Ok, so as some of you may have read here and there on the internet this week, The Sheik has been stripped of the NWA World Heavyweight title...Now I know some of you are thinking.."Gene, how can that be? The Sheik passed away several years ago." Well, the real Sheik did but the guy in the picture above took the gimmick and has been using it for the past several years. You'll also notice in the picture he's wearing an AWA World title belt, that died years ago too but he took that as well....kinda his thing I guess.
So, the story goes that The Sheik won the NWA World Title from Colt Cabana in April with the knowledge he would drop the belt back to Adam Pearce at the end of July. Well in the meantime I guess the NWA belt still means a small something in Japan because he's managing to get booked over there and actually make some decent money so he decided he's gonna keep the title and took the July 31st booking off his calendar. In light of this the "NWA Board of Directors" called an "Emergency Teleconference" and stripped him of the title. In protest to Sheik being stripped of his title Craig Classic (the NWA World Jr Champion) forfeited his belt as well. Now you may be asking yourself "Gene, who the hell is Craig Classic and why should I care if he forfeited the title? and for that matter who the hell is this fake Sheik and why the should I care he got stripped?"
Well those are all good questions and my answers are simple....I don't know...cause I have no clue who Craig Classic is, and as far as I'm concerned the NWA World title has ceased to have any meaning since it was absorbed by Crockett back in the late 80's. I guess the closest it's come to being relevant was while TNA recognized it as it's main title for several years but even then it was just a company title. Colt Cabana has been the most well known title holder in quite some time, Pearce was a good champion but not that many people know who he is either.
At this point the "NWA" is just a way for a few guys to make money off a brand that's been dead since the territories died. It's crazy that promoters from all over the world pay these guys money to use the "NWA" name and logo when 90% of wrestling fans could care less whatever random initials are on the flier, they just come to watch some "rasslin". The upside of having the champions come to their show to defend the NWA titles is moot, cause nobody knows who they hell those guys are anymore than the local guys on the show.
Anyways, for those interested here's some insight on this whole debacle from those involved:
Greg Price (who runs the NWA Fanfests) posted this:
What Does Your Word Mean To You?
by Greg Price on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at 10:06am
Lots of folks chiming in on the NWA stripping the world title from The Sheik. Most of those voicing opinions have little knowledge of the circumstances in this case. I won't pretend to know all the circumstances, but indeed there is a lot more to this story.
In a lot of ways, it reminds me of 1983 just before the first Starcade when Vince McMahon tried to get Harley Race to jump to the WWF, taking the NWA belt with him. Ultimately, Race said he had to look himself in the mirror and he passed up on the quick payday because his word meant something. That was the honorable thing to do.
While this situation is a little different, Sheik went into this knowing he was getting the belt on 4/23 and keeping it until 7/31. It wasn't until his May trip to Japan that he was offered additional July and August Japanese tours.
In June, just after his first Japan tour as NWA champ, he called to tell me he wouldn't be honoring his 8/6 commitment to me for our fanfest show -- a booking arrangement that we confirmed in writing on May 3 of this year -- nor would he be dropping the strap on 7/31. He told me he couldn't pass up the chance to go to Japan and make $4,000., and I was quick to point out to him that my "word" is worth more than 4k to me.
I'm not picking sides here between Sheik and the NWA. Today's organization, which I have zero to do with, is as screwed up as ever. But they were put in a difficult situation here by a man that was given it's highest honor under pre-set terms, then once he got the belt, basically ran to Japan with it.
While the circumstances are slightly different, it's all really the same. Harley Race's word meant more than the thousands of dollars being offered him, while 4k is all it took for Sheik.
What does your word mean to you?
NWA posted released this:
CHARLOTTE, NC: The NWA has been informed that The Sheik has pulled out of his scheduled title defense on July 31st at the Ohio St. Fair against 3-time champion Adam Pearce. It is not clear at this time as to the reasons behind The Sheik's refusal to go through with this bout. The NWA first received an inkling of the issue when it was noted that the long-awaited showdown was no longer on The Sheik's calendar. When contacted, The Sheik's camp confirmed that he would not be appearing for the eagerly-anticipated battle.
Faced with this refusal, the NWA Board of Directors held an emergency teleconference, with the result being that The Sheik has been stripped of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, effective immediately. "This is not something the NWA does lightly", said Executive Director, Robert K. Trobich. "We prefer that the title be settled in the ring".
The vacant title will be filled by the new main event for the July 31st show: A three-way match between the man who was promised the shot, 3-Time Champ, Scrap Iron Adam Pearce, and the holders of the two other most prestigious belts in the NWA, National Champion, Chance Prophet, and North American Champion, Shaun Tempers!
Craig Classic posted this on his facebook:
I relinquish my NWA World's Jr. Heavyweight Title in Protest to the horrible decision to strip our world champion the Sheik of his title. Sheik was on a tremendous roll bringing the title overseas and around the United States. I love and respect this business and for this to happen to anyone in are industry is horseshit and I will not agree with this decision.
Adam Pearce posted on his facebook page:
I am disappointed that the 7/31 NWA title match vs 'Sheik' isn't happening. Also very sorry that this situation has devolved so rapidly.
The only comments I have:
1) The date and location of this match had been set since 2/14/11. Not sure how this can be disputed.
2) Outside of the 7/31/11 date, I have never been booked by anyone to wrestle the 'Sheik' with or without any title at stake. I have never in any context refused a title match with him.
My word is all I have, and I will be in Columbus, Ohio on 7/31 as agreed upon. I think it's easy sometimes to forget that you, the fans, are really the ones that suffer when situations like this arise. You deserve better than this and I will do my best to give you that on 7/31. This I promise.
-AP
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