Professional wrestling championship
The WCWA World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship promoted by the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area–based World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA). The championship was originally created in June 1966 by WCWA's predecessor NWA Big Time Wrestling (BTW), billed as the local version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship before being renamed the NWA American Heavyweight Championship in May 1968.[1] In 1982, Big Time Wrestling rebranded themselves as "World Class Championship Wrestling" (WCCW) and the championship was renamed the WCCW American Heavyweight Championship .[2] In 1986 WCCW withdrew from the National Wrestling Alliance , creating the World Class Wrestling Association, replacing the WCCW American Heavyweight Championship with the WCWA Heavyweight Championship, replacing the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship as the top title recognized by the promotion.[2] In 1989, the WCWA championship was unified with the AWA World Heavyweight Championship to become the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship as WCWA merged with the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) to become the United States Wrestling Association .[3] In 1990 WCWA split from the USWA, but the promotion folded without determining a WCWA World Heavyweight Champion. As it is a professional wrestling championship, the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship was not won by actual competition, but by a scripted ending to a match.[a]
The first recognized Texas based NWA United States Champion was Fritz Von Erich , introducing the championship to his Southwest Sports promotion as the top championship in his territory.[1] [b] Fritz Von Erich would go on to win the championship a record setting 20 times. At the time it was not unusual for the promoter, if he was also an active wrestler, to hold the championship multiple times, being that he would always be available to work shows and face off against various "outsiders". Fritz' last reign was on June 4, 1982 – 16 years after his first title victory.[1] Rick Rude was the last WCCW American Heavyweight Champion and announced as the first WCWA World Heavyweight Champion on February 21, 1986.[1] [2] Jerry Lawler was the final champion, winning it on April 14, 1989, followed by the announcement that the championship had been unified with the AWA World Heavyweight Champion in September 1990.[3] The longest confirmed reign, Fritz Von Erich's fifth reign over all, lasted from March 27, 1967 to April 5, 1968 for a total of 375 days.[1] [2] Von Erich's final reign was also the shortest in history, as he vacated moments after winning it in the main event of the Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show .[5] [6] With his last title victory Fritz became the oldest champion, at 52 years of age. Fritz's second-youngest son, Mike Von Erich , was the youngest champion at just (20 years, 5 months, 2 days).[1] [2] At 200 lb (91 kg), Mike was the lightest champion, while King Kong Bundy , tipping the scale at 450 lb (200 kg) was the heaviest.
Title history
Key
No.
Overall reign number
Reign
Reign number for the specific champion
Days
Number of days held
No.
Champion
Championship change
Reign statistics
Notes
Ref.
Date
Event
Location
Reign
Days
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Texas version)
1
Fritz Von Erich
June 6, 1966
House show
Texas
1
3
Defeated Brute Bernard to become the first champion
[1]
Johnny Valentine
June 9, 1966
House show
Texas
1
56
[1]
3
Fritz Von Erich
August 4, 1966
House show
Texas
2
133
[1]
Championship history is unrecorded from August 4, 1966 to December 15, 1966 .
4
Fritz Von Erich
December 15, 1966
House show
Texas
3
97
[1]
4
Brute Bernard
March 1967
House show
Texas
1
5
Sometime after March 22, 1967
[1]
5
Fritz Von Erich
March 27, 1967
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
4
375
[1]
6
The Spoiler
April 5, 1968
House show
Houston, Texas
1
[c]
[1]
—
Vacated
April 1968
—
—
—
—
Title held up due to interference by manager Gary Hart
[1]
NWA American Heavyweight Championship
7
Fritz Von Erich
June 3, 1968
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
5
[c]
Won rematch
[1]
8
Kenji Shibuya
1968
House show
Texas
1
[d]
[1]
9
Fritz Von Erich
July 26, 1968
House show
Houston, Texas
6
258
[1]
10
Baron Von Raschke
April 10, 1969
House show
N/A
1
19
[1]
11
Fritz Von Erich
April 29, 1969
House show
N/A
7
3
[1]
12
Johnny Valentine
May 2, 1969
House show
Houston, Texas
2
[e]
[1]
13
Fritz Von Erich
June 1969
House show
N/A
8
[c]
[1]
14
Johnny Valentine
June 9, 1969
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
3
56
[1]
15
Fritz Von Erich
August 4, 1969
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
9
1
[1]
—
Vacated
August 5, 1969
—
—
—
—
Title held up after match against Johnny Valentine in Dallas, Texas because of the interference of Wahoo McDaniel
[1]
16
Fritz Von Erich
October 21, 1969
House show
Dallas, Texas
10
94
Won rematch against Johnny Valentine
[1]
17
Johnny Valentine
January 23, 1970
House show
Houston, Texas
4
21
[1]
18
Fritz Von Erich
February 13, 1970
House show
Houston, Texas
11
94
[1]
19
Boris Malenko
May 18, 1970
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
1
15
Defeated Mil Máscaras in tournament final
[1]
20
Fritz Von Erich
June 2, 1970
House show
Dallas, Texas
12
[c]
Defeats Great Malenko
[1]
21
Baron von Raschke
June 1970
House show
Texas
2
[c]
[1]
22
Fritz Von Erich
June 14, 1970
House show
Texas
13
187
[1]
23
Toru Tanaka
December 18, 1970
House show
Houston, Texas
1
66
[1]
24
Fritz Von Erich
February 22, 1971
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
14
1
[1] [7]
25
Toru Tanaka
February 23, 1971
House show
Dallas, Texas
2
10
[1]
26
Wahoo McDaniel
March 5, 1971
House show
Houston, Texas
1
281
[1] [8]
27
The Spoiler
December 11, 1971
House show
San Antonio, Texas
2
196
[1]
28
Billy Red Lyons
June 24, 1972
Parade of Champions
Irving, Texas
1
14
[1]
29
Johnny Valentine
July 8, 1972
House show
Corpus Christi, Texas
5
237
[1]
30
The Missouri Mauler
March 2, 1973
House show
Chicago, Illinois
1
158
Awarded when Valentine goes to Japan
[1]
31
Fritz Von Erich
August 7, 1973
House show
Dallas, Texas
15
231
[1]
32
The Texan
March 26, 1974
House show
Dallas, Texas
1
21
[1]
33
Fritz Von Erich
April 16, 1974
House show
Dallas, Texas
16
228
[1]
34
Vacant
November 30, 1974
House show
Dallas, Texas
2
After a match against Blackjack Lanza
[1]
35
Blackjack Lanza
December 2, 1974
House show
Texas
1
27
[1]
36
Fritz Von Erich
December 29, 1974
House show
Dallas, Texas
17
736
[1]
37
Bruiser Brody
January 3, 1977
House show
Atlanta, Georgia
1
99
[1]
38
Fritz Von Erich
April 12, 1977
House show
Dallas, Texas
18
1
[1]
39
Bruiser Brody
April 13, 1977
House show
Dallas, Texas
2
103
[1]
40
Captain USA
July 25, 1977
House show
Fort Worth, Texas
1
67
[1] [9]
41
Ox Baker
September 30, 1977
House show
Houston, Texas
1
73
[1]
42
Fritz Von Erich
December 12, 1977
House show
Fort Worth, Texas
19
273
[1]
43
Bruiser Brody
September 11, 1978
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
3
105
[1]
44
Kevin Von Erich
December 25, 1978
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
1
97
[1]
45
The Spoiler
April 1, 1979
House show
Puerto Rico
3
42
[1]
46
Wahoo McDaniel
May 13, 1979
House show
Houston, Texas
2
20
[1] [10]
47
The Spoiler
June 2, 1979
House show
Houston, Texas
4
64
Awarded due to injury to Wahoo McDaniel
[1] [11]
48
El Halcón
August 5, 1979
House show
Dallas, Texas
1
63
[1]
49
The Spoiler
October 7, 1979
House show
Dallas, Texas
5
54
[1]
50
Bruiser Brody
November 30, 1979
House show
Houston, Texas
4
33
[1]
51
Ox Baker
January 2, 1980
House show
San Francisco, California
2
10
[1] [12]
52
Kevin Von Erich
January 12, 1980
House show
Dallas, Texas
2
99
[1]
53
Toru Tanaka
April 20, 1980
House show
Dallas, Texas
3
8
[1]
54
Kevin Von Erich
April 28, 1980
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
3
21
[1]
55
Gino Hernandez
May 19, 1980
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
1
74
[1]
56
El Halcón
August 1, 1980
House show
Houston, Texas
2
14
[1]
57
Gino Hernandez
August 15, 1980
House show
Houston, Texas
2
127
[1]
—
Vacated
December 20, 1980
—
—
—
—
Title held up after match against Kevin Von Erich
[1]
58
Kerry Von Erich
December 28, 1980
House show
Dallas, Texas
1
[f]
Subbed for injured Kevin and won rematch against Hernandez
[1]
59
Ken Patera
1981
House show
Texas
1
[c]
[1]
60
The Masked Superstar
1981
House show
Texas
1
[c]
[1]
61
Kerry Von Erich
1981
House show
Texas
2
[c]
[1]
62
Ernie Ladd
May 11, 1981
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
1
24
[1] [13]
63
Kerry Von Erich
June 4, 1981
House show
New Orleans, Louisiana
3
113
[1]
64
The Great Kabuki
September 25, 1981
House show
Lawton, Oklahoma
1
92
[1]
65
Bugsy McGraw
December 26, 1981
House show
Columbus, Ohio
1
72
[1]
WCCW American Heavyweight Championship
66
Kerry Von Erich
March 8, 1982
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
4
58
[1]
67
King Kong Bundy
May 5, 1982
N/A
Lawton, Oklahoma
1
30
[1] [14]
68
Fritz Von Erich
June 4, 1982
Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show
Irving, Texas
20
0
[1] [5] [6]
—
Vacated
June 4, 1982
—
—
—
—
Fritz won the title in his retirement match and vacated it immediately
[1] [5] [6]
69
King Kong Bundy
June 15, 1982
House show
N/A
2
82
Awarded when Fritz retired
[1]
70
Kevin Von Erich
September 5, 1982
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
4
138
[1] [15]
71
Terry Gordy
January 21, 1983
House show
Dallas, Texas
1
42
[1]
72
Kevin Von Erich
March 4, 1983
House show
Dallas, Texas
5
129
[1]
—
Vacated
July 11, 1983
House show
—
—
—
Title held up after match against Jimmy Garvin
[1]
73
Jimmy Garvin
July 25, 1983
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
1
122
Won rematch[9]
[9]
74
Chris Adams
November 24, 1983
Thanksgiving Star Wars
Dallas, Texas
1
31
[1] [16] [17]
75
Jimmy Garvin
December 25, 1983
Christmas Star Wars
Dallas, Texas
2
36
[1] [18]
76
Chris Adams
January 30, 1984
Wrestling Star Wars
Ft. Worth, Texas
2
63
[1] [19]
77
Jimmy Garvin
April 2, 1984
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
3
2
[1]
78
Chris Adams
April 4, 1984
House show
Texas
3
[c]
[1]
79
Jimmy Garvin
April 1984
House show
Texas
4
18
[1]
80
Gino Hernandez
May 18, 1984
House show
San Juan, Puerto Rico
3
77
[1]
81
Mike Von Erich
August 3, 1984
House show
Dallas, Texas
1
31
[1]
82
Gino Hernandez
September 3, 1984
Labor Day Star Wars
Ft. Worth, Texas
4
56
[20]
[1] [21]
83
Kerry Von Erich
October 29, 1984
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
5
102
[1]
84
Chris Adams
February 8, 1985
House show
Dallas, Texas
4
147
Aired February 16, 1985 on WCCW Episode #164
[1]
85
Iceman King Parsons
July 5, 1985
House show
Dallas, Texas
1
122
[1]
86
Rick Rude
November 4, 1985
House show
Ft. Worth, Texas
1
242
Rude is announced as the "new WCWA World Champion" before his match at the February 21, 1986 TV taping in Dallas. On the 3/1/86 episode of WCCW (Episode #218), a press conference airs with WCWA representative Ken Mantell declaring Rude as WCWA World Champion and stating the title would change hands via disqualification or referee's decision after a time limit draw
[2]
WCWA World Heavyweight Championship (February 21, 1986)
87
Chris Adams
July 4, 1986
Independence Day Star Wars
Dallas, Texas
5
77
Highlights aired on WCCW Episode #237
[2] [22]
88
Black Bart
September 19, 1986
House show
Dallas, Texas
1
23
Adams leaves the company and Bart is introduced as the new champion at this WCCW TV taping during a ringside interview with Bill Mercer, who states Bart "won the title out on the West Coast" (Los Angeles). Aired on WCCW Episode #248
[2]
89
Kevin Von Erich
October 12, 1986
3rd Cotton Bowl Extravaganza
Dallas, Texas
6
313
Cotton Bowl event. Matched aired on WCCW Episode #251
[2] [23] [24]
90
Al Perez
August 21, 1987
House show
Dallas, Texas
1
198
Won by forfeit
[2]
91
Kerry Von Erich
March 6, 1988
House show
Dallas, Texas
6
19
[2]
92
Iceman King Parsons
March 25, 1988
House show
Dallas, Texas
2
44
[2]
93
Kerry Von Erich
May 8, 1988
5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions
Irving, Texas
7
168
[25]
[2] [26] [27]
94
Jerry Lawler
October 23, 1988
House show
Memphis, Tennessee
1
12
[2]
95
Kerry Von Erich
November 4, 1988
House show
Dallas, Texas
8
35
[2]
96
Tatsumi Fujinami
December 9, 1988
House show
Tokyo, Japan
1
1
Von Erich was bleeding too heavily to continue
[2]
97
Kerry Von Erich
December 10, 1988
House show
N/A
9
3
Title returned when Fujinami refuses it because of ending
[2]
98
Jerry Lawler
December 13, 1988
SuperClash III
Chicago, Illinois
2
113
Lawler was the reigning AWA World Heavyweight Champion . He defeats Kerry Von Erich to win the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship. This results in the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship being formed. In January 1989, he was stripped of the AWA title by the AWA, ending the AWA title's connection with the USWA Unified World Heavyweight title. Lawler continued to be recognized as the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion by the USWA
[2] [28] [29]
—
Vacated
April 5, 1989
House show
—
—
—
The WCWA World Heavyweight Championship is held up after the match against Kerry Von Erich. Regardless, the USWA continued to recognize the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship
[2]
99
Jerry Lawler
April 14, 1989
House show
N/A
3
[g]
Lawler defeats Kerry Von Erich to win the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship again. Lawler claims to still be champion in AWA and wins the USWA Unified World Heavyweight title on April 25
[2]
—
Deactivated
September 1990
—
—
—
—
World Class Championship Wrestling ends business relationship with USWA, ending the WCWA title's connection with the USWA Unified World Heavyweight title. World Class Championship Wrestling later closes down. Regardless, the USWA continued to recognize the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship
See also
Explanatory notes
^ Hornbaker (2016) p. 550: "Professional wrestling is a sport in which match finishes are predetermined. Thus, win–loss records are not indicative of a wrestler's genuine success based on their legitimate abilities – but on now much, or how little they were pushed by promoters"
^ The NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship was recognized by all NWA territories as the champion would travel the US to visit the promotions.
^ a b c d e f g h i The length of the reign is uncertain
^ One of the dates for this championship is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 52 days.
^ One of the dates for this championship is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 30 and 37 days.
^ One of the dates for this championship is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 4 and 131 days.
^ One of the dates for this championship is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 505 and 534 days.
References
General references
Hornbaker, Tim (2016). "Statistical notes". Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 years of headlocks, body slams, and piledrivers (Revised ed.). New York: Sports Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61321-808-2 .
Citations
^ 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 ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (1967-1968/05) - American Heavyweight Title (1968/05-1986/02)" . Wrestling-Titles . Retrieved December 26, 2019 .
^ 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 "WCWA World Heavyweight Title" . Wrestling-Titles . Retrieved December 26, 2019 .
^ a b "Unified World Heavyweight Title [United States Wrestling Association]" . Wrestling-Titles . Retrieved March 28, 2017 .
^ a b c "Texas Stadium 1982 Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show" . Pro Wrestling History. June 4, 1982. Retrieved April 10, 2015 .
^ a b c "Historical Cards: Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show (June 4, 1982. Irving, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts . Kappa Publications. p. 172. 2007 Edition.
^ Hoops, Brian (February 22, 2017). "Daily pro wrestling history (02/22): Sting defeats Hogan to win vacant WCW title" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 27, 2017 .
^ Hoops, Brian (March 5, 2017). "Daily Pro Wrestling History (03/05): The Hardy Boyz win WWF tag team gold" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved March 5, 2017 .
^ a b c Hoops, Brian (July 26, 2015). "On this day in history - Demon Vs. Santo, Gagne Vs. Kiniski" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017 .
^ Hoops, Brian (May 13, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 13): Rick Martel wins AWA gold, Kurt Angle wins TNA title, Nash & Hall beat one man to win tag titles" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017 .
^ Hoops, Brian (June 2, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (June 2): Hogan beats Inoki to win 1st IWGP tourney, HTM's Intercontinental title reign begins" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017 .
^ Hoops, Brian (January 12, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/12): The Outsiders win WCW Tag team titles" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved January 18, 2019 .
^ Hoops, Brian (May 11, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 11): Von Erichs vs. Verne & Don Leo Jonathan, Shane Douglas vs 2 Cold Scorpio" . Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved March 21, 2020 .
^ F4W Staff (May 5, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 5): Bruno Vs. Gorilla in Puerto Rico, 2nd annual Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017 .
^ Hoops, Brian (September 5, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history: Gagne vs. Crusher loser leaves town, Von Erichs vs. Freebirds, Young Bucks vs. Machine Guns" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 16, 2017 .
^ "Thanksgiving Star Wars" . Pro Wrestling History. November 24, 1983.
^ Hoops, Brian (November 24, 2019). "Daily Pro Wrestling history (11/24): The First Starcade" . Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved November 24, 2019 .
^ "Christmas Star Wars" . Pro Wrestling History. December 25, 1983.
^ "Wrestling Star Wars" . Pro Wrestling History. January 30, 1984.
^ Hoops, Brian (September 3, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (Sept. 3): Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk Texas Death Match, Great Muta vs. Sting, Ted DiBiase and Stan Hansen wins AJPW tag titles" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017 .
^ "Labor Day Star Wars" . Pro Wrestling History. September 3, 1984.
^ "Independence Day Star Wars" . Pro Wrestling History. July 4, 1986.
^ "3rd Cotton Bowl Extravaganza" . Pro Wrestling History. October 12, 1986. Retrieved April 10, 2015 .
^ "Historical Cards: 3rd Cotton Bowl Extravaganza (October 12, 1986. Dallas, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts . Kappa Publications. p. 172. 2007 Edition.
^ Hoops, Brian (May 8, 2017). "Daily Pro Wrestling History (05/08): Edge wins WWE title" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved May 9, 2017 .
^ "Historical Cards: Parade of Champions 5 (May 8, 1988. Irving, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts . Kappa Publications. p. 173. 2007 Edition.
^ "5th Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions" . Pro Wrestling History . May 8, 1988. Retrieved April 10, 2015 .
^ "Historical Cards". 2007 Wrestling Almanac and Book of Facts . Kappa Publications. p. 159. 2007 Edition.
^ "SuperClash III" . Pro Wrestling History. December 13, 1988. Retrieved April 4, 2015 .