National Wrestling Federation

The original National Wrestling Federation was a wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970-1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin. The revived promotion closed in 1994.

History
Pedro Martínez (no relation to the baseball player) owned the original National Wrestling Federation, which operated from 1970 to 1974. The NWF Heavyweight Championship and NWF North American Heavyweight Championship were later used by New Japan Pro Wrestling as its main titles until 1981.

In 1986, Robert Raskin (President of Raskin Sports Productions and a former professional basketball coach for the ABA) purchased the Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Continental Wrestling Alliance from DC Drake and renamed it the National Wrestling Federation. The organization revived the NWF Heavyweight Championship and created an NWF Women's Championship. Under the direction of Raskin, the National wrestling Federation grew rapidly. Using wrestlers who were formerly under contract with the World Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance, Raskin spared no expense in making the product a watchable alternative to the wrestling shows which were currently on television. Drake, who was the champion, also headed up the booking and television production ends of the business. Raskin felt that the NWF should move the television tapings from the Easton, PA VFW Hall to various locations around the east coast. Matches were taped at arenas in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and other locations. Raskin also hired a young Paul Heyman (who later became Paul E. Dangerously) to handle color commentary on the TV show.

Drake and Raskin also decided to put more emphasis on the NWF Women's Division. As the women's division became established, Wendi Richter (who along with Cyndi Lauper helped the WWF bring attention to ladies wrestling once again) was defeated in a questionable fashion in Madison Square Garden by The Fabulous Moolah and left the organization. She entered the NWF and quickly captured the title from Heidi Lee Morgan. The revived NWF also placed a major emphasis on hardcore wrestling, including many specialty matches such as Indian strap matches, dog collar matches, and steel cage matches (including one of the first women's steel cage matches in the United States, featuring Richter and Morgan).

Raskin, seeing the organization expand, merged with Creative Entertainment, a sports and entertainment promotional organization from Philadelphia. This move proved to be a smart one as Creative Entertainment was able to book matches for the NWF across the country. The television show expanded to Sports Channels and broadcast stations across the country and appeared in foreign markets in Europe, South and Central America and Asia. As the company grew, creative differences began to split the organization and several in the front office left to pursue other ventures. As the capital investment stopped, the television product was halted. The promotion closed in 1994.

Championships
1970-1974:
 * NWF Heavyweight Championship
 * NWF North American Heavyweight Championship
 * NWF World Tag Team Championship
 * NWF Canadian Tag Team Championship – First and only champions were Fidel Castillo and Roul Castillo, who won the championship in 1972.
 * NWF Brass Knuckles Championship – First and only champion was Ernie Ladd, defeating Luke Graham on May 18, 1972 in Cleveland, Ohio.
 * NWF World Junior Heavyweight Championship – First and only champion was Raymond Rougeau, defeating Hartford Love on May 5, 1973 in Cleveland, Ohio.

1986-1994:
 * NWF Heavyweight Championship
 * NWF International Championship – First champion was Abdullah the Butcher, who won the championship in May 1987. He lost the championship to Bruiser Brody in October 1987.
 * NWF Women's Championship – First and only champion was Wendi Richter, defeating Heidi Lee Morgan on June 20, 1987 in Bricktown, New Jersey.

1970-1974

 * Abdullah the Butcher
 * "Baron" Mikel Scicluna
 * Bobo Brazil
 * Chief White Owl
 * "Crazy" Luke Graham
 * Dominic DeNucci
 * Dick Murdoch
 * Dusty Rhodes
 * Eric the Animal
 * Ernie Ladd
 * Haystacks Calhoun
 * Jack Reynolds (announcer)
 * Jacques Rougeau
 * Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka
 * J.B. Psycho
 * Johnny Fargo
 * Johnny Powers
 * Johnny Valentine
 * Karl Von Krupp
 * Karl Von Schotz
 * Kurt Von Hess
 * Luis Martinez
 * Li'l Abner Osborne
 * Masked Executioner
 * Ox Baker
 * The Spoiler
 * Raymond Rougeau
 * Rick O'Toole
 * Ronnie Martinéz (announcer)
 * Ronnie Saunders/Phantom X
 * Stan Stasiak
 * Tiger Jeet Singh
 * Tony Parisi
 * Wahoo McDaniel
 * Waldo Von Erich

Male wrestlers

 * Abdullah the Butcher
 * Ace Darling
 * Baron Donatelli
 * Bill Fishinger
 * The Bounty Hunter
 * Bruiser Brody
 * Carlos Rivera
 * The Cheetah Kid
 * Col. DeBeers
 * Cousin Luke
 * Damien Kane
 * Dan the Man
 * David Sammartino
 * David Scultz
 * DC Drake
 * Dominic DeNucci
 * Dusty Wolfe
 * Eddie Miranda
 * EJ McCabe
 * Gino Caruso
 * The Honky Tonk Man
 * Hot Shot Savage
 * Ivan Koloff
 * Jack Armstrong
 * Jeff Gripely
 * Jerry Oates
 * Jimmy Londos
 * Jimmy Snuka
 * Joey Royal
 * Joey Savage
 * Johnny Rotten
 * Jules Strongbow
 * Karl Ferroget
 * Kevin Storm
 * King Kaluha
 * Kodiak Bear
 * Krusher Krugenoff
 * Larry Winters
 * Latin Lover
 * The Libyan Sheik
 * Lumberjack Pierre
 * Metal Maniac
 * Mike Maraldo
 * Mr. Anthony
 * Nikolai Volkoff
 * Paul Fabian
 * Randy Lewis
 * Raymond Rougeau
 * Ricky Bouer
 * Ricky Lawless
 * Rocky Johnson
 * The Russian Assassin
 * Sean Wilson
 * Sgt. Slaughter
 * Sheik Beast Ferquin
 * Sheik El-Shaad
 * Silo Sam
 * Skull von Krush
 * Stan Hansen
 * Steve Simpson
 * TC Reynolds
 * Tom Brandi
 * Tommy Cairo
 * the Tonga Kid
 * Tony Stetson

Female wrestlers

 * Angel of Death
 * Ashley Ryan
 * Chainsaw Liz Chase
 * Dawn Marie
 * Heidi Lee Morgan
 * Helen St. Charles
 * Rusty "The Fox" Thomas
 * Susan Sexton
 * Sweet Melanie
 * Wendi Richter

Tag teams

 * Buddy Rose and Doug Somers
 * Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers)
 * The Libyan Terrorists
 * Masked Executioners
 * The Midnight Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty)
 * The Mountain Men
 * The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobs and Jerry Sags)
 * Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika)

Announcers

 * Paul Heyman