AWA - AMERICAN WRESTLING ASSOCIATION

AWA INTERNATIONAL HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY

February 1983--December 7, 1987

From Wrestling Title Histories
by Royal Duncan & Gary Will

1.Austin Idol
02/83
Idol was recognized as the first champion.

2.Jerry Lawler
03/07/83-Memphis, TN

3.Ken Patera
05/16/83-Memphis, TN

4.Jerry Lawler [2]
07/25/83-Memphis, TN

5.Ken Patera [2]
08/15/83-Memphis, TN

6.Austin Idol [2]
09/10/83-Memphis, TN

7.Stan Hansen
09/12/83

8.Austin Idol [3]
10/03/83

9.Randy Savage
04/23/84-Memphis, TN

10.Austin Idol [4]
05/84

11.Oriental Connection (Maso Ito)
06/16/84-Memphis, TN

12.Tommy Rich
07/09/84-Memphis, TN

13.Eddie Gilbert
08/27/84-Memphis, TN

14.Dutch Mantell
09/17/84

15.Eddie Gilbert [2]
09/23/84-Memphis, TN
Awarded by forfeit after The Nightmare attacked Mantell.

16.Terry Taylor
12/30/84-Memphis, TN

17.Phil Hickerson
07/07/85-Jackson, TN

18.Terry Taylor [2]
07/15/85-Memphis, TN

19.Phil Hickerson [2]
07/22/85-Memphis, TN

20.Mongolian Stomper (Archie Gouldie)
09/30/85-Memphis, TN

21.Phil Hickerson [3]
10/21/85-Memphis, TN

22.Dutch Mantell [2]
11/09/85-Memphis, TN

23.Rick Casey (Wendell Cooley)
02/02/86-Memphis, TN

24.Abdul Khadafy (Danny Miller)
03/03/86-Memphis, TN

25.Billy Travis
03/24/86-Memphis, TN

26.Bill Dundee
05/05/86-Memphis, TN

27.Jerry Lawler [3]
07/19/86-Nashville, TN
Vacated on 09/08/86 when Lawler won the Southern title.

28.Big Bubba (Fred Ottman)
10/06/86-Memphis, TN

29.Soul Train Jones (Virgil)
01/05/87-Memphis, TN

30.Chick Donovan
04/20/87-Memphis, TN

31.Bill Dundee [2]
06/13/87-Memphis, TN

32.George Barnes
08/17/87-Memphis, TN

33.Bill Dundee [3]
08/31/87-Memphis, TN
Vacated on 10/11/87 when Dundee won the AWA World tag team title.

34.Bill Dundee [4]
10/27/87-Nashville, TN
Wins tournament

35.Manny Fernandez
11/02/87-Memphis, TN
Unified with CWA Heavyweight title on 12/07/87 in Memphis, TN.

Promotion closes 1991

AWA promotion revived in 1996
The rights to the AWA are purchased by Dale Gagne; the promotion reopens as the AWA Superstars of Wrestling.

36."Illustrious" Jonnie Stewart
04/23/99
Defeats "The Yugoslavian Dictator" George Petroski

Title Vacant
04/14/2000 Stewart stripped for failure to defend

37.Danny Dominion
04/14/2000-Blythe, CA
Defeated The Navajo Kid

Title Vacant
2002

38Erik Watts
02/04/2005-Tucson, AZ
Defeats Diamond Dallas Page to win vacant title.
Special Referee: Mick Foley

TITLE RETIRED
2005
The AWA Board of Directors decides to permanently retire the title.