hi, thank you for your comment. fair to say that NWA offered the same scenario to all existing weight classes, like to structure and organize local wrestling. I recall middleweight championship which was won by Gus Kallio, there also was a light-heavy title. It was a healthy idea. They wanted organized pro wrestling and the unity of pro wrestling promoters similar to how it was when Gotch was a champ here. But that was not what promoters wanted. They wanted territories and "local" world titles of their own. So to say those who refused to participate didn't do that because they were afraid of anything its just they didn't want to lose an opportunity to make more money because title is only good when you can claim it, lol.
As for Londos. No double-crossing would have ever happened. All NWA matches were predetermined finishes and they all knew that so the title holder was never at risk of losing. The wrestlers would decline only because they weren't happy with the paycheck the company offered them. They wanted more. Out of this list that we have Lewis- Sherry- Browning they represented the NYC "bosses" so they would not participate. They had their own world champion in NY. Then we have Malcewicz who according my best knowledge was associated with Boston based world title. Then we have a foreigner Dan Koloff who would not care for the US based world title at all. He was traveling. To win the title you had to stay in the country defend it regularly bring more money to the company. And finally Shikat. Shikat was doing literally what they told him to do but again they have to pay him what he deserves. And if they weren't willing to do that, then he said - NO.
I only asked the question, because Shikat did double cross someone once (Danno O'Mahoney, maybe?) and upset all the promoters plans. I think I read that he was promised more money in his next match and so he co-operated and dropped the title back to whoever the promoter wanted.
I am sure I read that in some writings that US Wrestling Historian, Steve Yohe, did?, I would have to check.
I do not think that it was necessary a double-cross. They wanted us to believe that it was a double-cross because it was perfectly matching their narrative about "shooters" and etc nonsense. But I personally think it was not. My opinion is based on my studies of this and similar cases. Right before the start of the WWI pro wrestling was exposed internationally as being a showcase rather than anything else, and everyone in the world regardless whether it was here in the US or in Europe or in Britain or anywhere else knew that it was not a sport.
What's the context of this John?