NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship set to be defended in Abbotsford on Nov. 7

NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship set to be defended in Abbotsford on Nov. 7

Published 12:03 pm Tuesday, October 20, 2026

For the first time in more than a quarter century, one of the most prestigious titles in professional wrestling history will be defended on British Columbia soil.

The National Wrestling Alliance’s World’s Heavyweight Championship, which was formally established in 1948 (but traces its lineage back to 1904), is on the line inside Abbotsford’s Ag-Rec Centre when Silas Mason defends the crown against The Cremator on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The belt has been held by a who’s who of some of the biggest stars in pro wrestling including Ric Flair, Sting, Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, Cody Rhodes and many more.

The last time that championship was defended in B.C. was July 28, 2001 when Steve Corino put the title on the line against Sabu in the North Surrey Recreation Centre. That summer also saw Corino defend the belt in Esquimalt (July 27, 2001) and Nanaimo (July 26, 2001).

The NWA and its title were founded in 1948 and began as a governing body for a group of regional wrestling promotions operating under a territory system. The world’s heavyweight champion would defend that belt across all territories and represent the NWA internationally. By the mid-1980s, the North Carolina-based Jim Crockett Promotions essentially controlled the title, but they were then bought out by Turner Broadcasting in 1988.

The NWA title was formerly associated with Turner’s World Championship Wrestling from 1988 to 1993, but the NWA separated and the NWA regained control of the belt in 1994. The title was also associated with Total Nonstop Action from 2002 to 2007. Musician Billy Corgan purchased the NWA in 2017 and has been in control of the title ever since.

Mason captured the title by defeating Thom Latimer in Huntington, New York on Aug. 16, 2025 and has held the crown for more than 400 days. Over the past year he has defended the title in Japan and all over the United States. The match in Abbotsford will be the first time he has defended the belt in Canada.

Other matches set for the show include:

• Abbotsford’s Todd Quality and Matt Bronson vs. The Convicts in tag team action

• Marty Royale vs. Zaykan vs. Danni Deeds for the Big West Wrestling Internet championship

• Murphy Madsen vs. Kikyo

• Shreddz vs. Buddy Boom

• The Weirdo Hero Gimmick Invitational Rumble featuring: Randy Myers, Derek Drexl, Johnny Barlow, Rex Rothschild, Evan Ashford, Axel Chambers, Redd Duff, KJ Shergill, Terrell Rockett, Terry Gardner, Sid Sylum and more.

Bell time for the show is 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/events/2362484414284336.