NWA Roster in 1956: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions
On this page you find the full NWA Roster in the year 1956. 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.
1956NWA: All (62)
Angelo Poffo
Angelo Savoldi
Antonino Rocca
Arnold Skaaland
Baron Gattoni
Bearcat Wright
Big Humphrey
Bob Orton
Bobo Brazil
Cora Combs
Dick Beyer
Dick The Bruiser
Dory Funk
Dr. Jerry Graham
Ethel Johnson
Freddie Blassie
Fritz von Erich
Gene LeBell
Gorgeous George
Gory Guerrero
Haystacks Calhoun
Helen Hild
Jackie Fargo
Joe Blanchard
Joe Hamilton
Johnny Barend
Johnny Valentine
Johnny Walker
Judy Grable
June Byers
Killer Kowalski
Len Rossi
Leroy McGuirk
Lord James Blears
Lou Thesz
Luther Lindsay
Mae Young
Maurice Vachon
Mike DiBiase
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Nick Bockwinkel
Nick Gulas
Pat O'Connor
Paul Boesch
Paul Bunyan
Pinkie George
Primo Carnera
Ray Stevens
Reggie Lisowski
Rikidōzan
Rip Rogers
Rocky Monroe
Ron Wright
Salvador Lutteroth
Sam Muchnick
The Sheik
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
Bearcat Wright
Big Humphrey
Bob Orton
Bobo Brazil
Dick Beyer
Dick The Bruiser
Dory Funk
Dr. Jerry Graham
Freddie Blassie
Fritz von Erich
Gene LeBell
Gorgeous George
Gory Guerrero
Haystacks Calhoun
Jackie Fargo
Joe Blanchard
Joe Hamilton
Johnny Barend
Johnny Valentine
Johnny Walker
Killer Kowalski
Len Rossi
Leroy McGuirk
Lord James Blears
Lou Thesz
Luther Lindsay
Maurice Vachon
Mike DiBiase
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Nick Bockwinkel
Nick Gulas
Pat O'Connor
Paul Boesch
Paul Bunyan
Pinkie George
Primo Carnera
Ray Stevens
Reggie Lisowski
Rikidōzan
Rip Rogers
Rocky Monroe
Ron Wright
Salvador Lutteroth
Sam Muchnick
The Sheik
Stu Hart
Ted the Wrestling Bear
Toots Mondt
Verne Gagne
Vincent J. McMahon
Women
Champions
NWA World Heavyweight Championship | | Lou Thesz
During this reign, Édouard Carpentier was awarded the title when Lou Thesz could not continue the match due to a back injury, but in some territories Thesz continued to be recognized as NWA World Heavyweight Champion, while in others Carpentier was billed as the champion. Thesz then won a rematch against Carpentier. After some controversies, these two title changes were not recognized. | 52+
|
Whipper Billy Watson
| 239
| ||
| 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. | 2300
|
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | El Médico
| 73+
| |
Pepper Gomez
Defeated Kelly in rematch. | 42
| ||
 | Vacant
After a match against Pepper Gomez. | 14
| |
Gene Kiniski
Won in a tag team match, teaming with Lenny Montana to defeat Gomez and Ray Gunkel. | 6
| ||
Pepper Gomez
| 15
| ||
| "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
| 1
| |
Kay Bell
| 28
| ||
| "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
| 34
|
NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship | El Medíco
| 38+
| |
Bull Curry
| 242
| ||
Don Evans
| 7
| ||
Bull Curry
| 27
| ||
Danny McShain
| 11
| ||
Rocky Columbo
It is not clear who Columbo defeated to win the championship | 2
| ||
Duke Keomuka
| 64
|
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship | Hans Schmidt
| 73+
| |
Wilbur Snyder
| 195
| ||
| Verne Gagne
Gagne was awarded the championship | 947
|
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 | 5139+
|
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship | Ray Gunkel & The Amazing Zuma Ray Gunkel & The Amazing Zuma
| 70+
| |
Gene Kelly & Len Crosby Gene Kelly & Len Crosby
| 34
| ||
Ray Gunkel & Herb Freeman Ray Gunkel & Herb Freeman
| 7
| ||
Duke Keomuka & Tony Martin Duke Keomuka & Tony Martin
| 46
| ||
| Mike DiBiase & Danny PlechasMike DiBiase & Danny Plechas
Win 4-team tournament. | 27
| |
| Vacant
championship vacated for undocumented reasons | 3
| |
| Mike DiBiase & Danny PlechasMike DiBiase & Danny Plechas
Defeated Don Evans and Duke Keomuka. | 15
| |
| Vacant
championship vacated for undocumented reasons | 8
|
NWA Mid-Southern Tag Team Championship | George Becker & Jack Witzig George Becker & Jack Witzig
Defends Charlotte version in Nashville. | 105+
| |
Jim Austeri & Tiny Mills Jim Austeri & Tiny Mills
| 83
| ||
Leo Garibaldi & Chick Garibaldi Leo Garibaldi & Chick Garibaldi
Defends Charlotte version in Nashville. | 25
| ||
| Vacant
| 553
|
NWA World Tag Team Championship | | Pat O'Connor & Tony BaillargeonPat O'Connor & Tony Baillargeon
| 1290+
|
NWA International Tag Team Championship | Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Kalmikoff Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Kalmikoff
Claim the title "after winning tournaments in Canada, South America, and various European countries" (Star Tribune, Minneapolis, MN, 55-11-01); start claiming World Title sometime after 56-01-03 and defeat another claimant team Lord Athol Layton & Bobby Managoff on 56-03-06 in Minneapolis, MN. | 457+
|
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship | Mike Clancy
| 265+
| |
Ed Francis
| 365
|
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship | Frank Stojack
| 1239+
|
NWA World Middleweight Championship | Rolando Vera
| 73+
| |
 | El Santo
| 1022
|
NWA World Welterweight Championship |  | Blue Demon
| 1255+
|
NWA Women's Championship | | Slave Girl Moolah
During this reigns the following title changes took place: Bette Boucher, then The Fabulous Moolah, then Yukiko Tomoe, then The Fabulous Moolah, then Evelyn Stevens, then The Fabulous Moolah; however, WWE recognizes Moolah's reign as being uninterrupted until 1984. The title was known as the NWA World Women's Championship until May 19, 1984, when Moolah sold the rights to the championship to the WWF, and the title was renamed to WWF Women's Championship. | 104+
|
NWA Women's Championship | | Slave Girl Moolah
Won a 13-Woman Battle Royal to win the vacant title. | 104+
|
 | Vacant
In 1956, the NWA promoters of New York, New Jersey and Baltimore stopped recognizing June Byers as champion and she was stripped of the championship by the Baltimore Athletic Commission. | 261
| |
| June Byers
The commission stopped the 2 out 3 Falls Match between Burke and Byers at the end of the second fall, stripped Burke of the title and awarded it to Byers. | 499
|
NWA World Women's Championship | | June Byers
Byers defeated Mildred Burke for the NWA World Women's Championship and continues to be recognized by AWA after it splits from NWA in 1960. | 864+
|
NWA Minnesota Women's Championship | Shirley Strimple
Defeats Lorraine Johnson to win the vacant championship. | 367+
|
NWA World Ladies Tag Team Championship | | June Byers & Mars Bennett
The titles history is unrecorded from 1956-07-30 to 1956-08-15, and then from 1956-08-15 to 1957-02-01. | 138+
|
Penny Banner & Bonnie Watson
The titles history is unrecorded from 1956-03-01 to 1956-07-30, and then from 1956-07-30 to 1956-08-15. | 16
| ||
Daisy Mae & Golden Venus
The titles history is unrecorded from 1956-03-01 to 1956-07-30, and then from 1956-07-30 to 1956-08-15. Mae & Venus were recognized as champions only in West Virginia. | 151
| ||
Penny Banner & Lorraine Johnson
The titles history is unrecorded from 1955-05-11 to 1956-03-01, and then from 1956-03-01 to 1956-07-30. Banner & Johnson won a tournament to be crowned champions, but it isn't known who they defeated to win the titles. | 295
|
Extras
Part Time Wrestler
Commentator
Presidents
Promoters
Dory Funk
Leroy McGuirk
Nick Gulas
Pinkie George
Rikidōzan
Salvador Lutteroth
Sam Muchnick
Stu Hart
Toots Mondt
Producer
Coaches
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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