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20-645: Originally known as the "Midwest Wrestling Association" before the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance it controlled and booked shows territories in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa and was seen as a cornerstone of the NWA. It joined the NWA in October 1948. The territory was promoted by Pinkie George and the first official NWA World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown ( Sonny Myers being

40-561: A National Basketball League franchise (the Waterloo Hawks ) to Iowa, which proved to be unsuccessful. After losing $ 20,000 in under a year, he sold the franchise to his brother Andy and Charley Shipp . As a wrestling promoter, George worked closely with fellow promoters in Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Missouri. By 1950, the NWA had 26 members throughout a territory stretching from Montreal in Canada to Honolulu , Hawaii. As

60-538: A new sanctioning body known as the "World Wrestling Alliance" in an attempt to compete with the national expansion of Jim Crockett and Vince McMahon . The move did not pay off and Geigel closed the WWA in 1989. The NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship is currently controlled by the NWA affiliate Central-States Championship Wrestling (CCW). The promotion's classic tape library is currently owned by WWE , who obtained through their purchase of World Championship Wrestling,

80-536: A promotional career in Mason City, Iowa . They relocated to Des Moines, Iowa , where George promoted his first professional wrestling match between Joe Stecher and George Vassel in 1928. On September 20, 1934, George was one of many promoters to attend the Ed Lewis –Londos bout at Wrigley Field . He managed numerous fighters such as Johnny Paychek, Glen Flanagan, Abel Cestac and Lee Savold. In 1948, he brought

100-907: The Hammond Ciesar All-Americans in the previous and final season of the NBL. In the 1949–1950 season, their first and only one in the NBA, they finished 19–43, fifth out of six in the Western Division. The Waterloo Hawks are of no relation to the current-day Atlanta Hawks franchise; at the time of Waterloo's existence in the NBA, the latter franchise was based in Moline, Illinois as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (and moved to Milwaukee when Waterloo's franchise folded). The National Basketball Association contracted after

120-687: The National Wrestling Alliance and the man responsible for laying the foundations of what would become perhaps the most respected organization in the business. In 2014, he was inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame . Waterloo Hawks The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa . The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of

140-976: The 1949–1950 season. The league went from 17 teams to 11 before the 1950–1951 season started. Midway through the 1950–1951 season, the Washington Capitols folded as well, bringing the number of teams in the league down to ten. Meanwhile, the National Professional Basketball League was formed around the former NBA teams, with teams added in new larger markets. The charter teams were the East Division: Sheboygan Redskins (Former NBA), Anderson Packers (Former NBA), Louisville Alumnites and Grand Rapids Hornets . West Division: Denver Refiners / Evansville Agogans , Saint Paul Lights , Kansas City Hi-Spots and Waterloo Hawks (Former NBA). The Waterloo Hawks played at The Hippodrome . The arena

160-483: The NWA World Heavyweight Title for the first time. In 1986, Geigel sold the promotion to Jim Crockett Promotions owner Jim Crockett, Jr. , who ran the territory from September 1986 until February 1987, where Bob Geigel bought the promotion back and co partnered with George Petraski. After stepping down as chairman of the NWA, Geigel withdrew his promotion from the NWA in late 1987 and formed

180-419: The NWA and rival promoters/wrestlers such as Wladek Zbyszko, George Simpson and Sonny Myers, George claimed that he received a phone call telling him to get out of the wrestling business or "we’ll deliver your body to your wife". This prompted George to purchase a gun. George alleged that this was a part of a "one-sided wrestling war" to "harass, scare and discourage (him) out of the business". He also believed it

200-590: The NWA based in Des Moines . Described by Sam Muchnick as the father of the NWA George was inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2014. Georgeacopoulos was born to Greek parents Limberis "Louis" and Elizabeth Bolanis Georgeacopoulos in Lowell, Massachusetts on January 22, 1905. When he was a teenager he and his family (including younger brother Andrew) relocated to Black Hawk County, Iowa, where their surname

220-461: The NWA or Pinkie George. A jury found in favor of Pinkie and the NWA on December 8. George was angry at what he perceived as treachery from his peers, including Muchnick. In a letter to NWA members, he resigned from the Alliance, stating that "a very small minority of the Alliance, including President Muchnick, are in violation of the government decree. Interlocking regional monopolies that control

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240-522: The NWA with Geigel sitting on the board of directors and even served as chairman of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1978 until 1987, the period that is considered the last "glory years" of the NWA. Central States Wrestling did not become a household name across the United States until 1973, when Harley Race brought attention to CSW (and its "sister promotion" the St. Louis Wrestling Club ) by winning

260-416: The champion endanger every member of the alliance". George would have friction with the NWA over the next several years, including an infamous federal anti-trust lawsuit. He would continue to promote boxing in the region and was an active citizen into his senior years. In 1964, he was the manager of future boxing World Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes . Pinkie George is remembered as the visionary behind

280-796: The current Big Four Leagues . The Waterloo Hawks were founded in 1948, playing in the National Basketball League . In 1949, the National Basketball League was absorbed by its rival, the Basketball Association of America , forming the National Basketball Association ; the Hawks were thus a founding member of the NBA. When the Hawks joined the NBA properly, their roster consisted of players that previously played for

300-458: The preceding unofficial one) from the creation of the NWA until 1958. The MWA World Heavyweight Championship began in 1940, preceding the consolidation with the CSW and WWA. In 1963, wrestler/promoter Bob Geigel took over and partnered up with Pat O'Conner and promoters George Simpson and Gust Karras to form "Heart of America Sports Attractions, Inc." The promotion continued to be a cornerstone of

320-401: The previous owners of the library. Pinkie George Paul "Pinkie" George (born Paul Lloyd Georgeacopoulos ; January 22, 1905 – November 1, 1993) was an American professional wrestling promoter, boxer and businessman best known as the visionary behind, and first president of, the National Wrestling Alliance . He operated the NWA's Iowa territory, one of the primary members of

340-540: The territory. On January 23, 1951, George incorporated the NWA as a non-profit with a code of ethnics in Iowa for tax purposes, helping ensure its survival for years to come. George grew disillusioned with the direction of the NWA, which he was not reluctant in expressing, but nevertheless remained confident in the new Presidency of Muchnick. Tensions however grew and George withdrew from the NWA board of directors in 1951. With bitterness and rivalry at its height in 1957 between

360-402: Was changed to "George". After completing school, Pinkie embarked on a stint as a boxer; first as an amateur and then as a professional. Fighting as a flyweight, he completed in over 160 bouts with limited success. On August 29, 1928, he suffered a knockout defeat to Speedy Dado which was a turning point in his tenure as a boxer. After marrying his wife, Elizabeth, Georgeacopoulos embarked on

380-505: Was planned, George stepped down as President of the NWA at the end of 1950, having taken on the role in 1948. In a further letter to Pfefer dated June 8, 1950, he stated that "in September, my term ends and Sam Muchnick will be elected, as I think he is the fellow deserving of it". George continued to run the wrestling scene in Iowa, with grapplers such as Verne Gagne , Bob Orton , Johnny Valentine and Pat O’Connor making their name in

400-477: Was timed to coincide with a federal investigation against the NWA for alleged monopolistic practices. The case against the NWA went to trial in December 1958. Simpson testified against Pinkie, stating he had had difficulty booking wrestlers within the NWA system but that he had recently straightened things out with Muchnick and Brown. Muchnick himself testified as a witness for the plaintiff but did little to harm

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