NWA National Heavyweight Championship

NWA National Heavyweight Championship

The current design of the NWA National Heavyweight Championship
Details
Promotion National Wrestling Alliance
Date established January 12, 1980
Current champion(s) Damien Wayne
Date won November 19, 2016

The original NWA National Heavyweight Championship was the major singles title in the National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated Georgia Championship Wrestling from 1980 until 1986. In spite of its name, the championship was never defended on a national basis but, rather, it was used only within the territorial region in which Georgia Championship Wrestling ran its operations.

In 1984, Vince McMahon's Titan Sports, Inc. (which operated under the World Wrestling Federation brand name) bought Georgia Championship Wrestling, Inc. The National Champion at the time of the sale was The Spoiler (Don Jardine). Spoiler went to work for the WWF and was briefly recognized by that company as National Heavyweight Champion.

Meanwhile, a rival group with NWA sanctioning began in Georgia. This group was called Championship Wrestling from Georgia. They awarded the NWA National Heavyweight Championship to Ted DiBiase.

In 1985, Jim Crockett Promotions purchased the TBS Saturday night and Sunday night television slots from the WWF and began production on a new era of "World Championship Wrestling." JCP essentially consolidated Championship Wrestling from Georgia (taking over that group's Saturday morning time slot as well) and began to recognize their championships.

Eventually Crockett held a unification match between his company's United States Champion and the National Champion. The U.S. champion won and that version of the National title was abandoned.[1]

Beginning in 1997, the NWA Board of Directors reactivated the NWA National Heavyweight Championship. Unlike its original incarnation, the revived NWA National Heavyweight Championship is defended in various NWA affiliated promotions throughout the United States.

The NWA National Heavyweight Championship is the third most prestigious heavyweight title in the NWA behind the North American and World Heavyweight Championships.

The current champion is Damien Wayne, who is in his third reign as champion. He won the title by defeating Greg Anthony on November 19, 2016 in Gallatin, Tennessee.


Title history

No. Wrestler Reign Date Days Held Location Notes Ref.
Original version (1980–1986)
1 Austin Idol 1 January 12, 1980 221 Atlanta, Georgia Also defeated Mr. Wrestling II to win the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship on March 29, 1980 in Atlanta, Georgia.
— Vacated — August 20, 1980 Vacated for unknown reasons.
2 Jack Brisco 1 October 10, 1980 57 Atlanta, Georgia Defeated Terry Funk in a tournament final.
3 Mongolian Stomper 1 December 6, 1980 113 Atlanta, Georgia
4 Steve Olsonoski 1 March 29, 1981 139 Atlanta, Georgia
5 Masked Superstar 1 August 15, 1981 44 Columbus, Georgia On September 19, 1981, the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship was unified with the National Heavyweight Championship.
6 Tommy Rich 1 September 28, 1981 59 Augusta, Georgia
7 Masked Superstar 2 November 26, 1981 52 Atlanta, Georgia
8 Tommy Rich 2 January 17, 1982 57 Atlanta, Georgia
9 Ron Bass 1 March 15, 1982 35 Augusta, Georgia
10 Tommy Rich 3 April 19, 1982 13 Augusta, Georgia
11 Buzz Sawyer 1 May 2, 1982 49 Atlanta, Georgia
12 Paul Orndorff 1 June 20, 1982 40 Atlanta, Georgia
— Vacated — July 30, 1982 Orndorff vacated the title in order to focus on a challenge to NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair
13 Super Destroyer 1 August 29, 1982 35 Atlanta, Georgia Won a tournament to win the vacant title.
14 Paul Orndorff 2 October 3, 1982 14 Atlanta, Georgia
15 Masked Superstar 3 October 17, 1982 31 Atlanta, Georgia
16 Paul Orndorff 3 November 17, 1982 Atlanta, Georgia
17 Killer Karl Kox 1 December 1982
18 Tommy Rich 4 February 1983
19 Paul Orndorff 4 March 1983
20 Killer Tim Brooks 1 March 20, 1983 <1 Atlanta, Georgia
21 Larry Zbyszko 1 March 20, 1983 41 Atlanta, Georgia Bought the title from Brooks for $25,000
— Vacated — April 30, 1983 Zbyszko was stripped of the title by NWA President Bob Geigel for buying it.
22 Larry Zbyszko 2 June 5, 1983 14 Atlanta, Georgia Defeated Mr. Wrestling II in a tournament final to win the vacant title.
23 Mr. Wrestling II 1 June 19, 1983 28
24 Larry Zbyszko 3 July 17, 1983 70 Atlanta, Georgia
25 Brett Wayne 1 September 25, 1983 54 Atlanta, Georgia
26 Ted DiBiase 1 November 18, 1983 92 Cleveland, Ohio
27 Brad Armstrong 1 February 18, 1984 54 Atlanta, Georgia Wrestled under a mask as "Mr. R"(thought to be Tommy Rich under the mask) and pinned DiBiase to win the title when DiBiase was distracted by Rich standing at the announcers' podium at ringside.
28 The Spoiler 1 April 12, 1984 22 Wheeling, West Virginia
29 Brad Armstrong 2 May 4, 1984 58 Marietta, Georgia
30 The Spoiler 2 July 1, 1984 13 Atlanta, Georgia
31 Ted DiBiase 2 July 14, 1984 89 Macon, Georgia This was a phantom match after The Spoiler went to the World Wrestling Federation.
32 Ron Garvin 1 October 11, 1984 233 Baltimore, Maryland
33 Black Bart 1 June 1, 1985 113 Atlanta, Georgia The match also had a Loser Leaves Town stipulation
34 Terry Taylor 1 September 22, 1985 67 Atlanta, Georgia
35 Buddy Landel 1 November 28, 1985 21 Greensboro, North Carolina Won at Starrcade.
36 Dusty Rhodes 1 December 19, 1985 75 Albuquerque New Mexico Rhodes was awarded the title in a phantom match after Landel was fired due to his drug problem.
37 Tully Blanchard 1 March 4, 1986 177 Spartanburg, South Carolina
38 Wahoo McDaniel 1 August 28, 1986 31 Los Angeles, California
39 Nikita Koloff 1 September 28, 1986 <1 Atlanta, Georgia
— Retired — September 28, 1986 Atlanta, Georgia The title was unified with the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, which Koloff won from Magnum T.A. on August 17, 1986 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Revived version (1997–)
40 Big Slam 1 May 17, 1997 62 Title was awarded after the NWA revived it.
41 Salvatore Sincere 1 July 18, 1997 85 Raeford, North Carolina
— Vacated — October 11, 1997 Vacated for unknown reasons.
42 Doug Gilbert 1 March 27, 1998 148 Mount Holly, New Jersey Defeated Barry Windham and Rocco Rock in a three-way match to win the vacant title.
43 Stevie Richards 1 August 22, 1998 63 Mount Holly, New Jersey
44 Doug Gilbert 2 October 24, 1998 448 Cherry Hill, New Jersey Won the title in an eight-man tag team steel cage match at the NWA 50th Anniversary Show.
45 Don Brodie 1 January 15, 2000 90 Memphis, Tennessee
46 Kevin Northcutt 1 April 14, 2000 152 North Richland Hills, Texas
47 Stone Mountain 1 September 13, 2000 52 Athens, Georgia
48 Terry Knight 1 November 4, 2000 69 Cornelia, Georgia Defeated Jesse Taylor on November 18, 2000 in Cornelia, Georgia to unify the NWA Wildside United States Heavyweight Championship.
49 Don Brodie 2 January 12, 2001 222 Greenville, Mississippi
— Vacated — August 2001 Title vacated after Brodie is injured in an automobile accident.
50 Kevin Northcutt 2 August 22, 2001 52 Northcutt was awarded the title.
51 Hotstuff Hernandez 1 October 13, 2001 455 St. Petersburg, Florida Won the title at the NWA 53rd Anniversary Show. On May 5, 2002, Shinya Hashimoto defeated Hernandez in a title match in Tokyo. The title was returned to Hernandez after Hashimoto refused it. The NWA later claimed that Hashimoto and Hernandez's match in Japan was not for the title.
52 Ricky Murdock 1 January 11, 2003 643 Greenville, Mississippi Also won the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship on October 10, 2003, defeating Shane Somers at the NWA 55th Anniversary Show in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
53 Spyder 1 October 15, 2004 358 Winnipeg, Manitoba Won the title at the NWA 56th Anniversary Show.
— Vacated — October 8, 2005 — Nashville, Tennessee Spyder stripped of the title when he no-shows a title defense.
54 Ricky Murdock 2 October 8, 2005 357 Nashville, Tennessee Defeated Conscience and The Juggulator in a three-way match at the NWA 57th Anniversary Show to win the vacant title.
— Vacated — March 31, 2006 — Lebanon, Tennessee Title held up after a match against Big Bully Douglas, due to interference from Kory Williams.
55 Big Bully Douglas 1 April 1, 2006 182 Columbia, Tennessee Defeated Murdock in a rematch to win the held up title.
56 Kory Williams 1 September 30, 2006 217 Lebanon, Tennessee
57 Chance Prophet 1 May 5, 2007 160 Salyersville, Kentucky
— Vacated — October 12, 2007 — Stripped of the title by the NWA Board of Directors due to injury.
58 Pepper Parks 1 October 20, 2007 90 Lebanon, Tennessee Defeats Kory Williams in a match to determine the new champion.
59 Crusher Hansen 1 April 18, 2008 249 McKeesport, Pennsylvania
60 Brandon K 1 December 13, 2008 4 McKeesport, Pennsylvania
61 Crusher Hansen 2 December 17, 2008 31 McKeesport, Pennsylvania
62 Phill Shatter 1 January 19, 2009 763 McKeesport, Pennsylvania
63 Chance Prophet 2 February 19, 2011 404 Franklinville, New Jersey
64 Kahagas 1 March 29, 2012 230 Miami, Florida NWA Ring Warriors Battle of the Belts
— Vacated — November 14, 2012 — Title vacated after Kahagas wins the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. [2]
65 Damien Wayne 1 January 5, 2013 160 Nashville, North Carolina Defeated Chance Prophet and Lance Erikson in a three-way match to fill the vacant title. [3]
66 Vordell Walker 1 June 14, 2013 49 Millersville, Tennessee [4]
67 Damien Wayne 2 August 2, 2013 43 Millersville, Tennessee [5]
68 Nitro 1 September 14, 2013 168 Toledo, Ohio
69 Lou Marconi 1 March 1, 2014 21 Williamston, NC
70 Nitro 2 March 22, 2014 1 Hillsdale, MI
71 Lou Marconi 2 March 23, 2014 13 Toledo, OH
72 Nitro 3 April 5, 2014 98 Carolina Beach, NC
73 Lou Marconi 3 July 7, 2014 214 Carolina Beach, NC
74 Jax Dane 1 February 6, 2015 112 Millersville, TN From April 12, Dane holds the National and North American championships. NWA allows him to defend both titles together. [6]
— Vacated — May 28, 2015 — Dane forfeits both of his titles due to injury.
75 Arrick Andrews 1 July 11, 2015 175 Cookeville, TN Defeats Chase Owens in an eight-man tournament final. [7]
— Vacated — January 2, 2016 — Andrews announced that he had suffered a knee injury in a hunting accident that would keep him out of wrestling for 8 months, and forfeited the title. A battle royal was set for January 9 to fill the vacancy.
76 John Saxon 1 January 9, 2016 21 Dyersburg, TN Won a battle royal for the vacant title.
77 Greg Anthony 1 January 30, 2016 154 Dyersburg, TN
78 Mustang Mike Beadle 1 July 2, 2016 67 Morgan City, LA This was a steel cage match.
79 Greg Anthony 2 July 9, 2016 70 Dyersburg, Tennessee
80 Jake Logan 1 September 17, 2016 42 Amarillo, Texas
81 Greg Anthony 3 October 29, 2016 21 Dyersburg, Tennessee
82 Damien Wayne 3 November 19, 2016 26+ Gallatin, Tennessee

Combined reigns

As of December 15, 2016.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  2. ↑ Martin, Adam (2012-11-14). "NWA Heavyweight Title once again vacated on 11/2". WrestleView. Retrieved 2012-11-14.
  3. ↑ Martin, Adam (2013-01-06). "New NWA Champion crowned this weekend". WrestleView. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
  4. ↑ "Vordell Walker wins NWA National Heavyweight Title". gerweck.net. 2013-06-15. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  5. ↑ "BREAKING NEWS: Damien Wayne Regains National Title". Alliance-Wrestling.com. 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  6. ↑ Caldwell, James (2015-02-07). "NWA news: Former TNA KO captures Women's Title, Jax captures Nat'l Title, Conway defends NWA World Title, two big title matches at NJPW's "New Beginning" next week". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
  7. ↑ "New NWA National Champion Crowned at last nights NWA SAW Event!". NWA Ringside. 2015-07-12. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
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