On December 14, 2019, the NWA announced they were reintroducing the NWA World Television Championship with a tournament to determine a new champion.[3] Although past Television champions from both the Georgia and Mid-Atlantic versions have been referred to on NWA programming,[4] the original titles and respective lineage are currently owned by WWE. The modern-day NWA World Television Championship is considered the third most important heavyweight title in the current NWA, after the World and National titles. The belt uses the same design as used by JCP/WCW between 1985 and 1992.
History
On December 14, 2019, during NWA's Into the Firepay-per-view, it was announced they were reintroducing the NWA World Television Championship with a tournament to determine a new champion at their next PPV, Hard Times, on January 24, 2020.[3][5] On the December 17 episode of NWA's weekly flagship program, NWA Power, it was revealed that all NWA World Television Championship tournament matches would have a 6 minute, 5 second time limit.[6] The time limit was an homage to the 6:05 PM start time of NWA Power as well as a tribute to the original start time for NWA's World Championship Wrestling that ran from the 1970s to 1992.[7][8] All tournament competitors, as well as two qualifying matches, were then announced.[6][9] On the January 7 episode of NWA Power, Tim Storm clarified that six competitors would move on to the first round of the NWA World Television Championship tournament. He also announced there would be two additional spots open in the first round for competitors yet to be named and not currently on the NWA roster.[10] The tournament bracket was unveiled on the January 14 episode of NWA Power.[11] On the January 21 episode of NWA Power, the final two competitors in the first round of the tournament were named: Matt Cross from the independent circuit and Dan Maff from Ring of Honor.[12]
On the January 28, 2020 episode of NWA Power, the "Lucky Seven Rule" was announced. A champion who successfully defends the championship seven consecutive times will be eligible to trade in the championship for a match for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship.[13] On March 21, 2021 at Back For The Attack, the NWA extended the time limit for World Television title matches on pay-per-views to ten minutes.
1 ^ Replaced Nick Aldis when Aldis refused to enter and ordered fellow Strictly Business member Isaacs to take his place. 2 ^ Replaced an injured Zane Dawson when Anderson won an 8-man Last Chance Gauntlet match to fill the spot. 3 ^ Anderson was not "medically cleared" to compete giving Tim Storm a bye as a result.
Belt design
The current design is the same that Jim Crockett Promotions used from April 1985 to November 1988. It is also the same design World Championship Wrestling used from November 1988 to January 1991 and for the WCW World Television Championship belt from January 1991 to May 1992. The design uses a dual-colored leather strap (black front, red back) as the base. The main plate is nickel silver with a red background for the words “NWA Television Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.” An eagle’s head and wings sit underneath the “NWA” letters, a globe is etched in the silver underneath “Television,” and a wrestling ring with two figures is etched in the silver underneath “Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.” There are four side plates. On the left are the logos of two of the major television networks: NBC and ABC. On the right, the logo of the television network CBS is on one plate while an image of a satellite dish is on the other. The belt was also available in red and white straps.
Reigns
As of April 6, 2024, there have been seven reigns between seven champions and two vacancies. Ricky Starks was the inaugural champion. Tyrus reign is the longest between 474 and 476 days, while Starks' reign is the shortest with two days. Tyrus is the oldest champion at 48 years old, while Starks is the youngest at 29 years old.
Max the Impaler is the current champion in their first reign. They defeated Mims to unify the NWA World Women's Television Championship into the NWA World Television Championship on January 13, 2024, at Paranoia, where was match aired at NWA Powerrr on February 13, 2024.
Defeated AJ Cazana for the vacant title. The time limit was extended for this match only to 15 minutes after the previous match between the same competitors on the October 22nd episode of NWA USA for the title ended in a time limit draw.
Latimer voluntarily vacated the championship to wrestle for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship as part of the "Lucky Seven Rule". Aired on September 13, 2023.
Hornbaker, Tim (2016). "Statistical notes". Legends of Pro Wrestling - 150 years of headlocks, body slams, and piledrivers (Revised ed.). New York, New York: Sports Publishing. ISBN978-1-61321-808-2.
Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
