The LPWA, or Ladies Professional Wrestling Association, was a wrestling promotion that featured women wrestlers with an emphasis on athleticism rather than beauty. The association was started by ex-wrestler Tor Berg in 1989 and lasted until 1992. Berg attempted to begin the promotion again in the beginning of 1999, joining forces with the NWA and changing the name to form the WNWA (Womens National Wrestling Alliance), but this venture was also short-lived as the promotion only lasted until 2000.
Before closing up shop in 1992, the LPWA held its one and only pay-per-view event, which was known as the “Super Ladies Showdown”. The event took place on February 23, 1992 in Rochester, Minnesota at the Mayo Civic Center. The main events of the pay-per-view showing were the LPWA Singles Championship and the LPWA Japanese Championship. There were 12 matches televised for the event, with four of them being first round match-ups for the Japanese Championship, two semi-final matches for the Japanese Championship, and then the actual championship match.
The LPWA Japanese Championship was won by Harley Saito, who defeated Denise Storm to win the belt. The LPWA Singles Championship was won by Terri Power, better known as Tori from the WWF, who defeated Lady X. Lady X had previously won the championship over Susan Sexton on January 31, 1991. Lady X was also known as Peggy Lee Leather of the WWF, who formed a tag team partnership with Wendi Richter. Richter later became the WWF singles champion and defeated Leather in her quest for the belt. These two went on to battle each other in POWW(Powerful Women of Wrestling) as well. Lady X was also known for her performance in the lingerie battle royal for the AWA SuperClash III pay-per-view event and also appeared in WOW (Women of Wrestling) as Thug from 2000 to 2001.
The Tag Team Championship was also part of the LPWA’s only pay-per-view event and featured Leilani Kai and Judy Martin beating Bambi and Malia Hosaka for the championship. Kai was part of the WWF in the 1980’s and at one time was the champion after defeating Wendi Richter. She also paired with Judy Martin to form the Glamour Girls, who became both WWF and LPWA Tag Team Champions at different times in their careers. Kai also held the NWA World Womens Championship and wrestled for the WCW under the name of Patty Stonegrinder.
One of the most famous woman wrestlers of all-time, Madusa Miceli, who wrestled for the LPWA, WWF, and also for All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling. She was the first non-Japanese wrestler to compete in the All-Japan league of women wrestlers.
Following is a synopsis of the list of the LPWA’s championship holders.
LPWA Singles
- Susan Sexton / Awarded title in January of 1990
- Lady X / Defeated Susan Sexton January 31, 1991
- Terri Power / Defeated Lady X February 23, 1992
LPWA Tag Team Championship
- Team America (Heidi Lee Morgan and Misty Blue) defeated Bad, Black, and Beautiful (Black Venus and Bad Girl) March 13, 1990
- The Glamour Girls (Judy Martin and Leilani Kai) defeated Team America February 28, 1991
With the closing of the LPWA in 1992, all of these womens wrestling titles were abandoned.
