At last night’s, NWA Hard Times event we saw new champions crowned throughout. There were three new champions crowned at NWA Hard Times. First off we saw Thunder Rosa defeat current NWA Women’s Champion Allysin Kay for the title. She captured the championship with a Thunder driver to finish off the now-former champion, Kay. Her win was met with a congratulatory embrace by Marti Belle and their manager Melina. The championship would be Rosa’s first NWA Women’s Championship and the fourth title is holding presently. They include the International Princess Championship from Tokyo Joshi Pro, AIWF International Women’s Championship and Inspire Pro Women’s championship. Her win shows an ongoing commitment to be the best.
Twitter is blowing up sharing congratulations for the new #NWA Women’s World Champion. @thunderrosa22 has worked hard to earn her Championship at #NWAHardTimes. pic.twitter.com/47l11G8Bwy
— NWA (@nwa) January 25, 2020
The next championship won on this evening was for the NWA Tag Team Championship. Eli Drake and James Storm captured the championship after defeating The Wildcats (Royce Isaacs and Thomas Latimer) and the Rock n Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson). The championship would be the first tag time title Drake has held since holding the titles alongside Scott Steiner in IMPACT Wrestling. For Strom, this title would mark the eight-time he has held the NWA World Tag Team Championships. He is recognized as such as he along with ‘Wildcat’ Chris Harris the duo held the titles six times, one time with Christopher Daniels and now with Eli Drake.
.@TheEliDrake and @JamesStormBrand are your NEW tag team champions!#NWAHardTimes pic.twitter.com/gai0hbbHg4
— NWA (@nwa) January 25, 2020
The final championship won on the evening came after winning the NWA TV Title Tournament.
Ricky Starks defeated Trevor Murdoch to capture the title. The match early on consisted of Murdoch using his strength to take down the much quicker Starks. He really tried to capitalize on his size taking him down to the mat and ring floor repeatedly. Whether they were clotheslines, suplexes or powerbombs, Murdoch managed to get the upper hand on Starks throughout. However, while in the midst of a comeback, Starks sets up Murdoch by first hitting a spear. Starks follows this up with a stroke for the finish. A three count later and there is a new NWA Television Champion.
https://twitter.com/nwa/status/1220896779916513280
Earlier on in the evening, Starks defeated Matt Cross and Tim Storm before defeating Murdoch in the finals. Starks ran the gauntlet of matches becoming the new NWA Television champion. The championship is just the latest in line for the former Anarchy Championship Wrestling standout. Starks is a seven-year pro that is also the current XCW Heavyweight Champion. The NWA Television championship is now the thirteenth title Starks has won in his brief career. A native of Lousiana, Starks appears to now be the flagbearer for the promotion in the future. Does Nick Aldis have something to be concerned about in the future? Only the future will decide that. As for now, Starks has proven that the company is as committed to him as it appears he is in them.
With Starks, Rosa, Drake, and Storm all becoming new NWA champions the company appears to be thwarting the future in a new direction. It is a future to be excited about.