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{{Short description|Wrestling governing body}}
{{Infobox Wrestling promotion
{{Infobox Wrestling promotion
|name =Wrestling Superstars Live
|name =Wrestling Superstars Live
|image =Wrestling Superstars Live.jpg
|image =Wrestling Superstars Live.jpg
|acronym =[[Wrestling Superstars Live|WSL]]
|acronym =WSL
|established =1996
|established =1996
|folded =2009
|folded =2009
|style =[[American Wrestling]]
|style =American wrestling
|location =[[Rochester, Minnesota]]
|location =[[Rochester, Minnesota]]
|founder =[[Dale Gagner]]<br />[[Jonnie Stewart]]
|founder =Dale Gagne<br />Jonnie Stewart
|owner =[[Dale Gagner]]
|owner =Dale Gagne
|parent =
|parent =
|sister =
|sister =
|predecessor = '''Unofficial:'''<br>[[American Wrestling Association]]
|formerly =[[AWA Superstars of Wrestling]]
|formerly =AWA Superstars of Wrestling
|}}
|}}
'''Wrestling Superstars - Live!''' was a governing body for a group of independent [[professional wrestling promotion]]s and sanctioned various championships. It was founded in 1996 by [[Dale Gagner]] and [[Jonnie Stewart]].
'''Wrestling Superstars Live''' ('''WSL'''), previously known as '''AWA Superstars of Wrestling''' ('''AWA'''), was a governing body for a group of independent [[professional wrestling promotion]]s that sanctioned various championships. It was founded in 1996 by Dale Gagne and Jonnie Stewart and closed in 2009.


==History==
==History==
===Early history===
In 1996, Dale Gagner and his associate Jonnie Stewart, former [[American Wrestling Association]] (AWA) employees, began using the AWA name in the state of Minnesota, falsely claiming with the authorization from the Minnesota Secretary of State, and formed an organization known as AWA Superstars of Wrestling. They began the organization as a continuation of the American Wrestling Association, which closed in 1991.
In 1996, Dale Gagner, billing himself as "Dale Gagne", and his associate Jonnie Stewart, former [[American Wrestling Association]] (AWA) employees, began using the AWA name in the state of Minnesota, falsely claiming authorization from the Minnesota Secretary of State, and formed an organization known as AWA Superstars of Wrestling. They billed the organization as a continuation of the [[American Wrestling Association]], which closed in 1991.


By 2005, the organization began to franchise the AWA Superstars of Wrestling name, selling memberships to existing independent promotions around the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Japan. Several members of AWA Superstars of Wrestling were former members of the [[National Wrestling Alliance]]. In 2007, most of the memberships were terminated by Dale Gagner after defrauding members. Gagner and Stewart then began co-promoting shows with a small number of regional promoters instead.
By 2005, the organization began to franchise the AWA Superstars of Wrestling name, selling memberships to existing independent promotions around the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Japan. Several members of AWA Superstars of Wrestling were former members of the [[National Wrestling Alliance]]. In a press release sent out on October 30, 2007, the organization announced that it would no longer sanction independent promotions. Gagner and Stewart noted that each of the remaining territories would be individually assessed.<ref name="AWA sanctioning">{{cite web |url=http://www.gerweck.net/news/1193763516.shtml |title=AWA Discontinues Sanctioning |access-date=2007-10-30 |author=Gerweck, Steve |publisher=Gerweck.net |quote=For Immediate Release. |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071101110405/http://www.gerweck.net/news/1193763516.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-11-01}}</ref><!--DO NOT LIST THE TERRITORIES WITH EXTERNAL LINKS. THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF OUR EXTERNAL LINKING POLICY.-->


===Lawsuit, renaming and reorganization===
===Lawsuit, renaming, reorganization, and closure===
On April 26, 2007 [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) filed a lawsuit against Dale Gagner, citing [[trademark infringement]], as WWE owned some American Wrestling Association properties due to their purchase after the AWA's closure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|title=World Wrestling sues promoter|author=Browning, Dan|date=2007-04-28|publisher=[[Star Tribune]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428030922/http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|archive-date=2007-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/news-notes/2007/05/04.html|title=News and Notes, May 4, 2007|date=2007-05-04|publisher=GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=28334|title=WWE Files Lawsuit Against Gagne For Trademark Violations Associated With AWA|author=Ryder, Bob|date=2007-04-26|publisher=1wrestling.com}}</ref>
On April 26, 2007 [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) filed a lawsuit against Dale Gagner, citing [[trademark infringement]], as WWE owned some American Wrestling Association properties due to their purchase of AWA from [[Verne Gagne]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|title=World Wrestling sues promoter|author=Browning, Dan|date=2007-04-28|publisher=[[Star Tribune]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428030922/http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|archive-date=2007-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/news-notes/2007/05/04.html|title=News and Notes, May 4, 2007|date=2007-05-04|publisher=GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=28334|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503030034/http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=28334|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 3, 2007|title=WWE Files Lawsuit Against Gagne For Trademark Violations Associated With AWA|author=Ryder, Bob|date=2007-04-26|publisher=1wrestling.com}}</ref> In a move to sidestep WWE, Jonnie Stewart, with the help of a Chicago-based copyright law firm, attempted to trademark the name "American Wrestling Alliance" instead.


On October 29, 2008, a settlement was reached between Gagner and WWE. The court ruling prohibits Gagner from use of the AWA name or any other derivatives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news08/1225314623.shtml|title=WWE wins trademark infringement lawsuit over AWA|date=2008-10-28|publisher=wrestleview.com}}</ref> As a result, the organization was renamed to Wrestling Superstars Live (WSL). In 2009, WSL went out of business.
In a move to sidestep WWE, Jonnie Stewart, with the help of a Chicago-based copyright law firm, attempted to trademark the name "American Wrestling Alliance" instead.

On October 29, 2008, a settlement was reached between Gagner and WWE. The court ruling prohibits Gagner from use of the AWA name or any other derivatives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news08/1225314623.shtml|title=WWE wins trademark infringement lawsuit over AWA|date=2008-10-28|publisher=wrestleview.com}}</ref> As a result, the organization was renamed to Wrestling Superstars Live. In a press release sent out October 30, 2007, the organization announced that it will no longer sanction independent territories. Gagner and Stewart noted that each of the remaining territories would be individually assessed.<ref name="AWA sanctioning">{{cite web |url=http://www.gerweck.net/news/1193763516.shtml |title=AWA Discontinues Sanctioning |access-date=2007-10-30 |author=Gerweck, Steve |publisher=Gerweck.net |quote=For Immediate Release. |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071101110405/http://www.gerweck.net/news/1193763516.shtml <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-11-01}}</ref><!--DO NOT LIST THE TERRITORIES WITH EXTERNAL LINKS. THIS IS IN VIOLATION OF OUR EXTERNAL LINKING POLICY.-->


==Championships==
==Championships==
When the organization was formed in 1996, Wrestling Superstars Live claimed the lineages and names of original American Wrestling Association Championships. However, following WWE's filed lawsuit against Gagner and Stewart, AWA Wrestling Superstars Live championship reigns are recognized from 1996 and forward.
When the organization was formed in 1996, Wrestling Superstars Live claimed the lineages and names of the original American Wrestling Association (AWA) championships. However, following WWE's lawsuit against Gagner and Stewart, Wrestling Superstars Live ignored the AWA championship reigns and only the reigns from 1996 and forward were recognized.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Championship
!Championship
!Final Champion
!Final champion(s)
!Date won
!Date won
!Location
!Location
Line 38: Line 38:
|-
|-
|[[WSL World Heavyweight Championship|World Heavyweight Championship]]
|[[WSL World Heavyweight Championship|World Heavyweight Championship]]
|[[Keith Walker]]
|[[Keith Walker (wrestler)|Keith Walker]]
|February 21, 2009
|February 21, 2009
|[[Michigan City, Indiana]]
|[[Michigan City, Indiana]]
|[[Ricky Landell]]
|[[Ricky Landell]]
|-
|[[WSL Fighting World Championship|World Fighting Championship]]
|Keith Walker
|September 13, 2008
|[[Waukesha, Wisconsin]]
|Ricky Landell
|-
|-
|[[WSL World Light Heavyweight Championship|World Light Heavyweight Championship]]
|[[WSL World Light Heavyweight Championship|World Light Heavyweight Championship]]
Line 47: Line 53:
|January 7, 2007
|January 7, 2007
|[[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]]
|[[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]]
|[[T.J. Mack]]
|T.J. Mack
|-
|-
|[[WSL World Tag Team Championship|World Tag Team Championship]]
|[[WSL World Tag Team Championship|World Tag Team Championship]]
|[[Team Vision]]<br/>([[Chasyn Rance]] and [[Mister Saint Laurent]])
|Team Vision<br/>(Chasyn Rance and Mister Saint Laurent)
|April 18, 2008
|April 18, 2008
|[[Fayetteville, West Virginia]]
|[[Fayetteville, West Virginia]]
|Vacant - Won the 2008 Mountain Mayhem and defeated [[Team Macktion]] ([[Kirby Mack]] & [[T.J. Mack]]) in the Finals
|The championship was vacant; Team Vision won the 2008 Mountain Mayhem tournament by defeating Team Macktion (Kirby Mack and T.J. Mack) in the finals
|}
Four championships were retired prior to WSL's closure:
*The [[Wrestling Superstars Live#International Heavyweight Championship|AWA Superstars of Wrestling International Heavyweight Championship]] was retired in 2005.
*The [[AWA Japan Women's Championship]] was replaced by the HCW World Women's Championship in December 2007.
*The [[International Junior Heavyweight Championship (Zero1)|AWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship]] was re-branded as the "Zero1-Max International Junior Heavyweight Championship" in 2008.
*The [[AWA Superstars of Wrestling United States Championship]] was replaced by the WSL World Fighting Championship in March 2008.

==Championship history==
===International Heavyweight Championship===
====Title history====
{| class="wikitable" width=100%
!width=20%|Wrestler:
!width=5% |Times:
!width=18%|Date:
!width=21%|Location:
!width=36%|Notes:
|-
|-
|style="background: #dddddd;" colspan=5|''Title created by AWA Superstars of Wrestling, with the promotion claiming lineage to the original [[AWA International Heavyweight Championship]].''
|[[WSL Fighting World Championship|Fighting World Championship]]
|-
|[[Keith Walker]]
|Jonnie Stewart
|September 13, 2008
|1
|[[Waukesha, Wisconsin]]
|April 23, 1999
|[[Ricky Landell]]
|—
|Stewart defeated George Petroski to become the inaugural champion.<ref name=Cage>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=762|title=AWA International Heavyweight Championship|work=Cagematch.net|accessdate=March 16, 2023}}</ref><ref name=WTitles>{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/wsl/awa-int-h.html|title=AWA Superstars of Wrestling International Heavyweight Title|work=Wrestling Titles|accessdate=March 16, 2023}}</ref><ref name=Solie>{{cite web|url=https://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ihawa.html|title=AWA INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY|work=Solie's Vintage Wrestling|accessdate=March 16, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|style="background: #dddddd;" colspan=5|''Title vacated on April 14, 2000 after Stewart failed to make a defense.''<ref name=Cage/><ref name=WTitles/><ref name=Solie/>
|-
|Danny Dominion
|1
|April 14, 2000
|[[Blythe, California]]
|Dominion defeated Navajo Warrior to win the vacant championship.<ref name=Cage/><ref name=WTitles/><ref name=Solie/>
|-
|style="background: #dddddd;" colspan=5|''Title vacated in 2002.''<ref name=Cage/><ref name=WTitles/><ref name=Solie/>
|-
|[[Erik Watts]]
|1
|February 4, 2005
|[[Tucson, Arizona]]
|Watts defeated [[Diamond Dallas Page]] to win the vacant championship.<ref name=WTitles/><ref name=Solie/>
|-
|style="background: #dddddd;" colspan=5|''The championship was retired in 2005 following a declaration of the AWA Board of Directors.''<ref name=Solie/>
|}
|}
*The [[AWA Superstars of Wrestling United States Championship|United States Championship]] was abandoned in December 2007.
*The [[AWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship]] was re branded as the [[International Junior Heavyweight Championship (Zero1)|International Junior Heavyweight Championship]]
*The [[AWA Japan Women's Championship]] was retired in 2007


==Members==
==Members==
Wrestling Superstars Live had members in the United States, Canada, England and Australia.<ref>http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/wsl/</ref>
Wrestling Superstars Live had members in the United States, Canada, England, Japan, and Australia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/wsl/|title=AWA Superstars / Wrestling Superstars Live!}}</ref>


===Promotions===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!width="215"|Promotion
!width="215"|Promotion
!width="100"|State
!width="100"|Location
!width="100"|Years
!width="100"|Years
|-
|-
|[[All Action Wrestling]]
|All Action Wrestling
|[[Western Australia]]
|[[Western Australia]]
|(2007/11 - 2009/05)
|November 2007 – 2009
|-
|-
|[[AWA Florida]]
|AWA Florida
|[[Florida]]
|[[Florida]]
|(2005 - 2011)
|2005 – 2009
|-
|-
|AWA Rush
|[[Brew City Wrestling]]
|[[Wisconsin]]
|2004 - 2008/12
|-
|[[AWA Rush]]
|[[Minnesota]]
|[[Minnesota]]
|2007
|2007
|-
|-
|AWA United Kingdom
|[[Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling]]
|[[British Columbia]]
|[[England]]
|2006
|2005 – 2006
|-
|-
|[[Pinnacle Pro Wrestling]]
|Brew City Wrestling
|[[Wisconsin]]
|[[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|2005-2007
|2005 – 2008
|-
|-
|[[Canadian Wrestling Federation]]
|Canadian Wrestling Federation
|[[Manitoba]]
|[[Manitoba]]
|2005/08 - 2007/04
|August 2005 – April 2007
|-
|-
|[[CWF Mid-Atlantic|Carolina Wrestling Federation]]
|[[CWF Mid-Atlantic|Carolina Wrestling Federation]]
|[[North Carolina]]
|[[North Carolina]]
|2005 - 2007
|2005 – 2007
|-
|-
|[[Hawai'i Championship Wrestling]]
|[[Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling]]
|[[Hawaii]]
|[[British Columbia]]
|2006 - 2007
|2006
|-
|-
|[[Platinum Pro Wrestling]]
|[[Indiana]]
|2009
|-
|-
|[[NCW National Championship Wrestling]]
|Hawai'i Championship Wrestling
|[[Tennessee]]
|[[Hawaii]]
|2007 - 2010
|2006 – 2007
|-
|-
|[[Millennium Wrestling Federation]]
|[[Millennium Wrestling Federation]]
|[[Massachusetts]]
|[[Massachusetts]]
|2005/03 - 2007
|March 2005 – 2007
|-
|-
|[[Mountaineer Wrestling Association]]
|Mountaineer Wrestling Association
|[[West Virginia]]
|[[West Virginia]]
|2004 - 2008
|2005 – 2008
|-
|-
|National Championship Wrestling
|[[Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1]]
|[[Tennessee]]
|2007 -
|-
|Pinnacle Pro Wrestling
|[[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|2005 – 2007
|-
|Platinum Pro Wrestling
|[[Indiana]]
|2009
|-
|-
|Pro-Wrestling World-1
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|2004 - 2007
|2005 – 2007
|-
|-
|[[Pro Wrestling Zero1]]
|[[Pro Wrestling Zero1|Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max]]
|[[Japan]]
|[[Japan]]
|2004/10 - 2007/12
|2005 – December 2007
|-
|-
|[[Rocky Mountain Championship Wrestling]]
|Rocky Mountain Championship Wrestling
|[[Colorado]]
|[[Colorado]]
|2005/01 - 2008
|January 2005 – 2008
|-
|-
|[[Spinebuster]] / [[WORLD-1 South]]
|Spinebuster/World-1 South
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|2005/07 - 2008
|July 2005 – 2008
|-
|-
|[[Supreme Championship Wrestling]]
|Supreme Championship Wrestling
|[[Indiana]]
|[[Indiana]]
|2005 - 2007
|2005 – 2007
|-
|-
|[[Ultra Championship Wrestling-Zero]]
|[[Ultra Championship Wrestling-Zero]]
|[[Utah]]
|[[Utah]]
|2005/02 - 2007
|February 2005 – 2007
|-
|-
|[[West Coast Wrestling Connection]]
|[[West Coast Wrestling Connection]]
|[[Oregon]]
|[[Oregon]]
|2007 - 2008
|2007 – 2008
|}
|}

==Roster==

===Wrestlers===
*[[Nick Bockwinkel]]
*[[Andrew Fallon]]
*[[Aaron Aguilera]]
*[[Brian Christopher|Brian Lawler]]
*[[Doug Basham|Basham]]
*[[Daniel Hollie|The Damaja]]
*[[Chyna|Joanie "Chyna" Laurer]]
*"Illustrious" [[Jonnie Stewart]]
*[[Kamala (wrestler)|Kamala]] and [[Kim Chee (wrestler)|Kim Chee]]
*"King of Old School" [[Steve Corino]]
*[[Phil Davis (wrestler)|Phil Davis]]
*[[Lee Amberg]]
*[[Sean Davis (wrestler)|Sean Davis]]
*[[Superstar Billy Graham]]
*[[Ariya Daivari]]
*[[Ace Steel]]
*[[Danny Dominion]]
*[[Twin Turbo's]] ([[Larry (wrestler)|Larry]] and [[Steve Gligorivic]])
*[[G.Q. Gallo]]
*[[Adam Pearce]]
*[[Diamond Dallas Page|DDP]]
*[[Larry Huntley]]
*[[Ricky Landell]]
*[[Navajo Kid (wrestler)|Navajo Kid]]
*[[Lightning Blind Mike]]
*[[Jerry Lawler|Jerry "The King" Lawler]]
*[[Sherri Martel]]
*[[Johnny Valiant|Luscious Johnny V]]
*[[Jesse Ventura|Jesse "The Body" Ventura]]
*[[Kirby Mack]]
*[[Mick Foley]]
*"The Underwear Model" [[Eric Priest (wrestler)|Eric Priest]]
*[[King Kong Bundy]]
*[[Dale Gagner]]
*[[Zach Gowen]]
*"Dr. Death" [[Steve Williams (wrestler)|Steve Williams]]
*[[Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)|Dusty Rhodes]]
*[[Jimmy Valiant|Jimmy Boogie Woogie Man]]
*[[C T Night "The Boss"]]
*[[Virgil (wrestler)|Virgil]]
*[[CM Punk]]
*[[N8 Mattson]]
*[[The New York Gangster]]
*[[Mister Saint Laurent]]
*[[Noah Lott]]
*[[Jimmy Hart|Jimmy "The Mouth of the South" Hart]]
*[[Sam Houston (wrestler)|Sam Houston]]
*[[Keiji Mutoh|The Ninja]]
*[[JP Dangerously]]
*[[Chris Norte]]
*[[Buff Bagwell]]
*[[Justin Roberts]]
*[[The Terrorist (wrestler)|The Terrorist]]
*[[The Spirit Squad]] ([[Ken Doane]] & [[Mike Mondo]])
*[[Chasyn Rance]]
*[[Sonny Roselli]]
*[[Alex Silva (wrestler)|Alex Silva]]
*[[Jimmy Snuka]]
*[[Sgt. Slaughter]]
*[[The Iron Sheik]]
*[[Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey]]
*[[Larry Zbyszko]]

===Tag teams and stables===
*[[Team MackTion]] ([[Kirby Mack]] and [[T.J. Mack]])
*[[The Basham Brothers]] ([[Doug Basham]] and [[Danny Basham]]
*[[The Heartbreak Express]] ([[Phil Davis (wrestler)|Phil Davis]] and [[Sean Davis (wrestler)|Sean Davis]])
*[[The Heart Throbs]] ([[Antonio Thomas (wrestler)|Antonio Thomas]] and [[Romeo Roselli]])

===Company executives===
*[[Dale Gagner]] - [[President (corporate title)|President]]
*[[Jonnie Stewart]] - [[Executive Vice-President]]


==References==
==References==
Line 235: Line 203:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/awastars/ Wrestling-Titles.com]
* [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/awastars/ AWA championships at Wrestling-Titles.com]


{{Wrestling Superstars Live}}
{{Wrestling Superstars Live}}
{{American Wrestling Association}}
{{Professional wrestling in Australia}}
{{Professional wrestling in Australia}}
{{Professional wrestling in Canada}}
{{Professional wrestling in Canada}}

Latest revision as of 08:08, 21 December 2024

Wrestling Superstars Live
AcronymWSL
Founded1996
Defunct2009
StyleAmerican wrestling
HeadquartersRochester, Minnesota
Founder(s)Dale Gagne
Jonnie Stewart
Owner(s)Dale Gagne
FormerlyAWA Superstars of Wrestling
PredecessorUnofficial:
American Wrestling Association

Wrestling Superstars Live (WSL), previously known as AWA Superstars of Wrestling (AWA), was a governing body for a group of independent professional wrestling promotions that sanctioned various championships. It was founded in 1996 by Dale Gagne and Jonnie Stewart and closed in 2009.

History

[edit]

Early history

[edit]

In 1996, Dale Gagner, billing himself as "Dale Gagne", and his associate Jonnie Stewart, former American Wrestling Association (AWA) employees, began using the AWA name in the state of Minnesota, falsely claiming authorization from the Minnesota Secretary of State, and formed an organization known as AWA Superstars of Wrestling. They billed the organization as a continuation of the American Wrestling Association, which closed in 1991.

By 2005, the organization began to franchise the AWA Superstars of Wrestling name, selling memberships to existing independent promotions around the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Japan. Several members of AWA Superstars of Wrestling were former members of the National Wrestling Alliance. In a press release sent out on October 30, 2007, the organization announced that it would no longer sanction independent promotions. Gagner and Stewart noted that each of the remaining territories would be individually assessed.[1]

Lawsuit, renaming, reorganization, and closure

[edit]

On April 26, 2007 World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) filed a lawsuit against Dale Gagner, citing trademark infringement, as WWE owned some American Wrestling Association properties due to their purchase of AWA from Verne Gagne.[2][3][4] In a move to sidestep WWE, Jonnie Stewart, with the help of a Chicago-based copyright law firm, attempted to trademark the name "American Wrestling Alliance" instead.

On October 29, 2008, a settlement was reached between Gagner and WWE. The court ruling prohibits Gagner from use of the AWA name or any other derivatives.[5] As a result, the organization was renamed to Wrestling Superstars Live (WSL). In 2009, WSL went out of business.

Championships

[edit]

When the organization was formed in 1996, Wrestling Superstars Live claimed the lineages and names of the original American Wrestling Association (AWA) championships. However, following WWE's lawsuit against Gagner and Stewart, Wrestling Superstars Live ignored the AWA championship reigns and only the reigns from 1996 and forward were recognized.

Championship Final champion(s) Date won Location Previous holder
World Heavyweight Championship Keith Walker February 21, 2009 Michigan City, Indiana Ricky Landell
World Fighting Championship Keith Walker September 13, 2008 Waukesha, Wisconsin Ricky Landell
World Light Heavyweight Championship Kirby Mack January 7, 2007 Pottstown, Pennsylvania T.J. Mack
World Tag Team Championship Team Vision
(Chasyn Rance and Mister Saint Laurent) 		April 18, 2008 Fayetteville, West Virginia The championship was vacant; Team Vision won the 2008 Mountain Mayhem tournament by defeating Team Macktion (Kirby Mack and T.J. Mack) in the finals

Four championships were retired prior to WSL's closure:

Championship history

[edit]

International Heavyweight Championship

[edit]

Title history

[edit]
Wrestler: Times: Date: Location: Notes:
Title created by AWA Superstars of Wrestling, with the promotion claiming lineage to the original AWA International Heavyweight Championship.
Jonnie Stewart 1 April 23, 1999 — Stewart defeated George Petroski to become the inaugural champion.[6][7][8]
Title vacated on April 14, 2000 after Stewart failed to make a defense.[6][7][8]
Danny Dominion 1 April 14, 2000 Blythe, California Dominion defeated Navajo Warrior to win the vacant championship.[6][7][8]
Title vacated in 2002.[6][7][8]
Erik Watts 1 February 4, 2005 Tucson, Arizona Watts defeated Diamond Dallas Page to win the vacant championship.[7][8]
The championship was retired in 2005 following a declaration of the AWA Board of Directors.[8]

Members

[edit]

Wrestling Superstars Live had members in the United States, Canada, England, Japan, and Australia.[9]

Promotion Location Years
All Action Wrestling Western Australia November 2007 – 2009
AWA Florida Florida 2005 – 2009
AWA Rush Minnesota 2007
AWA United Kingdom England 2005 – 2006
Brew City Wrestling Wisconsin 2005 – 2008
Canadian Wrestling Federation Manitoba August 2005 – April 2007
Carolina Wrestling Federation North Carolina 2005 – 2007
Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling British Columbia 2006
Hawai'i Championship Wrestling Hawaii 2006 – 2007
Millennium Wrestling Federation Massachusetts March 2005 – 2007
Mountaineer Wrestling Association West Virginia 2005 – 2008
National Championship Wrestling Tennessee 2007 -
Pinnacle Pro Wrestling Washington 2005 – 2007
Platinum Pro Wrestling Indiana 2009
Pro-Wrestling World-1 Pennsylvania 2005 – 2007
Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max Japan 2005 – December 2007
Rocky Mountain Championship Wrestling Colorado January 2005 – 2008
Spinebuster/World-1 South Georgia July 2005 – 2008
Supreme Championship Wrestling Indiana 2005 – 2007
Ultra Championship Wrestling-Zero Utah February 2005 – 2007
West Coast Wrestling Connection Oregon 2007 – 2008

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Gerweck, Steve. "AWA Discontinues Sanctioning". Gerweck.net. Archived from the original on 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2007-10-30. For Immediate Release.
  2. ^ Browning, Dan (2007-04-28). "World Wrestling sues promoter". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-04-28.
  3. ^ "News and Notes, May 4, 2007". GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com. 2007-05-04.
  4. ^ Ryder, Bob (2007-04-26). "WWE Files Lawsuit Against Gagne For Trademark Violations Associated With AWA". 1wrestling.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "WWE wins trademark infringement lawsuit over AWA". wrestleview.com. 2008-10-28.
  6. ^ a b c d "AWA International Heavyweight Championship". Cagematch.net. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e "AWA Superstars of Wrestling International Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "AWA INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY". Solie's Vintage Wrestling. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  9. ^ "AWA Superstars / Wrestling Superstars Live!".
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Wrestling_Superstars_Live&oldid=1264269069"