Post by Mister Yummy on Sept 21, 2010 0:55:09 GMT -5
I've always been very interested in title histories. I've decided to post my own take on 3 related, but seperate titles. There's a lot of confusion about how these three are related to each other, and maybe this will help with some questions.
These title histories are a bit different than you'll see anywhere else. Like I said, it's my own take on them.
First, we'll do the (WWE) orld Heavyweight Championship. Most title historians say it's a brand new title created for HHH in 2002. The WWE Seems to take the stand that it's descended from the old NWA Title. But, the closest it can really claim is the WCW Title. However, I can work those together, as such.
(WWE) World Heavyweight Championship Lineage
------------
Orville Brown 1-5-1948 Defeats Sonny Myers for a different World Title. Recognised as first
NWA World Heavyweight Champion July 1948
Lou Thesz 11-27-1949 When Brown is unable to defend due to a car accident. Thesz
unified several other titles as well to become Undisputed orld eavyweight Wrestling
Champion by June 1952.
Whipper Billy Watson 3-15-1956 by count out.
Lou Thesz[2] 11-9-1956
Edouard Carpentier 6-14-1957
Lou Thesz[3] 7-24-1957 by DQ. Some promoters continue to recognise Carpentier as champion.
This branch of the title becomes the Omaha version of the world title, and
eventually part of the AWA World Title.
Dick Hutton 11-14-1957
Pat O'Connor 1-9-1959 Also becomes first AWA World Champion during this reign
Buddy Rogers 6-30-1961
Lou Thesz[4] 1-24-1963 Capitol Wrestling continues to recognise Rogers as champion, because
it was a one fall match, when title matches were typically 2/3 falls. After losing a
2/3 falls rematch on 2/7/1963, Rogers is named first WWWF World Champion.
Gene Kiniski 1-7-1966
Dory Funk Jr. 2-11-1969
Harley Race 5-24-1973
Jack Brisco 7-20-1973
Giant Baba 12-2-1974
Jack Briscop[2] 12-9-1974
Terry Funk 12-10-1975
Harley Race[2]2-6-1977
Dusty Rhodes 8-21-1979
Harley Race[3] 8-26-1979
Gaint Baba[2] 10-31-1979
Harley Race[4] 11-7-1979
Giant Baba[3] 9-4-1980
Harley Race[5] 9-9-1980
Tommy Rich 4-27-1981
Harley Race[6]5-1-1981
Dusty Rhodes[2]6-21-1981
Rick Flair 9-17-1981
Jack Veneno 1982
Rick Flair[2] 1982
Carlos Colon 1-6-1983
Rick Flair[3] 1-1983
Harley Race[7] 6-10-1983
Rick Flair[4] 11-24-1983
Harley Race[8] 3-20-1984
Ric Flair[5] 3-25-1984
Kerry Von Erich 5-6-1984
Ric Flair[6] 5-24-1984
Dusty Rhodes[3] 7-26-1986
Ric Flair[7] 8-9-1986
Ron Garvin 9-25-1987
Ric Flair[8] 11-26-1987
Rick Steamboat 2-20-1989
Ric Flair[9] 5-7-1989
Sting 7-7-1990
Ric Flair[10] 1-11-1991 Flair was named first WCW World Champion during this reign, and was
a dual title holder.
Tatsumi Fujinami 3-21-1991 Flair remained WCW Champion, while Fujinami became NWA World
Champion.
Ric Flair[11] 5-19-1991 Flair was stripped of the WCW World Title upon his firing on
7-1-1991, and stripped of NWA recognition 9-8-1991 upon entering the WWF. The WWF
Referred to the belt as the Real World Championship, but did not recognise it, and
Flair never defended it. Flair was the first (WWF) (Real) World Heavyweight
Champion, despite the title itself being much older.
Vacant 1-19-1992 Ric Flair abandoned the belt and sent it back to the oard. He kept the
title until he became WWF World Champion upon winning the Royal Rumble. NWA
Recognition restored.
Masahiro Chono 8-12-1992 Beats Rick Rude in NWA Title Tourneyment Final.
Great Muta 1-4-1993
Barry Windham 2-21-1993
Ric Flair[12] 7-18-1993 NWA Recognition dropped 9-1993. Title renamed, breifly, The Big
Gold Belt, and later the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship during this
reign. The NWA Would later hold a tourneyment to find a new NWA Champion.
Rick Rude 9-19-1993
Hiroshi Hase 3-16-1994
Rick Rude[2] 3-24-1994
Sting[2] 4-17-1994
Ric Flair[13] 6-23-1994 Flair was already WCW Champion. He unifies the titles on this
night. Title renamed WCW World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship.
Hulk Hogan 7-17-1994
The Giant 10-29-1995 by DQ. Later stripped on 11-6-1995.
Vacant
Randy Savage 11-26-1995 Wins World War 3 battle Royal to win title.
Ric Flair[14] 2-11-1996
The Giant[2] 4-22-1996
Hulk Hogan[2] 8-10-1996
Lex Luger 8-4-1997
Hulk Hogan 8-9-1997
Sting[3] 12-28-1997 Stripped on 1-9-1998
Vacant
Sting[4]2-22-1998 Defeated former champ Hulk Hogan
Randy Savage[3] 4-19-1998
Hollywood Hogan[4] 4-20-1998
Bill Goldberg 7-6-1998
Kevin Nash 12-27-1998
Hollywood Hogan[5] 1-4-1999
Ric Flair[15] 3-14-1999
Diamond Dallas Page 4-11-1999 wins one fall 4 way match
Sting[5] 4-26-1999
DDP[2] 4-26-1999 wins one fall 4 way match
Kevin Nash[2] 5-9-1999
Randy Savage[4] Pins ash in a tag team match in which the world title was on the line.
Hulk Hogan[6] 7-12-1999
Sting 9-12-1999 Stripped for attacking a referee
Vacant 10-25-1999
Bret Hart 11-21-1999 Defeats Chris Benoit in Tourneyment Final. Stripped on 1-16-2000 due
to injury.
Chris Benoit 1-16-2000 Beats Sid Viscous. Stripped the next day for joining the WWF.
Sid Viscous 1-24-2000 Defeats Nash.
Kevin Nash[3] 1-25-2000 Awardfed to himself after he stripped Sid of the title.
Sid Viscous[2] 1-25-2000
Vacant 4-10-2000 WCW Rebooted, and all the titles were declared vacant.
Jeff Jarrett 4-16-2000 Beat former champ DDP
DDP[3] 4-24-2000
David Arquette 4-25-2000 Pins Eric Bischoff in a tag match with the title on the line.
Jeff Jarrett[2] 5-7-2000
Ric Flair[16] 5-15-2000 Stripped on 5/22
Jeff Jarrett[3] 5-22-2000 Defeats former champ Nash.
Kevin Nash[4] 5-23-2000 tripple Threat Match
Ric Flair[17] 5-29-2000 Given the title by Nash
Jeff Jarrett 5-29-2000
Hulk Hogan[7] 7-9-2000 Immediately stripped. Title given back to Jarrett.
Jeff Jarrett[5] 7-9-2000
Booker T 7-9-2000
Kevin Nash[5] 8-28-2000
Booker [2] 9-17-2000
Vince Russo 9-25-2000 Vacates on 10-2
Booker T[3] 10-2-2000 Beat former champ Jeff Jarrett
Scott Steiner 11-26-2000
Booker T[4] 3-26-2001
Kurt Angle 7-24-2001
Booker T[5] 7-30-2001
The Rock 8-19-2001
Chris Jericho 10-21-2001
The Rock[2] 11-5-2001 WCW Recognition dropped on 11-19 after being vanquished by the WWF at
Survivor Series. Referred to as just the World Heavyweight Championship.
Chris Jericho[2] 1-12-2001 Later that day, unified with WWF World Heavyweight Champion to
form the (WWF)Undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley 3-17-2002
Hulk Hogan[8] 4-21-2002 Renamed (WWE)Undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
during this reign.
The Undertaker 5-19-2002
The Rock[3] 7-21-2002 Three Way Match
Brock Lesnar 8-25-2002 Refuses to defend title on Raw Brand, stripped of World Heavyweight Title on 9-2-2002. Continues as WWE World Champion.
Tripple H[2] Awarded for his status as #1 contender to Undisputed Title
Shawn Michaels 11-17-2002 Elimination Chamber
HHH[3] 12-15-2002
Bill Goldberg[2] 9-21-2003
HHH[4] 12-14-2003
Chris Benoit[2] 3-14-2004 Three Way Match
Randy Orton 8-15-2004
HHH[5] 9-12-2004
Vacant 11-29-2004
HHH[6] 1-9-2005 Wins Elimination Chamber
Dave Batista 4-3-2005 Vacates due to injury 1-10-2006
Kurt Angle[2] 1-10-2006 wins Battle Royal
Rey Mysterio Jr. 4-2-2006 in a 3 way match
Booker T[6] 7-23-2006
Batista[2] 11-26-2006
Undertaker[2] 4-1-2007
Edge 5-8-2007 Money in the Bank. Vacates 7-17-2007 due to injury
Great Khali 7-17-2007 Wins battle Royal
Batista[3] 9-16-2007 Three Way Match
Edge[2] 12-16-2007 3 way no dq match
Undertaker[3] 3-30-2008 Stripped for using an illegal hold
Vacant 4-29-08
Edge[3] 6-1-2008 Defeats Undertaker
CM Punk 6-30-2008
Chris Jericho[3] 9-7-2008 in a scramble match. CM Punk forfeited the earlier that night.
Batista[4] 10-26-2008
Chris Jericho[4] 11-3-2008
John Cena 11-23-2008
Edge[4] 2-15-2009 Elimination Chamber
John Cena[2] 4-5-2009 3 way match
Edge[5] 4-26-2009
Jeff Hardy 6-7-2009
CM Punk[2] 6-7-2009 Money in the Bank
Jeff Hardy[2] 7-26-2009
CM Punk[3] 8-23-2009
Undertaker[4] 10-4-2009
Chris Jericho[5] 2-21-2010 Elimination Chamber
Jack Swagger 3-30-2010 Money in the Bank
Rey Mysterio Jr.[2] 4 way match
Kane 7-18-2010 Money in the Bank
We start with the NWA Title. The First gets a tase of the (WWF) (Real) World Heavyweight Championship when lair brings the best with him in 1991. When WCW Leaves the NW, instead of the NWA Taking their championship, instead they merely strip recognition, and flair continues on as champion. As there was no NWA Champion for a long time after this, it makes sense from a contemporary point of veiw. Hence, the title continues it's lineage through the WCW International WHC. Which is unified with the WCW Title in 1994, and with the WWF Title in 2001. It's then represented in the Undisputed title, until being stripped from still WWE Champion Lesnar.
This seems to be how the WWE Themselves veiw the title. Then again, they treat it like it was invented in 02 at times as well.
For reference, here's my WCW Title lineage
WCW World Heavyweight Title Lineage
------------
Ric Flair 1-11-1991 Named First WCW Heavyweight Champion due to his status as NWA World
Champion. Stripped 7-1-1991 when fired from WCW.
Lex Luger 7-14-1991 Defeats #2 contender Barry Windham
Sting 2-29-1992
Vader 7-12-1992
Ron Simmons 8-2-1992
Vader[2] 12-30-1992
Sting[2] 3-11-1993
Vader[3] 3-17-1993
Ric Flair[2] 12-27-1993 Unifies with WCW International World Heavyweight Championship on
6-23-1994. Title becomes WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Hulk Hogan 7-17-1994
The Giant 10-29-1995 by DQ. Later stripped on 11-6-1995.
Vacant
Randy Savage 11-26-1995 Wins World War 3 battle Royal to win title.
Ric Flair[3] 2-11-1996
The Giant[2] 4-22-1996
Hulk Hogan[2] 8-10-1996
Lex Luger[2] 8-4-1997
Hulk Hogan[3] 8-9-1997
Sting[3] 12-28-1997 Stripped on 1-9-1998
Vacant
Sting[4]2-22-1998 Defeated former champ Hulk Hogan
Randy Savage[3] 4-19-1998
Hollywood Hogan[4] 4-20-1998
Bill Goldberg 7-6-1998
Kevin Nash 12-27-1998
Hollywood Hogan[5] 1-4-1999
Ric Flair[4] 3-14-1999
Diamond Dallas Page 4-11-1999 wins one fall 4 way match
Sting[5] 4-26-1999
DDP[2] 4-26-1999 wins one fall 4 way match
Kevin Nash[2] 5-9-1999
Randy Savage[4] Pins Nash in a tag team match in which the world title was on the line.
Hulk Hogan[6] 7-12-1999
Sting[6] 9-12-1999 Stripped for attacking a referee
Vacant 10-25-1999
Bret Hart 11-21-1999 Defeats Chris Benoit in Tourneyment Final. Stripped on 1-16-2000 due
to injury.
Chris Benoit 1-16-2000 Beats Sid Viscous. Stripped the next day for joining the WWF.
Sid Viscous 1-24-2000 Defeats Nash.
Kevin Nash[3] 1-25-2000 Awardfed to himself after he stripped Sid of the title.
Sid Viscous[2] 1-25-2000
Vacant 4-10-2000 WCW Rebooted, and all the titles were declared vacant.
Jeff Jarrett 4-16-2000 Beat former champ DDP
DDP[3] 4-24-2000
David Arquette 4-25-2000 Pins Eric Bischoff in a tag match with the title on the line.
Jeff Jarrett[2] 5-7-2000
Ric Flair[5] 5-15-2000 Stripped on 5/22
Jeff Jarrett[3] 5-22-2000 Defeats former champ Nash.
Kevin Nash[4] 5-23-2000 tripple Threat Match
Ric Flair[6] 5-29-2000 Given the title by Nash
Jeff Jarrett 5-29-2000
Hulk Hogan[7] 7-9-2000 Immediately stripped. Title given back to Jarrett.
Jeff Jarrett[5] 7-9-2000
Booker T 7-9-2000
Kevin Nash[5] 8-28-2000
Booker [2] 9-17-2000
Vince Russo 9-25-2000 Vacates on 10-2
Booker T[3] 10-2-2000 Beat former champ Jeff Jarrett
Scott Steiner 11-26-2000
Booker T[4] 3-26-2001
Kurt Angle 7-24-2001
Booker T[5] 7-30-2001
The Rock 8-19-2001
Chris Jericho 10-21-2001
The Rock[2] 11-5-2001 WCW Recognition dropped on 11-19 after being vanquished by the WWF at
Survivor Series. Referred to as just the World Heavyweight Championship.
Chris Jericho[2] 1-12-2001 Later that day, unified with WWF World Heavyweight Champion to
form the (WWF)Undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley 3-17-2002
Hulk Hogan[8] 4-21-2002 Renamed (WWE)Undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
during this reign.
The Undertaker 5-19-2002
The Rock[3] 7-21-2002 Three Way Match
Brock Lesnar 8-25-2002 Refuses to defend title on Raw Brand, stripped of World Heavyweight
Title on 9-2-2002. Continues as WWE World Champion.
Tripple H[2] Awarded for his status as #1 contender to Undisputed Title
Shawn Michaels 11-17-2002 Elimination Chamber
HHH[3] 12-15-2002
Bill Goldberg[2] 9-21-2003
HHH[4] 12-14-2003
Chris Benoit[2] 3-14-2004 Three Way Match
Randy Orton 8-15-2004
HHH[5] 9-12-2004
Vacant 11-29-2004
HHH[6] 1-9-2005 Wins Elimination Chamber
Dave Batista 4-3-2005 Vacates due to injury 1-10-2006
Kurt Angle[2] 1-10-2006 wins Battle Royal
Rey Mysterio Jr. 4-2-2006 in a 3 way match
Booker T[6] 7-23-2006
Batista[2] 11-26-2006
Undertaker[2] 4-1-2007
Edge 5-8-2007 Money in the Bank. Vacates 7-17-2007 due to injury
Great Khali 7-17-2007 Wins battle Royal
Batista[3] 9-16-2007 Three Way Match
Edge[2] 12-16-2007 3 way no dq match
Undertaker[3] 3-30-2008 Stripped for using an illegal hold
Vacant 4-29-08
Edge[3] 6-1-2008 Defeats Undertaker
CM Punk 6-30-2008
Chris Jericho[3] 9-7-2008 in a scramble match. CM Punk forfeited the earlier that night.
Batista[4] 10-26-2008
Chris Jericho[4] 11-3-2008
John Cena 11-23-2008
Edge[4] 2-15-2009 Elimination Chamber
John Cena[2] 4-5-2009 3 way match
Edge[5] 4-26-2009
Jeff Hardy 6-7-2009
CM Punk[2] 6-7-2009 Money in the Bank
Jeff Hardy[2] 7-26-2009
CM Punk[3] 8-23-2009
Undertaker[4] 10-4-2009
Chris Jericho[5] 2-21-2010 Elimination Chamber
Jack Swagger 3-30-2010 Money in the Bank
Rey Mysterio Jr.[2] 4 way match
Kane 7-18-2010 Money in the Bank
I keep the WCW Title alive in the WHC as well. Why not, same title after 94 anyways.
And here's the proper NWA Title history.
NWA World Heavyweight Championsahip Lineage
------------
Orville Brown 1-5-1948 Defeats Sonny Myers for a different World Title. Recognised as first
NWA World Heavyweight Champion July 1948
Lou Thesz 11-27-1949 When Brown is unable to defend due to a car accident. Thesz
unified several other titles as well to become Undisputed orld eavyweight Wrestling
Champion by June 1952.
Whipper Billy Watson 3-15-1956 by count out.
Lou Thesz[2] 11-9-1956
Edouard Carpentier 6-14-1957
Lou Thesz[3] 7-24-1957 by DQ. Some promoters continue to recognise Carpentier as champion.
This branch of the title becomes the Omaha version of the world title, and
eventually part of the AWA World Title.
Dick Hutton 11-14-1957
Pat O'Connor 1-9-1959 Also becomes first AWA World Champion during this reign
Buddy Rogers 6-30-1961
Lou Thesz[4] 1-24-1963 Capitol Wrestling continues to recognise Rogers as champion, because
it was a one fall match, when title matches were typically 2/3 falls. After losing a
2/3 falls rematch on 2/7/1963, Rogers is named first WWWF World Champion.
Gene Kiniski 1-7-1966
Dory Funk Jr. 2-11-1969
Harley Race 5-24-1973
Jack Brisco 7-20-1973
Giant Baba 12-2-1974
Jack Briscop[2] 12-9-1974
Terry Funk 12-10-1975
Harley Race[2]2-6-1977
Dusty Rhodes 8-21-1979
Harley Race[3] 8-26-1979
Gaint Baba[2] 10-31-1979
Harley Race[4] 11-7-1979
Giant Baba[3] 9-4-1980
Harley Race[5] 9-9-1980
Tommy Rich 4-27-1981
Harley Race[6]5-1-1981
Dusty Rhodes[2]6-21-1981
Rick Flair 9-17-1981
Jack Veneno 1982
Rick Flair[2] 1982
Carlos Colon 1-6-1983
Rick Flair[3] 1-1983
Harley Race[7] 6-10-1983
Rick Flair[4] 11-24-1983
Harley Race[8] 3-20-1984
Ric Flair[5] 3-25-1984
Kerry Von Erich 5-6-1984
Ric Flair[6] 5-24-1984
Dusty Rhodes[3] 7-26-1986
Ric Flair[7] 8-9-1986
Ron Garvin 9-25-1987
Ric Flair[8] 11-26-1987
Rick Steamboat 2-20-1989
Ric Flair[9] 5-7-1989
Sting 7-7-1990
Ric Flair[10] 1-11-1991 Flair was named first WCW World Champion during this reign, and was
a dual title holder.
Tatsumi Fujinami 3-21-1991 Flair remained WCW Champion, while Fujinami became NWA World
Champion.
Ric Flair[11] 5-19-1991 Stripped on 9-8-1991 upon entering the WWF, a non-NWA Member.
Vacant 9-8-1991
Masahiro Chono 8-12-1992 Beats Rick Rude in NWA Title Tourneyment Final.
Great Muta 1-4-1993
Barry Windham 2-21-1993
Ric Flair[12] 7-18-1993 Stripped 9-1993 when WCW Withdraws from the NWA
Vacant 9-1993
Shane Douglas 8-27-1994 Wins Tourneyment. Immediately vacates title again, in favor of
elevating ECW Title to a World Title. ECW Withdrew from the NWA.
Vacant 8-27-1994
Chris Candido 11-19-1994 Wins Tourneyment
Dan Severn 2-24-1995
Naoya Ogawa 3-14-1999
Gary Steele 9-25-1999 3 way maych
Naoya Ogawa[2] 10-2-1999
Vacant 7-2-2000
Mike Rapada 9-19-2000 Wins Tourneyment
Sabu 11-14-2000
Mike Rapada[2] 12-22-2000
Steve Corino 4-24-2001
Shin'ya Hashimoto 12-15-2001 Triangle Round Robin match
Dan Severn[2] 3-9-2002 Stripped for being unable to schedule a title defence at first
NWA:TNA PPV.
Vacant 5-28-2002
Ken Shamrock 6-19-2002 Defeats Malice. They were the final 2 in a battle royal.
Ron Killings 8-7-2002
Jeff Jarrett 11-20-2002 Unifies with WWA Heavyweight Championship 5-25-2003
AJ Styles 6-11-2003
Jeff Jarrett[2] 10-22-2003
AJ Styles[2] 4-21-2004
Ron Killings[2] 5-19-2004 4 way match
Jeff Jarrett[3] 6-2-2004
AJ Styles[3] 5-15-2004
Raven 6-19-2005 King of the Mountain
Jeff Jarrett[4] 9-15-2005
Rhino 10-23-2005
Jeff Jarrett[5] 10-25-2005
Christian Cage 2-12-2006
Jeff Jarrett[6] 6-18-2006 King of the Mountain
Sting[2] 10-22-2006
Abyss 11-19-2006 by DQ
Christian Cage[2] 1-14-2007 3 way match. Stripped on 5-13 when TNA Withdraws from the NWA.
Continues on as the initial 'First TNA World Heavyweight Champion', but loses to
Kurt Angle later that same day.
Vacant 5-13-2007
Adam Pearce 9-1-2007 Wins Tourneyment
Brent Albright 8-2-2008
Adam Pearce[2] 9-20-2008
Blue Demon Jr. 10-25-2008
Adam Pearce[3] 3-14-2010 3 way match
This history is of the NWA's recognition of champion.
So, really, the old NWA Title split in 2 back in 1993. It's lineage branches off through to the current NWA World and World Heavyweight titles.
What do you guys think?
Thanks to wrestling-titles.com for helping me with general information. Dates, circumstances, and such.
These title histories are a bit different than you'll see anywhere else. Like I said, it's my own take on them.
First, we'll do the (WWE) orld Heavyweight Championship. Most title historians say it's a brand new title created for HHH in 2002. The WWE Seems to take the stand that it's descended from the old NWA Title. But, the closest it can really claim is the WCW Title. However, I can work those together, as such.
(WWE) World Heavyweight Championship Lineage
------------
Orville Brown 1-5-1948 Defeats Sonny Myers for a different World Title. Recognised as first
NWA World Heavyweight Champion July 1948
Lou Thesz 11-27-1949 When Brown is unable to defend due to a car accident. Thesz
unified several other titles as well to become Undisputed orld eavyweight Wrestling
Champion by June 1952.
Whipper Billy Watson 3-15-1956 by count out.
Lou Thesz[2] 11-9-1956
Edouard Carpentier 6-14-1957
Lou Thesz[3] 7-24-1957 by DQ. Some promoters continue to recognise Carpentier as champion.
This branch of the title becomes the Omaha version of the world title, and
eventually part of the AWA World Title.
Dick Hutton 11-14-1957
Pat O'Connor 1-9-1959 Also becomes first AWA World Champion during this reign
Buddy Rogers 6-30-1961
Lou Thesz[4] 1-24-1963 Capitol Wrestling continues to recognise Rogers as champion, because
it was a one fall match, when title matches were typically 2/3 falls. After losing a
2/3 falls rematch on 2/7/1963, Rogers is named first WWWF World Champion.
Gene Kiniski 1-7-1966
Dory Funk Jr. 2-11-1969
Harley Race 5-24-1973
Jack Brisco 7-20-1973
Giant Baba 12-2-1974
Jack Briscop[2] 12-9-1974
Terry Funk 12-10-1975
Harley Race[2]2-6-1977
Dusty Rhodes 8-21-1979
Harley Race[3] 8-26-1979
Gaint Baba[2] 10-31-1979
Harley Race[4] 11-7-1979
Giant Baba[3] 9-4-1980
Harley Race[5] 9-9-1980
Tommy Rich 4-27-1981
Harley Race[6]5-1-1981
Dusty Rhodes[2]6-21-1981
Rick Flair 9-17-1981
Jack Veneno 1982
Rick Flair[2] 1982
Carlos Colon 1-6-1983
Rick Flair[3] 1-1983
Harley Race[7] 6-10-1983
Rick Flair[4] 11-24-1983
Harley Race[8] 3-20-1984
Ric Flair[5] 3-25-1984
Kerry Von Erich 5-6-1984
Ric Flair[6] 5-24-1984
Dusty Rhodes[3] 7-26-1986
Ric Flair[7] 8-9-1986
Ron Garvin 9-25-1987
Ric Flair[8] 11-26-1987
Rick Steamboat 2-20-1989
Ric Flair[9] 5-7-1989
Sting 7-7-1990
Ric Flair[10] 1-11-1991 Flair was named first WCW World Champion during this reign, and was
a dual title holder.
Tatsumi Fujinami 3-21-1991 Flair remained WCW Champion, while Fujinami became NWA World
Champion.
Ric Flair[11] 5-19-1991 Flair was stripped of the WCW World Title upon his firing on
7-1-1991, and stripped of NWA recognition 9-8-1991 upon entering the WWF. The WWF
Referred to the belt as the Real World Championship, but did not recognise it, and
Flair never defended it. Flair was the first (WWF) (Real) World Heavyweight
Champion, despite the title itself being much older.
Vacant 1-19-1992 Ric Flair abandoned the belt and sent it back to the oard. He kept the
title until he became WWF World Champion upon winning the Royal Rumble. NWA
Recognition restored.
Masahiro Chono 8-12-1992 Beats Rick Rude in NWA Title Tourneyment Final.
Great Muta 1-4-1993
Barry Windham 2-21-1993
Ric Flair[12] 7-18-1993 NWA Recognition dropped 9-1993. Title renamed, breifly, The Big
Gold Belt, and later the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship during this
reign. The NWA Would later hold a tourneyment to find a new NWA Champion.
Rick Rude 9-19-1993
Hiroshi Hase 3-16-1994
Rick Rude[2] 3-24-1994
Sting[2] 4-17-1994
Ric Flair[13] 6-23-1994 Flair was already WCW Champion. He unifies the titles on this
night. Title renamed WCW World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship.
Hulk Hogan 7-17-1994
The Giant 10-29-1995 by DQ. Later stripped on 11-6-1995.
Vacant
Randy Savage 11-26-1995 Wins World War 3 battle Royal to win title.
Ric Flair[14] 2-11-1996
The Giant[2] 4-22-1996
Hulk Hogan[2] 8-10-1996
Lex Luger 8-4-1997
Hulk Hogan 8-9-1997
Sting[3] 12-28-1997 Stripped on 1-9-1998
Vacant
Sting[4]2-22-1998 Defeated former champ Hulk Hogan
Randy Savage[3] 4-19-1998
Hollywood Hogan[4] 4-20-1998
Bill Goldberg 7-6-1998
Kevin Nash 12-27-1998
Hollywood Hogan[5] 1-4-1999
Ric Flair[15] 3-14-1999
Diamond Dallas Page 4-11-1999 wins one fall 4 way match
Sting[5] 4-26-1999
DDP[2] 4-26-1999 wins one fall 4 way match
Kevin Nash[2] 5-9-1999
Randy Savage[4] Pins ash in a tag team match in which the world title was on the line.
Hulk Hogan[6] 7-12-1999
Sting 9-12-1999 Stripped for attacking a referee
Vacant 10-25-1999
Bret Hart 11-21-1999 Defeats Chris Benoit in Tourneyment Final. Stripped on 1-16-2000 due
to injury.
Chris Benoit 1-16-2000 Beats Sid Viscous. Stripped the next day for joining the WWF.
Sid Viscous 1-24-2000 Defeats Nash.
Kevin Nash[3] 1-25-2000 Awardfed to himself after he stripped Sid of the title.
Sid Viscous[2] 1-25-2000
Vacant 4-10-2000 WCW Rebooted, and all the titles were declared vacant.
Jeff Jarrett 4-16-2000 Beat former champ DDP
DDP[3] 4-24-2000
David Arquette 4-25-2000 Pins Eric Bischoff in a tag match with the title on the line.
Jeff Jarrett[2] 5-7-2000
Ric Flair[16] 5-15-2000 Stripped on 5/22
Jeff Jarrett[3] 5-22-2000 Defeats former champ Nash.
Kevin Nash[4] 5-23-2000 tripple Threat Match
Ric Flair[17] 5-29-2000 Given the title by Nash
Jeff Jarrett 5-29-2000
Hulk Hogan[7] 7-9-2000 Immediately stripped. Title given back to Jarrett.
Jeff Jarrett[5] 7-9-2000
Booker T 7-9-2000
Kevin Nash[5] 8-28-2000
Booker [2] 9-17-2000
Vince Russo 9-25-2000 Vacates on 10-2
Booker T[3] 10-2-2000 Beat former champ Jeff Jarrett
Scott Steiner 11-26-2000
Booker T[4] 3-26-2001
Kurt Angle 7-24-2001
Booker T[5] 7-30-2001
The Rock 8-19-2001
Chris Jericho 10-21-2001
The Rock[2] 11-5-2001 WCW Recognition dropped on 11-19 after being vanquished by the WWF at
Survivor Series. Referred to as just the World Heavyweight Championship.
Chris Jericho[2] 1-12-2001 Later that day, unified with WWF World Heavyweight Champion to
form the (WWF)Undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley 3-17-2002
Hulk Hogan[8] 4-21-2002 Renamed (WWE)Undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
during this reign.
The Undertaker 5-19-2002
The Rock[3] 7-21-2002 Three Way Match
Brock Lesnar 8-25-2002 Refuses to defend title on Raw Brand, stripped of World Heavyweight Title on 9-2-2002. Continues as WWE World Champion.
Tripple H[2] Awarded for his status as #1 contender to Undisputed Title
Shawn Michaels 11-17-2002 Elimination Chamber
HHH[3] 12-15-2002
Bill Goldberg[2] 9-21-2003
HHH[4] 12-14-2003
Chris Benoit[2] 3-14-2004 Three Way Match
Randy Orton 8-15-2004
HHH[5] 9-12-2004
Vacant 11-29-2004
HHH[6] 1-9-2005 Wins Elimination Chamber
Dave Batista 4-3-2005 Vacates due to injury 1-10-2006
Kurt Angle[2] 1-10-2006 wins Battle Royal
Rey Mysterio Jr. 4-2-2006 in a 3 way match
Booker T[6] 7-23-2006
Batista[2] 11-26-2006
Undertaker[2] 4-1-2007
Edge 5-8-2007 Money in the Bank. Vacates 7-17-2007 due to injury
Great Khali 7-17-2007 Wins battle Royal
Batista[3] 9-16-2007 Three Way Match
Edge[2] 12-16-2007 3 way no dq match
Undertaker[3] 3-30-2008 Stripped for using an illegal hold
Vacant 4-29-08
Edge[3] 6-1-2008 Defeats Undertaker
CM Punk 6-30-2008
Chris Jericho[3] 9-7-2008 in a scramble match. CM Punk forfeited the earlier that night.
Batista[4] 10-26-2008
Chris Jericho[4] 11-3-2008
John Cena 11-23-2008
Edge[4] 2-15-2009 Elimination Chamber
John Cena[2] 4-5-2009 3 way match
Edge[5] 4-26-2009
Jeff Hardy 6-7-2009
CM Punk[2] 6-7-2009 Money in the Bank
Jeff Hardy[2] 7-26-2009
CM Punk[3] 8-23-2009
Undertaker[4] 10-4-2009
Chris Jericho[5] 2-21-2010 Elimination Chamber
Jack Swagger 3-30-2010 Money in the Bank
Rey Mysterio Jr.[2] 4 way match
Kane 7-18-2010 Money in the Bank
We start with the NWA Title. The First gets a tase of the (WWF) (Real) World Heavyweight Championship when lair brings the best with him in 1991. When WCW Leaves the NW, instead of the NWA Taking their championship, instead they merely strip recognition, and flair continues on as champion. As there was no NWA Champion for a long time after this, it makes sense from a contemporary point of veiw. Hence, the title continues it's lineage through the WCW International WHC. Which is unified with the WCW Title in 1994, and with the WWF Title in 2001. It's then represented in the Undisputed title, until being stripped from still WWE Champion Lesnar.
This seems to be how the WWE Themselves veiw the title. Then again, they treat it like it was invented in 02 at times as well.
For reference, here's my WCW Title lineage
WCW World Heavyweight Title Lineage
------------
Ric Flair 1-11-1991 Named First WCW Heavyweight Champion due to his status as NWA World
Champion. Stripped 7-1-1991 when fired from WCW.
Lex Luger 7-14-1991 Defeats #2 contender Barry Windham
Sting 2-29-1992
Vader 7-12-1992
Ron Simmons 8-2-1992
Vader[2] 12-30-1992
Sting[2] 3-11-1993
Vader[3] 3-17-1993
Ric Flair[2] 12-27-1993 Unifies with WCW International World Heavyweight Championship on
6-23-1994. Title becomes WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Hulk Hogan 7-17-1994
The Giant 10-29-1995 by DQ. Later stripped on 11-6-1995.
Vacant
Randy Savage 11-26-1995 Wins World War 3 battle Royal to win title.
Ric Flair[3] 2-11-1996
The Giant[2] 4-22-1996
Hulk Hogan[2] 8-10-1996
Lex Luger[2] 8-4-1997
Hulk Hogan[3] 8-9-1997
Sting[3] 12-28-1997 Stripped on 1-9-1998
Vacant
Sting[4]2-22-1998 Defeated former champ Hulk Hogan
Randy Savage[3] 4-19-1998
Hollywood Hogan[4] 4-20-1998
Bill Goldberg 7-6-1998
Kevin Nash 12-27-1998
Hollywood Hogan[5] 1-4-1999
Ric Flair[4] 3-14-1999
Diamond Dallas Page 4-11-1999 wins one fall 4 way match
Sting[5] 4-26-1999
DDP[2] 4-26-1999 wins one fall 4 way match
Kevin Nash[2] 5-9-1999
Randy Savage[4] Pins Nash in a tag team match in which the world title was on the line.
Hulk Hogan[6] 7-12-1999
Sting[6] 9-12-1999 Stripped for attacking a referee
Vacant 10-25-1999
Bret Hart 11-21-1999 Defeats Chris Benoit in Tourneyment Final. Stripped on 1-16-2000 due
to injury.
Chris Benoit 1-16-2000 Beats Sid Viscous. Stripped the next day for joining the WWF.
Sid Viscous 1-24-2000 Defeats Nash.
Kevin Nash[3] 1-25-2000 Awardfed to himself after he stripped Sid of the title.
Sid Viscous[2] 1-25-2000
Vacant 4-10-2000 WCW Rebooted, and all the titles were declared vacant.
Jeff Jarrett 4-16-2000 Beat former champ DDP
DDP[3] 4-24-2000
David Arquette 4-25-2000 Pins Eric Bischoff in a tag match with the title on the line.
Jeff Jarrett[2] 5-7-2000
Ric Flair[5] 5-15-2000 Stripped on 5/22
Jeff Jarrett[3] 5-22-2000 Defeats former champ Nash.
Kevin Nash[4] 5-23-2000 tripple Threat Match
Ric Flair[6] 5-29-2000 Given the title by Nash
Jeff Jarrett 5-29-2000
Hulk Hogan[7] 7-9-2000 Immediately stripped. Title given back to Jarrett.
Jeff Jarrett[5] 7-9-2000
Booker T 7-9-2000
Kevin Nash[5] 8-28-2000
Booker [2] 9-17-2000
Vince Russo 9-25-2000 Vacates on 10-2
Booker T[3] 10-2-2000 Beat former champ Jeff Jarrett
Scott Steiner 11-26-2000
Booker T[4] 3-26-2001
Kurt Angle 7-24-2001
Booker T[5] 7-30-2001
The Rock 8-19-2001
Chris Jericho 10-21-2001
The Rock[2] 11-5-2001 WCW Recognition dropped on 11-19 after being vanquished by the WWF at
Survivor Series. Referred to as just the World Heavyweight Championship.
Chris Jericho[2] 1-12-2001 Later that day, unified with WWF World Heavyweight Champion to
form the (WWF)Undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley 3-17-2002
Hulk Hogan[8] 4-21-2002 Renamed (WWE)Undisputed World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
during this reign.
The Undertaker 5-19-2002
The Rock[3] 7-21-2002 Three Way Match
Brock Lesnar 8-25-2002 Refuses to defend title on Raw Brand, stripped of World Heavyweight
Title on 9-2-2002. Continues as WWE World Champion.
Tripple H[2] Awarded for his status as #1 contender to Undisputed Title
Shawn Michaels 11-17-2002 Elimination Chamber
HHH[3] 12-15-2002
Bill Goldberg[2] 9-21-2003
HHH[4] 12-14-2003
Chris Benoit[2] 3-14-2004 Three Way Match
Randy Orton 8-15-2004
HHH[5] 9-12-2004
Vacant 11-29-2004
HHH[6] 1-9-2005 Wins Elimination Chamber
Dave Batista 4-3-2005 Vacates due to injury 1-10-2006
Kurt Angle[2] 1-10-2006 wins Battle Royal
Rey Mysterio Jr. 4-2-2006 in a 3 way match
Booker T[6] 7-23-2006
Batista[2] 11-26-2006
Undertaker[2] 4-1-2007
Edge 5-8-2007 Money in the Bank. Vacates 7-17-2007 due to injury
Great Khali 7-17-2007 Wins battle Royal
Batista[3] 9-16-2007 Three Way Match
Edge[2] 12-16-2007 3 way no dq match
Undertaker[3] 3-30-2008 Stripped for using an illegal hold
Vacant 4-29-08
Edge[3] 6-1-2008 Defeats Undertaker
CM Punk 6-30-2008
Chris Jericho[3] 9-7-2008 in a scramble match. CM Punk forfeited the earlier that night.
Batista[4] 10-26-2008
Chris Jericho[4] 11-3-2008
John Cena 11-23-2008
Edge[4] 2-15-2009 Elimination Chamber
John Cena[2] 4-5-2009 3 way match
Edge[5] 4-26-2009
Jeff Hardy 6-7-2009
CM Punk[2] 6-7-2009 Money in the Bank
Jeff Hardy[2] 7-26-2009
CM Punk[3] 8-23-2009
Undertaker[4] 10-4-2009
Chris Jericho[5] 2-21-2010 Elimination Chamber
Jack Swagger 3-30-2010 Money in the Bank
Rey Mysterio Jr.[2] 4 way match
Kane 7-18-2010 Money in the Bank
I keep the WCW Title alive in the WHC as well. Why not, same title after 94 anyways.
And here's the proper NWA Title history.
NWA World Heavyweight Championsahip Lineage
------------
Orville Brown 1-5-1948 Defeats Sonny Myers for a different World Title. Recognised as first
NWA World Heavyweight Champion July 1948
Lou Thesz 11-27-1949 When Brown is unable to defend due to a car accident. Thesz
unified several other titles as well to become Undisputed orld eavyweight Wrestling
Champion by June 1952.
Whipper Billy Watson 3-15-1956 by count out.
Lou Thesz[2] 11-9-1956
Edouard Carpentier 6-14-1957
Lou Thesz[3] 7-24-1957 by DQ. Some promoters continue to recognise Carpentier as champion.
This branch of the title becomes the Omaha version of the world title, and
eventually part of the AWA World Title.
Dick Hutton 11-14-1957
Pat O'Connor 1-9-1959 Also becomes first AWA World Champion during this reign
Buddy Rogers 6-30-1961
Lou Thesz[4] 1-24-1963 Capitol Wrestling continues to recognise Rogers as champion, because
it was a one fall match, when title matches were typically 2/3 falls. After losing a
2/3 falls rematch on 2/7/1963, Rogers is named first WWWF World Champion.
Gene Kiniski 1-7-1966
Dory Funk Jr. 2-11-1969
Harley Race 5-24-1973
Jack Brisco 7-20-1973
Giant Baba 12-2-1974
Jack Briscop[2] 12-9-1974
Terry Funk 12-10-1975
Harley Race[2]2-6-1977
Dusty Rhodes 8-21-1979
Harley Race[3] 8-26-1979
Gaint Baba[2] 10-31-1979
Harley Race[4] 11-7-1979
Giant Baba[3] 9-4-1980
Harley Race[5] 9-9-1980
Tommy Rich 4-27-1981
Harley Race[6]5-1-1981
Dusty Rhodes[2]6-21-1981
Rick Flair 9-17-1981
Jack Veneno 1982
Rick Flair[2] 1982
Carlos Colon 1-6-1983
Rick Flair[3] 1-1983
Harley Race[7] 6-10-1983
Rick Flair[4] 11-24-1983
Harley Race[8] 3-20-1984
Ric Flair[5] 3-25-1984
Kerry Von Erich 5-6-1984
Ric Flair[6] 5-24-1984
Dusty Rhodes[3] 7-26-1986
Ric Flair[7] 8-9-1986
Ron Garvin 9-25-1987
Ric Flair[8] 11-26-1987
Rick Steamboat 2-20-1989
Ric Flair[9] 5-7-1989
Sting 7-7-1990
Ric Flair[10] 1-11-1991 Flair was named first WCW World Champion during this reign, and was
a dual title holder.
Tatsumi Fujinami 3-21-1991 Flair remained WCW Champion, while Fujinami became NWA World
Champion.
Ric Flair[11] 5-19-1991 Stripped on 9-8-1991 upon entering the WWF, a non-NWA Member.
Vacant 9-8-1991
Masahiro Chono 8-12-1992 Beats Rick Rude in NWA Title Tourneyment Final.
Great Muta 1-4-1993
Barry Windham 2-21-1993
Ric Flair[12] 7-18-1993 Stripped 9-1993 when WCW Withdraws from the NWA
Vacant 9-1993
Shane Douglas 8-27-1994 Wins Tourneyment. Immediately vacates title again, in favor of
elevating ECW Title to a World Title. ECW Withdrew from the NWA.
Vacant 8-27-1994
Chris Candido 11-19-1994 Wins Tourneyment
Dan Severn 2-24-1995
Naoya Ogawa 3-14-1999
Gary Steele 9-25-1999 3 way maych
Naoya Ogawa[2] 10-2-1999
Vacant 7-2-2000
Mike Rapada 9-19-2000 Wins Tourneyment
Sabu 11-14-2000
Mike Rapada[2] 12-22-2000
Steve Corino 4-24-2001
Shin'ya Hashimoto 12-15-2001 Triangle Round Robin match
Dan Severn[2] 3-9-2002 Stripped for being unable to schedule a title defence at first
NWA:TNA PPV.
Vacant 5-28-2002
Ken Shamrock 6-19-2002 Defeats Malice. They were the final 2 in a battle royal.
Ron Killings 8-7-2002
Jeff Jarrett 11-20-2002 Unifies with WWA Heavyweight Championship 5-25-2003
AJ Styles 6-11-2003
Jeff Jarrett[2] 10-22-2003
AJ Styles[2] 4-21-2004
Ron Killings[2] 5-19-2004 4 way match
Jeff Jarrett[3] 6-2-2004
AJ Styles[3] 5-15-2004
Raven 6-19-2005 King of the Mountain
Jeff Jarrett[4] 9-15-2005
Rhino 10-23-2005
Jeff Jarrett[5] 10-25-2005
Christian Cage 2-12-2006
Jeff Jarrett[6] 6-18-2006 King of the Mountain
Sting[2] 10-22-2006
Abyss 11-19-2006 by DQ
Christian Cage[2] 1-14-2007 3 way match. Stripped on 5-13 when TNA Withdraws from the NWA.
Continues on as the initial 'First TNA World Heavyweight Champion', but loses to
Kurt Angle later that same day.
Vacant 5-13-2007
Adam Pearce 9-1-2007 Wins Tourneyment
Brent Albright 8-2-2008
Adam Pearce[2] 9-20-2008
Blue Demon Jr. 10-25-2008
Adam Pearce[3] 3-14-2010 3 way match
This history is of the NWA's recognition of champion.
So, really, the old NWA Title split in 2 back in 1993. It's lineage branches off through to the current NWA World and World Heavyweight titles.
What do you guys think?
Thanks to wrestling-titles.com for helping me with general information. Dates, circumstances, and such.
