NWA Roster in 1981: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions
On this page you find the full NWA Roster in the year 1981. 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.
1981NWA: All (174)














































































































































































Men







































































































































































Women
Teams
The Andersons
Anderson’s Army
The Armstrongs
The Assassins
Bill Dundee & Dutch Mantell
Bill Dundee & Jerry Lawler
Bill Dundee & Tommy Rich
Bill Watts & Junkyard Dog
The Blond Bombers
Bobby Eaton & Koko Ware
The Brisco Brothers
The Cosmic Cowboys
The Fabulous Freebirds
The Funks
Greg Valentine & Ray Stevens
Ivan Koloff & Ole Anderson
Ivan Koloff & Ray Stevens
Jack Brisco & Jim Garvin
Jimmy Snuka & Bruiser Brody
Jimmy Snuka & Ray Stevens
Kerry von Erich & Bruiser Brody
The Midnight Express
The Minnesota Wrecking Crew
Mr. Fuchi & Mr. Onita
Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito
Nick Bockwinkel & Ray Stevens
Pat O'Connor & Rufus R. Jones
Ric Flair & Blackjack Mulligan
Roddy Piper & Greg Valentine
Stan Hansen & Ole Anderson
Ted DiBiase & Robert Fuller
The Texas Cowgirls
The Texas Outlaws
The Von Erichs
Champions
NWA World Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Ric Flair Won: September 17, 1981 Kansas City, KS | House show During this reign, The Midnight Rider (Dusty Rhodes under a mask due to being under suspension in Florida) defeated Ric Flair for the title, but he returned it when then-NWA President Bob Geigel asked Rider to unmask or return the title, so the title was returned to Flair. Then Jack Veneno defeated Flair in Santo Domingo but he refused to defend the title outside his native country, so the title was returned to Flair on the same day and the title change was not recognized. Then Carlos Colón won it but the title change was not recognized, so the title was returned to Flair after a "fictional match". | 105+ days |
![]() | Dusty Rhodes Won: June 21, 1981 Atlanta, GA | House show | 88 days | |
![]() | Harley Race Won: May 1, 1981 Gainesville, GA | House show | 51 days | |
![]() | Tommy Rich Won: April 27, 1981 Augusta, GA | House show | 4 days | |
![]() | Harley Race Won: September 9, 1980 Ōtsu, Japan | House show | 230 days |
NWA National Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | The Masked Superstar Won: November 25, 1981 Atlanta, GA | Live event | 36+ days |
![]() | Tommy Rich Won: September 28, 1981 Augusta, GA | Live event | 58 days | |
![]() | The Masked Superstar Won: August 15, 1981 Columbus, GA | Live event During this reigns, on 1981-09-19, the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship was unified with the National Heavyweight Championship. | 44 days | |
![]() | Steve Olsonoski Won: March 29, 1981 Atlanta, GA | Live event | 139 days | |
![]() | The Mongolian Stomper Won: December 12, 1980 Atlanta, GA | Live event | 107 days |
NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Al Madril Won: June 1, 1981 Fort Worth, Texas | House show | 213+ days |
![]() | Killer Tim Brooks Won: May 1, 1981 Dallas, Texas | House show Brooks was awarded the title. | 31 days | |
![]() | David von Erich Won: August 1, 1980 Dallas, Texas | House show | 273 days |
NWA North American Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Ted DiBiase Won: November 1, 1981 Lake Charles, LA | MSWA Show | 60+ days |
![]() | Paul Orndorff Won: July 4, 1981 New Orleans, LA | MSWA Show | 120 days | |
![]() | Jake Roberts Won: June 30, 1981 Shevreport, LA | MSWA Show | 4 days | |
![]() | The Grappler Won: September 19, 1980 Shreveport, LA | MSWA Show | 284 days |
NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Ricky Romero Won: August 27, 1981 Amarillo, Texas | Live Show Defeated Doug Somers in a tournament final after the initial match on August 20, 1981 ends with DDQ. | 56 days |
![]() | Vacant Won: August 1, 1981 Title vacated. | 26 days | |
![]() | Bob Morgan Won: March 7, 1980 Amarillo, Texas | Live Show | 512 days |
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Sgt. Slaughter Won: October 4, 1981 Charlotte, NC | House Show Defeated Ricky Steamboat in a tournament final for the vacant title. | 88+ days |
![]() | Vacant Won: September 8, 1981 The title was vacated when Wahoo McDaniel was injured by Abdullah the Butcher. | 26 days | |
![]() | Wahoo McDaniel Won: August 8, 1981 Greensboro, NC | House Show | 31 days | |
![]() | "Rowdy" Roddy Piper Won: January 27, 1981 Raleigh, NC | House Show The title became the undisputed NWA United States Heavyweight Championship in January 1981 after the NWA San Francisco office, the last other promotion to recognize its own United States Heavyweight Champion, closed. | 193 days | |
![]() | Ric Flair Won: November 24, 1980 Greenville, SC | House Show For unknown reasons, this reign is not recognized by WWE.com | 64 days |
NWA Television Championship![]() | ![]() | Ivan Koloff Won: November 3, 1981 Charlotte, NC | Live event | 58+ days |
![]() | Ron Bass Won: September 6, 1981 Asheville, NC | Live event | 58 days | |
![]() | Greg "The Hammer" Valentine Won: June 14, 1981 Live event | 84 days | |
![]() | Sweet Ebony Diamond Won: May 30, 1981 Charlotte, NC | Live event | 15 days | |
![]() | Greg "The Hammer" Valentine Won: May 6, 1981 Live event | 24 days | |
![]() | Sweet Ebony Diamond Won: April 29, 1981 Raleigh, NC | Live event Won a tournament to win the vacant title. | 7 days | |
![]() | Vacant Won: January 27, 1981 Raleigh, NC | Live event The title was vacated after Roddy Piper won the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. | 92 days | |
![]() | "Rowdy" Roddy Piper Won: November 1, 1980 Richmond, VA | Live event Defeats Paul Jones in tournament final to win the vacant title. | 87 days |
NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Dutch Mantel Won: September 21, 1981 Memphis, TN | House show | 35 days |
![]() | Steve Keirn Won: September 7, 1981 Memphis, TN | House show | 14 days | |
![]() | Bugsy McGraw Won: August 24, 1981 Memphis, TN | House show | 14 days | |
![]() | Steve Keirn Won: July 6, 1981 Memphis, TN | House show | 49 days | |
![]() | Ron Bass Won: July 1, 1981 Seymour, IN | House show Continental Wrestling Association took control of the vacant title and Bass was awarded as champion. | 5 days | |
![]() | Vacant Won: October 1, 1980 The title was vacated when NWA Mid-America ceased to operate, and Jerry Jarrett gained control of the title. | 273 days |
NWA American Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Bugsy McGraw Won: December 26, 1981 Columbus, Ohio | House show During this reign the title changes name to WCCW American Heavyweight Championship | 5+ days |
![]() | The Great Kabuki Won: September 25, 1981 Lawton, Oklahoma | House show | 92 days | |
![]() | Kerry von Erich Won: June 4, 1981 New Orleans, Louisiana | House show | 113 days | |
![]() | "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd Won: May 11, 1981 Ft. Worth, Texas | House show | 24 days | |
![]() | Kerry von Erich Won: March 1, 1981 Texas | House show The length of the reign is uncertain | 71 days | |
![]() | The Masked Superstar Won: February 1, 1981 Texas | House show The length of the reign is uncertain | 28 days | |
![]() | Ken Patera Won: January 1, 1981 Texas | House show The length of the reign is uncertain | 31 days | |
![]() | Kerry von Erich Won: December 28, 1980 Dallas, Texas | House show Subbed for injured Kevin and won rematch against Hernandez | 4 days |
NWA Texas Television Championship![]() | ![]() | Vacant Won: May 15, 1981 Championship vacated for undocumented reasons | 230+ days |
![]() | Bill Irwin Won: May 11, 1981 Ft. Worth, Texas | BTW show | 4 days | |
![]() | Brian Adias Won: January 11, 1981 Dallas, Texas | BTW show | 120 days | |
![]() | Bill Irwin Won: August 1, 1980 Houston, Texas | BTW show | 163 days |
NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship![]() | ![]() | José Lothario Won: December 25, 1981 Dallas, Texas | Christmas Star Wars | 6+ days |
![]() | "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd Won: November 1, 1981 Texas | House show Defeated José Lothario,, uncertain if this was a tournament final. | 54 days | |
![]() | Vacant Won: August 1, 1981 Championship vacated for undocumented reasons | 92 days | |
![]() | Bugsy McGraw Won: December 12, 1980 Houston, Texas | House show | 232 days |
NWA World Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() ![]() | The Minnesota Wrecking CrewOle Anderson & Gene Anderson Won: May 1, 1981 Richmond, VA | House show | 244+ days |
![]() ![]() | The Masked Superstar & Paul Jones Won: March 22, 1981 Greensboro, NC | House show | 40 days | |
![]() ![]() | "Crippler" Ray Stevens & Ivan Koloff Won: February 22, 1981 Greensboro, NC | House show | 28 days | |
![]() ![]() | The Masked Superstar & Paul Jones Won: November 27, 1980 Greensboro, NC | House show | 87 days |
NWA North American Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() ![]() | Riki Choshu & Seiji Sakaguchi Won: June 15, 1979 Tokyo, Japan | Big Fight Series | 678 days |
NWA American Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() | Kerry von Erich & Terry Orndorff Won: October 25, 1981 Dallas, Texas | Wrestling Star Wars | 67+ days |
![]() | The Great Kabuki & Chan Chung Won: October 24, 1981 Texas | BTW Show Records are unclear as to whom they defeated to become champions. | 1 day | |
![]() ![]() | Killer Tim Brooks & Armand Hussein Won: September 1, 1981 Ft. Worth, Texas | BTW Show | 53 days | |
![]() ![]() | Brian Blair & Al Madril Won: June 1, 1981 Texas | BTW Show Won a tournament to become champions | 92 days | |
![]() ![]() | Vacant Won: May 1, 1981 Championship vacated after Bruiser Brody stopped working for Big Time Wrestling | 31 days | |
![]() ![]() | Bruiser Brody & Kerry von Erich Won: January 11, 1981 Dallas, Texas | BTW Show | 110 days | |
![]() ![]() | Gino Hernandez & Gary Young Won: October 1, 1980 Houston, Texas | BTW Show Sweet Brown Sugar substituted for El Halcón in the championship match | 102 days |
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() ![]() | Raul Mata & Billy White Cloud Won: January 12, 1981 Ft. Worth, Texas | House show Defeated Killer Tim Brooks and Raul Castro. | 19 days |
![]() ![]() | Vacant Won: December 1, 1980 Stasiak was suspended | 42 days |
NWA World Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() | Kerry von Erich & Al Madril Won: December 1, 1981 Ft. Worth, Texas | BTW Show | 30+ days |
![]() | Bill Irwin & Frank Dusek Won: November 1, 1981 Awarded | 30 days | |
![]() | Kerry von Erich & Terry Orndorff Won: October 1, 1981 Dallas, Texas | BTW Show | 31 days | |
![]() ![]() | The Great Kabuki & Chang Chung Won: June 1, 1981 Texas | BTW Show | 122 days | |
![]() ![]() | The Von ErichsDavid von Erich & Kevin von Erich Won: February 1, 1981 Dallas, Texas | WCCW Star Wars 1981 | 120 days | |
![]() ![]() | Hercules Ayala & Ali Mustafa Won: January 1, 1981 Texas | BTW Show Awarded | 31 days | |
![]() ![]() | Inactive Won: January 1, 1969 Championship abandoned | 4383 days |
NWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() | Junkyard Dog & Mike George Won: October 15, 1981 Jackson, Mississippi | MSW show | 77+ days |
![]() ![]() | The SamoansAfa & Sika Won: July 26, 1981 Monroe, Louisiana | MSW show | 81 days | |
![]() ![]() | Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch Won: June 15, 1981 Louisiana | MSW show | 41 days | |
![]() ![]() | The SamoansAfa & Sika Won: June 1, 1981 Louisiana | MSW show | 14 days | |
![]() ![]() | Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch Won: April 27, 1981 New Orleans, Louisiana | MSW show | 35 days | |
![]() ![]() | Super Destroyer & The Grappler Won: April 18, 1981 New Orleans, Louisiana | MSW show Defeated Junkyard Dog and Dick Murdoch. | 9 days | |
![]() ![]() | Vacant Won: March 30, 1981 Stripped due to Bill Watts not being an acceptable referee. | 19 days | |
![]() ![]() | Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch Won: March 30, 1981 Louisiana | MSW show | 0 days |
NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Deactivated Won: January 1, 1981 Title retired when NWA Mid-America closed. | 364+ days |
![]() ![]() ![]() | George Gulas & Rocky Brewer & Mystery Man Won: June 5, 1980 Bowling Green, Kentucky | Mid-America Live event | 210 days |
NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Les Thornton Won: November 14, 1981 San Juan, Puerto Rico | CSP House show | 47+ days |
![]() | Joe Lightfoot Won: November 7, 1981 Bayamón, Puerto Rico | CSP House show | 7 days | |
![]() | Les Thornton Won: October 16, 1981 Knoxville, TN | JCP House show | 22 days | |
![]() | Jerry Brisco Won: September 16, 1981 Miami, FL | CWF House show | 30 days | |
![]() | Les Thornton Won: June 20, 1981 Roanoke, VA | SCW House show | 88 days | |
![]() | Terry Taylor Won: June 7, 1981 Roanoke, VA | SCW House show | 13 days | |
![]() | Les Thornton Won: January 31, 1981 Dothan, AL | House show | 127 days | |
![]() | Jerry Stubbs Won: January 26, 1981 Mobile, AL | House show | 5 days |
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship![]() | ![]() | Tony Salazar Won: April 3, 1981 Mexico City, Mexico | Live event | 272+ days |
![]() | Alfonso Dantés Won: December 15, 1980 Mexico City, Mexico | Live event | 109 days |
NWA World Welterweight Championship![]() | ![]() | La Fiera Won: October 23, 1981 Mexico City, Mexico | EMLL Super Viernes | 69+ days |
![]() | Lizmark Won: June 4, 1980 Acapulco, Guerrero | EMLL show | 506 days |
NWA Women's Championship![]() | ![]() | The Fabulous Moolah Won: September 18, 1956 Baltimore, MD | Live Event 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. | 9235+ days |
NWA Women's Championship![]() | ![]() | The Fabulous Moolah Won: October 9, 1978 Fort Worth, TX | Live event | 1179+ days |
NWA United States Women's Championship![]() | ![]() | Judy Martin Won: November 26, 1981 Saint Paul, MN | Live event During this reign, although Joyce Grable remaining as the reigning champion, Princess Little Heart was recognized as the champion in Mobile, AL starting from 1980-01-05. Then Judy Martin defeated Heart to win the title on 1980-11-22 in Atlanta, GA, and then Velvet McIntyre defeated Martin to win the title on 1983-02-13 in San Antonio, TX. | 35+ days |
![]() | Joyce Grable Won: December 1, 1978 The title history is unrecorded from 1976-11-25 to 1978-12-01. | 1091 days |
NWA World Ladies Tag Team Championship![]() | ![]() ![]() | The Texas CowgirlsWendi Richter & Joyce Grable Won: April 30, 1980 Springfield, MO | Live event | 610+ days |
![]() | Joyce Grable & Vicki Williams Won: February 27, 1977 St. Petersburg, FL | Live event The titles history is unrecorded from 1977-02-27 to 1978-08-01. | 1768+ days |
Extras
Part Time Wrestlers
Managers







Commentators
Ring Announcers
Interviewers
Presidents
Promoters





















Referees
Producers
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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![Steve Olsonoski[1] Steve Olsonoski[1]](/images/wrestling/wrestlers/v/vacant.png)





























