Several new names are NWA-bound, including former WWE and Ring Of Honor talents, sources tell Inside The Ropes.
Ahead of the National Wrestling Alliance’s tapings in December, which will take place in Atlanta, Inside The Ropes has learned that “several new faces” will be present for tapings.
Among the talents set to appear are a mixture of former WWE Superstars, wrestlers who have departed Ring Of Honor after the company announced a hiatus, and well-known independent talent, with Darius Lockhart set to make his NWA debut.
We are told that the company wanted to add more “quality” to the roster, with the historic promotion looking to build on what was viewed as a successful 2021 which saw Mickie James join the company and stage an all-women’s pay-per-view, as well as Ric Flair appear at the promotion’s 73rd anniversary show.
One name Inside The Ropes has learned who is set to appear is Darius Lockhart, who has long been rumoured to make his mark in the National Wrestling Alliance after being outspoken about wanting a shot at the NWA World Championship. Lockhart has recently wrestled for AEW, competing against Ricky Starks and QT Marshall on AEW Dark in September.
Many fans thought Lockhart may have made his debut for the company in September, after the 26-year-old released a video message directed towards the company in August, telling Billy Corgan he can “fix” something in particular about NWA – the fact that the company has had only one Black NWA World Heavyweight Champion thus far in Ron Killings, AKA WWE Superstar R-Truth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KCIkWl33Xs
One interesting note from sources close to the company is that former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis “lobbied hard” for the company to bring in Lockhart to Billy Corgan and Pat Kenney – with the belief that can make a big impression not just at the current tapings, but over the course of the next year and beyond too.
Alongside Lockhart, another name who seems set for an increased role on-screen is Colby Corino, who has made quite the impression over the course of the past year. Both seen as young names who could propel themselves, and the company, forward in 2022.
Several months ago, following the company’s move to FITE TV, Inside The Ropes learned that the promotion’s subscription rate was “far exceeding” the expectations of the global streaming company – both in terms of subscriptions and revenue.
Tickets for NWA’s television tapings in December are available from NWATix.com