NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship

NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship
The current NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship belt
Details
Promotion NWA
Date established May 1945
Current champion(s) Vacant

The NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world championship in the National Wrestling Alliance competed for by wrestlers in the Junior Heavyweight division. The title has been in existence from 1945 to the present.[1] The title was unified with the National Wrestling Association's World Junior Heavyweight Championship in 1949.

Title history

† Indicates title reigns and changes not recognized by NWA.
# Wrestler Times Date Days held Location Notes
1 Ken Fenelon1May 1945N/AN/AFenelon was awarded the title by Pinkie George, founder of the NWA.
2 Marshall Esteppe1May 30, 1945216Toronto, IA
3 Larry Tillman1January 1, 194669Des Moines, IA
4 Ken Fenelon2March 11, 1946301Des Moines, IA
5 Marshall Esteppe2January 6, 194777Des Moines, IA
6 Ray Steele1March 24, 194735Des Moines, IA
7 Marshall Esteppe3April 28, 194777Des Moines, IA
8 Billy Goelz1March 16, 1948159Des Moines, IA
9 Al Williams1August 22, 194814Waterloo, IA
10 Billy Goelz2September 5, 1948114Waterloo, IARecognition withdrawn in 49 when NWA selects Leroy McGuirk as champion.
11 Leroy McGuirk1December 28, 194841Des Moines, IADefeating John Swenski on June 19, 1939 in Hollywood, CA; recognized by National Wrestling Alliance during the convention later defeats Billy Goelz and Unified National Wrestling Association's World Junior Heavyweight Championship into National Wrestling Alliance title.
— Vacated — February 7, 1950 — — Vacated when McGuirk was blinded in a car accident.
12 Verne Gagne1November 13, 1950371Tulsa, OKDefeated Sonny Myers in a tournament final of 14-man tournament; also defeats Billy Goelz on April 21, 1951 in Milwaukee, WI.
13 Danny McShain1November 19, 1951637Memphis, TNUnifies the Los Angeles version of the world title, defeating Rito Romero on May 25, 1952 in Los Angeles, CA; Whitey Whittler defeats McShain by DQ on October 17, 1952 in Oklahoma City, OK and claims the title; Red Berry defeats McShain by DQ on November 11, 1952 in Dallas, TX and claims the title; McShain defeats Whittler on November 14, 1952 in Oklahoma City, OK and Berry on November 27, 1952 in Galveston, Texas, to regain the respective claims.
14 Baron Michele Leone1August 17, 1953602Los Angeles, CA
15 Ed Francis1April 11, 1955364Tulsa, OK
16 Mike Clancy1April 10, 1956350Oklahoma City, OK
17 Fred Blassie1March 26, 1957<1Nashville, TN
— Vacated — March 26, 1957 — — Immediately held up due to a controversial finish.
18 Mike Clancy2April 9, 1957217Nashville, TNDefeated Fred Blassie.
— Vacated — November 12, 1957 — — Held up; Clancy defeated Jackie Fargo by DQ at November 15 in Nashville, TN.
19 Mike Clancy3November 19, 1957101Nashville, TNDefeated Fred Blassie in rematch.
20 Angelo Savoldi1February 28, 195897Oklahoma City, OK
21 Dory Funk1June 5, 195836Amarillo, TX
22 Angelo Savoldi2July 11, 1958224Oklahoma City, OK
23 Ivan the Terrible1February 20, 195914Oklahoma City, OK
24 Angelo Savoldi3March 6, 195984Oklahoma City, OK
25 Mike DiBiase1May 29, 195984Oklahoma City, OK
26 Angelo Savoldi4August 21, 1959336Oklahoma City, OK
27 Danny Hodge1July 22, 19601,450Oklahoma City, OK
28 Hiro Matsuda1July 11, 1964125Tampa, FL
29 Angelo Savoldi5November 13, 1964161Oklahoma City, OK
30 Danny Hodge2April 23, 1965214Oklahoma City, OK
31 Lorenzo Parente1November 23, 196542Little Rock, AR
32 Danny Hodge3January 4, 196610Little Rock, AR
33 Lorenzo Parente2January 14, 196629Tulsa, OK
34 Joe McCarthy1February 12, 196680Oklahoma City, OK
35 Danny Hodge4May 3, 19661,361Little Rock, AR
36 Sputnik Monroe1July 13, 197028Shreveport, LA
37 Danny Hodge5August 10, 1970283Shreveport, LA
38 Roger Kirby1May 20, 1971113New Orleans, LA
39 Ramón Torres1September 10, 197184Monroe, LA
40 Dr. X1December 3, 1971108Oklahoma City, OK
41 Danny Hodge6March 20, 1972639Shreveport, LA
42 Ken Mantell1December 19, 1973272Jackson, MS
— Wrestling Pro1†September 17, 197449Mobile, ALAwarded with a disputed decision; recognized only in the Gulf Coast territory.
— Ken Mantell1(2)November 5, 1974221Mobile, ALDefeats Wrestling Pro in rematch to become the undisputed champion.
43 Hiro Matsuda2June 14, 1975262St. Petersburg, FL
44 Danny Hodge7March 2, 197613Shreveport, LA
— Vacated — March 15, 1976 — — Vacated when Hodge retired after suffering a broken neck in a car accident.
45 Pat Barrett1September 28, 197665New Orleans, LADefeated Nelson Royal in a tournament final.
46 Ron Starr1December 2, 19764New Orleans, LA
47 Nelson Royal1December 6, 1976566New Orleans, LA
48 Chavo Guerrero Sr.1February 24, 197842Unknown
49 Nelson Royal2April 7, 197879Unknown
50 Al Madril1June 25, 1978398Houston, TX
51 Nelson Royal3July 28, 1979134UnknownRoyal won via forfeit when Madril was too sick to attend a rematch.
— Vacated — December 9, 1979 — — When Royal Retires.
— Steve Keirn1†December 10, 19790Los Angeles, CADefeated Chavo Guerrero, Sr. to seemingly win the vacant title, but NWA did not recognize the win as being for the title, though it was recognized by New Japan Pro-Wrestling; this version was later renamed the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship.
— Vacated — December 10, 1979 — —
52 Ron Starr2February 11, 1980N/ATulsa, OKDefeated Les Thornton in a tournament final.
53 Les Thornton1March 1980N/AUnknownThornton won via forfeit or wins by default (sometime between March 9, 1980 and March 19, 1980); possibly on March 14, 1980 in Oklahoma City, OK where Starr and Thornton are scheduled to wrestle.
54 Jerry Stubbs1January 26, 19815Mobile, AL
55 Les Thornton2January 31, 1981127Dothan, AL
56 Terry Taylor1June 7, 198113Roanoke, VA
57 Les Thornton3June 20, 198188Roanoke, VA
58 Gerald Brisco1September 16, 198130Miami, FL
59 Les Thornton4October 16, 198122Knoxville, TN
60 Joe Lightfoot1November 7, 19817Bayamon, PR
61 Les Thornton5November 14, 1981192San Juan, PR
62 Tiger Mask1May 25, 1982313Shizuoka, JPNIn 1982, some North American promoters declared the title vacant due to Tiger Mask wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation; however, during an annual meeting between the NWA and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, it's announced that Tiger Mask is still recognized as the official champion.[2]
— Vacated — April 3, 1983 — — Vacated when Tiger Mask was injured two days prior.
63 Tiger Mask2June 2, 198371Tokyo, JPNDefeated Kuniaki Kobayashi in a decision match.[3]
— Vacated — August 12, 1983 — — Vacated after Tiger Mask retired.
64 The Cobra1November 3, 1983633Tokyo, JPNDefeated Davey Boy Smith in a decision match. Around this time, Les Thornton is recognized by promoters in the US as champion.
— Les Thornton6†November 1983N/AManila, PHWins a fictitious tournament.
— Vacated — June 1984 — — When Thornton joins WWF after its takeover of Georgia Championship Wrestling.
— Hector Guerrero1†July 13, 198481Los Angeles, CAWins a tournament.
— Mike Davis1†October 2, 1984112Albuquerque,NM
— Denny Brown1†November 22, 1984248Greensboro, NC
65 Hiro Saito1July 28, 19850Osaka, JPNWins the title from The Cobra.
66 The Cobra2July 28, 19854Osaka, JPN
— Vacated — August 1, 1985 — —
67 Denny Brown1(2)August 1985N/AN/AWon disputed version of title at Starrcade 1984 by defeating Mike Davis; recognized as champion by NWA vice president Shohei Baba, promoter of All Japan Pro Wrestling, after rival promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling withdraws from the NWA.
68 Gary Royal1August 15, 198531St. Louis, MO
69 Denny Brown2(3)September 15, 1985321Atlanta, GA
70 Steve Regal1August 2, 198630Atlanta, GA
71 Denny Brown3(4)September 1, 1986187Greenville, SC
72 Lazor Tron1(2)March 7, 1987N/AAtlanta, GALazor formerly known as Hector Guerrero.
— Vacated — October 1987 — — Vacated when Tron left Jim Crockett Promotions.
73 Nelson Royal4October 16, 1987280Columbia, SCDefeats Denny Brown for the vacant title and Royal takes the title to USA Championship Wrestling in Knoxville in May 1988. Royal left World Championship Wrestling in 1988, at which point Masanobu Fuchi, All Japan Pro Wrestling's reigning World Junior Heavyweight Champion, was disputably recognized as the new champion; however, Royal continued defending the title across the country until 1989, when it was abandoned.
74 Scott Armstrong1July 22, 19881Knoxville, TN
75 Nelson Royal5July 23, 1988N/AHazard, KY
76 Scott Armstrong2August 1988N/AUnknown
77 Nelson Royal6August 19, 1988N/AKnoxville, TNUSA Championship Wrestling closes in October 1988; Royal promotes Atlantic Coast Wrestling in the Carolinas and bills himself as world champion.
78 Les Anderson1November 1988N/AUnknown
79 Rock The Hunter1June 1989N/AUnknown
80 Les Anderson2December 26, 19891Unknown
— Vacated — December 27, 1989 — — Abandoned.
81 Masayoshi Motegi1August 30, 1995338Tokyo, JPNDefeated El Hijo del Santo in a tournament final when the NWA revives the title.
82 The Great Sasuke1August 2, 199670Tokyo, JPNWins an 8-man tournament to decide the first J-Crown holder, a combination of eight junior heavyweight titles. These titles were still technically considered separate, as opposed to one unified championship, and continued to be defended.
83 Último Dragón1October 11, 199685Osaka, JPN
84 Jushin Thunder Liger1January 4, 1997183Tokyo, JPNDefeated Dragón at Wrestling World.
85 El Samurai1July 6, 199735Sapporo, JPN
86 Shinjiro Otani1August 10, 199787Nagoya, JPN
— Vacated — November 5, 1997 — — Vacated when the J-Crown was dematerialized.
87 Logan Caine1March 5, 1999237Parkersburg, WVDefeated Viper in a tournament final.
— Vacated — October 28, 1999 — — Stripped due to no-showing a title defense against Vince Kaplack.
88 Vince Kaplack1October 28, 199978Pittsburgh, PADefeated Chris Hero as a replacement for Logan Caine.
89 Tony Kozina1January 14, 2000190North Versailles, PA
90 Rockford 20001July 22, 200035Surrey, BC
91 Tony Kozina2August 30, 200039N/AAwarded when NWA officials review the tape of a title match between Rockford and Kozina on August 26.
92 Vince Kaplack2October 14, 2000175Nashville, TNWon the title at the NWA 52nd Anniversary Show.
93 Rocky Reynolds1April 7, 200127Pennsboro, WV
94 Mike Thunder1May 4, 2001109North Richland Hills, TX
95 Lex Lovett1August 21, 200153Tampa, FL
96 Jason Rumble1October 13, 2001112Saint Petersburg, FLDefeated Lovett, Jimmy Rave, Brandon K & BJ Turner in a five-way match at the NWA 53rd Anniversary Show.
97 Rocky Reynolds2February 2, 200214Titusville, PA
98 Jason Rumble2February 16, 200249Malden, MA
99 Rocky Reynolds3April 6, 200256Parkersburg, WV
100 Jimmy Rave1June 29, 200242Cornelia, GADefeated Reynolds and Jeremy Lopez in a three-way match.
101 Star1August 10, 20027Columbia, TN
102 Jimmy Rave2August 17, 2002154Columbia, TN
103 Brother Love1January 18, 2003140Greenville, MS
104 Rocky Reynolds4June 7, 200356Parkersburg, WV
105 Chris Draven1August 2, 2003161Parkersburg, WV
106 Jerrelle Clark1January 10, 2004281Saint Petersburg, FL
107 Jason Rumble3October 17, 2004312Winnipeg, MBDefeated Clark and Vance Desmond in a three-way match at the NWA 56th Anniversary Show.
108 Black Tiger IV1August 25, 2005178Columbia, TN
109 Tiger Mask IV1February 19, 2006446Tokyo, JPN[4]
110 Mike Quackenbush1May 11, 20071,275Portage, IN
111 Craig Classic1November 6, 2010247Fort Pierce, FL
— Vacated — July 11, 2011 — — Classic relinquished the title in protest of The Sheik being stripped of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Classic brought his own version of the title to Pro Wrestling Zero1 as the New Wrestling Alliance championship.
112 Kevin Douglas1October 7, 2011373Charlotte, NCDefeated Chase Owens in a tournament final.
— Vacated — October 14, 2012 — — Douglas was stripped of the title for no-showing a scheduled title defense on October 13, 2012 against Chase Owens. A one-night tournament was held in Kingsport, TN in lieu of the Douglas-Owens match.
113 Chase Owens1October 13, 2012302Kingsport, TNDefeated Matt Conard and Zac Vincent in a tournament final.
114 Jason Kincaid1August 10, 201369Kingsport, TN
115 Chase Owens2October 18, 201378Houston, TX
116 Ricky Morton1January 4, 201462Kingsport, TN
117 Chase Owens3March 7, 2014246Church Hill, TN
118 Jushin Thunder Liger2November 8, 2014156Osaka, JPN
119 Steve Anthony1April 13, 2015163Las Vegas, NV
120 Tiger Mask IV2September 23, 2015178Okayama, JPN
121 Steve Anthony2March 19, 2016112Nagoya, JPN
122 John Saxon1July 9, 2016275Pensacola, FL
123 Arrick Andrews1April 8, 201741Dyersburg, TN
124 Mr. USA1May 19, 201785Franklin, KY
125 Bigg Daddy (A. Dwayne Singleton)1August 12, 201749Dyersburg, TN
— Vacated — September 30, 2017 — — Vacant when NWA terminates the contracts with its licensees

List of top combined reigns

As of October 21, 2018.[5]

† Indicates the current champion
† Indicates title reigns and changes not recognized by NWA.
<1 Indicates that the combined total is less than one day.
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns		 Combined days
1 Danny Hodge74,134
2 Mike Quackenbush11,275
3 Angelo Savoldi5902
4 Nelson Royal6846
5 Mike Clancy3768
6 Denny Brown3(4)756
7 Danny McShain1637
The Cobra2637
8 Chase Owens3626
9 Tiger Mask IV2624
10 Baron Michele Leone1602
11 Hiro Matsuda2548
12 Ken Mantell1(2)493
13 Jason Rumble3473
14 Les Thornton6429
15 Al Madril1398
16 Tiger Mask2384
17 Kevin Douglas1373
18 Verne Gagne1371
19 Marshall Esteppe3370
20 Ed Francis1364
21 Jushin Thunder Liger2339
22 Masayoshi Motegi1338
23 Ken Fenelon2301
24 Jerrelle Clark1281
25 Steve Anthony2275
John Saxon1275
27 Vince Kaplack2253
28 Craig Classic1247
29 Logan Caine1237
30 Tony Kozina2229
31 Jimmy Rave2196
32 Barrett Brown1182
33 Rocky Reynolds4181
34 Black Tiger IV1178
35 Chris Draven1161
36 Billy Goelz2159
37 Brother Love1140
38 Roger Kirby1113
— Mike Davis1†112
39 Mike Thunder1109
40 Dr. X1108
41 Shinjiro Otani187
42 Último Dragón185
Mr. USA185
43 Mike DiBiase184
Ramón Torres184
44 Hector Guerrero/Lazor Tron1(2)81
45 Joe McCarthy180
46 Chavo Guerrero Sr.279
47 Lorenzo Parente271
48 The Great Sasuke170
49 Pat Barrett169
Larry Tillman169
Jason Kincaid169
50 Ricky Morton162
51 Lex Lovett153
— Wrestling Pro1†49
52 Arrick Andrews141
Leroy McGuirk141
53 Dory Funk136
54 Ray Steele135
El Samurai135
55 Gary Royal131
56 Steve Regal130
57 Sputnik Monroe128
58 Al Williams114
Ivan The Terrible114
59 Joe Lightfoot17
Star17
60 Jerry Stubbs15
61 Ron Starr24
62 Scott Armstrong21
Les Anderson21
63 Hiro Saito1<1
Fred Blassie1<1
64 Rock The Hunter1N/A

See also

References

  1. ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  2. ↑ Hoops, Brian (May 25, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 25): Rockers last match in AWA, Tiger Mask wins NWA Jr. Heavyweight gold, Russian amateur wrestler beats Vader". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Hoops, Brian (February 19, 2017). "Daily Pro Wrestling History (02/19): Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker at No Way Out 2006". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  5. ↑ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=134&page=3
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