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Click Here For Some Stats National Wrestling Alliance
World Heavyweight Championship
(October 1948 — 1985)
Won By: Date: Event: Location: Reign:
Orville Brown Jul 14, 1948 Live Event Des Moines, USA 501 days
Mid-West Wrestling Association, along with the National Wrestling Association, joins newly formed National Wrestling Alliance in July of 1948. Soon after, the founding members decide to declare Brown, current Mid-South Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion, as the first National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Champion. The reign is calculated from when Brown defeated Sonny Myers for the M.W.A. Heavyweight championship.
Lou Thesz Nov 27, 1949 -- -- 2300 days
Thesz is awarded the championship when Brown is unable to defend the title due to an injury from an automobile accident. Thesz is the reigning National Wrestling Assocation World Heavyweight Champion and became the Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion by defeating the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion Gorgeous George (Non-Title Match) in 1950 and the Los Angeles World Heavyweight Championship Baron Michele Leone in 1952.
Whipper Bill Watson Mar 15, 1956 Live Event Toronto, Canada 239 days
Watson wins the championship via count-out.
Lou Thesz [2] Nov 9, 1956 Live Event St. Louis, USA 370 days
Dick Hutton Nov 14, 1957 Live Event Toronto, Canada 421 days
Pat O'Connor Jan 9, 1959 Live Event St. Louis, USA 903 days
Buddy Rogers Jun 30, 1961 Live Event Chicago, USA 573 days
Lou Thesz [3] Jan 24, 1963 Live Event Toronto, Canada 1079 days
Gene Kiniski Jan 7, 1966 Live Event St. Louis, USA 1131 days
Dory Funk Jr. Feb 11, 1969 Live Event Tampa, USA 1563 days
Harley Race May 24, 1973 Live Event Kansas City, USA 57 days
Jack Brisco Jul 20, 1973 Live Event Houston, USA 500 days
Giant Baba Dec 2, 1974 Live Event Kagoshima, Japan 7 days
Jack Brisco [2] Dec 9, 1974 Live Event Toyohashi, Japan 366 days
Terry Funk Dec 10, 1975 Live Event Miami Beach, USA 424 days
Harley Race [2] Feb 6, 1977 Live Event Toronto, Canada 926 days
Dusty Rhodes Aug 21, 1979 Live Event Tampa, USA 5 days
Harley Race [3] Aug 26, 1979 Live Event Orlando, USA 66 days
Giant Baba [2] Oct 31, 1979 Giant Series Nagoya, Japan 7 days
Harley Race [4] Nov 7, 1979 Giant Series Amagasaki, Japan 302 days
Giant Baba [3] Sep 4, 1980 Live Event Saga, Japan 5 days
Harley Race [5] Sep 9, 1980 Live Event Otsu, Japan 230 days
Tommy Rich Apr 27, 1981 Live Event Augusta, USA 4 days
Harley Race [6] May 1, 1981 Live Event Gainesville, USA 51 days
Dusty Rhodes [2] Jun 21, 1981 Live Event Atlanta, USA 88 days
Ric Flair Sep 17, 1981 Live Event Kansas City, USA 631 days
Harley Race [7] Jun 10, 1983 Live Event St. Louis, USA 167 days
Ric Flair [2] Nov 24, 1983 N.W.A. Starrcade Greensboro, USA 164 days
Kerry Von Erich May 6, 1984 Von Erich Memor… Irving, USA 18 days
National Wrestling Alliance
Jim Crockett Promotions
World Heavyweight Championship
(1985 — 1988)
Won By: Date: Event: Location: Reign:
Ric Flair [3] May 24, 1984 Live Event Yokosuka, Japan 793 days
Dusty Rhodes [3] Jul 26, 1986 The Great Ameri… Greensboro, USA 12 days
Ric Flair [4] Aug 7, 1986 Live Event St. Louis, USA 414 days
Ronnie Garvin Sep 25, 1987 World Wide Wres… Detroit, USA 62 days
Ric Flair [5] Nov 26, 1987 N.W.A. Starrcade Chicago, USA 452 days
National Wrestling Alliance/
World Championship Wrestling
World Heavyweight Championship
(1988 — September 15, 1993)
Won By: Date: Event: Location: Reign:
Ricky Steamboat Feb 20, 1989 N.W.A. Chi-Town… Chicago, USA 76 days
Ric Flair [6] May 7, 1989 N.W.A. WrestleWar Nashville, USA 426 days
Sting Jul 7, 1990 The Great Ameri… Baltimore, USA 188 days
Ric Flair [7] Jan 11, 1991 The Great Ameri… East Rutherford, USA 69 days
Tatsumi Fujinami Mar 21, 1991 New Japan Super… Tokyo, Japan 59 days
Ric Flair [8] May 19, 1991 SuperBrawl St. Petersburg, USA 112 days
** Vacated ** Sep 8, 1991 -- --
Soon after Flair signs with the W.W.F., N.W.A. vacates the championship.
Masahiro Chono Aug 12, 1992 G1 Climax Tokyo, Japan 145 days
Chono defeats Rick Rude in the finals of a tournament for the vacated title. Other participants of the tournament included Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, Bam Bam Bigelow, The Barbarian, Hiroshi Hase, Jim Neidhart, Keiji Muto, Kensuke Sasaki, Shin'ya Hashimoto, Scott Norton, Steve Austin, Super Strong Machine, Terry Taylor, and Tony Halme.
The Great Muta Jan 4, 1993 New Japan Super… Tokyo, Japan 48 days
Barry Windham Feb 21, 1993 SuperBrawl Asheville, USA 147 days
Ric Flair [9] Jul 18, 1993 Beach Blast Biloxi, USA 45 days
** Vacated ** Sep 1, 1993 -- --
N.W.A. stops recognizing W.C.W's World Heavyweight Champion as their World Heavyweight Champion soon after W.C.W. splits from N.W.A.
National Wrestling Alliance
World Heavyweight Championship
(August 27, 1994 — May 22, 2002)
Won By: Date: Event: Location: Reign:
Shane Douglas Aug 27, 1994 N.W.A. World Ti… Philadelphia, USA 0 days
After defeating Too Cold Scorpio in the finals of a tournament for the title, Shane Douglas vacates the title and declares himself the new Extreme Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion and E.C.W. announces it's withdrawal from the N.W.A.
** Vacated ** Aug 27, 1994 N.W.A. World Ti… Philadelphia, USA
Chris Candido Nov 19, 1994 N.W.A. World Ti… Cherry Hill, USA 97 days
Candido defeats Tracy Smothers in the finals of a tournament for the vacated title. Other participants included Devon Storm, Eddie Gilbert, Johnny Gunn, Al Snow, Dirty White Boy, and Jerry Lawler
Dan Severn Feb 24, 1995 Live Event Erlanger, USA 1479 days
Naoya Ogawa Mar 14, 1999 Live Event Yokohama, Japan 195 days
Gary Steele Sep 25, 1999 Anniversary Show Charlotte, USA 7 days
Steele defeats Naoya Ogawa and Brian Anthony in a three way dance for the championship.
Naoya Ogawa [2] Oct 2, 1999 Live Event Thomaston, USA 274 days
** Vacated Due To Injury** Jul 2, 2000 -- -- 79 days
Ogawa vacates the title due to injury.
Mike Rapada Sep 19, 2000 Live Event Tampa, USA 56 days
Rapada defeats Jerry Lynn in the finals of an 8-Man tournament for the vacated title. Other participants included Fidel Sierra, Héctor Guerrero, Kendall Windham, and Stone Mountain.
Sabu Nov 14, 2000 Night Of Decisions Tampa, USA 38 days
Mike Rapada [2] Dec 22, 2000 -- -- 123 days
Steve Corino Apr 24, 2001 Live Event Tampa, USA 172 days
** Held-Up ** Oct 13, 2001 Anniversary Show St. Petersburg, USA
The championship is held-up after a match against Shin'ya Hashimoto when Corino is unable to continue due to injury.
Shinya Hashimoto Dec 15, 2001 Clash of the Ch… McKeesport, USA 84 days
Hashimoto scores 2 pinfalls in an ironman match that also included Steve Corino and Gary Steele for the vacant title.
Dan Severn [2] Mar 9, 2002 Live Event Tokyo, Japan 80 days
** Vacated ** May 28, 2002 -- --
Severn is stripped of the title after refusing to defend the title defense at the first N.W.A./T.N.A. Pay-per-view
National Wrestling Alliance
Total Non-Stop Action
World Heavyweight Championship
(June 19, 2002 — May 13, 2007)
Won By: Date: Event: Location: Reign:
Ken Shamrock Jun 19, 2002 Weekly PPV Huntsville, USA 49 days
Shamrock defeats Malice in a match after the two become finalists in a battle royal for the vacated title.
Ron Killings Aug 7, 2002 Weekly PPV Nashville, USA 105 days
Jeff Jarrett Nov 20, 2002 Weekly PPV Nashville, USA 203 days
Jarrett defeats Sting in Auckland, New Zealand on May 25, 2002 to unify the title with World Wrestling All-Stars World Heavyweight Title.
A.J. Styles Jun 11, 2003 Weekly PPV Nashville, USA 133 days
Styles pinned Jarrett in a triple threat match that also include Raven.
Jeff Jarrett [2] Oct 22, 2003 Weekly PPV Nashville, USA 182 days
A.J. Styles [2] Apr 21, 2004 Weekly PPV Nashville, USA 28 days
Ron Killings [2] May 19, 2004 Weekly PPV Nashville, USA 14 days
Killings pinned Styles in a Fatal 4-way match for the championship that also included Chris Harris and Raven.
Jeff Jarrett [3] Jun 2, 2004 Weekly PPV Nashville, USA 347 days
A.J. Styles [3] May 15, 2005 Hard Justice Orlando, USA 35 days
Raven Jun 19, 2005 Slammiversary Orlando, USA 88 days
Raven defeats Styles, Sean Waltman, Monty Brown, and Abyss in a "King of the Mountain" match to win the title.
Jeff Jarrett [4] Sep 15, 2005 International I… Oldcastel, Canada 38 days
Rhino Oct 23, 2005 Bound For Glory Orlando, USA 11 days
Jeff Jarrett [5] Nov 3, 2005 iMPACT! Orlando, USA 101 days
Christian Cage Feb 12, 2006 Against All Odds Orlando, USA 126 days
Jeff Jarrett [6] Jun 18, 2006 Slammiversary Orlando, USA 126 days
Jeff Jarrett won the title in a "King Of The Mountain Match" that also included the champion Christian Cage, Abyss, Ron Killngs and Sting.
Sting [2] Oct 22, 2006 Bound For Glory Plymouth Township, USA 28 days
Abyss Nov 19, 2006 Genesis Orlando, USA 56 days
Abyss defeats Sting by disqualification in a match where the title can change hands on a DQ.
Christian [2] Jan 14, 2007 Final Resolution Orlando, USA 119 days
Christian defeated Sting in a 3-Way elimination match that also included the champion, Abyss.
** Vacated ** May 13, 2007 -- --
N.W.A. Executive Director, Robert K. Trokich announces that the National Wrestling Alliance has ended its 5 year relationship with TNA Entertainment, LLC. As a result, Christian Cage is stripped of the World Heavyweight Championship.
National Wrestling Alliance
World Heavyweight Championship
(September 1, 2007 — September 29, 2017)
Won By: Date: Event: Location: Reign:
Adam Pearce Sep 1, 2007 NWA Weekend Bayamón, USA 336 days
Pearce defeated Brent Albright in the finals of a 16-Man Tournament for the vacated title. The tournament also included Bryan Danielson, Nelson Creed, Fergal Devitt, Mikey Nichols, Aaron Aguilera, Damien Wayne, Chad Parham, Claudio Castagnoli, Pepper Parks, Sicodelico, Jr., Roughneck Ryan, Glamour Boy Shane, Fred Sampson and Osamu Nishimura.
Brent Albright Aug 2, 2008 Death Before Di… New York, USA 49 days
Adam Pearce [2] Sep 20, 2008 Glory By Honor Philadelphia, USA 35 days
The Blue Demon, Jr. Oct 25, 2008 Live Event Mexico City, Mexico 505 days
Adam Pearce [3] Mar 14, 2010 New Beginnings Charlotte, USA 357 days
Pearce defeated Blue Demon in a triple threat match that also included Phill Shatter
Colt Cabana Mar 6, 2011 Championship Wr… Los Angeles, USA 48 days
The Sheik Apr 23, 2011 Subtle Hustle Jacksonville, USA 79 days
** Vacated ** Jul 11, 2011 -- --
The Sheik is stripped of the title after refusing to defend it against Adam Pearce on July 31.
Adam Pearce [4] Jul 31, 2011 Live Event Columbus, USA 252 days
Pearce won the vacant title in a 4-Way match against N.W.A. National Champion Chance Prophet, N.W.A. North American Heavyweight Champion Shaun Tempers and Jimmy Rave.
Colt Cabana [2] Apr 8, 2012 Championship Wr… Glendale, USA 104 days
Adam Pearce [5] Jul 21, 2012 Metro Pro Wrest… Kansas City, USA 98 days
This was a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match that was part of a best-of-7 series of matches which Pearce won 4-0.
** Vacated ** Oct 27, 2012 -- --
Pearce vacated the title after the N.W.A. Board of Directors refused to sanction a match between him and Colt Cabana.
Kahagas Nov 2, 2012 Wrath of the Ch… Clayton, USA 124 days
Kahagas last pinned Damien Wayne in a 9-Person elimination match for the vacated title. The match also included Anthony Nese, Lance Anoa’i, Lance Erickson, Jason Kincaid, Papadon, Chance Prophet, and Biggie Biggs.
Rob Conway Mar 6, 2013 A Monster's… San Antonio, USA 304 days
Satoshi Kojima Jan 4, 2014 Wrestle Kingdom Tokyo, Japan 149 days
Rob Conway [2] Jun 2, 2014 Casino Royale Las Vegas, USA 257 days
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Feb 14, 2015 The New Beginning Sendai, Japan 196 days
Jax Dane Aug 29, 2015 World War Gold San Antonio, USA 419 days
Tim Storm Oct 21, 2016 Live Event Sherman, USA 414 days
On October 1, 2017, Billy Corgan's company Lightning One, Inc. purchased the National Wrestling Alliance and gradually transformed it into a singular wrestling promotion.
National Wrestling Alliance
Worlds Heavyweight Championship
(October 1, 2017 - Present)
Won By: Date: Event: Location: Reign:
Nick Aldis Dec 9, 2017 Cage Of Death Sewell, USA 266 days
Cody Sep 1, 2018 All In Hoffman Estates, USA 50 days
Nick Aldis [2] Oct 21, 2018 Anniversary Show Nashville, USA 1043 days
Trevor Murdoch Aug 29, 2021 Anniversary Show St. Louis, USA 167 days
Matt Cardona Feb 12, 2022 Pop Up Event Oak Grove, USA 119 days
** Vacated Due To Injury** Jun 11, 2022 -- -- 0 days
Due to injury.
Trevor Murdoch [2] Jun 11, 2022 Alwayz Ready Knoxville, USA 154 days
Defeated Nick Aldis, Thom Latimer, and Sam Shaw in a fatal four-way match for the vacant title.
Tyrus Nov 12, 2022 Hard Times Chalmette, USA 288 days
This was a three-way match, also involving Matt Cardona.
EC3 Aug 27, 2023 Anniversary Show St. Louis, USA 370 days
Thom Latimer Aug 31, 2024 Anniversary Show Philadelphia, USA 83 days