[2] The promotion served as the developmental territory for both World Championship Wrestling (WCW) (during the 1990s) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) (from 2001–2002), with alumni including wrestlers such as Mike Sanders,[3] Shannon Moore,[4] Victoria,[5] The Hardy Boyz and brothers Charlie and Russ Haas, as well as former WCW veterans Bill DeMott and Elix Skipper.

[6] Among the top independent wrestlers to have competed in the promotion are Nigel McGuinness, B. J. Whitmer, Matt Stryker, Shark Boy, Cody Hawk and Chad Collyer.

[7][better source needed] WWE would later end its relationship and pulled financial support out of the HWA to cut their budget.

HWA aired a weekly TV program "Adrenaline" nationally on the Cincinnati, Ohio affiliate of The CW and America One television networks.

In August 2007, majority owner Cody Hawk left HWA, launching a new promotion called EGO Pro Wrestling.