Brisco Reign Begins: Hand Raised in Houston

Ring announcer Boyd Pierce raises the hand of a triumphant Jack Brisco moments after Brisco defeated Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight championship on July 20, 1973 in Houston, Texas. A dejected Race is seen in the corner behind them.

NWA President Sam Muchnick is at left. He had attended the card that night in Houston and brought the new NWA World title belt with him. It was presented to Race before the match, but he didn't have a chance to enjoy the new belt, as Brisco took the 2-out-of-3 fall match and the championship laurels that night.

Although hidden behind Brisco in this photograph so you can't see him here, it is Tiger Conway, Jr. who is strapping the belt around the new champion's waist.

A wonderful photograph, perhaps taken by promoter Paul Boesch who took many photos that night, featured in an issue of Gong Magazine in Japan.

www.tenpoundsofgold.com

Red Velvet

The domed-globe belt was barely six months old in this screen-capture taken from video of an NWA title defense by Jack Brisco against Dory Funk, Jr. on January 29, 1974 in Japan.

The red velvet-covered leather strap was still on the belt at this point, but would soon come off and the belt would be reworked with a black leather strap (and no velvet fabric.) This is really a beautiful look at the new belt.

NWA President Sam Muchnick is seen at left.

Complete details on the evolution of the domed-globe belt through its four different versions from 1973-1986 can be found in the book Ten Pounds of Gold.

Late edit: The video of the Brisco/Funk match from Japan, including the footage of Sam Muchnick with the red velvet strapped belt, can be seen here.  

www.TenPoundsOfGold.com

The Official NWA Ten Pounds of Gold Pin

by Dick Bourne
Originally published on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway

Check out this beautifully detailed pin of the main plate of the famous "Ten Pounds of Gold" NWA World Championship title belt.

The lapel pin is large with two fasteners on the back, measuring at 1 3/4" wide by 1 7/16" tall.

The detail is amazing. It was manufactured in partnership with the NWA by Lapel Yeah.

The pin was first sold at the NWA's "pop up" show recently in Clarksville, TN. My guess is they will be on sale online at some point (and may be already.) We'll provide details as we come across them on how you can order one for yourself.

In another exciting development, the NWA recently announced that they will be bringing back the Crockett Cup tag team tournament, in conjunction with the Crockett Foundation and Ring of Honor Wrestling. The event will be April 27, 2019, at Cabarrus Arena in Concord, NC, just outside Charlotte, NC. We'll be following that exciting news as well.

Follow the NWA on Twitter at @NWA.