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Click Here For Some Stats American Wrestling Association
World Heavyweight Championship
(May 16, 1960 - Early 1991)
Won By: Date: Event: Location: Reign:
Pat O'Connor May 18, 1960 -- -- 90 days
The Reigning N.W.A. World Heavyweight champion, O'Connor is recognized as the first A.W.A. World Heavyweight champion in May of 1960, however, he is only given 90 days to defend the title against Verne Gagne or be stripped of the championship.
Verne Gagne Aug 16, 1960 -- -- 329 days
Gagne is awarded the title after O'Connor fails to defend it.
Gene Kiniski Jul 11, 1961 Live Event Minneapolis, MN, USA 28 days
Verne Gagne Aug 8, 1961 Live Event Bloomington, MN, USA 154 days
Mr. M Jan 9, 1962 Live Event Minneapolis, MN, USA 224 days
Verne Gagne Aug 21, 1962 Live Event Minneapolis, MN, USA 322 days
The Crusher Jul 9, 1963 Live Event Minneapolis, MN, USA 11 days
Verne Gagne Jul 20, 1963 Live Event Minneapolis, MN, USA 7 days
Fritz Von Erich Jul 27, 1963 Live Event Omaha, NE, USA 12 days
Verne Gagne Aug 8, 1963 Live Event Amarillo, TX, USA 100 days
On September 9, 1963, in Omaha, NB, Gagne defeats Von Erich to win Omaha's World Heavyweight Championship and unify the titles. The Omaha title is abandoned.
The Crusher Nov 16, 1963 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 28 days
Verne Gagne Dec 14, 1963 Live Event Minneapolis, MN, USA 140 days
Mad Dog Vachon May 2, 1964 Live Event Omaha, NE, USA 14 days
Verne Gagne May 16, 1964 Live Event Omaha, NE, USA 157 days
Mad Dog Vachon Oct 20, 1964 Live Event Minneapolis, MN, USA 207 days
Mighty Igor May 15, 1965 Live Event Omaha, NE, USA 7 days
Mad Dog Vachon May 22, 1965 Live Event Omaha, NE, USA 91 days
The Crusher Aug 21, 1965 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 83 days
Mad Dog Vachon Nov 12, 1965 Live Event Denver, CO, USA 365 days
Dick The Bruiser Nov 12, 1966 Live Event Lincoln, NE, USA 7 days
Mad Dog Vachon Nov 19, 1966 Live Event Omaha, NE, USA 99 days
Verne Gagne Feb 26, 1967 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 538 days
Dr. X Aug 17, 1968 Live Event Bloomington, MN, USA 14 days
Verne Gagne Aug 31, 1968 Live Event Minneapolis, MN, USA 2625 days
Nick Bockwinkel Nov 8, 1975 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 1714 days
Verne Gagne Jul 18, 1980 Live Event Chicago, IL, USA 305 days
Nick Bockwinkel May 19, 1981 -- -- 334 days
Bockwinkel was awarded the championship after the current champion, Verne Gagne, retires from the A.W.A.
Hulk Hogan Apr 18, 1982 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 6 days
Nick Bockwinkel Apr 24, 1982 -- -- 127 days
After hearing Heenan's claims that Hogan won the title unfairly, A.W.A. president Stanley Blackburn made the controversial decision to suddenly strip Hogan of the title and return it to Bockwinkel.
Otto Wanz Aug 29, 1982 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 41 days
Nick Bockwinkel Oct 9, 1982 Live Event Chicago, IL, USA 197 days
Hulk Hogan Apr 24, 1983 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 0 days
Nick Bockwinkel Apr 24, 1983 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 304 days
After the match, A.W.A. President Stanley Blackburn came down to the ring and tried to have Hogan disqualified for having thrown Bockwinkel over the top rope. But since this was a no DQ match, Blackburn simply stripped Hogan of the belt and again returned it to Bockwinkel. Understandably upset at the way he had been treated, Hogan left the A.W.A. shortly thereafter.
Jumbo Tsuruta Feb 22, 1984 Excite Series Tokyo, Japan 81 days
Rick Martel May 13, 1984 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 595 days
Stan Hansen Dec 29, 1985 Star Wars East Rutherford, NJ, USA 182 days
Nick Bockwinkel Jun 29, 1986 Live Event Denver, CO, USA 307 days
Bockwinkle is awarded the championship when Hansen fails to appear at the match to defend the title.
Curt Hennig May 2, 1987 SuperClash Daly City, CA, USA 373 days
Jerry Lawler May 9, 1988 Live Event Memphis, TN, USA 256 days
On December 13, 1988, Lawler defeats the WCWA World Heavyweight Champion, Kerry Von Erich, in Chicago, IL, to become the Unified World Heavyweight Champion
** Title Vacated ** Jan 20, 1989 -- --
The title is vacated when the C.W.A. splits with the A.W.A. Lawler continues to defend the W.C.W.A. World Heavyweight Championship as the Unified World Heavyweight Championship.
Larry Zbyszko Feb 7, 1989 Live Event St. Paul, MN, USA 368 days
Wins a battle royal for the vacated championship, last eliminating Tom Zenk.
Mr. Saito Feb 10, 1990 Super Fight In … Tokyo, Japan 57 days
Larry Zbyszko Apr 8, 1990 SuperClash St. Paul, MN, USA 248 days
The championship is vacated in December when Larry Zbyszko signs a contract with W.C.W. The A.W.A. closes on January 12, 1991.