Title changes happen mostly at OVW-promoted events. The inaugural champion was a man known as Trailer Park Trash. His reign began on August 17, 1997, but ended in a vacancy for unknown reasons; it is also unknown how he became the first champion. Nick Dinsmore holds the record of most reigns, with ten. At 192 days, Rip Rogers's first reign is the longest in the title's history. Rob Conway's fourth reign, Chet the Jett's second reign, and Vladimir Kozlov's only reign are all tied for the record of shortest reign in the title's history at less than one day each. Nick Dinsmore's combined ten reign lengths add up to 529 days—the most of any wrestler. Johnny Spade is the current champion in his first reign, after defeating previous champion Rudy Switchblade at the March 3rd, 2012 Saturday Night Special. Overall, there have been 86 reigns shared between 44 wrestlers, with seven vacancies. One of those vacancies was due to then-champion Matt Cappotelli being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, and thus he chose to vacate the championship.[3]
| # |
Wrestlers |
Reign |
Date |
Days
held |
Location |
Event |
Notes |
| 1 |
Trailer Park Trash |
1 |
01997-08-17 August 17, 1997 |
&1000000000000007600000076 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
Trailer Park Trash defeated Vic The Bruiser to become the inaugural champion. |
| — |
Vacated !Vacated |
— |
01997-11-01 November 1, 1997 |
— |
— |
— |
[4] |
| 2 |
Bill Dundee |
1 |
01997-11-16 November 16, 1997 |
&100000000000000070000007 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
Dundee won a battle royal to win the vacant championship. |
| 3 |
Rip Rogers |
1 |
01997-11-23 November 23, 1997 |
&10000000000000192000000192 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 4 |
Nick Dinsmore |
1 |
01998-06-03 June 3, 1998 |
&100000000000000070000007 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 5 |
David C. |
1 |
01998-06-10 June 10, 1998 |
&1000000000000002500000025 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
David C. won the title by forfeit. |
| 6 |
Doug Basham |
1 |
01998-07-05 July 5, 1998 |
&1000000000000007000000070 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 7 |
Rip Rogers |
2 |
01998-09-13 September 13, 1998 |
&10000000000000107000000107 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 8 |
Doug Basham |
2 |
01998-12-29 December 29, 1998 |
&100000000000000050000005 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 9 |
Rip Rogers |
3 |
01999-01-03 January 3, 1999 |
&1000000000000003000000030 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 10 |
Rod Steele |
1 |
01999-02-02 February 2, 1999 |
&1000000000000007500000075 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
Nick Dinsmore defeated Steele on February 7, 1999 at a live event, but returned the title to Steele after learning of outside interference during their encounter. |
| 11 |
Nick Dinsmore |
2 |
01999-04-18 April 18, 1999 |
&1000000000000001000000010 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 12 |
Rob Conway |
1 |
01999-04-28 April 28, 1999 |
&100000000000000090000009 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 13 |
Nick Dinsmore |
3 |
01999-05-07 May 7, 1999 |
&1000000000000003200000032 |
New Albany, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 14 |
Damaja |
1 |
01999-06-08 June 8, 1999 |
&1000000000000007000000070 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 15 |
Rob Conway |
2 |
01999-08-17 August 17, 1999 |
&1000000000000008500000085 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 16 |
Rico Constantino |
1 |
01999-11-10 November 10, 1999 |
&1000000000000004600000046 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 17 |
Flash Flanagan |
1 |
01999-12-26 December 26, 1999 |
&1000000000000004200000042 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 18 |
Constantino !Rico Constantino |
2 |
02000-02-06 February 6, 2000 |
&1000000000000001100000011 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 19 |
Flash Flanagan |
2 |
02000-02-17 February 17, 2000 |
&1000000000000004700000047 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 20 |
Damaja |
2 |
02000-04-04 April 4, 2000 |
&1000000000000005000000050 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 21 |
Nick Dinsmore |
4 |
02000-05-24 May 24, 2000 |
&1000000000000004500000045 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 22 |
Flash Flanagan |
3 |
02000-07-08 July 8, 2000 |
&1000000000000002700000027 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 23 |
Nick Dinsmore |
5 |
02000-08-04 August 4, 2000 |
&1000000000000003300000033 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 24 |
Rob Conway |
3 |
02000-09-06 September 6, 2000 |
&1000000000000004900000049 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 25 |
Nick Dinsmore |
6 |
02000-10-25 October 25, 2000 |
&10000000000000125000000125 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 26 |
Rico Constantino |
3 |
02001-02-27 February 27, 2001 |
&1000000000000003600000036 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 27 |
Flash Flanagan |
4 |
02001-04-04 April 4, 2001 |
&10000000000000112000000112 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Bluegrass
Brawl |
|
| 28 |
Doug Basham |
3 |
02001-07-25 July 25, 2001 |
&10000000000000126000000126 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
OVW TV Tapings |
OVW breaks away from the NWA in October 2001. The championship is renamed the OVW Heavyweight Championship. |
| 29 |
Leviathan |
1 |
02001-11-28 November 28, 2001 |
&1000000000000008400000084 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 30 |
The Prototype |
1 |
02002-02-20 February 20, 2002 |
&1000000000000008400000084 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 31 |
Nova |
1 |
02002-05-15 May 15, 2002 |
&10000000000000175000000175 |
Jeffersonville, Indiana |
Live event |
|
| 32 |
Damaja |
3 |
02002-11-06 November 6, 2002 |
&10000000000000105000000105 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 33 |
Nick Dinsmore |
7 |
02003-02-19 February 19, 2003 |
&1000000000000004600000046 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 34 |
Doug Basham |
4 |
02003-04-06 April 6, 2003 |
&10000000000000115000000115 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 35 |
Damaja |
4 |
02003-07-30 July 30, 2003 |
&1000000000000001400000014 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 36 |
Rob Conway |
4 |
02003-08-13 August 13, 2003 |
&100000000000000000000000 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 37 |
Johnny Jeter |
1 |
02003-08-13 August 13, 2003 |
&1000000000000006300000063 |
Louisville !Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 38 |
Mark Magnus |
1 |
02003-10-15 October 15, 2003 |
&1000000000000005600000056 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| — |
Vacated |
— |
02003-12-10 December 10, 2003 |
— |
— |
— |
The championship was vacated due to Magnus being pinned by both Nick Dinsmore and Johnny Jeter in a three-way match on December 3. |
| 39 |
Nick Dinsmore |
8 |
02004-01-07 January 7, 2004 |
&1000000000000009800000098 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
Dinsmore defeated Johnny Jeter to win the vacant championship. |
| 40 |
Matt Morgan |
1 |
02004-04-14 April 14, 2004 |
&10000000000000182000000182 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 41 |
Chris Cage |
1 |
02004-10-13 October 13, 2004 |
&1000000000000004900000049 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 42 |
Chad Toland |
1 |
02004-12-01 December 1, 2004 |
&100000000000000070000007 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 43 |
Elijah Burke |
1 |
02004-12-08 December 8, 2004 |
&10000000000000126000000126 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 44 |
Matt Morgan |
2 |
02005-04-13 April 13, 2005 |
&1000000000000001400000014 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 45 |
Brent Albright |
1 |
02005-04-27 April 27, 2005 |
&1000000000000009800000098 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 46 |
Johnny Jeter |
2 |
02005-08-03 August 3, 2005 |
&1000000000000009800000098 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 47 |
Matt Cappotelli |
1 |
02005-11-09 November 9, 2005 |
&1000000000000009100000091 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| — |
Vacated |
— |
02006-02-08 February 8, 2006 |
— |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
Cappotelli vacates the championship after announcing that he had a brain tumor.[3] |
| 48 |
Brent Albright |
2 |
02006-03-01 March 1, 2006 |
&1000000000000009400000094 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
Albright defeated CM Punk in a tournament finals to become the new champion.[5] |
| 49 |
CM Punk |
1 |
02006-06-03 June 3, 2006 |
&1000000000000008800000088 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
[6] |
| 50 |
Chet the Jett |
1 |
02006-08-30 August 30, 2006 |
&1000000000000005600000056 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 51 |
Jacob Duncan |
1 |
02006-10-25 October 25, 2006 |
&1000000000000004900000049 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 52 |
Chet the Jett |
2 |
02006-12-13 December 13, 2006 |
&100000000000000000000000 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 53 |
Paul Burchill |
1 |
02006-12-13 December 13, 2006 |
&1000000000000006600000066 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 54 |
Cody Runnels |
1 |
02007-02-17 February 17, 2007 |
&100000000000000010000001 |
Elizabethtown, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 55 |
Paul Burchill |
2 |
02007-02-18 February 18, 2007 |
&1000000000000002400000024 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 56 |
Aaron Stevens |
1 |
02007-03-14 March 14, 2007 |
&1000000000000005600000056 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 57 |
Paul Burchill |
3 |
02007-05-09 May 9, 2007 |
&1000000000000001400000014 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| — |
Vacated |
— |
02007-05-23 May 23, 2007 |
— |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
The championship was vacated after a double pin in a contest between Burchill and Idol Stevens. |
| 58 |
Jay Bradley |
1 |
02007-06-01 June 1, 2007 |
&1000000000000002600000026 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
Bradley defeated Burchill and Stevens in a three-way match to win the vacant championship. |
| 59 |
Paul Burchill |
4 |
02007-06-27 June 27, 2007 |
&1000000000000003100000031 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 60 |
Vladimir Kozlov |
1 |
02007-07-28 July 28, 2007 |
&100000000000000000000000 |
Elizabethtown, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 61 |
Michael W. Kruel |
1 |
02007-07-28 July 28, 2007 |
&10000000000000130000000130 |
Elizabethtown, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 62 |
Matt Sydal |
1 |
02007-12-05 December 5, 2007 |
&1000000000000007000000070 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
Sydal is the last OVW Heavyweight Champion while OVW is a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) developmental territory. |
| 63 |
Jay Bradley |
2 |
02008-02-13 February 13, 2008 |
&100000000000000070000007 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
Became the first OVW Heavyweight Champion since OVW and WWE parted ways. |
| 64 |
Nick Dinsmore |
9 |
02008-02-20 February 20, 2008 |
&10000000000000126000000126 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 65 |
Anthony Bravado |
1 |
02008-06-25 June 25, 2008 |
&10000000000000115000000115 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 66 |
Ryback |
1 |
02008-10-18 October 18, 2008 |
&1000000000000001400000014 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 67 |
Anthony Bravado |
2 |
02008-11-01 November 1, 2008 |
&1000000000000002800000028 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 68 |
Aaron Stevens |
2 |
02008-11-29 November 29, 2008 |
&1000000000000004900000049 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 69 |
Vaughn Lilas |
1 |
02009-01-17 January 17, 2009 |
&1000000000000002100000021 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 70 |
Apoc |
1 |
02009-02-07 February 7, 2009 |
&1000000000000007700000077 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 71 |
Vaughn Lilas |
2 |
02009-04-25 April 25, 2009 |
&1000000000000002200000022 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 72 |
Apoc |
2 |
02009-05-17 May 17, 2009 |
&1000000000000006200000062 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 73 |
Low Rider |
1 |
02009-07-18 July 18, 2009 |
&10000000000000172000000172 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 74 |
Moose |
1 |
02010-01-06 January 6, 2010 |
&1000000000000005200000052 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| — |
Vacated |
— |
02010-02-27 February 27, 2010 |
— |
N/A |
N/A |
Moose was stripped of the championship due to attacking officials. |
| 75 |
Beef Wellington |
1 |
02010-02-27 February 27, 2010 |
&1000000000000009100000091 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
Wellington won a battle royal to win the vacant championship. |
| 76 |
Mike Mondo |
1 |
02010-05-29 May 29, 2010 |
&1000000000000001800000018 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 77 |
James Thomas
(Formerly known as Moose) |
2 |
02010-06-16 June 16, 2010 |
&1000000000000004500000045 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
|
| 78 |
Low Rider |
2 |
02010-07-31 July 31, 2010 |
&10000000000000161000000161 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
|
| 79 |
Cliff Compton |
1 |
02011-01-08 January 8, 2011 |
&1000000000000005600000056 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
This was a three–way match, also involving Mike Mondo. |
| 80 |
Mike Mondo |
2 |
02011-03-05 March 5, 2011 |
&1000000000000006000000060 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
This was a three–way ladder match, also involving Low Rider.[7] |
| — |
Vacated |
— |
02011-05-04 May 4, 2011 |
&1000000000000001000000010 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
The championship was vacated after Mike Mondo attacked OVW president Danny Davis.[8] |
| 81 |
Cliff Compton |
2 |
02011-05-14 May 14, 2011 |
&1000000000000001100000011 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Live event |
This was a Brass Knuckles On A Pole Match against Mike Mondo with special referee Danny Davis.[9] |
| 82 |
Elvis Pridemoore |
1 |
02011-05-25 May 25, 2011 |
&100000000000000070000007 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
[10] |
| — |
Vacated |
— |
02011-06-01 June 1, 2011 |
— |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
Pridemoore vacated the title after finding out that he had won it due to outside interference from Mike Mondo.[11] |
| 83 |
Jason Wayne |
1 |
02011-07-02 July 2, 2011 |
&10000000000000117000000117 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
Defeated Mike Mondo in a tournament final to win the vacant title.[12] |
| 84 |
Nick Dinsmore |
10 |
02011-10-26 October 26, 2011 |
&100000000000000070000007 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
[13] |
| 85 |
Rudy Switchblade |
1 |
02011-11-02 November 2, 2011 |
&10000000000000122000000122 |
Louisville, Kentucky |
OVW TV Tapings |
Defeated Nick Dinsmore, Jason Wayne, Adam Revolver, Ted McNaler, James Thomas, Rocco Bellagio and Mike Mondo in an Eight Man Melee.[1] |
| 86 |
Johnny Spade |
1 |
02012-03-02 March 2, 2012 |
&1000000000000001000000010+ |
Louisville, Kentucky |
Saturday Night Special |
[14] |