NWA Roster in 1959: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions
On this page you find the full NWA Roster in the year 1959. 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.
1959NWA: All (79)
Adnan Kassie
Aileen Eaton
Angelo Poffo
Angelo Savoldi
Antonino Rocca
Arnold Skaaland
Baron Gattoni
Bearcat Wright
Bob Orton
Bobo Brazil
Bruno Sammartino
Cora Combs
The Crusher
Dick Beyer
Dick The Bruiser
Dominic Bravo
Dory Funk
Dr. Jerry Graham
Eddie Graham
Emile Koverly
Ethel Johnson
The Fabulous Moolah
Freddie Blassie
Fritz von Erich
Gene LeBell
Gorgeous George
Gory Guerrero
The Great Lotario
Happy Humphrey
Haystacks Calhoun
J. Wellington Radcliffe
Jackie Fargo
Jim Barnett
Joe Blanchard
Joe Hamilton
Joe Scarpa
Johnny Barend
Johnny Valentine
Johnny Walker
Judy Grable
June Byers
Karl Krauser
Killer Kowalski
Lance Russell
Larry Hennig
Len Rossi
Leroy McGuirk
Lord James Blears
Lou Albano
Lou Thesz
Luther Lindsay
Mae Young
Maurice Vachon
Michiaki Yoshimura
Mike DiBiase
Mikel Scicluna
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Nick Bockwinkel
Nick Gulas
Otto von Krupp
Pat O'Connor
Paul Boesch
Paul Bunyan
Pedro Morales
Pinkie George
Primo Carnera
Ray Shire
Rikidōzan
Ron Wright
Salvador Lutteroth
Sam Muchnick
The Sheik
Sputnik Monroe
Stu Hart
Terrible Ted
Toots Mondt
Toyonobori
Verne Gagne
Vincent J. McMahon
Men
Adnan Kassie
Angelo Poffo
Angelo Savoldi
Antonino Rocca
Arnold Skaaland
Baron Gattoni
Bearcat Wright
Bob Orton
Bobo Brazil
Bruno Sammartino
The Crusher
Dick Beyer
Dick The Bruiser
Dominic Bravo
Dory Funk
Dr. Jerry Graham
Eddie Graham
Emile Koverly
Freddie Blassie
Fritz von Erich
Gene LeBell
Gorgeous George
Gory Guerrero
The Great Lotario
Happy Humphrey
Haystacks Calhoun
J. Wellington Radcliffe
Jackie Fargo
Jim Barnett
Joe Blanchard
Joe Hamilton
Joe Scarpa
Johnny Barend
Johnny Valentine
Johnny Walker
Karl Krauser
Killer Kowalski
Lance Russell
Larry Hennig
Len Rossi
Leroy McGuirk
Lord James Blears
Lou Albano
Lou Thesz
Luther Lindsay
Maurice Vachon
Michiaki Yoshimura
Mike DiBiase
Mikel Scicluna
"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
Nick Bockwinkel
Nick Gulas
Otto von Krupp
Pat O'Connor
Paul Boesch
Paul Bunyan
Pedro Morales
Pinkie George
Primo Carnera
Ray Shire
Rikidōzan
Ron Wright
Salvador Lutteroth
Sam Muchnick
The Sheik
Sputnik Monroe
Stu Hart
Terrible Ted
Toots Mondt
Toyonobori
Verne Gagne
Vincent J. McMahon
Women
Teams
Champions
NWA World Heavyweight Championship | | Pat O'Connor
During this reign, Gene LeBell defeated O'Connor, but then he struck a Texas wrestling commissioner with the title belt and the decision was reversed. The title was returned to O'Connor and these two title changes were not recognized. | 356+
|
Dick Hutton
| 421
|
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship | Nick Kozak
Records unclear as to whom he defeated. | 91+
| |
Nick Kozak
| 83
| ||
Corsica Joe
| 15
| ||
Luis Hernandez
| 48
| ||
Joe Christie
Defeated Gomez in rematch. | 108
| ||
 | Vacant
After a match against Joe Christie. | 7
| |
Pepper Gomez
| 13
|
NWA International Heavyweight Championship | | Antonino Rocca
Defeated Buddy Rogers to win the new title. | 182+
|
NWA United States Television Championship | | Johnny Valentine
| 268+
|
Don Joyce
| 28
| ||
| Johnny Valentine
Defeating Verne Gagne in tournament final in Chicago, IL. | 76
|
NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship | Tor Yamata
The title history is unrecorded from 1958-04-24 to July 1971. | 616+
|
NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship | Danny McShain
Defeated Mr. Moto | 20+
| |
| Vacant
Championship vacated for undocumented reasons | 10
| |
Iron Mike DiBiase
| 30
| ||
Danny McShain
It is not clear who McShain defeated to win the championship | 5
| ||
The Zebra Kid
| 133
| ||
Golden Giant
| 7
| ||
Bull Curry
| 63
| ||
Joe Christie
Defeated Danny McShain, Tosh Togo and Al Costello in a tournament to win the vacant championship. | 91
|
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship | | Verne Gagne
The title was split from the original championship, which retained the same joint lineage in the Chicago territory. Minneapolis version renamed "AWA United States Championship" in 1960. | 628+
|
NWA United States Tag Team Championship | | Dr. Jerry Graham & Johnny Valentine
Defeated Don Curtis & Mark Lewin to win the vacant titles. | 47+
|
| Vacant
The titles were vacated when Eddie Graham left the promotion. | 105
| |
| The Golden GrahamsEddie Graham & Dr. Jerry Graham
| 66
| |
Don Curtis & Mark Lewin
| 167
|
NWA World Tag Team Championship | | Antonino Rocca and Miguel PérezAntonino Rocca & Miguel Pérez
This was two-out-of-three falls match, in which Rocca and Pérez won 2–1. | 1006+
|
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 | 6234+
|
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship | Cyclone Anaya & Leo Garibaldi Cyclone Anaya & Leo Garibaldi
| 16+
| |
Danny McShain & Bad Boy Hines Danny McShain & Bad Boy Hines
| 44
| ||
Nick Kozak & Jerry Kozak Nick Kozak & Jerry Kozak
| 60
| ||
Corsica Joe & Corsica Jean Corsica Joe & Corsica Jean
Defeated Angelo Martinelli and Luis Hernandez. | 99
| ||
| Vacant
championship vacated for undocumented reasons | 25
| |
Ben & Mike Sharpe Ben & Mike Sharpe
| 17
| ||
Chief Big Heart & Little Eagle Chief Big Heart & Little Eagle
| 7
| ||
Frank Valois & Andre Bollet Frank Valois & Andre Bollet
| 28
|
NWA World Tag Team Championship | Pepper Gomez & Ciclone Anaya Pepper Gomez & Ciclone Anaya
| 23+
| |
Duke Keomuka & Mr. Moto Duke Keomuka & Mr. Moto
| 98
| ||
Pepper Gomez & Rito Romero Pepper Gomez & Rito Romero
| 274
|
NWA Mid-Southern Tag Team Championship | Bobby Fields & Don Fields Bobby Fields & Don Fields
| 50+
| |
John Smith & Tosh Togo John Smith & Tosh Togo
Defeated Bobby and Don Fields in a tournament final for the vacant Gulf Coast version; may not be recognized outside the territory. | 14
| ||
Don Fields & Luke Fields Don Fields & Luke Fields
| 15
| ||
| Vacant
| 104
| |
| Tex Riley & Len RossiLen Rossi Tex Riley
| 50
| |
| The Fabulous FargosJackie Fargo Don Fargo
| 0
| |
Don Fields & Luke Fields Don Fields & Luke Fields
| 41
| ||
The Corsicans Corsica Jean & Corsica Joe
| 180
|
NWA World Tag Team Championship | | Vacant
The championship was vacated when Leo Nomellini returned to play for the San Francisco 49ers in 1959. | 120+
|
Butch Levy & Leo Nomellini Butch Levy & Leo Nomellini
| 50
| ||
The Kalmikoffs Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Kalmikoff
The Kalmikoffs were awarded the championship because Verne Gagne was on tour outside the territory. | 41
| ||
| Butch Levy & Verne GagneVerne Gagne Butch Levy
| 36
| |
The Kalmikoffs Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Kalmikoff
In April 10, 1959 Ivan gave his half to Baron Gattoni after being injured. | 54
| ||
| The Lisowski BrothersThe Crusher & Stan Lisowski
| 42
| |
Herb Freeman & Seymour Freeman Herb Freeman & Seymour Freeman
| 7
| ||
| The Lisowski BrothersThe Crusher & Stan Lisowski
The Lisowski Brothers won a tournament to win the vacant championship. | 71
|
NWA International Tag Team Championship | Murder Inc. Tiny Mills & Stan Kowalski
| 19
| |
Frank Townsend & Butch Levy Frank Townsend & Butch Levy
| 14
| ||
Murder Inc. Tiny Mills & Stan Kowalski
| 7
| ||
Frank Townsend & Butch Levy Frank Townsend & Butch Levy
| 7
| ||
Murder Inc. Tiny Mills & Stan Kowalski
Start claiming the title. | 13
| ||
Fabulous Kangaroos Al Costello & Roy Heffernan
Claim the title (The Minneapolis Star, 59-03-25). | 245
| ||
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. | 1247
|
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship | | Angelo Savoldi
| 132+
|
| Mike DiBiase
| 84
| |
| Angelo Savoldi
| 84
| |
Ivan the Terrible
| 14
| ||
| Angelo Savoldi
| 224
|
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship | Ray Mendoza
| 111+
| |
Dory Dixon
Dixon defeated Al Kashley to win the vacant championship. | 575
|
NWA World Middleweight Championship | Rolando Vera
| 1168+
|
NWA World Welterweight Championship | Karloff Lagarde
| 699+
|
NWA Women's Championship | | The Fabulous 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. | 1199+
|
NWA Women's Championship | | The Fabulous Moolah
Won a 13-Woman Battle Royal to win the vacant title. | 1199+
|
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. | 1959+
|
NWA United States Women's Championship | Nell Stewart
The title history is unrecorded from 1957-12-03 to 1959-07-07, and then from 1959-07-07 to 1961-09-24. | 177+
| |
Barbara Baker
The title history is unrecorded from 1957-12-03 to 1959-07-07. Baker was recognized as champion in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and probably other states. | 711
|
NWA Minnesota Women's Championship | Mars Monroe
Billed as champion in Sheboygan, WI. Unofficial or disputable claim. | 124
| |
Shirley Strimple
Defeats Lorraine Johnson to win the vacant championship. | 1338
|
NWA World Ladies Tag Team Championship | Kay Noble & Lolita Martinez
The titles history is unrecorded from 1958-06-16 to 1958-12-04, and then from 1958-12-04 to 1961-11-23. As of 1959-02-24, Penny Banner is listed as a co-holder of the titles, since she wasn't involved in losing them. | 392+
|
Extras
Part Time Wrestler
Manager
Commentators
Presidents
Promoters
Aileen Eaton
Dory Funk
Jim Barnett
Leroy McGuirk
Nick Gulas
Pinkie George
Rikidōzan
Salvador Lutteroth
Sam Muchnick
Stu Hart
Toots Mondt
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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