IWA Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship
IWA Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship | |||||||||
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Details | |||||||||
Date established | 2000 | ||||||||
Date retired | 2012 | ||||||||
Promotion | International Wrestling Association | ||||||||
Other name(s) | |||||||||
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The IWA Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship contested for in the Puerto Rican professional wrestling promotion, the International Wrestling Association. The championship was established in 2000, as the IWA World Heavyweight Championship.
History
Unification with the "Capitol World Heavyweight Championship"
On December 15, 2007, Scott Hall failed to attend a titular defense which led to the fictional local box and wrestling commission's decision to vacate the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship and award it to the number one contender who at the moment was Miguel "Biggie Size" Maldonado.[1] On December 30, the Universal Heavyweight Championship was declared vacant following the events where he was declared the champion following Hall's absence to Lockout. The commission's decision was announced during the company's holiday recess and Maldonado retained the championship belt in custody.
On January 6, 2008, Jack Meléndez who had been managing La Rabia, the stable where he performed abandoned the company citing differences with the company's personnel.[2] Following Meléndez's exit from the company the stable abandoned the company no-showing the a special event scheduled for January 6, 2008. On January 6, Maldonado appeared in the IWA's Histeria Boricua event, with the championship belt still in his possession and challenged Freddie "Blitz" Lozada, who was the IWA World Heavyweight Champion to a unification match.[3] The match took place later in the event with Lozada winning both belts.[4] Following this match WWC's merchandising manager, José Roberto Rodríguez, who had been allowed entry into the building, demanded that the belt was returned to him, but at the moment the IWA's personnel had replaced the belt with Revolution X-Treme Wrestling's championship belt (at the moment in Savio Vega's possession) and had transferred the Universal Heavyweight Championship to a secure location, which led to a discussion between personnel from both companies and Rodríguez's expulsion from the event.[3] After the event's conclusion police officers were deployed and the IWA retained physical possession of the championship.[5] Following this the belt was returned to WWC personnel following an ultimatum, which claimed that the company would take legal action if it wasn't returned within forty-eight hours.[6] However, both the International Wrestling Association and the National Wrestling Alliance recognized the unification match, and considered Lozada the first Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion in Puerto Rico.[7]
International exposure
Beginning in 2009, the IWA Undisputed World Unified Heavyweight Championship began becoming involved in several inter-promotional "champion vs. champion" contests. The first of these took place on January 6, 2009, where Carlos "Chicano" Cotto was booked to defend the title against Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Legends Champion, Booker T.[8] The contest was part of an annual event titled "Histeria Boricua". The conclusion came when Cotto inverted a "Book End" attempt, scoring a pinfall victory.[8] On February 14, 2009, the promotion held a special event named "Noche de Campeónes". In this card, Cotto defended the championship against Samoa Joe.[9] During the final stages of the fight, Noel Rodríguez intervened, injuring the referee.[9] Both wrestlers continued performing, with Cotto scoring a pinfall victory after reverting a finisher and receiving the count from a substitute referee.[9] On April 18, 2009, Cotto was challenged to an unification contest by Joe Bravo, who held the DWE Dominican National Championship, the major title of Dominican Wrestling Entertainment based in the Dominican Republic. Bravo won with the help of a heel referee, becoming a dual champion.[10] The next titleholder to challenge for the belt was Jerry Lynn, Ring of Honor's World Champion, who unsuccessfully competed against Bravo and Chicano in a three-way match.[11] This was part of the "Juicio Final 2009" card. On May 29, 2009, Bravo defended the IWA and DWE championships in Panama, defeating El Cuervo as part of a Revolution X-Treme Wrestling card.[12] On November 1, 2009, Bravo and the incumbent WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion, Shane Sewell, performed in a DWE event, with the DWE Dominican National Championship being held up after the creative team booked a no contest. This marked the first instance that the two major champions worked together while holding full recognitions by both promotions.
IWA vs. EWO, Clash of the Titans
At Summer Attitude 2011, Chris Angel defeated Hiram Tua to become the first undefeated Undisputed World Champion. He went on to defeat all contenders, one of them being Cotto, who was subsequently fired by Pérez after questioning his involvement in a match between both. This event launched a storyline between the IWA and the Extreme Wrestling Organization, the largest independent company and de facto third main promotion in Puerto Rico. On December 17, 2011, Cotto won the EWO Championship, only to be interrupted by Pérez.[13] This was in response to a previous confrontation between both, that occurred following an unrelated charity card. After defending the title at Tierra de Nadie 2012, Pérez once again reclaimed his contract. At Histeria Boricua, Angel was absent for a scheluded defense due to a storyline injury, which resulted in the title being stripped from him. The interim General Manager went on to proclaim himself champion, issuing an open challenge which was accepted by EWO's first contender, a masked wrestler known only as "Bonecrusher", who won it Ina squash match.[14] The confrontations between Cotto and Pérez continued in two of IWA's events expanding to include EWO's CEO, Richard Rondón, as well. On February 25, 2012, following more intervention from the IWA, Cotto issued a challenge to end the conflict, an unification match for the EWO Championship and IWA Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship.[15] On March 1, 2012, the challenge was accepted by Pérez and Rondón in a backstage segment. At Clash of the Titans, Bonecrusher defeated Cotto, becoming Unified Champion.[16] In 2012, IWA folded, so the title was vacated.
Title history
Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Days held |
Place: | Notes: |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Glamour Boy Shane | 1 | October 28, 2000 | 105 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Tournament Final.[17] |
Ricky Banderas | 1 | February 10, 2001 | 56 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Glamour Boy Shane | 2 | April 7, 2001 | 14 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Ricky Banderas | 2 | April 21, 2001 | 56 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Gran Apolo | 1 | June 16, 2001 | 105 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Pain | 1 | September 29, 2001 | 21 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Glamour Boy Shane | 3 | October 20, 2001 | 7 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Gran Apolo | 2 | October 27, 2001 | 42 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Title held up | December 8, 2001 | 84 | Orocovis, Puerto Rico | Stripped by the company's General Manager, Savio Vega after a match against Shane the Glamour Boy.[17] | |
Primo Carnero | 1 | March 2, 2002 | 0 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Defeats Nuevo Gran Apolo. [17] |
Savio Vega | 1 | March 2, 2002 | 42 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Given the title by Carnero after the match. [17] |
Gran Apolo | 3 | April 13, 2002 | 14 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Primo Carnero | 2 | April 27, 2002 | 15 | Levittown, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Gran Apolo | 4 | May 12, 2002 | 6 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Primo Carnero | 3 | May 18, 2002 | 28 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Ricky Banderas | 3 | June 15, 2002 | 91 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Rey Fénix | 1 | September 14, 2002 | 56 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Gran Apolo | 5 | November 9, 2002 | 58 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Ricky Banderas | 4 | January 6, 2003 | 89 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Ray González | 2 | April 5, 2003 | 105 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Gran Apolo | 6 | July 19, 2003 | 63 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Glamour Boy Shane | 4 | September 20, 2003 | 42 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Bison Smith | 1 | November 1, 2003 | 28 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Title held up | December 8, 2001 | 14 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | After a match against Glamour Boy Shane. | |
Glamour Boy Shane | 5 | December 13, 2003 | 24 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Defeats Smith in rematch.[17] |
Humongous | 1 | January 6, 2004 | 32 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Title held up | February 7, 2004 | 7 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | After a match between Bison Smith and Glamour Boy Shane. [18] | |
Glamour Boy Shane | 6 | February 14, 2004 | 21 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [18] |
Vacated | March 6, 2004 | 0 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | [18] | |
Ray González | 3 | March 6, 2004 | 182 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Won the title agaisnt Gran Apolo when Shane abandoned the promotion.[18] |
Gran Apolo | 7 | September 4, 2004 | 84 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | |
Ray González | 4 | November 27, 2004 | 21 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [18] |
Glamour Boy Shane | 7 | December 18, 2004 | 56 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [19] |
Ricky Banderas | 5 | February 12, 2005 | 7 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Title was held-up and returned to Glamour Boy Shane.[18] |
Title held up | February 19, 2005 | 8 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | [19] | |
Glamour Boy Shane | 8 | February 27, 2005 | 40 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Defeats Banderas in a rematch.[19] |
Vacated | April 8, 2005 | 8 | |||
Chicano | 1 | April 16, 2005 | 50 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | [19] |
Held Up | May 28, 2005 | 14 | Levittown, Puerto Rico | After a match against Glamour Boy Shane. | |
Chicano | 2 | June 11, 2005 | 70 | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | Defeats Glamour Boy Shane in rematch. |
Slash Venom | 1 | August 20, 2005 | 42 | Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico | [19] |
Chicano | 3 | October 1, 2005 | 41 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | [19] Was A Fatal 4 Way TLC Match Involved Ricky Banderas,Apolo & Slash Venom, Chicano Wins By Pinfall on Apolo. |
Savio Vega | 2 | November 11, 2005 | 154 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [18] |
Apolo | 8 | April 15, 2006 | 35 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | |
Savio Vega | 3 | May 20, 2006 | 28 | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | |
Lightning | 1 | June 17, 2006 | 42 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [18] |
Mikael Judas | 1 | July 29, 2006 | 35 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [18] |
Ray González | 5 | September 2, 2006 | 7 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | [20] |
Title held up | September 9, 2006 | 7 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | [21] | |
Ray González | 6 | September 16, 2006 | 84 | Cayey, Puerto Rico | Wins rematch.[22] |
Glamour Boy Shane | 9 | December 9, 2006 | 35 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Defeated Ray González & Lightning in a three way match to win the title.[23] |
Ray González | 7 | January 13, 2007 | 90 | Cayey, Puerto Rico | [24] |
Vacated | April 13, 2007 | 15 | González abandoned the promotion, entering a brief retirement from professional wrestling. | ||
Chicano | 4 | April 28, 2007 | 78 | Cayey, Puerto Rico | Defeated Joe Bravo in a match for the vacated title.[25] |
Bison Smith | 2 | July 15, 2007 | 77 | Yabucoa, Puerto Rico | [26] |
Blitz | 1 | September 30, 2007 | 139 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Blitz defeated Mr.Big (WWC Universal Champion) in a unification match on January 6, 2008 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The title was renamed Undisputed World Unified Heavyweight Championship. However, WWC didn't recognized the unification.[27][28] |
Ricky Vega | 1 | February 16, 2008 | 49 | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Vacated | April 5, 2008 | 42 | |||
Blitz | 2 | May 17, 2008 | 63 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Joe Bravo | 1 | July 19, 2008 | 49 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [29] |
Blitz | 3 | September 6, 2008 | 28 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Chicano | 5 | October 4, 2008 | 28 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Dennis Rivera | 1 | November 1, 2008 | 14 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Chicano | 6 | November 15, 2008 | 154 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Joe Bravo | 2 | April 18, 2009 | 21 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Bravo became an international double champion also holding Dominican Wrestling Entertainment's Dominican National Championship.[30] |
Title held up | May 9, 2009 | 7 | Hatillo, Puerto Rico | Stripped by the company's General Manager, Savio Vega.[31] | |
Joe Bravo | 3 | May 16, 2009 | 63 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Defeated Jerry Lynn and Chicano in a three way match.[11] |
Vacated | July 18, 2009 | 29 | |||
Joe Bravo | 4 | August 16, 2009 | 13 | Cataño, Puerto Rico | |
Miguel Pérez, Jr. | 1 | August 29, 2009 | 42 | Cataño, Puerto Rico | [32] |
Joe Bravo | 5 | October 10, 2009 | 88 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Held along the IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship.[33] |
Glamour Boy Shane | 10 | January 6, 2010 | 101 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [17] |
Ricky Cruzz | 1 | April 17, 2010 | 70 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [34] |
Rick Stanley | 1 | June 26, 2010 | 21 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [35] |
Ricky Cruzz | 2 | July 17, 2010 | 28 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | |
Rick Stanley | 2 | August 14, 2010 | 63 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | |
Dennis Rivera | 2 | October 16, 2010 | 82 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | |
Escobar | 1 | January 6, 2011 | 86 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | [36] |
Hiram Tua | 1 | April 2, 2011 | 119 | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | [37] |
Chris Angel | 1 | July 30, 2011 | 183 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | First wrestler to win the championship undefeated in singles competition within any of the major promotions. Held along the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. |
Title held up | January 29, 2012 | 0 | Toa Alta, Puerto Rico | Stripped due to failure to defend. Still undefeated following event. | |
Jay-Cobs | 1 | January 29, 2012 | 0 | Toa Alta, Puerto Rico | Interim General Manager in substitution of Vega. Self-appointed himself as champion.[14] |
Bonecrusher | 1 | January 29, 2012 | 116 | Toa Alta, Puerto Rico | On March 17, 2012, Bonecrusher defeated Chicano to win the EWO Championship. First unification recognized by at least two of the major promotions in Puerto Rico.[14][16] |
Spectro | 1 | May 24, 2012 | 0 | Cataño, Puerto Rico | |
Title stripped | Title stripped by the IWA president Miguel Perez when Mr. Big interface in this match as a referee, do a countdown and Spectro won the title. | ||||
Bonecrusher | 2 | May 24, 2012 | 13 | Cataño, Puerto Rico | |
Desactivated | June 6, 2012 | IWA closed. |
References
- ↑ "WWC: Rresultados Lockout Caguas 12/15". Puerto Rico Wrestling. 2007-12-15. Archived from the original on 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
- ↑ Javier Gonzalez (2008-01-06). "WWC : Moody abandona la empresa". Lucha Libre Online. Archived from the original on January 9, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
- 1 2 Americo Guzman (2008-01-06). "IWA : Nada es lo que parece". Lucha Libre Online. Archived from the original on January 10, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
- ↑ Raúl Álzaga Sánchez-Bretón (2008-01-07). "Bochinche en la lucha libre" (in Spanish). Primera Hora. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
- ↑ Juan Rosario (2008-01-07). "WWC: Situación con la correa Universal". Puerto Rico Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
- ↑ Raul Alzaga (2008-01-10). "WWC : Entregan Correa Universal". Lucha Libre Online. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ↑ David Ramos (2008-01-14). "EU : NWA: ¿Se aprueba unificacion en la empresa?". Lucha Libre Online. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- 1 2 Luis Santiago (2009-02-07). "Resultados: Histeria Boricua – Bayamón 01/06/09" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on January 21, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- 1 2 3 Luis Santiago (2009-02-15). "Resultados: Noche de Campeones – Bayamón 02/15/09" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on February 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-19.
- ↑ El Jey (2009-04-19). "Resultados Bayamon 4/18/09". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- 1 2 Jay Rivera (2009-05-17). "Resultados Juicio Final Bayamon" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on May 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- ↑ Albert Velarde (2009-05-30). "Bravo retiene en Panamá" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-05-30.
- ↑ "Notas de la lucha libre boricua" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico Wrestling. 2011-12-18. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
- 1 2 3 "Resultados Histeria Boricua" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. 2012-01-31. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
- ↑ "IWA anuncia Campeón vs. Campeón" (in Spanish). Puerto Rico Wrestling. 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
- 1 2 Luis Ernesto (2012-03-19). "IWA Resultados Clash of the Titans" (in Spanish). Noti-Lucha.com. Retrieved 2012-04-15.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Manuel O. González, Luis Santiago. "Historia del Campeonato Mundial de los Pesos Pesados". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2008-01-18. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "IWA Heavyweight Title History". Solie's Vintage Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Luis Santiago (2006-09-06). "Resultados y Fotos: Golpe de Estado - Caguas 09/03/06". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2008-01-07. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Luis Santiago (2006-09-10). "Resultados: Caguas 09/09/06". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2008-01-07. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Luis Santiago (2006-09-17). "Resultados: Cayey 09/16/06". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2008-01-07. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Luis Santiago (2006-12-10). "Resultados: Bayamon 12/09/06". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Luis Santiago (2007-01-14). "Resultados: Cayey 01/13/07". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Luis Santiago (2007-04-29). "Resultados: Cayey 04/28/07". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2007-12-29. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Luis Santiago (2007-07-16). "Resultados: Yabucoa 07/15/07". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Luis Santiago (2008-01-11). "Historica Unificacion en la IWA". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ J.G. (2007-10-03). "Resultados de "En Ruta Al Oro"". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2007-12-28. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- ↑ Luis Santiago (2008-07-20). "Nuevo Campeon Mundial Indiscutible de los Pesos Pesados" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on 2008-07-22. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ↑ Jay Rivera (2009-04-19). "Resultados Bayamon 4/18/09". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on April 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
- ↑ Jay Rivera (2009-05-10). "Resutado Carrizales Hatillo 5/9/09". International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-02.
- ↑ Alexis Suarez (2009-08-31). "Resultados IWA Cataño" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on September 3, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
- ↑ Alexis Suarez (2009-10-12). "Resultados IWA Bayamon" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. Archived from the original on October 15, 2009. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
- ↑ "Resultados: Juicio Final - Bayamon 04/17/10". International Wrestling Association. 2010-04-18. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
- ↑ "Resultados: Bayamon 26 junio 2010" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. 2010-06-27. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
- ↑ "Resultads Oficiales de Histeria Boricua" (in Spanish). International Wrestling Association. 2011-01-08.
- ↑