AWA International Heavyweight Championship

The AWA International Heavyweight Championship, originally known as the CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Championship (also identified as the Mid-Southern International Championship and the AWA International Championship) was a major professional wrestling title defended in the Continental Wrestling Association. It was created in 1983 from the CWA's partnership with the American Wrestling Association. The title lasted until 1987, when it was unified with the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight and AWA Southern Heavyweight championships, creating the CWA Heavyweight Championship.

CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Championship
The championship belt
Details
PromotionContinental Wrestling Association, American Wrestling Association
Date establishedFebruary 1983
Date retiredDecember 7, 1987
Other name(s)
  • CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Championship
    CWA International Heavyweight Championship
    AWA International US Heavyweight Championship
    Mid-Southern International Championship
    AWA International Championship
Statistics
First champion(s)Austin Idol
Final champion(s)Jerry Lawler
Most reignsJerry Lawler, Bill Dundee (4 times)
Longest reignAustin Idol (203 days)
Shortest reignJerry Lawler (1 hour)

Title history

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Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
 1  Austin Idol  February 1983   N/A  1  125 Idol was awarded the title as the first champion.
 2  Jerry Lawler  March 7, 1983  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  70 [1]
 3  Ken Patera  May 16, 1983  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  70
 4  Jerry Lawler  July 25, 1983  House show Memphis, Tennessee  2  21 [2]
 5  Ken Patera  August 15, 1983  House show Memphis, Tennessee  2  26
 6  Austin Idol  September 10, 1983  House show Memphis, Tennessee  2  2
 7  Stan Hansen  September 12, 1983  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  21
 8  Austin Idol  October 3, 1983  House show Memphis, Tennessee  3  203 This was a bullrope match.
 9  Randy Savage  April 23, 1984  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  21
 10  Austin Idol  May 14, 1984  House show Memphis, Tennessee  4  33
 11  Masao Ito  June 16, 1984  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  23
 12  Tommy Rich  July 9, 1984  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  48
 13  Eddie Gilbert  August 26, 1984  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  22
 14  Dutch Mantel  September 17, 1984  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  7
 15  Eddie Gilbert  September 24, 1984  House show Memphis, Tennessee  2  95
 16  Terry Taylor  December 28, 1984  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  191
 17  Phil Hickerson  July 7, 1985  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  8
 18  Terry Taylor  July 15, 1985  House show Memphis, Tennessee  2  7
 19  Phil Hickerson  July 22, 1985  House show Memphis, Tennessee  2  70
 20  Mongolian Stomper  September 30, 1985  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  21 Won the title by countout.
 21  Phil Hickerson  October 21, 1985  House show Memphis, Tennessee  3  19
 22  Dutch Mantel  November 9, 1985  House show Memphis, Tennessee  2  86
 23  Rick Casey  February 3, 1986  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  28
 24  Abdul Gaddafi  March 3, 1986  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  21
 25  Billy Travis  March 24, 1986  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  42
 26  Bill Dundee  May 5, 1986  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  70
 27  Jerry Lawler  July 14, 1986  House show Memphis, Tennessee  3  56 This was a "loser leaves town" match.
Vacated  September 8, 1986  House show Memphis, Tennessee Vacated for undocumented reasons
 28  Big Bubba  October 6, 1986  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  90
 29  Soul Train Jones  January 4, 1987  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  106
 30  Chick Donovan  April 20, 1987  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  54
 31  Bill Dundee  June 13, 1987  House show Memphis, Tennessee  2  65
 32  George Barnes  August 17, 1987  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  14
 33  Bill Dundee  August 31, 1987  House show Memphis, Tennessee  3  41
Vacated  October 11, 1987 Dundee and Lawler wins AWA World Tag Team Titles
 34  Bill Dundee  October 27, 1987  House show Nashville, Tennessee  4  6 Won a tournament to win the vacant title.
 35  Manny Fernandez  November 2, 1987  House show Memphis, Tennessee  1  35
 36  Jerry Lawler  December 7, 1987  House show Memphis, Tennessee  4  0
Unified  December 7, 1987  House show Memphis, Tennessee Unified with the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship and AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship to create the CWA Heavyweight Championship

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hoops, Brian (March 7, 2020). "Daily Pro Wrestling history (03/07): Bruno Sammartino vs. Giant Baba". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Hoops, Brian (July 25, 2015). "On this day in history - Demon Vs. Santo, Gagne Vs. Kiniski". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
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