USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship
USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship |
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Details |
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Promotion |
United States Wrestling Association |
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Date established |
December 13, 1988 |
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Date retired |
November 1997 |
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Statistics |
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First champion(s) |
Jerry Lawler |
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Most reigns |
Jerry Lawler (28 times) |
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Longest reign |
Sid Vicious (205 days) |
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Shortest reign |
Jerry Lawler (4 days) |
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The USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship formed in 1988, which consisted of the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship from World Class Championship Wrestling and the AWA World Heavyweight Championship from the American Wrestling Association. The title was unified on December 13, 1988, when AWA World Champion Jerry Lawler defeated WCWA World Champion Kerry Von Erich in a unification match.
The title was primarily recognized by and defended in the United States Wrestling Association until 1997, when the company ceased operations. However, the AWA withdrew its recognition of the championship shortly after the unification match when Lawler was stripped of the AWA world title. The title was also contested in the World Wrestling Federation in 1993.[1]
Title history
Wrestler: |
Reign #: |
Date won: |
Place won: |
Notes: |
Jerry Lawler |
1 |
December 13, 1988 |
Chicago, Illinois |
Lawler was the reigning AWA World Heavyweight Champion. He defeats Kerry Von Erich to win the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship. This results in the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship being formed. In January 1989, he was stripped of the AWA title by the AWA, ending the AWA title's connection with the USWA Unified World Heavyweight title. Lawler continues to be recognized as the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion by the USWA. On January 16, 1989, Dutch Mantell apparently defeated Lawler to win the title after guest referee Ricky Morton (who had been paid off by Mantell) helped Mantell win by knocking Lawler's feet off the ropes in Mantell's pinfall attempt. The CWA Championship Committee reversed the decision the following week, returning the title to Lawler. |
Master of Pain |
1 |
April 1, 1989 |
Memphis, Tennessee |
Jerry Lawler |
2 |
April 25, 1989 |
Memphis, TN |
The WCWA World Heavyweight Championship is held up in April 1989. Regardless, the USWA continues to recognize the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship. On April 14 Lawler defeats Kerry Von Erich to win the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship again. Lawler claims to still be champion in AWA and wins the USWA Unified World Heavyweight title on April 25. |
The Soultaker |
1 |
October 23, 1989 |
Memphis, TN |
This title change was not recognised in the Texas/World Class branch of the USWA. |
Jerry Lawler |
3 |
November 6, 1989 |
Memphis, TN |
King Cobra |
1 |
December 30, 1989 |
Memphis, TN |
This title change was not recognised in the Texas/World Class branch of the USWA. |
Jerry Lawler |
4 |
January 8, 1990 |
Memphis, TN |
Jimmy Valiant |
1 |
February 26, 1990 |
Memphis, TN |
This title change was not recognised in the Texas/World Class branch of the USWA. |
Jerry Lawler |
5 |
March 12, 1990 |
Memphis, TN |
Jimmy Valiant |
2 |
April 28, 1990 |
Memphis, TN |
This title change was not recognised in the Texas/World Class branch of the USWA. |
Jerry Lawler |
6 |
May 5, 1990 |
Memphis, TN |
Snowman |
1 |
June 18, 1990 |
Memphis, TN |
Stripped |
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August 27, 1990 |
|
Snowman no-shows title defense. (World Class Championship Wrestling ends business relationship with USWA in September 1990, ending the WCWA title's connection with the USWA Unified World Heavyweight title. Regardless, the USWA continues to recognize the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship.) |
Jerry Lawler |
7 |
October 8, 1990 |
Memphis, TN |
Defeated Austin Idol in tournament final. |
Terry Funk |
1 |
November 5, 1990 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
8 |
March 11, 1991 |
Memphis, TN |
Awesome Kong |
1 |
July 29, 1991 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
9 |
August 12, 1991 |
Memphis, TN |
The Dragon Master |
1 |
August 26, 1991 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
10 |
September 2, 1991 |
Memphis, TN |
Kamala |
1 |
November 25, 1991 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
11 |
December 2, 1991 |
Memphis, TN |
Held Up |
|
December 7, 1991 |
|
Title held up after match with Kamala. |
Kamala |
2 |
December 9, 1991 |
Memphis, TN |
Won rematch. |
Held Up |
|
February 2, 1992 |
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Title held up after match against Koko Ware. |
Kamala |
3 |
February 10, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Won rematch. |
Koko B. Ware |
1 |
February 24, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Kamala |
4 |
March 16, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
12 |
May 4, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Defeats Eddie Gilbert on June 8, 1992 to unify GWF and USWA World Titles. |
Eddie Gilbert |
1 |
June 15, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Ricky Morton |
1 |
July 13, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Eddie Gilbert |
2 |
July 20, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Junkyard Dog |
1 |
September 21, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Butch Reed |
1 |
October 12, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Todd Champion |
1 |
October 17, 1992 |
Cleveland, Ohio |
Phantom title change after Reed left the territory. |
Jerry Lawler |
13 |
November 2, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Koko B. Ware |
2 |
December 7, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
14 |
December 14, 1992 |
Memphis, TN |
Papa Shango |
2 |
May 3, 1993 |
Memphis, TN |
Owen Hart |
1 |
June 21, 1993 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
15 |
July 5, 1993 |
Memphis, TN |
Tatanka |
1 |
September 13, 1993 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
16 |
September 20, 1993 |
Memphis, TN |
Randy Savage |
1 |
October 11, 1993 |
Memphis, TN |
Vacated |
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November 20, 1993 |
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United States Wrestling Association (USWA) & World Wrestling Federation (WWF) temporarily end co-promotion. |
Jeff Jarrett |
1 |
November 22, 1993 |
Memphis, TN |
Won Battle Royal. |
Jerry Lawler |
17 |
December 20, 1993 |
Memphis, TN |
Eddie Gilbert |
3 |
January 31, 1994 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
18 |
February 7, 1994 |
Memphis, TN |
Eddie Gilbert |
4 |
February 14, 1994 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
19 |
March 25, 1994 |
Senatobia, MS |
Sid Vicious |
1 |
July 16, 1994 |
Memphis, TN |
Won by forfeit. |
Jerry Lawler |
20 |
February 6, 1995 |
Memphis, TN |
Bill Dundee |
1 |
February 25, 1995 |
Memphis, TN |
Razor Ramon |
1 |
April 3, 1995 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
21 |
May 1, 1995 |
Memphis, TN |
Ahmed Johnson |
1 |
November 6, 1995 |
Memphis, TN |
Jeff Jarrett |
2 |
December 20, 1995 |
Tunica, Mississippi |
Stripped |
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March 2, 1996 |
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Jarrett suffers back injury. |
Jerry Lawler |
22 |
March 4, 1996 |
Memphis, TN |
Defeated Mabel in tournament final. |
Held Up |
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March 8, 1996 |
|
Title held up after match against Bill Dundee. |
Jerry Lawler |
23 |
April 5, 1996 |
Memphis, TN |
Lawler won rematch. Records remain unclear. |
Jeff Jarrett |
3 |
April 20, 1996 |
Memphis, TN |
Referee Frank Morrell helped Jarrett. |
Jerry Lawler |
24 |
July 24, 1996 |
West Helena, Arkansas |
Sid Vicious |
2 |
August 30, 1996 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
25 |
September 2, 1996 |
Memphis, TN |
The Colorado Kid |
1 |
October 4, 1996 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
26 |
November 16, 1996 |
Memphis, TN |
Tank |
1 |
March 15, 1997 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
27 |
March 22, 1997 |
Memphis, TN |
King Reginald |
1 |
April 12, 1997 |
Memphis, TN |
Jerry Lawler |
28 |
April 27, 1997 |
Memphis, TN |
Dutch Mantel |
1 |
August 8, 1997 |
Memphis, TN |
Title Retired |
|
November 1997 |
|
USWA closed. |
References