IWA World Heavyweight Championship (Australia)

The IWA World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the Australian World Championship Wrestling promotion from its founding in 1964 until 1971.[1]

IWA World Heavyweight Championship
Details
PromotionWorld Championship Wrestling
Date established1964
Date retired1971
Statistics
First champion(s)Killer Kowalski
Most reignsSpiros Arion (6)

Although a part of WCW, the championship carried the IWA initials, for the International Wrestling Alliance. The IWA was WCW's sanctioning body for its championships.

WCW joined the National Wrestling Alliance in August 1969,[2] but still recognized this title as its world title. In 1971, the title was abandoned, the NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship was established as WCW's new top championship, and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was recognized in WCW as the world title.

24 different men held the championship, combining for 51 individual title reigns.[1]

Title history

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Wrestler: Times: Date: Location: Notes:
Killer Kowalski 1 October 1964 ? Kowalski was awarded the title.
Dominic DeNucci 1 7 November 1964 Melbourne, Victoria
Ray Stevens 1 January 1965 Sydney, New South Wales
Dominic DeNucci 2 January 1965 Melbourne, Victoria
Mitsu Arakawa 1 May 1965 ? This title change occurred no later than this date.
Hercules Cortez 1 June 1965 ? This title change occurred no later than this date.
Killer Kowalski 2 June 1965 ?
Spiros Arion 1 6 August 1965 Sydney, New South Wales
Karl Krauser 1 1965 Melbourne, Victoria
Spiros Arion 2 1965 ?
Killer Kowalski 3 December 1965 Honolulu, Hawaii
Dominic DeNucci 3 12 February 1966 Sydney, New South Wales
Toru Tanaka 1 3 June 1966 Sydney, New South Wales
Mark Lewin 1 9 July 1966 Melbourne, Victoria
Skull Murphy 1 13 August 1966 Melbourne, Victoria
Bearcat Wright 1 19 August 1966 Sydney, New South Wales
The Destroyer 1 3 September 1966 Melbourne, Victoria
Spiros Arion 3 29 October 1966 Melbourne, Victoria
Ray Stevens 2 2 December 1966 Sydney, New South Wales
Billy White Wolf 1 11 February 1967 Melbourne, Victoria White Wolf vacated the Australian Heavyweight Championship after winning this title.
Killer Kowalski 4 May 1967 Melbourne, Victoria
Tex McKenzie 1 July 1967 Melbourne, Victoria
Skull Murphy 2 12 August 1967 Melbourne, Victoria
Bearcat Wright 2 19 August 1967 Melbourne, Victoria
Killer Kowalski 5 1 September 1967 Melbourne, Victoria
Mario Milano 1 8 September 1967 Sydney, New South Wales
King Curtis Iaukea 1 30 September 1967 Sydney, New South Wales
Mark Lewin 2 13 October 1967 Sydney, New South Wales
Ripper Collins 1 October 1967 ?
Mario Milano 2 October 1967 ?
Killer Karl Kox 1 January 1968 Melbourne, Victoria
Spiros Arion 4 January 1968 Melbourne, Victoria
Gorilla Monsoon 1 16 February 1968 Sydney, New South Wales
Spiros Arion 5 22 March 1968 Sydney, New South Wales
Baron Mikel Scicluna 1 15 June 1968 Sydney, New South Wales
Mario Milano 3 17 August 1968 Melbourne, Victoria
Toru Tanaka 2 20 September 1968 Sydney, New South Wales
Tex McKenzie 2 15 November 1968 Sydney, New South Wales
Skull Murphy 3 18 November 1968 Adelaide, South Australia
“Cowboy” Bob Ellis 1 7 February 1969 Sydney, New South Wales
Killer Karl Kox 2 14 February 1969 Sydney, New South Wales
Spiros Arion 6 21 February 1969 Sydney, New South Wales
The Spoiler 1 4 April 1969 Sydney, New South Wales
Mario Milano 4 9 May 1969 Sydney, New South Wales
WCW joined the National Wrestling Alliance in August 1969, still recognizing this world title.
Killer Karl Kox 3 19 September 1969 Sydney, New South Wales
Billy Robinson 1 31 October 1969 Sydney, New South Wales
King Curtis Iaukea 2 19 December 1969 Sydney, New South Wales
Dominic DeNucci 4 January 1970 Sydney, New South Wales
King Curtis Iaukea 3 April 1970 ? This title change occurred no later than this date.
Stan Stasiak 1 December 1970 ?
King Curtis Iaukea 4 December 1970 ?
The title was retired in 1971 and replaced with the NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship. WCW then recognized the NWA World Heavyweight Championship as the world title.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "I.W.A. World Heavyweight Title (Australia)". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved 27 December 2008.
  2. ^ "Pro-Wrestling Title Histories: Australia". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved 27 December 2008. W.C.W. was a members [sic] of National Wrestling Alliance after 69/08.
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