Smashing Pumpkins Rocker Billy Corgan Purchases National Wrestling Alliance (Report)

Former TNA Wrestling president lands league’s name, rights and trademarks — oh, and the NWA championship belt

Billy Corgan
TheWrap

From The Smashing Pumpkins to body-slamming: Billy Corgan has purchased the National Wrestling Alliance, according to PWInsider.

The rocker and former TNA Wrestling president now owns the name, rights and trademarks to the NWA — he also gets its iconic championship belt. Additionally, Corgan inherits a ton of history: the National Wrestling Alliance was formed way back in 1948, and its roots are even older.

Since officially starting 69 years ago, the league has produced many all-time greats, like Buddy Rogers, Pat O’Conner, Dory Funk, Jack Brisco, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Kerry Von Erich, Ric Flair, Sting, Ricky Steamboat, Ken Shamrock, Jeff Jarrett, A.J. Styles and more.

Terms of the reported deal were not disclosed. TheWrap‘s requests for comment from Corgan’s reps were not immediately returned.

Corgan tried like heck to purchase TNA all last year, but it didn’t work out.

In Fall 2016, frustrated over what he believed to be broken business promises, the “Tonight, Tonight” singer sued the promotion in a desperate takeover attempt — it didn’t take. But Corgan did get paid back the few million bucks he had invested into the former Total Nonstop Action.

That wasn’t the first time the lifelong pro wrestling fan considered buying an established league. In the late ’90s, he had a chance to buy into Paul Heyman’s Extreme Championship Wrestling. Ultimately, Corgan passed over apparent valuation differences.

Sounds like he’s tagged himself back into the squared circle now.

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