The Afterlife Wrestling Federation: A Primer

So as I threatened tonight, I’m going to see if there’s any interest in this bad boy. Don’t worry, it won’t be a weekly post — just every so often, like an Event Center or when there’s a major show. (Next show is our own Rumble in 2-3 weeks.)

So let’s introduce you to: THE AFTERLIFE WRESTLING FEDERATION! (For over 100 years, the revolutionary force in Slam Bang Western Style Wrestling.) WARNING: this post is long. Click at your own risk.

Here are the ground rules we set for the action:

1. We are not making any value judgments. These shows specifically take place in the Afterlife, not in Heaven or Hell. However, we are also not going to make references to anything on earth except the wrestlers’ wrestling histories. Some people might debut as faces or heels as time goes by, but turns will happen enough.
2. Each wrestler is represented by their peak. Eddie Guerrero is 2004 Eddie, when he was WWE Champion. Dusty Rhodes in 1985 Dusty, when he was NWA Champion. Buddy Rogers is 1961 “Match of the Century” Buddy Rogers. Mitsuharu Misawa is 1994 “Pillar of Japan” Misawa. And so on.
3. That doesn’t mean we can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Let’s face it, if we went with the wrestlers as they were, people like Toots Mondt and Ed Lewis would be out of a job. Thankfully, they’ve had half a century to adapt as new afterlife fans come in and want a style change. So you will see wrestlers use moves invented after their retirement or passing if it makes sense. For example, Big John Studd learned the F-5, but you’re not going to see him do a Shooting Star Press.
4. We try to include talent from all over the world. This I feel best about. USA, Canada, Mexico, England, Europe, Japan, and Oceania are all represented. They are also part of the structure of the ALWF (see below).

STRUCTURE:

To go along with all the 2002-2010 fans that seem to be entering the Afterlife lately, in 2018 the ALWF split into two Main brands (a Red team and a Blue team) to go along with their Secondary brand (the Gold team) and the seven Regions. As wrestlers become more or less popular or more talent joins the eligibility list, wrestlers can move up a level, down a level, or out. All three brands have singles and tag champions; the Red and Blue also have secondary champions, and the ALWF as a whole has a Ladies’ champion. Each of the brands has its own announcers for its weekly show on Cosmos TV. (The Regions are mostly a house show loop.)

Vincent J. McMahon oversees the ALWF. He is assisted by three Commissioners — Jack Tunney on Red, Stu Hart on Blue, and Fritz Von Erich on Gold. Usually, the three brands each host their own shows; however, sometimes Red and Blue put on a co-show or even cross paths. (Gold, on the other hand, is kept separate.) For example, over the Christmas/New Year’s/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/etc. holiday season, each of the three brands had their own supershow.

ROSTER as follows:

*****

Red

FACES — Al Costello, Argentina Rocca, Arnold Skaaland, Art Barr, Blue Demon, Bobo Brazil, Brian Pillman, Cora Combs, Davey Boy Smith, Dick the Bruiser, Dusty Rhodes, Eddie Guerrero, Giant Baba, Haystacks Calhoun, Jim Neidhart, Lizmark Sr., Louie Spicolli, Owen Hart, Pat O’Connor, Rikidozan, Roy Heffernan, Shinya Hashimoto, The Crusher, Ultimate Warrior

HEELS — Adrian Adonis, Andre the Giant, Big Van Vader, Blackjack Mulligan, Bruiser Brody, Curt Hennig, Eddie Graham, Ernie Ladd, Gorgeous George, Gorilla Monsoon, Ivan Koloff, Jamal, Jerry Graham, Jimmy Snuka, Johnny Valentine, Killer Kowalski, Moondog King, Moondog Spike, Moondog Spot, Nick Bockwinkel, Randy Savage, Ray Stevens, Rick Rude, Rosey, Sherri Martel, Steve Williams, Tom Zenk

GROUPS — The Fabulous Kangaroos (Costello/Heffernan); Los Gringos Locos (Eddie/Barr/Spicolli); The Hart Foundation (Owen/Neidhart/Smith/Pillman); The Heenan Family (Bockwinkel/Andre/Graham/Graham/Stevens/Monsoon); Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher; Robbinsdale Connection (Hennig/Rude/Zenk); 3 Minute Warning (Jamal/Rosey); Blue Demon and Argentina Rocca

MANAGERS — Bobby Heenan (of The Heenan Family); Grand Wizard (of Ladd/Vader/Jamal/Rosey); Elizabeth (of Savage); Chavo [Guerrero Sr.] the Butler (of George)

ANNOUNCER — Gordon Solie; INTERVIEWS — Gene Okerlund

CHAMPIONS:

• ALWF Galactic Champion: Dusty Rhodes
• ALWF Intercontinental Champion: Gorgeous George
• ALWF Valhalla Tag Team Champions: Eddie and Jerry Graham

*****

Blue

FACES — Big Daddy Crabtree, Bruce Lee (part-timer), Bruno Sammartino, Chyna, David Von Erich, El Santo, Gory Guerrero, Hawk Hegstrand, Jack Brisco, Jay Strongbow, John Studd, Jumbo Tsuruta, Junkyard Dog, Kerry Von Erich, Lou Thesz, Luna Vachon, Mae Young, Mildred Burke, Mitsuharu Misawa, Plum Mariko, Roddy Piper, Stan Zbyszko, Verne Gagne, Vivian Vachon, Wahoo McDaniel, Wladek Zbyszko

HEELS — Andy Kaufman, Billy Robinson, Buddy Jack Roberts, Buddy Rogers, Chris Benoit, Ed Lewis, Eddie Gilbert, Edouard Carpentier, Fabulous Moolah, Frank Gotch, Freddie Blassie, George Hackenschmidt, Gran Apache, Hector Garza, Jackie Fargo, Jos LeDuc, Karl Gotch, Maurice Vachon, Perro Aguayo, Rhonda Singh, Stan Stasiak, Terry Gordy, The Sheik, Toots Mondt, Yokozuna

GROUPS — Pareja Atomica (Santo/Gory); Von Erich Brothers (David/Kerry); Zbyszko Brothers (Stan/Wladek); The Sandow Corporation (Hackenschmidt/Mondt/Lewis/Robinson); Devastation Inc. (Sheik/Blassie/M.Vachon); Perros Del Mal (Garza/Apache/Aguayo)

MANAGERS — Capt. Lou Albano (of Pareja Atomica); Gary Hart (of Devastation Inc.); Billy Sandow (of the Sandow Corporation); Sam Muchnick (of Buddy Rogers)

ANNOUNCERS — Lance Russell and Lord Alfred Hayes; INTERVIEWER — Herb Abrams

CHAMPIONS:

• ALWF Heavyweight Champion: Buddy Rogers
• ALWF Television Champion: Verne Gagne
• ALWF Ladies’ Champion: Chyna
• ALWF Elysian Tag Team Champions: Freddie Blassie and Mad Dog Vachon

*****

Gold

FACES — Anthony Durante, Bam Bam Bigelow, Chris Candido, Crash Holly, Don Leo Jonathan, George Steele, Hayabusa, John Kronus, John Tenta, Johnny Grunge, Judy Grable, June Byers, Kanyon, Mike Awesome, Mountain Fiji, Pepper Gomez, Peter Maivia, Rocco Rock, Tommy Rogers

HEELS — Bad News Brown, Black Shadow, Buddy Landell, Chris Adams, Dick Murdoch, Dick Slater, Dory Funk Sr, Dynamite Kid, Gino Hernandez, King Curtis Iaukea, Luscious Johnny V, Matt Borne, Mr. Fuji, Mukhan Singh, Nikolai Volkoff, Professor Toru Tanaka, Test, Villano I, Villano II, Villano III

GROUPS: The Triple Threat (Bigelow/Candido/Awesome); The Vancouver Giants (Tenta/Jonathan); Public Enemy (Grunge/Rocco); Dynamic Duo (Adams/Hernandez); Hardliners (Murdoch/Slater); Toru Tanaka and Mr. Fuji; The Villanos (I/II/III)

MANAGERS: Woman (manages The Triple Threat)

ANNOUNCERS — Dick Lane and Mike Hogewood; INTERVIEWER — Percy Pringle

CHAMPIONS:

• ALWF Gold Champion: Bam Bam Bigelow
• ALWF Gold Tag Team Champions: Public Enemy

*****

Whew. That’s a lot. So, if you all are interested in this, I’ll keep it up with a look at our holiday shows, then on to the next big event. Thanks for giving this a look!