APW Universal Heavyweight Championship
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2018) |
| APW Universal Heavyweight Championship | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Details | |||||||||||
| Promotion | All Pro Wrestling | ||||||||||
| Date established | October 12, 1996 | ||||||||||
| Current champion(s) | Vacant | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
The APW Universal Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship contested in All Pro Wrestling. It was introduced on October 12, 1996, when Robert Thompson became the first champion.
Title history[]
| No. | Order in reign history |
|---|---|
| Reign | The reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed |
| Event | The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the titles were won |
| — | Used for vacated reigns so as not to count it as an official reign |
| + | Indicates the current reign is changing daily |
| <1 | Indicated reign was less than one day |
| No. | Wrestler | Reign | Date | Days held | Location | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Thompson | 1 | October 12, 1996 | 147 | Modesto, CA | Night Of Champions & Legends | Defeated Michael Modest in tournament final to become the first champion. |
| 2 | Manny Fernandez | 1 | March 8, 1997 | 91 | Cupertino, CA | Return Of The Ragin Bull | |
| — | Vacated | — | June 7, 1997 | — | Hayward, CA | 3-Way Dance | Fernandez vacated the title upon leaving the promotion. |
| 3 | Michael Modest | 1 | July 4, 1997 | 63 | Hayward, CA | Catfight | Defeated Donovan Morgan in a tournament final for the vacated title. |
| 4 | Donovan Morgan | 1 | September 5, 1997 | 120 | Hayward, CA | Sports Annihilation | [1] |
| 5 | Michael Modest | 2 | January 3, 1998 | 27 | Hayward, CA | Night Of The Return Match | |
| 6 | Robert Thompson | 2 | January 30, 1998 | 56 | San Jose, CA | The Large Garage | |
| 7 | Maxx Justice | 1 | March 27, 1998 | 35 | San Jose, CA | Return To The Large Garage | |
| 8 | Vic Grimes | 1 | May 1, 1998 | 8 | Hayward, CA | Grimes/O'Grady Send-Off | |
| — | Vacated | — | May 9, 1998 | — | N/A | N/A | Grimes vacated the title upon leaving for the World Wrestling Federation. |
| 9 | Maxx Justice | 2 | May 16, 1998 | 154 | Pinole, CA | Spartanfest (1998) | Defeated Sam Fatu for the vacated title. |
| 10 | Boom Boom Comini | 1 | October 17, 1998 | 13 | Sacramento, CA | Raising Hell In Highlands | |
| 11 | Michael Modest | 3 | October 30, 1998 | 133 | Hayward, CA | Halloween Hell 2 – The Final Garage Show | |
| 12 | Maxx Justice | 3 | March 12, 1999 | 50 | San Jose, CA | Last Chance For Justice | |
| 13 | Boyce LeGrande | 1 | May 1, 1999 | 20 | Pinole, CA | Good Things Happen To Bad Boys | |
| 14 | Maxx Justice | 4 | May 21, 1999 | 1 | Hayward, CA | Too Hot To Handle | |
| 15 | Vinny Massaro | 1 | May 22, 1999 | 3 | San Jose, CA | Mack Daddy's & Gigolo's | |
| — | Vacated | — | May 25, 1999 | — | N/A | N/A | The Pro Wrestling Council ruled that due to outside interference from unlicensed referees, the title would be stripped from Vinny Massaro and held in escrow. A four corners match was to be held on July 10, 1999, in San Jose, including Massaro, Maxx Justice, Michael Modest, and Boyce LeGrande to determine a new champion. |
| 16 | Maxx Justice | 5 | July 10, 1999 | 77 | San Jose, CA | Four Corners Match | Justice pinned Michael Modest in a four corners match after Mark Smith got in the ring, supposedly to support Modest, and clotheslined him. |
| 17 | Shane Dynasty | 1 | September 25, 1999 | 6 | Lompoc, CA | Road Rage | Justice faced masked newcomer Super Diabliquo for the title and there was a question about who was actually under the mask. In an earlier Battle Royal, Super Diabliquo was thought to be Shane Dynasty, but during the title contest, Dynasty was revealed to be ringside wearing a clown mask. While the referee was distracted, Dynasty was knocked unconscious by the Freaks, stripped to his underwear, then substituted for Chris Ward, who was wrestling as Super Diabliquo. Afterward, he was unmasked and declared the champion. |
| 18 | Michael Modest | 4 | October 9, 1999 | 98 | Pacifica, CA | 100th Anniversary Show | Defeated Dynasty in a dog collar match. |
| 19 | Tony Jones | 1 | January 15, 2000 | 56 | Healdsburg, CA | Millennium Madness | |
| 20 | Ma'och | 1 | March 11, 2000 | 35 | San Leandro, CA | 5th Anniversary Show | |
| 21 | Frank Murdoch | 1 | April 15, 2000 | 133 | Livingston, CA | Farewell To Modest – Worldwide Internet Tournament | |
| 22 | The Honky Tonk Man | 1 | August 26, 2000 | 42 | Antioch, CA | Carnival Of Carnage 2 | Tony Jones attempted to hit the Honky Tonk Man with a kendo stick, but accidentally struck Murdoch to give the challenger the victory. |
| — | Vacated | — | October 7, 2000 | — | San Francisco, CA | Changing Of The Guard | APW commissioner Gabe Ramirez declared the title vacant when the Honky Tonk Man failed to appear for a title defense. |
| 23 | Ed Morretti | 1 | October 7, 2000 | <1 | San Francisco, CA | Changing Of The Guard | APW commissioner Gabe Ramirez awarded the title to Ed Moretti when Honky Tonk Man failed to appear for a title defense. |
| 24 | Donovan Morgan | 2 | October 7, 2000 | 203 | San Francisco, CA | Changing Of The Guard | Morgan defeated Moretti the same evening for the title. Morgan also held the APW Worldwide Internet Championship in conjunction with the APW Universal Heavyweight Championship. |
| 25 | Vic Capri | 1 | April 28, 2001 | 35 | Chicago, IL | N/A | During Morgan's tour of the Midwest, he was upset by 2000 KOTI participant Vic Capri in a 2-out-of-3-Falls Ladder match. Capri becomes the first man outside of APW to win the title. |
| 26 | Michael Modest | 5 | June 2, 2001 | 149 | Pacifica, CA | Land Of The Giants | |
| — | Vacated | — | October 29, 2001 | — | N/A | N/A | |
| 27 | Robert Thompson | 3 | May 11, 2002 | 167 | Pacifica, CA | Live Event | Defeated Bryan Danielson in the tournament final to win the title. |
| 28 | Larry Blackwell | 1 | October 25, 2002 | 42 | Hayward, CA | Halloween Hell (2002) | Pinned Thompson in a "Double Jeopardy" tag team match. Blackwell teamed up with Kafu while Thompson teamed up with Jardi Frantz. |
| 29 | Robert Thompson | 4 | December 6, 2002 | 21 | Hayward, CA | Live Event | |
| 30 | Bobby Quance | 1 | December 27, 2002 | 302 | Hayward, CA | Kristmas Kaos (2002) | |
| — | Vacated | — | October 25, 2003 | — | N/A | N/A | Quance was stripped of the title. |
| 31 | James Watkins | 1 | March 14, 2004 | 230 | Hayward, CA | The Garage Rumble | Watkins "won" the title on October 23rd, 2003 when Robert Thompson laid down for Watkins to pin him. APW stripped him of the title and put up the title in the first ever Garage Rumble on March 14, 2004. |
| 32 | Nate Rulez | 1 | October 30, 2004 | 224 | Hayward, CA | Halloween Hell 7 – Day 2 | Defeated Watkins at Halloween Hell VII. |
| 33 | Kafu | 1 | June 11, 2005 | 175 | Hayward, CA | Live Event | |
| 34 | Derek Sanders | 1 | December 3, 2005 | 238 | Hayward, CA | Kristmas Kaos (2005) | Defeated Kafu in a no-disqualifcation lumberjack match. |
| 35 | Dana Lee | 1 | July 29, 2006 | <1 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | |
| — | Vacated | — | July 29, 2006 | — | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | Lee was immediately stripped of the title after the match due to his actions in the APW Boot Camp. |
| 36 | Derek Sanders | 2 | August 12, 2006 | 21 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | Defeated The Great Tenshi in tournament final to win the title. |
| 37 | Dana Lee | 2 | September 2, 2006 | 42 | Hayward, CA | Live Event | |
| 38 | Kafu | 2 | October 14, 2006 | 161 | Hayward, CA | October Reign | |
| 39 | Oliver John | 1 | March 24, 2007 | 182 | Bakersfield, CA | March Madness | |
| 40 | Adam Thornstowe | 1 | September 22, 2007 | 21 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | |
| 41 | Mr. Prime Time | 1 | October 13, 2007 | 245 | Hayward, CA | Halloween Hell X | Defeated Thornstowe and Oliver John in a three-way dance. |
| 42 | Oliver John | 2 | June 14, 2008 | 175 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | |
| 43 | Dylan Drake | 1 | December 6, 2008 | 336 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars – Kristmas Kaos 2008 | Defeated John in a steel cage match. |
| 44 | Malachi | 1 | November 7, 2009 | 182 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | |
| 45 | Jeckles the Jester | 1 | May 8, 2010 | 63 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | |
| 46 | Derek Sanders | 3 | July 10, 2010 | 147 | Santa Rosa, CA | Wrestling For The Wounded Warrior Project | |
| 47 | Dylan Drake | 2 | December 4, 2010 | 224 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars – Kristmas Kaos 2010 | |
| 48 | Jeckles the Jester | 2 | July 16, 2011 | 49 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | |
| 49 | Timothy Thatcher | 1 | September 3, 2011 | 42 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | |
| — | Vacated | — | October 15, 2011 | — | Hayward, CA | Halloween Hell XIV | Commissioner J.J. Perez announced at Halloween Hell XIV that Thatcher was unable to compete and vacated the title. |
| 50 | Jeckles | 3 | October 15, 2011 | 91 | Hayward, CA | Halloween Hell XIV | Defeated Gangrel for the vacated title. |
| 51 | Jody Kristofferson | 1 | January 14, 2012 | <1 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | Won the annual "Pick The Winner" battle royal, granting him a Universal Heavyweight Title opportunity which he used the same night to defeat Jeckles the Jester. |
| — | Vacated | — | January 14, 2012 | — | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | Upon winning the championship, Jody Kristofferson reluctantly forfeited the title citing his recent developmental deal with WWE. |
| 52 | Timothy Thatcher | 2 | February 18, 2012 | 259 | Hayward, CA | N/A | Won a 4-Way Elimination match against A.J. Kirsch, Dylan Drake, and Jeckles to win the vacated championship. |
| 53 | Dylan Drake | 3 | November 3, 2012 | 63 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | Won the championship in a Steel Cage Match. |
| 54 | JR Kratos | 1 | January 5, 2013 | 28 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | |
| 55 | Dylan Drake | 4 | February 2, 2013 | 70 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | Drake regained the title from JR Kratos after Commissioner Blackwell was forced to return the title to Drake after fearing multiple lawsuits from Drake's Attorney Mr. Ramirez. Drake continues his reign as champion, though Kratos held the physical belt since January 5, 2013. |
| 56 | Adam Thornstowe | 2 | April 13, 2013 | 426 | Hayward, CA | Gym Wars | |
| 57 | Rik Luxury | 1 | June 13, 2014 | 273 | San Francisco, CA | Friday The 13th | |
| 58 | JR Kratos | 1 | March 13, 2015 | 351 | San Francisco, CA | Friday The 13th Part 2 | |
| 59 | Jody Kristofferson | 2 | February 27, 2016 | 230 | San Francisco, CA | Westlake Royale | |
| 60 | MVP | 1 | October 14, 2016 | 162 | Daly City, CA | Halloween Hell XX | |
| 61 | Luster the Legend | 1 | March 25, 2017 | 42 | Daly City, CA | Legends Are Born | |
| 62 | Jeff Cobb | 1 | May 6, 2017 | 545 | San Francisco, CA | Cow Palace Royale | |
| 63 | Jacob Fatu | 1 | November 2, 2018 | 273 | Daly City, CA | Halloween Hell (2018) | |
| 64 | Jake Atlas | 1 | August 2, 2019 | 105 | Daly City, CA | SuckaFree | |
| — | Vacated | — | November 15, 2019 | — | Daly City, CA | Game Recognize Game | Jake Atlas vacated the title upon signing a developmental contract with WWE. |
Combined reigns[]
| Rank | Wrestler | No. of reigns |
Combined days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Drake | 3 | 721 |
| 2 | Jeff Cobb | 1 | 545 |
| 3 | JR Kratos | 1 | 453 |
| 4 | Adam Thornstowe | 2 | 437 |
| 5 | Derek Sanders | 3 | 406 |
| 6 | Robert Thompson | 4 | 391 |
| 7 | Oliver John | 2 | 357 |
| 8 | Kafu | 2 | 336 |
| 9 | Donovan Morgan | 2 | 323 |
| 10 | Michael Modest | 5 | 329 |
| 11 | Maxx Justice | 5 | 317 |
| 12 | Bobby Quance | 1 | 302 |
| 13 | Timothy Thatcher | 2 | 301 |
| 14 | Rik Luxury | 1 | 273 |
| Jacob Fatu | 1 | 273 | |
| 16 | Mr. Prime Time | 1 | 245 |
| 17 | James Watkins | 1 | 230 |
| Jody Kristofferson | 1 | 230 | |
| 19 | Nate Rulez | 1 | 224 |
| 20 | Jeckles | 3 | 203 |
| 21 | Malachi | 1 | 182 |
| 22 | MVP | 1 | 162 |
| 23 | Frank Murdoch | 1 | 133 |
| 24 | Jake Atlas | 1 | 105 |
| 25 | Manny Fernandez | 1 | 91 |
| 26 | Tony Jones | 1 | 56 |
| 27 | The Honky Tonk Man | 1 | 42 |
| Larry Blackwell | 1 | 42 | |
| Dana Lee | 1 | 42 | |
| Luster the Legend | 1 | 42 | |
| 31 | Ma'och | 1 | 35 |
| Vic Capri | |||
| 33 | Boyce LeGrande | 1 | 20 |
| 34 | Hane Dynasty | 1 | 14 |
| 35 | Boom Boom Comini | 1 | 13 |
| 36 | Vic Grimes | 1 | 8 |
| 37 | Vinny Massaro | 1 | 3 |
| 38 | Ed Morretti | 1 | <1 |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Hoops, Brian (September 5, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history: Gagne vs. Crusher loser leaves town, Von Erichs vs. Freebirds, Young Bucks vs. Machine Guns". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
External links[]
Categories:
- All Pro Wrestling championships
- Heavyweight wrestling championships