Formed in 1948, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) governing body was the largest organization in professional wrestling until the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)'s Golden Era. Under the control of the NWA Board of Directors (consisting of various prominent, regional promoters), the governing body oversaw wrestling's national territory system, a system which saw promotions (referred to as "territories") recognize one world heavyweight champion, participate in talent exchanges, and collectively protect the territorial integrity of NWA members. Unlike modern independent promotions, the territories were regarded as major promotions and often collaborated with other NWA members.

In 1993, the NWA was reorganized following the withdrawals of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), with the majority of new NWA territories being small independent promotions. As other territories withdrew from the governing body, the NWA would discontinue its memberships in August 2012 and adopted a licensing model. In 2017, the NWA was purchased by Billy Corgan's Lightning One, Inc., which abandoned the licensing model and gradually transformed the NWA from a governing body to a stand-alone wrestling promotion.

In October 2023, while still under the ownership of Billy Corgan's Lightning One, Inc., the NWA reintroduced the territory system. The first NWA-affiliated promotion introduced under the new system was NWA Exodus Pro Midwest, owned by then NWA World's Heavyweight Champion Michael "EC3" Hutter.

Current NWA-affiliated promotions and/or territories The following promotions joined the NWA after the re-establishment of the territory system in October 2023.

Territories PromotionYear(s) in the NWATerritoryPromoter(s) Fight The World Wrestling 2023–Largo, FloridaBryan Idol, Mike Mondo, and Natalia MarkovaNWA JCP Southeast2023–Coalfield, TennesseeJoe CazanaNWA Chicago2024–Chicago, IllinoisBryan Idol and Billy CorganNWA Kross Fire2024–Sevierville, TennesseeKenzie Paige and Kylie Paige NWA World League Wrestling2024–Troy, MissouriLeland Race

Sub-governing bodies Governing bodyAffiliate(s)Year(s) in the NWATerritoryPromoter(s)NWA Texas Dogg Pound Championship Wrestling2024–San Antonio, TexasCarlene Denise Moore-Begnaud and Rodney BegnaudTexas Style Wrestling2024–Dallas, TexasDavid Horachek and Randy Cline NWA New Mexico Duke City Championship Wrestling2025–Albuquerque, New MexicoFred SlowSouth Plains Championship Wrestling2026–Lubbock, TexasJustin Edwards

Former NWA-affiliated promotions and/or territories

The following promotions were members/licensees of the NWA between its founding in 1948 and the organization's acquisition by Lightning One in 2017.

† indicates a founding member of the NWA

PromotionYear(s) in the NWATerritoryPromoter(s)NWA Iowa1948–1959Des Moines, IowaPaul "Pinkie" George†Minneapolis Boxing and Wrestling Club1948–1960Minneapolis, MinnesotaTony Stecher† (through 1954)Wally Karbo (through 1954–1960)Verne Gagne (through 1954–1960)Harry Light Wrestling Office1948–1961Detroit, MichiganHarry Light†Midwest Wrestling Association1948–1967Columbus, OhioAl Haft†St. Louis Wrestling Club1948–1985St. Louis, MissouriSam Muchnick† (through 1982)Bob GeigelCentral States Wrestling1948–1988Kansas City, MissouriOrville Brown† (through 1958)George Simpson (through 1958)Bob Geigel (1958–1986, 1987–1988)Jim Crockett, Jr. (1986–1987)NWA Montana1949–1950Great Falls, MontanaJerry MeekerNWA Hollywood1949–1956Los Angeles, CaliforniaHugh NicholsAmerican Wrestling AssociationNot to be confused with the Minneapolis version of the American Wrestling Association.1949–1957Boston, MassachusettsPaul BowserNWA Nebraska1949–1957Omaha, NebraskaMax ClaytonMontreal Wrestling1949–1957Montreal, Quebec, CanadaEddie QuinnJohn J. Doyle EnterprisesCalifornia Wrestling OfficeHollywood Wrestling1949–19581968–1983Los Angeles, CaliforniaJohnny Doyle (through 1954)Cal Eaton (1954–1966)Mike LeBell (1958–1983)NWA San Francisco1949–1961San Francisco, CaliforniaJoe MalcewiczFred Kohler Enterprises1949–1963Chicago, IllinoisFred KohlerSouthwest Sports1949–1966Houston, TexasMorris SigelEd McLemorePaul BoeschNorman Clark50th State Big Time Wrestling1949–1979Honolulu, HawaiiAl Karasick (through 1961)Ed FrancisJames BlearsNWA Mid-America1949–1981Dyersburg, TennesseeNashville, TennesseeNick GulasRoy WelchJohn CazanaJoe GunterTulsa PromotionsLeroy McGuirk's Championship WrestlingTri-States WrestlingMidwest Championship WrestlingNWA Tri-StateMid-South Wrestling1949–1982Tulsa, OklahomaSam Avey (through 1958)Leroy McGuirk (1951–1979)Bill Watts (1979–1982)Maple Leaf Wrestling1949–1984Toronto, Ontario, CanadaFrank Tunney (through 1983)Jack TunneyABC BookingMid South SportsGeorgia Championship Wrestling1949–1984Atlanta, GeorgiaPaul Jones (through 1974)Jim Barnett (1973–1983)Ole AndersonEastern Sports Enterprises1950–1957New York City, New YorkRudy DusekManhattan Booking AgencyManhattan Wrestling Enterprises1950–1957New York City, New YorkJoseph "Toots" MondtNWA Indianapolis1950–1960Indianapolis, IndianaBilly Thom (through 1959)Balk EstesSalt Lake Wrestling Club1950–1960sOrem, UtahDave ReynoldsUpstate Athletic ClubBuffalo Athletic ClubErie Athletic Club1950–1970Buffalo, New YorkEd Don George (through late 1950s)Bobby BrunsPedro MartinezNWA New Mexico1950–1982Albuquerque, New MexicoMike LondonChampionship Wrestling from Florida1950–1987Tampa, FloridaClarence Luttrell (through 1971)Eddie Graham (through 1985)Hiro Matsuda (1985–1987)Duke Keomuka (1985–1987)Western States Sports1951–1980Amarillo, TexasDory Detton (through 1955)Karl Sarpolis (1955–1966)Dory Funk (1955–1973)Dory Funk, Jr. (1967–1978)Terry Funk (1967–1978)Dick Murdoch (1978–1980)Bob Windham (1978–1980)Foothills Athletic ClubBig Time WrestlingStampede Wrestling1951–1982Calgary, AlbertaLarry Tillman (through 1952)Stu Hart (1952–1982)Jim Crockett PromotionsMid Atlantic Championship Wrestling1951–1988Charlotte, North CarolinaJim Crockett (through 1973)Jim Crockett, Jr.(1973–1988)Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance1953–1973Tokyo, JapanRikidōzan (through 1963)Toyonobori (through 1966)YoshinosatoNWA Gulf Coast1953–1978Dothan, AlabamaBuddy Fuller (through 1960)Lee FieldsBobby FieldsRocky McGuireEmpresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre1953–1986Mexico City, MexicoSalvador LutterothCapitol Wrestling CorporationWorld Wide Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Federation1953–19631971–1983Washington, D.C.New York City, New YorkVincent J. McMahon (through 1982)Joseph "Toots" Mondt (through 1965)Vincent K. McMahon (from 1982)Pacific Northwest Wrestling1957–1992Eugene, OregonDon OwenNWA All Star WrestlingEarly 1960s–1985Vancouver, British ColumbiaSandor Kovacs (through 1977)Al TomkoAll-Star Pro Wrestling1962–early 1990sWellington, New ZealandSteve RickardBig Time Wrestling1964–1980Detroit, MichiganEd Farhat (The Sheik)Francis FlesherNWA Big Time WrestlingWorld Class Championship Wrestling1966–1986Dallas, TexasJack Adkisson (Fritz Von Erich)Big Time Wrestling1968–1981San Francisco, CaliforniaRoy ShireEastern Sports Association1969–1977Halifax, Nova ScotiaAl ZinckWorld Championship Wrestling1969–1978Sydney, New South WalesJim BarnettAll Japan Pro Wrestling1973–1986Tokyo, JapanShohei BabaNWA Southeast Championship WrestlingContinental Championship Wrestling1974–1987Knoxville, TennesseeJim BarnettRon FullerKorean Wrestling AssociationMid 1970s–1983Seoul, South KoreaKim IllNew Japan Pro-WrestlingJuly 20, 1975 – 19851992–19932008–2010Tokyo, JapanAntonio Inoki (1972–1989)Seiji Sakaguchi (1989–1999)Tatsumi Fujinami (1999-June 2004)Masakazu Kusama (June 2004-June 2005)Simon Kelly Inoki (June 2005-April 2007)Naoki Sugabayashi (April 2007-September 2013)Kaname Tezuka (September 2013 – February 2016)Katsuhiko Harada (February 2016 – December 2023)Hiroshi Tanahashi (December 2023 – present)Capitol Sports PromotionsWorld Wrestling Council1979–1987San Juan, Puerto RicoCarlos ColónVictor JovicaNWA Polynesian Pro Wrestling1979–1988Honolulu, HawaiiPeter Maivia (through 1982)Lia MaiviaChampionship Wrestling from Georgia1984-1985Atlanta, GeorgiaOle AndersonWorld Championship Wrestling1988–1993Atlanta, GeorgiaJim Herd (1988–1992)Kip Allen Frey (1992)Bill Watts (1992–1993)Eric Bischoff (1993)Dominicana De EspectaculosLate 1980sDominican RepublicArcadio Disla BritoNWA New Jersey NWA Championship Wrestling America1992–2000New JerseyDennis CoralluzzoEastern Championship Wrestling1993–1994Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaTod GordonNWA UK Hammerlock1993–2013United KingdomIreland Dean ChampionSmoky Mountain Wrestling1994–1995TennesseeKentuckyVirginiaWest VirginiaNorth CarolinaSouth CarolinaGeorgiaJim CornetteSandy ScottInternational Wrestling Association1994–20012007–2009Puerto RicoVíctor Quiñones Juan RiveraNWA Florida1994–2005South FloridaHoward Brody (through 2002)Joe PriceRon NiemiPro Wrestling eXpress NWA East1995Pennsylvania