GCW Georgia Heavyweight Championship
Previous version of the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
Details
Promotion
Date establishedAugust 9, 1964
Current champion(s)Terry Lawler
Date wonSeptember 30, 2023
Other name(s)
  • NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
    (1963–1981, 1998, 2012–2017)
  • NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship
    (1998–2005)
  • GCW Georgia Heavyweight Championship
    (2021–present)
Statistics
First champion(s)Sputnik Monroe
Most reignsMr. Wrestling II (12 reigns)
Longest reignTyson Dean (497 days)
Shortest reignOnyx (1> day)

The GCW Heavyweight Championship is the major title in the Georgia Championship Wrestling professional wrestling promotion. It started in 1964 and was unified in 1981 with the NWA National Heavyweight Championship.

The title was picked back up in 1998 by NWA Georgia, which became NWA Wildside in September 1999 when it merged with National Championship Wrestling. Along with this change, the championship became known as the NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship. The title continued until Wildside ceased operations on April 30, 2005.

In 2012, NWA Action (later renamed NWA Atlanta) picked up the title and restored its original name. Cru Jones won the reactivated title by defeating Steve Stiles on June 23, 2012, in Stockbridge, Georgia, and vacated it in 2013. It was either unified with the Atlanta Heavyweight Championship in June 2015 or retired in February 2016.

Under the resurrection of Georgia Championship Wrestling, an announcement was made that the Georgia Heavyweight Championship would be revived and a new champion crowned on April 24, 2021.

Title history

Names

Name Time of use
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship February 5, 1963 – September 9, 1981
NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship September 1999 – April 30, 2005
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship June 23, 2012 – June 15, 2017
GCW Georgia Heavyweight Championship April 24, 2021 – present

Reigns

Wrestler Count Date Location Notes
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
John Mauldin * 1 1938 Reported on an Atlanta program in July 1938 as having "recently" retired as champion.
Choo-Choo Lynn 1 February 5, 1963 Recognized in Macon.
Honey Boy Hannigan 1 July 23, 1963 Macon, GA
Choo-Choo Lynn 2 July 30, 1963 Macon, GA
Dick the Bruiser 1 March 24, 1964
Sputnik Monroe 1 August 9, 1964 Atlanta, GA
Don Fargo 1 September 25, 1964 Atlanta, GA
Sputnik Monroe 2 October 16, 1964 Atlanta, GA
Mario Galento 1 November 13, 1964 Atlanta, GA
Buddy Fuller 1 May 28, 1965 Atlanta, GA [1]
Louie Tillet 1 May 27, 1966
Buddy Fuller 2 June 17, 1966 Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 1 February 24, 1967 Atlanta, GA
Nick Kozak 1 March 17, 1967 Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 2 April 7, 1967 Atlanta, GA
Buddy Fuller 3 April 28, 1967 Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 3 June 16, 1967 Atlanta, GA
Tim Woods 1 July 11, 1967 Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 4 July 18, 1967 Atlanta, GA
Tim Woods 2 August 11, 1967 Atlanta, GA [2]
El Mongol 5 September 8, 1967 Atlanta, GA
Bobby Shane 1 September 29, 1967
El Mongol 6 October 10, 1967 Atlanta, GA
Tim Woods 3 May 3, 1968 Atlanta, GA Wins a title under a mask calling himself the Big O; Unmask on May 24, 1968.
The Big O 1 May 10, 1968 Atlanta, GA [3]
Tarzan Tyler 1 June 14, 1968 Atlanta, GA
The Professional 1 August 23, 1968 Atlanta, GA
The Big O 2 November 8, 1968 Atlanta, GA
Held up November 29, 1968 Atlanta, GA After a match against with The Professional.
The Professional 2 December 6, 1968 Atlanta, GA Defeated Valentine in a rematch to win vacant title.
Dale Lewis 1 December 27, 1968 Atlanta, GA
El Mongol 7 February 7, 1969 Atlanta, GA
Assassin #1 1 March 21, 1969
El Mongol 8 April 15, 1969 Atlanta, GA
The Professional 3 May 16, 1969 Atlanta, GA
Paul DeMarco 1 June 21, 1969 Atlanta, GA
Joe Scarpa 1 September 19, 1969 Atlanta, GA
Paul DeMarco 2 October 3, 1969 Atlanta, GA
The Professional 4 November 28, 1969 Atlanta, GA
Vacated February 18, 1970 After The Professional was injured.
Assassin #2 1 March 13, 1970 Atlanta, GA Defeated Joe Scarpa in an 8-man tournament final to win the vacant title.
Nick Bockwinkel 1 April 17, 1970 Atlanta, GA [4]
Paul DeMarco 3 July 17, 1970 Atlanta, GA [5]
Nick Bockwinkel 2 July 24, 1970 Atlanta, GA
Buddy Colt 1 September 4, 1970 Atlanta, GA
Fred Blassie 1 November 13, 1970 Atlanta, GA
Buddy Colt 2 November 20, 1970 Atlanta, GA
Ray Gunkel 1 November 27, 1970 Atlanta, GA
Vacated November 30, 1970 When Buddy Colt and Homer O'Dell file an appeal.
El Mongol 9 February 5, 1971 Atlanta, GA Defeated Nick Bockwinkel in a 14-man tournament final to win the vacant title.
Buddy Colt 3 June 18, 1971 Atlanta, GA
Ray Gunkel 2 July 20, 1971 Atlanta, GA
Buddy Colt 4 January 1972
El Mongol 10 January 25, 1972
Buddy Colt 5 April 8, 1972 Griffin, GA
Roberto Soto 1 May 5, 1972 [6]
Vacated November 1972 When Soto jumps to the All South Wrestling Alliance.
Mr. Wrestling II 1 March 2, 1973 Atlanta, GA Defeated Sputnik Monroe in a 16-man tournament final to win the vacant title.
Bill Watts 1 May 11, 1973 Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 2 July 13, 1973
Bill Watts 2 July 21, 1973 Atlanta, GA
Stripped August 17, 1973 After Watts deliberately gets disqualified in a defense against Mr. Wrestling II.
Mr. Wrestling II 3 August 31, 1973 Defeated Watts in a rematch to win the title.
Bill Watts 3 November 2, 1973 Atlanta, GA
Ron Fuller 1 December 21, 1973 Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 4 January 11, 1974 Atlanta, GA
Buddy Colt 6 July 5, 1974 Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 5 August 30, 1974 Atlanta, GA
Harley Race 1 September 13, 1974 Atlanta, GA
Don Muraco 1 September 21, 1974
Held Up October 4, 1974 After match with Buddy Colt.
Luke Graham 1 October 8, 1974 Atlanta, GA Won a tournament to win the vacant title.
Buddy Colt 7 October 11, 1974 Atlanta, GA Won a battle royal to win the title.
Held up November 15, 1974 Atlanta, GA In a following match against Rocky Johnson.
Rocky Johnson 1 December 6, 1974 Atlanta, GA Defeated Colt in a rematch.
Abdullah the Butcher 1 February 21, 1975 Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 6 July 4, 1975 Atlanta, GA
Abdullah the Butcher 2 July 11, 1975 Atlanta, GA
Toru Tanaka 1 August 7, 1975 Atlanta, GA
Mike McCord 1 September 16, 1975
Nikolai Volkoff 1 September 23, 1975 Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 7 October 3, 1975 Atlanta, GA
The Spoiler 1 November 27, 1975 Atlanta, GA
Dusty Rhodes 1 January 30, 1976 Atlanta, GA
The Spoiler 2 February 6, 1976 Atlanta, GA
Dick Slater 1 August 20, 1976 Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 8 October 26, 1976 Columbus, GA
Dick Slater 2 November 25, 1976 Columbus, GA
Paul Jones 1 April 15, 1977
Dick Slater 3 June 4, 1977
Mr. Wrestling II 9 July 22, 1977
Stan Hansen 1 November 16, 1977
Mr. Wrestling II 10 January 25, 1978
Stan Hansen 2 February 6, 1978
Stripped May 20, 1978 When attacking the referee after a match with Mr. Wrestling II.
Angelo Mosca 1 June 9, 1978 Atlanta, GA Won a one night 14-man tournament to win the vacant title.
Stripped May 20, 1978 After a match with Thunderbolt Patterson.
Mr. Wrestling II 11 October 16, 1978 Augusta, GA Defeated Stan Hansen in a one night 6-man tournament final.
Masked Superstar 1 December 4, 1978 Augusta, GA
Wahoo McDaniel 1 May 14, 1979 Augusta, GA
Masked Superstar 2 July 30, 1979 Augusta, GA
Wahoo McDaniel 2 August 17, 1979 Augusta, GA
Vacated August 18, 1979 After double pin in a match with Masked Superstar.
Killer Karl Kox 1 August 24, 1979 Augusta, GA Defeats Bob Armstrong in a one night 14-man tournament final.
Tommy Rich 1 October 26, 1979 Atlanta, GA
Masked Superstar 3 December 7, 1979 Atlanta, GA
Mr. Wrestling II 12 January 12, 1980 Atlanta, GA
Austin Idol 2 March 29, 1980 Atlanta, GA
Baron von Raschke 1 June 8, 1980 Atlanta, GA
Steve Keirn 1 August 11, 1980
Dennis Condrey 1 September 8, 1980
Tony Atlas 1 October 24, 1980 Atlanta, GA
Vacated April 1981 When Tony Atlas leaves Georgia.
Tommy Rich 2 May 17, 1981 Atlanta, GA Defeated Greg Valentine in a tournament final to win the vacant title.
Ken Patera 1 June 12, 1981 Atlanta, GA
Tommy Rich 3 August 9, 1981 Atlanta, GA Defeated Masked Superstar to win the vacant title when Patera leaves the area after a dispute with booker Ole Anderson.
Masked Superstar 4 September 12, 1981 Atlanta, GA
Retired September 13, 1981 Atlanta, GA Unified with the NWA National Heavyweight Championship.
Billy Black 1 June 1, 1998 Awarded the title when it is revived by NWA Georgia.
Lord Humongous 1 February 25, 1999 Loganville, GA
Silky Boom Boom 1 April 5, 1999 Loganville, GA
Frenchy Riviera 1 May 6, 1999 Loganville, GA
Silky Boom Boom 2 June 2, 1999 Conyers, GA
Bart Sawyer 1 June 27, 1999 Stockbridge, GA
Vacated October 1999
NWA Wildside Heavyweight Championship.
Rick Michaels 1 October 14, 1999 Loganville, GA Last eliminated Dusty Dotson in a Mega Rumble match to win the vacant title.
Vacated January 2000
Rukkus 1 February 5, 2000 Cornelia, GA Won the title in a Mega Rumble match.
Stone Mountain 1 April 15, 2000 Cornelia, GA Defeated Mark E. Mark, who subbed for Rukkus.
Prince Justice 1 May 5, 2001 Cornelia, GA
Scott Wrenn 1 September 1, 2001 Cornelia, GA
Rick Michaels 2 October 19, 2001 Cornelia, GA
A.J. Styles 1 December 22, 2001 Cornelia, GA [7]
David Young 1 March 23, 2002 Cornelia, GA Defeated Styles and Rick Michaels in a three-way elimination match.
Jason Cross 1 June 1, 2002 Cornelia, GA
Adam Jacobs 1 June 29, 2002 Cornelia, GA Won a gauntlet steel cage match, last eliminating A.J. Styles.
David Young 2 August 2, 2002 Cornelia, GA Defeated John Phoenix when Jacobs no-showed.
Iceberg 1 September 22, 2002 Cornelia, GA
Hotstuff Hernandez 1 July 5, 2003 Cornelia, GA
Onyx 1 October 25, 2003 Cornelia, GA
Jason Cross 2 September 4, 2004 Cornelia, GA
Ray Gordy 1 December 4, 2004[8] Cornelia, GA
Onyx 2 December 4, 2004[8] Cornelia, GA
Rainman 1 March 26, 2005 Cornelia, GA Defeated Onyx and Ray Gordy in a three-way match.
Onyx 3 April 30, 2005 Cornelia, GA Final champion.
Retired April 30, 2005 Cornelia, GA When NWA Wildside closes.
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship.
Cru Jones 1 June 23, 2012 Stockbridge, GA Defeats Steve Stiles to be recognized by NWA Action when title is revived.
Vacated September 2013
Andy Anderson 1 October 26, 2013 Stockbridge, GA Defeats Pain in 32-man tournament final.
Tyson Dean 1 December 14, 2013 Griffin, GA
Odinson 1 April 25, 2015 Griffin, GA Replaces Shane Marx, who is injured during the match to defeats Tyson Dean.
Tommy Too Much 1 June 27, 2015 Stockbridge, GA Reigning NWA Atlanta Heavyweight Champion, defeats Odinson in a unification match.
Mike Pain 1 August 13, 2016 Dudley, GA Recognized as champion by NWA Georgia after NWA Atlanta closes operations
Logan Creed 1 October 1, 2016 Columbus, GA
Damien Wayne 1 July 15, 2017 Columbus, GA NWA ends licenses with promotions worldwide. Title declared vacant
GCW Georgia Heavyweight Championship
Terry Lawler 1 April 24, 2021 Buckhead, GA Title is revived under the new GCW. Lawler wins a 20 man Rumble match to win the vacated championship. Last eliminating Shawn Hunter
Shawn Hunter 1 July 24, 2021 Buckhead, GA
Charlie Anarchy 1 April 30, 2022 Buckhead, GA
Chop Top 1 July 30, 2022 Buckhead, GA
Hunter James 1 March 25, 2023 Buckhead, GA
Terry Lawler 2 September 30, 2023 Buckhead, GA

See also

References

  1. ^ F4W Staff (May 28, 2015). "ON THIS DAY IN PRO WRESTLING HISTORY (MAY 28): HULK HOGAN VS. NICK BOCKWINKEL, BRUNO VS. SUPERSTAR GRAHAM DOUBLE DQ". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Hoops, Brian (August 11, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (August 11): Verne Gagne vs. Lou Thesz for AWA title, first ever G1 final". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  3. ^ Hoops, Brian (May 10, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history: Gagne retires as AWA champion, Austin's ex-wife beats Lesnar's wife for WWF title, Steamboat & Youngblood, Thesz Vs Rogers". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  4. ^ Hoops, Brian (April 17, 2020). "Daily pro wrestling (04/17): WCW Spring Stampede 1994". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  5. ^ Hoops, Brian (July 17, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history, Kangaroos, Gagne vs. Kiniski in Hawaii, Gordy wins Triple Crown, Hogan wins WCW title from Flair at Bash at the Beach, famous Punk vs. Cena Chicago bout". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  6. ^ F4W Staff (May 5, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 5): Bruno Vs. Gorilla in Puerto Rico, 2nd annual Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017.((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ John Milner (February 18, 2005). "Bio: A.J. Styles". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 3, 2012. Retrieved 2007-11-13.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ a b "Independent Wrestling Results - December 2004". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved 2008-07-05.

External links

Georgia Championship Wrestling
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