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 Early history 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.
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 of AWA from Verne Gagne. 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. As a result, the organization was renamed to Wrestling Superstars Live (WSL). In 2009, WSL went out of business.
Championships 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. ChampionshipFinal champion(s)Date wonLocationPrevious holderWorld Heavyweight ChampionshipKeith WalkerFebruary 21, 2009Michigan City, IndianaRicky LandellWorld Fighting ChampionshipKeith WalkerSeptember 13, 2008Waukesha, WisconsinRicky LandellWorld Light Heavyweight ChampionshipKirby MackJanuary 7, 2007Pottstown, PennsylvaniaT.J. MackWorld Tag Team ChampionshipTeam Vision(Chasyn Rance and Mister Saint Laurent)April 18, 2008Fayetteville, West VirginiaThe 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 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 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 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 1April 23, 1999— Stewart defeated George Petroski to become the inaugural champion.Title vacated on April 14, 2000 after Stewart failed to make a defense.Danny Dominion1April 14, 2000Blythe, CaliforniaDominion defeated Navajo Warrior to win the vacant championship.Title vacated in 2002.Erik Watts1February 4, 2005Tucson, ArizonaWatts defeated Diamond Dallas Page to win the vacant championship.The championship was retired in 2005 following a declaration of the AWA Board of Directors.
Members Wrestling Superstars Live had members in the United States, Canada, England, Japan, and Australia.
PromotionLocationYearsAll Action Wrestling Western AustraliaNovember 2007 – 2009AWA Florida Florida2005 – 2009AWA RushMinnesota2007AWA United KingdomEngland2005 – 2006Brew City Wrestling Wisconsin2005 – 2008Canadian Wrestling FederationManitobaAugust 2005 – April 2007Carolina Wrestling FederationNorth Carolina2005 – 2007Elite Canadian Championship WrestlingBritish Columbia2006Hawai'i Championship Wrestling Hawaii2006 – 2007Millennium Wrestling FederationMassachusettsMarch 2005 – 2007Mountaineer Wrestling AssociationWest Virginia2005 – 2008National Championship WrestlingTennessee2007 - Pinnacle Pro WrestlingWashington2005 – 2007Platinum Pro WrestlingIndiana2009Pro-Wrestling World-1Pennsylvania2005 – 2007Pro Wrestling Zero1-MaxJapan2005 – December 2007Rocky Mountain Championship WrestlingColoradoJanuary 2005 – 2008Spinebuster/World-1 SouthGeorgiaJuly 2005 – 2008Supreme Championship WrestlingIndiana2005 – 2007Ultra Championship Wrestling-ZeroUtahFebruary 2005 – 2007West Coast Wrestling ConnectionOregon2007 – 2008
References
External links AWA championships at Wrestling-Titles.com