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Where Are They Now? 5 Former NWA Champions

Where Are They Now? 5 Former NWA Champions

Posted: Jul 3rd 2013 By: mikeiles

For decades, the National Wrestling Alliance was the most powerful professional wrestling entity in the world. As such, the greatest pro wrestlers in the world called the NWA home for many years. Today, many of the NWA World Heavyweight Champions are giving back to the industry in a number of ways.

Take a closer look at where five former NWA Champions are today.

Dory Funk, Jr. (1969-'73)

You'd be hard-pressed to find a tougher pair of wrestling brothers than Terry and Dory Funk. Hailing from "The Double Cross Ranch," Dory Funk only held the NWA Championship once, but his 1,563 days with the belt are second only to the 1,941-day NWA title reign of Lou Thesz.

People were amazed that Ric Flair continued to wrestle in TNA after reaching 60 years of age. But Dory Funk is still wrestling at 72. Funk now lives in Ocala, Florida where he runs the Funking Conservatory wrestling school and !BANG! promotion. Dory Funk is in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Harley Race (1973, '77-'79, '79, '79-'80, '80-'81, '81, '83)

From everything I've researched, Harley Race may be the toughest NWA wrestler in history, both in and out of the ring. Race was in his prime in the NWA at a time when the belt switched hands like a hot potato. Race's seven recognized NWA title reigns are second only to Ric Flair.

Since retiring, Harley Race has made a handful of appearances and cameos for TNA and WWE. Like the Funks, Race is enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame and he trains future pro wrestlers. He still lives in Missouri where he runs the Harley Race Wrestling Academy and WLW promotion.

Dusty Rhodes (1979, '81, '86)

Dusty Rhodes was a pioneer in terms of how he used charisma to get over with NWA fans. Rhodes had a hilarious in-ring style and he cut some of the greatest wrestling promos in history while in the NWA. Dusty Rhodes was also one of the NWA's top bookers while he was wrestling.

After leaving the NWA, Rhodes stayed active in a number of wrestling promotions. The WWE Hall of Famer now lives in Florida where he works for NXT, the WWE's development promotion. In fact, Rhodes is the NXT head of creative and he is credited with developing the Bray Wyatt character.

Tommy Rich (1981)

As opposed to other NWA Champions who held the title over 1,000 days, Tommy Rich was champion for four days, the shortest reign up to that point. Rich was extremely popular in Georgia and other southern states and he later had a legendary feud with Buzz Sawyer in the NWA.

Today, Tommy Rich continues to wrestle in indy promotions throughout the south. He briefly returned to the national wrestling scene in the mid-1990s as part of the Full Blooded Italians in ECW. The Tennessee native is one of the few NWA stars of this period who never worked for the WWE.

Ricky Steamboat (1989)

Many fans consider Ricky Steamboat's match against Randy Savage at Wrestlemania 3 and his matches against Ric Flair in the NWA as some of the greatest in history. Steamboat is also considered by many to be the greatest wrestler of all-time to never work as a heel (or bad guy).

Even in semi-retirement, Ricky Steamboat stole the show one last time. In 2009, at the age of 56, Steamboat wrestled an incredible match on WWE Raw that had the crowd in a frenzy. Today, Steamboat lives in North Carolina and he works for the WWE as a road agent. He is also a WWE Hall of Famer.

Endnote on other NWA Champions
I have already covered the whereabouts of NWA Champions Ric Flair and Terry Funk in similar articles on other promotions.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 2024 Cade Fite became the TIW No Pressure Champion
  • 2024 Ozzy Hendrix & Adrian Vega def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
  • 2024 The Gatekeeper def. Rick Russo for the EPW All-American Title
  • 2024 Trench Blythe became the EPW International Champion
  • 2024 Malachi def. Kevin James Sanchez for the EPW Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 06-14 to Sat: 06-20

  • 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat (substituting for Se7en) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Title
  • 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Title
  • 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2025 Pastor Brent def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Living Hope Title
  • 06-14 2025 Skylar Slice became the WAH Womens Champion
  • 06-14 2025 Military Express (Sgt. Todd & Sgt. Hartman) def. Speeding Bullet (Mike Gunnz & Stephen Nitro) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2025 Scotty Rose def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-14 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Scotty Rose for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 06-15 2024 Cade Fite became the TIW No Pressure Champion
  • 06-15 2024 Ozzy Hendrix & Adrian Vega def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-15 2024 The Gatekeeper def. Rick Russo for the EPW All-American Title
  • 06-15 2024 Trench Blythe became the EPW International Champion
  • 06-15 2024 Malachi def. Kevin James Sanchez for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-16 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-16 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-16 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Title
  • 06-16 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
  • 06-16 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-16 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2012 Big Business (Kevin Morgan & Damon Windsor) def. The Old School Suckas (Gary Tool & Randy Price) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2017 Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Chaz Sharpe) def. Cursed (Kuda & Blade [2nd]) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2017 Nytronis A'Teo def. Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders, Shawn Sanders, & Chaz Sharpe) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2023 Jason Simon became the MajCW Native American Champion
  • 06-16 2023 Dan Webber def. Cappuccino Jones for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-17 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-17 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-17 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-17 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Title
  • 06-17 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-17 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-17 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 06-17 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-17 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-17 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 06-18 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-18 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 06-18 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-18 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-18 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-18 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-18 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-19 1977 Fritz Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-19 2010 Aaron Neil def. John O'Malley for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-19 2015 Bree Ann def. Claudia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 06-20 1972 The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) def. Tom Jones & Ivan Putski for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 06-20 1977 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-20 1987 Barry Windham became the UWF Western States Heritage Champion
  • 06-20 2004 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-20 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Dane Griffin for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-20 2009 BLK-OUT (Montego Seeka & Jermaine Johnson) def. Impact, Inc, (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-20 2014 Bree Ann def. Miss Diss Lexia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 06-20 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Malik Mayfield & Maui Mike for the ASP Tag Team Titles
06-15
  • Jaxon Stone Jun 15th Today!
  • Trey the Bae Jun 15th Today!
  • Paul Linam Jun 15th Today!
  • Sean Ryan Jun 15th Today!
  • Brad Armstrong Jun 15th Today!
  • Lilith Grimm Jun 15th Today!
  • Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
  • Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
  • Brock Landers Jun 16th
  • Jef Tiger Jun 16th
  • Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
  • Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
  • Leslie Lorenzo Jun 16th
  • Paul Jones Jun 16th
  • Ray Martinez Jun 17th
  • Rob Justice Jun 17th
  • Mario Galento Jun 17th
  • Talos Jun 17th
  • Bad Boy Jun 18th
  • Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
  • Andy Dalton Jun 18th
  • Cam the CODA Jun 18th
  • Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
  • Johnny Angel Jun 18th
  • Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
  • Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
  • Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
  • Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
  • Kodi Ocean Jun 19th
  • Billy the Kid Jun 19th
  • Mike Two Jun 19th
  • Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
  • Professor Ito Jun 20th
  • Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
  • David Kyzer Jun 20th
  • Jon Cross Jun 20th
  • Jeff the Ref Jun 21st
  • Super Star Jun 21st
  • Phantom Star Jun 21st
  • Rick Russo Jun 21st
  • Milton Winkelman Jun 21st
  • Athena Jun 23rd
  • Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
  • Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
  • Don Kent Jun 24th
  • X-Storms Jun 25th
  • Kody Lane Jun 25th
  • Jax Samuel Jun 26th
  • Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
  • D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
  • Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
  • Kuda Jun 27th
  • Ignition Jun 27th
  • Jason Kirby Jun 27th
  • Reckless Jun 27th
  • Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
  • Claire Jun 28th
  • Doc Hearon Jun 28th
  • John Tidwell Jun 28th
  • J. J. Blake Jun 28th
  • Malico Jun 28th
  • Kenny Mack Jun 28th
  • Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
  • Boris Malenko Jun 28th
  • Bill Dromo Jun 28th

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