Background At
Alwayz Ready, the National Wrestling Alliance announced that the NWA 74th Anniversary Show would take place across two nights on August 27 and 28 in
St. Louis,
Missouri, from the
Chase's Khorassan Ballroom.
Storylines The event featured
professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and
storylines. Wrestlers portrayed
heroes,
villains, or
less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines were produced during the
ninth season and
third season, respectively, of the NWA's weekly series;
Powerrr and
USA. On the July 5 episode of
Powerrr, NWA president
William Patrick Corgan announced the "Race to The Chase" tournament, which would determine
Trevor Murdoch's number one contender to the
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship at the event. The tournament began the following week, where
Thom Latimer,
Brian Myers, and
Nick Aldis advanced after defeating
Chris Adonis,
The Pope, and
Tim Storm, respectively. The following week, Aldis defeated Myers, Latimer, and
Mike Knox - who earned a bye thanks to former champion
Matt Cardona - in a
four-way match for the finals to become the number one contender. However, after Aldis made comments on
Twitter alleging "goalpost-moving" that drew the ire of Corgan, the latter announced on the July 21 edition of
Busted Open Radio that Aldis had been stripped of his #1 contender status and would be replaced by the
NWA World Television Champion Tyrus. On July 19, the NWA announced that the
NWA United States Tag Team Championship would be revived, and new champions would be determined in a
battle royal on Night 2 of NWA 74. The following wrestlers were announced as participants: • Gold Rushhh (
Jordan Clearwater and
Marshe Rockett) • The Miserably Faithful (
Sal The Pal and Gaagz The Gymp) (with
Father James Mitchell) For the next several weeks, Knox would continue to disparage Bully Ray's name, while claiming to see Ray everywhere he goes. During an appearance on
Busted Open Radio on July 21, NWA President Billy Corgan announced that Ray would make his NWA in-ring debut against Knox in a
tables match on Night 1 of NWA 74. Earlier that day, the NWA announced the return of the "Burke Invitational" - formerly the "NWA Women's' Invitational" - where rising female wrestlers compete in a
gauntlet match on Night 1 for the Burke Cup and a Women's World Championship match on Night 2. The following wrestlers were announced as participants: • Samantha Starr (with
Baby Doll) •
KiLynn King • Tootie Lynn •
Max the Impaler (with
Father James Mitchell) The following week saw Kerry respond, talking about how the championship was one held by his father, and that he wanted to uphold the prestige of that title. On the August 2 edition of
Powerrr,
Cyon, the newest member of
Austin Idol's stable Idolmania Sports Management, defeated
Rodney Mack in an
NWA National Heavyweight Championship number one contender's match, earning him a title shot against champion
Jax Dane on Night 1 of NWA 74. On Night 2 of the
Crockett Cup, The Hex (
Allysin Kay and
Marti Belle) defeated
Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy and
Kenzie Paige) to retain the
NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship. The two teams would have a rematch at
Alwayz Ready, where Pretty Empowered would win the titles after Envy struck Belle with a low blow. A third match would take place on the July 2 episode of
NWA USA, where Pretty Empowered retained due to Envy hitting Kay with one of the title belts. On August 3, after an episode of
Busted Open Radio, it was announced that Pretty Empowered will again defend the titles against The Hex in a
Kingshighway Street Fight on Night 2 of NWA 74. At
GCW Downward Spiral,
Matt Cardona suffered a torn bicep during his match against
Blake Christian. The injury forced him to vacate many of the championships he held at the time, including the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, which he was scheduled to defend at Alwayz Ready. On August 5, the NWA announced that Cardona would make his in-ring return on Night 1 of NWA 74, facing an opponent of his choosing. At Alwayz Ready, The Commonwealth Connection (
Doug Williams and
Harry Smith) won the
NWA World Tag Team Championship from
La Rebelión (
Bestia 666 and
Mecha Wolf 450). After defeating
The OGK (
Matt Taven and
Mike Bennett) in their rivalry, with assistance from Bestia's father
Damián 666, La Rebelión will face The Commonwealth Connection on Night 1 of NWA 74 for the titles. However, on the day of the show, it was announced that Smith withdrew due to illness; the titles were subsequently vacated. Hawx Aerie (Luke and PJ Hawx) would replace The Commonwealth Connection to face La Rebelión for the now-vacant titles. ==Results==