Jump to content

WSL World Heavyweight Championship: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
GreenC bot (talk | contribs)
Reformat 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:USURPURL and JUDI batch #20
 
(42 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
{{Infobox pro wrestling championship
{{Infobox pro wrestling championship
|championshipname=WSL World Heavyweight Championship
|championshipname=WSL World Heavyweight Championship
|finalchamp=[[Keith Walker]]
|finalchamp=[[Keith Walker (wrestler)|Keith Walker]]
|retired=February 21, 2009
|retired=February 21, 2009
|promotion={{nobr|[[Wrestling Superstars Live]]}}
|promotion={{nobr|[[Wrestling Superstars Live]]}}
Line 10: Line 10:
|longestreign={{nobr|Jonnie Stewart {{small|(1,028 days)}} }}
|longestreign={{nobr|Jonnie Stewart {{small|(1,028 days)}} }}
|shortestreign=Danny Dominion {{small|(<1 day)}}
|shortestreign=Danny Dominion {{small|(<1 day)}}
|pastnames=AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship<br>AWA World Heavyweight Championship
|pastnames=AWA World Heavyweight Championship<br>AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship
|titleretired= February 21, 2009
|titleretired= February 21, 2009
}}
}}
Line 17: Line 17:


==History==
==History==
In 1996, Dale Gagner and his associate Jonnie Stewart, former [[American Wrestling Association]] (AWA) employees, filed corporate papers to license the AWA name in the state of Minnesota and formed an organization known as [[Wrestling Superstars Live|AWA Superstars of Wrestling]]. In April 2007 [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) filed a [[lawsuit]] against Dale Gagner and Jonnie Stewart, citing [[trademark infringement]], as WWE owned all American Wrestling Association properties due to their purchase after the AWA's closure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|title=World Wrestling sues promoter|author=Browning, Dan|date=2007-04-28|publisher=[[Star Tribune]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428030922/http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|archivedate=2007-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/news-notes/2007/05/04.html|title=News and Notes, May 4, 2007|date=2007-05-04|publisher=GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=28334|title=WWE Files Lawsuit Against "Gagne" For Trademark Violations Associated With AWA|author=Ryder, Bob|date=2007-04-26|publisher=1wrestling.com|access-date=2009-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102075555/http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=28334|archive-date=2008-01-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 1996, Dale Gagner and his associate Jonnie Stewart, former [[American Wrestling Association]] (AWA) employees, filed corporate papers to license the AWA name in the state of Minnesota and formed an organization known as [[Wrestling Superstars Live|AWA Superstars of Wrestling]]. On June 6 of that year, Gagner and Stewart created their version of the [[AWA World Heavyweight Championship]], recognizing all previous AWA world champions.


In October 2008, the [[court]] ruled that although Gagner and Stewart had licensed the AWA in the state of Minnesota, they had never filed for a federal trademark and ruled in favor of WWE. The court ruling prohibits Gagner and his associate from exploiting or trading on the AWA name or any other derivatives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news08/1225314623.shtml|title=WWE wins trademark infringement lawsuit over AWA|date=2008-10-28|publisher=wrestleview.com}}</ref> As a result, the organization was renamed to [[Wrestling Superstars Live]]. Due to there being no connection to the American Wrestling Association, Wrestling Superstars Live championship reigns are recognized from 1996 and forward.
In April 2007 [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) filed a [[lawsuit]] against Dale Gagner and Jonnie Stewart, citing [[trademark infringement]], as WWE owned all "American Wrestling Association" properties due to their purchase of the company after the original AWA's closure.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|title=World Wrestling sues promoter|author=Browning, Dan|date=2007-04-28|publisher=[[Star Tribune]]|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428030922/http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|archivedate=2007-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/news-notes/2007/05/04.html|title=News and Notes, May 4, 2007|date=2007-05-04|publisher=GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=28334|title=WWE Files Lawsuit Against "Gagne" For Trademark Violations Associated With AWA|author=Ryder, Bob|date=2007-04-26|publisher=1wrestling.com|access-date=2009-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102075555/http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=28334|archive-date=2008-01-02|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In October 2008, a [[court]] ruled against Gagner and Stewart and ruled in favor of WWE. The court ruling prohibited Gagner and his associates from exploiting or trading on the AWA name or any other derivatives.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news08/1225314623.shtml|title=WWE wins trademark infringement lawsuit over AWA|date=2008-10-28|publisher=wrestleview.com}}</ref> As a result, the organization was renamed to [[Wrestling Superstars Live]] (WSL). Due to there no longer being connections to the original AWA, WSL began only recognizing championship reigns from 1996 and forward.


==Title history==
==Title history==
Line 34: Line 34:
|days = {{age in days nts|1996|06|06|1999|03|31}}
|days = {{age in days nts|1996|06|06|1999|03|31}}
|location = [[Rochester, Minnesota]]
|location = [[Rochester, Minnesota]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes = Defeated Larry Gligorovich to win the AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship.
|notes = Defeated Larry Gligorovich to win the inaugural AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship.
|ref = <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=767| title = AWA World Heavyweight Championship | accessdate=March 25, 2020 | work=cagematch.net}}</ref>
|ref = <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=767| title = AWA World Heavyweight Championship | accessdate=March 25, 2020 | work=cagematch.net}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
Line 44: Line 44:
|days = {{age in days nts|1999|03|31|2000|07|29}}
|days = {{age in days nts|1999|03|31|2000|07|29}}
|location = [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]]
|location = [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
Line 52: Line 52:
|date = {{dts|2000|07|29}}
|date = {{dts|2000|07|29}}
|location =
|location =
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|days2 =
|days2 =
|notes =
|notes =
Line 63: Line 63:
|days = {{age in days nts|2000|07|29|2000|07|29}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2000|07|29|2000|07|29}}
|location = [[Pine Bluff, Arkansas]]
|location = [[Pine Bluff, Arkansas]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes = The owner stripped Bundy from the title and declared himself the champion.
|notes = Gagne, owner of AWA Superstars of Wrestling, stripped Bundy of the title and declared himself the new champion.
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 4
|number = 4
|champion = The Patriot (Danny Dominion)
|champion = The Patriot
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2000|07|29}}
|date = {{dts|2000|07|29}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2000|07|29|2000|07|29}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2000|07|29|2000|07|29}}
|location = [[Pine Bluff, Arkansas]]
|location = [[Pine Bluff, Arkansas]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
Line 83: Line 83:
|days = {{age in days nts|2000|07|29|2001|06|03}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2000|07|29|2001|06|03}}
|location = [[Pine Bluff, Arkansas]]
|location = [[Pine Bluff, Arkansas]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
Line 93: Line 93:
|days = {{age in days nts|2001|06|03|2002|03|22}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2001|06|03|2002|03|22}}
|location = [[Hillside, Illinois]]
|location = [[Hillside, Illinois]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 7
|number = 7
|champion = Evan Karagias
|champion = [[Evan Karagias]]
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2002|03|22}}
|date = {{dts|2002|03|22}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2002|03|22|2002|05|02}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2002|03|22|2002|05|02}}
|location = [[Casa Grande, Arizona]]
|location = [[Casa Grande, Arizona]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
Line 113: Line 113:
|days = {{age in days nts|2002|05|02|2002|05|04}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2002|05|02|2002|05|04}}
|location = [[Cottonwood, Arizona]]
|location = [[Cottonwood, Arizona]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes = Previously won the championship as The Patriot.
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 9
|number = 9
|champion = Evan Karagias
|champion = [[Evan Karagias]]
|reign = 2
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|2002|05|04}}
|date = {{dts|2002|05|04}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2002|05|04|2002|10|12}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2002|05|04|2002|10|12}}
|location = [[Casa Grande, Arizona]]
|location = [[Casa Grande, Arizona]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 10
|number = 10
|champion = Horshu
|champion = [[Luther Reigns|Horshu]]
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2002|10|12}}
|date = {{dts|2002|10|12}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2002|10|12|2003|07|06}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2002|10|12|2003|07|06}}
|location = [[Mercedes, Texas]]
|location = [[Mercedes, Texas]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes = Stripped of the title due to missing mandatory title defenses.
|notes = Stripped of the title due to missing mandatory title defenses.
|ref =
|ref =
Line 147: Line 147:
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 11
|number = 11
|champion = Evan Karagias
|champion = [[Evan Karagias]]
|reign = 3
|reign = 3
|date = {{dts|2003|07|06}}
|date = {{dts|2003|07|06}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2003|07|06|2005|01|23}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2003|07|06|2005|01|23}}
|location = [[Lemoore, California]]
|location = [[Lemoore, California]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes = Defeated Eric Priest to win the vacated title. Karagias was fired in January 2005 by Dale Gagne for misconduct and refusal of defending the title as scheduled.
|notes = Defeated Eric Priest to win the vacant title. Karagias was fired in January 2005 by Dale Gagne for misconduct and refusing to defend the title as scheduled.
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
Line 167: Line 167:
|sort number = 11.5
|sort number = 11.5
|type = promotion
|type = promotion
|name = [[Wrestling Superstars Live|AWA Superstars of Wrestling]] (AWA) / [[Pro Wrestling Zero1]] (Zero1)
|name = [[Wrestling Superstars Live|AWA Superstars of Wrestling]] (AWA) / [[Pro Wrestling Zero1|Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max]] (Zero1-Max)
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 12
|number = 12
|champion = Takao Omori
|champion = [[Takao Omori]]
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2005|01|23}}
|date = {{dts|2005|01|23}}
Line 176: Line 176:
|location = [[Tokyo|Tokyo, Japan]]
|location = [[Tokyo|Tokyo, Japan]]
|event = Zero1-Max Ground Max
|event = Zero1-Max Ground Max
|notes = Defeated Steve Corino in the finals of a tournament when Pro Wrestling Zero1 joins AWA Superstars of Wrestling.
|notes = Defeated [[Steve Corino]] in the finals of a tournament to win the vacant championship.
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
Line 185: Line 185:
|days = {{age in days nts|2005|06|11|2006|01|22}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2005|06|11|2006|01|22}}
|location = [[Bay City, Michigan]]
|location = [[Bay City, Michigan]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 14
|number = 14
|champion = Shinjiro Otani
|champion = [[Shinjiro Otani]]
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2006|01|22}}
|date = {{dts|2006|01|22}}
Line 200: Line 200:
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 15
|number = 15
|champion = Takao Omori
|champion = [[Takao Omori]]
|reign = 2
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|2006|04|01}}
|date = {{dts|2006|04|01}}
Line 210: Line 210:
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 16
|number = 16
|champion = Ric Converse
|champion = [[Ric Converse]]
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2006|06|04}}
|date = {{dts|2006|06|04}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2006|06|04|2007|01|07}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2006|06|04|2007|01|07}}
|location = [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|location = [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
Line 225: Line 225:
|days = {{age in days nts|2007|01|07|2007|03|31}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2007|01|07|2007|03|31}}
|location = [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]]
|location = [[Pottstown, Pennsylvania]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes = On March 23, 2007, Corino lost the title to TNT at an AWF event; however, on March 28, the AWA Superstars of Wrestling Board of Directors returned the title to Corino when the proper paperwork for the match could not be found.
|notes = On March 23, 2007, Corino lost the title to [[Greg Bownds|TNT]] at an AWF event in Sydney, Australia; however, on March 28, the AWA Superstars of Wrestling Board of Directors returned the title to Corino when the proper paperwork authorizing the title match could not be found.
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 18
|number = 18
|champion = Takao Omori
|champion = [[Takao Omori]]
|reign = 3
|reign = 3
|date = {{dts|2007|03|31}}
|date = {{dts|2007|03|31}}
Line 240: Line 240:
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 19
|number = 19
|champion = Masato Tanaka
|champion = [[Masato Tanaka]]
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2007|10|26}}
|date = {{dts|2007|10|26}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2007|10|26|2007|12|11}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2007|10|26|2007|12|15}}
|location = [[Tokyo|Tokyo, Japan]]
|location = [[Tokyo|Tokyo, Japan]]
|event = Zero1-Max Innovation
|event = Zero1-Max Innovation
|notes =
|notes = Defeated [[Takao Omori]] on October 26, 2007 to win the World Heavyweight Championship of AWA Superstars of Wrestling; Zero1 ends business relationship with AWA Superstars of Wrestling on December 15, 2007 and the reign is recognized as the Zero1 [[World Heavyweight Championship (Zero1)|World Heavyweight Championship]].
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 19.5
|sort number = 19.5
|type = promotion
|name = [[Wrestling Superstars Live|AWA Superstars of Wrestling]] (AWA)
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 19.6
|type = vacated
|type = vacated
|date = {{dts|2007|12|11}}
|date = {{dts|2007|12|15}}
|location =
|location =
|event =
|event =
|days2 =
|days2 =
|notes = The championship is vacated after Zero1-Max ended its business relationship with AWA Superstars of Wrestling on December 15, 2007. Zero1-Max, however, continued to recognize Tanaka's reign as the first reign of the Zero1-Max [[World Heavyweight Championship (Zero1)|World Heavyweight Championship]].
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 19.6
|type = promotion
|name = [[Wrestling Superstars Live|AWA Superstars of Wrestling]] (AWA)
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|number = 20
|number = 20
|champion = Larry Zbyszko
|champion = [[Larry Zbyszko]]
|reign = 1*
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2008|02|05}}
|date = {{dts|2008|02|05}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|02|05|2008|04|20}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|02|05|2008|10|11}}
|location = [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]
|location = [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]
|event =
|event =
|notes = Awarded the title for being the final holder of the original [[AWA World Heavyweight Championship]].
|notes = Title awarded.
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 20.5
|number = 20.5
|type = unrecognized
|type = unrecognized
|champion = Brian Logan†
|champion = Brian Logan
|reign = #
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2008|04|20}}
|date = {{dts|2008|04|20}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|04|20|2008|04|20}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|04|20|2008|04|20}}
|location = [[Fayetteville, West Virginia]]
|location = [[Fayetteville, West Virginia]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes = Logan defeated Zbyszko and Ricky Landell in a triple threat match. Shortly thereafter, Mountaineer Wrestling Association of West Virginia, the promotion for which Logan primarily performs, pulled out of AWA Superstars of Wrestling to form American Wrestling Affiliates with several other promotions. The title was returned to Zbyszko, and Logan's reign was never officially recognized by AWA Superstars of Wrestling.
|notes = Logan defeated Zbyszko and Ricky Landell in a triple threat match. Shortly thereafter, Mountaineer Wrestling Association of West Virginia, the promotion for which Logan primarily performed, pulled out of AWA Superstars of Wrestling to form the American Wrestling Affiliates with several other promotions. The title was returned to Zbyszko, and Logan's reign was never officially recognized by AWA Superstars of Wrestling. Logan is recognized as the inaugural [[WSL_World_Heavyweight_Championship#American_Wrestling_Affiliates_version|American Wrestling Affiliates World Heavyweight champion]] due to this victory.
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
Line 287: Line 288:
|name = [[Wrestling Superstars Live]] (WSL)
|name = [[Wrestling Superstars Live]] (WSL)
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 21
|number = 20.7
|type = unrecognized
|champion = Larry Zbyszko
|champion = [[Larry Zbyszko]]
|reign = 2*
|date = {{dts|2008|02|05}}
|reign = 2
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|02|05|2008|10|11}}
|date = {{dts|2008|04|20}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|04|20|2008|10|11}}
|location = [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]
|event =
|location =
|event = —
|notes = Title returned to Zbyszko.
|notes = Title returned to Zbyszko; AWA Superstars of Wrestling considered this a continuation of Zbyszko's previous reign.
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 22
|number = 21
|champion = Ricky Landell
|champion = [[Ricky Landell]]
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2008|10|11}}
|date = {{dts|2008|10|11}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|10|11|2009|02|21}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|10|11|2009|02|21}}
|location = [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|location = [[Indianapolis, Indiana]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes = Title becomes known as the WSL World Heavyweight Championship when the promotion is forced to rename.
|notes = Title becomes known as the WSL World Heavyweight Championship when the promotion is forced to rename to Wrestling Superstars Live (WSL).
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 23
|number = 22
|champion = Keith Walker
|champion = [[Keith Walker (wrestler)|Keith Walker]]
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2009|02|21}}
|date = {{dts|2009|02|21}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2009|02|21|2009|02|21}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2009|02|21|2009|02|21}}
|location = [[Michigan City, Indiana]]
|location = [[Michigan City, Indiana]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
Line 320: Line 322:
|type=deactivated
|type=deactivated
|date = {{dts|2009|02|21}}
|date = {{dts|2009|02|21}}
|location = [[Michigan City, Indiana]]
|location =
|notes=The championship is retired when WSL goes out of business.
|notes=
|ref=
|ref=
}}
}}
{{BundleEnd}}
{{BundleEnd}}


===Combined reigns===
<small><nowiki>*</nowiki></small> Wrestling Superstars Live considers Zbyszko's reign before and his reign after his loss to Brian Logan to be one continuous reign.<br />
{|class="wikitable"
† Unofficial title changes not recognized by Wrestling Superstars Live.
|-
!Rank
!Wrestler
!No. of<br>reigns
!Combined days
|-
!1
||Jonnie Stewart ||1|| 1,028
|-
!2
||[[Evan Karagias]] ||3||775
|-
!3
||[[King Kong Bundy]] || 1 || 486
|-
!4
||[[Takao Omori]]||3||412
|-
!5
||Larry Gligorovich||1||309
|-
!6
||[[Steve Corino]] ||2||308
|-
!7
||Eric Priest||1|| 292
|-
!8
||[[Luther Reigns|Horshu]]||1||267
|-
!9
||[[Larry Zbyszko]]||1<sup>(2)</sup>||249
|-
!10
||[[Ric Converse]]||1||217
|-
!11
||[[Ricky Landell]]||1||133
|-
!12
||[[Shinjiro Otani]]||1||69
|-
!13
||[[Masato Tanaka]]||1||50
|-
!14
||The Patriot/Danny Dominion||2||2
|-
!rowspan=2|15
||Dale Gagne||1||0
|-
||Keith Walker||1||0
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
|—
|Brian Logan || 1 || 0
|-
|}


===American Wrestling Affliates / [[Innovate Wrestling|Championship Wrestling Alliance]]===
==American Wrestling Affiliates version ==
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=yes}}
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=yes}}
{{PWtitlereign
{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|type = promotion
|name = American Wrestling Affliates (AWA) / [[Innovate Wrestling|Championship Wrestling Alliance]] (CWA) / [[Southern States Wrestling]] (SSW)
|name = American Wrestling Affiliates (AWA)
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 1
|number = 1
|champion = Brian Logan†
|champion = Brian Logan
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|2008|04|20}}
|date = {{dts|2008|04|20}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|04|20|2008|11|01}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|04|20|2008|11|01}}
|location = [[Fayetteville, West Virginia]]
|location = [[Fayetteville, West Virginia]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes = Logan defeated Zbyszko and Ricky Landell in a triple threat match. Shortly thereafter, Mountaineer Wrestling Association of West Virginia, the promotion for which Logan primarily performs, pulled out of AWA Superstars of Wrestling to form American Wrestling Affiliates with several other promotions. The title was returned to Zbyszko, and Logan's reign was never officially recognized by AWA Superstars of Wrestling.
|notes = Logan defeated Zbyszko and Ricky Landell in a triple threat match to win the AWA Superstars of Wrestling World title. Shortly thereafter, Mountaineer Wrestling Association of West Virginia, the promotion for which Logan primarily performs, pulled out of AWA Superstars of Wrestling to form American Wrestling Affiliates with several other promotions. Logan is recognized as the inaugural world champion of the American Wrestling Affiliates.
|ref = <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1962| title = AWA World Heavyweight Championship | accessdate=March 25, 2020 | work=cagematch.net}}</ref>
|ref = <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=1962| title = AWA World Heavyweight Championship | accessdate=March 25, 2020 | work=cagematch.net}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
Line 352: Line 411:
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|11|01|2008|11|21}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|11|01|2008|11|21}}
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref =
|ref =
Line 358: Line 417:
|number = 3
|number = 3
|champion = Brian Logan
|champion = Brian Logan
|reign = 1
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|2008|11|21}}
|date = {{dts|2008|11|21}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|11|21|2009|01|03}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2008|11|21|2009|01|30}}
|location = [[Buckhannon, West Virginia]]
|location = [[Buckhannon, West Virginia]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes = Logan, the reigning AWA World Heavyweight Champion, was awarded the title, then known as the CWA World Heavyweight Championship
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|sort number=3.4
|type=vacated
|date = {{dts|2009|01|30}}
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|notes=The championship is vacated after moving to the [[Innovate Wrestling|Championship Wrestling Alliance]].
|ref=
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 3.5
|sort number = 3.5
|type = promotion
|type = promotion
|name = (CWA) [[Innovate Wrestling|Championship Wrestling Alliance]] (CWA World Heavyweight Championship / CWA Heavyweight Championship)
|name = [[Innovate Wrestling|Championship Wrestling Alliance]] (CWA)
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 4
|number = 4
|champion = Brian Logan
|reign = 3
|date = {{dts|2009|01|30}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2009|01|30|2009|05|30}}
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|event = [[House show]]
|notes = Logan, the reigning AWA World Heavyweight Champion, was awarded the CWA World Heavyweight title.
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 5
|champion = Robbie Cassidy
|champion = Robbie Cassidy
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
Line 375: Line 450:
|days = {{age in days nts|2009|05|30|2010|06|19}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2009|05|30|2010|06|19}}
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes =
|ref = <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/e/innovate/etn-cwa-h.html| title = American Wrestling Affiliates (2008/04-2009/01)Championship Wrestling Alliance (2009/01-2011/02) World Heavyweight Title | accessdate=March 28, 2020 | work=wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
|ref = <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/e/innovate/etn-cwa-h.html| title = American Wrestling Affiliates (2008/04-2009/01)Championship Wrestling Alliance (2009/01-2011/02) World Heavyweight Title | accessdate=March 28, 2020 | work=wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
}}{{PWtitlereign
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 5
|number = 6
|champion = Chris Richards
|champion = Chris Richards
|reign = 1
|reign = 1
Line 385: Line 460:
|days = {{age in days nts|2010|06|19|2011|02|04}}
|days = {{age in days nts|2010|06|19|2011|02|04}}
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|event =
|event = [[House show]]
|notes =
|notes = Title retired and replaced with the [[NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Smoky Mountain)|NWA Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Championship]] on February 4, 2011; when CWA joined the National Wrestling Alliance
|ref =
|ref =
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|sort number=5.5
|sort number=6.5
|type=deactivated
|type=deactivated
|date = {{dts|2011|02|04}}
|date = {{dts|2011|02|04}}
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|location = [[Kingsport, Tennessee]]
|notes=The CWA World Heavyweight Championship was retired and replaced with the NWA Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Championship on February 4, 2011 when the CWA joined the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA) and became NWA Smoky Mountain.
|notes=
|ref=
|ref=
}}
}}
{{BundleEnd}}
{{BundleEnd}}

===Combined reigns===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Rank
!Wrestler
!No. of<br>reigns
!Combined days
|-
!rowspan=2|1
||Robbie Cassidy ||1|| 385
|-
||Brian Logan || 3 || 385
|-
!3
||Chris Richards ||1||230
|-
!4
||Tony Givens||1||20
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist|2}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-sports}}
{{S-bef|before=[[NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Pro Wrestling Zero1]]'s top heavyweight championship| years = 2004–2007}}
{{S-aft|after=[[World Heavyweight Championship (Zero1)|World Heavyweight Championship]]}}
{{S-end}}


{{Wrestling Superstars Live}}
{{Wrestling Superstars Live}}
{{Pro Wrestling Zero1}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Wsl World Heavyweight Championship}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wsl World Heavyweight Championship}}

Latest revision as of 08:08, 21 December 2024

WSL World Heavyweight Championship
Details
PromotionWrestling Superstars Live
Date establishedJune 6, 1996
Date retiredFebruary 21, 2009
Other name(s)
AWA World Heavyweight Championship
AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship
Statistics
First champion(s)Jonnie Stewart
Final champion(s)Keith Walker
Most reignsTakao Omori (3)
Longest reignJonnie Stewart (1,028 days)
Shortest reignDanny Dominion (<1 day)

The WSL World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world championship in the Wrestling Superstars Live promotion. It was originally known as the AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship.

History

[edit]

In 1996, Dale Gagner and his associate Jonnie Stewart, former American Wrestling Association (AWA) employees, filed corporate papers to license the AWA name in the state of Minnesota and formed an organization known as AWA Superstars of Wrestling. On June 6 of that year, Gagner and Stewart created their version of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, recognizing all previous AWA world champions.

In April 2007 World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) filed a lawsuit against Dale Gagner and Jonnie Stewart, citing trademark infringement, as WWE owned all "American Wrestling Association" properties due to their purchase of the company after the original AWA's closure.[1][2][3] In October 2008, a court ruled against Gagner and Stewart and ruled in favor of WWE. The court ruling prohibited Gagner and his associates from exploiting or trading on the AWA name or any other derivatives.[4] As a result, the organization was renamed to Wrestling Superstars Live (WSL). Due to there no longer being connections to the original AWA, WSL began only recognizing championship reigns from 1996 and forward.

Title history

[edit]
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
AWA Superstars of Wrestling (AWA)
1 Jonnie Stewart June 6, 1996 House show Rochester, Minnesota 1 1,028 Defeated Larry Gligorovich to win the inaugural AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. [5]
2 King Kong Bundy March 31, 1999 House show Oshkosh, Wisconsin 1 486
Vacated July 29, 2000 House show
3 Dale Gagne July 29, 2000 House show Pine Bluff, Arkansas 1 0 Gagne, owner of AWA Superstars of Wrestling, stripped Bundy of the title and declared himself the new champion.
4 The Patriot July 29, 2000 House show Pine Bluff, Arkansas 1 0
5 Larry Gligorovich July 29, 2000 House show Pine Bluff, Arkansas 1 309
6 Eric Priest June 3, 2001 House show Hillside, Illinois 1 292
7 Evan Karagias March 22, 2002 House show Casa Grande, Arizona 1 41
8 Danny Dominion May 2, 2002 House show Cottonwood, Arizona 2 2 Previously won the championship as The Patriot.
9 Evan Karagias May 4, 2002 House show Casa Grande, Arizona 2 161
10 Horshu October 12, 2002 House show Mercedes, Texas 1 267 Stripped of the title due to missing mandatory title defenses.
Vacated July 6, 2003
11 Evan Karagias July 6, 2003 House show Lemoore, California 3 567 Defeated Eric Priest to win the vacant title. Karagias was fired in January 2005 by Dale Gagne for misconduct and refusing to defend the title as scheduled.
Vacated January 23, 2005
AWA Superstars of Wrestling (AWA) / Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max (Zero1-Max)
12 Takao Omori January 23, 2005 Zero1-Max Ground Max Tokyo, Japan 1 139 Defeated Steve Corino in the finals of a tournament to win the vacant championship.
13 Steve Corino June 11, 2005 House show Bay City, Michigan 1 225
14 Shinjiro Otani January 22, 2006 Zero1-Max Faithfully Tokyo, Japan 1 69
15 Takao Omori April 1, 2006 Zero1-Max Yasukuni Shrine Festival Tokyo, Japan 2 64
16 Ric Converse June 4, 2006 House show Indianapolis, Indiana 1 217
17 Steve Corino January 7, 2007 House show Pottstown, Pennsylvania 2 83 On March 23, 2007, Corino lost the title to TNT at an AWF event in Sydney, Australia; however, on March 28, the AWA Superstars of Wrestling Board of Directors returned the title to Corino when the proper paperwork authorizing the title match could not be found.
18 Takao Omori March 31, 2007 Zero1-Max Max Satisfaction Yokohama, Japan 3 209
19 Masato Tanaka October 26, 2007 Zero1-Max Innovation Tokyo, Japan 1 50
Vacated December 15, 2007 The championship is vacated after Zero1-Max ended its business relationship with AWA Superstars of Wrestling on December 15, 2007. Zero1-Max, however, continued to recognize Tanaka's reign as the first reign of the Zero1-Max World Heavyweight Championship.
AWA Superstars of Wrestling (AWA)
20 Larry Zbyszko February 5, 2008 Minneapolis, Minnesota 1 249 Awarded the title for being the final holder of the original AWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Brian Logan April 20, 2008 House show Fayetteville, West Virginia 1 0 Logan defeated Zbyszko and Ricky Landell in a triple threat match. Shortly thereafter, Mountaineer Wrestling Association of West Virginia, the promotion for which Logan primarily performed, pulled out of AWA Superstars of Wrestling to form the American Wrestling Affiliates with several other promotions. The title was returned to Zbyszko, and Logan's reign was never officially recognized by AWA Superstars of Wrestling. Logan is recognized as the inaugural American Wrestling Affiliates World Heavyweight champion due to this victory.
Wrestling Superstars Live (WSL)
Larry Zbyszko April 20, 2008 2 174 Title returned to Zbyszko; AWA Superstars of Wrestling considered this a continuation of Zbyszko's previous reign.
21 Ricky Landell October 11, 2008 House show Indianapolis, Indiana 1 133 Title becomes known as the WSL World Heavyweight Championship when the promotion is forced to rename to Wrestling Superstars Live (WSL).
22 Keith Walker February 21, 2009 House show Michigan City, Indiana 1 0
Deactivated February 21, 2009 The championship is retired when WSL goes out of business.

Combined reigns

[edit]
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns
Combined days
1 Jonnie Stewart 1 1,028
2 Evan Karagias 3 775
3 King Kong Bundy 1 486
4 Takao Omori 3 412
5 Larry Gligorovich 1 309
6 Steve Corino 2 308
7 Eric Priest 1 292
8 Horshu 1 267
9 Larry Zbyszko 1(2) 249
10 Ric Converse 1 217
11 Ricky Landell 1 133
12 Shinjiro Otani 1 69
13 Masato Tanaka 1 50
14 The Patriot/Danny Dominion 2 2
15 Dale Gagne 1 0
Keith Walker 1 0
Brian Logan 1 0

American Wrestling Affiliates version

[edit]
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
American Wrestling Affiliates (AWA)
1 Brian Logan April 20, 2008 House show Fayetteville, West Virginia 1 195 Logan defeated Zbyszko and Ricky Landell in a triple threat match to win the AWA Superstars of Wrestling World title. Shortly thereafter, Mountaineer Wrestling Association of West Virginia, the promotion for which Logan primarily performs, pulled out of AWA Superstars of Wrestling to form American Wrestling Affiliates with several other promotions. Logan is recognized as the inaugural world champion of the American Wrestling Affiliates. [6]
2 Tony Givens November 1, 2008 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 1 20
3 Brian Logan November 21, 2008 House show Buckhannon, West Virginia 2 70
Vacated January 30, 2009 Kingsport, Tennessee The championship is vacated after moving to the Championship Wrestling Alliance.
Championship Wrestling Alliance (CWA)
4 Brian Logan January 30, 2009 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 3 120 Logan, the reigning AWA World Heavyweight Champion, was awarded the CWA World Heavyweight title.
5 Robbie Cassidy May 30, 2009 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 1 385 [7]
6 Chris Richards June 19, 2010 House show Kingsport, Tennessee 1 230
Deactivated February 4, 2011 Kingsport, Tennessee The CWA World Heavyweight Championship was retired and replaced with the NWA Smoky Mountain Heavyweight Championship on February 4, 2011 when the CWA joined the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and became NWA Smoky Mountain.

Combined reigns

[edit]
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns
Combined days
1 Robbie Cassidy 1 385
Brian Logan 3 385
3 Chris Richards 1 230
4 Tony Givens 1 20

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Browning, Dan (2007-04-28). "World Wrestling sues promoter". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-04-28.
  2. ^ "News and Notes, May 4, 2007". GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com. 2007-05-04.
  3. ^ Ryder, Bob (2007-04-26). "WWE Files Lawsuit Against "Gagne" For Trademark Violations Associated With AWA". 1wrestling.com. Archived from the original on 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2009-10-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "WWE wins trademark infringement lawsuit over AWA". wrestleview.com. 2008-10-28.
  5. ^ "AWA World Heavyweight Championship". cagematch.net. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  6. ^ "AWA World Heavyweight Championship". cagematch.net. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  7. ^ "American Wrestling Affiliates (2008/04-2009/01)Championship Wrestling Alliance (2009/01-2011/02) World Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Pro Wrestling Zero1's top heavyweight championship
2004–2007
Succeeded by