NWA - The Ric Flair Chronicles

[Empers]

[CENTER][IMG]http://fwrestling.com/host/OhioValley/nwalogo1.png[/IMG][/CENTER] [QUOTE][FONT="Georgia"][CENTER][COLOR="Blue"][B][SIZE="4"]The Ric Flair Chronicles[/SIZE][/B][/COLOR] [B]Chapter I[/B] [I]Fall From Grace[/I] Once upon a time, the National Wrestling Alliance was the premier Pro-Wrestling organization in the world. Boasting over 100 territories around the world, the NWA dominated all major Wrestling markets. The territory’s linked together all promotions under the NWA banner. The NWA truly defined Professional Wrestling as a sport and such was its dominance, it demanded respect. But slowly, the façade started to slip away, seam by seam. Instrumental promotions under the banner started to disband from the NWA banner, their Promoters yearning after big bucks and their own freedom. This meant that the AWA and the WWWF broke away from the norm. At this point in time, there seemed to be more competition outside the ring than there was inside it, something unknown to the echelons of the NWA. The NWA was able to remain a force for years to come, but its promotions, instead of the actual organization was becoming popular. The WWF reached new heights. Other promotions started to see the success and achievements they could get and therefore, plucked up the courage and walked away from the organization that had given it its big break. For the NWA, this was heartbreaking. Things were becoming undone and there was questions building from various hard-line critics of whether the NWA’s period of dominance had passed, and what they could do to stamp out the deep decline the promotion was in. Many suggested an overhaul was in order but the NWA Board couldn’t see the benefit in disrupting what had been a working formula, and still was. The only reason the Promotion was declining was due to certain hunger of success, and in some cases, greed by many other Wrestling Promoters. It wasn’t until the early 1990’s that the fire that burned bright under the NWA burned out…completely. The final nail in the coffin was when WCW and ECW went its own way, all in the space of a humiliating, and heartbreaking 3 years. The NWA knew that this was the end of the glory days. It was time for the NWA to face up to the fact that the world of Pro-Wrestling was changing and the changes were not going to go the way of the National Wrestling Alliance. There was one brief return in May, 2002 when TNA teamed up with the NWA. Alas, the same syndrome that had defeated the NWA years earlier struck again. Just less than 2 years later, TNA’s yearning for success saw them leave the NWA in its wake and go onto the path to a full on battle with the WWE. To many, this was the last big-time chance for the NWA. All that was left was a small number of Territories. These could not cut it on their own though and they were just a short-term measure to provide the NWA with at least some promotions to keep a hold of. The period of dominance for the NWA was over. It seemed the NWA as a whole was now a spent force… [B]Chapter II[/B] [I]The Calm Before The Storm[/I] Whilst the NWA was falling from national recognition, its former promotion, World Wrestling Entertainment was doing exactly the opposite. Headed by the Devil himself, Vincent Kennedy McMahon, the WWE, especially throughout the 90’s was becoming a worldwide brand and launching the Sports Entertainment brand into the public eye. Never was this more evident than the “Attitude Era”, an era that was headlined by “rock and roll” storylines, cutting edge segments, and the rivalry between WWF owner Vince McMahon and fan favorite, Stone Cold Steve Austin. All of this, combined with wrestlers that would go onto things like Hollywood, the WWE was gaining worldwide recognition. The likes of Stone Cold, The Rock, Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels can be attributed to the success of the WWE and the progression of the Sports Entertainment industry over the last 10 to 15 years. The benchmark was being set higher and higher. No one had managed to even come close except for WCW, until it was inevitably brought out by McMahon in 2001, and plunged into oblivion. TNA had a chance but as 2007 came around; the company was not taking advantage of the injury misfortunes that the WWE was suffering. This inability to succeed and take advantage just made it even clearer that a major recognizable force to the throne of the WWE was as far off as ever before. The fact was, the WWE did not have to up its game. It had its fans, dominance, income and everything else. With no competition, the WWE could afford to rest on its laurels. This was disappointing for fans, but playing it safe was what the WWE had got used to. After all, the days of shocks and surprises on a constant basis had gone out of the window shortly after the debacle concerning the WCW/ECW Invasion had come to its conclusion. But then, as the popularity of the WWE was at an all-time high, something happened that would throw a tremendous amount of controversy into the world of professional wrestling. On June 25, 2007, shocking news revealed that Chris Benoit, the WWE stalwart had been found dead in his Georgia home along with his Wife, Nancy Benoit and his Son. This news shocked the world and for all it looked like, it seemed that Benoit and his family had been killed by an outside intruder…or so we thought. Just a day later, after the WWE aired a tribute show, the shocking news revealed that Chris Benoit had infact killed his Son, and Wife before taking his own life. This news shook the foundations of Professional Wrestling to the very core. A man considered calm and collected had committed one of the most heinous crimes known to man. What made matters even worse was months later when it was revealed Benoit had the brain of an Alzheimer’s sufferer. The years of bumps to the head meant that Benoit had developed massive brain damage and leading researchers thought that this brain damage could have led to the fit of rage that had taken the lives of 2 innocent bystanders. Add in the fact that Benoit was receiving steroid and testosterone drugs, it was clear to all that the Pro-Wrestling industry would never be the same again, and from that points onwards, it clearly wasn’t. Naturally, media outlets like Fox News and CNN jumped all over this story and the Professional Wrestling industry was called into question. The man held accountable for these actions was not around to answer the unanswered questions so it fell to the WWE, and Vince McMahon to as Congress got involved and demanded answers from McMahon on why, and how such a calm and serene member of the organization had suddenly snapped and done this. McMahon was a natural Liar and was a pro at getting out of situations but this situation was one he was not getting out of, not easily at least. This shocking series of events had done massive damage and the ratings for RAW, Smackdown and ECW were at an all time low. The show was not exactly living up to expectations but it was quite clear the events of June, 2007 lived long in the memories of WWE fans. The pushes of guys “roided up” and massive in bodyweight made the whole industry concerned, even some of McMahon’s loyal backstage staff. As the WWE struggled, TNA floundered, and Ring of Honor was making slippery steps on the path to stardom, a savior was about to pounce, ready to quite literary, save the Wrestling industry. This [I]‘Savior’ [/I]was one that was bound to succeed, because it had pride imprinted in its heart and soul![/CENTER][/FONT][/QUOTE]

[soulztnrv1]

GREAT backstory. I hope you wrote it...