The Legacy of the Crockett Cup

It’s more than than simply the most iconic tag team tournament in history, though that alone is ample reason many eagerly anticipate The Crockett Cup each year.

The Crockett Cup presents pro wrestling fans a snapshot of the National Wrestling Alliance as a whole. Each year’s winner tell the story of what is happening in the legendary promotion — and who the stars dominating the sport are at that exact moment.

From The Road Warriors destroying the opposition in 1986 to Knox & Murdoch winning in 2023, only six teams have claimed The Crockett Cup. The names engraved on this cherished prize include a veritable who’s who of professional wrestling legends dating back nearly 40 years.

On May 18, 2024, in the shadows of Dallas, an all-new chapter in this tournament’s storied history will be written! Now we trace the road that leads NWA and The Crockett Cup 2024 to The OC Theatre in Forney, TX.

Tickets to The Crockett Cup 2024 on sale now. www.NWALiveEvents.com

1986
The Road Warriors

In 1986, the Inaugural Crockett Cup was won by The Road Warriors, managed by “Precious” Paul Ellering. Arguably wrestling’s greatest tag team, Animal & Hawk are the only duo to claim World tag gold in the NWA, WWF and AWA — and twice held the NWA World 6-Man Tag belts with Dusty Rhodes.

1987
”The Super Powers”

The Second-Annual Crockett Cup was won by “The Super Powers,” the unlikely pairing of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff. These once heated rivals were brought together by the unspeakable tragedy of Magnum T.A.’s near fatal accident just months before, dominating the competition to bring home the 1987 cup in his honor.

1988
Sting & Lex Luger

Sometimes two great singles competitors can make an incredible tag team — as Sting and Lex Luger proved in 1988. The two top, young challengers to “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair’s NWA World’s title joined forces for the 1988 Crockett Cup. Ultimately they faced Flair’s Four Horsemen cohorts — and reigning NWA World Tag Team Champions — Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard in the finals, up-ending the champs to take home the coveted Cup!

2019
Villain Enterprises

When The Crockett Cup returned in 2019 as part of the Lightning One Era, the National Wrestling Alliance found itself without World Tag Team Champions and under attack by interlopers from Ring of Honor. When the dust settled, Villain Enterprises members Brodie King and former ROH World Champion PCO stood atop the rest, becoming the first team in more than three decades to claim the Cup — and taking home the NWA World Tag Team Champions in the process.

2022
The Briscoes

Had anyone even an inkling of what would come just months later, the conclusion of the 2022 Crockett Cup would have been even more special.

With countless tag team titles already under their belts, Jay and Mark Briscoe were arguably the greatest tag team in generations. The Brothers returned to The Crockett Cup after being eliminated by disqualification the previous yea. In their second go, they proved unstoppable, winning the most prestigious tag team tournament in wrestling history.

In a devastating turn, Jay did not live to see the Brother’s time with the Cup to its conclusion. He passed away in an horrific auto accident just nine months later.