The NWA International Heavyweight Championship was a singles title recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance through its partnership with the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance, and later by All Japan Pro Wrestling. It is one of the three titles unified into the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in 1989. In 1983, Giant Baba would elevate the title further in the eyes of many when he, as the reigning PWF Heavyweight Champion, declared Jumbo Tsuruta to be the new "Ace" of All Japan after Jumbo won the NWA International Heavyweight Championship from Bruiser Brody. Following the withdrawal of All Japan from the NWA, the International title was briefly sanctioned by the Pacific Wrestling Federation until the unification of the Triple Crown could be completed.
Under Rikidōzan the belt had a design similar to Lou Thesz's original NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt during the 1950s, but after Rikidōzan's death, the belt given to Giant Baba had the design seen on the belt part of the Triple Crown until 2013. The original design was later used on the PWF Heavyweight Championship, the UWFI belt (which was the original Lou Thesz belt), and a belt later given to Kazushi Sakuraba for show.
Title history SymbolMeaningNo.The overall championship reignReignThe reign number for the specific wrestler listed.EventThe event in which the championship changed handsN/AThe specific information is not known —Used for vacated reigns in order to not count it as an official reign[Note #]Indicates that the exact length of the title reign is unknown, with a note providing more details. #WrestlerReignDateDays heldLocationEventNotesRef.11N/AN/AThesz was awarded the championship by the NWA after losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Dick Hutton. Houston NWA promoter Morris Sigel claimed that Thesz had won the title by defeating Antonino Rocca in 1949. 2Rikidōzan1Los Angeles, California, United StatesHouse showThesz claims the match was not for the title and continues defending the title in the U.S. and Europe until regaining the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in January 1963. Vacated - -N/AN/AVacated following Rikidōzan's death from stab wounds suffered one week earlier in Tokyo, Japan. 31Osaka, JapanHouse showDefeated Dick the Bruiser for the vacant title.41Nagoya, JapanHouse show 52Tokyo, JapanHouse show 61Osaka, JapanHouse show 73Los Angeles, California, United StatesHouse show Vacated - -N/AN/AVacated when Baba left the Japan Wrestling Association to start All Japan Pro Wrestling. 8 2Yokohama, JapanHouse showDefeated Kintarō Ōki for the vacant title. 91Hiroshima, JapanHouse show Vacated - -N/AN/AAfter the JWA closed in 1973, Ohki took the belt to South Korea from where he defended it. After briefly returning to Japan and making some defenses in IWE, Ohki vacated the title on April 13, 1981 under orders from the NWA. 101Matsudo, JapanInternational Champions Series day 7 Won tournament for the vacant title when Bruiser Brody was injured and unable to wrestle in the finals. Defeated Terry Funk for his first title defense instead. 12Bruiser Brody1Tokyo, JapanGiant Series day 7 132Tokyo, JapanGiant Series day 26 14Bruiser Brody2Osaka, JapanGrand Champion Series day 6 151West Palm Beach, Florida, United StatesTitle reign not recognized in Japan. 163West Palm Beach, Florida, United StatesHouse show 171Tokyo, JapanSuper Power Series day 11 181Tokyo, JapanSummer Action Series day 25Hansen's AWA World Heavyweight Championship was also on line.192Tokyo, JapanGiant Series day 17 20Bruiser Brody3Tokyo, JapanChampion Carnival day 2 213Sendai, JapanChampion Carnival day 20 Unified - -Tokyo, JapanChampion Carnival day 21Tsuruta Unified the title with PWF Heavyweight Championship and NWA United National Championship to create the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship after defeating Stan Hansen
Combined reigns RankWrestlerNo. ofreignsCombined days1 Kintarō Ōki 1 3,0522 Giant Baba 3 2,4563 Jumbo Tsuruta 3 2,0764 Rikidōzan 1 1,9365 Dory Funk, Jr. 3 1,0326 Lou Thesz 1 2997 Stan Hansen 1 828 Bruiser Brody 3 749 Bruce Reed 1 2910 Gene Kiniski 1 1611 Bobo Brazil 2 5
See also List of National Wrestling Alliance championships
Footnotes
References
External links Wrestling-Titles.com