Source: www.indywrestlingnews.com
(Charlotte, NC) NWA Charlotte announced today that professional wrestling, sanctioned by the NWA, is returning full-time to Charlotte beginning in early 2009.
âWe are delighted to have reached an agreement with the National Wrestling Alliance and Executive Director Bob Trobich to bring the NWA name and professional wrestling back to Charlotte,â said NWA Charlotte President JD Costello. âWe will begin bi-weekly shows in Charlotte under the NWA Charlotte brand in early 2009.â
The National Wrestling Alliance was formed in 1948 and has grown to be the largest group of independent professional wrestling promotions in the country. âNWA Charlotte brings back the rich heritage of this grand sport that generations of wrestling fans and families have enjoyed for more than 60 years across the Carolinas,â added Costello.
Costello himself was a legendary wrestling manager with the NWA in the mid 1980âs when he managed the tag team champions, The M.O.D. Squad (Masters of Disaster). âJD Costello and The M.O.D. Squad worked with wrestling icons like Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Bill Dundee, Dutch Mantel, Baby Doll, and Jim Cornett,â said Costello. âWe worked for the original Jim Crockett Promotions, which was the foundation for what we know today as professional wrestling.â
North Carolina played the pivotal role in building the popularity of professional wrestling across the southeast. Back during the real building days of the NWA territory in North Carolina, sports fans watched college football, NASCAR and NWA wrestling.
âThere is a real magic with wrestling fans when you mention the NWA,â said Costello. âOur goal with NWA Charlotte is to bring that great style of family entertainment back to Charlotte on a regular basis.â
NWA Charlotte will regularly feature past and present NWA superstars, wrestling legends, new talent from TNA, and regional wrestling stars. âThe true excitement in professional wrestling is the contagious combination of good guys versus bad guys, great storylines, unique wrestling stars, and large championship bouts,â said Costello. âNWA Charlotte will have all of that and mix in the one element that today has to offer, which is the Internet.â
NWA Charlotte fans will be able to follow their favorite NWA superstars week by week on the NWA Charlotte website at HYPERLINK “http://www.NWACharlotte.com” www.NWACharlotte.com . âMixing in the Internet gives our wrestling fans a new resource to keep current on whatâs happening between shows,â said Costello. âThe Internet gives the fans instant satisfaction for their need of information and will also give them the chance to interact with wrestlers and other fans on message boards and blogs.â
NWA Charlotte has selected Charlotte-based creative marketing agency Ideas Squared as the agency of record. âIdeas Squared understands the unique blend of creativity, imagination, and technology that we need to connect everything together,â said Costello. âIdeas Squared has experience working with professional sports teams and organizations and they were a natural fit as our creative and marketing partner.â
âI want to assure wrestling fans across the Carolinas that NWA Charlotte will be entertaining and fast-paced while blending the traditions of NWA-style wrestling with the production values that todayâs fan demands,â concluded Costello. âWe will not disappoint our fans because the NWA Charlotte shows will be something that they have related to from years gone by and will want to share with their families to start new NWA traditions.â
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About the NWA
The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is the largest governing body for a group of independent professional wrestling promotions and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948. Prior to the 1980s, it acted as the sole governing body for most of professional wrestling, operating as a talent and brand name franchiser for the inter-regional “territory” system.
About NWA Charlotte
NWA Charlotte brings back the rich heritage of professional wrestling that generations of wrestling fans and families have enjoyed for more than 60 years across the Carolinas. NWA Charlotte shows offer wrestling entertainment that is âfamily-appropriateâ for fans of all ages and begins bi-weekly shows in Charlotte in early 2009.
About JD Costello
JD Costello was a legendary wrestling manager with the NWA in the mid 1980âs when he managed the tag team champions, The M.O.D. Squad (Masters of Disaster). JD Costello and The M.O.D. Squad worked with wrestling icons like Jerry Lawler, Jerry Jarrett, Bill Dundee, Dutch Mantel, Baby Doll, and Jim Cornett. During that time, Costello was employed with the original Jim Crockett Promotions, which was the real predecessor for what we know as professional wrestling today. Costello now owns the NWA Charlotte wrestling franchise.
