The NWL Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling

Professional wrestling

Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...

 title

Championship (professional wrestling)

A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...

 in the National Wrestling League

National Wrestling League

The National Wrestling League, headquartered out of Hagerstown, Maryland, was founded by Dick Caricofe in 1988, and has held professional wrestling events throughout the US and overseas in Guam, Saipan, Pohnpei, Hawaiian Islands, Palau, and the Marshall Islands...

 promotion

Professional wrestling promotion

A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...

. It was created on March 3, 1989, when John Rambo defeated "Russian" Ivan Koloff in Elk Garden, West Virginia

Elk Garden, West Virginia

Elk Garden is a town in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 217 at the 2000 census. Elk Garden was incorporated in 1890 by the Mineral County Circuit Court...

. The title is defended primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast

East Coast of the United States

The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...

, most often in Hagerstown, Maryland

Hagerstown, Maryland

Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...

, but also as far west as Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

. In October 1991, the title changed twice during a tour of Guam

Guam

Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...

 when Cactus Jack

Cactus Jack

Cactus Jack may refer to:* Cactus Jack, Serbian hard rock band* The UK and Australian release name of the 1979 movie The Villain, starring Kirk Douglas as Cactus Jack.* A ring name of professional wrestler Mick Foley...

 defeated John Rambo to win the first singles title of his career. On October 23, 1991, John Rambo regained the title from Cactus Jack in front of 15,000 fans at the University of Guam Athletic Complex

University of Guam

University of Guam is a four-year land-grant institution, located in the village of Mangilao on the island of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean...

.

Many former champions include ex-World Wrestling Federation veterans such as The Iron Sheik, The Patriot

Tom Brandi

Tom Brandi is a professional wrestler known for his work in World Wrestling Federation as Salvatore Sincere. He is also known for his current work as The Patriot, working for such companies as Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1, National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions on the East...

, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka

Jimmy Snuka

James William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...

, Headshrinker Samu

Samula Anoa'i

Samula Anoa'i is a professional wrestler best known as one half of The Headshrinkers/Samoan Swat Team under the name Samu. His father is Afa Anoa'i who trained Samula for his professional wrestling debut....

 and Gangrel

Gangrel

Gangrel may refer to:*Gangrel , a fictional clan of vampires in the role-playing game Vampire: the Masquerade*David Heath , an American professional wrestler better known as "Gangrel" in World Wrestling Entertainment...

. Independent wrestlers Corporal Punishment

Corporal Punishment (wrestler)

Daniel "Dan" McDevitt , best known by his ring name Corporal Punishment, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, trainer and promoter...

 and Morgus the Maniac

Morgus the Maniac

Morgus the Maniac is an American professional wrestler who has competed on the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern independent promotions including the Eastern Wrestling Alliance, Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, National Wrestling League/House of Pain Wrestling Federation and Extreme Championship...

 have also held the title. There are 21 recognized known champions with a total of 38 title reigns.

Title history

Wrestler:	Times:	Date:	Location:	Notes:
John Rambo John Rambo John Rambo is an iconic fictional character and the basis of the Rambo saga. He first appeared in the 1972 novel First Blood by David Morrell, but later became more famous in the film series, played by Sylvester Stallone...	1	March 3, 1989	Elk Garden, West Virginia Elk Garden, West Virginia Elk Garden is a town in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 217 at the 2000 census. Elk Garden was incorporated in 1890 by the Mineral County Circuit Court...
The Iron Sheik	1	1990	Virginia
John Rambo	2	1990	Virginia
Cactus Jack Cactus Jack Cactus Jack may refer to:* Cactus Jack, Serbian hard rock band* The UK and Australian release name of the 1979 movie The Villain, starring Kirk Douglas as Cactus Jack.* A ring name of professional wrestler Mick Foley...	1	October 22, 1991	Guam Guam Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
The title is vacated by NWL President Dick Caricofe due to a match technicality. A rematch is sanctioned for the following day between Cactus Jack and John Rambo at the University of Guam Athletic Complex University of Guam University of Guam is a four-year land-grant institution, located in the village of Mangilao on the island of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean... .
John Rambo	3	October 23, 1991	Guam
The title is vacated by John Rambo.
Neil Superior	1	November 1991	Guam
Superior briefly lost the title in a November 1995 match against Shane Shadows in Clear Spring, Maryland Clear Spring, Maryland Clear Spring is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 461 as of the 2008 United States Census Bureau estimates.-Geography:Clear Spring is located at .... , however the referee's decision was reversed when it was discovered that Shadows' had used his feet on the ropes to pin Superior. The title is eventually vacated following Superior's death on August 23, 1996.
John Rambo	4	1997	Hagerstown, Maryland Hagerstown, Maryland Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
Gutterboy	1	April 22, 1999	Waynesboro, Pennsylvania Waynesboro, Pennsylvania Waynesboro is a borough in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, located northwest of Baltimore, Maryland, 67 miles southwest of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and north of the Mason-Dixon Line. The population within the borough limits was 9,614 at the 2000 census. When combined with the surrounding...
John Rambo	5	May 13, 1999	Hagerstown, Maryland
The title is vacated on December 13, 2000, when John Rambo surrendered the championship so it could be awarded to the NWL Wrestler of the Year at the end of the month.
Spazman Anthony	1	December 29, 2000	Hagerstown, Maryland
Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka Jimmy Snuka James William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...	1	February 1, 2001	Frederick, Maryland Frederick, Maryland Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
Spazman Anthony	2	May 29, 2001	Cumberland, Maryland Cumberland, Maryland Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
John Rambo	6	June 26, 2001	Hagerstown, Maryland
Spazman Anthony	3	January 15, 2002
John Rambo	7	April 20, 2002	Bainbridge Township, Ohio
Jake "The Machine" Davis	1	January 11, 2003	Martinsburg, West Virginia Martinsburg, West Virginia Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
Headshrinker Samu Samula Anoa'i Samula Anoa'i is a professional wrestler best known as one half of The Headshrinkers/Samoan Swat Team under the name Samu. His father is Afa Anoa'i who trained Samula for his professional wrestling debut....	1	February 8, 2003	Greencastle, Pennsylvania Greencastle, Pennsylvania Greencastle is a borough in Franklin County in south-central Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,722 at the 2000 census.-History:...
Corporal Punishment Corporal Punishment (wrestler) Daniel "Dan" McDevitt , best known by his ring name Corporal Punishment, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, trainer and promoter...	1	April 12, 2003	Keyser, West Virginia Keyser, West Virginia Keyser is a city in and the county seat of Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,303 at the 2000 census.- History :...
Headshrinker Samu	2	April 26, 2003	Martinsburg, West Virginia
Aidean	1	May 24, 2003	Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania Blue Ridge Summit is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States, southwest of Gettysburg in the central part of the state, adjoining Pennsylvania's southern border with Maryland. It is less than 3 miles east of Pen Mar, Maryland...
Morgus the Maniac Morgus the Maniac Morgus the Maniac is an American professional wrestler who has competed on the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern independent promotions including the Eastern Wrestling Alliance, Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, National Wrestling League/House of Pain Wrestling Federation and Extreme Championship...	1	July 19, 2003	Martinsburg, West Virginia
Leslie Leatherman	1	November 1, 2003	Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania
The Patriot Tom Brandi Tom Brandi is a professional wrestler known for his work in World Wrestling Federation as Salvatore Sincere. He is also known for his current work as The Patriot, working for such companies as Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1, National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions on the East...	1	January 23, 2004	Newville, Pennsylvania Newville, Pennsylvania Newville is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,367 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.Newville is served by the Big Spring School District....
Leslie Leatherman	2	January 24, 2004	Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
Headshrinker Samu	3	February 14, 2004	Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania
Leslie Leatherman	3	May 8, 2004	Hagerstown, Maryland
Headshrinker Samu	4	June 18, 2004	Martinsburg, West Virginia
Pirate of the Caribbean	1	June 26, 2004	Newville, Pennsylvania
Dorian Devile	1	July 3, 2004	Hagerstown, Maryland
OGB	1	July 8, 2004
Super Destroyer	1	July 17, 2004	Martinsburg, West Virginia
Snatch Haggis	1	September 18, 2004	Martinsburg, West Virginia
The title is vacated on October 7, 2004.
Headshrinker Samu	5	October 9, 2004
Genesis	1	March 19, 2005	Newville, Pennsylvania
Jason Static	1	May 21, 2005	Newville, Pennsylvania
Gutterboy	2	August 13, 2005	Newville, Pennsylvania
John Rambo	8	December 17, 2005	Martinsburg, West Virginia
Gutterboy	3	May 20, 2006	Newville, Pennsylvania
Leslie Leatherman	4	March 31, 2007	Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
Gangrel Gangrel Gangrel may refer to:*Gangrel , a fictional clan of vampires in the role-playing game Vampire: the Masquerade*David Heath , an American professional wrestler better known as "Gangrel" in World Wrestling Entertainment...	1	May 25, 2007	Hagerstown, Maryland
The title is vacated on June 4, 2007, when Gangrel announced he would not be able to appear for the next scheduled title defense in in Cambridge, Maryland at the end of the month.
Headshrinker Samu	6	June 30, 2007	Cambridge, Maryland Cambridge, Maryland Cambridge is a city in Dorchester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 12,326 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Dorchester County and the county's largest municipality...
The title is vacated in January 2008.
Todd Hill	1	January 26, 2008	Hagerstown, Maryland