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The world heavyweight championship is the name given to certain championships in professional wrestling. Although various professional wrestling promotions have used the term "world heavyweight championship", it is almost exclusively used as a moniker for the championship that is under competition between the top contenders of major^[specify] organizations. The territorial nature of early professional wrestling, in which promotions would each operate in different regional territories across the nation, suggested that few organizations could promote a World Heavyweight Championship, in the sense that the title could theoretically be defended against any challenger anywhere in the world. However, with the emergence of professional wrestling in mainstream and popular culture during the 1980s professional wrestling boom, many organizations grew to receive national and international exposure and thereby gained the platform to promote worldwide.

History[link]

The examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (December 2012)

Current NWA World Heavyweight Champion Kahagas.

Most of the well-recognized world heavyweight championships today are derived from the first recognized version held by Georg Hackenschmidt in 1905 and Frank Gotch in 1908. Established in 1948, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) directly traces its lineage to these reigns, thus making it the oldest active world title. With many regional territories appearing across the United States, the NWA was formed in 1948 as a governing body in professional wrestling, operating as a talent and brand name franchiser for the territory system. Though promotions that were members of the NWA retained their ownership and recognition of its champions, they were to recognize the NWA World Heavyweight Championship as the premier title over their own. The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was formed in 1960 from NWA territories that began to secede from the NWA during the late 1950s. Unilaterally, the AWA established the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and awarded the recognition to NWA World Heavyweight Champion Pat O'Connor only to later rule that O'Connor had forfeited the title to the AWA's Verne Gagne. The title along with the AWA became inactive in 1990 and was officially decommissioned in 1991. The NWA World Heavyweight Championship has since served as the foundation from which other world titles have originated. Consequently, titles that spun off from the NWA World Heavyweight Championship lineage, are connected to the historical reigns of Georg Hackenschmidt and Frank Gotch as well.

WWE is currently home to two such active world titles; the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship. The WWE Championship was introduced in 1963 when Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the precursor to WWE, seceded from the NWA and became World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). The WWWF World Heavyweight Championship was thus established as being produced from the NWA title when recognition was awarded to Buddy Rogers after he had lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Lou Thesz. WWWF was renamed to World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979 and the title became known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and later simply the WWF Championship.

Current World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio.

Similarly, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was introduced in 1991 and was established when the recognition was awarded to NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, thus being produced from the NWA title. WCW seceded from the NWA in 1993 and became a rival promotion to the WWF, growing into mainstream prominence along with them and eventually being involved in a television ratings war. Meanwhile, due to WCW's secession from the NWA, WCW opted to recognize Ric Flair's NWA World Heavyweight Championship reign at the time of the secession as the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship, which was then used for a fictitious WCW subsidiary until it was decommissioned in 1994.^[1] Ultimately, WCW was bought-out by the WWF, and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship was unified with the WWF Championship in 2001.^[2][3] Chris Jericho become the final WCW Champion and the subsequent WWF Champion, defeating The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin respectively.^[4]

Current WWE Champion The Rock.

Current TNA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Hardy.

The WWF Championship became the Undisputed Championship in professional wrestling with no other prominent world title to dispute the claim until 2002. The WWF was renamed to WWE and its title became the WWE Undisputed Championship while WWE was divided into franchises or "brands" known as Raw and SmackDown, which act as complementing promotions under WWE.^[5] The WWE Undisputed Championship was then designated to a single brand, becoming simply the WWE Championship after the World Heavyweight Championship was created, spun off from the WWE Undisputed Championship, and established while being designated to the other brand. The World Heavyweight Championship was thus indirectly produced from the NWA title. The WWE Undisputed Championship was then designated to a single brand, becoming simply the WWE Championship after the World Heavyweight Championship (WHC) was created in 2002, spun off from the WWE Undisputed Championship. The WHC was awarded using the Big Gold Belt that had previously represented the WCW Championship, linking it to the latter as a spiritual successor, as acknowledged by the WWE.^[6]

Current ROH World Champion Kevin Steen.

In 2006, WWE became home to another world title that had also spun off from the NWA World Heavyweight Championship; the ECW World Heavyweight Championship. Originally of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), the ECW World Heavyweight Championship was first introduced in 1992 in Eastern Championship Wrestling, the precursor to ECW.^[4] However, it was officially established in 1994 and produced from the NWA title when the promotion seceded from the NWA and became Extreme Championship Wrestling after Shane Douglas relinquished the NWA World Heavyweight Championship immediately after winning it and instead proclaimed himself the ECW World Heavyweight Champion.^[7][8] After ECW closed in 2001, its assets were subsequently purchased by WWE, and in 2006, the franchise was relaunched as a WWE brand complementary to Raw and SmackDown with the title being recommissioned and designated to the brand. The brand and title would continue to operate until 2010.

In Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), a promotion founded in 2002, NWA titles held a dominant role through an agreement, which allowed the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to be operated within the promotion after TNA's NWA affiliation had ended in 2004. The agreement was abruptly voided in 2007 and Christian Cage was stripped of the title by the NWA.^[9] TNA then introduced the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and awarded the recognition to Kurt Angle while also recognizing NWA reigns recorded in TNA.^[10][11] Also founded in 2002, Ring of Honor (ROH) is a promotion that grew from the independent circuit of professional wrestling to become one of the major organizations.^[12] Originally introduced as the ROH Championship in July 2002, the title became established as the ROH World Championship a year later in May 2003.^[13][14]

Nomenclature[link]

The name of the promotion is often preceded to the term "world heavyweight championship" as the complete name of the title. Examples of this included the ECW World Heavyweight, WCW World Heavyweight, and WWF World Heavyweight Championship. However, some are also correctly known simply as the "World Heavyweight Championship" without bearing the name of an organization. In some cases, this occurs in organizations where other world heavyweight championships are also competed for, as was the case in the AWA during 1960s and 1970s, the NWA and WCW in the early 1990s, and in WWE today.

Due to the term "world heavyweight championship" being applicable to any World Heavyweight Championship in general or to a specific one in particular, this often creates confusion over which championship is being referenced when the term is used. This is often the case when noting the accomplishments of Ric Flair, who is recognized by WWE as being a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion. The actual reference is made to Flair's accumulated NWA, WCW, and WWE Championship reigns.

Other championships have also been referred to as simply "world titles" despite not being World Heavyweight Championships. These often include championships with various classifications, including stipulation-based or weight class. Examples of such championships include the ROH World Television Championship and NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship.

Promotions can also recognize subordinate titles to world heavyweight championships that are often designated as regional, national, or international championships. Examples of these subordinate titles include the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship, WWE United States Championship, and WWE Intercontinental Championship, which are regional, national, and international subordinates respectively.

Active world championships[link]

Examples of other extant world championships[link]

• AAA World Heavyweight Championship - Known as the "Megacampeonato AAA" in the Mexican promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración. The title was established in 2007 with the unification of multiple championships. Promoted as the organization's top title, it is billed as the first premier world title out of Mexico. The current champion is El Texano, Jr.

• CMLL World Heavyweight Championship - A heavyweight Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre title since 1991. Unlike other world titles such as the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, it is not the premier championship in the promotion due to the greater number of lighter weight wrestlers. The current champion is El Terrible.

• CZW World Heavyweight Championship - Combat Zone Wrestling's top title. Claims its status as a World Heavyweight title after it was defended in Japan, Germany, England, Mexico, Ireland and Italy as well as the United States. The championship changed hands in all of those countries except Japan. The current champion is Masada.

• EWF World Heavyweight Championship - The EWF World Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in the Empire Wrestling Federation promotion. It was established in 1996, There have been a total of 33 recognized champions who have had a combined 45 official reigns. The current champion is Brandon Gatson.

• FIP World Heavyweight Championship - Full Impact Pro Wrestling's top title. Became a World Heavyweight Championship following a defence of the title by Roderick Strong against British wrestler PAC at a Ring of Honor show in Liverpool, England. The current champion is Jon Davis.

• IWA Undisputed World Unified Heavyweight Championship - The top title in the International Wrestling Association. The championship was established in 2000 as the IWA World Heavyweight Championship. The current champion is Chris Angel.

• PWG World Heavyweight Championship - The top championship in the Southern California promotion Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. Claims its status as a World Heavyweight title after it was defended in Kent, England and Essen, Germany on the European Vacation tour of 2006. It has since been defended in Takamatsu, Japan and Paris, France. The current champion is Adam Cole.

• UWA World Heavyweight Championship - The original title of the Universal Wrestling Association in Mexico. The organization closed down in 1995, but the title has since been defended in other various promotions. The current champion is Dr. Wagner, Jr.

• WSL World Heavyweight Championship - The top title in Wrestling Superstars Live. It was introduced in 1996 when Dale Gagner and Jonnie Stewart formed an organization known as AWA Superstars of Wrestling, infringing on the AWA name. Finally, in April 2007 WWE filed a lawsuit against them, as WWE owned all AWA properties due to their purchase after the AWA's closure. In October 2008, the court ruled in favor of WWE. Gagner and Stewart were forced to rename their organization. The current champion is Keith Walker

• WWA World Heavyweight Championship - A World Wrestling Association title in Mexico. Not to be confused with the other promotions of the same name. The current champion is Rayo de Jalisco, Jr.

• WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship - The top title in the World Wrestling Council. The championship was established in July 1982 as the WWC World Heavyweight Championship. It achieved its current name after a match billed to decide "The Champion of the Universe" between WWC World Heavyweight Champion Carlos Colon and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. The current champion is Andy Leavine.

• WWP World Heavyweight Championship - The top title in the South African World Wrestling Professionals. The championship was established in 2004. The current champion is Tornado.

• Zero1 World Heavyweight Championship - A top title in the Japanese Pro Wrestling Zero1. It was first introduced in December 2007, when Pro Wrestling Zero1 ended its business relationship with AWA Superstars of Wrestling. The Superstars of Wrestling Champion from Pro Wrestling Zero1 was stripped of the title though Pro Wrestling Zero1 continued to recognize the entire reign that started two months earlier as being the Zero1 World Heavyweight Championship. The current champion is Akebono.

Inactive world championships[link]

Examples of other inactive world championships[link]

• CWA World Heavyweight Championship (1979–1981) - A Continental Wrestling Association title. Not to be confused with the CWA World Heavyweight Championship of the Catch Wrestling Association.

• CWA World Heavyweight Championship (1973–2000) - A Catch Wrestling Association title. It was a world title out of Europe and changed hands in four countries and three continents, with both Europeans and North Americans having held the title.^[18]

• ICW World Heavyweight Championship (1978–1984) - An International Championship Wrestling title. The title was retired when the promotion closed down in 1984.

• IWA World Heavyweight Championship (1968–1981) - An International Pro Wrestling title. It was billed as being the first world title out of Japan. The title was defended and changed hands in the United States on separate occasions.

• IWA World Heavyweight Championship (1964–1971) - A World Championship Wrestling Australian title. Not to be confused with the IWA World Heavyweight Championship of International Pro Wrestling. The promotion is also not to be confused with World Championship Wrestling.

• MWA World Heavyweight Championship (1940–1948) - A Midwest Wrestling Association title. This early world title was the direct predecessor to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship of the National Wrestling Alliance. The Midwest Wrestling Association joined the newly formed National Wrestling Alliance in October 1948 and the MWA World Heavyweight Champion Orville Brown was then recognized as the first World Heavyweight Champion in the National Wrestling Alliance.^[19][20]

• USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (1988–1997) - a United States Wrestling Association title. It consisted of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship and WCWA World Heavyweight Championship. While the owning promotions of both championships would end their titles' connection with the USWA Unified World Heavyweight title, the USWA continued to recognize the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship.

• WCWA World Heavyweight Championship (1966–1990) - A World Class Championship Wrestling title. It was originally introduced as the NWA United States Heavyweight title of Texas and later became known as the NWA American Heavyweight title. It became the World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA) World Heavyweight Championship when World Class Championship Wrestling ended its business relationship with the National Wrestling Alliance in 1986.

• World Heavyweight Championship of Omaha (1957–1963) - An early world title of Omaha, Nebraska. It was unified with the AWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1963.

• World Heavyweight Championship of the Pacific Northwest (1946–1952) - An early world title of the Pacific Northwest. It was unified with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 1952.

• NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1929–1949) - A National Wrestling Association title. Not to be confused with the National Wrestling Alliance. This early world title was unified with the National Wrestling Alliance's world title in 1949.

• WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1957–1968) - An early world title in the Los Angeles-based World Wrestling Association. Not to be confused with the other promotions of the same name such as the Indianapolis-based WWA.

• WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1964–1991) - An Indianapolis-based World Wrestling Association title. Not to be confused with the other promotions of the same name such as the Los Angeles-based WWA.

• WWA World Heavyweight Championship (2001–2003) - A World Wrestling All-Stars title. It was unified with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 2003.

• XPW World Heavyweight Championship (1999–2003) - An Xtreme Pro Wrestling title. It was established in October 1999 and became inactive in March 2003 when the promotion closed.

See also[link]

• World tag team championship
• Championship (professional wrestling)
• List of early world heavyweight champions in professional wrestling
• Undisputed Championship

External links[link]

• Pro-Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship Histories

Notes[link]

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