National Wrestling Federation The original National Wrestling Federation was a wrestling promotion based in Buffalo , New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez . It ran from 1970 - 1974 . The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin . The revived promotion closed in 1994 . History . Pedro Martínez ( no relation to the baseball player ) owned the original National Wrestling Federation , which operated from 1970 to 1974 . The NWF Heavyweight Championship and NWF North American Heavyweight Championship were later used by New Japan Pro Wrestling as its main titles until 1981 . In 1986 , Robert Raskin ( President of Raskin Sports Productions and a former professional basketball coach for the ABA ) purchased the Allentown , Pennsylvania - based Continental Wrestling Alliance from DC Drake and renamed it the National Wrestling Federation . The organization revived the NWF Heavyweight Championship and created an NWF Women ' s Championship . Under the direction of Raskin , the National wrestling Federation grew rapidly . Using wrestlers who were formerly under contract with the World Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance , Raskin spared no expense in making the product a watchable alternative to the wrestling shows which were currently on television . Drake , who was the champion , also headed up the booking and television production ends of the business . Raskin felt that the NWF should move the television tapings from the Easton , PA VFW Hall to various locations around the east coast . Matches were taped at arenas in Pennsylvania , New Jersey , New York , and other locations . Raskin also hired a young Paul Heyman ( who later became Paul E . Dangerously ) to handle color commentary on the TV show . Drake and Raskin also decided to put more emphasis on the NWF Women ' s Division . As the women ' s division became established , Wendi Richter ( who along with Cyndi Lauper helped the WWF bring attention to ladies wrestling once again ) was defeated in a questionable fashion in Madison Square Garden by The Fabulous Moolah and left the organization . She entered the NWF and quickly captured the title from Heidi Lee Morgan . The revived NWF also placed a major emphasis on hardcore wrestling , including many specialty matches such as Indian strap matches , dog collar matches , and steel cage matches ( including one of the first women ' s steel cage matches in the United States , featuring Richter and Morgan ) . Raskin , seeing the organization expand , merged with Creative Entertainment , a sports and entertainment promotional organization from Philadelphia . This move proved to be a smart one as Creative Entertainment was able to book matches for the NWF across the country . The television show expanded to Sports Channels and broadcast stations across the country and appeared in foreign markets in Europe , South and Central America and Asia . As the company grew , creative differences began to split the organization and several in the front office left to pursue other ventures . As the capital investment stopped , the television product was halted . The promotion closed in 1994 . Championships . 1970 - 1974 : 1986 - 1994 :