At one time the National Wrestling Alliance was THE governing body for professional wrestling but in-fighting and mistrust saw a leadership change and both old and new promotions quarreling with the new leaders. Allied Independent Wrestling Federations, which is celebrating 20 years as a governing body, has slowly grown into a global presence with promotions joining together from across the globe.
Recently a dispute between the AIWF and their Heavyweight Champion Chief Attakullakulla resulted in the Chief taking the title and starting his own sanctioning body known as United Independent Wrestling Affiliates. Sources say the Chief was unhappy that he would be dropping the AIWF World Heavyweight Championship and chose to start his own group rather than give up the title. Other sources have stated that the only reason the Chief had the title was because he traveled on his own money and would often work for free. The Chief and the AIWF had been getting heat recently by a number of promotions, workers and even business critical social media sites like "You Aren't Getting Booked" for having The Chief as their champion which prompted the AIWF wanting to make a change.
The UIWA boasts 14 promotions under their banner, many coming from the AIWF in support of the Chief while the AIWF currently has 38 promotions including their newest member, Northern Championship Wrestling, a former NWA affiliate based in Michigan.
The AIWF has gone public with a plea to the Chief to return the AIWF World Heavyweight Championship title belt but the Chief says he is owed money by the AIWF and will not return it until that debt is satisfied. An AIWF spokesperson said that the company does not owe the Chief any sum of money and if the title is not returned they will seek legal and criminal action against the Chief.
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