NWA Roster in 1981: Full List of Wrestlers, Teams, Champions

National Wrestling Alliance: Rosters History Database

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.

See Roster by Date

1981

NWA: All (166)

Blackjack Mulligan Jr.

Bruce Prichard / Brother Love

"Crippler" Ray Stevens

Greg "The Hammer" Valentine

Harley Race

"High Chief" Peter Maivia

Jerry "The King" Lawler

The Magnificent Muraco

Professor Toru Tanaka

Men

Women

Teams

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 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 SakaguchiRiki Choshu & Seiji Sakaguchi

Won: June 15, 1979 Tokyo, Japan | Big Fight Series

678

days

NWA American Tag Team Championship	Terry Orndorff & Kerry Von ErichKerry von Erich Terry Orndorff Won: October 25, 1981 Dallas, Texas \| Wrestling Star Wars	67+ days
	The Great Kabuki & Chan ChungThe 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 Killer Tim Brooks & Armand Hussein Won: September 1, 1981 Ft. Worth, Texas \| BTW Show	53 days
	Brian Blair & Al Madril 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 ErichBruiser Brody & Kerry von Erich Won: January 11, 1981 Dallas, Texas \| BTW Show	110 days
	Gino Hernandez & Gary Young 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 Raul Mata & Billy White Cloud Won: January 12, 1981 Ft. Worth, Texas \| House show Defeated Killer Tim Brooks and Raul Castro.	19 days
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship		Vacant Won: December 1, 1980 Stasiak was suspended	42 days

NWA World Tag Team Championship	Kerry Von Erich & Al MadrilKerry von Erich & Al Madril Won: December 1, 1981 Ft. Worth, Texas \| BTW Show	30+ days
	Bill Irwin & Frank DusekBill Irwin & Frank Dusek Won: November 1, 1981 Awarded	30 days
	Kerry Von Erich & Terry OrndorffKerry von Erich & Terry Orndorff Won: October 1, 1981 Dallas, Texas \| BTW Show	31 days
	Great Kabuki & Chang ChungThe 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 Hercules Ayala & Ali Mustafa Won: January 1, 1981 Texas \| BTW Show Awarded	31 days
	Inactive Won: January 1, 1969 Championship abandoned	4383 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

View All Reigns

NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship		Tony Salazar Won: April 3, 1981 Mexico City, Mexico \| Live event	272+ days
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship		Alfonso Dantés Won: December 15, 1980 Mexico City, Mexico \| Live event	109 days

		El Faraón Won: November 29, 1981 Guadalajara, Jalisco \| Live event	32+ days
		Ringo Mendoza Won: April 3, 1981 Mexico City, Mexico \| Live event	240 days
		Sangre Chicana Won: March 13, 1981 Mexico City, Mexico \| Live event	21 days
		Tony Salazar Won: January 18, 1981 Monterrey, Nuevo León \| Live event	54 days
		Sangre Chicana Won: June 15, 1980 Monterrey, Nuevo León \| Live event	217 days

NWA World Welterweight Championship		La Fiera Won: October 23, 1981 Mexico City, Mexico \| EMLL Super Viernes	69+ days
NWA World Welterweight Championship		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
NWA United States Women's Championship		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		Wendi Richter & Joyce Grable Won: April 30, 1980 Springfield, MO \| Live event	610+ days
NWA World Ladies Tag Team Championship		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

The profile of each NWA wrestler features their Career History, Ring Names, Face / Heel Turns, Accomplishments, Pictures, Bio and more information and statistics.

Also, check out these useful articles we put together:

9654 Comments
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This commment is unpublished, pending moderation.
Nkrst · 1 hours ago
I do not think American Made is still a team because the Creed Brothers are on NXT and Ivy Nile is rumored to have a tag team with Jordynne Grace
- 2 Up 0 Down
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Mr Eliezer Mbuku the Rock: HIT THE SUMELL · 12 hours ago
And don't forget to updated new render photos for Kevin Owens and Roxanne Perez as well!!!
- 2 Up 1 Down
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Keith Meyer · 17 hours ago
Skylar Raye should be mid card in nxt as a heal or twenner
- 0 Up 4 Down
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Haley McCrary · 21 hours ago
Who do you think going to win money in the bank???
- 5 Up 3 Down
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  Draysin Martin · 16 hours ago
  
  @Haley McCrary Roxxane Perez, We have seen the teasers of her separating from Judgement Day. I had a vision of what it looked like for her push, & it's all coming into play, entered for a Qualifier, win that, & on raw I didn't see it but It was either teased that we are getting a triple threat between Liv, stephanie, & Becky, or it was confirmed. and if that happens, I see Roxxane cashing in & winning the title & this will separate her from judgement day.
  
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  Fergus · 10 hours ago
  
  @Haley McCrary Penta and Roxanne definitely
  
  1 Up 1 Down
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Mr Eliezer Mbuku the Rock: HIT THE SUMELL · 1 days ago
Updated new render photos of Akira Towaza, Channing Stacks Lorenzo, EK Prosper, Julius Creed, Kyoki, Lexis King, Reina Volcan, Ricky Saints and Uriah Connors tommorow please!!!!
- 3 Up 3 Down
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Roy · 1 days ago
Okay, shouldnt the bloodline be tweeners if 946 is heel?
- 2 Up 4 Down
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Fergus · 1 days ago
Glad MITB is full of young talent, that and the 2K27 cover vote makes me believe they finally know what they have in the companies future
- 5 Up 3 Down
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DJ Aphrodite Henrys Bartholomews The Second Cometh · 1 days ago
Blake Monroe is a mid card since shes feuding with Giulia who is a mid carder
- 3 Up 3 Down
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MrAicrow · 1 days ago
That Penta v Dragon v Dom match was stellar
- 0 Up 3 Down
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Nkrst · 2 days ago
On Mara Sade site She Is now listed as part of AEW.
- 4 Up 3 Down
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Joshua Araujo

Staff
· 2 days ago
I added 24 new images and card position data to the page of Hiroshi Tanahashi, really proud of this massive update!

https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/wrestlers/hiroshi-tanahashi
- 10 Up 2 Down
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DJ Aphrodite Henrys Bartholomews The Second Cometh · 2 days ago
KeMalito from CMLL had the Death Riders logo on his mask during his match tonight. Possibly a new addition to the group
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Davey Castegnaro · 2 days ago
Mina Shirakawa & Queen Aminata are a tag team now.
- 1 Up 3 Down
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Jackson Conley · 3 days ago
I really like where WWE is going with 946. Besides 946, what is the best storyline going on right now in your guys opinion?
- 2 Up 4 Down
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  Draysin Martin · 2 days ago
  
  @Jackson Conley The storyline that will lead to Roxxane Perez leaving the judgement day. Roxxane looks like she does not want ot be in judgement day anymore. there were sreports saying Roxxane will eventually leave the Judgement Day & be pushed as a singles star. And I have a way of booking her leaving the group & having a feud with Liv Morgan.
  
  6 Up 2 Down
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  Roy · 1 days ago
  
  @Jackson Conley i do hope they tease the downfall of the judgment day, as well as the vision, those two factions have been really tiring to watch
  
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  Jackson Conley · 23 hours ago
  
  @Roy Sometimes I like to see the vision, but the judgment day has been around since 2022. Just end it.
  
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Annia S. Barrón · 3 days ago
Maybe is my opinion but I think it would be nice if you guys added up the mixed tag teams in AAA as also a part of the tag teams/stables section in the wrestlers profile. Mostly because a lot of the times these tag teams also have a longevity and sometimes even history on AAA
- 1 Up 3 Down
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Davey Castegnaro · 3 days ago
Rush, Dralistico & Sammy Guevara are all inactive. Haven't seen none of them in a hot minute.
Ilja Dragunov is also inactive since he's officially signed.
- 1 Up 3 Down
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Constance Affinito · 3 days ago
If The Bella Twins are part-timers, thn Paige must also be a part-timer, or the Bella twins are full-time
- 1 Up 8 Down
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Roy · 4 days ago
johnny gargano could potentially be upper card soon
- 5 Up 4 Down
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  Wright · 4 days ago
  
  @Roy He is in the Upper card at the moment. He's within the WWE title picture.
  
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  Roy · 4 days ago
  
  @Wright you right
  
  4 Up 2 Down
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  Constance Affinito · 4 days ago
  
  @Roy Yes, he is Wright. Wright is Right
  
  6 Up 2 Down
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  Roy · 4 days ago
  
  nah man, you “Wright” bout that
  
  4 Up 2 Down
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  Constance Affinito · 3 days ago
  
  It's such a good one, lol
  
  4 Up 3 Down
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Nkrst · 4 days ago
Should we consider La Catalina as part of the WWE roster? Because she has a MITB qualifying match next week and a tag team match on nxt
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  Constance Affinito · 4 days ago
  
  @Nkrst AAA guys show up on WWE TV a lot, so I think they all should be here
  
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Misfit · 4 days ago
I think Jey, Jimmy, and Jacob should be at least tweeners since they're basically feuding with 946/OTM
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