- John Edwards 

This months’ article is a departure from my usual recollections of the St. Louis NWA wrestling scene. I think that such a huge part of “kayfabe” was the closed door business conducted by the NWA member promotions. Questions have repeatedly come up on our board addressing “who had power in the NWA?” and “how were the champions picked?”, and so forth. 

This month, we take a look at the actual minutes from the 1979 NWA Board Meeting held 3-4 August 1979 in Las Vegas. Several things are interesting about this meeting and how it applies to “kayfabe” and the old NWA in general: 

• This was probably one of the last meetings where there was any semblance of unity in the Alliance. Within the next few years, Muchnick would retire, WCCW would leave and proclaim their own champion, many local promotions would be out of business, and the WWF would begin their nationwide march on regional promotions.
• Look at the number and breadth of promotions. The NWA had a huge scope in 1979: St. Louis, Kansas City, Georgia, Florida, Japan, Texas, Mexico, Germany, Memphis, Canada, California, Mid-Atlantic, Detroit (The Sheik), New Zealand, Portland, and so on (read below).
• Jack Adkisson (Fritz Von Erich) was in attendance, along with Kerry, Kevin, and David (networking among the NWA members?)
• Especially notice the attendees from Capitol Sports Corporation (Vince Sr, Vince Jr, and Gorilla Monsoon).  I wonder if young Vince was surveying the room and thinking “in five years I will put most of these people out of business”?

Without further adieu, here are the minutes of the 1979 NWA Board Meeting:  

These minutes are reposted courtesy of : http://www.1wrestlinglegends.com/ 

Minutes of the 32nd Annual Meeting

Held at Sahara Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada
August 3 & 4, 1979

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by President Bob Geigel.  Pat O'Connor was appointed Sergeant at Arms. The roll of members was called by Jim Barnett, Secretary-Treasurer.  A number of guests were introduced.

The following were in attendance:

ALL JAPAN PRO WRESTLING COL, LTD.
Shohei Baba
Dory Funk, Jr.
Joe Higuchi

ARENA MEXICO, S.A.
Salvador Lutteroth, Jr.
Salvador Lutteroth, III

CAPITOL WRESTLING CORP.
Vincent McMahon
Robert J. Marella
Vincent McMahon, Jr.