One Year Champions: NWA World Championship

Some of you may have read my blog entitled One Year Champions  where I break down the major active and inactive championships listing who held the titles for one year or better.  I have been doing this a lot the with the titles breaking down their lineages into different categories in a series of posts.  For example: House Show Title Changes, One Day Champions, & The Longest Reign.

What you may have noticed is that the NWA World Championship was not included in the One Year Champions post.  That is because the number of men that have accomplished this is so great that it deserves its own post.  So with out further ado here we go.

Orville Brown
July 14, 1948 - November 1, 1949 476 days

Upon creation of the National Wrestling Alliance the current Midwest Wrestling Association World Champion was declared the first NWA World Heavyweight Champion.  Was stripped of the championship when he suffered a career ending care accident.

Lou Thesz
November 27, 1949 - March 15, 1956 2301 days awarded Championship defeated by "Whipper" Billy Watson

November 9, 1956 - November 14, 1957 370 days defeated "Whipper" Billy Watson defeated by Dick Hutton

January 24, 1963 - January 7, 1966 1,079 days defeated "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers defeated by Gene Kiniski

Lou Thesz had won the National Wrestling Association World Championship on July 10, 1948 he was scheduled to face Orville Brown in a unification match prior to Brown's accident.  Thesz unified the championships when he was awarded the title.

Dick Hutton
November 14, 1957 - January 9, 1959 421 days defeated Lou Thesz defeated by Pat O' Connor

Pat O' Connor
January 9, 1959 - June 30, 1961 903 days defeated Dick Hutton was defeated by "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers

"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers
June 30, 1961 - January 24, 1963 573 days defeated Pat O' Connor defeated by Lou Thesz

Gene Kiniski
January 7, 1966 - February 11, 1969 1,131 days defeated Lou Thesz defeated by Dory Funk Jr,

Dory Funk Jr.
February 11, 1969 - May 24, 1973 1,563 days defeated Gene Kiniski defeated by Harley Race

Jack Brisco
July 20, 1973 - December 2, 1974 500 days defeated Harley Race defeated by Giant Baba

December 9, 1974 - December 10, 1975 366 days defeated Giant Baba defeated by Terry Funk

Terry Funk
December 10, 1975 - February 6, 1977 424 days defeated and was defeated by Harley Race

Harley Race
February 6, 1977 - August 21, 1979 926 days defeated Terry Funk defeated by "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair
September 17, 1981 - June 10, 1983 631 days defeated "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes defeated by Harley Race

May 24, 1984 - July 26, 1986 793 days defeated Kerry Von Erich defeated by "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

August 9, 1986 - September 25, 1987 412 days defeated "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes defeated by "Rugged" Ronnie Gargin

November 26, 1987 - February 20, 1989 452 days defeated "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin defeated by Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

May 7, 1989 - July 7, 1990 426 days defeated Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat defeated by Sting

From the first day that Flair on the title on September 17, 1981 until he signed with the WWE September 8, 1991 3,644 days passed, Flair was champion for 3,059 of those days which is impressive to say the last.  In total Flair held the championship 9 times for a total of 3116 days.

Dan"The Beast" Severn
February 24, 1995 - March 14, 1999 1,479 days defeated Chris Candido defeated by Naoya Ogawa

Blue Demon Jr.
October 25, 2008 - March 14, 2010 505 days defeated and was defeated by "Scrap Iron" Adam Pearce

Jax Dane
August 29, 2015 - October 21, 2016 419 days defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan and was defeated by Tim Storm

Tim Storm
October 21, 2016 - December 9, 2017 414 days defeated Jax Dane and was defeated by Nick Aldis

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment, read my other posts, and like my blogs Facebook page and while you're at it check out my weekly podcast Podcast of 1,000 Holds on the Nerdy Legion Podcast Network. 

Later Readers!

Random Wrestling: Minnesota Wrecking Crew

Welcome back to Random Wrestling!  It's been a long time since I have done one of these posts, it's not for the lack of watching wrestling, I've had a lot to watch I just have just enough other stuff to post about is all.

Let's get started!

Ole & Gene Anderson

Steel Cage Match: Gene & Ole Anderson vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine & "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
May 8, 1977 Charlotte, North Caroline

This is for the NWA World Tag Team Championship, Mid-Atlantic version.  This is the title that eventually became the WCW World Tag Team Championship.

Wahoo McDaniel is the referee, from 1977 this is a six minute clip filmed on 16mm.

Joined in progress it appears as though the Anderson's are the faces.  Everyone is busted open as Gene takes a beat down until making the hot tag to Ole.  Ole cleans house but then is thrown into Wahoo.  In a very dangerous bump, Flair has Ole up for a standing suplex and trips over Wahoo and I thinks Ole was supposed to fall on Flair but instead fell on his head, but still manged to get the pin.


Flair and Valentine then beat down everyone including Wahoo until someone makes the save.  The Anderson's won the titles, but Ole had to be stretchered out after taking a spike piledriver.

Ole & Arn Anderson

Arn & Ole Anderson vs. The Rock & Roll Express: Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson

NWA Worldwide August 2, 1986

Tommy Young is your referee with David Crockett and James E. Cornette calling the action.

Excellent tag team encounter in front of the always hot crowd that Mid Atlantic Wrestling had at that time. Story of the match is very stereotypical but I love it!!  Anderson beat down the Express who fire back time and time again only to be stopped by the Anderson's.  Finally the Express clearly have the upper hand when Arn low bridges Gibson causing him to fall backwards over the top rope drawing the disqualification.  Anderson's then beat down Gibson and Morton on the floor until the faces clear the dressing room to stop them.

Minnesota Wrecking Crew II with Ole Anderson

Minnesota Wrecking Crew II vs. World Tag Team Champions: The Steiner Brothers: Rick & Scott
NWA World Championship Wrestling March 3, 1990

Commentary by Bob Caudle and Teddy Long with Randy Anderson the man in charge in the ring.

I have never heard of the Minnesota Wrestling Crew II, it's two masked guys managed by Ole Anderson.  They have blue pants and matching masks!  Apparently the men under the masks were the team of Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom, a formidable tag team in there own right.

Match wise the Crew II work like the Anderson's working the arm, but they just can't seem to keep the upper hand on the Steiner Brothers until the work Scott's previously injured arm.  Of course they have to beat it against the guard rail a dozen times first. Wrecking Crew pick up the count-out victory after a hammerlock slam on the floor onto Scott.

Lars and Ole Anderson

I couldn't find any matches on You Tube of Lars and Gene Anderson teamed together however I did find this clip from Georgia Championship Wrestling spring 1980 where Ole & Lars posed as the masked Avengers surprising Tag Team Champions: Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff.  I never knew that Lars and Ole teamed up together so this is quite and exciting discovery for me!  Apparently Lars and Ole are two time NWA Georgia Tag Team Champions!

Ivan Koloff & Alexis Smirnoff vs. The Avengers 

This clip is from Georgia Championship Wrestling July 26, 1980 just a few days after Lars and Ole split.  Lars talks about it post match.

Lars Anderson vs. Bobby Garrett

Rough timeline of the teams

Gene & Lars Anderson 1966 - 1969

Gene & Ole Anderson 1969 - 1981 on and off

Ole & Lars Anderson 1977 - 1980 on and off

Ole & Arn Anderson 1985 - 1987 & 1990 for a few months

Minnesota Wrecking Crew II managed by Ole for a few matches in 1990

In OVW Brock Lesnar & Shelton Benjamin called themselves the Minnesota Stretching Crew and from 2002 - 2008 women wrestlers Lacey & Rain went by the Minnesota Home Wrecking Crew.

Later Readers!

Bonus

Bryant Anderson is the son of Ole Anderson, he wrestled for WCW in 1993 and Smoky Mountain Wrestling 1994 - 1995.  This is the only match that I could find on You Tube of Anderson.  It is from WCW Worldwide airing March 19, 1994.  Anderson had a good look and wore the classic Anderson maroon boots with gold stripes.

Johnny B. Badd & Terry Taylor vs. DDP & Bryant Anderson

Brad Anderson is the son of Gene Anderson, he began his career under a mask in 1988 for Jim Crockett Promotions as Agent Steel.  He also competed as Zan Panzer, Viper, and as Brad Anderson.  He worked matches for WWF, WCW, SMW, and other promotions.  His last match to date is actually the only match I have ever seen an Anderson wrestle live in.  NWA Legends Fanfest  August 8, 2009 in Charlotte, NC he defeated "Man Scout" Jake Manning.  I found a few matches from various times in his career on you tube.

WCW Tag Team Champions: The Nasty Boys vs. Pez Whatley & Brad Anderson
from WCW The Main Event January 23, 1994

The Fantastics vs. Agent Steel & Curtis Thompson
from NWA World Championship Wrestling 1988ish

Doug Furnace vs. Zan Panzer
from World Championship Wrestling May 26, 1990

Later!

One Year Champions

In the past I've done blogs on House Show Title Changes, One Day Champions, & The Longest Reign in the blog we will take a look those who have held of each of the major championship past and present in Professional Wrestling for at least one year.

Active Championships

WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Bruno Sammartino

May 17, 1963 - January 18, 1971 2,803 days defeated "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers was defeated by "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff

December 10, 1973 - April 30, 1977 1,237 days defeated Stan "The Man" Stasiak was defeated by "Superstar" Billy Graham

Pedro Morlaes 

February 8, 1971 - December 1, 1973 1,027 days defeated "Russian" Ivan Koloff was defeated by Stan 'The Man" Stasiak

Bob Backlund

February 20, 1978 - December 26, 1983 2,135 days defeated "Superstar" Billy Graham was defeated by The Iron Shei 

Hulk Hogan

January 23, 1984 - February 5, 1988 1,474 days defeated The Iron Sheik was defeated by Andre the Giant

"Macho Man" Randy Savage

March 27, 1988 - April 2, 1989 371 days defeated "Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase was defeated by Hulk Hogan

John Cena

September 17, 2006 - October 2, 2007 380 Days defeated Edge forced to vacant due to injury

CM Punk

November 20, 2011 - January 27, 2013 434 Days defeated Alberto Del Rio was defeated by The Rock

WWE Intercontinental Championship

Pedro Morales

November 23, 1981 - January 22, 1983 425 days defeated "Magnificent" Don Muraco lost to "Magnificent" Don Muraco

"Magnificent" Don Muraco

January 22, 1983 - February 11, 1984 385 days defeated Pedro Morales was defeated by Tito Santana

"Macho Man" Randy Savage

February 8, 1986 - March 29, 1987 414 days defeated Tito Santana was defeated by Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

The Honky Tonk Man

June 2, 1987 - August 29, 1988 454 days defeated Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat was defeated by The Ultimate Warrior

WWE / WCW United States Championship

"Total Package" Lex Luger 

May 22, 1989 - October 27, 1990 523 days defeated Michael "PS" Hayes was defeated by Stan 'The Lariat" Hansen

"Ravishing" Rick Rude

November 19, 1991 - January 11, 1993 defeated Sting was stripped due to injury

WWE Tag Team Championship 

New Day: Big E, Kofi Kingston, & Xavier Woods
August 23, 2015 - December 18, 2016 483 days defeated The Prime Time Players: Titus O'Neil & Darren Young

TNA King of the Mountain Championship (formerly known as Legends, Global, & Television)

Abyss
June 2, 2013 - July 3, 2014 396 days defeated Devon vacated because no defenses for 10 months

ROH World Heavyweight Championship

Samoa Joe
March 22, 2003 - December 26, 2004 645 days defeated Xavier was defeated by Austin Aries

Bryan Danielson
September 17, 2005 - December 23, 2006 462 days defeated James Gibson was defeated by Homicide

Nigel McGuinness
October 6, 2007 - April 3, 2009 545 days defeated Takeshi Morishima was defeated by Jerry Lynn

Jay Lethal
June 19, 2015 - August 19, 2016 427 days defeated Jay Briscoe was defeated by Adam Cole

ROH World Television Championship

Jay Lethal
April 4, 2014 - October 23, 2015 567 days defeated Tommaso Ciampa was defeated by Roderick Strong

Inactive Championships

WWE World Tag Team Championships June 3, 1971 - August 16, 2010

The Valiant Brothers: Jimmy & Johnny

May 8, 1974 - May 13, 1975 370 days defeated Tony Garea & Dean Ho was defeated by Dominic DeNucci & Victor Rivera

Demolition: Ax & Smash

March 27, 1988 - July 18, 1989 478 days defeated Strike Force: Rick Martel & Tito Santana was defeated by The Brain Busters: "Enforcer" Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard

WWE Light Heavyweight Championship December 7, 1997 - November 18, 2001

Duane Gill/Gillberg

November 17, 1998 - February 13, 2000 453 days defeated Christian was defeated by Essa Rios with Lita

WWE / WCW Cruiserweight Championship October 27, 1991 - September 25, 2007

Gregory Helms

January 29, 2006 - February 18, 2007 385 days defeated Kid Kash was defeated by Chavo Guerrero

WWE Women's Championship September 18, 1956 - September 19, 2010

The Fabulous Moolah

September 18, 1956 - June 23, 1984 10,170 days won 13 women Battle Royal last eliminating Judy Grable was defeated by Wendi Richter

July 9, 1986 - July 24, 1987 380 days defeated Velvet McIntyre was defeated by Sensational Sherri

Sensational Sherri

July 24, 1987 - October 7, 1988 441 days defeated The Fabulous Moolah was defeated by Rockin' Robin

Rockin' Robin

October 7, 1988 - February 21, 1990 502 days defeated Sensational Sherri title vacated due to inactivity

Trish Stratus

January 9, 2005 - April 2, 2006 448 days defeated Lita lost to Mickie James

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship May 13, 1983 - February 14, 1989

Velvet McIntyre & Princess Victoria 

May 13, 1983 - December 7, 1984 574 days defeated Judy Grable & Wendi Richter, Princess Victoria was injured and Desiree Petersen was chosen to replace her officially it is two title reigns however Velvet McIntyre individually a champion for about 811 days. 

The Glamour Girls: Judy Martin & Leilani Kai

August 1985 - January 24, 1988 906 days defeated Velvet McIntyre & Princess Victoria  defeated by The Jumping Bomb Angels: Noriyo Tateno & Itsuki Yamazaki

WCW World Heavyweight Championship January 11, 1991 - December 9, 2001

Hulk Hogan
July 17, 1994 - October 29, 1995 469 days defeated "Nature Boy" Ric Flair was defeated by The Giant

ECW World Heavyweight Championship April 25, 1992 - April 4, 2001

"Franchise" Shane Douglas
March 26, 1994 - April 15, 1995 385 days defeated Terry Funk was defeated by The Sandman

November 30, 1997 - January 10, 1999 406 days defeated Bam Bam Bigelow was defeated by Taz

ECW World Television Championship August 12, 1992 - April 4, 2011

Rob Van Dam
April 4, 1998 - March 4, 2000 700 days defeated Bam Bam Bigelow vacated due to injury

TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship September 20, 2009 - June 27, 2013

ODB & Eric Young
February 28, 2012 - June 20, 2013 478 days defeated Gail Kim & Madison Rayne titles vacated because Eric Young is male, deactivated June 27, 2013

Active / Inactive with no One Year Champion

WWE Women's Championship April 3, 2016 - present

NXT Championship July 1, 212 - present

NXT Tag Team Championship January 23, 2013 - present

NXT Women's Championship April 5, 2013 - present

TNA World Heavyweight Champion May 13, 2007 - present

TNA X-Division Championship June 19, 2002 - current

TNA World Tag Team Championships May 17, 2007 - current

TNA Knockouts Championship October 14, 2007 - current

ROH World Tag Team Championship September 21, 2002 - current

WWE World Championship September 2, 2002 - December 15, 2013

WWE Divas Championship July 20, 2008 - April 3, 2016

WWE Hardcore Championship November 2, 1998 - August 26, 2002

WWE European Championship February 26, 1997 - July 22, 2002

WW-ECW Championship June 13, 2006 - February 16, 2010

ECW World Tag Team Championship June 23, 1992 - April 4, 2001

NWA/WCW World Television Championship  February 27, 1974 - April 10, 2000

NWA / WCW United States Tag Team Championship September 28, 1986 - July 31, 1992

WCW International World Heavyweight Championship September 1993 - June 23, 1994

WCW World Tag Team Championship January 29, 1975 - November 28, 2001

WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championship February 17, 1991 - November 1991

WCW Hardcore Championship July 11, 1999 - March 26, 2001

WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Championship March 18, 2001 - March 26, 2001

WCW Women's Championship December 29, 1996 - late 1997

WCW Women's Cruiserweight Championship April 7, 1997 - late 1997

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment and like my blogs Facebook page.
Later Readers!