A Look Back at the History of the Legendary Crockett Cup Tournament!

The Crockett Cup earned its place as the most prestigious tag team tournament in professional wrestling from the very beginning!

Since its inception, top teams of multiple generations have tried to etch their names in the annals of history by winning the coveted Cup. To date, only five have succeeded.

The Crockett Cup was launched in 1986 by Jim Crockett Promotions. Supported in huge part by the Universal Wrestling Federation, it was helmed by Jim Crockett, Jr. — one of the most influential promoters in National Wrestling Alliance history -- to honor his father and former promoter Jim Crockett, Sr.

Specifically during its first year, The Crockett Cup capitalized on the NWA’s extensive promotional reach. It gathered teams from across the many territories which comprised NWA in the United States and around the world.

The inaugural Cup saw 24 teams enter. Collectively they represented the Mid-Atlantic, UWF, Central States, Pacific Northwest, Japan and JCP.

Nearly every champion from the NWA itself, single or tag team, was somehow involved. So too were champions from many of the other companies. It was a star-studded affair, indeed.

Competing were such well-known duos as The Fantastics, Rock ’n Roll Express, Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson, Ivan and Nikita Koloff, The Fabulous Ones, The Sheepherders and Japanese legends Giant Baba and Tiger Mask. As NWA World Tag Team Champions, The Midnight Express was among teams to receive an automatic bye to the second round.

Ultimately, it did not matter. From the moment the tournament was announced, many considered the outcome a mere formality. The Road Warriors proved how very true that was, taking it all.

1986 WINNERS: THE ROAD WARRIORS

By 1987, the landscape within NWA — and all pro wrestling — had changed dramatically.

JCP and UWF, co-promoters of the previous year’s Cup, had effectively merged. Many regionalized promotions now played smaller roles in the NWA, as JCP took over as the company’s primary focus.

As a result, most talent involved in the 1987 Crockett Cup came directly from JCP. However, given the talent acquisition happening at that time, it did not mean a lack of star-power!

Numerous high-profile pairings returned for a second chance at history. The Rock ‘n Roll Express, Midnight Express, The Road Warriors were all on-hand to take another crack at victory.

The pool was deepened by Ronnie and Jimmy Garvin, the Armstrongs, The MOD Squad, The Thunderfoots and, yes, even now-legendary twin enhancement talents The Mulkeys. The Paul Jones-led NWA World Tag Team Champions “Ravishing” Rick Rude and Manny Fernandez also competed.

The tournament finals, though, was a reflection of the “big picture” in NWA at that time. Lex Luger and Tully Blanchard, representing the seemingly unstoppable Four Horsemen, faced off against “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and Nikita Koloff.

Dusty and Nikita were decidedly the sentimental favorites — and that offered an advantage even the Horsemen couldn’t overcome. “The Super Powers” dedicated their victory to fallen comrade Magnum T.A., whose life was forever altered and career ended in a near-fatal auto accident the previous fall.

1987 WINNERS: THE SUPERPOWERS

By the third-annual Crockett Cup, The Four Horsemen had a stranglehold on NWA. Ric Flair held the Ten Pounds of Gold, and Blanchard and Anderson were beginning a second reign as World Tag Team Champions. Many rightfully wondered if anyone could stop the nefarious group from taking the Cup as well.

Competitors seeking a shot at immortality lined up. The Sheepherders, The Fantastics and inaugural winners The Road Warriors returned, joined by The New Breed, Jive Tones, Varsity Club and more.

As luck would have it, Blanchard and Anderson fought a less experienced team, received a bye, then eliminated The Fantastics to enter the finals. To their dismay, fledgling duo Lex Luger and Sting met them there.

Unfortunately, the young stars took a far more grueling road. First they defeated veterans Ivan Koloff and Dick Murdoch, then U.S. tag team champions The Midnight Express. Their final challenge was The Powers of Pain, two-thirds of the NWA World Six-Man tag champions.

The finale was a classic between two men considered the future of NWA and the defending tag champs. In the end, Luger and Sting proved we were, indeed, seeing only the beginning of greatness to come.

1988 WINNERS: Sting & Luger

In 2019, new owner William Patrick Corgan brought the Crockett Cup back to NWA after more than three decades!

At that time, NWA was embroiled in a heated rivalry with Ring of Honor. Many of the latter’s top stars showed up uninvited on NWA programming, and this carried over to the Cup.

A truly memorable part of the event was the re-emergence of The Rock ‘n Roll Express as sentimental crowd favorites. Despite participating in two of three original Cups, Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson never made it past the first round.

Fans clamored to see whether 2019 might mark an historic first for the the multiple-time NWA World Tag Team Champions. Unfortunately for those pulling for the veteran duo, it did not. R’n’R fell to ROH’s The Briscoe Brothers in round one.

When the dust settled, the finals pitted top factions from each promotion. ROH’s Villain Enterprises — PCO and massive Brody King — faced NWA’s Thom Latimer and Royce Isaacs.

That night, PCO and King reigned supreme. However, ROH cohort Marty Scurll failed to wrest “Sweet Charlotte” from then NWA World’s Heavyweight Champ Nick Aldis.

Many considered the historic matches a “stalemate” between the promotions.

2019 WINNERS: Villain Enterprises

After a global pandemic delayed the Cup, it finally returned in 2022. Ultimately 20 teams from the NWA and beyond competed for the legendary prize in Nashville, TN.

Buzz for the tournament centered largely around two sets of entrants. Smart money, it seemed, was on either tag team legends Mark and Jay Briscoe or the newly-formed “Commonwealth Connection “ of Doug Williams and Harry Smith.

Over the course of two nights, both teams plowed through the competition. To get to the finals, they defeated greats like The NOW, Hawx Aerie, ROH Six-Man tag champs The Boys, The End, The Fixers and even NWA World Tag Team Champions La Rebelión, Mecha Wolf and Bestia 666.

The finale was a tag team classic. Despite the Connection’s best efforts, The Briscoes carved their names in Crockett Cup history that night.

Williams and Smith did gain a measure of payback months later. After winning the World tag titles from La Rebelión, they successfully defended against The Briscoes on an episode of NWA Powerrr.

2022 WINNERS: The Briscoes

Held in Nashville, the 2022 tournament saw the NWA return of tag team legends Mark and Jay Briscoe. During the two-night event, the multi-time Ring of Honor World tag champs proved why most favored them to win. The victory would become one of a handful of final highlights for the duo. Jay Briscoe was tragically killed in an auto accident January 17, 2023.

THE 2023 NWA Crockett Cup

The National Wrestling Alliance brings the 2023 Crockett Cup to Winston-Salem, NC! This two-day tag team spectacle will be held at the Winston-Salem Fairground Annex Building Fri.-Sat., June 3-4, 2023.

Top teams from the NWA have already qualified to be part of this historic event. See NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Tyrus team with Chris Adonis. Mike Knox joins Trevor Murdoch. World Tag Team Champions La Rebellion will be in action. The Fixers, the Mortons and many more will also be there.

Get Tickets NOW at http: www.NWATIX.com