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National Wrestling Alliance
World Heavyweight Championship
(October 1948 — 1985)
National Wrestling Alliance
Jim Crockett Promotions
World Heavyweight Championship
(1985 — 1988)
National Wrestling Alliance/
World Championship Wrestling
World Heavyweight Championship
(1988 — September 15, 1993)
National Wrestling Alliance
World Heavyweight Championship
(August 27, 1994 — May 22, 2002)
National Wrestling Alliance
Total Non-Stop Action
World Heavyweight Championship
(June 19, 2002 — May 13, 2007)
National Wrestling Alliance
World Heavyweight Championship
(September 1, 2007 — September 29, 2017)
National Wrestling Alliance
Worlds Heavyweight Championship
(October 1, 2017 - Present)
World Heavyweight Championship
(October 1948 — 1985)
Won By: | Date: | Event: | Location: | Reign: |
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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.
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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.
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Whipper Bill Watson | Mar 15, 1956 | Live Event | Toronto, Canada | 239 days |
Watson wins the championship via count-out.
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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 |
Jim Crockett Promotions
World Heavyweight Championship
(1985 — 1988)
Won By: | Date: | Event: | Location: | Reign: |
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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 |
World Championship Wrestling
World Heavyweight Championship
(1988 — September 15, 1993)
Won By: | Date: | Event: | Location: | Reign: |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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World Heavyweight Championship
(August 27, 1994 — May 22, 2002)
Won By: | Date: | Event: | Location: | Reign: |
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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.
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** 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
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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.
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Naoya Ogawa [2] | Oct 2, 1999 | Live Event | Thomaston, USA | 274 days |
** Vacated ** | Jul 2, 2000 | -- | -- | |
Ogawa vacates the title due to injury.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Total Non-Stop Action
World Heavyweight Championship
(June 19, 2002 — May 13, 2007)
Won By: | Date: | Event: | Location: | Reign: |
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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.
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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.
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A.J. Styles | Jun 11, 2003 | Weekly PPV | Nashville, USA | 133 days |
Styles pinned Jarrett in a triple threat match that also include Raven.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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** 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.
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World Heavyweight Championship
(September 1, 2007 — September 29, 2017)
Won By: | Date: | Event: | Location: | Reign: |
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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** 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.
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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.
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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.
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Worlds Heavyweight Championship
(October 1, 2017 - Present)
Won By: | Date: | Event: | Location: | Reign: |
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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 ** | Jun 11, 2022 | -- | -- | |
Cardona vacated the title due to an injury.
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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.
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Tyrus | Nov 12, 2022 | Hard Times | Chalmette, USA | 288 days |
This was a three-way match, also involving Matt Cardona.
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EC3 | Aug 27, 2023 | Anniversary Show | St. Louis, USA | 354 days |