Billy Corgan says that, like ECW in the mid-90s, the NWA is building something that has a lot of momentum, but people are sleeping on it.
Corgan purchased the NWA in 2017. Since them, he has been rebuilding the company, which weathered the storm when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. The promotion continues to grow, and it will hold its latest pay-per-view, NWA Hard Times 3, on November 12.
Speaking with Steve Fall on Ten Count, Corgan shared his belief that NWA is in the same position as ECW during the mid-90s, as the company is building something that has plenty of momentum. He stated that some people might be focused on what's happening elsewhere in the wrestling world, but eventually they'll wake up and see that the NWA is competitive.
"I feel like we’re in that ECW mid-90s position where, we’re actually building something that has a lot of momentum, but the general business doesn’t understand that something is happening on the ground because they’re focused on what’s happening elsewhere. That’s what I keep telling people, don’t sleep on us. They’re going to wake up one day and be very surprised that we’re very competitive. Everything I’m doing is to rebuild the culture of the NWA from the ground up. It’s not always as flashy as I would like it to be or splashy, but once we hit our stride, and we’re just about there now. When you look at the physicality of the NWA as opposed to other wrestling companies, that’s really going to be the difference maker. We’re pretty much the most physical company out there. When you’re trying to attract new fans, mainstream fans, lapsed fans, and fans who at some point burn out on too much no selling, they’re going to come back around to the NWA and realize that there is validity there that is timeless. That’s what we’re going on and it’s starting to really click now," Corgan said.
The NWA president went on to describe how the company will surprise people with its level of quality, as it delivers good shows, from top to bottom, with each pay-per-view. He then stated that fans shouldn't sleep on the NWA, given this aforementioned growth.
"This last year, it’s really turned the corner and starting to look like the company that I hoped I was buying and how I built it. Whether you pop in now or next time, when you do, you’re going to be surprised at the level of quality. That goes back to the argument about the EmPowerrr show. It’s very trendy to say that I’m doing something. It’s another thing to actually pull it off. What the NWA stands for now is every time we run a pay-per-view, it’s very very good. Very very solid. Top to bottom. Our midcard matches are just as important as our main events. There was a time where we had a couple of ‘cool’ matches and pretty good main events and other stuff where you were like, ‘could have been a TV match.’ We don’t run those pay-per-views anymore. Don’t sleep on us," Corgan said.
Corgan recently commented on the discussion surrounding the lack of a second NWA EmPowerrr show. More information is available here.
This week's episode of NWA Powerrr was the go-home show for NWA Hard Times 3; catch up on our coverage here.
Check out the updated card for NWA Hard Times 3 here.
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