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NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship Jimmy Snuka is a former NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Champion.
Promotion NWA Tri-State NWA Mid-America (1960-1974) Date established March 31, 1954 Date retired No later than March 1982
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Alabama version)
First champion(s) Whitey Whittler Final champion(s) Paul Jones Most reigns Jimmy Golden (4)Longest reign Mike George (81 days) Shortest reign Whitey Whittler (28 days)
The NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling heavyweight championship in Tri-States Wrestling (NWA Tri-State). The original version was created in 1954, however, it was phased out in favor of the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship .[ 1] [ 2]
The Alabama version of the NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship existed from 1960 until 1974. It was defended primarily in Alabama under the banner of NWA Tri-State Wrestling, and at times in Tennessee for NWA Mid-America . Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it was not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship was awarded after the chosen team "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.[ 3]
The title was revived to replace the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship as the promotion's top singles title after Bill Watts left to form Mid-South Wrestling in 1979.[ 4] It was vacated and decommissioned when Tri-State promoter Leroy McGuirk closed the promotion in 1982.
Title history
Key
Symbol
Meaning
#
The overall championship reign
Reign
The reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed.
Event
The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the title changed hands
—
Used for vacated reigns in order to not count it as an official reign
Indicates periods of unknown lineage
(NLT)
Indicates that the championship changed hands "No Later Than" a certain date.
¤
Indicates that the data presented in this cell is uncertain.
Names
Name[ 5]
Years[ 5]
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship
March 31, 1954 – April 28, 1954
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Alabama version)
September 12, 1960 – October 3, 1974
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship
September 7, 1980 – 1982
NWA-MCW Heavyweight Championship
1982 – March 1982
Title history
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Original version)
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Alabama version)
#
Team (team members)
Reign
Date
Days held
Location
Event
Notes
1
Joe Scarpa
1
September 12, 1960
[ Note 1]
Memphis, Tennessee
Live event
Defeated Mario Galento in tournament final to become the first champion.
2
Jerry Lawler
1
September 1971 (NLT)
[ Note 2]
[ Note 3]
Live event
Won a battle royal, last eliminating Jimmy Golden .
3
Jimmy Golden
1
October 29, 1971 (NLT)
[ Note 4]
[ Note 3]
Live event
4
Tony Russo
1
November 5, 1971
20
Gadsden, Alabama
Live event
5
Gary Martin
1
November 25, 1971
[ Note 5]
Anniston, Alabama
Live event
6
Tony Russo
2
December 1971 (NLT)
[ Note 6]
[ Note 3]
Live event
7
The Golden Hawk
1
December 16, 1971
[ Note 7]
Anniston, Alabama
Live event
Still billed as champion on January 6, 1972
8
Buddy Wayne
1
March 16, 1972 (NLT)
[ Note 8]
[ Note 3]
Live event
9
Jimmy Golden
2
April 6, 1972 ¤
[ Note 9]
Anniston, Alabama ¤
Live event
Still champion as of 72/06/08
10
Ramon Perez
1
October 5, 1972 (NLT)
[ Note 10]
[ Note 3]
Live event
11
Tony Russo
3
December 21, 1972 (NLT)
[ Note 11]
[ Note 3]
Live event
12
Buddy Wayne
2
January 26, 1973 (NLT)
[ Note 12]
[ Note 3]
Live event
13
Jimmy Golden
3
March 7, 1974 (NLT)
[ Note 13]
[ Note 3]
Live event
14
Jack Donovan
1
March 14, 1974 ¤
70
Anniston, Alabama ¤
Live event
15
Jimmy Golden
4
May 23, 1974 ¤
[ Note 14]
Anniston, Alabama ¤
Live event
16
Dennis Condrey
1
October 3, 1974 (NLT)
[ Note 15]
[ Note 3]
Live event
—
Retired
N/A
1974
N/A
N/A
N/A
Championship abandoned.
NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Final version)
No.
Champion
Reign
Date
Days held
Location
Event
Notes
Ref.
1
Tom Jones
1
1981
N/A
N/A
Live event
2
Mr. Pogo
2
1981
N/A
N/A
Live event
3
Tom Jones
2
1981
N/A
N/A
Live event
[ 7]
4
Mike George
1
February 28, 1981
30
Tulsa, OK
Live event
[ 8]
5
Bob Sweetan
1
March 30, 1981
63
Tulsa, OK
Live event
[ 9]
6
Mike George
2
June 1, 1981
81
Tulsa, OK
Live event
—
Vacated
—
August 21, 1981
—
N/A
N/A
Championship vacated when George leaves the territory.
7
Jimmy Snuka
1
January 18, 1982
42
Tulsa, OK
Live event
Won tournament.
8
Paul Jones
1
March 1, 1982
N/A
Tulsa, OK
Live event
[ 10]
9
Eddie Mansfield
1
March 1982
[ Note 16]
N/A
Live event
10
Paul Jones
2
March 17, 1982
N/A
Springfield, MO
Live event
—
Deactivated
—
1982
—
N/A
N/A
NWA Tri-State closed in 1982, and the championship was subsequently abandoned.
List of top combined reigns
Mr. Pogo , who was the fifth longest-reigning Tri-State Heavyweight Champion
¤
The exact length of several title reigns are uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used.
^ The length of this reign is too uncertain to calculate.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 424 days.
^ a b c d e f g h i The location of the match was not captured as part of the championship documentation.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 64 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 402 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 20 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 91 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 90 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 182 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 258 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 112 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 440 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 404 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 133 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 221 days.
^ The exact date on which the title was won is not known, which means their title reign lasted between 1 and 15 days.
References
General references
Specific
External links