SSW Heavyweight Championship

Last updated
SSW Heavyweight Championship
Details
Promotion Southern States Wrestling
Date establishedOctober 1, 1990
Current champion(s) Daniel Richards
Date wonNovember 3, 2018
Statistics
First champion(s)Tennessee Equalizer
Most reignsBeau James (8 reigns)
Longest reign Daniel Richards ( 1,646+ days)
Shortest reign Buddy Landel (<1 day)

The Southern States Wrestling (SSW) Heavyweight Championship is the primary professional wrestling championship in Southern States Wrestling. It was first won by The Tennessee Equalizer when he defeated George Hiatt in Elizabethton, Tennessee on February 16, 1991. The title is generally defended in the Southern United States, most often in its home base in East Tennessee, but also as far away as Virginia and West Virginia. [1] In August 2004, then champion Ray Idol began wrestling for rival promotion NWA Championship Wrestling. Although he was immediately stripped of the title, Idol continued defending a different NWA Championship Wrestling-version under the SSW name. However, this was short-lived and the title became a regular title within the main promotion. There are 41 recognized champions with a total of 69 title reigns and 8 vacancies. [2] [3] Daniel Richards is the current champion in his first reign. He won the title by defeating Beau James on the November 03, 2018 episode of SSW in Gray, Tennessee.

Contents

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
<1Reign lasted less than a day
+Current reign is changing daily
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1Tennessee EqualizerFebruary 16, 1991 House show Elizabethton, Tennessee 1146Defeated George Hiatt to become the inaugural champion. [1] [2] [3]
2SkyfireJuly 12, 1991 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 1111 [1] [2] [3]
3Stan LeeOctober 31, 1991 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 1250 [1] [2] [3]
4Wayne RogersJuly 7, 1992 House show Fall Branch, Tennessee 1185 [1] [2] [3]
5G.Q. StratusJanuary 8, 1993 House show Fall Branch, Tennessee 1196 [1] [2] [3]
6 Jimmy Golden March 30, 1993 House show Weber City, Virginia 1115 [1] [2] [3]
7Wayne RogersJuly 23, 1993 House show Fall Branch, Tennessee 2218 [1] [2] [3]
8Mike SamsonFebruary 26, 1994 House show Morristown, Tennessee 169 [1] [2] [3]
9 The Mongolian Stomper May 6, 1994SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 1186-216This reign's length is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
— Vacated September 1994———— The Mongolian Stomper vacated the title somewhere in September after he announced his retiremend from professional wrestling due to a legitimate injury. Therefore, his reign's exact length is uncertain.
10Chic WhiteOctober 1, 1994SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 197Defeated Danny Christian to win the vacant title. [1] [2] [3]
11Steve FlynnJanuary 6, 1995SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 175 [1] [2] [3]
12Mike SamsonMarch 21, 1995SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 2143 [1] [2] [3]
13Steve FlynnAugust 11, 1995SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 257 [1] [2] [3]
14Iron ManOctober 7, 1995SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 1104 [1] [2] [3]
15Eddie BruiserJanuary 19, 1996SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 142Defeated Iron Man by forfeit due to Iron Man not showing up to the defense. [1] [2] [3]
16Tennessee EqualizerMarch 1, 1996SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 2227 [1] [2] [3]
17Danny ChristianSeptember 2, 1996SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 133 [1] [2] [3]
18 K. C. Thunder October 5, 1996SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 1118 [1] [2] [3]
19Dan CooleyJanuary 31, 1997 House show Shawsville, Virginia 168 [1] [2] [3]
— Vacated April 9, 1997————Title was declared vacated after Dan Cooley was stripped out of it due to unknown circumstances.
20Steve FlynnMay 2, 1997 House show Fall Branch, Tennessee 3122Defeated Frank Parker in a tournament final to win the vacant title. [1] [2] [3]
— Vacated September 1, 1997————Steve Flynn was stripped of the championship after he failed to appear for a scheduled title defense. The title was subsequently vacated.
21Johnny ThunderSeptember 1, 1997 House show Fall Branch, Tennessee 154This was a tag team match in which Thunder pinned Otto Schwanz to win the vacant title. [1] [2] [3]
22The War MachineOctober 25, 1997 House show Fall Branch, Tennessee 149This was a four corners match also involving Johnny Thunder, Steve Flynn and Ricky Harrison. [1] [2] [3]
23Ricky HarrisonDecember 13, 1997SSW Mountain City, Tennessee 1118 [1] [2] [3]
24 Buddy Landel April 10, 1998SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 1<1 [1] [2] [3]
25Beau JamesApril 10, 1998SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 17 [1] [2] [3]
26Ricky HarrisonApril 17, 1998SSW Fall Branch, Tennessee 2274This was a loser leaves the company match. [1] [2] [3]
27Beau JamesJanuary 16, 1999SSW Kingsport, Tennessee 2140 [1] [2] [3]
28Iron CrossJune 5, 1999 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 1124 [1] [2] [3]
29The War MachineOctober 7, 1999 House show Johnson City, Tennessee 2148 [1] [2] [3]
30 Tracy Smothers March 3, 2000 House show Saltville, Virginia 1190 [1] [2] [3]
31Iron CrossSeptember 9, 2000 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 2128 [1] [2] [3]
32Stan SierraJanuary 15, 2001 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 111 [1] [2] [3]
33Brian OverbayJanuary 26, 2001 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 1<1Won the title by forfeit. [1] [2] [3]
34Steve PhillipsJanuary 26, 2001 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 115 [1] [2] [3]
35Brian OverbayFebruary 10, 2001 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 2111Overbay was awarded the title via referee's reverse decision. [1] [2] [3]
36Ricky HarrisonJune 1, 2001SSW Kingsport, Tennessee 3207 [1] [2] [3]
37Beau JamesDecember 25, 2001 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 3186-217The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
38Heinrich Von KellerJuly 2002 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 131-62The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
— Vacated September 1, 2002————The title was declared vacated after Von Keller was stripped of it due to attacking a local televisiob sponsor.
39Jesse TaylorOctober 15, 2002SSW Kingsport, Tennessee 171Defeated Beau James in tournament final to win the vacant title. [1] [2] [3]
40Scotty McKeeverDecember 25, 2002 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 147-75The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
41Jesse TaylorFebruary 2003 House show Beaver, West Virginia 270-98The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
42Robbie CassidyMay 9, 2003 House show Greeneville, Tennessee 159 [1] [2] [3]
43Jesse TaylorJuly 7, 2003 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 359 [1] [2] [3]
44 Brad Batten September 4, 2003 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 126-57The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
45Beau JamesOctober 2003 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 40-92James was awarded the title via forfeit. The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
46Ray IdolJanuary 2004 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 10-220The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
47John NobleAugust 7, 2004 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 157Noble was awarded the title after Idol left for rival promotion, NWA Championship Wrestling. Idol's stripping was not recognized as a vacancy but as an official title change without a proper match taking place. [1] [2] [3]
48Beau JamesOctober 3, 2004 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 5173 [1] [2] [3]
49Danny RayMarch 25, 2005Event held at the National Guard Armory Kingsport, Tennessee 1N/AThe exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
— Vacated 2005————The title was vacated somewhere in 2005 due to unknown circumstances.
50Wayne AdkinsSeptember 27, 2008SSW Kingsport, Tennessee 161Defeated Ryan Dookie in a tournament final to win the vacant title. [1] [2] [3]
51 K. C. Thunder November 27, 2008SSW Kingsport, Tennessee 243 [1] [2] [3]
— Vacated January 9, 2009————The title was vacated somewhere in 2005 due to unknown circumstances.
52Cody IcesJanuary 9, 2009SSW New Year's Bash Kingsport, Tennessee 1283This was a 15-man rumble match for the vacant title. [1] [2] [3]
53Ray IdolOctober 19, 2009SSW Kingsport, Tennessee 2130 [1] [2] [3]
54 Frank Parker February 26, 2010SSW 19th Anniversary Kingsport, Tennessee 194-124The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
55Ray IdolJune 2010 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 3148-178The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
56 Frank Parker November 25, 2010SSW 19th Annual Thanksgiving Night Extravaganza Kingsport, Tennessee 2234Cagematch.net says this match was also for the SSW Young Guns Championship which was held by Beau James at the moment. However, the site recognizes Ray Idol as the Heavyweight champion instead of Beau James, not specifying a match where Parker took the title from James. Yet this title change appears to be real but no other evidence for this has been recorded. [1] [2] [3]
57Ray IdolJuly 17, 2011 House show Mt. Carmel, Tennessee 4140 [1] [2] [3]
58 Frank Parker November 24, 2011 House show Mt. Carmel, Tennessee 3234 [1] [2] [3]
59Beau JamesJuly 15, 2012 House show Mt. Carmel, Tennessee 676 [1] [2] [3]
60Eric DarkstormSeptember 29, 2012 House show Mt. Carmel, Tennessee 1400 [1] [2] [3]
61Kyle MatthewsNovember 3, 2013 House show Mt. Carmel, Tennessee 126 [1] [2] [3]
62Eric DarkstormNovember 29, 2013 House show Mt. Carmel, Tennessee 2140 [1] [2] [3]
63Kyle KoolApril 18, 2014 House show Rogersville, Tennessee 1162 [1] [2] [3]
64DeAndre JacksonSeptember 27, 2014SSW Kingsport, Tennessee 1620 [1] [2] [3]
— Vacated June 8, 2016————
65Iron CrossJuly 9, 2016 House show Gray, Tennessee 3N/AThe exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
66Krunch The Equalizer2017 House show Gray, Tennessee 10-189The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
67Beau JamesJuly 8, 2017 House show Gray, Tennessee 7176-281The exact length of this reign is uncertain. [1] [2] [3]
—2018——Cagematch.net shows an unknown status of the title from the beginning of 2018 until October but doesn't say if it is a vacancy or the continuation of James' reign.
68Beau JamesOctober 8, 2018 House show Gray, Tennessee 826 [1] [2] [3]
69 Daniel Richards November 3, 2018SSW Gray, Tennessee 11,646+ [1] [2] [3]

Combined reigns

†Indicates the current champion
¤The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest length is considered.
RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns		Combined
days
1Beau James8784-1,012¤
2 Daniel Richards †11,646+
3Eric Darkstorm2640
4DeAndre Jackson1620
5Ricky Harrison3599
6 Frank Parker 3562-592
7Ray Idol4418-668¤
8Wayne Rogers2403
9Tennessee Equalizer/Krunch The Equalizer3373-562¤
10Cody Ices1283
11Steve Flynn3254
12Iron Cross3252¤
13Stan Lee1250
14Mike Samson2212
15Jesse Taylor3200-228¤
16The War Machine2197
17G.Q. Stratus1196
18 Tracy Smothers 1190
19 The Mongolian Stomper 1186-216¤
20Kyle Kool1162
21 K. C. Thunder 2121
22 Jimmy Golden 1119
23Brian Overbay2111
Skyfire1111
25Iron Man1104
26Chic White197
27Dan Cooley168
28Wayne Adkins161
29Robbie Cassidy159
30John Noble157
31Johnny Thunder154
32Scotty McKeever147-75¤
33Eddie Bruiser142
34Danny Christian133
35Heinrich Von Keller131-62¤
36 Brad Batten 126-57¤
37Kyle Matthews126
38Steve Phillips115
39Stan Sierra111
40 Buddy Landel 1<1
41Danny Ray1N/A¤

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References

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