UPDATE:WWE have contacted us directly to clearly state that they HAVE NOT acquired any portion of the Heartland Wrestling Association video library.

In a WWE Network News exclusive, we can confirm that the WWE has obtained the Heartland Wrestling Association library. Or at least a part of it. The HWA served as WWE’s developmental territory for a brief time. And according to wrestling legend Les Thatcher, who worked with WWE to secure the library, ownership has been transferred.

More specifically, Les Thatcher told WWE Network News that the WWE purchased the entire HWA library from 2001 and 2002.. He went further and revealed that the WWE obtained 48 shows total in that time frame. This isn’t even close to being the entire library for the HWA, however it does cover a period of time from when the company was a developmental territory. As a result, video of HWA’s time as a developmental territory is now owned by the WWE.

Les would also mention that he’s not sure when or if the content would appear on the WWE Network. Naturally, this is up to the WWE. It seems likely it will appear in the future, however exactly when is anybody’s guess. Talent from that time period who could appear on the service in the future include Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore, Charlie Haas, 3 Count, Raven, former TNA star Shark Boy and even Ring of Honor’s Nigel McGuinness.

Other stars would later come out of HWA including Jon Moxley who became Dean Ambrose, Sami Callihan who had a stint in the WWE as Solomon Crowe, and Pepper Parks who currently competes in TNA as Braxton Sutter. Whether the WWE ever obtains footage from the period those individuals were involved is also anybody’s guess, however obtaining content from two years of the company’s history is certainly interesting, and the footage they obtained could very well end up being available on the service in the future.

As always, stick to WWE Network News for the latest WWE Network news, rumors, reviews, and more!