The Ladies Professional Wrestling Association (LPWA) was a

women's professional wrestling Professional wrestling is a dramatic enactment of wrestling as a spectator sport. As is the norm for this sport, women's professional wrestling is organized by wrestling federations called Professional wrestling promotion, promotions. Some prom ...

promotion Promotion may refer to: Marketing * Promotion (marketing), one of the four marketing mix elements, comprising any type of marketing communication used to inform or persuade target audiences of the relative merits of a product, service, brand or i ...

which operated in the early 1990s (ca. 1989–1992). It was considered a successor to such women's promotions as

Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (also known by its initials as GLOW or G.L.O.W.) is a women's professional wrestling promotion that began in 1986 (the pilot was filmed in December 1985) and has continued in various forms after it left television. ...

(GLOW), but it differed in that, while GLOW slanted more toward WWF-style

sports entertainment Sports entertainment is a type of spectacle which presents an ostensibly competition, competitive event using a high level of theatre, theatrical flourish and extravagant presentation, with the purpose of entertainment, entertaining an audience. Un ...

, the LPWA treated its product seriously and put its primary emphasis on in-ring athletics.

History

Thurston John "Tor" Berg (1938–2011) founded the company ca. 1989. An incident occurred in March 1991, where Berg promised

Jumping Bomb Angels The Jumping Bomb Angels were a female Japanese professional wrestling tag team consisting of Noriyo Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki. They competed primarily for the wrestling promotions AJW (All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling) and WWF (World Wrestling F ...

member

Noriyo Tateno (born December 1, 1965) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler who is best known as one half of the tag team Jumping Bomb Angels with Itsuki Yamazaki. She worked in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, WWF and has been working in Ladies Legen ...

that he would give her a permanent job in the new company if she retired in Japan and moved to the United States. Berg, however, later backed out on the deal, and

Sherri Martel Sherry Lynn Schrull (née Russell; February 8, 1958 – June 15, 2007) was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri. Martel began her professional wrestling career in t ...

made the incident public. The LPWA produced two television series, ''The Super Ladies of Wrestling'' and ''Ladies Championship Wrestling'' from 1990 to 1992. Many of their matches were also distributed and sold on

VHS VHS (Video Home System) is a discontinued standard for consumer-level analog video recording on tape cassettes, introduced in 1976 by JVC. It was the dominant home video format throughout the tape media period of the 1980s and 1990s. Ma ...

tapes. They held their first and only pay-per-view, ''Super Ladies Showdown'', on February 23, 1992, before closing down operations shortly after. Berg planned on promoting a second ''Super Ladies'' pay-per-view event in 2000, but the event was canceled. The pay-per-view was scheduled to feature women from around the world, including American wrestlers

Debbie Malenko Deborah Killian (born March 10, 1971), known under the ring name Debbie Malenko, is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. She is best known for her work in ''Professional wrestling in Japan#Female wrestling, joshi puroresu' ...

, Sweet Destiny and

Missy Hyatt Melissa Ann Hiatt (born October 16, 1963), better known by her ring name, Missy Hyatt, is an American retired professional wrestling valet, commentator, model and occasional professional wrestler. She is best known for her appearances with Wo ...

; Japanese wrestlers Chikako Shiratori, AKINO, Chapparita Asari and

Ayako Hamada is a Japanese Mexican professional wrestler. During her 20-year career, Hamada wrestled for various promotions, including All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, Gaea Japan and Pro Wrestling Wave in Japan, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and L ...

; and Australian wrestlers Amy Action, Raya Riot, and former LPWA Champion

Susan Sexton Shanon Sexton, better known by her stage name Susan Sexton, is a former professional wrestler. Sexton was born in Perth, Western Australia. She was trained by Ali Musa the Turk. Wrestling career Sexton went to the United States in 1975 and bega ...

Super Ladies Showdown

LPWA Super Ladies Showdown was a

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

pay-per-view Pay-per-view (PPV) is a type of pay television or webcast service that enables a viewer to pay to watch individual events via private telecast. Events can be purchased through a multichannel television platform using their electronic program ...

from the LPWA. It took place on February 23, 1992, from the

Mayo Civic Center The Mayo Civic Center is a multi-purpose convention center and event facility in Rochester, Minnesota. It was home to the Rochester Mustangs ice hockey team and various professional basketball franchises. It is also notable for being one of the f ...

Rochester, Minnesota Rochester is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota, United States, and its county seat. It is located along rolling bluffs on the Zumbro River's south fork in Southeast Minnesota. At the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a popul ...

. It was the only PPV from the LPWA, which folded shortly after the event. The main event was a match for the LPWA Singles Championship, in which Terri Powers faced Lady X. The event also featured a tournament for the LPWA Japanese Championship.

Results

Championships

LPWA Championship

The LPWA Championship was a

title A title is one or more words used before or after a person's name, in certain contexts. It may signify their generation, official position, military rank, professional or academic qualification, or nobility. In some languages, titles may be ins ...

created in early 1990.

LPWA Japanese Championship

The LPWA Japanese Championship was a

created in 1992. The inaugural (and only) champion was Harley Saito, who won an eight-woman tournament held during the Super Ladies Showdown pay-per-view event.

Inaugural championship tournament (1992)

LPWA Tag Team Championship

The LPWA Tag Team Championship was a

tag team Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establis ...

title created in early 1990.

LPWA Mixed Tag Team Championship

The LPWA Tag Team Championship was an existing

title recognized in early-mid 1990. In 1973, Adrian Street and Miss Linda won the World Mixed Tag Team Championship by defeating Don Kovaks and Suzie Parker in Germany. Street and Linda were still undefeated as champions when they joined the LPWA in 1990 and continued to defend the championships in the promotion.

Alumni

Wrestlers

Female wrestlers

*Allison Royal () *Alona Star *Alma Alvarez *Babyface Nellie *Bad Girl *

Bambi ''Bambi'' is a 1942 American Animated film, animated Coming of age, coming-of-age drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Loosely based on Felix Salten's 1923 novel ''Bambi, a Life in the Woods'', the ...

() *The Beast () *Black Venus () *Brandy Wine *

Brittany Brown Brittany Brown is an American female professional wrestler, former promoter and current trainer. Overview Brown has competed as a wrestler from the mid-1980s to the 2010s. She has worked with the Ladies Professional Wrestling Association, T ...

Candi Devine Candace Maria Rummel (January 1, 1958 – February 9, 2022) was an American professional wrestler better known by her ring name Candi Devine. She won singles championships in several Professional wrestling promotion, promotions, most notably in ...

() *Cheryl Day
Cheryl Rusa
() *Comrade Orga Stalinska *

Dawn Marie Dawn Marie Psaltis (born November 3, 1970) is an American nurse and retired professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, and actress. She is perhaps best known for her appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and the SmackD ...

() *Dangerous Debbie T Wild *Denise Storm *

Desiree Petersen Desiree Petersen is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. She was born in Calgary, Alberta, however, was often billed from Copenhagen, Denmark, the place where her mother is from. Petersen used to wrestle for World Wrestling Federation in the ...

*Despina Montagas *

Diane Von Hoffman Phyllis Burch (April 13, 1962 – July 6, 2017) was an American professional wrestler active from 1979 to 2013. Burch wrestled under the names Diane Von Hoffman, The Teutonic Terror, and Lady Beast. She wrestled in Memphis's United States W ...

*Eagle Sawai *Flame *

Harley Saito was a Japanese professional wrestler, who performed under the ring name . She spent much of her career for Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling. Professional wrestling career Trained by Nancy Kumi at the JWP Joshi Puroresu Dojo, Sayori Saito mader he ...

Heidi Lee Morgan Heidi Lee Morgan (born June 29, 1967) is an American retired professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation, International World Class Championship Wrestling, Ladies Pro Wrestling Association, and National Wrestling Federa ...

* Judy Martin () *Kimmie Kozak *La Gata *Lady Lilith () * Lady X () *

Leilani Kai Patty Seymour (born January 23, 1957) is an American retired professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Leilani Kai. She is best known for her work in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, All Japan Women's Pro Wrestl ...

() *Lisa Starr *

Madusa Miceli Debrah Ann Miceli (born February 9, 1963), better known as Madusa, is an American monster truck driver and retired professional wrestler. She is currently signed to National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) as a producer. In professional wrestling Mice ...

() *

Magnificent Mimi Mimi Diane Lesseos (born February 25, 1964) is an American female professional wrestler, actress, model and stuntwoman also known by the ring name Magnificent Mimi. Early life Lesseos was raised in Hollywood, California. She is the youngest of f ...

() *

Malia Hosaka Malia Hosaka (born October 7, 1969) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. She is a former NWA World Women's Championship, NWA World Women's Champion. Professional wrestling career Hosaka was trained by Killer Kowalski at ...

*Mami Kitamura *Midori Saito *Miki Handa *

Miss Linda Adrian Street (5 December 1940 – 24 July 2023) was a Welsh professional wrestler and author nicknamed "Exotic" who came to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. During his career, Street was best known for his androgynous and flamboyant wrestlin ...

Misty Blue Simmes Diane Simmes (born February 8, 1959), better known by her ring name Misty Blue Simmes, is an American former professional wrestler. Career Beginning Simmes got into wrestling after learning to box and being part of an all-female boxing sho ...

() *Mizuki Endoh *Nasty Kat () *Nasty Linda () *

Reggie Bennett Reggie Bennett (born January 24, 1961) is an American former professional wrestler. She is best known for her work in ''joshi puroresu'' organizations such as All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. Professional wrestling career Early career (1986� ...

() * Rockin' Robin () *Rusty "The Fox" Thomas *Samantha Pain *Shelly Francis () *

Shinobu Kandori is a Japanese politician, professional wrestler and retired judoka. She serves as a member of the House of Councillors, representing the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Yokohama, Kanagawa, she ran unsuccessfully for the House of Coun ...

*Sindy Paradise * Susan Green *

Sweet Georgia Brown "Sweet Georgia Brown" is a jazz standard composed in 1925 by Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard, with lyrics by Kenneth Casey. History Reportedly, Bernie came up with the concept for the song's lyrics – although he is not the credited lyricist ...

() *

Terri Power Terri Poch (born August 20, 1964) is an American retired professional wrestler, best known for her time with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the ring name Tori. Professional wrestling career Early career (1988–1993) Poch debute ...

() * Tina Moretti () *

Wendi Richter Victoria "Wendi" Richter (born September 8, 1960) is an American former professional wrestler. She began her professional wrestling career in companies such as the National Wrestling Alliance, where she teamed with Joyce Grable, with whom she ...

*Yukari Osawa

Male wrestlers

Adrian Street Adrian Street (5 December 1940 – 24 July 2023) was a Welsh Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and author nicknamed "Exotic" who came to prominence in the 1970s and 1980s. During his career, Street was best known for his Androgyny, a ...

() *

Barry Horowitz Barry Horowitz (born March 24, 1959) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, best known for his time in the WWE, World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Early life Horowitz attended Florida State University, where he studied spo ...

Tim Horner Timothy Lee Horner (born August 19, 1959) is a retired professional wrestler, best known as Tim Horner, one half of The Lightning Express with Brad Armstrong. Professional wrestling career Early career (1978–1988) Tim Horner started wres ...

Tag Teams

*Bambi and Malia Hosaka *Bad Black and Beautiful () * The Glamour Girls (The Queen's Court) () *Locomotion () *The Mighty Mites () *The Nasty Girls () *New Team America () *Rockin' Robin and Wendi Richter *Team America ()

Mixed Tag Teams

*Adnan Al-Kaissie and Sheba *Adrian Street and Miss Linda *Barry Horowitz and Lisa Starr *Tim Horner and Malia Hosaka

Other on-air talent

Commissioner *

Wally Karbo Walter Joseph Karbo (August 14, 1915 – March 23, 1993) was an American professional wrestling promoter and co-founder of the American Wrestling Association with Verne Gagne. Early life The son of Polish immigrants, Karbo graduated from De L ...

Managers *

Adnan Al-Kaissie Adnan bin Abdul Kareem Ahmed Alkaissy El Farthie (; March 1, 1939 – September 6, 2023), better known professionally as Adnan Al-Kaissie, was an Iraqi-American professional wrestler and manager best known as Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey, Billy White ...

() *Ashley Kennedy () *Boogaloo Brown *Jonathan Blue *

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 9th and 10th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norma ...

() *"Queen" Christopher Love () Announcers *

Jim Cornette James Mark Cornette (born September 17, 1961) is an American author, sports historian, and podcaster who previously worked in the professional wrestling industry as an agent, booker, color commentator, manager, photographer, promoter, tra ...

Joe Pedicino Joe Pedicino (October 4, 1949 – April 12, 2020)Hudspeth, Ron. "Shortcut to nowhere leaves even more commuters in a jam." ''The Atlanta Constitution''. 6 Oct. 1986: B3. was an American professional wrestling announcer, commentator, promoter, t ...

Ken Resnick Ken Resnick (May 8) is an American wrestling announcer who served as an interviewer for the American Wrestling Association and the World Wrestling Federation. Early career Prior to working in wrestling, Resnick worked in public relations and marke ...

*Mick Karch *

Nick Bockwinkel Nicholas Warren Francis Bockwinkel (December 6, 1934 – November 14, 2015) was an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the 1970s and 1980s. Bockwinkel had ...

* Sgt. Slaughter () Interviewer *

Boni Blackstone Bonnie "Boni" Blackstone (born November 8, 1965) is a retired American professional wrestling announcer, commentator, model, television and radio producer. She was a popular on-air personality in regional territories of the Southern United State ...

References

External links

* {{Women's professional wrestling Independent professional wrestling promotions based in the Southwestern United States American women's professional wrestling promotions Defunct professional wrestling promotions

History

Super Ladies Showdown

Results

Championships

LPWA Championship

LPWA Japanese Championship

Inaugural championship tournament (1992)

LPWA Tag Team Championship

LPWA Mixed Tag Team Championship

Alumni

Wrestlers

Female wrestlers

Male wrestlers

Tag Teams

Mixed Tag Teams

Other on-air talent

References

Further reading

External links