The National Wrasslin' League (NWL, LLC) is a privately held professional wrestling company based in downtown Kansas City. Founded in July 2016 by Major Baisden, president, the NWL promotes live pro wrestling events in Kansas City and St. Louis under the banners of NWL KC and NWL STL, respectively.
The NWL's concept is centered around signing homegrown talent from each area, along with free agents from across the country, who will perform in family-friendly, entertaining storylines centered around personal issues and intercity rivalries. The NWL product is geared primarily at families and men 34-48 who used to watch wrestling before becoming disinterested in the current product.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
History
Baisden is a KC-based entrepreneur who sold startup Iris Data Services, Inc. for $134 million in spring 2015. Baisden decided to launch a pro wrestling company after observing a continual drop in popularity for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), a publicly traded company owned by Vince McMahon, and the emergence of popular regional "indies"--independently owned and operated wrestling promotions in former industry hotbeds nationwide. Baisden recognized a void in the marketplace for locally owned promotions with high production values, backed by professional marketing in cities where indie wrestling was thriving.
In May 2016, Baisden began scouting indies in both KC and St. Louis to purchase, with the idea of building on the foundation of loyal fans in each city and establishing communication with prospective talent.
In July 2016, Baisden began negotiating with a successful local indie, KC-based Metro Pro Wrestling, owned by Chris Gough, a former writer for WWE's flagship program, Monday Night RAW. In August 2016, Baisden and Gough finalized terms on a deal that included Gough joining the NWL as director of talent relations and head of creative.
Travis Scott Bowden, a former performer and writer for the longtime Memphis Wrestling promotion owned by Jerry Lawler and Jerry Jarrett, joined the NWL in July 2016 as VP of marketing and creative assistant.
The NWL formally announced its definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Metro Pro on October 27, 2016. Baisden also made public that Metro Pro's founder, Chris Gough, had joined NWL KC as the promotion's general manager, helping oversee creative and talent relations.
During the press conference announcing the Metro Pro deal, Baisden also disclosed that NWL KC had finalized an agreement with the Scottish Rite Temple in midtown Kansas City to serve as the site of its upcoming slate of live events every other Saturday in 2017, beginning with their debut show on January 7, 2017.
A November 1 article in the Kansas City Business Journal' reported that Baisden is planning to open future NWL promotions in other former regional hotbeds such as Austin and Houston; Portland and Seattle; Los Angeles and San Francisco; and Memphis and Nashville.
In late November 2016, the company announced plans to open its NWL Training & Development Center in Kansas City. Headed by Rob Messerli, a NASM, CSCS and Precision Nutrition certified trainer, and accomplished veteran wrestler Derek Stone, the NWL's Dev Center is designed to help the promotion's performers reach and maintain excellent physical condition and to train prospective young talent as part of its wrestling school.
Precision Nutrition Certification Review Video
Signings
On September 28, 2016, the NWL announced is first signings to multiyear deals: 24-year-old twin brothers Logan and Sterling Riegel, two natives of Lee's Summit, Mo., who will perform under the names Jet and Jax Royal, a.k.a. Royal Blood. The signings reflected the promotion's commitment of building around homegrown talent already familiar to local fans, as the Riegels were favorites on Metro Pro cards and other local promotions.
On October 5, 2016, the NWL signed 26-year-old Kevin Kwiatkowski to a multiyear contract, making the 328-pounder from south St. Louis County the first talent acquisition for NWL STL. It was announced that Kwiatkowski, who previously worked Midwest rings as Kevin Lee Davidson (KLD), will compete in NWL STL under the name Todd Letterman, portraying a former standout high-school athlete.
On October 12, 2016, the NWL announced that it had signed its first nationally known talent in 28-year-old Sam Udell, who previously worked indies across the country as Sammy Six Guns, Jr. It was revealed that Udell, a former accomplished NCAA wrestler, would compete under the name Dakota "Dak" Draper as part of the terms of his multiyear deal.
On November 3, 2016, the NWL informed the media that it had reached a definitive agreement] with Matt Jackson to acquire the assets of St. Louis Anarchy (SLA) Wrestling, a local promotion that will now become part of NWL STL. Baisden said Jackson would stay on as NWL STL's general manager.
During the presser announcing the SLA deal, the NWL publicized its agreement with the Casa Loma Ballroom in South St. Louis to host NWL STL live events every other Thursday night in 2017, beginning with the first show on January 12, 2017.
Veteran Midwest wrestler Jake Dirden was announced as signing with NWL on November 10, 2016. A 6-foot-6-inch performer, Dirden said he will perform in NWL STL under the name of Jack Foster. The following week, NWL KC publicized that it had signed another national star in Bolt Brady, an Austin, Texas, native who will compete in Kansas City under the moniker Blane Meeks.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
EmoticonEmoticon