Originally Vince McMahon Senior owned Capitol Wrestling from DC up through the Northeast and it was affiated with the original NWA. Around 1958-1960 there was a dispute that led to Lou Thez losing his title to Pat O'Conner who lost it Buddy Rogers. Buddy Rogers lost his NWA title to Lou Thez who going to defend worldwide. McMahon wanted his own champion and started the WWWF. That's right it had three "W's" orginally. It stood for the World Wide Wrestling Federation. Many years later when Vince Jr took over the organization he dropped one of the W's and it became the World Wrestling Federation.