Title Holder |
Defeated |
Date |
Location |
George Hackenschmidt | Tom Jenkins | May 5/04 | New York, New York |
Frank Gotch | George Hackenschmidt | Apr 3/08 | Chicago, Illinois |
vacant | Gotch retired | Apr 9/13 | ? |
Charlie Cutler | Jesse Westegard | ? | ? |
Joe Stecher | Charlie Cutler | Jul 4/15 | Omaha, Nebraska |
Earl Caddock | Joe Stecher | Apr 9/17 | Omaha, Nebraska |
Joe Stecher | Earl Caddock | Jan 30/20 | New York, New York |
Ed Lewis | Joe Stecher | Dec 13/20 | New York, New York |
Stanislaus Zbyzsko | Ed Lewis | May 6/21 | New York, New York |
Ed Lewis | Stanislaus Zbyszko | Mar 3/22 | Wichita, Kansas |
Wayne Munn | Ed Lewis | Jan 8/25 | Kansas City, Missouri |
Stanislaus Zbyszko | Wayne Munn | Apr 15/25 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Joe Stecher | Stanislaus Zbyszko | May 30/25 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Ed Lewis | Joe Stecher | Feb 20/28 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Gus Sonnenberg | Ed Lewis | Jan 4/29 | Boston, Massachusetts |
Dick Shikat | Jim Londos | Aug 23/29 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Jim Londos | Dick Shikat | Jun 6/30 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Ed Don George | Jim Londos | Dec 10/30 | Los Angeles, California |
Ed Lewis | Ed Don George | Apr 13/31 | Los Angeles, California |
Henry DeGlane | Ed Lewis | May 4/31 | Montreal, Quebec |
Ed Lewis | Dick Shikat | Jun 9/32 | New York, New York |
Ed Don George | Henry DeGlane | Feb 9/33 | Boston, Massachusetts |
Jim Browning | Ed Don George | Feb 20/33 | New York, New York |
Jim Londos | Jim Browning | Jun 25/34 | New York, New York |
Danno O'Mahoney | Jim Londos | Jun 27/35 | Boston, Massachusetts |
Danno O'Mahoney | Ed Don George | Jun 30/35 | Boston, Massachusetts |
Danno O'Mahoney | Ed Lewis | Jul 30/35 | Boston, Massachusetts |
Dick Shikat | Danno O'Mahoney | Mar 2/36 | New York, New York |
Ali Baba | Dick Shikat | Apr 24/36 | Detroit, Michigan |
Everett Marshall | Ali Baba | Jun 26/36 | Columbus, Ohio |
Lou Thesz | Everett Marshall | Dec 29/37 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Steve Casey | Lou Thesz | Feb 11/38 | Boston, Massachusetts |
Everett Marshall | awarded/lack of defenses | Sep ?/38 | ? |
Lou Thesz | Everett Marshall | Feb 23/39 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Bronko Nagurski | Lou Thesz | Jun 23/39 | Houston, Texas |
Ray Steele | Bronko Nagurski | Mar 7/40 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Bronko Nagurski | Ray Steele | Mar 11/41 | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Sandor Szabo | Bronko Nagurski | Jun 5/41 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Bill Longson | Sandor Szabo | Feb 19/42 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Yvon Robert | Bill Longson | Oct 7/42 | Montreal, Quebec |
Bobby Managoff | Yvon Robert | Nov 27/42 | Houston, Texas |
Bill Longson | Bobby Managoff | Feb 19/43 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Whipper Billy Watson | Bill Longson | Feb 21/47 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Lou Thesz | Whipper Billy Watson | Apr 25/47 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Bill Longson | Lou Thesz | Nov 21/47 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Lou Thesz | Bill Longson | Jul 20/48 | Indianapolis, Indiana |
Whipper Billy Watson | Lou Thesz | Mar 15/56 | Toronto, Ontario |
Lou Thesz | Whipper Billy Watson | Nov 9/56 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Dick Hutton | Lou Thesz | Nov 14/57 | Toronto, Ontario |
Pat O'Connor | Dick Hutton | Jan 9/59 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Buddy Rogers | Pat O'Connor | Jun 30/61 | Chicago, Illinois |
Lou Thesz | Buddy Rogers | Jan 24/63 | Toronto, Ontario |
Gene Kiniski | Lou Thesz | Jan 7/66 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Dory Funk, Jr. | Gene Kiniski | Feb 11/69 | Tampa, Florida |
Harley Race | Dory Funk, Jr. | May 24/73 | Kansas City, Missouri |
Jack Brisco | Harley Race | Jul 20/73 | Houston, Texas |
Shohei Baba | Jack Brisco | Dec 2/74 | Kagoshimi, Japan |
Jack Brisco | Shohei Baba | Dec 9/74 | Tokyo, Japan |
Terry Funk | Jack Brisco | Dec 10/75 | Miami, Florida |
Harley Race | Terry Funk | Feb 6/77 | Toronto, Ontario |
Dusty Rhodes | Harley Race | Aug 21/79 | Tampa, Florida |
Harley Race | Dusty Rhodes | Aug 26/79 | Orlando, Florida |
Shohei Baba | Harley Race | Oct 31/79 | Nagoya, Japan |
Harley Race | Shohei Baba | Nov 7/79 | Amagaseki, Japan |
Shohei Baba | Harley Race | Sep 4/80 | Saga, Japan |
Harley Race | Shohei Baba | Sep 10/80 | Otsu, Japan |
Tommy Rich | Harley Race | Apr 27/81 | Augusta, Georgia |
Harley Race | Tommy Rich | May 1/81 | Gainsville, Georgia |
Dusty Rhodes | Harley Race | Jun 21/81 | Atlanta, Georgia |
Ric Flair | Dusty Rhodes | Sep 17/81 | Kansas City, Missouri |
Harley Race | Ric Flair | Jun 10/83 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Ric Flair | Harley Race | Nov 24/83 | Greensboro, North Carolina |
Harley Race | Ric Flair | Mar 21/84 | Wellington, New Zealand |
Ric Flair | Harley Race | Mar 23/84 | Kallang, Singapore |
Kerry Von Erich | Ric Flair | May 6/84 | Irving, Texas |
Ric Flair | Kerry Von Erich | May 24/84 | Yokosuka City, Japan |
Dusty Rhodes | Ric Flair | Jul 26/86 | Greensboro, North Carolina |
Ric Flair | Dusty Rhodes | Aug 9/86 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Ronnie Garvin | Ric Flair | Sep 25/87 | Detroit, Michigan |
Ric Flair | Ronnie Garvin | Nov 26/87 | Chicago, Illinois |
Rick Steamboat | Ric Flair | Feb 20/89 | Chicago, Illinois |
Ric Flair | Rick Steamboat | May 7/89 | Nashville, Tennessee |
Sting | Ric Flair | Jul 7/90 | Baltimore, Maryland |
Ric Flair | Sting | Jan 11/91 | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
Tatsumi Fujinami | Ric Flair | Mar 21/91 | Tokyo, Japan |
Ric Flair | Tatsumi Fujinami | May 19/91 | St. Petersburg, Florida |
vacant | Flair left for WWF | Sep 8/91 | ? |
Masa Hiro Chono | Rick Rude | Aug 12/92 | Tokyo, Japan |
The Great Muta | Masa Hiro Chono | Jan 4/93 | Tokyo, Japan |
Barry Windham | The Great Muta | Feb 21/93 | Asheville, North Carolina |
Ric Flair | Barry Windham | Jul 18/93 | Biloxi, Mississippi |
vacant | WCW leaves NWA | Sep ?/93 | ? |
split into WCW International World Heavyweight Championship | |||
Rick Rude | ? | ?/9? | ? |
Hiroshi Hase | Rick Rude | ?/9? | ? |
Rick Rude | Hiroshi Hase | ?/9? | ? |
Sting | Rick Rude | Apr 17/94 | Rosemont, Illinois |
vacant | controversial win | May 1/94 | Fukuoka, Japan |
Sting | Big Van Vader | May 22/94 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Ric Flair | Sting | Jun 23/94 | Charleston, South Carolina |
reintegrated | Jun 23/94 | Charleston, South Carolina | |
Ric Flair | Sting | Jan 11/91 | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
vacant | stripped/lack of defenses | Jul 1/91 | ? |
Lex Luger | Barry Windham | Sep 14/91 | Baltimore, Maryland |
Sting | Lex Luger | Feb 29/92 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Big Van Vader | Sting | Jul 12/92 | Albany, Georgia |
Ron Simmons | Big Van Vader | Aug 2/92 | Baltimore, Maryland |
Big Van Vader | Ron Simmons | Dec 30/92 | Baltimore, Maryland |
Sting | Big Van Vader | Mar 11/93 | London, England |
Big Van Vader | Sting | Mar 17/93 | Dublin, Ireland |
Ric Flair | Big Van Vader | Dec 27/93 | Charlotte, North Carolina |
Hulk Hogan | Ric Flair | Jul 17/94 | Orlando, Florida |
The Giant | Hulk Hogan | Oct 29/95 | Detroit, Michigan |
vacant |
controversial win, Giant's reign invalid |
Nov 6/95 | ? |
Randy Savage | Hulk Hogan | Nov 26/95 | Norfolk, Virginia |
Ric Flair | Randy Savage | Dec 27/95 | Nashville, Tennessee |
Randy Savage | Ric Flair | Jan 22/96 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Ric Flair | Randy Savage | Feb 11/96 | St. Petersburg, Florida |
The Giant | Ric Flair | Apr 22/96 | Albany, Georgia |
Hollywood Hogan | The Giant | Aug 10/96 | Sturgis, South Dakota |
Lex Luger | Hollywood Hogan | Aug 4/97 | Detroit, Michigan |
Hollywood Hogan | Lex Luger | Aug 9/97 | Sturgis, South Dakota |
Sting | Hollywood Hogan | Dec 28/97 | Washington, DC |
vacant | controversial wins | Jan 8/98 | Daytona Beach, Florida |
Sting | Hollywood Hogan | Feb 22/98 | San Francisco, California |
Macho Man Randy Savage | Sting | Apr 19/98 | Denver, Colorado |
Hollywood Hogan | Macho Man Randy Savage | Apr 20/98 | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
Goldberg | Hollywood Hogan | Jul 6/98 | Atlanta, Georgia |
Kevin Nash | Goldberg | Dec 27/98 | Washington, DC |
Hollywood Hogan | Kevin Nash | Jan 4/99 | Atlanta, Georgia |
Ric Flair | Hollywood Hogan | Mar 14/99 | Louisville, Kentucky |
Diamond Dallas Page | Ric Flair | Apr 11/99 | Seattle, Washington |
Sting | Diamond Dallas Page | Apr 26/99 | Fargo, North Dakota |
Diamond Dallas Page | Kevin Nash | Apr 26/99 | Fargo, North Dakota |
Kevin Nash | Diamond Dallas Page | May 9/99 | St. Louis, Missouri |
Macho Man Randy Savage | Kevin Nash | Jul 11/99 | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida |
Hollywood Hogan | Macho Man Randy Savage | Jul 12/99 | Jacksonville, Florida |
Sting | Hulk Hogan [Hollywood Hogan] | Sep 12/99 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
Goldberg | Sting | Oct 24/99 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Sting |
title shot not granted, Goldberg's reign invalid, Sting's reign resumes |
Oct 25/99 | Phoenix, Arizona |
vacant | misconduct the previous night | Oct 25/99 | Phoenix, Arizona |
Bret Hart | Chris Benoit | Nov 21/99 | Toronto, Ontario |
vacant | willingly forfeit | Dec 20/99 | Baltimore, Maryland |
Bret Hart | Goldberg | Dec 20/99 | Baltimore, Maryland |
vacant | forfeit due to head injury | Jan 16/00 | Cincinnati, Ohio |
Chris Benoit | Sid Vicious | Jan 16/00 | Cincinnati, Ohio |
vacant |
controversial win the previous night, Benoit's reign invalid |
Jan 17/00 | Columbus, Ohio |
Sid Vicious | Kevin Nash | Jan 24/00 | Los Angeles, California |
Kevin Nash |
default, stripped/pre-match stipulation |
Jan 25/00 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Sid Vicious | Kevin Nash | Jan 25/00 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
vacant | stripped/new direction | Apr 10/00 | Denver, Colorado |
Jeff Jarrett | Diamond Dallas Page | Apr 16/00 | Chicago, Illinois |
Diamond Dallas Page | Jeff Jarrett | Apr 24/00 | Rochester, New York |
David Arquette | Eric Bischoff | Apr 25/00 | Syracuse, New York |
Jeff Jarrett | Diamond Dallas Page | May 7/00 | Kansas City, Missouri |
Ric Flair | Jeff Jarrett | May 15/00 | Biloxi, Mississippi |
vacant | forfeit due to brain injury | May 22/00 | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
Jeff Jarrett | awarded by Vince Russo | May 22/00 | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
Kevin Nash | Jeff Jarrett | May 23/00 | Saginaw, Michigan |
Ric Flair | awarded by Kevin Nash | May 29/00 | Salt Lake City, Utah |
Jeff Jarrett | Ric Flair | May 29/00 | Salt Lake City, Utah |
Hulk Hogan | Jeff Jarrett | Jul 9/00 | Daytona Beach, Florida |
Jeff Jarrett |
booker reverses decision, Jarrett's reign continues, Hogan's reign invalid |
Jul 9/00 | Daytona Beach, Florida |
Booker T. | Jeff Jarrett | Jul 9/00 | Daytona Beach, Florida |
Chuck Palumbo | Booker T. | Aug 21/00 | Wichita, Kansas |
Booker T. |
referee continues match, T.'s reign continues, Palumbo's reign invalid |
Aug 21/00 | Wichita, Kansas |