Paul Alperstein, a promoter from Chicago, founded the AWF in 1994 and was on-air president of the company.
He intended to reintroduce rules as a significant part of professional wrestling. This was carried out by the use of timed rounds and judges in every match, which is similar to the rules of professional wrestling in Europe and as well as Boxing.
Each round was four minutes long with a one-minute rest period between rounds. Title bouts were scheduled for twelve rounds while all other fights were scheduled for three. One referee and two judges were assigned to each match. The winner of each round was decided by both the judges' scorecards and the referee's scorecard. If a match lasted the full amount of scheduled rounds, the winner was declared as whoever had the majority of points on each of the three scorecards.
Another rule implemented was that throwing opponents over the top rope resulted in an automatic disqualification.
Only a few wrestlers in this organization had experience in European wrestling, most notably England's Chris Adams and "Mr. Ambassador" Steve Casey (not to be confused with the World Class wrestler of the same name). Wrestlers such as Tito Santana, Bob Orton, Jr., Jim Powers, Koko. B Ware, Johnny Gunn and Greg Valentine, headlined AWF's events between the mid-1990s.
Tito Santana and Bob Orton, Jr. were seemingly considered the top wrestlers in the company, with Santana being the top babyface and Orton the top heel.
The AWF used tournaments for its titles, each wrestler would advance in the tournament by defeating the respective opponent, like in a normal match. Points scored in a card during a tournament.
Jim Brunzell was named AWF commissioner by Alperstein in hopes that he would make sure the above rules were enforced. Brunzell even refereed the first match for the AWF Championship in 1994, between Bob Orton, Jr. and Tito Santana.
The promotion held several house shows and was building towards a pay per view event, but closed in December 1996 for financial reasons.
Tito Santana defended the AWF Championship belt on a National Championship Wrestling event in York, Pennsylvania against former AWF wrestler Salvatore Sincere. The storyline was that Santana had dodged Sincere during their AWF days in the mid-1990s and Santana agreed to put the belt on the line against Sincere. Santana won the match for his last title defense, albeit unofficial.
In 1995, the company introduced a program called Warriors of Wrestling for syndication. The initial run consisted of footage shot from 1994 to 1995. The program resurfaced throughout the United States in late 1996 with new episodes. The announce team consisted of Mick Karch as announcer and Terry Taylor as color commentator. Taylor was replaced by Lord Alfred Hayes in 1996. Ken Resnick handled interview segments. Resnick was eventually replaced by Missy Hyatt in 1996.
In 2005, the entire run of 1995 episodes was released as a 4-disc DVD set by Highland Entertainment. It is unknown when or if a second volume will be released with the remaining episodes as there were many not in the DVD set.
As of January 2006, reruns can be seen on Europe's Clear Television via the cluster of Astra satellites at 19.2° east.
Tito Santana defeated Ultimate Destroyer in 2 rounds
Greg Valentine (w/ Rico Suave) defeated Billy Joe Eaton in 1 round
Tony Atlas defeated Sonny Rogers in 2 rounds
Rick Thunder defeated Nailz in 1 round via disqualification
Sgt. Slaughter defeated Ken McGuire in 1 round
Koko B. Ware defeated Bob Bradley in 2 rounds
Ronnie Vegas vs. Johnny Gunn
The Mighty Hercules vs. Jimmie V
The Texas Hangmen vs. Butler Stevens and Mike Braham
Lightning Rod vs. Hurricane Smith
Mr. Hughes vs. Bob Bradley
Bob Orton Jr. vs. Trevor Blanchard
Chris Adams vs. Ron Powers
Chris Adams vs. Bob Bradley
Johnny Gunn vs. Jimmie V
Greg Valentine vs. Ronnie Vegas
Bob Orton Jr. vs. Billy Joe Eaton
Mr. Hughes vs. Hurricane Smith
Tony Atlas defeated Ken McGuire in 2 rounds
Nailz and Warlord defeated Billy Joe Eaton and Jim Powers in 2 rounds
The Mighty Hercules defeated Cody Hunter in 1 round
Tony Ramone defeated Superfly in 1 round via disqualification
AWF President Paul Alperstein announces a 16-man tournament to crown the first AWF Heavyweight Champion
Tommy Rich (w/ Rico Suave) defeated Sonny Rogers in 1 round
Michael Hayes defeated Trevor Blanchard in 1 round
Mr. Hughes vs. Superfly
Sgt. Slaughter vs. Ultimate Destroyer
Tommy Rich vs. Tony Atlas
Nailz vs. Koko B. Ware
Tito Santana vs. The Mighty Hercules
Tony Atlas vs. Ron Powers
Michael Hayes vs. Bob Bradley
Chris Adams vs. Warlord
Bob Orton Jr. vs. Johnny Gunn
Greg Valentine vs. Jim Powers
AWF Heavyweight Championship Tournament - Quarterfinals
Chris Adams defeated Greg Valentine by decision after 3 rounds
Bob Orton Jr. (w/ Oliver Humperdink) defeated Koko B. Ware in 1 round
Tommy Rich defeated Sgt. Slaughter in 2 rounds via disqualification
Tito Santana defeated Mr. Hughes (w/ General Adnan) in 1 round
Tommy Rich vs. Tito Santana
Nailz vs. Jimmie V
The Mighty Hercules vs. Lightning Rod
Chris Adams vs. Bob Orton Jr.
AWF Heavyweight Championship Tournament - Finals
AWF Heavyweight Championship: Tito Santana defeated Bob Orton Jr. in 9 rounds to win the vacant title
Highlights: Tito Santana defeated Bob Orton Jr. to win the vacant AWF Heavyweight Championship
Koko B. Ware defeated Trevor Blanchard
Michael Hayes defeated Danny Boy Hawkins
The Texas Hangmen defeated Eric Freedom and Butler Stevens
Tony Atlas defeated Cody Hunter
Greg Valentine and Tommy Rich defeated Pretty Boy Floyd and Firefighter Sam
Sgt. Slaughter defeated T. Rex
Johnny Gunn and Jim Powers vs. Hubert Simpson and Ken McGuire from Dallas, Texas.
Nailz vs. Nightrain Jackson from St.Louis, Missouri
Chris Adams vs. Sonny Rogers from Joplin, Missouri
The Mighty Hercules and Mr. Hughes vs. Rick Rocket and Billy Joe Eaton from Cape Town, Rhode Island.
Tom Zenk vs. Hulk Elliot from Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Chad Miller from Catoosa, Oklahoma defeated Bob Orton Jr. in round 1 with a pin.
2 Cold Scorpio vs. Bob Bradley
Charlie Norris vs. Tony Ramone
Jeff Gaylord and The Warlord vs. Pretty Boy Floyd and Firefighter Jim
Konnan 2000 vs. Ronnie Vegas
The Samoan Swat Team (The Samoan Savage and Samu) vs. Terry Allen and Eric Freedom
Fidel Sierra vs. Trevor Blanchard
Tito Santana defeated The Bounty Hunter
The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) defeated Don Diamond and Hubert Simpson
Johnny Gunn defeated T. Rex
Steve Casey defeated Jon Paul
Tony Atlas and Koko B. Ware defeated The Texas Hangmen
Mr. Hughes and The Mighty Hercules defeated Ronnie Vegas and Cody Hunter
2 Cold Scorpio and Chris Adams defeated Billy Joe Eaton and Ken McGuire
Charlie Norris defeated Chad Miller
Tom Zenk defeated The Bounty Hunter
Greg Valentine and Tommy Rich defeated Danny Boy Hawkins and Nightrain Jackson
Warlord and Jeff Gaylord vs. Sonny Rogers and Bob Bradley
Terry Allen vs. Steve Casey
Johnny Gunn and Jim Powers vs. Rick Rocket and Tony Ramone
Fidel Sierra vs. Firefighter Jim
The Samoan Swat Team (The Samoan Savage and Samu) vs. Pretty Boy Floyd and Hubert Simpson
The Texas Hangmen vs, Jon Paul and Chad Miller
Chris Adams vs. Trevor Blanchard
Tito Santana vs. Ronnie Vegas
Greg Valentine and Tommy Rich vs. Tony Atlas and Koko B. Ware
Charlie Norris and Tom Zenk defeated The Southern Posse in 2 rounds
Super Destroyer I defeated Vern Henderson
Ron Powers (w/ Fidel Sierra) defeated Manny Fernandez
Mr. Hughes and The Mighty Hercules defeated Kenny Kendall and Butch Long
AWF Tag-Team Championship Tournament - Brackets
Johnny Gunn and Jim Powers vs. The Texas Hangmen
Mr. Hughes and The Mighty Hercules vs. The Renegades (Jeff Gaylord and Warlord)
Koko B. Ware and Tony Atlas vs. The Super Destroyers
Chris Adams and Konnan 2000 vs. The Samoan Swat Team (The Samoan Savage and Samu)
Bye - Charlie Norris and Tom Zenk
Bye - Tommy Rich and Greg Valentine
Bye - Fidel Sierra and Ron Powers
Bye - Nailz and The Executioner
Bob Orton Jr. defeated T. Rex in 1 round
Sgt. Slaughter defeated The Terrorist
AWF Tag-Team Championship Tournament - Quarterfinals
Chris Adams and Konnan 2000 defeated The Samoan Swat Team (The Samoan Savage and Samu) in 2 rounds
Mr. Hughes and The Mighty Hercules fought The Renegades (Jeff Gaylord and Warlord) to a double disqualification in 3 rounds
Tommy Rich and Greg Valentine are awarded another bye
The Renegades (Jeff Gaylord and Warlord) defeated Jon Paul and Steve Storm
AWF Tag-Team Championship Tournament - Quarterfinals
Johnny Gunn and Jim Powers defeated The Texas Hangmen
Koko B. Ware and Tony Atlas defeated The Super Destroyers
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Highlights: Tito Santana defeated Bob Orton Jr. to win tournament for vacant AWF Heavyweight Championship
Koko B. Ware defeated Bob Bradley in 2 rounds
AWF President Paul Alperstein names Jim Brunzell AWF commissioner
The Texas Hangmen (w/ Bugaloo Brown) defeated two jobbers in 1 round
Blacktop Bully (w/ Big Mama and Highway Honey) defeated a jobber in 1 round
Konnan 2000, Tom Zenk and Chris Adams defeated Fidel Sierra, Super Destroyer, and Mr. Hughes (w/ General Adnan) in 2 rounds
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Rick Thunder defeated Nailz by disqualification in 1 round
Greg Valentine and Tommy Rich defeated Steve Doll and Tony Golden in 1 round
Bob Orton Jr. (w/ General Adnan) defeated Pepe Prodo in 1 round
The Mighty Hercules defeated Charlie Norris by decision after 3 rounds
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Sgt. Slaughter defeated The Lebanese Assassin in 1 round
Blacktop Bully (w/ Big Mama and Highway Honey) defeated The Puerto Rican Punisher in 1 round
Tony Atlas and Koko B. Ware defeated Bob Bradley and Nailz in 1 round
Ronnie Twist defeated Super Destroyer in 2 rounds
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Tom Zenk defeated The Terrorist in 1 round
The Road Warriors defeated Rick Bane and Rage in 1 round
Fidel Sierra defeated Steve Storm in 1 round
The Mighty Hercules and Mr. Hughes fought Charlie Norris and Chris Adams to a double disqualification in 2 rounds
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Konnan 2000 defeated Rick Bane in 1 round
The Texas Hangmen (w/ Bugaloo Brown) defeated Steve Storm and Rick Anderson in 1 round
Blacktop Bully (w/ Big Mama and Highway Honey) defeated Chris Nelson in 1 round
AWF Heavyweight Championship: Bob Orton Jr. (w/ General Adnan) defeated Tito Santana in 4 rounds to win the title
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
AWF commissioner Jim Brunzell declares the AWF Heavyweight Championship vacant
Sgt. Slaughter defeated The Terrorist in 1 round
Charlie Norris defeated Johnny Golden in 1 round
Mr. Hughes (w/ General Adnan) defeated Ed Jackie in 1 round
AWF Tag Team Championship: Greg Valentine and Tommy Rich defeated Tony Atlas and Koko B. Ware in 3 rounds to win the title
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Honky Tonk Man (w/ Angel Baby) defeated Pepe Prodo in 1 round
The Road Warriors defeated The Terrorist and The Puerto Rican Punisher in 1 round
Missy Hyatt is introduced as the AWF's new interviewer
Ronnie Twist defeated Floyd in 1 round
AWF Heavyweight Championship: Tito Santana (w/ Sgt. Slaughter) defeated Bob Orton Jr. (w/ General Adnan) in 6 rounds to win the vacant title
Mike Morcello defeated Fidel Sierra (w/ Kapitana Natasha) in 1 round via disqualification
Chris Adams defeated Butch Long in 1 round
The MVP defeated Billy The Kid in 1 round
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Steve Doll defeated Bob Bradley in 2 rounds
Blacktop Bully (w/ Big Mama and Highway Honey) defeated The Storm Trooper in 1 round
Sgt. Slaughter defeated Nasty Ned in 1 round
Charlie Norris, Billy Two Eagles and Konnan 2000 defeated The Texas Hangmen and Super Destroyer in 3 rounds
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Koko B. Ware defeated Bill Payne in 2 rounds
Mr. Hughes and Manny Fernandez defeated Chris Nelson and Eddie Jackson in 1 round
The Road Warriors defeated Generation X in 1 round
Tony Atlas defeated Nailz in 2 rounds via disqualification
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Honky Tonk Man (w/ Angel Baby) defeated Mike Marcello in 1 round
Ronnie Twist defeated Lethal Weapon Slayer in 1 round, as Mr. Fuji observed Twist from ringside
One Man Gang (w/ Bugaloo Brown) defeated JD Lessman in 1 round
Chris Adams fought Fidel Sierra (w/ Kapitana Natasha) to a 3-round double disqualification
Introduction: Sgt. Slaughter
Konnan 2000 defeated Johnny Golden in 1 round
Nailz and The Super Destroyer defeated Dalton and a jobber in 1 round
Tito Santana defeated Terry Travis
The Texas Hangmen defeated Charlie Norris and Billy Two Eagles
Koko B. Ware defeated Honky Tonk Man by decision after 3 rounds
Sgt. Slaughter defeated Buddy Rose in 2 rounds
Charlie Norris and Tom Zenk defeated Bob Orton Jr. and Greg Valentine in 4 rounds
Ed Moretti defeated Nailz in 1 round via disqualification
AWF Heavyweight Championship: Tito Santana defeated Blacktop Bully in 6 rounds via disqualification to retain his title
Buddy Rose defeated Sumito in 3 rounds
Greg Valentine defeated Ed Moretti in 3 rounds
Koko B. Ware defeated Honky Tonk Man in 3 rounds after AWF President Paul Alperstein reversed the decision
Tom Zenk defeated Nailz in 2 rounds
Charlie Norris and Tito Santana defeated Bob Orton Jr. and Blacktop Bully in 6 rounds
Tom Zenk defeated Blacktop Bully in 3 rounds
Buddy Wayne defeated The Bodyguard in 2 rounds
Charlie Norris and Billy Two Eagles defeated Greg Valentine and Buddy Rose in 3 rounds
Tom Zenk defeated Nailz in 2 rounds
No Holds Barred: Koko B. Ware defeated Honky Tonk Man in 3 rounds
Battle Royal: Bob Orton, Jr. defeated Nailz, The Bodyguard, Ed Moretti, Sumito, Buddy Wayne, Honky Tonk Man, Koko B. Ware, Greg Valentine, Tom Zenk, Blacktop Bully, Sgt. Slaughter, Billy Two Eagles, Charlie Norris and Buddy Rose to earn a title shot
AWF Heavyweight Championship: Tito Santana defeated Bob Orton, Jr. to retain his title
