NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship

Last updated
GCW Georgia Heavyweight Championship
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship.png
Previous version of the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
Details
Promotion
Date establishedAugust 9, 1964
Current championSean Nelson
Date wonNovember 30, 2024
Other names
  • NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
    (1963–1981, 1998, 2012–2017)
  • NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship
    (1998–2005)
  • GCW Georgia Heavyweight Championship
    (2021–present)
Statistics
First champion Sputnik Monroe
Most reigns Mr. Wrestling II (12 reigns)
Longest reignTyson Dean (497 days)
Shortest reign Onyx (1> day)

The GCW Heavyweight Championship is the major title in the Georgia Championship Wrestling professional wrestling promotion. It started in 1964 and was unified in 1981 with the NWA National Heavyweight Championship.

Contents

The title was picked back up in 1998 by NWA Georgia, which became NWA Wildside in September 1999 when it merged with National Championship Wrestling. Along with this change, the championship became known as the NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship. The title continued until Wildside ceased operations on April 30, 2005.

In 2012, NWA Action (later renamed NWA Atlanta) picked up the title and restored its original name. Cru Jones won the reactivated title by defeating Steve Stiles on June 23, 2012, in Stockbridge, Georgia, and vacated it in 2013. It was either unified with the Atlanta Heavyweight Championship in June 2015 or retired in February 2016.

Under the resurrection of Georgia Championship Wrestling, an announcement was made that the Georgia Heavyweight Championship would be revived and a new champion crowned on April 24, 2021.

In May 2025, Georgia Championship Wrestling was rebranded as Georgia Classic Wrestling, although through the name change the titles remained active.

Title history

Names

NameTime of use
NWA Georgia Heavyweight ChampionshipFebruary 5, 1963 – September 9, 1981
NWA Wildside Heavyweight ChampionshipSeptember 1999 – April 30, 2005
NWA Georgia Heavyweight ChampionshipJune 23, 2012 – June 15, 2017
GCW Georgia Heavyweight ChampionshipApril 24, 2021 – present

Reigns

WrestlerCountDateLocationNotes
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
John Mauldin *11938Reported on an Atlanta program in July 1938 as having "recently" retired as champion.
Choo-Choo Lynn1February 5, 1963Recognized in Macon.
Honey Boy Hannigan1July 23, 1963 Macon, GA
Choo-Choo Lynn2July 30, 1963Macon, GA
Dick the Bruiser 1March 24, 1964
Sputnik Monroe 1August 9, 1964 Atlanta, GA
Don Fargo 1September 25, 1964Atlanta, GA
Sputnik Monroe 2October 16, 1964Atlanta, GA
Mario Galento 1November 13, 1964Atlanta, GA
Buddy Fuller1May 28, 1965Atlanta, GA [1]
Louie Tillet 1May 27, 1966
Buddy Fuller2June 17, 1966Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 1February 24, 1967Atlanta, GA
Nick Kozak1March 17, 1967Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 2April 7, 1967Atlanta, GA
Buddy Fuller3April 28, 1967Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 3June 16, 1967Atlanta, GA
Tim Woods 1July 11, 1967Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 4July 18, 1967Atlanta, GA
Tim Woods 2August 11, 1967Atlanta, GA [2]
El Mongol 5September 8, 1967Atlanta, GA
Bobby Shane 1September 29, 1967
El Mongol 6October 10, 1967Atlanta, GA
Tim Woods 3May 3, 1968Atlanta, GAWins a title under a mask calling himself the Big O; Unmask on May 24, 1968.
The Big O 1May 10, 1968Atlanta, GA [3]
Tarzan Tyler 1June 14, 1968Atlanta, GA
The Professional1August 23, 1968Atlanta, GA
The Big O 2November 8, 1968Atlanta, GA
Held upNovember 29, 1968Atlanta, GAAfter a match against with The Professional.
The Professional2December 6, 1968Atlanta, GADefeated Valentine in a rematch to win vacant title.
Dale Lewis 1December 27, 1968Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 7February 7, 1969Atlanta, GA
Assassin #1 1March 21, 1969
El Mongol 8April 15, 1969Atlanta, GA
The Professional3May 16, 1969Atlanta, GA
Paul DeMarco1June 21, 1969Atlanta, GA
Joe Scarpa 1September 19, 1969Atlanta, GA
Paul DeMarco2October 3, 1969Atlanta, GA
The Professional4November 28, 1969Atlanta, GA
VacatedFebruary 18, 1970After The Professional was injured.
Assassin #21March 13, 1970Atlanta, GADefeated Joe Scarpa in an 8-man tournament final to win the vacant title.
Nick Bockwinkel 1April 17, 1970Atlanta, GA [4]
Paul DeMarco3July 17, 1970Atlanta, GA [5]
Nick Bockwinkel 2July 24, 1970Atlanta, GA
Buddy Colt 1September 4, 1970Atlanta, GA
Fred Blassie 1November 13, 1970Atlanta, GA
Buddy Colt 2November 20, 1970Atlanta, GA
Ray Gunkel 1November 27, 1970Atlanta, GA
VacatedNovember 30, 1970When Buddy Colt and Homer O'Dell file an appeal.
El Mongol 9February 5, 1971Atlanta, GADefeated Nick Bockwinkel in a 14-man tournament final to win the vacant title.
Buddy Colt 3June 18, 1971Atlanta, GA
Ray Gunkel 2July 20, 1971Atlanta, GA
Buddy Colt 4January 1972
El Mongol 10January 25, 1972
Buddy Colt 5April 8, 1972 Griffin, GA
Roberto Soto 1May 5, 1972 [6]
VacatedNovember 1972When Soto jumps to the All South Wrestling Alliance.
Mr. Wrestling II 1March 2, 1973Atlanta, GADefeated Sputnik Monroe in a 16-man tournament final to win the vacant title.
Bill Watts 1May 11, 1973Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 2July 13, 1973
Bill Watts 2July 21, 1973Atlanta, GA
StrippedAugust 17, 1973After Watts deliberately gets disqualified in a defense against Mr. Wrestling II.
Mr. Wrestling II 3August 31, 1973Defeated Watts in a rematch to win the title.
Bill Watts 3November 2, 1973Atlanta, GA
Ron Fuller 1December 21, 1973Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 4January 11, 1974Atlanta, GA
Buddy Colt 6July 5, 1974Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 5August 30, 1974Atlanta, GA
Harley Race 1September 13, 1974Atlanta, GA
Don Muraco 1September 21, 1974
Held UpOctober 4, 1974After match with Buddy Colt.
Luke Graham 1October 8, 1974Atlanta, GAWon a tournament to win the vacant title.
Buddy Colt 7October 11, 1974Atlanta, GAWon a battle royal to win the title.
Held upNovember 15, 1974Atlanta, GAIn a following match against Rocky Johnson.
Rocky Johnson 1December 6, 1974Atlanta, GADefeated Colt in a rematch.
Abdullah the Butcher 1February 21, 1975Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 6July 4, 1975Atlanta, GA
Abdullah the Butcher 2July 11, 1975Atlanta, GA
Toru Tanaka 1August 7, 1975Atlanta, GA
Mike McCord 1September 16, 1975
Nikolai Volkoff 1September 23, 1975Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 7October 3, 1975Atlanta, GA
The Spoiler 1November 27, 1975Atlanta, GA
Dusty Rhodes 1January 30, 1976Atlanta, GA
The Spoiler 2February 6, 1976Atlanta, GA
Dick Slater 1August 20, 1976Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 8October 26, 1976 Columbus, GA
Dick Slater 2November 25, 1976Columbus, GA
Paul Jones 1April 15, 1977
Dick Slater 3June 4, 1977
Mr. Wrestling II 9July 22, 1977
Stan Hansen 1November 16, 1977
Mr. Wrestling II 10January 25, 1978
Stan Hansen 2February 6, 1978
StrippedMay 20, 1978When attacking the referee after a match with Mr. Wrestling II.
Angelo Mosca 1June 9, 1978Atlanta, GAWon a one night 14-man tournament to win the vacant title.
StrippedSeptember 23, 1978After a match with Thunderbolt Patterson.
Mr. Wrestling II 11October 16, 1978 Augusta, GA Defeated Stan Hansen in a one night 6-man tournament final.
Masked Superstar 1December 4, 1978Augusta, GA
Wahoo McDaniel 1May 14, 1979Augusta, GA
Masked Superstar 2July 30, 1979Augusta, GA
Wahoo McDaniel 2August 17, 1979Augusta, GA
VacatedAugust 18, 1979After double pin in a match with Masked Superstar.
Killer Karl Kox 1August 24, 1979Augusta, GADefeats Bob Armstrong in a one night 14-man tournament final.
Tommy Rich 1October 26, 1979Atlanta, GA
Masked Superstar 3December 7, 1979Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 12January 12, 1980Atlanta, GA
Austin Idol 2March 29, 1980Atlanta, GA
Baron von Raschke 1June 8, 1980Atlanta, GA
Steve Keirn 1August 11, 1980
Dennis Condrey 1September 8, 1980
Tony Atlas 1October 24, 1980Atlanta, GA
VacatedApril 1981When Tony Atlas leaves Georgia.
Tommy Rich 2May 17, 1981Atlanta, GADefeated Greg Valentine in a tournament final to win the vacant title.
Ken Patera 1June 12, 1981Atlanta, GA
Tommy Rich 3August 9, 1981Atlanta, GADefeated Masked Superstar to win the vacant title when Patera leaves the area after a dispute with booker Ole Anderson.
Masked Superstar 4September 12, 1981Atlanta, GA
RetiredSeptember 13, 1981Atlanta, GAUnified with the NWA National Heavyweight Championship.
Billy Black1June 1, 1998Awarded the title when it is revived by NWA Georgia.
Lord Humongous 1February 25, 1999 Loganville, GA
Silky Boom Boom1April 5, 1999Loganville, GA
Frenchy Riviera1May 6, 1999Loganville, GA
Silky Boom Boom2June 2, 1999 Conyers, GA
Bart Sawyer 1June 27, 1999 Stockbridge, GA
VacatedOctober 1999
NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship.
Rick Michaels 1October 14, 1999Loganville, GALast eliminated Dusty Dotson in a Mega Rumble match to win the vacant title.
VacatedJanuary 2000
Rukkus 1February 5, 2000 Cornelia, GA Won the title in a Mega Rumble match.
Stone Mountain1April 15, 2000Cornelia, GADefeated Mark E. Mark, who subbed for Rukkus.
Prince Justice 1May 5, 2001Cornelia, GA
Scott Wrenn1September 1, 2001Cornelia, GA
Rick Michaels 2October 19, 2001Cornelia, GA
A.J. Styles 1December 22, 2001Cornelia, GA [7]
David Young 1March 23, 2002Cornelia, GADefeated Styles and Rick Michaels in a three-way elimination match.
Jason Cross 1June 1, 2002Cornelia, GA
Adam Jacobs1June 29, 2002Cornelia, GAWon a gauntlet steel cage match, last eliminating A.J. Styles.
David Young 2August 2, 2002Cornelia, GADefeated John Phoenix when Jacobs no-showed.
Iceberg 1September 22, 2002Cornelia, GA
Hotstuff Hernandez 1July 5, 2003Cornelia, GA
Onyx 1October 25, 2003Cornelia, GA
Jason Cross 2September 4, 2004Cornelia, GA
Ray Gordy 1December 4, 2004 [8] Cornelia, GA
Onyx 2December 4, 2004 [8] Cornelia, GA
Rainman 1March 26, 2005Cornelia, GADefeated Onyx and Ray Gordy in a three-way match.
Onyx 3April 30, 2005Cornelia, GAFinal champion.
RetiredApril 30, 2005Cornelia, GAWhen NWA Wildside closes.
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship.
Cru Jones1June 23, 2012Stockbridge, GADefeats Steve Stiles to be recognized by NWA Action when title is revived.
VacatedSeptember 2013
Andy Anderson1October 26, 2013Stockbridge, GADefeats Pain in 32-man tournament final.
Tyson Dean1December 14, 2013Griffin, GA
Odinson1April 25, 2015Griffin, GAReplaces Shane Marx, who is injured during the match to defeats Tyson Dean.
Tommy Too Much1June 27, 2015Stockbridge, GAReigning NWA Atlanta Heavyweight Champion, defeats Odinson in a unification match.
Mike Pain1August 13, 2016Dudley, GARecognized as champion by NWA Georgia after NWA Atlanta closes operations
Logan Creed 1October 1, 2016Columbus, GA
Damien Wayne1July 15, 2017Columbus, GANWA ends licenses with promotions worldwide. Title declared vacant
GCW Georgia Heavyweight Championship
Terry Lawler1April 24, 2021Buckhead, GATitle is revived under the new GCW. Lawler wins a 20 man Rumble match to win the vacated championship. Last eliminating Shawn Hunter
Shawn Hunter1July 24, 2021Buckhead, GA
Charlie Anarchy1April 30, 2022Buckhead, GA
Chop Top1July 30, 2022Buckhead, GA
Hunter James1March 25, 2023Buckhead, GA
Terry Lawler2September 30, 2023Buckhead, GA
Sean Nelson1November 30, 2024Buckhead, GA
Nick Halen1June 28,2025Buckhead, GA

See also

References

  1. F4W Staff (May 28, 2015). "ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY (MAY 28): HULK HOGAN VS. NICK BOCKWINKEL, BRUNO VS. SUPERSTAR GRAHAM DOUBLE DQ". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. Hoops, Brian (August 11, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (August 11): Verne Gagne vs. Lou Thesz for AWA title, first ever G1 final". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  3. Hoops, Brian (May 10, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history: Gagne retires as AWA champion, Austin's ex-wife beats Lesnar's wife for WWF title, Steamboat & Youngblood, Thesz Vs Rogers". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  4. Hoops, Brian (April 17, 2020). "Daily pro wrestling (04/17): WCW Spring Stampede 1994". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  5. Hoops, Brian (July 17, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history, Kangaroos, Gagne vs. Kiniski in Hawaii, Gordy wins Triple Crown, Hogan wins WCW title from Flair at Bash at the Beach, famous Punk vs. Cena Chicago bout". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  6. 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. John Milner (February 18, 2005). "Bio: A.J. Styles". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  8. 1 2 "Independent Wrestling Results - December 2004". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved 2008-07-05.