Following the major announcement from Associated Press that NWA’s return will take the form of Back For The Attack on FITE TV, Inside The Ropes has learned further details regarding the relationship between the two parties.
The article from AP details how the National Wrestling Alliance relaunches on March 21st with the Back For The Attack pay-per-view, before NWA POWERRR airs each Tuesday at 6:05 p.m ET via FITE on a “low-cost subscription bundle” from March 23rd. FITE would issue a press release shortly thereafter confirming the news.
“FITE, the premier global digital platform for sports and entertainment, announced today that the National Wrestling Alliance will return on March 21st at 4pm ET with a live Pay Per view event; relaunching the promotion since it went on hiatus due to the global pandemic. Following the Back For The Attack’ PPV, the NWA will resume a full schedule of NWA POWERRR events on Tuesdays.”
Sources close to the situation indicated to Inside The Ropes that NWA has signed an exclusive rights deal with FITE – the first deal of it’s type for the streaming company – after another sports streaming service had actually made an substantial offer for exclusive rights, which almost swayed Billy Corgan. However, Nick Aldis’ previous work with FITE encouraged the former NWA Champion to bring both parties together, with the Ten Pounds of Gold holder seeing the growth of the service first-hand. FITE’s Chief Operating Officer, Mike Weber, is said to have issued an offer above and beyond the initial “substantial” offer, and NWA accepted.
With regards to Back For The Attack, viewers in the UK can watch via FITE- and also via Virgin Box Office, who will show the four PPV events. The show will start at 4pm ET, which is 9pm UK time, on March 21st. NWA POWERRR will be exclusive to FITE.
🔙The @nwa roars back with #BackForTheAttack.
👀The holder of the #TenPoundsofGold, @RealNickAldis, and many of your other #NWA stars are set to appear.
👊 #FITE announced today that the NWA will return, March 21 at 4pm ET with a live PPV event.
🎟️ https://t.co/I7nN7KZ8jvpic.twitter.com/qyiRIfwslw
— FITE (@FiteTV) March 2, 2021
Inside The Ropes has also confirmed that NWA will be taping content in Atlanta at the end of March, with archive episodes of POWERRR also set to migrate to FITE after being removed from YouTube. It’s noted that the YouTube channel allowed NWA to “prove their concept” having given away 21 episodes for free ahead of signing a contract for a long-term subscription service – rumoured to be approximately $4.99 per month.
Following the departure of Dave Lagana, several new names have come into NWA ahead of their hotly-anticipated return to action – with Pat Kenney (ECW’s Simon Diamond) dealing directly with talent and Billy Trask dealing with the editing and directing of programming. While we’re told Nick Aldis doesn’t have an official backstage role, we’re understood he’s likely to be involved in the mentoring of talent and creative as well as his on-screen role.
You can pre-order NWA’s return pay-per-view, Back For The Attack, here. The pay-per-view will also be available in the UK via Virgin. The start time is 4pm ET, or 9pm UK time.