NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)

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 Florida in 1996.[1] At various times, different NWA affiliated promotions used their own regional version of the title including promotions based in Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.

NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship
A version of the championship belt
Details
PromotionChampionship Wrestling from Florida
Date establishedMarch 17, 1962
Date retiredFebruary 1987
Statistics
First champion(s)Eddie Graham
Final champion(s)Kevin Sullivan
Most reignsDusty Rhodes (10 reigns)
Longest reignSteve Corino (521 days)
Shortest reignBobby Duncum (7 days)

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 Eddie Graham March 17, 1962 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 68 Won tournament to become the first champion  
Vacated May 24, 1962 Eddie Graham was injured and unable to defend the championship  
2 Boris Malenko July 25, 1962 N/A N/A 1 127 Awarded after Malenko injured Graham to cause the title to become vacant  
3 Eddie Graham November 29, 1962 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 2 82    
4 Hiro Matsuda February 19, 1963 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 163   [2]
5 Eddie Graham August 1, 1963 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 3 149    
6 Bob Orton December 28, 1963 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 1 66    
7 Bob Ellis March 3, 1964 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 93   [3]
8 Bob Orton June 4, 1964 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 2 208    
9 Tarzan Tyler December 29, 1964 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 [Note 1]    
Vacated April 1965 Championship vacated for undocumented reasons  
10 Bob Orton June 17, 1965 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 3 252 Won a tournament  
11 Tarzan Tyler February 24, 1966 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 2 12    
12 The Missouri Mauler March 8, 1966 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 [Note 2]    
13 Johnny Weaver 1967 CWF Show Florida 1 [Note 2]    
14 The Missouri Mauler 1967 CWF Show Florida 2 [Note 2]    
15 Johnny Weaver July 1968 CWF Show Charlotte, North Carolina 2 [Note 3]    
16 Red Bastien July 1968 CWF Show Florida 1 [Note 4]    
17 The Missouri Mauler January 1969 CWF Show Florida 3 [Note 5]    
18 Jack Brisco February 11, 1969 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 [Note 6]    
19 The Missouri Mauler 1969 CWF Show Florida 4 [Note 7]    
20 Jack Brisco July 8, 1969 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 [Note 8]    
Vacated November 1969 Vacated after Jack Brisco left the territory to work in Japan  
21 Danny Miller January 3, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 10    
22 The Missouri Mauler January 13, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 5 49   [4]
23 Bob Orton March 3, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 39   [3]
24 Dale Lewis April 11, 1970 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 1 66    
25 Hiro Matsuda June 16, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 58    
26 Great Mephisto August 13, 1970 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 50    
27 Hiro Matsuda October 2, 1970 CWF Show Tallahassee, Florida 3 34    
28 Great Mephisto November 5, 1970 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 2 96    
29 Rene Goulet February 9, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 42}    
30 The Grappler March 23, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 22    
31 Terry Funk April 14, 1971 CWF Show Miami, Florida 1 7    
32 Dick Murdoch April 21, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 48    
33 Jack Brisco June 8, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 3 108    
Vacated September 24, 1971 Vacated after a match against Dick Murdoch ended in controversial fashion.  
34 Bobby Duncum October 7, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 7 Won tournament  
35 George Gaiser October 14, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 40    
36 Bobby Shane November 23, 1971 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 84    
Vacated February 15, 1972 Vacated after a match against Tim Woods ended in controversial fashion  
37 Tim Woods February 29, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 116 won the rematch  
38 The Zodiac June 24, 1972 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 5 [Note 9]    
39 Dale Lewis July 1972 CWF Show Florida 2 [Note 10]    
40 The Zodiac August 1, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 6 11    
41 Tim Woods August 12, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 24    
42 Buddy Colt September 5, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 14    
43 Tim Woods September 19, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 3 42    
44 Buddy Colt October 31, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 21    
45 Tim Woods November 21, 1972 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 27    
46 Buddy Colt December 18, 1972 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 3 22    
47 Mark Lewin January 9, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 28    
48 Buddy Colt February 6, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 22    
49 Mr. Kleen February 28, 1973 CWF Show Miami, Florida 1 12   [5]
50 Paul Jones March 12, 1973 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 1 29    
51 Ron Fuller April 10, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 77    
52 Johnny Valentine June 26, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 49    
53 Bill Dromo August 14, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 22    
54 Dusty Rhodes September 5, 1973 CWF Show Miami Beach, Florida 1 27   [6]
55 Thunderbolt Patterson October 2, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 7   [6]
56 Dusty Rhodes October 9, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 7   [6]
Vacated October 16, 1973 Championship vacated after a match against Paul Jones ended inconclusively [7][6]
57 Dusty Rhodes October 23, 1973 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 3 105 Defeated Paul Jones in rematch [6][7]
58 Jos LeDuc February 5, 1974 CWF Show Florida 1 35    
59 Dusty Rhodes March 12, 1974 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 128   [6]
Vacated July 18, 1974 Vacated after Pak Song defeated Rhodes  
60 Dusty Rhodes July 20, 1974 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 5 5 Defeated Pak Song in rematch [6][7]
61 Pak Song July 25, 1974 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 1 19    
62 Jerry Brisco August 13, 1974 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 [Note 11]    
63 Bill Watts 1974 CWF Show Florida 1 [Note 12]    
64 Jos LeDuc November 11, 1974 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 2 22    
65 The Stomper December 3, 1974 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 77    
66 Bob Armstrong February 18, 1975 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 14    
67 The Stomper March 4, 1975 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 13    
68 Pepper Gomez March 17, 1975 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 89    
69 Killer Karl Krupp June 14, 1975 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 [Note 13]    
70 Mike George 1975 CWF Show Florida 1 [Note 14]    
71 Killer Karl Krupp 1975 CWF Show Florida 2 [Note 15]    
72 Harley Race August 25, 1975 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 1 21    
73 Dusty Rhodes September 15, 1975 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 6 8   [6]
74 Harley Race September 23, 1975 (NET) CWF Show Florida 2 [Note 16]   [6]
75 Jerry Brisco November 1975 CWF Show Florida 2 [Note 17]    
76 Masked Destroyer November 16, 1975 (NET) CWF Show Florida 1 [Note 18]    
77 Billy Robinson December 29, 1975 CWF Show Florida 1 106    
78 The Assassin April 13, 1976 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 21    
79 Dusty Rhodes May 4, 1976 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 7 35   [6]
80 The Assassin June 8, 1976 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 144   [6]
81 Steve Keirn October 30, 1976 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 [Note 2]    
82 Ox Baker 1976 or 1977 CWF Show Florida 1 [Note 2]    
83 "Superstar" Billy Graham 1977 CWF Show Florida 1 [Note 19]    
84 Steve Keirn 1977 CWF Show Florida 2 [Note 20]    
85 Ivan Koloff May 24, 1977 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 126    
86 Pedro Morales September 27, 1977 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 161    
87 Dick Slater March 7, 1978 (NLT) CWF Show Florida 1 51   [8]
88 Jerry Brisco April 27, 1978 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 3 4    
89 Dick Slater May 1, 1978 CWF Show Florida 2 48   [6]
90 Dusty Rhodes June 18, 1978 CWF Show Sarasota, Florida 8 45   [6]
91 The Spoiler August 2, 1978 CWF Show Miami Beach, Florida 1 21 Won a double title match as Spoiler was the NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion  
92 Wahoo McDaniel August 23, 1978 CWF Show Miami Beach, Florida 1 81    
93 Dick Slater November 12, 1978 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 3 48    
94 Terry Funk December 30, 1978 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 2 21    
95 Thor the Viking January 20, 1979 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 70   [9]
96 Jimmy Garvin March 31, 1979 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 58    
97 King Curtis Iaukea May 28, 1979 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 1 [Note 21]    
98 Ernie Ladd October 1979 CWF Show Lafayette, Louisiana 1 [Note 22]    
99 Sweet Brown Sugar October 26, 1979 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 29    
100 Leroy Brown November 24, 1979 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 84   [10]
101 Dusty Rhodes February 16, 1980 CWF Show Jacksonville, Florida 9 [Note 23]   [6]
Vacated July 1980 Vacated so that Rhodes could focus on a match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship  
102 Dick Slater August 3, 1980 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 4 177    
103 Mike Graham January 27, 1981 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 7    
104 Dick Slater February 3, 1981 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 5 1    
105 Sweet Brown Sugar February 4, 1981 CWF Show Ft. Myers, Florida 2 76    
106 Rene Goulet April 21, 1981 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 [Note 24]    
107 Bobby Jaggers June 1981 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 [Note 25]    
108 Jack Brisco November 22, 1981 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 4 34    
109 David Von Erich December 26, 1981 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 202    
110 Derek Draper July 16, 1982 CWF Show Lakeland, Florida 1 9    
111 Sweet Brown Sugar July 25, 1982 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 3 17    
112 Jimmy Garvin August 11, 1982 CWF Show Florida 2 81    
113 Dusty Rhodes October 31, 1982 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 10 22   [6]
114 Kevin Sullivan November 22, 1982 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 1 [Note 26] Defeated Barry Windham to win the championship [6][7]
Vacated 1982 Championship vacant after Sullivan tries to give it to Jake Roberts in gratitude for his interference.  
115 Barry Windham December 18, 1982 CWF Show Sarasota, Florida 1 89 Defeated Greg Valentine in tournament final  
116 Frank Dusek March 17, 1983 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 44    
117 Ron Bass April 30, 1983 CWF Show Ft. Myers, Florida 1 147    
118 Mike Rotunda September 24, 1983 CWF Show St. Petersburg, Florida 1 60    
119 Ron Bass November 23, 1983 CWF Show Miami, Florida 2 180    
120 Mike Rotunda May 21, 1984 CWF Show West Palm Beach, Florida 2 9    
121 Angelo Mosca May 30, 1984 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 74   [11]
122 Jim Neidhart August 12, 1984 CWF Show Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1 13    
123 Pez Whatley August 25, 1984 CWF Show Sarasota, Florida 1 25    
124 Kevin Sullivan September 19, 1984 CWF Show Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 2 3    
125 Pez Whatley September 22, 1984 CWF Show Miami, Florida 2 116    
126 Rick Rude January 16, 1985 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 84 aired on a TV tape delay on January 23, 1985 [12]
127 Brian Blair April 10, 1985 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 46    
128 Hercules Hernandez May 26, 1985 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 1 [Note 27]    
Vacated July 1985 Hernandez was fired for a dressing room fight with Wahoo McDaniel  
129 Rick Rude July 21, 1985 CWF Show Orlando, Florida 2 73 defeated Mike Graham in tournament final  
130 Wahoo McDaniel October 2, 1985 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 2 48    
131 Lex Luger November 19, 1985 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 57    
132 Jesse Barr January 15, 1986 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 30   [13]
132 Lex Luger February 14, 1986 CWF Battle of the Belts 2 Orlando, Florida 2 158    
134 Masked Superstar July 22, 1986 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 1 7    
135 Lex Luger July 29, 1986 CWF Show Tampa, Florida 3 171    
136 Kevin Sullivan January 16, 1987 CWF Show Daytona, Florida 3 15   [12]
137 Bad News Allen January 31, 1987 CWF Show Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 1 25    
138 Kevin Sullivan February 25, 1987 CWF Show Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 4 [Note 28]   [14]
Deactivated March 1987 Championship abandoned after promotion was purchased by Jim Crockett Promotions  

See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 93 and 122 days.
  2. ^ a b c d e The length of the championship reign is too uncertain to calculate.
  3. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 31 days.
  4. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 154 and 214 days.
  5. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 11 and 41 days.
  6. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 146 days.
  7. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 146 days.
  8. ^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 116 and 145 days.
  9. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 7 and 37 days.
  10. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 31 days.
  11. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 89 days.
  12. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 89 days.
  13. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 72 days.
  14. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 72 days.
  15. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 72 days.
  16. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 39 and 54 days.
  17. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 16 and 58 days.
  18. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 43 days.
  19. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 143 days.
  20. ^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 143 days.
  21. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 126 and 151 days.
  22. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 26 days.
  23. ^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 136 and 166 days.
  24. ^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 41 and 70 days.
  25. ^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 145 and 174 days.
  26. ^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 26 days.
  27. ^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 36 and 56 days.
  28. ^ The date the championship was abandoned is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 4 and 34 days.

References

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  1. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  2. ^ Hoops, Brian (February 19, 2017). "Daily Pro Wrestling History (02/19): Kurt Angle vs. Undertaker at No Way Out 2006". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Hoops, Brian (March 3, 2017). "Daily Pro Wrestling History (03/03): Sting wins the TNA title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  4. ^ Hoops, Brian (January 13, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/13): TNA Genesis 2013". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  5. ^ Hoops, Brian (February 28, 2017). "Daily pro wrestling history (02/28): Andersen & Hansen win NWA Tag Titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Meltzer, Dave (June 22, 2015). "June 22, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Part 1 of giant Dusty Rhodes obituary, GFW's 1st shows, and much more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California: 20–23. ISSN 1083-9593.
  7. ^ a b c d "Southern Heavyweight Title [Florida]". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  8. ^ Hoops, Brian (March 7, 2020). "Daily Pro Wrestling history (03/07): Bruno Sammartino vs. Giant Baba". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  9. ^ Hoops, Brian (January 20, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/20): HHH returns, wins 2002 Royal Rumble". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  10. ^ Hoops, Brian (November 24, 2019). "Daily Pro Wrestling history (11/24): The First Starcade". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  11. ^ Hoops, Brian (May 30, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 30): Inoki beats Andre to win MSG league, Garea & calhoun win WWWF Tag titles, Gagne vs. Funk Jr., UFC booker wins title". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  12. ^ a b Hoops, Brian (January 16, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/16): Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton win WCW Tag Team Titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  13. ^ Hoops, Brian (January 15, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/15): Big John Studd wins 1989 Royal Rumble". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  14. ^ Hoops, Brian (February 25, 2017). "Daily pro wrestling history (02/25): WWF No Way Out 2001". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 27, 2017.