[PC] LankyLefty Showcase: New(ish) Stuff!

In 1979, San Francisco territory booker Mack Vincent-frustrated with his lack of power within the Championship Wrestling Alliance- decided to break from the CWA and form World Federation of Wrestling. The company started as a rival of sorts to the CWA, which controlled booking for every major promotion in the United States but leaned heavily to territories in the south and east. Mack focused on the western territories, offering up a better TV deal and a promise of better national exposure (The Vincent family made their money through the Vincent Broadcasting Company- which owned local stations throughout the West and Southwest regions) if the promotion signed a partnership agreement.

The venture took off in 1982 when Mack's young star Tank McDaniel, skyrocketing in popularity, began selling out shows based on the idea that Mack could not only cherry pick the biggest names for opponents, but could load up the undercard with top stars from his partnered promotions. This popularity, coupled with his family connections would secure the first pro wrestling national TV deal, bringing a weekly Saturday morning show and 4 prime time network specials. Mack began poaching talent to be exclusive to WFoW, expanding farther and farther east into prime CWA turf and starting a full on wrestling war.

By 1988 WFoW was the top promotion in the country, with deals in Mexico and Japan that saw its top stars wrestling all over the world. The early 90's continued the success, and when the CWA folded under the collapse of its own politics and infighting, it seemed like Mack Vincent's company would be the predominant wrestling organization for years to come.

Of course, that's not what ended up happening. With no real competition and top stars such as Tank McDaniel and Wrecking Ball Allen aging or retiring, the promotion began to plateau. The companies next big star, Austin Baron, couldn't stay healthy and his run at the top fizzled after only a couple years- leaving the promotion in a state of flux heading into the turn of the century. Matters were further complicated with Mack Vincent suffered a stroke and died in 2002. By 2010 the company was hemorrhaging money- without a marketable draw and overall wrestling popularity on the decline- and by 2016 the company was out of business. Despite the companies downfall, It would be WFoW's end that would open the door for the beginning of Warrior Pro Wrestling.

The CWA was originally formed in 1958 when the top territory promoters got together and decided on a "traveling" champion that would work across the various territories, helping to sell out bigger venues. The idea was a huge success, making household stars out of the likes of "Brawler" Terry Young, Fitz Domino, and "Handsome" Jimmy Otto all through the 60's and early 70's. By the mid 70's, the CWA was largely recognized as the predominant pro wrestling organization in the country, with its championships recognized all over the world.

As its popularity and power increased, so did the behind the scenes politics. Originally a committee where all members had an equal vote, in 1977 the first Chairman of CWA- Texas promoter Irving Lewis- was elected. The appointment infuriated the western terrirorties, who already felt the CWA largely ignored their promotions for title opportunities and touring schedules. A year later there was a mass exodus as the rival WFoW was formed as direct competition, leading many of the board members to question the Irving Lewis' leadership. In 1980 the board elected Virgil Wyatt, a former CWA champ and successful businessman with limited booking experience to lead its own national expansion to combat the success of WFoW.

Virgil's tenure as chairman was rocky from the start. His business acumen secured its own national TV deal 6 months after WFoW secured theres, but his booking decisions leaned to whatever promoter was willing to curry his favor. When he was voted out as chairman in favor of Baron von Baron (grandfather of current Warrior Pro wrestler Vic Baron) in 1983, Wyatt turned around and bought the CWA outright- fired the board and quickly poached the territories top talent, turning his sights directly on Mack Vincent's promotion.

The next five years proved extremely successful- Virgil hired back Baron von Baron as lead booker and the company sported one of the deepest rosters in the history of the sport. But without a major star to build around, the company slowly started losing ground to its competitor- both in way of money and talent. Sensing a sinking ship, Virgil fired Baron in 1989 and took on the duties himself, booking himself as champion and driving away the remaining top stars. By 1992 the company largely existed in name only, officially closing its doors in 1994.

Formed in 1978, JAAPW was one of the top wrestling companies in the country during the 80's and 90's, largely benefiting from "The Big 3" headlining shows with amazing matches. Shintaro Ito, Kenji Shinjop, and Jumbo Matsui would carry the promotion into the mid 90's with matches not only against each other, but also attracting American stars creating cross over appeal. Unfortunately the company spend lavishly, putting it financially in the red despite huge gates from its biggest shows. There was also infighting amongst the Big Three, each eager to prove it could draw without the other that lead to both Ito and Shinjo leaving- taking talent with them- to start their own promotions. In 2002, when Jumbo Matsui died of a rare blood disease, the company finally folded.

There have been numerous attempts to revive the company over the years, and a Jumbo tribute show in 2015 that saw both Ito and Shinjo in the ring for the first time in 12 years built some momentum that the promotion might live again. So far nothing has materialized, though in 2019 Virgil Wyatt of all people purchased the naming rights, as well as the entire tape library, so its possible a revival isn't completely off the table.