| #
|
Wrestler
|
Times
|
Date
|
Days held
|
Location
|
Notes
|
| 1
|
Ken Fenelon |
1 |
May 1945 |
N/A |
N/A |
Fenelon was awarded the title by Pinkie George, founder of the NWA.
|
| 2
|
Marshall Esteppe |
1 |
May 30, 1945 |
216 |
Toronto, IA |
|
| 3
|
Larry Tillman |
1 |
January 1, 1946 |
69 |
Des Moines, IA |
|
| 4
|
Ken Fenelon |
2 |
March 11, 1946 |
301 |
Des Moines, IA |
|
| 5
|
Marshall Esteppe |
2 |
January 6, 1947 |
77 |
Des Moines, IA |
|
| 6
|
Ray Steele |
1 |
March 24, 1947 |
35 |
Des Moines, IA |
|
| 7
|
Marshall Esteppe |
3 |
April 28, 1947 |
77 |
Des Moines, IA |
|
| 8
|
Billy Goelz |
1 |
March 16, 1948 |
159 |
Des Moines, IA |
|
| 9
|
Al Williams |
1 |
August 22, 1948 |
14 |
Waterloo, IA |
|
| 10
|
Billy Goelz |
2 |
September 5, 1948 |
N/A |
Waterloo, IA |
Recognition withdrawn in 49 when NWA selects Leroy McGuirk as champion.
|
| 11
|
Leroy McGuirk |
1 |
November 1949 |
N/A |
Des Moines, IA |
Defeating John Swenski on June 19, 1939 in Hollywood, CA; recognized by National Wrestling Alliance during the convention; defeats Billy Goelz and Unified National Boxing/Wrestling Association's World Junior Heavyweight Championship into National Wrestling Alliance title on December 28, 1949.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
February 7, 1950
|
—
|
—
|
Vacated when McGuirk was blinded in a car accident.
|
| 12
|
Verne Gagne |
1 |
November 13, 1950 |
371 |
Tulsa, OK |
Defeated Sonny Myers in a tournament final of 14-man tournament; also defeats Billy Goelz on April 21, 1951 in Milwaukee, WI.
|
| 13
|
Danny McShain |
1 |
November 19, 1951 |
637 |
Memphis, TN |
Unifies the Los Angeles version of the world title, defeating Rito Romero on May 25, 1952 in Los Angeles, CA; Red Berry defeats McShain by DQ on November 11, 1952 in Dallas, TX and claims the title; Whitey Whittler defeats McShain by DQ on October 17, 1952 in Oklahoma City, OK and claims the title; McShain defeats Whittler on November 14, 1952 in Oklahoma City, OK and Berry on November 27, 1952 in Galveston, TX to regain the respective claims.
|
| 14
|
Baron Michele Leone |
1 |
August 17, 1953 |
602 |
Los Angeles, CA |
|
| 15
|
Ed Francis |
1 |
April 11, 1955 |
364 |
Tulsa, OK |
|
| 16
|
Mike Clancy |
1 |
April 10, 1956 |
350 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 17
|
Fred Blassie |
1 |
March 26, 1957 |
<1 |
Nashville, TN |
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
March 26, 1957
|
—
|
—
|
Immediately held up due to a controversial finish.
|
| 18
|
Mike Clancy |
2 |
April 9, 1957 |
217 |
Nashville, TN |
Defeated Fred Blassie.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
November 12, 1957
|
—
|
—
|
Held up; Clancy defeated Jackie Fargo by DQ at November 15 in Nashville, TN.
|
| 19
|
Mike Clancy |
3 |
November 19, 1957 |
101 |
Nashville, TN |
Defeated Fred Blassie in rematch.
|
| 20
|
Angelo Savoldi |
1 |
February 28, 1958 |
97 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 21
|
Dory Funk |
1 |
June 5, 1958 |
36 |
Amarillo, TX |
|
| 22
|
Angelo Savoldi |
2 |
July 11, 1958 |
224 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 23
|
Ivan the Terrible |
1 |
February 20, 1959 |
14 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 24
|
Angelo Savoldi |
3 |
March 6, 1959 |
84 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 25
|
Mike DiBiase |
1 |
May 29, 1959 |
84 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 26
|
Angelo Savoldi |
4 |
August 21, 1959 |
336 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 27
|
Danny Hodge |
1 |
July 22, 1960 |
1,450 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 28
|
Hiro Matsuda |
1 |
July 11, 1964 |
125 |
Tampa, FL |
|
| 29
|
Angelo Savoldi |
5 |
November 13, 1964 |
161 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 30
|
Danny Hodge |
2 |
April 23, 1965 |
214 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 31
|
Lorenzo Parente |
1 |
November 23, 1965 |
42 |
Little Rock, AR |
|
| 32
|
Danny Hodge |
3 |
January 4, 1966 |
10 |
Little Rock, AR |
|
| 33
|
Lorenzo Parente |
2 |
January 14, 1966 |
29 |
Tulsa, OK |
|
| 34
|
Joe McCarthy |
1 |
February 12, 1966 |
80 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 35
|
Danny Hodge |
4 |
May 3, 1966 |
1,361 |
Little Rock, AR |
|
| 36
|
Sputnik Monroe |
1 |
July 13, 1970 |
28 |
Shreveport, LA |
|
| 37
|
Danny Hodge |
5 |
August 10, 1970 |
283 |
Shreveport, LA |
|
| 38
|
Roger Kirby |
1 |
May 20, 1971 |
113 |
New Orleans, LA |
|
| 39
|
Ramon Torres |
1 |
September 10, 1971 |
84 |
Monroe, LA |
|
| 40
|
Dr. X |
1 |
December 3, 1971 |
108 |
Oklahoma City, OK |
|
| 41
|
Danny Hodge |
6 |
March 20, 1972 |
639 |
Shreveport, LA |
|
| 42
|
Ken Mantell |
1 |
December 19, 1973 |
272 |
Jackson, MS |
|
| 43
|
Wrestling Pro |
1 |
September 17, 1974 |
49 |
Mobile, AL |
Awarded with a disputed decision; recognized only in the Gulf Coast territory.
|
| 44
|
Ken Mantell |
2 |
November 5, 1974 |
221 |
Mobile, AL |
Defeats Wrestling Pro in rematch to become the undisputed champion.
|
| 45
|
Hiro Matsuda |
2 |
June 14, 1975 |
262 |
St. Petersburg, FL |
|
| 46
|
Danny Hodge |
7 |
March 2, 1976 |
13 |
Shreveport, LA |
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
March 15, 1976
|
—
|
—
|
Vacated when Hodge retired after suffering a broken neck in a car accident.
|
| 47
|
Pat Barrett |
1 |
September 28, 1976 |
65 |
New Orleans, LA |
Defeated Nelson Royal in a tournament final.
|
| 48
|
Ron Starr |
1 |
December 2, 1976 |
4 |
New Orleans, LA |
|
| 49
|
Nelson Royal |
1 |
December 6, 1976 |
566 |
New Orleans, LA |
|
| 50
|
Chavo Guerrero Sr. |
1 |
February 24, 1978 |
N/A |
Unknown |
|
| 51
|
Nelson Royal |
2 |
March 1978 |
N/A |
Unknown |
|
| 52
|
Chavo Guerrero Sr. |
2 |
April 7, 1978 |
79 |
Albuquerque, NM |
|
| 53
|
Al Madril |
1 |
June 25, 1978 |
398 |
Houston, TX |
|
| 54
|
Nelson Royal |
3 |
July 28, 1979 |
N/A |
Unknown |
Royal won via forfeit when Madril was too sick to attend a rematch.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
December 1979
|
—
|
—
|
Vacated when Royal retired; Steve Keirn defeated Chavo Guerrero, Sr. in Los Angeles, CA on December 10 to seemingly win the vacant title, but NWA did not recognize the win as being for the title, though it was recognized by New Japan Pro Wrestling as well as Los Angeles and Florida; this version was later renamed the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship.
|
| 55
|
Ron Starr |
2 |
February 11, 1980 |
N/A |
Tulsa, OK |
Defeated Les Thornton in a tournament final.
|
| 56
|
Les Thornton |
1 |
March 1980 |
N/A |
Unknown |
Thornton won via forfeit or wins by default (sometime between March 9, 1980 and March 19, 1980); possibly on March 14, 1980 in Oklahoma City, OK where Starr and Thornton are scheduled to wrestle.
|
| 57
|
Jerry Stubbs |
1 |
January 26, 1981 |
5 |
Mobile, AL |
|
| 58
|
Les Thornton |
2 |
January 31, 1981 |
127 |
Dothan, AL |
|
| 59
|
Terry Taylor |
1 |
June 7, 1981 |
13 |
Roanoke, VA |
|
| 60
|
Les Thornton |
3 |
June 20, 1981 |
88 |
Roanoke, VA |
|
| 61
|
Gerald Brisco |
1 |
September 16, 1981 |
30 |
Miami, FL |
|
| 62
|
Les Thornton |
4 |
October 16, 1981 |
22 |
Knoxville, TN |
|
| 63
|
Joe Lightfoot |
1 |
November 7, 1981 |
7 |
Bayamon, PR |
Above changes in Puerto Rico may be for WWC Title.
|
| 65
|
Les Thornton |
5 |
November 14, 1981 |
192 |
San Juan, PR |
|
| 66
|
Tiger Mask |
1 |
May 25, 1982 |
313 |
Shizuoka, JPN |
In 1982, some North American promoters declared the title vacant due to Tiger Mask wrestling for the WWF; however, during an annual meeting between the NWA and New Japan Pro Wrestling, it's announced that Tiger Mask is still recognized as the official champion.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
April 3, 1983
|
—
|
—
|
Vacated when Tiger Mask was injured two days prior.
|
| 67
|
Tiger Mask |
2 |
June 2, 1983 |
71 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Defeated Kuniaki Kobayashi in a decision match.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
August 12, 1983
|
—
|
—
|
Vacated after Tiger Mask retired.
|
| 68
|
The Cobra |
1 |
November 3, 1983 |
N/A |
Tokyo, JPN |
Defeated Davey Boy Smith in a decision match. Around this time, Les Thornton is recognized by promoters in the US as champion.
|
| 69
|
Les Thornton |
6 |
November 1983 |
N/A |
Manila, PH |
Wins a fictitious tournament.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
June 1984
|
—
|
—
|
When Thornton joins WWF after its takeover of Georgia Championship Wrestling.
|
| 70
|
Hector Guerrero |
1 |
July 13, 1984 |
81 |
Los Angeles, CA |
Wins a tournament.
|
| 71
|
Mike Davis |
1 |
October 2, 1984 |
112 |
Albuquerque,NM |
|
| 72
|
Denny Brown |
1 |
November 22, 1984 |
248 |
Greensboro, NC |
|
| 73
|
Hiro Saito |
1 |
July 28, 1985 |
0 |
Osaka, JPN |
Wins the title from The Cobra.
|
| 74
|
The Cobra |
2 |
July 28, 1985 |
4 |
Osaka, JPN |
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
August 1, 1985
|
—
|
—
|
|
| 75
|
Denny Brown |
2 |
August 1985 |
N/A |
|
Won disputed version of title at Starrcade 1984 by defeating Mike Davis; recognized as champion by NWA vice president Shohei Baba, promoter of All Japan Pro Wrestling, after rival promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling withdraws from the NWA.
|
| 76
|
Gary Royal |
1 |
August 15, 1985 |
31 |
St. Louis, MO |
|
| 77
|
Denny Brown |
3 |
September 15, 1985 |
321 |
Atlanta, GA |
|
| 78
|
Steve Regal |
1 |
August 2, 1986 |
30 |
Atlanta, GA |
|
| 79
|
Denny Brown |
4 |
September 1, 1986 |
187 |
Greenville, SC |
|
| 80
|
Lazor Tron |
2 |
March 7, 1987 |
N/A |
Atlanta, GA |
Lazor formerly known as Hector Guerrero.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
October 1987
|
—
|
—
|
Vacated when Tron left World Championship Wrestling.
|
| 81
|
Nelson Royal |
4 |
October 16, 1987 |
280 |
Columbia, SC |
Defeats Denny Brown Royal takes the title to USA Championship Wrestling in Knoxville in May 1988. Royal left WCW in 1988, at which point Masanobu Fuchi, the reigning (AJPW) World Junior Heavyweight Champion, was disputably recognized as the new champion; however, Royal continued defending the title across the country until 1989, when it was abandoned.
|
| 82
|
Scott Armstrong |
1 |
July 22, 1988 |
1 |
Knoxville, TN |
|
| 83
|
Nelson Royal |
5 |
July 23, 1988 |
N/A |
Hazard, KY |
|
| 84
|
Scott Armstrong |
2 |
August 1988 |
N/A |
|
|
| 85
|
Nelson Royal |
6 |
August 19, 1988 |
N/A |
Knoxville, TN |
USA promotion closes in October 1988; Royal promotes ACW in the Carolinas and bills himself as world champion.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
1989
|
—
|
—
|
Abandoned in 1989.
|
| 86
|
Masayoshi Motegi |
1 |
August 30, 1995 |
338 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Defeated El Hijo del Santo in a tournament final when the NWA revives the title.
|
| 87
|
The Great Sasuke |
1 |
August 2, 1996 |
70 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Wins an 8-man tournament to decide the first J-Crown holder, a combination of eight junior heavyweight titles. These titles were still technically considered separate, as opposed to one unified championship, and continued to be defended.
|
| 88
|
Último Dragón |
1 |
October 11, 1996 |
85 |
Osaka, JPN |
|
| 89
|
Jushin Thunder Liger |
1 |
January 4, 1997 |
183 |
Tokyo, JPN |
Defeated Dragón at Wrestling World.
|
| 90
|
El Samurai |
1 |
July 6, 1997 |
35 |
Sapporo, JPN |
|
| 91
|
Shinjiro Otani |
1 |
August 10, 1997 |
87 |
Nagoya, JPN |
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
November 5, 1997
|
—
|
—
|
Vacated when the J-Crown was dematerialized.
|
| 92
|
Logan Caine |
1 |
March 5, 1999 |
237 |
Parkersburg, WV |
Defeated Viper in a tournament final.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
October 28, 1999
|
—
|
—
|
Stripped due to no-showing a title defense against Vince Kaplack.
|
| 93
|
Vince Kaplack |
1 |
October 28, 1999 |
78 |
Pittsburgh, PA |
Defeated Chris Hero as a replacement for Logan Caine.
|
| 94
|
Tony Kozina |
1 |
January 14, 2000 |
190 |
North Versailles, PA |
|
| 95
|
Rockford 2000 |
1 |
July 22, 2000 |
35 |
Surrey, BC |
|
| 96
|
Tony Kozina |
2 |
August 30, 2000 |
39 |
N/A |
Awarded when NWA officials review the tape of a title match between Rockford and Kozina on August 26.
|
| 97
|
Vince Kaplack |
2 |
October 14, 2000 |
175 |
Nashville, TN |
Won the title at the NWA 52nd Anniversary Show.
|
| 98
|
Rocky Reynolds |
1 |
April 7, 2001 |
27 |
Pennsboro, WV |
|
| 99
|
Mike Thunder |
1 |
May 4, 2001 |
109 |
North Richland Hills, TX |
|
| 100
|
Lex Lovett |
1 |
August 21, 2001 |
53 |
Tampa, FL |
|
| 101
|
Jason Rumble |
1 |
October 13, 2001 |
112 |
Saint Petersburg, FL |
Defeated Lovett, Jimmy Rave, Brandon K & BJ Turner in a five-way match at the NWA 53rd Anniversary Show.
|
| 102
|
Rocky Reynolds |
2 |
February 2, 2002 |
14 |
Titusville, PA |
|
| 103
|
Jason Rumble |
2 |
February 16, 2002 |
49 |
Malden, MA |
|
| 104
|
Rocky Reynolds |
3 |
April 6, 2002 |
56 |
Parkersburg, WV |
|
| 105
|
Jimmy Rave |
1 |
June 29, 2002 |
42 |
Cornelia, GA |
Defeated Reynolds and Jeremy Lopez in a three-way match.
|
| 106
|
Star |
1 |
August 10, 2002 |
7 |
Columbia, TN |
|
| 107
|
Jimmy Rave |
2 |
August 17, 2002 |
154 |
Columbia, TN |
|
| 108
|
Brother Love |
1 |
January 18, 2003 |
140 |
Greenville, MS |
|
| 109
|
Rocky Reynolds |
4 |
June 7, 2003 |
56 |
Parkersburg, WV |
|
| 110
|
Chris Draven |
1 |
August 2, 2003 |
161 |
Parkersburg, WV |
|
| 111
|
Jerrelle Clark |
1 |
January 10, 2004 |
281 |
Saint Petersburg, FL |
|
| 112
|
Jason Rumble |
3 |
October 17, 2004 |
312 |
Winnipeg, MB |
Defeated Clark and Vance Desmond in a three-way match at the NWA 56th Anniversary Show.
|
| 113
|
Black Tiger IV |
1 |
August 25, 2005 |
178 |
Columbia, TN |
|
| 114
|
Tiger Mask IV |
1 |
February 19, 2006 |
446 |
Tokyo, JPN |
|
| 115
|
Mike Quackenbush |
1 |
May 11, 2007 |
1,275 |
Portage, IN |
|
| 116
|
Craig Classic |
1 |
November 6, 2010 |
247 |
Fort Pierce, FL |
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
July 11, 2011
|
—
|
—
|
Classic relinquished the title in protest of The Sheik being stripped of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Classic brought his own version of the title to Pro Wrestling Zero1 as the New Wrestling Alliance championship.
|
| 117
|
Kevin Douglas |
1 |
October 7, 2011 |
373 |
Charlotte, NC |
Defeated Chase Owens in a tournament final.
|
| —
|
Vacated
|
—
|
October 14, 2012
|
—
|
—
|
Douglas was stripped of the title for no-showing a scheduled title defense on October 13, 2012 against Chase Owens. A one-night tournament was held in Kingsport, TN in lieu of the Douglas-Owens match.
|
| 118
|
Chase Owens |
1 |
October 13, 2012 |
302 |
Kingsport, TN |
Defeated Matt Conard and Zac Vincent in a tournament final.
|
| 119
|
Jason Kincaid |
1 |
August 10, 2013 |
69 |
Kingsport, TN |
|
| 120
|
Chase Owens |
2 |
October 18, 2013 |
78 |
Houston, TX |
|
| 121
|
Ricky Morton |
1 |
January 4, 2014 |
62 |
Kingsport, TN |
|
| 122
|
Chase Owens |
3 |
March 7, 2014 |
246 |
Church Hill, TN |
|
| 123
|
Jushin Thunder Liger |
2 |
November 8, 2014 |
156 |
Osaka, JPN |
|
| 124
|
Steve Anthony |
1 |
April 13, 2015 |
163 |
Las Vegas, NV |
|
| 125
|
Tiger Mask IV |
2 |
September 23, 2015 |
178 |
Okayama, JPN |
|
| 126
|
Steve Anthony |
2 |
March 19, 2016 |
3177+ |
Nagoya, JPN |
|
