NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship

Last updated
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship
JimmysnukaatMapleleafgardens1981.jpg
Jimmy Snuka is a former NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Champion.
Details
Promotion NWA Tri-State
NWA Mid-America (1960-1974)
Date establishedMarch 31, 1954
Date retiredNo later than March 1982
Other name(s)
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Alabama version)
Statistics
First champion(s)Whitey Whittler
Final champion(s) Paul Jones
Most reigns Jimmy Golden (4)
Longest reignMike George (81 days)
Shortest reignWhitey Whittler (28 days)

The NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling heavyweight championship in Tri-States Wrestling (NWA Tri-State). The original version was created in 1954, however, it was phased out in favor of the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship. [1] [2]

Contents

The Alabama version of the NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship existed from 1960 until 1974. It was defended primarily in Alabama under the banner of NWA Tri-State Wrestling, and at times in Tennessee for NWA Mid-America. Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it was not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship was awarded after the chosen team "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport. [3]

The title was revived to replace the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship as the promotion's top singles title after Bill Watts left to form Mid-South Wrestling in 1979. [4] It was vacated and decommissioned when Tri-State promoter Leroy McGuirk closed the promotion in 1982.

Title history

Key
SymbolMeaning
#The overall championship reign
ReignThe reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed.
EventThe event promoted by the respective promotion in which the title changed hands
Used for vacated reigns in order to not count it as an official reign
 Indicates periods of unknown lineage
(NLT)Indicates that the championship changed hands "No Later Than" a certain date.
¤Indicates that the data presented in this cell is uncertain.

Names

Name [5] Years [5]
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight ChampionshipMarch 31, 1954 – April 28, 1954
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Alabama version)September 12, 1960 – October 3, 1974
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight ChampionshipSeptember 7, 1980 – 1982
NWA-MCW Heavyweight Championship1982 – March 1982

Title history

NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Original version)

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1Whitey WhittlerMarch 31, 1954 House show Joplin, MO128Defeated Red Berry in a tournament final. [6]
2 Red Berry April 28, 1954 House show Joplin, MO1

NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Alabama version)

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1 Joe Scarpa September 12, 1960Tri-State showMemphis, Tennessee1 [Note 1] Defeated Mario Galento in tournament final to become the first champion.
Championship history is unrecorded from September 12, 1960 to September 1971(NLT).
2 Jerry Lawler September 1971(NLT)Tri-State show [Note 2] 1 [Note 3] Won a battle royal, last eliminating Jimmy Golden.
Championship history is unrecorded from September 1971(NLT) to October 29, 1971(NLT).
3 Jimmy Golden October 29, 1971(NLT)Tri-State show [Note 2] 1 [Note 4]
4Tony RussoNovember 5, 1971Tri-State showGadsden, Alabama120
5Gary MartinNovember 25, 1971Tri-State showAnniston, Alabama1 [Note 5]
6Tony RussoDecember 1971(NLT)Tri-State show [Note 2] 2 [Note 6]
7The Golden HawkDecember 16, 1971Tri-State showAnniston, Alabama1 [Note 7] Still billed as champion on January 6, 1972
Championship history is unrecorded from December 16, 1971 to March 16, 1972(NLT).
8Buddy WayneMarch 16, 1972(NLT)Tri-State show [Note 2] 1 [Note 8]
9 Jimmy Golden April 6, 1972¤Tri-State showAnniston, Alabama¤2 [Note 9] Still champion as of 72/06/08
Championship history is unrecorded from April 6, 1972¤ to October 5, 1972(NLT).
10Ramon PerezOctober 5, 1972(NLT)Tri-State show [Note 2] 1 [Note 10]
Championship history is unrecorded from October 5, 1972(NLT) to December 21, 1972(NLT).
11Tony RussoDecember 21, 1972(NLT)Tri-State show [Note 2] 3 [Note 11]
Championship history is unrecorded from December 21, 1972(NLT) to January 26, 1973(NLT).
12Buddy WayneJanuary 26, 1973(NLT)Tri-State show [Note 2] 2 [Note 12]
Championship history is unrecorded from January 26, 1973(NLT) to March 7, 1974(NLT).
13 Jimmy Golden March 7, 1974(NLT)Tri-State show [Note 2] 3 [Note 13]
14Jack DonovanMarch 14, 1974¤Tri-State showAnniston, Alabama¤170
15 Jimmy Golden May 23, 1974¤Tri-State showAnniston, Alabama¤4 [Note 14]
Championship history is unrecorded from May 23, 1974¤ to October 3, 1974(NLT).
16 Dennis Condrey October 3, 1974(NLT)Tri-State show [Note 2] 1 [Note 15]
Deactivated1974Championship abandoned.

NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Final version)

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1Tom Jones1981Tri-State showN/A1
2 Mr. Pogo 1981Tri-State showN/A2
3Tom Jones1981Tri-State showN/A2 [7]
4 Mike George February 28, 1981Tri-State showTulsa, OK130 [8]
5 Bob Sweetan March 30, 1981Tri-State showTulsa, OK163 [9]
6 Mike George June 1, 1981Tri-State showTulsa, OK281
Vacated August 21, 1981Championship vacated when George leaves the territory.
7 Jimmy Snuka January 18, 1982Tri-State showTulsa, OK142Won tournament.
8 Paul Jones March 1, 1982Tri-State showTulsa, OK1 [10]
9Eddie MansfieldMarch 1982Tri-State showN/A1 [Note 16] [10]
10 Paul Jones March 17, 1982Tri-State showSpringfield, MO2 [10]
Deactivated1982NWA Tri-State closed in 1982, and the championship was subsequently abandoned.

List of top combined reigns

Mr. Pogo, who was the fifth longest-reigning Tri-State Heavyweight Champion Mr. Pogo.JPG
Mr. Pogo, who was the fifth longest-reigning Tri-State Heavyweight Champion
¤The exact length of several title reigns are uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used.
List of combined reigns
RankChampionNo. of reignsCombined days
1 Mike George 2111
2 Bob Sweetan 163
3 Terry Gibbs 155¤
4 Jimmy Snuka 142¤
5 Mr. Pogo 229¤
6Whitey Whittler128
7Eddie Mansfield1
8 Red Berry 1N/A
9Terry Orndorff1N/A
10Tom Jones2N/A
11 Paul Jones 2N/A

Explanatory footnotes

  1. The length of this reign is too uncertain to calculate.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The location of the match was not captured as part of the championship documentation.
  3. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 424 days.
  4. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 64 days.
  5. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 402 days.
  6. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 20 days.
  7. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 91 days.
  8. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 90 days.
  9. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 182 days.
  10. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 258 days.
  11. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 112 days.
  12. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 440 days.
  13. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 404 days.
  14. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 133 days.
  15. The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 221 days.
  16. The exact date on which the title was won is not known, which means their title reign lasted between 1 and 15 days.

Related Research Articles

The NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and originally promoted in Chicago as the NWA World Three-Man Tag Team Championship. The NWA Mid-America territory based out of Tennessee re-introduced the title as the NWA Six-Man Tag Team Championship, promoting it from 1974 until 1981. In 1984, another NWA territory Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) brought the concept back, this time as the "NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship", which continued to be promoted by JCP's successor World Championship Wrestling until 1989. The championship was briefly revived in February 1998 by Dennis Coralluzzo's NWA New Jersey territory, also known as Championship Wrestling America. The championship was retired in December 1998. As the name indicates the championship was exclusively for three man teams that competed in six-man tag team matches. Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it was won or lost by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion.

NWA World Tag Team Championship <i>(Florida version)</i> Professional wrestling tag team championship

The Florida version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was the primary professional wrestling championship for tag teams in Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) that was used between 1961 and 1969. When the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) was created in 1948, the board of directors decided to allow each NWA member to create its own local version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship. As it is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won or lost competitively, but instead determined by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The title is awarded after the chosen team "wins" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

The NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship was a singles championship in the National Wrestling Alliance's St. Louis Wrestling Club and Central States Wrestling promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. It was considered a "stepping stone" to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. A version of the Missouri Championship has been documented to exist in 1899, 1921, 1933 to 1934, 1937, 1947, 1950, and 1954 to 1955, but it was only in 1972 that a serious championship was established. Prior to the creation of the NWA the championship was not recognized outside of the region and used by regional promoters, it is even possible that competing Missouri Heavyweight Championships existed. The championship was abandoned in 1986, as the Central States promotion was being consolidated under Jim Crockett Promotions in order to counter the World Wrestling Federation's national expansion.

From January 8, 1957, through August 1960 the NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club promoted the Minneapolis version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship as the main professional wrestling championship for tag teams on their shows held in and around Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) from its formation in 1948, but left the group in 1960 to help form the American Wrestling Association (AWA). The NWA Board of Directors allowed each member, referred to as a NWA territory, to create and control its own individual "NWA World Tag Team Championship" to be defended within its territory. At one point in 1957, no less than 13 different versions of the NWA World Tag Team Championship were recognized across the United States.[Championships] As with all professional wrestling championships, this championship was not contested for in competitive matches, but in matches with predetermined outcomes to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version)</span> Professional wrestling tag team championship

The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) member NWA San Francisco promoted a professional wrestling tag team championship under the name NWA World Tag Team Championship from 1950 until 1961 in and around their local territory until it closed. When San Francisco based Big Time Wrestling became a member of the NWA in 1968 they began promoting their version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship as part of their shows until the championship was abandoned in 1979. The NWA rules allowed each individual member to promote a championship under that name, which meant there were several NWA World Tag Team Championships promoted across North America at some point between 1950 and 1982, with two different versions being promoted in San Francisco, although not at the same time. At one point in 1957 no less than 13 different versions of the NWA World Tag Team Championship were recognized across the United States.[Championships] At least 21 different regional branches of the NWA World Tag Team Championship have identified as being active at some point between 1950 and 1991. In 1992 the NWA Board of Directors sanctioned one main NWA World Tag Team Championship under their control. As it is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won via legitimate competition; it is instead won via a scripted ending to a match or on occasion awarded to a wrestler because of a storyline.

NWA World Tag Team Championship <i>(Mid-America version)</i> Professional wrestling tag team championship

The Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was a regional professional wrestling championship for tag teams that was used in the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) NWA Mid-America professional wrestling promotion from 1957 until 1977.[G1][G2] The championship, promoted by Nick Gulas, was one of many NWA World Tag Team Championships in existence in the period between 1949 and 1992, each of which was a regional championship restricted to an NWA territory and not a true "world" championship. At one point in 1957 there were at least 13 different, concurrently promoted NWA World Tag Team Championships across the United States.[Championships] The Mid-America version was in use for 20 years, the second longest of any of the NWA World Tag Team Championships of that era, only behind the Central States version. Being a professional wrestling championship, the NWA World Tag Team Championship was not won or lost in competitive matches, but determined by the decision of the bookers of NWA Mid-America.

NWA World Tag Team Championship <i>(Central States version)</i> Professional wrestling tag team championship

The Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship was the main professional wrestling championship for tag teams in Heart of America Sports Attractions, later known as Central States Wrestling (CSW) from 1951 to 1959, then again from 1962 to 1963 and then finally from 1973 to 1979. CSW was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), whose bylaws allowed any of their members, referred to as NWA territories, to create their own version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship that would be promoted within their territory. The Central States version was primarily defended in CSW's home town of Kansas City and during their shows across Missouri, Kansas and Iowa. As it was a professional wrestling championship, it was not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers. The title was awarded after the chosen team "wins" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport. In 1957 there were at least 13 different versions of the NWA World Tag Team Championship being promoted in various NWA territories across the United States.[Championships]

The NWA World Brass Knuckles Championship was a short-lived title promoted by National Wrestling Alliance NWA Mid-America territory from 1978 until 1981. The championship was used in specialty matches in which the combatants would wear brass knuckles. There were other such championships used in a number of NWA territories throughout the United States of America, including versions in the Florida territory, Amarillo, New England, the Mid-Atlantic region and in NWA Tri-State. Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it was not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship was awarded after the chosen wrestler "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

The NWA Central States United States Championship was the version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship that was defended in the Central States Wrestling territory around Missouri. It existed from 1961 until 1968. Records indicate that Bob Orton, The Viking and The Destroyer also held championship but no specific dates were found for those reigns.

The NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship that served as the main title for the National Wrestling Alliance promotion, NWA Central-States Championship Wrestling. For most of its existence, however, the title was defended in the NWA affiliate Central States Wrestling from 1950 to 1989.

The NWA Tennessee Heavyweight Championship was the primary championship in the National Wrestling Alliance territory promotion NWA Top Rope, based in Lebanon, Tennessee. The Championship was created in 2005 and was active until 2013 when NWA Top Rope closed. That version of the championship was preceded by the original NWA Tennessee Heavyweight Championship that existed from the late 1950s into the 1960s, promoted by NWA Mid-America. Because the championship is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship is awarded after the chosen wrestler "wins" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AWA Southern Tag Team Championship</span> Professional wrestling tag team championship

The AWA Southern Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team title in the Tennessee area from the 1940s through the late 1980s. It was originally named the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) from its inception through 1977, when it was renamed the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship due to a partnership with the American Wrestling Association. The title existed until 1988 when it was replaced with the Continental Wrestling Association Tag Team Championship.

The NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship was a secondary tag team title promoted as the name indicates mainly in the Tennessee region from 1967 until 1977, first by Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling and occasionally NWA Mid-America from 1967 to 1974 then by its successor Southeast Championship Wrestling from 1974 to 1977 when it was abandoned. Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it was not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship was awarded after the chosen wrestler "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NWA Central States Tag Team Championship</span> Professional wrestling tag team championship

The NWA Central States Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team championship for the Heart of America Sports Attractions / Central States Wrestling promotion from 1979 until the promotion ceased to exist in 1988. The Central States Tag Team Championship had originally existed for a brief period of time in 1961, but its glory days date from 1979 to 1988, where it replaced the Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship. Because the championship is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship is awarded after the chosen team "wins" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NWA Central States Television Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The NWA Central States Television Championship was the secondary singles championship for the Heart of America Sports Attractions / Central States Wrestling promotion from 1977 until the promotion ceased to exist in 1988. Because the championship is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship is awarded after the chosen team "wins" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

The Heart of America Sports Attractions, or "NWA Central States" version of the NWA North American Tag Team Championship was a secondary Tag team championship promoted by the Heart of America Sports Attraction promotion, a National Wrestling Alliance territory based out of Kansas City, Missouri and was defended in Missouri, Kansas and the surrounding states. The Championship was active from 1963 until 1973, originally designed to be a replacement for the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship and after 10 years was replaced with the Central States version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship. Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it was not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship was awarded after the chosen team "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

The Alabama version of the NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship existed from 1971 until 1977. It was defended primarily in Alabama under the banner of NWA Tri-State Wrestling, and at times in Tennessee for NWA Mid-America. Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it is not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship was awarded after the chosen team "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

NWA United States Tag Team Championship <i>(Mid-America version)</i> Professional wrestling tag team championship

The Mid-America version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship and promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s NWA Mid-America territory from 1962 until 1976. The title was intended solely for tag teams in tag team matches, not individuals, and was the secondary tag team championship in NWA Mid-America, with the Mid-America version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship being the primary championship. The promotion also had a third tag team championship at its peak, a testament to the popularity of tag team wrestling in the territory, as they promoted the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship as well. The championship was established around March 6, 1962, when Yoshinosato and Taro Sakuro were named champions upon arrival by NWA Mid-America instead of holding a tournament to establish the championship. With a number of NWA territories active at the time this version of the United States Tag Team Championship was one of at least six championships that shared the same name under the NWA's supervision. The team of Dennis Condrey and Phil Hickerson, also known as "The Bicentennial Kings", held the championship the most times, five in total including the last reign when the titles were abandoned in 1976. Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it was not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship was awarded after the chosen wrestler "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

The NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Championship was a National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) sanctioned professional wrestling championship promoted by NWA Mid-America in and around their Tennessee and Kentucky territory from 1955 until 1974. The championship was limited to wrestlers in the Junior Heavyweight division, limited to wrestlers weighing less than 220 lb (100 kg). The NWA also sanctioned the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, with the United States version serving as one of several local level Junior Heavyweight Championships. Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it was not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship was awarded after the chosen wrestler "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.

The NWA Louisiana Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship in NWA Tri-State. A secondary title after NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship, and complementing the NWA Louisiana Heavyweight Championship, it was one of many state tag team championships recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance.

References

General references

Specific

  1. Laffere, Charles (2004). "Regional Territories: UWF #35". KayfabeMemories.com.
  2. Rowland, Sean (2004). "Regional Territories: Mid-South #8 Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com.
  3. Ed Grabianowski. "How Pro Wrestling Works". How Stuff Works. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  4. Rowland, Sean (2004). "Regional Territories: Mid-South #8 Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com.
  5. 1 2 "NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  6. "Tri-State Title Tournament 1954". ProWrestlingHistory.com.
  7. "Tom Jones". Online World of Wrestling.
  8. "Mike George". Online World of Wrestling.
  9. "Bob Sweetan". Online World of Wrestling.
  10. 1 2 3 Baker, David (July 23, 2011). "Paul Jones". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. David Baker's Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Results.