Professional wrestling 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 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 .
Title history [ ]
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
[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
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 [ ]
[ ]
^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 93 and 122 days.
^ a b c d e The length of the championship reign is too uncertain to calculate.
^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 31 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 154 and 214 days.
^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 11 and 41 days.
^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 146 days.
^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 146 days.
^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 116 and 145 days.
^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 7 and 37 days.
^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 31 days.
^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 89 days.
^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 89 days.
^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 72 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 72 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 72 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 39 and 54 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 16 and 58 days.
^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 43 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 143 days.
^ The date the championship was won and lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 143 days.
^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 126 and 151 days.
^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 26 days.
^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 136 and 166 days.
^ The date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 41 and 70 days.
^ The date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 145 and 174 days.
^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 26 days.
^ The date the championship was vacated is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 36 and 56 days.
^ The date the championship was abandoned is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 4 and 34 days.
References [ ]
^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ Hoops, Brian (January 13, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/13): TNA Genesis 2013" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved January 18, 2019 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ a b c d "Southern Heavyweight Title [Florida]" . wrestling-titles.com . Retrieved July 23, 2018 .
^ Hoops, Brian (March 7, 2020). "Daily Pro Wrestling history (03/07): Bruno Sammartino vs. Giant Baba" . Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved March 8, 2020 .
^ 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 .
^ Hoops, Brian (November 24, 2019). "Daily Pro Wrestling history (11/24): The First Starcade" . Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved November 24, 2019 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
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