AWA World Heavyweight Championship History

Complete list of every AWA World Heavyweight Championship reign — who held it, when they won it, and how long they kept it. Established May 18, 1960.

Final Champion

Larry Zbyszko

Final champion · Title retired

Total Reigns

Champions

2,625

Longest (days)
Verne Gagne

10×

Most Reigns
Verne Gagne

Full Title Lineage

#	Champion	Won	Reign
38	Larry Zbyszko2nd reign The final reign; the title was held up when Zbyszko left the dormant AWA for WCW, and deactivated with the company in August 1991.	Apr 8, 1990House showSaint Paul, Minnesota	248 days
37	Masa Saito	Feb 10, 1990House showTokyo, Japan	57 days
36	Larry Zbyszko1st reign Won a battle royal for the vacant title, last eliminating Tom Zenk.	Feb 7, 1989House showSaint Paul, Minnesota	368 days
35	Jerry Lawler Stripped when the Continental Wrestling Association split from the AWA; Lawler had unified the AWA and WCCW crowns that December.	May 9, 1988House showMemphis, Tennessee	256 days
34	Curt Hennig The future Mr. Perfect, in a 373-day reign twice held up and twice restored.	May 2, 1987House showDaly City, California	373 days
33	Nick Bockwinkel4th reign Awarded a fourth reign when Hansen departed; 2,990 combined days, second only to Gagne.	Jun 28, 1986AwardedDenver, Colorado	308 days
32	Stan Hansen Defended the title on All Japan cards before leaving with the physical belt.	Dec 29, 1985House showEast Rutherford, New Jersey	181 days
31	Rick Martel A 595-day reign.	May 13, 1984House showSaint Paul, Minnesota	595 days
30	Jumbo Tsuruta All Japan's ace became the first Japanese AWA World Champion.	Feb 22, 1984House showTokyo, Japan	81 days
29	Nick Bockwinkel3rd reign	Oct 9, 1982House showChicago, Illinois	501 days
28	Otto Wanz The Austrian became the first European AWA World Champion.	Aug 29, 1982House showSaint Paul, Minnesota	41 days
27	Nick Bockwinkel2nd reign Awarded after Gagne's retirement. A 1982 Hulk Hogan title win was reversed by AWA president Stanley Blackburn.	May 19, 1981AwardedMinneapolis, Minnesota	467 days
26	Verne Gagne10th reign A tenth and final reign; Gagne retired as champion.	Jul 18, 1980House showChicago, Illinois	305 days
25	Nick Bockwinkel1st reign A 1,714-day first reign for the smooth-talking technician.	Nov 8, 1975House showSaint Paul, Minnesota	1,714 days
24	Verne Gagne9th reign A 2,625-day ninth reign, among the longest world title runs ever recorded.	Aug 31, 1968House showMinneapolis, Minnesota	2,625 days
23	Doctor X The masked Doctor X was Dick Beyer, The Destroyer.	Aug 17, 1968House showBloomington, Minnesota	14 days
22	Verne Gagne8th reign	Feb 26, 1967House showSaint Paul, Minnesota	538 days
21	Mad Dog Vachon5th reign A record fifth reign.	Nov 19, 1966House showOmaha, Nebraska	99 days
20	Dick the Bruiser	Nov 12, 1966House showOmaha, Nebraska	7 days
19	Mad Dog Vachon4th reign A Mr. Wrestling title win was nullified by AWA president Stanley Blackburn; Vachon's reign was recognized as continuous.	Nov 12, 1965House showDenver, Colorado	365 days
18	The Crusher3rd reign	Aug 21, 1965House showSaint Paul, Minnesota	83 days
17	Mad Dog Vachon3rd reign	May 22, 1965House showOmaha, Nebraska	91 days
16	Mighty Igor Vodic	May 15, 1965House showOmaha, Nebraska	7 days
15	Mad Dog Vachon2nd reign	Oct 20, 1964House showMinneapolis, Minnesota	207 days
14	Verne Gagne7th reign	May 16, 1964House showOmaha, Nebraska	157 days
13	Mad Dog Vachon1st reign	May 2, 1964House showOmaha, Nebraska	14 days
12	Verne Gagne6th reign	Dec 14, 1963House showMinneapolis, Minnesota	140 days
11	The Crusher2nd reign	Nov 16, 1963House showSaint Paul, Minnesota	28 days
10	Verne Gagne5th reign Unified the AWA and Omaha titles that September.	Aug 8, 1963House showAmarillo, Texas	100 days
9	Fritz von Erich Won both the AWA and Omaha world championships.	Jul 27, 1963House showOmaha, Nebraska	12 days
8	Verne Gagne4th reign	Jul 20, 1963House showMinneapolis, Minnesota	7 days
7	The Crusher1st reign	Jul 9, 1963House showMinneapolis, Minnesota	11 days
6	Verne Gagne3rd reign	Aug 21, 1962House showMinneapolis, Minnesota	322 days
5	Mr. M The masked Mr. M was Doctor Bill Miller.	Jan 9, 1962House showMinneapolis, Minnesota	224 days
4	Verne Gagne2nd reign	Aug 8, 1961House showMinneapolis, Minnesota	154 days
3	Gene Kiniski	Jul 11, 1961House showMinneapolis, Minnesota	28 days
2	Verne Gagne1st reign Awarded the title when O'Connor failed to defend.	Aug 16, 1960AwardedMinneapolis, Minnesota	329 days
1	Pat O'Connor The reigning NWA World Champion was recognized as the first AWA champion, with 90 days to defend against Verne Gagne or forfeit.	May 18, 1960AwardedMinneapolis, Minnesota	90 days

The crown of Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association, born when the Minneapolis territory seceded from the NWA in 1960. Pat O'Connor was recognized as first champion; the title ran three decades before the AWA's 1991 closure, when it was unified into the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship.

AWA World Heavyweight Championship — FAQ

Is the AWA World Heavyweight Championship still active?

The AWA World Heavyweight Championship is no longer active. The final champion was Larry Zbyszko.

Who was the first AWA World Heavyweight Championship?

Pat O'Connor was the inaugural AWA World Heavyweight Championship, winning it on May 18, 1960 at Awarded.

Who has held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship the most times?

Verne Gagne has the most reigns with 10.

Who had the longest AWA World Heavyweight Championship reign?

Verne Gagne's reign beginning Aug 31, 1968 is the longest at 2,625 days.

How many times has the AWA World Heavyweight Championship changed hands?

There have been 38 reigns across 19 different champions since the title was established.