List of TNA World Champions
The TNA World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) promotion. From June 2002 to May 2007, TNA used the NWA World Heavyweight Championship as their primary championship due to an agreement with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). On May 13, 2007, the NWA abruptly ended the arrangement and retrieved control of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.[1] On the same night, TNA were set to host their annual Sacrifice pay-per-view (PPV) event, in which the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was to be defended by then-champion Christian Cage against Kurt Angle and Sting in a three-way match. Angle won the match and on the following episode of TNA's television program Impact! on May 17, was declared the new "TNA World Heavyweight Champion".[2][3] He was stripped of the championship later in the program, with Management Director Jim Cornette citing a problematic finish to the PPV match.[4] The ownership of the championship was decided on June 17, 2007 at TNA's Slammiversary PPV event in a King of the Mountain match involving Angle, Cage, A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, and Chris Harris, which Angle won.[5]
Being a professional wrestling championship, the title is won via a scripted ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a storyline. All title changes have occurred at TNA-promoted events; reigns that occurred on Impact Wrestling usually air on tape delay and as such are listed with the day the tapings occurred, rather than the air date. Angle holds the record for most reigns, with six. At 256 days, Bobby Roode's first reign is the longest in the title's history. Angle's first reign holds the record for shortest reign in the title's history at one day. The championship is currently held by Drew Galloway. Overall, there have been 36 reigns shared among 19 wrestlers, with four vacancies.
Title history
For a list of World Heavyweight Champions in TNA between 2002 and 2007, see List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions.
As of November 29, 2024.
# | Order in reign history |
---|---|
Reign | The reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed |
Event | The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the titles were won |
— | Used for vacated reigns so as not to count it as an official reign |
+ | Indicates the current reign is changing daily |
# | Wrestler | Reign | Date | Days held | Location | Event | Notes | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kurt Angle | 1 | May 13, 2007 | 1 | Orlando, Florida | Sacrifice | Angle defeated Sting and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Christian Cage in a three–way match to become the inaugural champion after NWA Executive Director Robert Trobich stripped Christian Cage of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and ended NWA's business relations with TNA earlier that day.[6] | [2][7] |
— | Vacated | — | May 14, 2007 | — | Orlando, Florida | TNA Impact! | Angle was stripped of the championship due to a double–fall result of the three–way match at Sacrifice. This episode aired on tape delay on May 17, 2007. | [3][4][6] |
2 | Kurt Angle | 2 | June 17, 2007 | 119 | Nashville, Tennessee | Slammiversary | Angle defeated Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles, Christian Cage, and Chris Harris in a King of the Mountain match to win the vacant championship. After the event, Angle's reign and the vacancy were no longer recognized, and thus is viewed to be the start of the title's history. As of 2015, TNA counts Angle's previous reign to his credit without detailing why, thus giving loose recognition towards that reign. | [5][8] |
3 | Sting | 1 | October 14, 2007 | 2 | Duluth, Georgia | Bound for Glory | [9][10] | |
4 | Kurt Angle | 3 | October 16, 2007 | 180 | Orlando, Florida | TNA Impact! | This episode aired on tape delay on October 25, 2007. | [11][12] |
5 | Samoa Joe | 1 | April 13, 2008 | 182 | Lowell, Massachusetts | Lockdown | This was a six sides of steel cage match. | [13][14] |
6 | Sting | 2 | October 12, 2008 | 189 | Hoffman Estates, Illinois | Bound for Glory | [15][16] | |
7 | Mick Foley | 1 | April 19, 2009 | 63 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Lockdown | This was a six sides of steel cage match. | [17][18] |
8 | Kurt Angle | 4 | June 21, 2009 | 91 | Auburn Hills, Michigan | Slammiversary | This was a King of the Mountain match, also involving Samoa Joe, Jeff Jarrett, and A.J. Styles. | [19][20] |
9 | A.J. Styles | 1 | September 20, 2009 | 211 | Orlando, Florida | No Surrender | This was a five–way match also involving Sting, Matt Morgan and Hernandez. | [21][22] |
10 | Rob Van Dam | 1 | April 19, 2010 | 113 | Orlando, Florida | TNA Impact! | [23][24] | |
— | Vacated | — | August 10, 2010 | — | Orlando, Florida | TNA Impact! | The title was vacated due to Rob Van Dam suffering a storyline injury. This episode aired on tape delay on August 19, 2010. | [25][26] |
11 | Jeff Hardy | 1 | October 10, 2010 | 91 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Bound for Glory | Hardy defeated Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson in a three–way tournament final to win the vacant title. | [27][28] |
12 | Mr. Anderson | 1 | January 9, 2011 | 35 | Orlando, Florida | Genesis | [29][30] | |
13 | Jeff Hardy | 2 | February 13, 2011 | 11 | Orlando, Florida | Against All Odds | This was a ladder match. | [31][32] |
14 | Sting | 3 | February 24, 2011 | 108 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | TNA Impact! | This episode aired on tape delay on March 3, 2011. | [33][34] |
15 | Mr. Anderson | 2 | June 12, 2011 | 29 | Orlando, Florida | Slammiversary | [35][36] | |
16 | Sting | 4 | July 11, 2011 | 27 | Orlando, Florida | Impact Wrestling | This episode aired on tape delay on July 14, 2011. | [37][38] |
17 | Kurt Angle | 5 | August 7, 2011 | 72 | Orlando, Florida | Hardcore Justice | [39][40] | |
18 | James Storm | 1 | October 18, 2011 | 8 | Orlando, Florida | Impact Wrestling | This episode aired on tape delay on October 20, 2011. | [41][42] |
19 | Bobby Roode | 1 | October 26, 2011 | 256 | Macon, Georgia | Impact Wrestling | This episode aired on tape delay on November 3, 2011. | [43][44] |
20 | Austin Aries | 1 | July 8, 2012 | 98 | Orlando, Florida | Destination X | Aries voluntarily vacated the X Division Championship in exchange for a TNA World Heavyweight Championship title shot at the event. | [45][46] |
21 | Jeff Hardy | 3 | October 14, 2012 | 147 | Phoenix, Arizona | Bound for Glory | [47][48] | |
22 | Bully Ray | 1 | March 10, 2013 | 130 | San Antonio, Texas | Lockdown | This was a steel cage match. | [49][50] |
23 | Chris Sabin | 1 | July 18, 2013 | 28 | Louisville, Kentucky | Impact Wrestling: Destination X | Sabin voluntarily vacated the X Division Championship in exchange for a TNA World Heavyweight Championship title shot at the event. | [51] |
24 | Bully Ray | 2 | August 15, 2013 | 66 | Norfolk, Virginia | Impact Wrestling: Hardcore Justice | This was a steel cage match. | [52] |
25 | A.J. Styles | 2 | October 20, 2013 | 9 | San Diego, California | Bound for Glory | This was a no–disqualifications match. | [53] |
— | Vacated | — | October 29, 2013 | — | — | — | TNA President Dixie Carter announced via Twitter that Styles had been stripped of the title due to a contract dispute. Styles continued to carry around the championship belt proclaiming himself champion in the storyline. | [54] |
26 | Magnus | 1 | December 3, 2013 | 128 | Orlando, Florida | Impact Wrestling: Final Resolution | Defeated Jeff Hardy in a tournament final to win the vacant title. This was a Dixieland match which aired on tape delay on December 19, 2013. On the January 9, 2014 episode of Impact Wrestling (taped December 6, 2013), A.J. Styles returned claiming to be the legitimate TNA World Champion as he was never defeated for the title (though not recognized as such by TNA). Magnus defeated him later that night to become the undisputed champion. | [55] |
27 | Eric Young | 1 | April 10, 2014 | 70 | Orlando, Florida | Impact Wrestling | If Magnus had been counted out or disqualified he would have lost the title. If anyone had interfered in the match they would have been fired. |
[56] |
28 | Lashley | 1 | June 19, 2014 | 91 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Impact Wrestling | If anyone besides MVP or Kenny King had interfered they would have been fired. | |
29 | Bobby Roode | 2 | September 18, 2014 | 111 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Impact Wrestling | This episode aired on tape delay on October 29, 2014. Kurt Angle was the special guest referee. | |
30 | Lashley | 2 | January 7, 2015 | 24 | New York, New York | Impact Wrestling | ||
31 | Kurt Angle | 6 | January 31, 2015 | 145 | London, England | Impact Wrestling | This episode aired on tape delay on March 20, 2015. | |
32 | Ethan Carter III | 1 | June 25, 2015 | 101 | Orlando, Florida | Impact Wrestling | This episode aired on tape delay on July 1, 2015. | |
33 | Matt Hardy | 1 | October 4, 2015 | 2 | Concord, North Carolina | Bound for Glory | This was a three way match also involving Drew Galloway with Jeff Hardy as Special Guest Referee. | |
— | Vacated | — | October 6, 2015 | — | — | — | Vacated due to a legal injunction filed by Ethan Carter III as part of the storyline. | [57] |
34 | Ethan Carter III | 2 | January 5, 2016 | 3 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Impact Wrestling | Carter defeated Matt Hardy in the finals of the TNA World Title Series to win the vacant title. | [58] |
35 | Matt Hardy | 2 | January 8, 2016 | 67 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Impact Wrestling | Had Hardy not won, he would have left TNA. This episode aired on tape delay on January 19, 2016. | [59] |
36 | Drew Galloway | 1 | March 15, 2016 | 3,181+ | Orlando, Florida | Impact Wrestling | Galloway invoked his Feast or Fired title opportunity to challenge Hardy for the championship and win the title. | [60][61] |
Combined reigns
As of November 29, 2024.
† | Indicates the current champion |
---|
Rank | Wrestler | No. of reigns |
Combined days |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Kurt Angle | 6 | 608 |
2 | Bobby Roode | 2 | 367 |
3 | Sting | 4 | 326 |
4 | Jeff Hardy | 3 | 249 |
5 | A.J. Styles | 2 | 220 |
6 | Bully Ray | 2 | 196 |
7 | Samoa Joe | 1 | 182 |
8 | Magnus | 1 | 128 |
9 | Lashley | 2 | 115 |
10 | Rob Van Dam | 1 | 113 |
11 | Ethan Carter III | 2 | 104 |
12 | Austin Aries | 1 | 98 |
13 | Eric Young | 1 | 70 |
14 | Matt Hardy | 2 | 69 |
15 | Mr. Anderson | 2 | 64 |
16 | Mick Foley | 1 | 63 |
17 | Drew Galloway † | 1 | 3181+ |
18 | Chris Sabin | 1 | 28 |
19 | James Storm | 1 | 8 |
See also
References
- ^ "NWA/Trobich strips TNA/Cage/Team 3D of NWA branded Championships". National Wrestling Alliance. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ a b Sokol, Chris (2007-05-14). "World title picture muddied after good Sacrifice". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ a b Sokol, Chris (2007-05-17). "Impact: Making sense of the title situation". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
Mike Tenay and Don West hyped the show as the TNA Champion, Kurt Angle, made his way to the ring. Angle talked about finally winning the gold.
- ^ a b "Angle Stripped Of The TNA World Title". Total Nonstop Action. web.archive.org. 2007-05-20. Archived from the original on 2007-05-20. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
- ^ a b Clevett, Jason (2010-08-12). "TNA scores with Slammiversary". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ a b Caldwell, James (2007-05-18). "Caldwell's Impact report 5/17: Angle–Rhino, Daniels–Raven, blood, Gore, and Stomper". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
The fans chanted for Christian and Angle said he is the new TNA champion.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2007-05-13). "Caldwell's Sacrifice PPV report 5/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2007-06-17). "Caldwell's Slammiversary PPV report 6/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Sokol, Chris (2007-10-14). "Angle gets stung at Bound For Glory". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2007-10-14). "Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV report 10/14: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Sokol, Chris (2007-10-26). "Impact: Crowning a new old champion". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Keller, Wade (2007-10-26). "Keller's TNA Impact report 10/26: Sting vs. Angle, More Tournament, Team 3D vs. X Division". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Sokol, Chris (2008-04-18). "TNA Lockdown:Joe captures gold". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2008-04-13). "Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV report 4/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Joe vs. Angle PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Sokol, Chris; Sokol, Bryan (2008-10-15). "Sting takes title at Bound for Glory". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2008-10-12). "Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV report 10/12: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Sokol, Chris; Sokol, Bryan (2009-04-20). "TNA's lackluster Lockdown". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2009-04-19). "Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV report 4/19: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of all-cage PPV – Sting vs. Foley". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Sokol, Bryan; Sokol, Chris (2010-08-12). "TNA Slammiversary shocks and surprises". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2009-06-21). "Caldwell's TNA Slammiversary PPV report 6/21: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of King of the Mountain PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Kapur, Bob (2010-08-12). "AJ Styles wins title at No Surrender". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2009-09-20). "Caldwell's TNA No Surrender PPV report 9/20: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Kurt Angle vs. Sting vs. Matt Morgan vs. A.J. Styles". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Tylwalk, Nick (2010-04-20). "Impact: RVD gets an instant title shot and a big TNA star makes his return". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Wilkenfeld, Daniel (2010-04-19). "Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 4/19: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast–Whole F'n New Champion". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2010-08-20). "TNA Impact: RVD stripped of title; EV2.0, Fortune continue to battle". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Wilkenfeld, Daniel (2010-08-19). "Wilkenfeld's TNA Impact report 8/19: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV broadcast". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2010-10-15). "Bound For Glory: Hogan, Bischoff, Jarrett behind 'they' as Hardy wins title in shocker". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2010-10-10). "Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV results 10-10-10: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV – Angle vs. Anderson vs. Hardy, "they" reveal". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Sokol, Bryan (2011-01-28). "Genesis: Hardy arrives, Hardy falls". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2011-01-09). "Caldwell's TNA Genesis PPV results 1/9: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV – Morgan vs. Anderson #1 contender, four title matches, RVD mystery opponent". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
- ^ Kapur, Bob (2011-02-14). "Hardy regains title at so–so Against All Odds". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-02-19.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2011-02-13). "Caldwell's TNA Against All Odds PPV results 2/13: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV – Anderson vs. Hardy, Genesis re-matches, fluid X Division situation". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2011-03-04). "Impact: Sting returns, wins title". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2011-03-03). "Caldwell's TNA Impact report 3/3: Ongoing "virtual–time" coverage of Impact on Spike TV – Hogan, wedding, 3/3/11 reveal, Tag Title match, retirement match, celebrities". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2011-06-16). "Slammiversary delivers TNA's best PPV effort of year". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-06-29.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2011-06-12). "Caldwell's TNA Slammiversary PPV results 6/12: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV – Sting vs. Anderson, Angle vs. Jarrett blow-off". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-06-12.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2011-07-15). "Impact: Sting is champion again". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-07-15.
- ^ Keller, Wade (2011-07-14). "Keller's TNA Impact report: Ongoing live coverage of Destination X fallout, Mr. Anderson vs. Sting". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
- ^ Kapur, Bob (2011-08-07). "Hardcore Justice: Angle wins, TNA viewers don't". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2011-08-07). "Caldwell's TNA Hardcore Justice PPV results 8/7: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Sting vs. Angle, five title matches, BFG Series matches". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-08-07.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2011-10-21). "Impact: Storm upsets Angle to claim first world title". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2011-10-20). "Caldwell's TNA Impact Wrestling report 10/20: Complete "virtual-time" coverage Bound for Glory fall-out, TNA World Title match". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2011-11-04). "Impact: Roode betrays Storm, wins title". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
- ^ Keller, Wade (2011-11-03). "Keller's TNA Impact Wrestling report 11/3: Ongoing live coverage of Storm defending against Roode". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2012-07-08). "Simply the best: Aries stuns Roode to win TNA world title at Destination X". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2012-07-08). "Caldwell's TNA Destination X PPV results 7/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Roode vs. Aries, new X Division champion, Angle vs. Joe". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
- ^ Pollock, John (2012-10-15). "Hardy back on top at Bound For Glory". SLAM! Sports: Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
- ^ Caldwell, James (2012-10-14). "Caldwell's TNA Bound for Glory PPV results 10/14: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Aries vs. Hardy, Storm vs. Roode". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
- ^ Bishop, Matt (2013-03-11). "Bully Ray wins TNA title, turns on Hogans at Lockdown". Canoe.ca. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- ^ "CALDWELL'S TNA LOCKDOWN PPV RESULTS 3/10: Live, in-person coverage from San Antonio - Hardy vs. Ray TNA Title match, Lethal Lockdown, more".
- ^ "CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 7/18: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of "Destination X" Impact - TNA Title main event, BFG Series, three X Division qualifying matches, more".
- ^ "CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 8/15: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of "Hardcore Justice" Impact - TNA Title cage match, BFG Series matches, more".
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S TNA BFG PPV RESULTS 10/20 (Hour 3): Styles vs. Bully for the TNA Title, Sting vs. Magnus". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "TNA NEWS: Halloween Impact tonight - TNA Title announcement, PPV re-matches, Abyss, SPOILER link". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 12/19: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of "Final Resolution" Impact - Tournament Finals, Angle vs. Roode, Feast or Fired reveal, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2013-12-19.
- ^ Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S TNA IMPACT RESULTS 4/10: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of Orlando Impact - new TNA World champion". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2014-04-11.
- ^ "Exclusive: Matt Hardy Makes A Shocking Announcement". YouTube. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
- ^ McMahon, Mike. "1/5 TNA Impact – MCMAHON'S Complete Report on Pop debut". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ http://www.pwinsider.com/article/98897/major-major-tna-spoiler.html?p=1
- ^ Caldwell, James. "New TNA Hvt. champion determined on TNA Impact". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ Boutwell, Josh. "TNA Impact Wrestling Results - 3/15/16 (The Era of Galloway)". wrestleview.com. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
External links