NWA Roster in 1953: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions
On this page you find the full NWA Roster in the year 1953. This includes the list of all NWA Wrestlers, division between Men and Women Rosters, active Tag Teams & Stables, the current reigning Champions, as well as Managers, Announcers, Authority figures, Producers and other personalities in National Wrestling Alliance.
Our complete Pro Wrestlers Database allows you to travel through time and see the NWA Roster by Year or any specific Date in history. Simply use the filters below! You even have the option to view a breakdown of the rosters split by Face and Heel divisions.
1953NWA: All (53)
Angelo Poffo
Angelo Savoldi
Antonino Rocca
Arnold Skaaland
Baron Gattoni
Baron Michele Leone
Bearcat Wright
Big Humphrey
Bob Orton
Bobo Brazil
Cora Combs
Dick Bishop
Dory Funk
Dr. Jerry Graham
Eddie Gossett
Ethel Johnson
Freddie Blassie
Gorgeous George
Gory Guerrero
Helen Hild
Joe Blanchard
Johnny Barend
Johnny Valentine
Judy Grable
June Byers
Killer Kowalski
Len Rossi
Leroy McGuirk
Lord James Blears
Lou Thesz
Luther Lindsay
Mae Young
Maurice Vachon
Mike DiBiase
Mildred Burke
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Nick Gulas
Pat O'Connor
Paul Boesch
Pinkie George
Primo Carnera
Ray Stevens
Reggie Lisowski
Rikidōzan
Salvador Lutteroth
Sam Muchnick
The Sheik of Araby
Slave Girl Moolah
Stu Hart
Ted the Wrestling Bear
Toots Mondt
Verne Gagne
Vincent J. McMahon
Men
Angelo Poffo
Angelo Savoldi
Antonino Rocca
Arnold Skaaland
Baron Gattoni
Baron Michele Leone
Bearcat Wright
Big Humphrey
Bob Orton
Bobo Brazil
Dick Bishop
Dory Funk
Dr. Jerry Graham
Eddie Gossett
Freddie Blassie
Gorgeous George
Gory Guerrero
Joe Blanchard
Johnny Barend
Johnny Valentine
Killer Kowalski
Len Rossi
Leroy McGuirk
Lord James Blears
Lou Thesz
Luther Lindsay
Maurice Vachon
Mike DiBiase
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Nick Gulas
Pat O'Connor
Paul Boesch
Pinkie George
Primo Carnera
Ray Stevens
Reggie Lisowski
Rikidōzan
Salvador Lutteroth
Sam Muchnick
The Sheik of Araby
Stu Hart
Ted the Wrestling Bear
Toots Mondt
Verne Gagne
Vincent J. McMahon
Women
Champions
NWA World Heavyweight Championship | | Lou Thesz
Awarded of the title when Orville Brown suffered career-ending injuries in an automobile accident on November 1, 1949. During this reign, Leo Nomellini defeated Lou Thesz and both wrestlers continued to claim the title, then Thesz defeated Nomellini in a rematch. These two title changes were not officially recognized. | 1495+
|
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | Ray Gunkel
Defeated Mr. Moto to win the vacant title. | 316+
| |
 | Vacant
| 1
| |
Mr. Moto
| 1
| ||
Cyclone Anaya
| 41
| ||
| Vacant
| 5
| |
Duke Keomuka
| 31
|
NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship | Danny Savich
| 91+
| |
Bull Curry
Defeated Danny McShain to become the first champion. | 209
|
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship | | Verne Gagne
Gagne was awarded the championship | 119+
|
NWA United States Tag Team Championship | The Dusek Family Ernie Dusek & Emil Dusek
The Duseks were billed as “team match champions of the nation”, listed as a possible predecessor to the American Tag Team Championship | 4043+
|
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship | Ray Gunkel & Ricki Starr Ray Gunkel & Ricki Starr
Defeated Duke Keomuka and Kinji Shibuya. | 0+
| |
| Vacant
championship vacated for undocumented reasons | 30
| |
Rito Romero & Miguel Guzmán Rito Romero & Miguel Guzmán
| 28
| ||
Ray Gunkel & Ricki Starr Ray Gunkel & Ricki Starr
Still champions as of April 14, 1953. | 301
| ||
| Vacant
championship vacated for undocumented reasons | 36
|
NWA Mid-Southern Tag Team Championship | Al Smith & John Smith Al Smith & John Smith
| 113+
| |
Herb Welch & Roy Welch Herb Welch & Roy Welch
| 365
|
NWA World Tag Team Championship | | Pat O'Connor & Tony BaillargeonPat O'Connor & Tony Baillargeon
| 194+
|
Al Mills & Tiny Mills Al Mills & Tiny Mills
Records are unclear on who they defeated to win the championship. | 10
|
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship | | Baron Michele Leone
| 136+
|
Danny McShain
McShain unified the Los Angeles version of the title into the NWA title, defeating Rito Romero on 1952-05-25 in Los Angeles, CA. Whitey Whittler then defeated McShain via disqualification on 1952-10-17 in Oklahoma City, OK to claim a disputed unoffical version of the title; then also Red Berry defeated McShain via disqualification on 1952-11-11 in Dallas, TX to claim the disputed unofficial version of the title. McShain then defeated Whittler on 1952-11-14 in Oklahoma City, OK and Berry on 1952-11-27 in Galveston, TX to end their respective claims. | 637
|
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship | Frank Stojack
| 143+
| |
Gypsy Joe
Gypsy Joe defeated Johnny Balbo in a decision match to become the inaugural champion. | 277
|
NWA World Middleweight Championship | Sugi Sito
| 194+
| |
Tarzán López
Tarzán López won a tournament to win the vacant title. | 342
|
NWA World Welterweight Championship |  | Blue Demon
| 159+
|
 | El Santo
| 302
|
NWA Women's Championship | | Mildred Burke
Burke defeated Clara Mortensen in 1937 to win the original version of the Women's World Championship, and due to her victory she was recognized as the inaugural NWA Women's Champion in 1950. | 1460+
|
NWA Minnesota Women's Championship | Ramona Rundquist
| 942+
|
NWA World Ladies Tag Team Championship | | June Byers & Mary Jane Mull
| 17+
|
Ruth Boatcallie & Carol Cook
The titles history is unrecorded from 1953-03-01 to 1953-09-01. Boatcallie & Cook were recognized as champions only in Alabama and Tennessee. | 104
| ||
Daisy Mae & Golden Venus
The titles history is unrecorded from 1953-03-01 to 1953-09-01. Mae & Venus were recognized as champions only in West Virginia. | 184
| ||
| June Byers & Mary Jane Mull
Mull won a tournament to replace Millie Stafford, who had taken time off due to personal reasons. | 90
|
Extras
Part Time Wrestler
Commentator
Presidents
Promoters
Producer
Coach
The profile of each NWA wrestler features their Career History, Ring Names, Face / Heel Turns, Accomplishments, Pictures, Bio and more information and statistics.
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