Central States Wrestling was a Territory pro wrestling promotion operating in the United States, based in Kansas City, Missouri.
The CSW promotion was founded on May 27, 1930 by Orville Brown, George Simpson, and it ceased operations on December 28, 1989.
A founding territory of the NWA, Central States Wrestling served as both the figurative heart of America, and the heart of NWA as home base for its first president, Pinkie George, alongside promoters Orville Brown and Gust Karras. CSW’s peak was during the 1950s, when they were able to draw large crowds in Iowa, with the 1960s dominated by NWA legend Pat O’Connor. Future champion Harley Race would also make his name here, famously winning his first NWA title in a CSW ring in 1973. The territory would falter in the last two decades of its existence, often criticized as a company that didn’t pay well or attract many top wrestlers, and would be sold off to Jim Crockett Jr. in 1986. Longtime promoter Bob Geigel would eventually buy the territory back, and attempt to battle the NWA and growing monopolization from WWF and JCP by creating the World Wrestling Alliance, a move which wound up failing in the end.
Central States Wrestling: Info
- Promotion Type Territory
- Continent
North & Central America - Date Established May 27, 1930
- Country
United States - Location Kansas City, Missouri
- Date Retired December 28, 1989
- Founder Orville Brown, George Simpson
- Owners
- Real Name Bob Geigel, George Petraski ( February 1, 1987 - December 28, 1989)
- Real Name Jim Crockett Jr. ( September 1, 1986 - January 31, 1987)
- Real Name Bob Geigel, Pat O’Connor ( January 1, 1977 - August 31, 1985)
- Real Name Bob Geigel, Pat O’Connor, Gust Karras ( January 1, 1963 - December 31, 1976)
- Real Name Orville Brown, Gust Karras ( April 1, 1959 - December 31, 1962)
- Real Name Pinkie George, Orville Brown, Gust Karras ( June 1, 1956 - March 31, 1959)
- Real Name Pinkie George, Orville Brown, George Simpson, Gust Karras ( July 14, 1948 - May 31, 1956)
- Real Name Orville Brown, George Simpson, Gust Karras ( January 1, 1933 - July 13, 1948)
- Real Name Orville Brown, George Simpson ( May 27, 1930 - December 31, 1932)
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Promotion Names
- World Wrestling Alliance - WWA ( December 6, 1987 - December 28, 1989)
- Heart of America Sports Attractions - CSW ( January 1, 1963 - December 5, 1987)
- Central States Wrestling - CSW ( September 16, 1948 - December 31, 1962)
- Midwest Wrestling Association - MWA ( May 27, 1930 - September 15, 1948)
- Logo History
- Unofficial logo September 16, 1948 December 5, 1987
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- NWA Affiliation
- Location Kansas, Missouri, Iowa ( October 8, 1948 - November 30, 1987)