The NWA Detroit United States Heavyweight Championship was a version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship contested in Big Time Wrestling from 1959 until 1980. It was first introduced as the Chicago version of the championship and contested on shows produced by Fred Kohler Enterprises before moving to Big Time Wrestling in Detroit six years later. While the National Wrestling Alliance recognized only one World Heavyweight Championship, there were multiple NWA United States Heavyweight Championships, as many NWA-affiliated promotions across the U.S. each had its own version of an "American" or "United States" championship. For most such territories—including Detroit—the U.S. Championship was the promotion's primary singles championship. Over its history, the title was held by stars including Bobo Brazil, The Sheik, Wilbur Snyder, Johnny Valentine, and multi-time AWA World Heavyweight Champions Verne Gagne and Dick the Bruiser.
Title history Wrestler:Times:Date:Location:Notes:NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Chicago version)Verne Gagne1September 3, 1953Chicago, ILGagne was awarded the title.Wilbur Snyder1April 7, 1956Chicago, ILHans Schmidt1October 19, 1956Chicago, ILWilbur Snyder2February 19, 1957Chicago, ILDick the Bruiser1December 14, 1957Chicago, ILVerne Gagne2April 12, 1958Chicago, ILDuring this reign, Gagne creates his own splinter of the championship, later renaming it to the AWA United States Heavyweight Championship.Wilbur Snyder3November 15, 1958Chicago, ILAngelo Poffo1December 27, 1958Cincinnati, OHRenamed NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version)Wilbur Snyder4May 2, 1959Detroit, MIDick the Bruiser2May 23, 1959Detroit, MIBob Ellis1 June 2, 1960Windsor, OntarioDick the Bruiser3June 11, 1960Detroit, MIBobo Brazil1January 28, 1961Detroit, MIDick the Bruiser4February 28, 1961Detroit, MIFritz Von Erich1December 1, 1961Detroit, MIWilbur Snyder51962?Dick the Bruiser5June 2, 1962Detroit, MILord Athol Layton1August 4, 1962?Fritz Von Erich2June 9, 1963Detroit, MILord Athol Layton2July 20, 1963Detroit, MIFritz Von Erich3October 19, 1963Detroit, MIJohnny Valentine1June 13, 1964Detroit, MIThe Sheik1February 6, 1965Detroit, MIBobo Brazil2August 1967?The Sheik2October 1967?Bobo Brazil3July 29, 1971Detroit, MIPampero Firpo1August 12, 1972Detroit, MIBobo Brazil4August 19, 1972Detroit, MIPampero Firpo2October 28, 1972Detroit, MIBobo Brazil5December 23, 1972Detroit, MIThe Sheik3December 30, 1972Detroit, MIBobo Brazil6January 13, 1973Detroit, MIThe Sheik4January 27, 1973Detroit, MIJohnny Valentine2July 7, 1973Detroit, MIThe Sheik5July 21, 1973Detroit, MIJohnny Valentine31973?The Sheik6September 1973?Tony Marino1March 2, 1974Detroit, MIThe Sheik7March 16, 1974Detroit, MIBobo Brazil7January 25, 1975Detroit, MIAwarded after Sheik no-shows multiple title defenses.Abdullah the Butcher1February 8, 1975Detroit, MIBobo Brazil8April 19, 1975Detroit, MIThe Sheik8July 5, 1975Detroit, MIMark Lewin1September 27, 1975Detroit, MI"Bulldog" Don Kent1November 1, 1975Detroit, MIMark Lewin2December 1975?VacatedFebruary 14, 1976Title declared vacant for unknown reasons.Bobo Brazil9April 21, 1976Brazil was awarded the championship when Brute Bernard was unable to compete in a tournament final due to injury.The Sheik9May 15, 1976Detroit, MIPampero Firpo3July 17, 1976Detroit, MIDon Kent2October 16, 1976Detroit, MIGino Hernandez1January 8, 1977Detroit, MIThe Sheik10April 2, 1977Detroit, MIOx Baker1September 1977Detroit, MIThe Sheik11between 1977 & 1980?Mighty Igor1between 1977 & 1980?The Sheik12May 3, 1980Detroit, MITitle RetiredOctober 1980Promotion closes; Sheik takes the belt to International Championship Wrestling (ICW), where it is used as the ICW United States Heavyweight Championship. The Sheik would later claim a splinter version of the Detroit championship in Tri-State Wrestling Alliance in 1991.
See also
National Wrestling Alliance
References