Question: Knowing what we know today about kayfabe and booking, why did Muchnick allow this split to go on in the Twin Cities, Omaha, Denver, etc? Also, I don’t understand how the “controversy” could have happened, when it’s all a work? (the match finish, DQs, etc) And I have often wondered why nothing (punishment-wise) happened to Karbo, Gagne, etc?  

I can only assume that the main reason for the split was money. Karbo and Gagne could make a lot more money working for themselves, rather than whoever was promoting the NWA in those towns. In addition, when top AWA stars were working St. Louis later in the 70s and 80s, they were making money for themselves, and, also for Muchnick. And, in their defense, how often did Lou Thesz defend the NWA title in Denver, Omaha, and the Twin Cities? I am guessing that, in the end,  it basically came down to money. 

Now, having the AWA “situation” in 1957-58 came and went. Now, just a few years later in 1963, another controversy happened, this time in the East. The following is from the WWWF section of Kayfabememories.com: 

A more dramatic and earthshaking change came when the NWA in the early '60s put their title on Buddy Rogers, who until that point had been the exclusive property of Toots Mondt in the Northeast. Toots rarely let Rogers defend that title outside of his territory, and indeed, when the time came for Lou Thesz to win the NWA title back, Toots (and mastermind Vince McMahon) simply refused to recognize that switch, and (in wrestling terms) dared the NWA to do something about it. They didn't, and in April 1963, they split from the NWA and formed the third major promotion in the U.S.: The World Wide Wrestling Federation, which today is the worldwide juggernaut simply known as the WWF. "won" the first WWWF World title in Rio de Janeiro in a tournament of which no footage exists (wink, wink), but his reign was short-lived, as heart problems forced him to drop that title to rising star Bruno Sammartino later that year in a 43-second match. Bruno would hold that title for an amazing eight years, selling out arenas all over the eastern seaboard. 

Question: Same questions as before - Why did Muchnick allow this split to go on in the East just a few short years after the AWA split?  And I have often wondered why nothing (punishment-wise) happened to Mondt, McMahon et al?  

Why didn’t Sam Muchnick, as leader of the NWA, do something about this split? I wonder if he was afraid of a lawsuit? Did he do nothing because he was a gentleman and wanted to “keep the peace”? The goals of the organization were clear to all member promoters since the groups founding in 1948.  Two major breaks in the organization in the first 15 years of its existence and no more until the early 1980s, when the NWA began its meltdown. On a related note, I wonder how local promoters made the decision to join either the NWA, the AWA, or the WWWF? 

Again, I can only assume that the main reason for the split was money. McMahon and Mondt could make a lot more money with a champion they could book and control and not have to worry about other NWA member promoters vetoing their choice.? I am guessing that, in the end,  once again, it basically came down to money and control. This ends this month’s look at the early splits from the NWA – that became the AWA and the WWWF. 

NEXT MONTH:

St. Louis "Characters" at the Chase and the Kiel

Credits:

http://www.kayfabememories.com
http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingReviews/buzz_on_excerpt.html
http://www.1wrestlinglegends.com/memories/nwa/nwa79a.html