Florida
* Chikara
* Continental Championship Wrestling
* Continental Wrestling Association
* CWF Mid-Atlantic
* Deep South Wrestling
* Dragon Gate USA
* Extreme Rising
* Evolve
* Family Wrestling Entertainment
* Florida Championship Wrestling
* Fred Kohler Enterprises
* Front Row Wrestling
* Future of Wrestling
* Georgia Championship Wrestling
* Global Force Wrestling
* Global Wrestling Federation
* Hardcore Homecoming
* Heart of America Sports Attractions
* Heartland Wrestling Association
* House of Hardcore
* Houston Wrestling
* Incredibly Strange Wrestling
* Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance
* International Championship Wrestling
* International World Class Championship Wrestling
* IWA Mid-South
* IWF Promotions
* Jersey All Pro Wrestling
* Mason-Dixon Wrestling
* Memphis Wrestling
* Memphis Championship Wrestling
* Metro Pro Wrestling
* Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
* Millennium Wrestling Federation
* National Wrestling Conference
* National Wrestling Federation
* New England Championship Wrestling
* NOVA Pro Wrestling
* NWA Mid-America
* NWA San Francisco
* NWA Wildside
* OMEGA Championship Wrestling
* Pacific Northwest Wrestling
* Phoenix Championship Wrestling
* Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling
* Pro Wrestling America
* Resistance Pro Wrestling
* Ring Warriors
* Smoky Mountain Wrestling
* South Atlantic Pro Wrestling
* Southern Championship Wrestling (Georgia)
* Southwest Championship Wrestling
* St. Louis Wrestling Club
* Steel City Wrestling
* Texas All-Star Wrestling
* Texas Wrestling Academy
* Top Rope Promotions
* Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling
* Ultimate Pro Wrestling
* United States Wrestling Association
* Warriors 4 Christ Wrestling
* West Coast Wrestling Connection
* Western States Sports
* Windy City Pro Wrestling
* World Wide Wrestling Alliance
* World Wrestling Alliance
* World Wrestling Association
* Worldwide Wrestling Associates
* World Wrestling Network
* Xcitement Wrestling Federation

Women's:|

* ChickFight
* Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
* Ladies Major League Wrestling
* Ladies Professional Wrestling Association
* Naked Women's Wrestling League
* Professional Girl Wrestling Association
* Powerful Women of Wrestling
* Rise Wrestling
* Shimmer Women Athletes
* World Women's Wrestling
* Wrestlicious

Governing bodies and interpromotional alliances|

* American Wrestling Affiliates
* Global Professional Wrestling Alliance
* National Wrestling Association
* Pro Wrestling USA
* Wrestling Superstars Live

Notable programs|

* AEW Dark
* AEW Dark: Elevation
* AEW Rampage
* AWA All-Star Wrestling
* AWA Championship Wrestling
* Before the Impact
* ECW Hardcore TV
* ECW on TNN
* ECW on Syfy
* Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors
* Lucha Underground
* MLW Fusion
* MLW Underground Wrestling
* NWA USA
* Superstars of Wrestling
* UWF Fury Hour
* WCW Monday Nitro
* WCW Thunder
* WCW Saturday Night
* WCW WorldWide
* Wrestling at the Chase
* Wrestling Society X
* WWE 205 Live
* WWE Heat
* WWE NXT Level Up
* WWE NXT UK
* WWE Superstars
* WWE Velocity

* Attendance records
* Hall of Fame
* History

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