In 1989, Jarrett Promotions, Inc., which had been operating under the "Championship Wrestling Association" brand name in Memphis, bought the assets of the Von Erich family's Southwest Sports, Inc. (which promoted under the "World Class Championship Wrestling/World Class Wrestling Association" brand names).

Just prior to this deal, Jarrett, the Von Erichs, and Verne Gagne's Minneapolis Wrestling & Boxing Club ("American Wrestling Association") had entered into a working agreement to recognize one World champion for all their promotions (called the "Undisputed World heavyweight champion") and promote joint pay-per-views.

Their first joint venture saw AWA World champion Jerry Lawler beat WCCW World champion Kerry Von Erich to win the undisputed crown. It was called Super Brawl III and was largely seen as a promotional disaster.

After the Jarrett purchase of the Southwest Sports assets (he was granted limited rights to the "World Class" brand name, but didn't own the name), he broke ties with Gagne and laid the groundwork for creating a new brand called the "United States Wrestling Association."

The names "Championship Wrestling Association" and "World Class Championship Wrestling" (or "World Class Wrestling Association") were dumped (and made part of public storylines within the Eric Embry-Skandar Akbar feud) and the USWA brand was born. Jarrett ran separate divisions in both Memphis and Dallas and produced television for ESPN.

The USWA died in the late 90's after being sold to a Cleveland-based group called XL Sports. This transaction became the basis for a huge lawsuit that eventually led to the death (albeit a temporary one) of wrestling in the Memphis territory.

Both Jarrett Promotions and Southwest Sports were prior members of the National Wrestling Alliance.