List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions

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The NWA World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title and is the highest ranked championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. The championship's lineage has long remained unclear and the list may possibly be incomplete and inaccurate.

Contents

[edit] Title history

Wrestler: Times: Date: Location: Notes:
Orville Brown 1 January 5, 1948 Des Moines, IA In July 1948, the current version of National Wrestling Alliance is founded and Brown is recognized as the first NWA World champion.[1]
Lou Thesz 1 November 27, 1949 Awarded when Brown suffers career-ending injuries in an automobile accident on November 1. The title is also unified with the World Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association). Thesz became the Undisputed Champion of all of wrestling by winning the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium World Heavyweight Title, the only remaining major World Championship at the time other than the NWA World Title, on May 21, 1952.[1][2]
Whipper Billy Watson 1 March 15, 1956 Toronto, ON [1][2]
Lou Thesz 2 November 9, 1956 St. Louis, MO [1][2]
Édouard Carpentier† # June 14, 1957 Chicago, IL Carpentier was awarded the title by disqualification when Lou Thesz could not continue the match due to a back injury. For 71 days, the NWA recognized the title as being in dispute between Carpentier and Thesz. When Carpentier's manager, promoter Eddie Quinn, left the NWA in August 1958, the NWA retroactively announced that Carpentier had never won title and had no claim on it.[1]
Lou Thesz 2 July 24, 1957 Montreal, Quebec Thesz won a rematch against Carpentier by disqualfication on July 24, 1957. Carpentier's claim to the title was considered withdrawn after 71 days when Montreal promoter Eddie Quinn quit the NWA in August 1958. Some territories such as Boston (AAC), Nebraska and Los Angeles (NAWA) continued to recognize Carpentier. Nebraska later recongized Verne Gagne when he defeated Carpentier in Omaha. The AAC recognized Killer Kowalski when he defeated Carpentier in Boston. The NAWA/WWA in Los Angeles recognized Carpentier as World Champion in July 1959 and recognized Freddie Blassie as champion when he defeated Carpentier in 1961.[1][2]
Dick Hutton 1 November 14, 1957 Toronto, ON [1][2]
Pat O'Connor 1 January 9, 1959 St. Louis, MO The AWA, under Verne Gagne, seceded from the NWA and declared O'Connor their first AWA World Champion in May 1960. This was considered a compromise gesture by the AWA given that Gagne held Édouard Carpentier disputed version of the title. O'Conner was given 90 days to defend the AWA title against number one contender Gagne and when he did not, the title was awarded to Gagne.[2]
Buddy Rogers 1 June 30, 1961 Chicago, IL [2]
Bruno Sammartino† # August 2, 1962 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Refused to accept the strap because Rogers had wrestled with an injury. "Wrestling Encyclopedia". Retrieved on 2008-02-07.[2]
Buddy Rogers 1 August 2, 1962 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Rogers regains the title, as a result of Sammartino not accepting it.[2]
Bobo Brazil† # August 18, 1962 Bobo Brazil refused the title because of a groin injury that Rogers had claimed to have. However, on September 6, 1962, Brazil is declared the new NWA World Heavyweight Champion because a doctor had determined that Rogers hadn't suffered an injury.
Buddy Rogers 1 October 30, 1962
Lou Thesz 3 January 24, 1963 Toronto, ON Promoters in the northeast United States refuse to recognize Rogers' one-fall loss to Lou Thesz, thus breaking away from the NWA to form a new promotion, the World Wide Wrestling Federation. Rogers is declared the first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion soon after.[2]
Gene Kiniski 1 January 7, 1966 St. Louis, MO [2]
Dory Funk, Jr. 1 February 11, 1969 Tampa, FL [2]
Harley Race 1 May 24, 1973 Kansas City, MO [2]
Jack Brisco 1 July 20, 1973 Houston, TX [2]
Giant Baba 1 December 2, 1974 Kagoshima, Japan [2]
Jack Brisco 2 December 8, 1974 Toyohashi, Japan [2]
Terry Funk 1 December 10, 1975 Miami, FL [2]
Harley Race 2 February 6, 1977 Toronto, ON [2]
Dusty Rhodes 1 August 21, 1979 Tampa, FL [2]
Harley Race 3 August 26, 1979 Orlando, FL [2]
Giant Baba 2 October 31, 1979 Nagoya, Japan
Harley Race 4 November 7, 1979 Amagasaki, Japan
Giant Baba 3 September 4, 1980 Saga, Japan [2]
Harley Race 5 September 9, 1980 Ohtsu, Japan [2]
Tommy Rich 1 April 27, 1981 Augusta, GA [2]
Harley Race 6 May 1, 1981 Gainesville, GA [2]
Dusty Rhodes 2 June 21, 1981 Atlanta, GA [2]
Ric Flair 1 September 17, 1981 Kansas City, MO Wrestled to a double countout against WWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund on July 4, 1982 in Atlanta, GA.[2]
The Midnight Rider
(Dusty Rhodes) †		 # February 9, 1982 Tampa, FL Rhodes, wrestling under a mask as The Midnight Rider due to being under suspension in Florida, returned the title belt when NWA President Bob Geigel asked the Midnight Rider to unmask or return the belt (NWA rules of the time forbade masked wrestlers from holding the World Heavyweight title).[2]
Ric Flair 1* February 9, 1982 Tampa, FL [2]
Jack Veneno # September 1982 Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic
Ric Flair† 1* September 7, 1982 Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic
Carlos Colón† # January 6, 1983 San Juan, PR
Ric Flair† 1* January 23, 1983 Miami, FL
Victor Jovica† # February 8, 1983 Couva, Trinidad
Ric Flair† 1* February 11, 1983 Manatí, PR [1]
Harley Race 7 June 10, 1983 St. Louis, MO [1][2]
Ric Flair 2* November 24, 1983 Greensboro, NC Won the title at Starrcade in a Steel Cage Match.[1][2]
Harley Race 8 March 21, 1984 Wellington, New Zealand [1][2]
Ric Flair 3* March 23, 1984 Kallang, Singapore [1][2]
Kerry Von Erich 1 May 6, 1984 Irving, TX [1][2]
Ric Flair 4* May 24, 1984 Yokosuka, Japan [1][2]
Dusty Rhodes 3 July 26, 1986 Greensboro, NC Won the title at The Great American Bash.[1][2]
Ric Flair 5* August 9, 1986 St. Louis, MO [1][2]
Ron Garvin 1 September 25, 1987 Detroit, MI [1][2]
Ric Flair 6* November 26, 1987 Chicago, IL Won the title at Starrcade.[1][2]
Ricky Steamboat 1 February 20, 1989 Chicago, IL Won the title at Chi-Town Rumble.[1][2]
Ric Flair 7* May 7, 1989 Nashville, TN Won the title at Wrestle War.[1][2]
Sting 1 July 7, 1990 Baltimore, MD Won the title at The Great American Bash.[1][2]
Ric Flair 8* January 11, 1991 East Rutherford, NJ [1][2]
Tatsumi Fujinami 1 March 21, 1991 Tokyo, Japan Won the title at WCW/New Japan Supershow.[1][2]
Ric Flair 9* May 19, 1991 St. Petersburg, FL Won the title at SuperBrawl.[1][2]
Flair was stripped of the title upon signing with the World Wrestling Federation on September 8, 1991.[1][2]
Masahiro Chono 1 August 12, 1992 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Rick Rude in tournament final.[1][2]
The Great Muta 1 January 4, 1993 Tokyo, Japan Won at WCW/New Japan Supershow. Muta's IWGP Heavyweight Title was also on the line.[1][2]
Barry Windham 1 February 21, 1993 Asheville, NC Won the title at SuperBrawl.[1][2]
Ric Flair 10* July 18, 1993 Biloxi, MS Won the title at Beach Blast.[1][2][3]
Vacated when World Championship Wrestling withdraws from the NWA. WCW recognizes Flair as their WCW International World Heavyweight Champion.[1][2]
Shane Douglas 1 August 27, 1994 Philadelphia, PA Defeated 2 Cold Scorpio in tournament final.[1][2]
Vacated when Douglas refused the NWA Title in favor of the Eastern Championship Wrestling Title, a title which he already was in possession of.
ECW withdraws from the NWA, and becomes Extreme Championship Wrestling.[1][2]
Chris Candido 1 November 19, 1994 Cherry Hill, NJ Defeated Tracy Smothers in tournament final.[1][2]
Dan Severn 1 February 24, 1995 Erlanger, KY Won at a Smoky Mountain Wrestling event.[1][2][4]
Naoya Ogawa 1 March 14, 1999 Yokohama, Japan [1][2]
Gary Steele 1 September 25, 1999 Charlotte, NC Pinned Ogawa in a three-way match also involving Brian Anthony.[1][2]
Naoya Ogawa 2 October 2, 1999 Thomaston, CT [1][2]
Vacated on July 2, 2000[1][2]
Mike Rapada 1 September 19, 2000 Tampa, FL Defeated Jerry Flynn in tournament final.[1][2]
Sabu 1 November 14, 2000 Tampa, FL [1][2]
Mike Rapada 2 December 22, 2000 Nashville, TN [1][2]
Steve Corino 1 April 24, 2001 Tampa, FL [1][2]
Held up October 13, 2001 Title is held up on October 13 following a match against Shinya Hashimoto.[1][2]
Shinya Hashimoto 1 December 15, 2001 McKeesport, PA This was a four-way iron man match, also involving Steve Corino, Dylan Knight and Gary Steele.[1][2]
Dan Severn 2 March 9, 2002 Tokyo, Japan Match ended in controversy, as the referee gave a fast count.[1][2]
Severn is stripped of the title on May 28, after failing to make a defense in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. NWA World Heavyweight Championship is made exclusive to TNA.[1][2]
Ken Shamrock 1 June 19, 2002 Huntsville, AL Defeated Malice in the finals of a Gauntlet for the Gold.[1][2]
Ron Killings 1 August 7, 2002 Nashville, TN [1][2]
Jeff Jarrett 1 November 20, 2002 Nashville, TN Unified the title with the WWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Sting on May 25, 2003 in Auckland, New Zealand.[1][2]
A.J. Styles 1 June 11, 2003 Nashville, TN This was a three-way match, also involving Raven.[1][2]
Jeff Jarrett 2 October 22, 2003 Nashville, TN [1][2]
A.J. Styles 2 April 21, 2004 Nashville, TN This was a Steel Cage match.[1][2]
Ron Killings 2 May 19, 2004 Nashville, TN This was a four-way match, also involving Raven and Chris Harris.[1][2]
Jeff Jarrett 3 June 2, 2004 Nashville, TN This was a King of the Mountain match, also involving A.J. Styles, Raven, and Chris Harris.[1][2]
A.J. Styles 3 May 15, 2005 Orlando, FL Won the title at Hard Justice.[1][2][5]
Raven 1 June 19, 2005 Orlando, FL This was a King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary, also involving Abyss, Monty Brown, and Sean Waltman.[1][2][6]
Jeff Jarrett 4 September 15, 2005 Oldcastle, Ontario Won the title at a Border City Wrestling event.[1][2]
Rhino 1 October 23, 2005 Orlando, FL Won the title at Bound for Glory. He won the right to face Jarrett in a Gauntlet for the Gold match after designated challenger Kevin Nash fell ill and withdrew.[1][2][7]
Jeff Jarrett 5 October 25, 2005 Orlando, FL Aired November 3 on iMPACT!.[1][2]
Christian Cage 1 February 12, 2006 Orlando, FL Won the title at Against All Odds.[1][2][8]
Jeff Jarrett 6 June 18, 2006 Orlando, FL This was a King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary. Jarrett won due to interference by referee Earl Hebner. Jim Cornette stripped Jarrett of the belt later that week, then returned it to him the following week on the condition that he face the winner of a #1 contender match being held at Victory Road on July 16, 2006.[1][2][9][10]
Sting 2 October 22, 2006 Plymouth, MI Won the title at Bound for Glory.[1][2][11]
Abyss 1 November 19, 2006 Orlando, FL Won the title at Genesis.[1][2][12]
Christian Cage 2 January 14, 2007 Orlando, FL This was a Three-Way Elimination match at Final Resolution, involving Abyss and Sting.[1][2][13]
Christian Cage is stripped of the championship on May 13 when the NWA and TNA sever their business relationship. The NWA regains control of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.[1][2]
Adam Pearce 1 September 1, 2007 Bayamón, Puerto Rico Defeated Brent Albright in the finals of the Reclaiming the Glory Tournament. Pearce competed as a substitute for Bryan Danielson, who defeated Pearce in the semifinals but withdrew from the tournament due to a detached retina.[1][2]

* Flair's total does not include four "unofficial" reigns from the Caribbean in 1983.
†Unofficial title changes not recognized by the NWA.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch NWA Heavyweight Champions. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  3. ^ Beach Blast 1993. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  4. ^ Smoky Mountain Wrestling: January-March 1995. Pro Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved on 2008-01-10. “February 24, 1995 in Erlanger, KY; Dan Severn beat Chris Candido (10:00) via submission to win the NWA World Title.”
  5. ^ TNA Hard Justice 2005. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  6. ^ TNA Slammiversary 2005. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  7. ^ TNA Bound for Glory 2005. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  8. ^ TNA Against All Odds 2006. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  9. ^ TNA Slammiversary 2006. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  10. ^ TNA Victory Road 2006. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  11. ^ TNA Bound for Glory 2006. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  12. ^ TNA Genesis 2005. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  13. ^ TNA Final Resolution 2007. PWWEW.net. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.

[edit] External links

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