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WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the championship that was in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, now WWE) from 1960 until 1976. For the championship currently defended in WWE, see WWE United States Championship.
WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship
One version of the belt that represented the championship in the 1960s and 1970s
Details
PromotionWorld Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF)
Date establishedApril 20, 1960
Date retiredMarch 1, 1976
Other name(s)
  • NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Northeast version)
    (1960–1961)
Statistics
First champion(s)Buddy Rogers
Final champion(s)Bobo Brazil
Most reignsBobo Brazil
(7 reigns)
Longest reignBobo Brazil
(1,837 days)
Shortest reignThe Sheik
(21 days)
Oldest championBobo Brazil
(46 years, 225 days)
Youngest championPedro Morales
(28 years, 77 days)
Heaviest championBobo Brazil
(270lb (122kg))
Lightest championJohnny Barend
(230lb (100kg))

The WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship was a singles title used sporadically in the World Wide Wrestling Federation between 1960 and 1976. During the variable periods in which it was used, the title served as the promotion's secondary singles championship to the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship. Three years after the title was retired for good, it was replaced by the WWF North American Heavyweight Championship as the promotion's secondary title.

History

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Prior to the Capitol Wrestling Corporation leaving the National Wrestling Alliance and becoming the WWWF, the company hosted a version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship for several months in 1960-1961. The only known holder of this title was Buddy Rogers, who vacated the title upon winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Pat O'Connor in Chicago in June 1961.[1]

This title has no connection to the current WWE United States Championship and WWE Women's United States Championship, the lineage of which dates back to the NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Championship originally created in 1975 in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.

Reigns

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Over the championship's 15-year history, there have been 14 reigns between six champions and three vacancies. Buddy Rogers was the inaugural champion. Bobo Brazil held the record for most reigns at seven times, as well being the last champion. Brazil's seventh reign is the longest at 1,837 days, while The Sheik's second reign is the shortest at 21 days. Brazil was the oldest champion at 46 years old, while Pedro Morales was the youngest at 28 years old.

Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
1 Buddy Rogers April 20, 1960 — — 1 436 Rogers was recognized as the inaugural holder of the Northeast version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. Defended the title against Arnold Skaaland on this day on a card in Bridgeport, Connecticut. [1]
— Vacated June 30, 1961 — — — — Buddy Rogers vacated the championship after defeating Pat O'Connor for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
2 Bobo Brazil April 6, 1963 House Show California 1 63 The championship was renamed to the WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship during this reign. [2][1]
3 Johnny Barend June 8, 1963 House Show Philadelphia, PA 1 31   [2][1]
4 Bobo Brazil July 9, 1963 House Show Philadelphia, PA 2 64   [2][1]
5 Johnny Barend September 11, 1963 House Show Landover, MD 2 41   [2][1]
6 Bobo Brazil October 22, 1963 House Show Quakertown, PA 3 1,335   [2][1]
7 Ray Stevens June 18, 1967 House Show [Note 1] 1 67   [2][1]
8 Bobo Brazil August 24, 1967 House Show Trenton, NJ 4 29   [2][1]
9 The Sheik September 22, 1967 House Show Detroit, MI 1 429   [2][1]
10 Bobo Brazil November 24, 1968 House Show [Note 1] 5 57   [2][1]
11 The Sheik January 20, 1969 House Show Boston, MA 2 21   [2][1]
12 Bobo Brazil February 10, 1969 House Show Washington D.C. 6 687   [2][1]
— Vacated December 29, 1970 — — — — The championship was vacated after Bobo Brazil sustained an injury. [2][1]
13 Pedro Morales January 7, 1971 House Show Los Angeles, CA 1 32 Defeated Freddie Blassie in a tournament final to win the vacant championship. [2][1]
— Vacated February 8, 1971 — — — — Pedro Morales vacated the championship after winning the WWWF Championship. [2][1]
14 Bobo Brazil February 19, 1971 House Show Harrisburg, PA 7 1,837 Brazil was awarded the title by the WWWF. [2][1]
— Deactivated March 1, 1976 — — — — Bobo Brazil was the final champion after the WWWF abandoned the title on March 1, 1976. Seven weeks later on April 21, Brazil won the NWA Detroit version of the title. [2][1]

Combined reigns

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Record seven-time and longest reigning champion, Bobo Brazil
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns 		Combined
days
1 Bobo Brazil 7 4,072
2 The Sheik 2 450
3 Buddy Rogers 1 436
4 Johnny Barend 2 72
5 Ray Stevens 1 67
6 Pedro Morales 1 32

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b The location of the championship change has not been found documented.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "United States Heavyweight Title - World Wide Wrestling Federation ( 1963 - 1970s ) World Wrestling Entertainment ( 2003/07 - )". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (1994). "United States: 19th Century & Widely defended Titles - NWA, WWF, AWA, IWA, ECW, NWA WWWF United States Heavyweight Title [McMahon]". Wrestling Title Histories (3 ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 27. ISBN 0-9698161-1-1.
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