NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Georgia version)
Encyclopedia
The Georgia
version of the National Wrestling Alliance
(NWA) Southern Heavyweight Championship was a secondary singles championship used in Georgia Championship Wrestling
off-and-on from 1948 to 1972.
The title is one of many versions of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship. Other versions have been used in Florida
and the Tennessee
cities of Knoxville and Memphis
.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
version of the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
(NWA) Southern Heavyweight Championship was a secondary singles championship used in Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
off-and-on from 1948 to 1972.
The title is one of many versions of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship. Other versions have been used in Florida
NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship
The Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship was the major singles professional wrestling championship in the National Wrestling Alliance's Florida territory, Championship Wrestling Florida. It existed from 1962 until 1987, when the title was abandoned. It was revived by NWA...
and the Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
cities of Knoxville and Memphis
AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship
The Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship is a major professional wrestling title in the Memphis Wrestling promotion. The title is part of a long lineage that is best known while the title was named the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship for Continental Wrestling Association during...
.
Title history
Silver marks in the title history indicate periods of unknown lineage. An placed after a date indicates that a title change occurred no later than the date listed.| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Belkas | 1 | November 1, 1948 | ||
| The title was vacated when Belkas left the area in November 1948. | ||||
| Tom Mahoney | 1 | July 15, 1949 | Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in... |
|
| Don McIntyre | 1 | August 5, 1949 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Black Menace | 1 | September 16, 1949 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 2 | September 23, 1949 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Danno O'Connor | 1 | November 25, 1949 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| George Flynn | 1 | December 16, 1949 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ray Villmer | 1 | December 23, 1949 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Rebel Russell | 1 | March 1950 | ||
| Nick Carter | 1 | March 31, 1950 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Red Terror | 1 | May 12, 1950 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 3 | May 19, 1950 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Art Nielson | 1 | July 7, 1950 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Jack Kennedy | 1 | November 3, 1950 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Lord Finis Hall | 1 | November 24, 1950 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Art Nielson | 2 | December 8, 1950 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Golden Terror | 1 | January 26, 1951 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 4 | March 30, 1951 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Art Nielson | 3 | July 28, 1951 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 5 | August 3, 1951 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Art Nielson | 4 | August 10, 1951 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 6 | September 10, 1951 | Augusta, Georgia Augusta, Georgia Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County... |
|
| Lou Newman | 1 | March 28, 1952 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Jack McDonald | 1 | April 25, 1952 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Al Massey | 1 | May 2, 1952 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Angelo Martinelli | 1 | June 20, 1952 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Art Nielson | 5 | July 11, 1952 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Tarzan White | 1 | September 5, 1952 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 7 | September 1952 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Aldo Bogni | 1 | January 26, 1953 | Augusta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 8 | September 1952 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Gorgeous George George Wagner George Raymond Wagner was an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Gorgeous George... |
1 | March 7, 1953 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 9 | March 16, 1953 | ||
| Ray Villmer | 2 | October 16, 1953 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 10 | January 11, 1954 | Augusta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie Fred Blassie Frederick Kenneth Blassman , better known as "Classy" Freddie Blassie, was an American professional wrestling villain and manager born in St. Louis, Missouri. Renowned as "The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling" , Blassie was a master at antagonizing the crowd, and inspired legendary animosity... |
1 | February 8, 1954 | Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S... |
|
| Don McIntyre | 11 | August 26, 1955 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 2 | September 16, 1955 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 12 | October 28, 1955 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 3 | November 25, 1955 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 13 | September 7, 1956 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Art Neilson | 6 | September 21, 1956 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Bull Curry Bull Curry Fred Thomas Koury, Sr. was an American of Lebanese decent who was best known as a professional wrestler under the name ”Wild Bull” Curry. Bull Curry is recognized as one of the originators of the hardcore style predating even legends such as The Sheik and Abdullah the Butcher... |
1 | September 28, 1956 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 4 | October 19, 1956 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Bobby Wepner | 1 | November 23, 1956 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Jerry Graham | 1 | December 14, 1956 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Chief Big Heart | 1 | January 4, 1957 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Jerry Graham | 2 | January 11, 1957 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Red McIntyre | 1 | February 22, 1957 | ||
| Kurt Von Brauner | 1 | April 10, 1957 | ||
| Red McIntyre | 2 | April 19, 1957 | ||
| Kurt Von Brauner | 2 | May 1957 | ||
| Don McIntyre | 14 | May 3, 1957 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Kurt Von Brauner | 3 | May 31, 1957 | ||
| Don McIntyre | 15 | June 14, 1957 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Kurt Von Brauner | 4 | June 17, 1957 | ||
| Don McIntyre | 16 | June 24, 1957 | ||
| Kurt Von Brauner | 5 | June 28, 1957 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ray Gunkel Ray Gunkel Raymond Fred Gunkel , known professionally as Ray Gunkel, was an American professional wrestler and promoter in the state of Georgia. He died of heart trauma after a match in Savannah, Georgia in which he defeated Ox Baker.-Early life:Gunkell was born on February 16, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois... |
1 | October 18, 1957 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| The Mighty Yankee | 1 | January 10, 1958 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 17 | April 25, 1958 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 5 | June 13, 1958 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Don McIntyre | 18 | July 25, 1958 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 6 | August 8, 1958 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ray Gunkel | 2 | August 22, 1958 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 7 | September 5, 1958 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ray Gunkel | 3 | November 7, 1958 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 8 | January 2, 1959 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Dick Gunkel | 1 | April 17, 1959 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 9 | June 19, 1959 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Dick Gunkel | 2 | July 31, 1959 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 10 | August 7, 1959 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ray Gunkel | 4 | October 2, 1959 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 11 | November 1959 | ||
| Ray Gunkel | 5 | December 1959 | ||
| Fred Blassie | 12 | December 11, 1959 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ray Gunkel | 6 | December 25, 1959 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 13 | April 15, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| The title was held up after a match against Eric Pederson on May 13, 1960 in Atlanta, Georgia. | ||||
| Fred Blassie | 14 | May 20, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Ray Gunkel | 7 | June 10, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| The title was held up after a match against The Mighty Yankee on June 17, 1960 in Atlanta, Georgia. | ||||
| Dick Steinborn | 3 | July 22, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| The Mighty Yankee | 2 | July 29, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| The title was held up after a match against Don McIntyre on August 5, 1960 in Atlanta, Georgia. | ||||
| Don McIntyre | 19 | August 12, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 15 | October 21, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| The title was held up after a match against Tiny Evans on November 4, 1960 in Atlanta, Georgia. | ||||
| Fred Blassie | 16 | November 11, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Tiny Evans | 1 | November 18, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Fred Blassie | 17 | December 20, 1960 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Chief Little Eagle | 1 | February 14, 1961 | ||
| Skull Murphy | 1 | February 14, 1961 | Macon, Georgia | |
| The title was vacated in March 1961. | ||||
| Skull Murphy | 2 | March 15, 1961 | Columbus, Georgia | |
| Guy Mitchell | 1 | March 29, 1961 | Columbus, Georgia | |
| Skull Murphy | 3 | April 5, 1961 | Columbus, Georgia | |
| Ray Gunkel | 7 | June 13, 1961 | ||
| Eddie Graham Eddie Graham Edward Gossett was a professional wrestler. He was also the promoter and booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida and President of the NWA in the 1970s. His son, Mike Graham, was also a professional wrestler.-Career:Edward F... |
1 | March 17, 1962 | Tampa, Florida Tampa, Florida Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709.... |
|
| Lenny Montana Lenny Montana Lenny Montana was an American actor, who played the role of feared hitman Luca Brasi in The Godfather. Prior to becoming an actor, he had a successful career as a professional wrestler,... |
1 | May 1, 1962 | Macon, Georgia Macon, Georgia Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia... |
|
| Bob Orton Bob Orton Robert Dale "Bob" Orton was an American professional wrestler. He was also known as Bob Orton, Sr. to distinguish him from his son, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Jr... |
1 | June 17, 1965 | Jacksonville, Florida | |
| Buddy Fuller | 1 | March 25, 1966 | ||
| Louie Tillet | 1 | May 27, 1966 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Buddy Fuller | 2 | June 17, 1966 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Butcher Vachon Maurice Vachon Maurice Vachon is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known by his ring name "Mad Dog" Vachon. He is the brother of wrestlers Paul and Vivian Vachon, and the uncle of wrestler Luna Vachon... |
1 | October 7, 1966 | ||
| Buddy Colt | 1 | November 28, 1972 | ||
| Bob Armstrong Bob Armstrong Joseph Melton James is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. In the course of his career, which spanned five decades, Armstrong held numerous championships throughout the Southeastern United States... |
1 | December 15, 1972 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Buddy Colt | 2 | December 29, 1972 | Atlanta, Georgia | |
| Title retired in 1973. | ||||
See also
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- Georgia Championship WrestlingGeorgia Championship WrestlingGeorgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
- NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Florida version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship was the major singles professional wrestling championship in the National Wrestling Alliance's Florida territory, Championship Wrestling Florida. It existed from 1962 until 1987, when the title was abandoned. It was revived by NWA...
- NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Knoxville version)
- NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Memphis version)AWA Southern Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Memphis Wrestling Southern Heavyweight Championship is a major professional wrestling title in the Memphis Wrestling promotion. The title is part of a long lineage that is best known while the title was named the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship for Continental Wrestling Association during...