The Birth of the NWA

By mid-1940s, Pinkie George of Des Moines, IA was promoting his world titles as the “National Wrestling Alliance” championships.

On 1948-07-18, George met with four other promoters from the Midwest to form the expanded version of the NWA:

• Orville Brown (Kansas City)
• Sam Muchnick (St. Louis, MO)
• Max Clayton (Omaha, NE)
• Wally Karbo (Minneapolis, MN; representing Tony Stecher)
• * Fred Kohler (Chicago, IL) was also considered as a founding member by Pinkie George although he would not attend the meeting until 1949.

The world champions in following divisions were officially recognized:

• Heavyweight: Orville Brown
• Junior Heavyweight: Billy Goelz

Walking with Ghosts: Inside the Gold Room of the Hotel President in Waterloo IA, looking through the vintage wooden doors of the conference room where Pinkie George, Sam Muchnick and others chartered the NWA back in 1948. Matty and I couldn't believe we made our way in. #History pic.twitter.com/PiaMQCIgW0

— Mid-Atlantic Gateway (@magateway) July 26, 2022

The following promoters were in attendance at the meetings in Minneapolis, MN on September 25th:

• Al Haft (Columbus, OH)
• Harry Light (Detroit, MI)

Officers elected at the October meeting in Chicago, IL:

• Pinkie George, president
• Al Haft, vice president
• Sam Muchnick, secretary and treasurer

Related Links

• The Obvious First Document: The NWA is Born (1948) – Patreon: Tim Hornbaker
• Walking with Ghosts: A Visit to the Birthplace of the NWA – The Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Source

• National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Professional Wrestling