The BTE2 & Side B storylines will resume in the near future. The war brewing between the AEW’s New Horsemen, and the NWA is just getting started. But for the time being I’ll be focusing on other things.
In part 1 of the BTE2 series, I have CM Punk cut a promo that expresses my thoughts on Corgan era NWA. I recommend reading it but I’ll summarize it for you. It’s the NWA but it’s also not the NWA.
I started watching the NWA very casually on YouTube during the Tharpe era. Around the same time I discovered Lucha Libre AAA. Watching men like Jason Kincaid, Chase Owens, and Jax Dane. The funny thing is that the UWN probably wouldn’t exist. If it wasn’t for decisions made by Tharpe. But I still have a greater appreciation for the Tharpe era than I do the Corgan era.
Corgan’s NWA has the aesthetic of the NWA that’s for sure. But without the territories it’s basically Ring of Honor in a studio setting. I love that they’re working with other promotions. But I feel like more could be done.
Billy Corgan has the mainstream media clout, and the connections to pull off a revival of the NWA. But it remains a little hobby project. He can revitalize the NWA in ways Bruce Tharpe never could.
So why isn’t he?
The UWN seems to have a greater desire to be what the NWA was. The concept of wrestling territories is actually quite good. Breeds cooperation in an otherwise competitive environment.
CW Memphis wrestling is the best UWN territory. But I probably feel that way because of how influential Tennessee wrestling is on me. Impact Wrestling was my alternative to WWE. Watching NWA smoky mountain, and Jarrett’s CWA on YouTube did a lot too.
CW Memphis definitely represents the Memphis style well. Good action, and simple storytelling. It’s not overcomplicated by hotshot writing or dumbed down by Hollywood writers. It’s a solid one hour program, and it’s easy to watch. That’s what Tennessee gets right, and WWE gets wrong.
The longer the program is the more effort is required. 2 to 3 hour weekly television requires a lot. If you don’t have the right creative minds, it’s going to create viewer burnout.
The recent episode featured Action Jackson, Amber Rodriguez, Marko Stunt, Eugene, and more. All of the matches had excellent storytelling, and consistency. The heels aka villains did villainous stuff. The Faces aka good guys competed like good guys. Honestly someone needs to tell Jim Cornette about CWFM. He might stop losing his shit over modern wrestling.
Because wrestling how he likes it still exists.
Yung Goats versus the Allied Empire should be good. Allied Empire is a classic heel wrestling trope. The evil wrestlers from the Eastern Half of civilization. Ken Dang & Meklakov look great.
Baron thoughts 