The Iowa version of the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship that was promoted by the Iowa-based National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) promotion between 1943 and 1949. The championship was competed for by junior heavyweight wrestlers. The inaugural champion was Ken Fenelon, who was awarded the title in May 1943.
Both the championship and the promotion predate the more famous National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) that was founded in May 1948 as a governing body and interpromotional alliance of wrestling promotions in the midwestern United States. Both the Iowa-based NWA promotion and the NWA governing body were founded by Paul "Pinkie" George. At the founding meeting of the NWA governing body, Billy Goelz, George's reigning World Junior Heavyweight Champion in Iowa, was recognized as the world champion of the new alliance. As a result, the Iowa-based championship was retired and replaced with the main NWA title. Goelz lost recognition from the NWA in November 1949, with Leroy McGuirk, world champion of the National Wrestling Association, being selected as the new champion. Goelz, however, continued to be recognized as champion in Iowa. On December 28, 1949, McGuirk defeated Goelz to unify the Iowa championship into his world championship. The NWA recognizes holders of the Iowa version of the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship as former champions of the main NWA title.
Title history ReignThe reign number for the specific champion listedLocationThe city in which the title was wonEventThe event promoted by the respective promotion in which the title was won†Indicates the title changes not recognized by the NWA+Indicates the current reign is changing daily No.WrestlerTimesDateDays heldLocationEventNotesRef.1Ken Fenelon 1 May 1943 N/A N/A N/A 2Marshall Esteppe 1 May 30, 1945 216 Toronto, IA House show 3Larry Tillman 1 January 1, 1946 69 Des Moines, IA House show 4Ken Fenelon 2 March 11, 1946 301 Des Moines, IA House show 5Marshall Esteppe 2 January 6, 1947 Des Moines, IA House show 6Ray Steele 1 March 24, 194735 Des Moines, IA House show 7Marshall Esteppe 3 April 28, 1947 77 Des Moines, IA House show 8Billy Goelz 1 March 16, 1948 Des Moines, IA House show 9 Al Williams 1 August 22, 1948 Waterloo, IA House show 10 Billy Goelz 2 September 5, 1948 Waterloo, IA House show The NWA withdraws its recognition of Billy Goelz on November 25, 1949, with Leroy McGuirk, world champion of the National Wrestling Association, being selected as the new champion. The championship was retired on December 28, 1949 after McGuirk defeats Goelz, with the lineage continuing over to the new version of the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
See also List of National Wrestling Alliance championships
References