| Revision as of 07:40, 13 April 2023 editRomomusicfan (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users6,405 edits →Alumni: Andre← Previous edit |
Latest revision as of 11:35, 21 October 2024 edit undoRomomusicfan (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users6,405 edits mostly WCW |
| (42 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
|
{{short description|Professional wrestling organisation}} |
|
{{short description|Professional wrestling organisation}}{{distinguish|Continental Wrestling Association|}} |
|
{{Infobox wrestling promotion |
|
{{Infobox wrestling promotion |
|
|name = Catch Wrestling Association |
|
|name = Catch Wrestling Association |
|
|image = CatchWrestlingAssociation.png |
|
|image = CatchWrestlingAssociation.png |
|
|acronym = CWA |
|
|acronym = CWA |
|
|established = 1973 |
|
|established = 1973 (as IBV) |
|
|folded= 1999 |
|
|folded= 1999 |
|
|style = ] |
|
|style = |
|
|location = ]<br>] |
|
|location = ]<br>] |
|
|founder = ] |
|
|founder = Nico Selenkowitsch |
|
|owner = ] |
|
|owner = ] |
|
|parent = |
|
|parent = |
|
|sister = ] |
|
|sister = ] |
|
|formerly = |
|
|formerly = |
|
|website = |
|
|website = |
|
}} |
|
}} |
|
|
|
|
|
The '''Catch Wrestling Association''' (CWA) was a ] organization based in ] and ] that was founded in 1973. It was run by ]. The CWA featured a traditional brand of mat wrestling mixed with various “Strong Man” competitions. During the late 1970s it overtook the old ] to become the dominant promotion in the German/Austrian wrestling territory, maintaining a high profile even after the invasion of ] circa 1990. |
|
The '''Catch Wrestling Association''' (CWA) was a ] organization based in ] and ] that was founded as the '''Internationalen Berufsringer Verbandes''' ('''IBV''') in 1973. Since the late 1980s it has been known as the CWA in honour of the promotion's ] (originally claimed to be sanctioned by the fictitious '''Canadian Wrestling Association''' with previous lineage in North America.) This has since become a common retronym for the entire history of the organisation. It was founded by Nico Selenkowitsch and run by him until the late 1980s when he was succeeded by long-term champion ] and Peter Wilhelm. |
|
|
|
|
|
The CWA featured a traditional brand of mat wrestling mixed with various “Strong Man” competitions. During the late 1970s the then IBV overtook the old ] to become the dominant promotion in the German/Austrian wrestling territory, maintaining a high profile even after the invasion of ] circa 1990. After its closure it was replaced in 2000 by the European Wrestling Promotion (EWP), which was renamed the Catch Wrestling Promotion (CWP) in 2023. |
|
|
|
|
|
The company was engaged in talent-share agreements with other wrestling promotions, including ] and the ]. These agreements expanded the opportunities given to many European wrestlers. CWA's biggest card was the ], which was held twice a year (it was held in ], ] in the summer, while in the winter, it was held in ], ]). |
|
The company was engaged in talent-share agreements with other wrestling promotions, including ] and the ]. These agreements expanded the opportunities given to many European wrestlers. CWA's biggest card was the ], which was held twice a year (it was held in ], ] in the summer, while in the winter, it was held in ], ]). |
|
|
|
|
|
Matches were fought using European rules, including dividing matches into three-minute rounds and having the possibility of a victory by ]. The CWA World Heavyweight Championship was recognized as the legitimate European World Championship as counterpart to the ], ] and ] titles in North America, the ] title in Mexico and ]'s ] in Japan. |
|
Matches were fought using ], including dividing matches into three-minute rounds and having the possibility of a victory by ]. One distinct feature of the CWA, later bequeathed to EWP, was the playing of pop music records during the breaks between rounds. Rings were noticeably larger than in other European territories and often were covered in advertising/sponsorship messages. The CWA World Heavyweight Championship was recognized as the legitimate European World Championship as counterpart to the ], ] and ] titles in North America, the ] title in Mexico, ]'s ] in Japan and the Mountevans "WWA" World Heavyweight title in the UK. A championship claimed to be the CWA version was contested between ] and ] at ] ] in 1991 before ] cameras for the documentary "Masters of the Canvas" screened the following year.<ref></ref> (although at the time the actual holder was ]).<ref></ref> |
|
|
|
|
|
Until the launch of ]'s ''New Catch'' programme, the promotion did not have its own TV show but nonetheless taped many of its matches in variable setups ranging from single handheld camcorders to highly professional multi camera arrangements. Some of these matches were aired in Wales, United Kingdom, on ] Welsh language wrestling show ''Reslo'' on ]. Many have since been uploaded to YouTube. |
|
Until the launch of ]'s ''New Catch'' programme which it shared with the French EWF, the promotion did not have its own TV show but nonetheless from 1980 taped many of its matches for the home video market using highly professional multi camera arrangements. Inspired by this, rival VDB also released home videos in rougher setups using single handheld cameras. Some of the CWA matches were aired in Wales, United Kingdom, on ] Welsh language wrestling show ''Reslo'' on ]. Many have since been uploaded to YouTube.<ref></ref> CWA bouts were also included on '']'', a German TV programme on ] 1989-1991 focused mainly on American wrestling news, primarily ]. |
|
|
|
|
|
== Championships == |
|
== Championships == |
| Line 158: |
Line 160: |
|
*] |
|
*] |
|
*] |
|
*] |
|
*] |
|
*] |
|
|
|
|
{{div col end}} |
|
{{div col end}} |
|
|
|
|
| Line 180: |
Line 181: |
|
] |
|
] |
|
] |
|
] |
|
] |
|
] |
|
] |
|
] |
|
] |
|
] |
|
|
] |
|
|
] |
The CWA featured a traditional brand of mat wrestling mixed with various “Strong Man” competitions. During the late 1970s the then IBV overtook the old Verband der Berufsringer to become the dominant promotion in the German/Austrian wrestling territory, maintaining a high profile even after the invasion of WWF circa 1990. After its closure it was replaced in 2000 by the European Wrestling Promotion (EWP), which was renamed the Catch Wrestling Promotion (CWP) in 2023.
The company was engaged in talent-share agreements with other wrestling promotions, including New Japan Pro-Wrestling and the American Wrestling Association. These agreements expanded the opportunities given to many European wrestlers. CWA's biggest card was the Euro Catch Festival, which was held twice a year (it was held in Graz, Austria in the summer, while in the winter, it was held in Bremen, Germany).
Professional wrestling in Germany