NWA New Years Clash

The New Years Clash event was the first of a series of shows called NWA Pop-Up Event presented and scripted by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). The NWA Pop-Up Event concept was first announced in December 2018, with the New Years Clash being held as a co-promoted event with Anthony Mayweather's (wrestling under the ring name "Crimson") Tried-N-True Wrestling based in Tennessee, crediting them with building a good reputation locally.[1][3] During a press conference in January 2019 NWA president Billy Corgan explained the "Pop-Up" concept as "Being able to work, show up anywhere in the world that appreciates moments", partnering with local promotions, and that the New Years Clash was just the first of a series of shows the NWA is working on.[3]

Nick Aldis, holding the NWA World Heavyweight Champion belt

The New Years Clash event featured seven professional wrestling matches scripted by the NWA and TNT, with some of wrestlers involved in scripted feuds leading to the matches. The wrestlers portray either heels (those that play the part of the "bad guys"), faces ('the "good guy" characters) or "Tweeners" (who straddle the definition of Face of Heel) as they perform in and out of the ring.[4] Promotional efforts were done via social media such as Twitter (#NWAPopUp),[5] press releases,[1] and press conferences.[3] Storylines were also played out during the NWA's Ten Pounds of Gold documentary series on YouTube.[6]

Nick Aldis won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for the second time on October 21, 2018, when he defeated Cody for the championship in the main event of the NWA 70th Anniversary Show.[7] In December 2018 the "New Years Clash" event was announced and revealed that James Storm would be getting a championship match in his hometown against Aldis. Over the following weeks both Aldis and Storm hyped the upcoming match via videos posted by the NWA on their social media accounts.[8]

One of the most publicized storylines leading up to New Years Clash involved actor-turned-wrestler David Arquette. In 2018 Arquette began wrestling on the independent circuit. In November he worked wrestled in a "death match" against Nick Gage. During that match Arquette was cut in the neck by Gage, causing him to bleed profusely. Arquette was hospitalized after the match, requiring surgery to stop the bleeding.[9] In the aftermath wrestler Jocephus, who portrays a cult leader like figure offered Arquette "Absolution" if he joined the Kingdom of Jocephus, a request Arquette turned down. After taunting each other over social media the NWA announced that Arquette and a partner of his choice would wrestle Jocephus and a partner at New Years Clash, with both men putting their hair on the line. Jocephus' partner was a bald, silent woman simply referred to as "The Spiritual Advisor", while Arquette did not reveal who his partner was prior to the show.[10]

It had been announced prior to the show that Maxx Stardom, Rosemary and the War Kings (Crimson and Jax Dane) would all wrestle at the show but did not announce their opponents prior to the event starting.[1] Rosemary did not wrestle at the event with no explanation being given for the change.[11]