Northern Championship Wrestling

Northern Championship Wrestling, commonly known as NCW or nCw, is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The organization operates as Les Promotions NCW Inc. and presents live wrestling events, develops and showcases wrestlers, and maintains championship and historical traditions associated with the Quebec independent wrestling circuit. The promotion began in 1986 when François Poirier and Phil Bélanger founded the Amateur Wrestling Association while they were still in high school in Joliette, Quebec. Its early identity was therefore closely connected to local amateur and independent wrestling activity. In 1992, the organization adopted the name Lutte Lanaudière as it relocated from Joliette into the Lanaudière region. It took the name Northern Championship Wrestling in 1995, establishing the identity under which it became known nationally within the Canadian independent wrestling community. NCW moved to Montreal in 1996. For more than a decade, it staged events at the Centre Notre-Dame de Rosaire, also known as Centre N.D.R. The promotion later used the Saint-Barthelemy Center from 2009 to 2013 and subsequently based its events at Centre LGH in Montreal North. These venue changes reflect NCW's continuing local operation rather than a single fixed arena model. The promotion's programming has combined regular championship wrestling with special attractions involving established wrestlers from Canada and the wider professional wrestling industry. Its events have featured performers who later appeared in, or had already become associated with, larger promotions. Sylvain Grenier wrestled for NCW before beginning full-time work with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2003 and later returned for events in 2007. In August 2005, former WWE performer Lance Storm appeared at the SummerStorm event, where he became involved in the NCW Quebec Championship main event while promoting his Storm Wrestling Academy. NCW also presented a 2008 SuperShow featuring The Honky Tonk Man, Johnny Devine, and Bushwhacker Luke. NCW has also served as a platform for wrestlers recognized in Pro Wrestling Illustrated's PWI 500. Names associated with the promotion include Chakal, Franky The Mobster, Nova Cain, and Don Paysan. The organization has used notable appearances and commemorative events to connect contemporary independent wrestling with Quebec's longer wrestling history. In 2009, it hosted what was described as Abdullah the Butcher's last match in Canada, drawing approximately 600 spectators. Later that year, it held a tribute to Maurice Vachon and Paul Vachon as part of a documentary project examining Mad Dog Vachon's career. Women's wrestling became another important part of NCW's activity through NCW Femmes Fatales, first presented in September 2009. The event brought together female wrestlers from across North America and was subsequently associated with the Female Fight League, an affiliation announced in 2010 at the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion in Las Vegas. This initiative broadened the promotion's programming beyond its regular mixed independent-wrestling schedule and gave women wrestlers a dedicated showcase. NCW's significance lies primarily in its longevity, regional identity, talent platform, and role in preserving and renewing professional wrestling in Quebec. It is not documented as a publicly listed corporation or as part of a major international entertainment group. Public reference material does not establish a current corporate owner, executive roster, financial results, or a comprehensive current event schedule. Its known activities and historical record support its characterization as an active independent wrestling promotion centered on Montreal and the surrounding Quebec market.

Northern Championship Wrestling traces its origins to 1986, when François Poirier and Phil Bélanger created the Amateur Wrestling Association in Joliette, Quebec. The founders were high-school students at the time, and the organization began as a local wrestling initiative rather than as a division of a large entertainment company. In 1992, after moving from Joliette into the Lanaudière region, it changed its name to Lutte Lanaudière. The current Northern Championship Wrestling name was adopted in 1995. The organization relocated to Montreal in 1996 and developed a continuing presence in the city's independent wrestling community. From 1996 through 2009, its events were held at the Centre Notre-Dame de Rosaire, commonly called Centre N.D.R. Following that period, NCW used the Saint-Barthelemy Center from 2009 to 2013. Later events were held at Centre LGH at 10015 Avenue Bruxelles in Montreal North. The venue changes show the promotion's evolution within the Montreal area while retaining its Quebec-centered identity. NCW's event model has included regular wrestling cards, championship matches, special attractions, and appearances by wrestlers with experience in larger promotions. Sylvain Grenier competed for NCW from November 2002 until he began full-time work with WWE around the 2003 No Way Out period. During his initial NCW run, he wrestled Manuel Vegas, Chakal, Chase Ironside, and Nova Cain. Grenier returned for ChallengeMania 15 in May 2007 while still under WWE contract, teaming with Don Paysan and Bishop against Chakal, Nightmare, and Phil Bélanger. After leaving WWE, he continued his association with NCW, including a match with Franky The Mobster at Montreal Chairshot Massacre in October 2007. Lance Storm appeared at NCW's SummerStorm event on August 13, 2005, soon after leaving WWE. The appearance was connected with promotion of Storm's wrestling academy, but Storm also participated in the event's principal storyline by intervening in the NCW Quebec Championship match between Manuel Vegas and Chakal. On August 23, 2008, NCW staged a SuperShow with The Honky Tonk Man, Johnny Devine, and Bushwhacker Luke, illustrating its practice of combining regional talent with recognizable veteran performers. The promotion has been a launchpad or working environment for wrestlers who received wider recognition. Since 1995, Chakal, Franky The Mobster, Nova Cain, and Don Paysan were among NCW-associated wrestlers listed in Pro Wrestling Illustrated's PWI 500. This connection helped position NCW within the broader North American independent wrestling network. NCW also used special events to mark wrestling history. In April 2009, it promoted Abdullah the Butcher's last match in Canada, an event reported as drawing about 600 people. In November of the same year, the promotion held an homage to Maurice Vachon and Paul Vachon in connection with a documentary tracing the career of Mad Dog Vachon. These events linked NCW's contemporary shows with the history of Quebec and Canadian professional wrestling. Women's wrestling became a distinct area of programming in September 2009, when NCW presented the first NCW Femmes Fatales event. The showcase assembled female wrestlers from different parts of North America. In April 2010, NCW Femmes Fatales was announced as part of the Female Fight League during the 45th Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion in Las Vegas. The project gave the promotion a recognizable specialty brand and provided a dedicated platform for women competitors. Publicly available reference material identifies NCW as an independent Montreal promotion but does not provide a reliable current list of executives, ownership details, financial information, or a complete account of present-day event operations. Its documented history nevertheless establishes a substantial regional continuity from the Amateur Wrestling Association in 1986 through the NCW era and its later Montreal-based activities.

• 2010

  Femmes Fatales linked with the Female Fight League

  [1]Northern Championship Wrestlingen.wikipedia.org

  The women's wrestling project was announced as part of the Female Fight League at the Cauliflower Alley Club reunion.

• 2009

  Launch of NCW Femmes Fatales

  [1]Northern Championship Wrestlingen.wikipedia.org

  NCW introduced a dedicated women's wrestling event bringing together competitors from across North America.

• 2005

  SummerStorm appearance by Lance Storm

  [1]Northern Championship Wrestlingen.wikipedia.org

  Lance Storm appeared at SummerStorm and became involved in the NCW Quebec Championship main event.

• 1996

  Operations move to Montreal

  [1]Northern Championship Wrestlingen.wikipedia.org

  NCW relocated its base of activity to Montreal and began a long run of events at Centre Notre-Dame de Rosaire.

• 1995

  Northern Championship Wrestling name adopted

  [1]Northern Championship Wrestlingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization took the Northern Championship Wrestling name that it continues to use.

• 1992

  Name changed to Lutte Lanaudière

  [1]Northern Championship Wrestlingen.wikipedia.org

  The promotion adopted the Lutte Lanaudière name after moving from Joliette into the Lanaudière region.

• 1986

  Organization founded as the Amateur Wrestling Association

  [1]Northern Championship Wrestlingen.wikipedia.org

  François Poirier and Phil Bélanger founded the organization in Joliette, Quebec while they were in high school.

A long-running Quebec independent wrestling promotion combining locally rooted live events, championship competition, emerging talent, veteran appearances, and specialty showcases.

• Live sports entertainment · 1986

  NCW live wrestling events

  The promotion's core offering is a schedule of live professional wrestling cards in the Montreal and Quebec market. Events combine singles and tag-team matches, championship contests, local talent, and occasional appearances by veteran or internationally recognized wrestlers.

• Wrestling championships

  NCW championships

  NCW organizes title-oriented wrestling competition, including the NCW Quebec Championship documented in connection with matches involving Manuel Vegas, Chakal, and Lance Storm. Championship programs provide recurring competitive structure for the promotion's roster.

• Women's professional wrestling · 2009

  NCW Femmes Fatales

  NCW Femmes Fatales is a women's wrestling showcase created by NCW in 2009. It brought together female wrestlers from across North America and later gained an association with the Female Fight League.

• 2009NCW Femmes Fatales

  North America

  A dedicated women's wrestling showcase designed to bring together female wrestlers from across North America.

  Outcome. The project was later announced as part of the Female Fight League at the 2010 Cauliflower Alley Club reunion.

  Source
• 2009Maurice Vachon and Paul Vachon homage

  Quebec, Canada

  NCW held a tribute connected with a documentary project about the career of Mad Dog Vachon.

  Outcome. The event honored Maurice Vachon and Paul Vachon and linked NCW programming to Quebec wrestling history.

  Source
• 2005SummerStorm

  Quebec, Canada

  A special NCW event featuring Lance Storm, connected to promotion of his Storm Wrestling Academy. Storm also participated in the NCW Quebec Championship main-event angle.

  Outcome. Manuel Vegas retained the NCW Quebec Championship against Chakal with Storm's intervention.

  Source

• 1996

  Move to MontrealStrategy

  Background

  The promotion sought to operate in the larger Montreal wrestling market after its earlier history in Joliette and Lanaudière.

  Action taken

  NCW moved its operations to Montreal.

  Aftermath

  It held events at Centre Notre-Dame de Rosaire from 1996 to 2009 and later used venues including the Saint-Barthelemy Center and Centre LGH.

  Source

• 1995

  Adoption of the Northern Championship Wrestling identityStrategy

  Background

  After operating as the Amateur Wrestling Association and Lutte Lanaudière, the promotion established a new long-term public identity.

  Action taken

  It changed its name to Northern Championship Wrestling.

  Aftermath

  The NCW name became associated with the promotion's subsequent Montreal-based history.

  Source

• 1992

  Regional relocation and rebrandingStrategy

  Background

  The organization moved from Joliette into the Lanaudière region and no longer operated under its original Amateur Wrestling Association identity.

  Action taken

  It adopted the name Lutte Lanaudière.

  Aftermath

  The promotion later adopted the Northern Championship Wrestling name in 1995.

  Source

1. 1Northern Championship Wrestlingen.wikipedia.org