The last several days have been something of a whirlwind for Billy Corgan and his wrestling promotion, the NWA. Last month, Haus of Wrestling exclusively reported that Corgan had signed a deal that would put two NWA shows on the CW, a broadcast TV network with wide reach. Fast forward to the NWA Samhain pay-per-view on October 28, which included a segment that appeared to show Father James Mitchell using cocaine alongside some extras. It seems that the controversial segment may have cost NWA their broadcasting deal, as it became official yesterday that WWE NXT would be making the move from the USA Network to the CW starting next year.
Following the announcement, Haus of Wrestling heard from frustrated NWA talent with complaints about Corgan’s creative management style and more. However, current NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion EC3 defended Corgan, providing Haus of Wrestling with a lengthy statement on the promotion and his mentality. Since publishing that exclusive, Haus of Wrestling has continued to hear from NWA sources indicating that neither the roster nor office staff has received any emails addressing the cocaine spot from the PPV.
Earlier today, Corgan appeared on the ESPN Chicago 1000 AM radio station. While the Smashing Pumpkins frontman mostly stuck to other topics, namely his music career, Corgan did offer a small comment on the current situation with the NWA.
“Got a lot going on with the wrestling – NWA,” Corgan said. “It’s a crazy, crazy time.”
One of the complaints shared by NWA talent was frustration that Corgan is understandably focused on his music career, which makes communication regarding creative plans difficult. The Smashing Pumpkins recently announced an extensive stadium tour alongside Green Day and Rancid in 2024, which will undoubtedly take up much of Corgan’s time and attention.