Africa Wrestling Alliance

Africa Wrestling Alliance (AWA), formerly known as Africa Wrestling Federation, is a South African professional wrestling promotion founded in 1995.[1][2][3] The regionally based company is owned by Shaun Koen and Koos Rossouw. It is a traditionally styled promotion influenced by the international wrestling market, such as European and American mainstream wrestling. The style encompassed by the promotion's wrestlers is referred to as Rofstoei (an Afrikaans term).

Not to be confused with American Wrestling Association.

Africa Wrestling Alliance
AcronymAWA
Founded1995
StyleTraditional/Rofstoei
HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
Founder(s)Shaun Koen
Owner(s)Shaun Koen
Koos Rossouw
FormerlyAfrica Wrestling Federation
WebsiteAWA Official Website

History

The Africa Wrestling Federation (AWF) was founded by Shaun Koen and his wife in 1995 after the death of his father, Jackie Koen, on 16 December 1994. The AWF started off as a regional promotion based in Cape Town, regularly running in the Goodwood and Parow areas. A few years later the AWF started doing tours nationally and also ventured outside of South Africa to tour countries like Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

In 2003 AWF signed a year-long television contract with eTV to air weekly shows in 2004. The series was known as AWF on E Slam Series, and the episodes were recorded in arenas such as the Good Hope Centre, Carnival City and the Coca-Cola Dome. The actual running time of these events lasted three to four hours, but to minimise costs, they were split into one hour for each episode. In late 2004, ratings and attendance started decreasing. A soundtrack CD, AWF on E - The Soundtrack, was released under the EMI label to promote the television show. The year-long season culminated in a two-hour live special held at Sun City on 11 December 2004.

Plans were underway to have a second season in 2005, but AWA and eTV failed to agree to new terms. This caused the promotion to lose ownership of the name Africa Wrestling Federation and forced them to create new trademarks. The Africa Wrestling Alliance (AWA) name was then established in March 2005. Due to the lack of television exposure following AWF on E, some of the top names like The Saint, Skull, Rey Bourne and Jacques Rogue departed AWA to pursue other interests.

Coca-Cola Royal Rumble

The AWA holds an annual Royal Rumble show at the Parow Civic Centre venue (nicknamed The House of Pain) in December. The event is regularly sponsored by Coca-Cola. The last champion was William McQueen, who won the AWA Royal Rumble Championship on 3 December 2007 in the 21-man battle royal main event.

Touring and charity work

Although the AWA is currently a non-televised, regional promotion, it has had a big impact on the South African wrestling industry and frequently does tours beyond its headquarters, having held events in the surrounding areas of Cape Town and in neighbouring countries such as Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The promotion is also actively involved in charity work. In association with its many sponsors and the Reach for a Dream foundation, unprivileged children are provided with the opportunity to attend certain shows for free and meet members of the roster.

Training academy

The AWA training facility is currently based at the Wingfield Army Base in Goodwood, Cape Town. Classes are regularly held every Tuesday and Thursday. The head of the academy is Shaun Koen.

Championships

Active
Championship: Champion(s): Previous Champion(s): Date Won: Location: Event:
AWA African Heavyweight Championship Johnny Palazzio The Oz 5 April 2011 Parow Civic Centre, Cape Town, South Africa AWA House of Pain: Good VS Evil
AWA African Cruiserweight Championship Mr Money Vinnie Vegas 8 December 2011 Parow Civic Centre, Cape Town, South Africa AWA House of Pain: Night of the Champions Supercard
AWA Lightweight Championship Max The Body Ed Electric 25 June 2012 Parow Civic Centre, Cape Town, South Africa AWA House of Pain: Battle Royale
AWA Royal Rumble Championship SA Bulldog Missing Link 8 December 2011 Parow Civic Centre, Cape Town, South Africa AWA House of Pain: Night of the Champions Supercard

Inactive
Championship: Last Champion(s): Previous Champion(s): Date Won: Location: Event:
AWF Tag-Team Championship The Saint and The Gladiator None 11 December 2004 Sun City, North West Province, South Africa AWF on E Slam Series Final
AWF Hardcore Championship Skull None 11 December 2004 Sun City, North West Province, South Africa AWF on E Slam Series Final

AWA African Cruiserweight Championship
AWA African Cruiserweight Championship
Details
PromotionAfrica Wrestling Alliance
Date establishedDecember 11, 2004
Current champion(s)Johnny Palazzio
Date wonApril 7, 2009

The AWA African Cruiserweight Championship is a professional wrestling cruiserweight championship owned by the AWA promotion. The title was created and debuted on December 11, 2004 at a two-hour live television special, AWF on E Slam Series Final, when Johnny Palazzio won it in a battle royal. Title reigns are determined either by professional wrestling matches between wrestlers involved in pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines, or by scripted circumstances. Wrestlers are portrayed as either villains or heroes as they follow a series of tension-building events, which culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches for the championship. Title changes happen at live events, which are usually released on DVD.

Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
!1 Johnny Palazzio December 11, 2004 AWF on E Slam Series Final North West, South Africa 1 1452 Palazzio won a 16-Man Battle Royal to become the first champion.
!2 William McQueen December 2, 2008 Coca-Cola Royal Rumble: Last Man Standing Parow, South Africa 1 126
!3 Johnny Palazzio April 7, 2009 AWF show Parow, South Africa 2 4319+
† Indicates the current champion
Rank Wrestler # of reigns Combined days
1 Johnny Palazzio† 2 5771+
2 William McQueen 1 126

Roster

Heavyweight Division

Cruiserweight Division
  • Max Muscle
  • Miss Gorgeous
  • Mr Money
  • Nitro
  • Rashiedi
  • Rasta Man
  • Vinnie Vegas
  • William McQueen

Lightweight Division
  • Ed-Electric
  • Hillbilly Kid
  • Nick Fury
  • Revyv

Other personnel
  • Stan Mars (Ring Announcer)
  • Billy Daniels (Timekeeper)
  • Robert Meyer (Referee)
  • Black Mamba (Referee)
  • Kenny (Referee)
  • Tony "The Hammer" (Referee)
  • Leon Venter (Referee)

Alumni

References
  1. Hoekman, Gert-Jaap (4 June 2004). "Wrestle mania takes Cape Town by storm". IOL. Independent News & Media.
  2. "Wrestle legends collide in Parow". Voice of the Cape. Voice of the Cape. 30 April 2008.
  3. "Mayhem at the Fresh Air Camp". People's Post. news24.com. 7 March 2007. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008.
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