No. |
Champion |
Championship change |
Reign statistics |
Notes |
Ref. |
Date |
Event |
Location |
Reign |
Days
|
1 |
Buddy Rogers |
May 1957 (NLT) |
|
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 2] |
House show |
[1][2]
|
| Championship history is unrecorded from May 1957 to April 1958.
|
2 |
Mighty Atlas |
April 1958 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 3] |
|
[1][2]
|
3 |
Tor Yamata |
April 24, 1958 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 2] |
|
[1][2]
|
| Championship history is unrecorded from April 24, 1958 to July 1971.
|
4 |
Len Rossi |
July 1971 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 2] |
|
[1][2]
|
| Championship history is unrecorded from July 1971 to June 1972.
|
5 |
Tony Charles |
June 1972 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 2] |
|
[1][2]
|
| Championship history is unrecorded from June 1972 to October 1974.
|
6 |
Don Kent |
October 1974 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 4] |
|
[1][2]
|
7 |
Jackie Fargo |
January 4, 1975 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 5] |
|
[1][2]
|
8 |
Don Kent |
January 1975 |
House show |
[Note 1] |
2 |
[Note 6] |
|
[1][2]
|
9 |
Luke Graham |
February 5, 1975 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 7] |
|
[1][2]
|
10 |
Don Kent |
April 1975 |
House show |
Louisville, Kentucky |
3 |
[Note 8] |
|
[1][2]
|
11 |
Luke Graham |
May 7, 1975 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
2 |
[Note 9] |
|
[1][2][3]
|
| Championship history is unrecorded from May 7, 1975 to 1975.
|
12 |
Harley Race |
1975 |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 10] |
|
[1][2]
|
13 |
Magnificent Zulu |
September 1975 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 11] |
|
[1][2]
|
14 |
Harley Race |
September 9, 1975 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
[Note 12] |
|
[1][2]
|
| Championship history is unrecorded from September 9, 1975 to December 1975.
|
15 |
Jackie Fargo |
December 1975 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
2 |
[Note 13] |
|
[1][2]
|
| Championship history is unrecorded from December 1975 to March 1976.
|
16 |
Dick Steinborn |
March 1976 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 14] |
|
[1][2]
|
| Championship history is unrecorded from March 1976 to June 1976.
|
17 |
Bill Dundee |
June 1976 (NLT) |
House show |
Seymour, Indiana |
1 |
[Note 15] |
|
[1][2]
|
18 |
Bob Armstrong |
August 14, 1976 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 16] |
|
[1][2]
|
19 |
Big Bad John |
September 1976 |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 17] |
|
[1][2]
|
20 |
Bob Armstrong |
September 25, 1976 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
2 |
[Note 18] |
|
[1][2]
|
21 |
Bill Dundee |
October 1976 |
House show |
[Note 1] |
2 |
[Note 19] |
|
[1][2]
|
22 |
Tommy Rich |
November 1976 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 20] |
|
[1][2]
|
23 |
Russian Stomper |
January 1977 |
House show |
Madison, Indiana |
1 |
[Note 21] |
|
[1][2]
|
24 |
Ken Lucas |
February 13, 1977 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
61 |
|
[1][2]
|
25 |
The Executioner |
April 15, 1977 |
House show |
Huntsville, Alabama |
1 |
43 |
|
[1][2]
|
26 |
Jackie Fargo |
May 28, 1977 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
3 |
[Note 22] |
|
[1][2][4]
|
— |
Vacated |
1977 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Jackie Fargo was injured |
[1][2]
|
27 |
Lanny Poffo |
October 9, 1977 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
62 |
Defeated Dennis Hall in a tournament final to win the vacant title. |
[1][2]
|
28 |
Don Kent |
December 10, 1977 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
4 |
24 |
|
[1][2]
|
29 |
Randy Savage |
January 3, 1978 |
House show |
Birmingham, Alabama |
1 |
82 |
|
[1][2]
|
30 |
Dutch Mantel |
March 26, 1978 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
56 |
|
[1][2]
|
31 |
Don Garfield |
May 21, 1978 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
7 |
Vacated after a match against Dutch Mantel |
[1][2]
|
32 |
Dutch Mantel |
May 28, 1978 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
2 |
45 |
|
[1][2][4]
|
33 |
Whipper Watson Jr. |
July 12, 1978 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
1 |
10 |
|
[1][2][5]
|
34 |
Dutch Mantel |
July 22, 1978 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
3 |
21 |
|
[1][2]
|
35 |
Blue Yankee |
August 12, 1978 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 23] |
|
[1][2]
|
— |
Vacated |
September 1978 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Vacated after a match against Dutch Mantel |
[1][2]
|
36 |
Mexican Angel |
September 20, 1978 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
1 |
52 |
Won a 13-man tournament to win the vacant title. |
[1][2]
|
37 |
Dutch Mantel |
November 11, 1978 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
4 |
0 |
|
[1][2]
|
38 |
Randy Savage |
November 11, 1978 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
2 |
[Note 24] |
|
[1][2]
|
39 |
Bobby Eaton |
February 1979 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 25] |
|
[1][2]
|
40 |
Chris Colt |
April 29, 1979 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
1 |
24 |
|
[1][2]
|
41 |
Ron Garfield |
May 23, 1979 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
1 |
10 |
|
[1][2]
|
42 |
Dennis Condrey |
June 2, 1979 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
140 |
Defeated Gorgeous George Jr. |
[1][2][6]
|
43 |
Dutch Mantel |
October 20, 1979 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
5 |
4 |
|
[1][2]
|
44 |
Bobby Eaton |
October 24, 1979 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
2 |
32 |
|
[1][2]
|
45 |
Chris Colt |
November 25, 1979 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
2 |
[Note 26] |
|
[1][2]
|
46 |
Bobby Eaton |
December 1979 |
House show |
Miami, Florida |
3 |
[Note 27] |
|
[1][2]
|
47 |
Gorgeous George Jr. |
February 17, 1980 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 28] |
|
[1][2]
|
48 |
Bobby Eaton |
February 1980 |
House show |
Madison, Indiana |
4 |
[Note 29] |
|
[1][2]
|
49 |
Tojo Yamamoto |
February 1980 |
House show |
Versailles, Indiana |
1 |
[Note 30] |
|
[1][2]
|
50 |
Steve Travis |
April 1980 (NLT) |
House show |
Lexington, Kentucky |
1 |
[Note 31] |
|
[1][2]
|
51 |
Roger Mason |
April 5, 1980 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
35 |
|
[1][2]
|
52 |
Rocky Johnson |
May 10, 1980 |
House show |
Chattanooga, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 32] |
|
[1][2]
|
53 |
The Great Togo |
May 1980 |
House show |
Louisville, Kentucky |
1 |
[Note 33] |
|
[1][2]
|
54 |
Robert Gibson |
June 25, 1980 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
1 |
28 |
|
[1][2]
|
55 |
Bobby Eaton |
July 23, 1980 |
House show |
Nashville, Tennessee |
5 |
[Note 34] |
|
[1][2]
|
— |
Vacated |
October 1980 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
NWA Mid-America ceases to operate, Jerry Jarrett gains control of the championship |
[1][2]
|
| Revived the title in Continental Wrestling Association
|
56 |
Ron Bass |
July 1981 |
House show |
Seymour, Indiana |
1 |
[Note 35] |
Awarded the championship. |
[1][2]
|
57 |
Steve Keirn |
July 6, 1981 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
49 |
|
[1][2]
|
58 |
Bugsy McGraw |
August 24, 1981 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
14 |
|
[1][2]
|
59 |
Steve Keirn |
September 7, 1981 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
14 |
|
[1][2]
|
60 |
Dutch Mantel |
September 21, 1981 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
6 |
35 |
|
[1][2]
|
— |
Vacated |
October 26, 1981 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Vacated and inactive after Mantel won the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship |
[1][2]
|
61 |
The Dream Machine |
April 19, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
28 |
|
[1][2]
|
62 |
Dutch Mantel |
May 17, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
7 |
7 |
|
[1][2]
|
63 |
Bobby Eaton |
May 24, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
6 |
7 |
|
[1][2]
|
64 |
King Cobra |
May 31, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
35 |
|
[1][2]
|
65 |
Dutch Mantel |
July 5, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
8 |
7 |
|
[1][2]
|
66 |
Bobby Eaton |
July 12, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
7 |
[Note 36] |
|
[1][2][5]
|
67 |
Bill Dundee |
July 1982 |
House show |
Indianapolis, Indiana |
3 |
[Note 37] |
|
[1][2]
|
68 |
Dutch Mantel |
September 6, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
9 |
70 |
|
[1][2]
|
69 |
Jesse Barr |
November 15, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
7 |
|
[1][2]
|
70 |
Dutch Mantel |
November 22, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
10 |
7 |
|
[1][2]
|
71 |
Apocalypse |
November 29, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
6 |
|
[1][2]
|
72 |
Jacques Rougeau |
December 5, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
22 |
|
[1][2]
|
73 |
Sabu the Wildman |
December 27, 1982 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
6 |
|
[1][2]
|
74 |
Jacques Rougeau |
January 2, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
8 |
|
[1][2]
|
75 |
Bobby Eaton |
January 10, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
8 |
[Note 38] |
|
[1][2]
|
— |
Vacated |
January 1983 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Vacated for undocumented reasons |
[1][2]
|
76 |
Bobby Eaton |
February 14, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
9 |
7 |
Defeated Sweet Brown Sugar in a tournament final to win the vacant title. |
[1][2][7]
|
77 |
Sweet Brown Sugar |
February 21, 1983 |
House show |
Tupelo, Mississippi |
1 |
7 |
|
[1][2][8]
|
78 |
Bobby Eaton |
February 28, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
10 |
7 |
This was a loser leaves town match. Sweet Brown Sugar would reappear as the masked Stagger Lee. |
[1][2][9]
|
79 |
Stagger Lee |
March 7, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
119 |
|
[1][2]
|
80 |
Frankie Laine |
July 4, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
14 |
|
[1][2]
|
81 |
Dutch Mantel |
July 18, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
11 |
28 |
|
[1][2]
|
82 |
Buddy Landel |
August 15, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
7 |
|
[1][2]
|
83 |
Stagger Lee / Koko Ware |
August 22, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
3 |
19 |
Ware removed his mask before the match with Landel. |
[1][2]
|
84 |
Buddy Landel |
September 10, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
82 |
|
[1][2]
|
85 |
Terry Taylor |
December 1, 1983 |
House show |
Lexington, Kentucky |
1 |
25 |
|
[1][2]
|
86 |
Randy Savage |
December 26, 1983 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
3 |
105 |
|
[1][2]
|
87 |
Jerry Lawler |
April 9, 1984 |
House show |
Lexington, Kentucky |
1 |
224 |
The title may have been vacated since Lawler also held the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship when he won the Mid-America title. |
[1][2]
|
88 |
Korstia Korchenko |
November 19, 1984 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 39] |
Defeated Jacques Rougeau to win the championship |
[1][2]
|
89 |
Mike Sharpe |
December 17, 1984 (NLT) |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 40] |
|
[1][2]
|
90 |
Jimmy Valiant |
February 11, 1985 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 41] |
|
[1][2]
|
91 |
Man Mountain Link |
July 1985 |
House show |
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 42] |
Awarded the championship. |
[1][2]
|
92 |
Jerry Lawler |
July 15, 1985 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
14 |
|
[1][2]
|
— |
Vacated |
July 29, 1985 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Vacated when Lawler won the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship |
[1][2]
|
93 |
Koko Ware |
August 12, 1985 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
4 |
[Note 43] |
Defeated Bota the Witch Doctor in a tournament final to win the vacant title. |
[1][2]
|
94 |
Bota the Witch Doctor |
August 1985 |
House show |
Richmond, Indiana |
1 |
[Note 44] |
|
[1][2]
|
95 |
Koko Ware |
September 1985 |
House show |
North Vernon, Indiana |
5 |
[Note 45] |
|
[1][2]
|
96 |
Harley Race |
October 7, 1985 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
3 |
[Note 46] |
|
[1][2]
|
97 |
Tom Branch |
November 1985 |
House show |
Kansas City, Missouri |
1 |
[Note 47] |
|
[1][2]
|
98 |
Koko Ware |
November 16, 1985 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
6 |
66 |
|
[1][2]
|
99 |
Buddy Landel |
January 21, 1986 |
House show |
Louisville, Kentucky |
3 |
12 |
|
[1][2]
|
100 |
Dirty Rhodes (Roger Smith) |
February 2, 1986 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
16 |
|
[1][2]
|
101 |
Buddy Landel |
February 18, 1986 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
4 |
48 |
|
[1][2]
|
102 |
Dutch Mantel |
April 7, 1986 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
12 |
42 |
|
[1][2]
|
103 |
Rip Rogers |
May 19, 1986 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
28 |
|
[1][2]
|
104 |
Dutch Mantel |
June 16, 1986 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
13 |
[Note 48] |
|
[1][2]
|
— |
Vacated |
July 1986 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Mantel left the CWA |
[1][2]
|
105 |
Tracy Smothers |
August 11, 1986 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
57 |
|
[1][2]
|
106 |
Boy Tony (Tony Falk) |
October 7, 1986 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
13 |
|
[1][2]
|
107 |
Tracy Smothers |
October 20, 1986 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
7 |
|
[1][2]
|
108 |
Big Bubba |
October 27, 1986 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 49] |
Also held CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Championship. |
[1][2]
|
— |
Vacated |
November 1988 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Championship vacated for undocumented reasons |
[1][2]
|
109 |
The Great Kabuki |
November 1986 |
House show |
Jackson, Tennessee |
1 |
[Note 50] |
Defeated Paul Diamond in a tournament final. |
[1][2]
|
— |
Vacated |
1986 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
The Great Kabuki left the CWA |
[1][2]
|
110 |
Moondog Spot |
May 1987 |
|
[Note 1] |
1 |
[Note 51] |
Billed as champion on arrival. |
[1][2]
|
111 |
Jeff Jarrett |
May 11, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
14 |
|
[1][2]
|
112 |
Moondog Spot |
May 25, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
7 |
Won the title by disqualification. |
[1][2]
|
113 |
Jeff Jarrett |
June 1, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
7 |
|
[1][2][10]
|
114 |
Moondog Spot |
June 8, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
3 |
14 |
|
[1][2]
|
115 |
Jeff Jarrett |
June 22, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
3 |
77 |
|
[1][2]
|
116 |
Carl Fergie |
September 7, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
1 |
7 |
|
[1][2]
|
117 |
Jeff Jarrett |
September 14, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
4 |
49 |
|
[1][2]
|
118 |
Jimmy Jack Funk |
November 2, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
2 |
7 |
Previous held the championship under the name Jesse Barr |
[1][2]
|
119 |
Jeff Jarrett |
November 9, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
5 |
28 |
|
[1][2]
|
120 |
Jerry Lawler |
December 7, 1987 |
House show |
Memphis, Tennessee |
3 |
343 |
|
[1][2]
|
— |
Deactivated |
November 14, 1988 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
Championship merged with the AWA International Heavyweight Championship and the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship to form the CWA Heavyweight Championship. |
[1][2]
|