OPINION: THE TOP THREE GREATEST NWA CHAMPIONS

NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP 

Before there was WWE, there was the N.W.A  The original National Wrestling Alliance at its peak lasted from 1948 to 1991. For over four decades, the NWA was the gold standard for wrestling with its champions representing the best in the wrestling industry. In this article I want to list the three greatest champions of that era, starting with:

LOU THESZ

Lou Thesz was the man who helped launch the NWA during the 1950's as wrestling moved onto television.Thesz was a great amateur that trained in greco-roman and catch wrestling. He won his first title in 1949 and would hold it until 1956. He would win it another five times by 1963. Thesz would become the prototype for great champions who had a legitimate amateur background like Bob Backlund, Jack Brisco, Kurt Angle, and Brock Lesnar.

The next man on our list didn't have Thesz's wrestling background but he was one of the toughest men to ever hold the championship and that man is: 

HARLEY RACE

Between 1973 and 1984, Harley Race held the NWA World Championship eight different times. During his many reigns, Harley Race traveled across the world to defend his championship. Race wrestled the biggest superstars of his generation including: Andre The Giant, Bruiser Brody, The Von Erichs, Dusty Rhodes, The Funks, and Ric Flair. Harley was a pioneer in cable TV when he appeared on WTBS as champion throughout the 70's and 80's when cable was in its infancy. Ric Flair and Harley Race were the main event on the first wrestling pay-per-view, Starrcade in 1983. 

The next man on our list, like Harley Race, traveled around the world and defended his title against the best and that man is: 

RIC FLAIR

Ric Flair is a 16-time World Champion. During his career he won the NWA World title seven times.  During his seven title reigns, he faced the best of his generation including: Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race,Terry Funk, and Sting. His greatest opponent in the NWA was Dusty Rhodes, The American Dream. Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen (which included Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, and Lex Luger) engaged in a feud that launched Jim Crockett Promotions and the NWA into the stratosphere during the mid-1980's. 

For over forty years the NWA was the gold standard in wrestling. It still exists on FiteTV and it appeals to the fans that love old school wrestling. This article reflects three champions that I think were the best of the best in wrestling. 

THE PROFESSOR