List of WCW World Heavyweight Champions

Three-time champion Diamond Dallas Page holding the Big Gold Belt, which represented the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in 1991 and 1994–2001

This is a chronological list of wrestlers that have been WCW World Heavyweight Champion by ring name. The WCW World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship, and its lineage began when Ted Turner purchased Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), which used the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) alliance name. Turner's organization was renamed World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and split from the NWA in 1991.[1]

The WCW World Heavyweight Championship is the original world title of WCW, and it remained as such until March 2001, when WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now known as WWE) and the championship was defended as the "WCW Championship" as part of the Invasion storyline, with the "WCW" initials being dropped from the title's name in November 2001. In December 2001, the renamed "World Championship" was unified with the WWF Championship to create the "Undisputed WWF Championship".

The championship was generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants execute scripted finishes rather than contend in direct competition. There have been a total of 22 recognized champions who have had a combined 62 official reigns, with Ric Flair holding the most at seven (although the actual total is eight as WWE does not recognize the title being vacated after the Spring Stampede 1994 match, although WCW did recognize this). Flair was also, at 51, the oldest champion when he won it in May 2000, while The Giant was the youngest when he won it in October 1995 at the age of 23. The longest reigning champion was Hulk Hogan, who held the title for 469 days. The shortest reigning champion was Chris Jericho, who held the title for approximately 13 and a half minutes, since he unified with the WWF Championship at Vengeance.

Names

Name[2] Years[2]
WCW World Heavyweight Championship January 11, 1991 – March 26, 2001
WCW Championship June 24, 2001 – November 18, 2001
World Championship November 19, 2001 – December 9, 2001

Reigns

No. Wrestler Reign number Date Days held Location Event Notes
1 Ric Flair 1 January 11, 1991 171 East Rutherford, NJ House show Defeated Sting for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. WCW began recognizing Flair as WCW World Heavyweight Champion. It is counted as an NWA world title win (and not a WCW world title win) among Flair's sixteen world titles.
— Vacated — July 1, 1991 — — — Flair left for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and was stripped of the title.
2 Lex Luger 1 July 14, 1991 230 Baltimore, MD The Great American Bash Defeated Barry Windham in a steel cage match.
3 Sting 1 February 29, 1992 134 Milwaukee, WI SuperBrawl II [3][4]
4 Big Van Vader 1 July 12, 1992 21 Albany, GA The Great American Bash [5][6]
5 Ron Simmons 1 August 2, 1992 150 Baltimore, MD House show The match would be shown on Main Event via tape delay on August 16, 1992.[7]
6 Big Van Vader 2 December 30, 1992 71 Baltimore, MD House show [2][8]
7 Sting 2 March 11, 1993 6 London, England House show [2][9]
8 Big Van Vader 3 March 17, 1993 285 Dublin, Ireland House show [2][10]
9 Ric Flair 2 December 27, 1993 202 Charlotte, NC Starrcade: 10th Anniversary On April 17, 1994, at Spring Stampede pay-per-view, a title match between Flair and Ricky Steamboat ended in a double pin, which resulted in the title being vacated; on April 21 (aired May 14), 1994, Flair defeated Steamboat in a rematch, thus regaining the title.[11][12] However, while this vacancy and Flair's subsequent regaining of the title were recognized by WCW,[13] WWE does not recognize the vacancy and Flair's reign is considered uninterrupted.[14]
10 Hulk Hogan 1 July 17, 1994 469 Orlando, FL Bash at the Beach [15][16]
11 The Giant 1 October 29, 1995 8 Detroit, MI Halloween Havoc Won in a match where the title could change hands via disqualification. The Giant defeated Hogan by disqualification when Hogan's manager Jimmy Hart interfered.[17]
— Vacated — November 6, 1995 — Jacksonville, FL Nitro The Giant was stripped of the title due to controversial finish of Halloween Havoc match.[17]
12 Randy Savage 1 November 26, 1995 31 Norfolk, VA World War 3 Won in a World War 3 match, last eliminating One Man Gang.[18][19]
13 Ric Flair 3 December 27, 1995 26 Nashville, TN Starrcade: World Cup of Wrestling [20][21]
14 Randy Savage 2 January 22, 1996 20 Las Vegas, NV Nitro [22]
15 Ric Flair 4 February 11, 1996 71 St. Petersburg, FL SuperBrawl VI Won in a steel cage match.[23][24]
16 The Giant 2 April 22, 1996 110 Albany, GA Nitro Aired April 29, 1996.[25]
17 Hollywood Hogan 2 August 10, 1996 359 Sturgis, SD Hog Wild After the match, the title was spray painted with the "nWo" initials and was often announced as the nWo/WCW World Heavyweight Championship during title defenses in the following Hogan's three runs, while referred to by nWo members only as the nWo World Heavyweight Championship.[26][27]
18 Lex Luger 2 August 4, 1997 5 Auburn Hills, MI Nitro [28]
19 Hollywood Hogan 3 August 9, 1997 141 Sturgis, SD Road Wild [29][30]
20 Sting 3 December 28, 1997 11 Washington, D.C. Starrcade Hogan first pinned Sting, but guest referee Bret Hart accused the first referee Nick Patrick of making a fast count and restarted the match. Sting won by submission.[31][32][33]
— Vacated — January 8, 1998 — Daytona Beach, FL Thunder Aired January 8, 1998. Title held up due to controversy over finish of December 28 and December 29 matches.[34]
21 Sting 4 February 22, 1998 56 Daly City, CA SuperBrawl VIII Defeated Hogan in a rematch.[34]
22 Randy Savage 3 April 19, 1998 1 Denver, CO Spring Stampede [35][36]
23 Hollywood Hogan 4 April 20, 1998 77 Colorado Springs, CO Nitro Won a no disqualification match.[37]
24 Goldberg 1 July 6, 1998 174 Atlanta, GA Nitro [38]
25 Kevin Nash 1 December 27, 1998 8 Washington, D.C. Starrcade [39][40]
26 Hollywood Hogan 5 January 4, 1999 69 Atlanta, GA Nitro Nash laid down for Hogan.[41]
27 Ric Flair 5 March 14, 1999 28 Louisville, KY Uncensored Flair pinned Hogan in a First Blood steel cage match.[42][43]
28 Diamond Dallas Page 1 April 11, 1999 15 Tacoma, WA Spring Stampede Defeated Flair, Sting, and Hollywood Hogan in a fatal four-way match. Randy Savage was the special guest referee[44][45]
29 Sting 5 April 26, 1999 <1 Fargo, ND Nitro [46]
30 Diamond Dallas Page 2 13 Defeated Sting, Kevin Nash, and Goldberg in a no disqualification fatal four-way match.[47]
31 Kevin Nash 2 May 9, 1999 63 St. Louis, MO Slamboree [48][49]
32 Randy Savage 4 July 11, 1999 1 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Bash at the Beach Savage pinned Nash in a tag team match also featuring Sid Vicious and Sting; if Nash was pinned or if he had to submit he would lose the championship.[50]
33 Hollywood Hogan 6 July 12, 1999 62 Jacksonville, FL Nitro Hollywood Hogan reverted to his Hulkamania character midway through his reign.[51]
34 Sting 6 September 12, 1999 43 Winston-Salem, NC Fall Brawl [52][53]
— Vacated — October 25, 1999 — Phoenix, AZ Nitro Sting was stripped of the title after losing an unsanctioned match against Goldberg and attacking referee Charles Robinson at Halloween Havoc.[54]
35 Bret Hart 1 November 21, 1999 29 Toronto, Ontario Mayhem Defeated Chris Benoit in a tournament final.[55][56][57]
— Vacated — December 20, 1999 — Baltimore, MD Nitro Hart vacated the title because of the controversial match with Goldberg at Starrcade.[58]
36 Bret Hart 2 December 20, 1999 27 Baltimore, MD Nitro Defeated Goldberg in a rematch.[58]
— Vacated — January 16, 2000 — Cincinnati, OH Souled Out Hart vacated the title due to a legitimate injury that eventually forced him to retire nine months later.[59]
37 Chris Benoit 1 January 16, 2000 1 Cincinnati, OH Souled Out Defeated Sid Vicious.[60] After Benoit left WCW for the WWF, WCW refused to acknowledge Benoit's victory as an official title reign, and Benoit's title reign was not listed in the title lineage at WCW.com.[13] However, the WWF recognized Benoit's title win, and Benoit's title reign is still listed in the title lineage at WWE.com.[14]
— Vacated — January 17, 2000 — Columbus, OH Nitro Title held up because when Benoit won the match Sid's foot was under the rope during the decisively submission.[60] In reality, Benoit forfeited the title and left for the WWF after dispute with management.[61]
38 Sid Vicious 1 January 24, 2000 1 Los Angeles, CA Nitro Defeated Kevin Nash after defeating The Harris Brothers for the right to wrestle Nash for the title.[62]
— Vacated — January 25, 2000 — Las Vegas, NV Thunder Stripped by Commissioner Kevin Nash due to Sid pinning the wrong Harris Brother.[2]
39 Kevin Nash 3 January 25, 2000 <1 Las Vegas, NV Thunder Awarded himself the title.[2] It was not listed in the title lineage at WCW.com[13] nor at WWE.com,[14] but WWE still considers Nash as a five-time champion.[63]
40 Sid Vicious 2 76 Defeated Nash and Ron Harris in a handicap match by making Nash submit. Aired January 26, 2000.[64]
— Vacated — April 10, 2000 — Denver, CO Nitro All WCW titles were declared vacant by Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff after WCW was rebooted.[65]
41 Jeff Jarrett 1 April 16, 2000 8 Chicago, IL Spring Stampede Defeated Dallas Page in tournament final.[65]
42 Diamond Dallas Page 3 April 24, 2000 1 Rochester, NY Nitro Defeated Jeff Jarrett in a steel cage match.
43 David Arquette 1 April 25, 2000 12 Syracuse, NY Thunder Arquette pinned Eric Bischoff in a tag team title match also featuring Diamond Dallas Page and Jeff Jarrett; the wrestler who scored the decisive fall would be declared champion. Aired April 26, 2000.[66]
44 Jeff Jarrett 2 May 7, 2000 8 Kansas City, MO Slamboree Won in a Triple Cage match that also included Page.[67]
45 Ric Flair 6 May 15, 2000 7 Biloxi, MS Nitro [68]
— Vacated — May 22, 2000 — Grand Rapids, MI Nitro Vince Russo stripped Flair of the title.[69]
46 Jeff Jarrett 3 May 22, 2000 1 Grand Rapids, MI Nitro Defeated Kevin Nash in a Falls Count Anywhere match for the vacant title.[70]
47 Kevin Nash 4 May 23, 2000 6 Saginaw, MI Thunder Defeats Jarrett and Scott Steiner in a triple threat match. Aired on May 24, 2000.[71]
48 Ric Flair 7 May 29, 2000 <1 Salt Lake City, UT Nitro Nash gave title back to Flair.[71]
49 Jeff Jarrett 4 41 [72]
50 Booker T 1 July 9, 2000 50 Daytona Beach, FL Bash at the Beach After the controversial Hogan vs. Jarrett match, head writer Vince Russo announced that Jarrett would defend the title in an impromptu match against Booker T.[73]
51 Kevin Nash 5 August 28, 2000 20 Las Cruces, NM Nitro [63]
52 Booker T 2 September 17, 2000 8 Buffalo, NY Fall Brawl Won a Caged Heat match.[74][75]
53 Vince Russo 1 September 25, 2000 7 Uniondale, NY Nitro Won in a steel cage match.[76]
— Vacated — October 2, 2000 — Daly City, CA Nitro Russo decided he was not a wrestler and he did not want the title.[76]
54 Booker T 3 October 2, 2000 55 Daly City, CA Nitro Defeated Jeff Jarrett in a San Francisco 49ers match.[77]
55 Scott Steiner 1 November 26, 2000 120 Milwaukee, WI Mayhem Won in a straight jacket steel cage match.[78][79]
56 Booker T 4 March 26, 2001 120 Panama City Beach, FL Nitro Won on the final episode of Nitro. WCW was purchased by the WWF on March 23, 2001; title was simply referred to as WCW Championship afterward.[80]
57 Kurt Angle 1 July 24, 2001 6 Pittsburgh, PA SmackDown! Aired on July 26, 2001.[81]
58 Booker T 5 July 30, 2001 20 Philadelphia, PA Raw Is War [82]
59 The Rock 1 August 19, 2001 63 San Jose, CA SummerSlam [83][84]
60 Chris Jericho 1 October 21, 2001 15 St. Louis, MO No Mercy [85][86]
61 The Rock 2 November 5, 2001 34 Uniondale, NY Raw The title was referred to as simply the World Championship on November 19 after the demise of The Alliance.[87]
62 Chris Jericho 2 December 9, 2001 <1 San Diego, CA Vengeance [88]
— Unified — December 9, 2001 — San Diego, CA Vengeance Unified with the WWF Championship when Jericho defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin to create the Undisputed WWF Championship.[88]

List of combined reigns

Rank Wrestler No. of reigns Combined days
1 Hulk/Hollywood Hogan 6 1,177
2 Ric Flair 7 505
3 Big Van Vader 3 377
4 Booker T 5 253
5 Sting 6 250
6 Lex Luger 2 235
7 Goldberg 1 174
8 Ron Simmons 1 150
9 Scott Steiner 1 120
10 The Giant 2 118
11 Kevin Nash 5 97
The Rock 2 97
13 Sid Vicious 2 77
14 Jeff Jarrett 4 58
15 Bret Hart 2 56
16 Randy Savage 4 53
17 Diamond Dallas Page 3 29
18 Chris Jericho 2 15
19 David Arquette 1 12
20 Vince Russo 1 7
21 Kurt Angle 1 6
22 Chris Benoit 1 1

See also

References

  1. ↑ "WCW Wrestling History". Wrestling Information Archive. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "World Championship Wrestling World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  3. ↑ "SuperBrawl II". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  4. ↑ "Sting's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  5. ↑ "The Great American Bash 1992". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  6. ↑ "Vader's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  7. ↑ "Ron Simmons' first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  8. ↑ "Vader's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  9. ↑ "Sting's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  10. ↑ "Vader's third reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  11. ↑ "Starrcade 1993". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  12. ↑ "Ric Flair's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  13. 1 2 3 "World Heavyweight Champion and WCW/NWA Title History". WCW.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 "WCW World Championship". WWE.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Bash at the Beach 1994". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  16. ↑ "Hulk Hogan's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  17. 1 2 "The Giant's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  18. ↑ "World War 3 1995". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  19. ↑ "Randy Savage's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  20. ↑ "Starrcade 1995". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  21. ↑ "Ric Flair's third recognized reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  22. ↑ "Randy Savage's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  23. ↑ "SuperBrawl VI". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  24. ↑ "Ric Flair's fourth recognized reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  25. ↑ "The Giant's second reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  26. ↑ "Hog Wild 1996". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  27. ↑ "Hulk Hogan's second reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  28. ↑ "Lex Luger's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  29. ↑ "Road Wild 1997". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  30. ↑ "Hulk Hogan's third reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  31. ↑ "Sting's third reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  32. ↑ "Starrcade 1997". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  33. ↑ "Starrcade 1997". p.W.w. Everything Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  34. 1 2 "Sting's fourth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  35. ↑ "Spring Stampede 1998". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  36. ↑ "Randy Savage's third reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  37. ↑ "Hulk Hogan's fourth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  38. ↑ "Bill Goldberg's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  39. ↑ "Starrcade 1998". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  40. ↑ "Kevin Nash's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  41. ↑ "Hulk Hogan's fifth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  42. ↑ "Uncensored 1999". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  43. ↑ "Ric Flair's fifth recognized reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  44. ↑ "Spring Stampede 1999". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  45. ↑ "Dallas Page's first reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  46. ↑ "Sting's fifth reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  47. ↑ "Dallas Page's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  48. ↑ "Slamboree 1999". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  49. ↑ "Kevin Nash's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  50. ↑ "Randy Savage's fourth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  51. ↑ "Hulk Hogan's sixth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  52. ↑ "Fall Brawl 1999". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  53. ↑ "Sting's sixth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  54. ↑ "Bret Hart's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  55. ↑ "WCW World Title Tournament 1999". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  56. ↑ "Mayhem 1999". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  57. ↑ "Bret Hart's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  58. 1 2 "Bret Hart's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  59. ↑ "Wrestler Profiles: Bret Hart". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  60. 1 2 "Souled Out 2000". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  61. ↑ "Wrestler Profiles: Chris Benoit". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  62. ↑ "Sid Vicious' first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  63. 1 2 "Kevin Nash's fifth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  64. ↑ "Sid Vicious' second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
  65. 1 2 "Jeff Jarrett's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  66. ↑ "David Arquette's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  67. ↑ "Jeff Jarrett's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  68. ↑ "Ric Flair's sixth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  69. ↑ "Jeff Jarrett's third reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  70. ↑ http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcw00-01.htm
  71. 1 2 "Kevin Nash's fourth reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  72. ↑ "Jeff Jarrett's fourth reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  73. ↑ "Bash at the Bash 2000". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  74. ↑ "Fall Brawl 2000". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  75. ↑ "Booker T's second reign". WWE. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  76. 1 2 "Vince Russo's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  77. ↑ "Booker T's third reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  78. ↑ "Mayhem 2000". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  79. ↑ "Scott Steiner's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  80. ↑ "Booker T's fourth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  81. ↑ "Kurt Angle's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  82. ↑ "Booker T's fifth reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  83. ↑ "SummerSlam 2001". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  84. ↑ "The Rock's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  85. ↑ "No Mercy 2001". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  86. ↑ "Chris Jericho's first reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  87. ↑ "The Rock's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
  88. 1 2 "Chris Jericho's second reign". WWE.com. Retrieved 2007-10-03.

External links

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