History to be made at NWA 75 at the Chase, and the Cazanas are part of that history
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NWA 75 at the Chase is historic, and part of that history will include A.J. Cazana.
Cazana is one-half of the NWA U.S. tag team champions The Country Gentlemen (with Anthony Andrews), and that standout tag team will be defending those prestigious belts during the two-day extravaganza in St. Louis.
NWA 75, marking the 75th anniversary of the oldest pro wrestling organization in the world, is Aug. 26-27, available on PPV via FITE TV.
Cazana’s history with the NWA is a family affair. His dad, Joe, “The Golden Boy,” wrestled in the NWA in the 1980s for Jim Crockett Promotions and later WCW and Smokey Mountain Wrestling. He no longer wrestles, but with Joe Cazana Promotions, Joe continues to be involved with the NWA, currently Billy Corgan’s version.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CazanaJoe
JCP (Joe’s version) assisted with the pro wrestling portion of “The World is a Vampire” Tour, a rock-n-wrestling type collaboration, featuring some stars of Corgan’s NWA in action in the ring and the music of his popular group The Smashing Pumpkins in performance on the nearby stage.
The tour made a stop in South Florida on Aug. 19, 2023, just a week before NWA 75. The iTHINK Amphitheater in West Palm Beach hosted the event with NWA pro wrestling matches, before the concert and during brakes of the three bands, highlighted by the finale, The Smashing Pumpkins.
Formed in 1988 in Chicago, The Smashing Pumpkins created a post-punk blend of progressive rock, grunge and psychedelia that also incorporated goth rock and dream pop. Corgan offers a unique voice to this unique sound fusion.
The South Florida patrons enjoyed both forms of entertainment, filling the mostly covered amphitheater and surrounding the ring, situated parallel to the stage in the wide, open-air concession area.
Even a little rain during the wrestling main event did not dampen the spirits of the NWA wrestlers nor the audience watching, cheering, enjoying the mat battle.
The NWA U.S. tag champs The Country Gentlemen (A.J. Cazana and Anthony Andrews) teamed with the popular Colby Corino in that main event against NWA Jr. Heavyweight champ Kerry Morton, “The Thrillbilly” Silas Mason and Alex Taylor.
Here is my video interview with the NWA’s A.J. Cazana, who is third generation in pro wrestling with his father, Joe, and late, great grandfather, John.
Here is my video interview with Joe Cazana, currently of Joe Cazana Productions, which does some work for the NWA.
Quite the history of the Cazanas in the NWA and Tennessee.
More about the Cazanas
Tennessee-based, “The Golden Boy” Joe Cazana worked for Jim Crockett Promotions (under the NWA banner) as a pro wrestler, ring crew and more in the 1980s. Rick Conners, a journeyman wrestler for the NWA, trained Joe in Tennessee. Enhancement talent, Joe a good hand, helping elevate others, i.e. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, Sid Vicious, Scott Steiner, and The Rock n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson).
Ironically, Morton’s son, Kerry, and Joe’s son, A.J., are integral parts of the NWA’s current roster, each wearing NWA gold. Kerry is the NWA Jr. Heavyweight champ. A.J. is one-half of the NWA U.S. tag team champs with Anthony Andrews (The Country Gentlemen).
The elder statesman John Cazana was trained by pro wrestling champion/pioneer Gentlemen Jim Londos as John began wrestling in the 1930s. John even ran his own promotion “Wide World of Wrestling” (via John Cazana Productions) in Tennessee with weekly TV where you could see a young Jerry “The King” Lawler, Ron and Don Wright, Tommy Gilbert, Hiro Matsuda, Nick Bockwinkel, Mongolian Stomper, Whitey Caldwell, a young Randy “Macho Man” Savage, Mildred Burke, Gorgeous George, Bearcat Wright, Mr. Fuji, Ronnie Garvin, Terry Funk, Dory Funk Jr., Les Thatcher, Lou Thesz, Antonio Inoki, Sterling Golden (Hulk Hogan), Andre the Giant and many more top stars.
John’s brother, George, was involved in that Tennessee promotion, too, until 1974, when the Fullers bought it out.
Third generation A.J. is an alum of the Jacobs-Prichard Wrestling Academy, formerly in Knoxville and now in Lafollette, Tennessee. That’s Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs (aka WWE Hall of Famer Kane) and the legendary Dr. Tom Prichard. What a tandem of pro wrestling experience, knowledge and teachings.
A.J., a graduate of Christian Academy of Knoxville High School, was on the 2011 University of Tennessee football team as an offensive lineman, before turning his full attention to becoming a pro wrestler.
BTW, there is another Cazana, A.J.’s younger brother Kirk, who is training at the JPWA. Kirk is named after Capt. Kirk of “Star Trek” fame.
A.J. grew up in Tennessee in North Hill (a suburb of Knoxville) and then Decatur, which is where Kirk lives.
“The World is a Vampire” Tour in WPB
with The Smashing Pumpkins and the NWA
EC3, NWA women’s champ Kamille, NWA U.S. tag champs The Country Gentlemen (A.J. Cazana and Anthony Andrews), NWA TV champ Thom Latimore, NWA Jr. Heavyweight champ Kerry Morton, Colby Corino, Alex Taylor, the Paige sisters (Kylie and Kenzie), “Thrillbilly” Silas Mason, Daisy Kill with ukulele, Max the Impaler, Ruthie Jay, Big Strong Mims, and more brought it strong as they prepare for NWA 75.
NWA broadcasters Joe Galli and Kyle Davis called the NWA action during the South Florida excursion of “The World is a Vampire” Tour in West Palm Beach. Galli, Velvet Sky and Tim Storm (the night he’s not wrestling) will do the same at NWA 75.
NWA 75 at the Chase
Night 1 (Aug. 26)
Kamille (c) vs. Natalia Markova in a No Limits Match for the NWA women’s championship.
Allysin Kay vs. CJ vs. Heather Monroe vs. MJ Jenkins vs. Ruthie Jay vs. Samantha Starr vs. Sierra vs. Taylor Rising vs. The WOAD vs. Participants TBA in a Burke Invitational Gauntlet for an NWA World Women’s Championship match on Night 2.
JR Kratos vs. Odinson vs. “Thrillbilly” Silas Mason (with Pollo Del Mar) in a Three-way match for the vacant NWA National Heavyweight Championship.
Kerry Morton (c) (with Ricky Morton) vs. Colby Corino (with Jamie Stanley) for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
La Rebelión (Bestia 666 and Mecha Wolf) (c) (with Vampiro) vs. Blunt Force Trauma (Carnage and Damage) (with Aron Stevens) for the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
The Brothers of Funstruction (Yabo and Ruffo) (with Violent J of Insane Clown Posse) vs. Magnum Muscle (Dak Draper and Mims)
Jax Dane (with Chris Silvio, Esq.) vs. Tim Storm in a No DQ match.
Matt Cardona vs. TBA.
21-man battle royal for an NWA National Heavyweight Championship match.
Daisy Kill and Talos vs. The Fixers (Jay Bradley and Wrecking Ball Legursky) in an NWA United States Tag Team Championship Showdown Final.
Alex Taylor (with Danny Dealz) vs. Eric Jackson vs. Jack Cartwheel vs. Koa Laxamana (with Kallies) vs. Matt Vine in a Jubilee Jamboree match to determine the No.1 contender to the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
Jordan Clearwater vs. Zyon (with Austin Idol).
Night 2 (Aug. 27)
Tyrus (c) vs. EC3 in a Bullrope match for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship.
If Tyrus loses, he must retire from in-ring competition.
JR Kratos, Odinson or “Thrillbilly” Silas Mason (c) vs. Night 1 Battle Royal winner for the NWA National Heavyweight Championship.
Kerry Morton or Colby Corino (c) vs. Jubilee Jamboree winner for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
The Country Gentlemen (AJ Cazana and Anthony Andrews) (c) vs. Daisy Kill and Talos or The Fixers (Jay Bradley and Wrecking Ball Legursky) for the NWA United States Tag Team Championship.
Kamille or Natalia Markova (c) vs. Burke Invitational Gauntlet winner for the NWA World Women’s Championship.
La Rebelión (Bestia 666 and Mecha Wolf) or Blunt Force Trauma (Carnage and Damage) (c) for the NWA World Tag Team Championship vs. Knox and Murdoch (Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch).
M95 (Madi Wrenkowski and Missa Kate) (c) vs. Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy and Kylie Page) (with Roxy) for the NWA World Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Homicide vs. Joe Alonzo.
Thom Latimer (c) vs. TBA for the NWA World Television Championship.
Kenzie Paige (c) vs. TBA for the NWA World Women’s Television Championship.
NWA on YouTube and FITE TV
“NWA Powerrr” and “NWA USA” are available weekly for free on the NWA’s YouTube channel, and the company also offers six annual pay-per-views available for purchase on FITE TV, including NWA 75.
NWA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nwa
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Web: nationalwrestlingalliance.com
FITE TV: https://www.fite.tv/channel/nwa/
My Pro Wrestling and MMA Talk on the Web and Social Media
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