NWA Western States Heritage Championship

The NWA Western States Heritage Championship was a short-lived National Wrestling Alliance title in World Championship Wrestling that was filled via a tournament in the Universal Wrestling Federation in 1987, and defended in WCW until it was abandoned in 1989.

It has long been reported that when Ric Flair took the NWA/WCW World Heavyweight Championship "Big Gold Belt" with him when he was fired and eventually went to the World Wrestling Federation, the NWA Western States Heritage Championship belt was used as the WCW World Heavyweight Championship belt for one night at the 1991 Great American Bash; a gold plate with the words "WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION" was tacked onto the Western States Title's faceplate. In truth, however, Zbyszko took the title with him to the American Wrestling Association and was even photographed with both the WSH and AWA title belts. The actual belt used at the Great American Bash is now believed to have been the heavyweight championship belt that was used by the Professional Wrestling Federation, Dusty Rhodes' short-lived post-Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion.[1]

The "new" NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship recognized in 2015 by the NWA and Vendetta Pro Wrestling in Santa Maria, California uses a belt design identical to the belt used for the NWA Western States Heritage Championship,[2] prompting many to refer to it as the "NWA Western States Heritage Championship". The title also credits all former Western States Champions—including the Western States Heritage titleholders—with their reigns as champion.

Title history

Wrestler Reigns Date Place Notes
Barry Windham 1 June 20, 1987 Houston, TX Defeated Black Bart.
Larry Zbyszko 1 January 24, 1988 Uniondale, NY Won the title at Bunkhouse Stampede.
Title Retired January 1989 Title retired when Zbyszko leaves for the AWA.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  2. ↑ "NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship Title History". Vendetta Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
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