professional wrestling new_zealand professional wrestling new_zealand promoted country early 20th century national heavyweight champion title recognized promoter began running events banner years later years following second world war professional wrestling enjoyed golden age time nwa world heavyweight champion earliest stars era 1960s 1970s wrestlers new_zealand travelled united_states enjoyed similar success american wrestlers frequently toured new_zealand period received public nwa world heavyweight championship defended times country won title wellington defeated sting unify title australia united_kingdom popularity helped weekly television mat showcased wrestlers world 1970s early 1980s professional wrestling new_zealand declined following 1980s wrestling boom maintained presence industry retired wrestler promoter briefly served president nwa mid-1990s new_zealand born cartoonist known began drawing popular comic strip publication wrote series articles professional wrestling published professional wrestling sport spectacle popularity returned following emergence independent promotions televised wrestling bringing professional wrestling popular culture new_zealand history early years 1920s wrestling bouts held early 1860s modern professional wrestling shape turn 20th century toured country performing local wrestlers exhibition bouts defeated vacant shortly officially recognized champion wrestler won title march held retirement following year title continued defended years prior retirement robin time world heavyweight champion faced match series matches lasted hours ending time limit draw according new zealand railways magazine gone weary hours midnight saturday sunday commenced match cease despite vast geographic distances professional wrestling practiced region followed lines professional wrestling canada united_states association nwa 1930s 1940s country professional wrestling promotion established originally control governing body oversaw amateur professional wrestling hiring american born promoter miller wrestling business able bring stars 1930s 1940s promotion featured king chief lewis american wrestlers travelled boat spent week trip training prior arrival canadian wrestler claimed new_zealand version arrival new_zealand canadian recognized champion walker left compete rival promotion claim title defeating walker november second reign lasted stand stars included african american wrestler arguably new_zealand popular wrestler period new_zealand undisputed seven years later met nwa world heavyweight champion champion champion match miller negotiated nwa promoters travel new_zealand exchange largest guarantee offered boxer wrestler believed time event attract people ultimately cancelled trip minute followed world champion canada wrestled time limit draw vancouver march new challenge nwa world title october year won tournament undisputed held title decade retirement june career vigorously defended professional wrestling denied frequent charges matches rigged decades later wrestler inducted date remains wrestler amateur professional year retirement number new_zealand born wrestlers left europe major stars continent years kingston student olympic wrestler considered best europe main rival especially popular united_kingdom notable rivalry men regarded formidable wrestlers late 1940s 1950s remained unknown native country golden age 1950s 1970s end world war amateur professional wrestling enjoyed widespread popularity new_zealand popular culture radio broadcasts live events prior war professional wrestling surpassed national sport rugby popularity popular spectator sport new_zealand exception horse racing wellington town hall concert chamber popular postwar venues wrestling events years new_zealand champions traveling oversees far western canada champion amateur wrestler competed discovered visiting american wrestlers taken minneapolis minnesota eventually major star january connor defeated missouri wrestler new_zealand win nwa world heavyweight championship years wrestlers new_zealand big stars united_states follow connor later challenged nwa world title new_york time new fought world heavyweight championship foreign soil miller died succeeded ran years starting star pro wrestling fellow wrestler began rival promotion time eventually closed early 1970s miller death regular appearances american wrestlers declined considerably managed arrive year time number local stars developed new_zealand including parts world came australian wrestlers scotland canadians giant small promotion started referee produced 1970s end decade australian wrestling promoter managed attract foreign stars pacific american wrestlers frequently toured new_zealand received public big bad john king curtis sweet daddy toured new_zealand wife particular numerous television appearances press interviews visited schools debut mat period counterpart britain replaced popular radio broadcasts showcased new_zealand international stars including destroyer man mountain link afi tournament victory marked time wrestler won new_zealand championship new_zealand television hold national title official member nwa nwa world title defended promotion nearly won nwa world title champion title changed hands wellington new_zealand singapore acknowledged nwa years left 1970s stars regularly toured country including new_zealand places future wwe superstar lived father rocky growing japanese wrestlers great wrestler little tokyo visited new_zealand wrestling promotions going hamilton called 1970s 1990s wrestled new_zealand wrestling roster included wrestlers like wrestled mat wild joe killer masked referee announcer time time mat wrestled time time wrestlers went hold titles ranging light heavyweight heavyweight decline 1980s 1990s connor left void talents baker remained new_zealand 1980s early 1990s likewise wrestlers world_wrestling_federation toured new_zealand australia stars continued seen new_zealand mat early 1980s american wrestling went slump following wrestling boom 1980s star pro wrestling closed 1990s years small independent promotions sprang star close specifically short lived professional wrestling new_zealand non existent new_zealand wrestlers personalities maintained strong presence industry served president nwa new_zealand born cartoonist known began drawing monthly comic strip publication time associate professor wrote series articles professional wrestling focused wwf research brooklyn wrote professional wrestling sport spectacle contributed author steel chair head pleasure pain professional wrestling children science fiction author claimed competed devil prior time writer celebration coming millennium featured special commemorative edition new_zealand dollar note new zealand pro wrestling informer online resource new_zealand professional wrestling appeared earliest professional wrestling related websites appear internet interviewed numerous wrestlers world wrestling entertainment included retired foreign wrestlers previously competed new_zealand younger upcoming wrestlers joe 2000s hosted champion champion match nwa world heavyweight champion defeated sting unify australia wrestling promotion close established following success enjoyed blend stunt fighting mat wrestling wellington promoter professional wrestler took interest return established october early scene changed collective wrestlers disagreement running company established brand away known impact pro wrestling january changed promotions title pro wrestling wwe held live event tour new_zealand march stadium featured main event triple threat match undertaker world heavyweight championship wwe continued tour new_zealand result people attending event competition emerged new_zealand wrestling industry wellington split company established number stars new promotions brought televised wrestling absent days mat debut ropes decade saw cooperation new_zealand australian promoters major impact wrestling merged new_zealand impact pro wrestling form sister promotion australia impact pro wrestling australia year took inter promotional australia new_zealand trips new_zealand performing talent members pro wrestling foreign tours shows north american promotions held new_zealand professional wrestling promotions television programming pro wrestling minutes saturdays hour views live twice month sky arena hours hours sundays box wwe superstars hour
Professional wrestling in New Zealand