National Wrestling Alliance
World Junior Heavyweight Title



(as of 2025-10-17)

Billy Goelz	1948-07
Has defeated Marshall Estep on 47-10-06 to be recognized as the National Wrestling Alliance champion by Pinkie George in Iowa; George newly founds the National Wrestling Alliance in 48-07 in Waterloo, IA with five other promoters and recognizes Goelz as the first NWA World Junior Heavyweight champion.
Al Williams	1948-08-22	Waterloo, IA
Billy Goelz [2]	1948-09-05	Waterloo, IA
Recognition held up at the NWA convention on 48-09-25.
Leroy McGuirk	1949-12-28	Des Moines, IA
Has won National Wrestling Association title, defeating John Swenski on 39-06-19 in Hollywood, CA; has been officially recognized as the Alliance champion at the annual meeting in 49-11; defeats Goelz on 49-12-28 to "unify" both titles; vacant on 50-02-07 when McGuirk blinded in an auto accident; Goelz continues to defend the title in Illinois and Wisconsin (at least until 51-04); Danny McShain claims the title in Oklahoma in 50-06 and 50-07.
Verne Gagne	1950-11-13	Tulsa, OK
Defeats Sonny Myers in the final of 14-man tournament; also defeats Billy Goelz on 51-04-21 in Milwaukee, WI.
Danny McShain	1951-11-19	Memphis, TN
Unifies the Los Angeles version of the world title, defeating Rito Romero on 52-05-25 in Los Angeles, CA; Red Berry defeats McShain by DQ on 52-11-11 in Dallas, TX and claims the title; Whitey Whittler defeats McShain by DQ on 52-10-17 in Oklahoma City, OK and claims the title; McShain defeats Whittler on 52-11-14 in Oklahoma City, OK and Berry on 52-11-26 in San Antonio, TX and 52-11-27 in Galveston, TX to regain the respective claims.
Baron Michele Leone	1953-08-17	Memphis, TN
Ed Francis	1955-04-11	Tulsa, OK
Mike Clancy	1956-04-10	Tulsa, OK
Fred Blassie #	1957-03-26	Nashville, TN
Title immediately held up.
Mike Clancy [2]	1957-04-09	Nashville, TN
Defeats Blassie in rematch; again held up after the match against Fred Blassie on 57-11-12 in Nashville, TN.
Mike Clancy [3]	1957-11-19	Nashville, TN
Defeats Blassie in rematch.
Angelo Savoldi	1958-02-28	Oklahoma City, OK
Dory Funk Sr.	1958-06-05	Amarillo, TX
Angelo Savoldi [2]	1958-07-11	Oklahoma City, OK
Ivan the Terrible	1959-02-20	Oklahoma City, OK
Angelo Savoldi [3]	1959-03-06	Oklahoma City, OK
Mike DiBiase	1959-05-29	Oklahoma City, OK
Angelo Savoldi [4]	1959-08-21	Oklahoma City, OK
Danny Hodge	1960-07-22	Oklahoma City, OK
Recognized by both the National Wrestling Alliance and National Wrestling Association (The Tennessean, Nashville, TN, 61-02-07); National Wrestling Association continues to recognize the National Wrestling Alliance Title at least until the early 60s.
Hiro Matsuda	1964-07-11	Tampa, FL
Angelo Savoldi [5]	1964-11-13	Oklahoma City, OK
Danny Hodge [2]	1965-04-23	Oklahoma City, OK
Held up in Little Rock, AR after the match against Lorenzo Parente on 65-11-23; Hodge continues to be billed as champion in other towns; title continues to be held up in Little Rock after Hodge defeats Parente via DQ on 65-12-07 and the two wrestle to no contest on 65-12-14 (Charting The Territories).
Danny Hodge [3]	1966-01-04	Little Rock , AR
Wins the third rematch and regains the held-up local recognition.
Lorenzo Parente	1966-01-14	Oklahoma City, OK
Parente wins by forfeit when Hodge collapses during the match.
Joe McCarthy	1966-02-11	Oklahoma City, OK
Danny Hodge [4]	1966-05-03	Little Rock, AR
Assassin #1 (Tom Renesto)	1966-11-05	Oklahoma City, OK
Danny Hodge [5]	1966-12-19	Tulsa, OK
Repeated on 66-12-20 in Little Rock, AR, 66-12-21 in Springfield, MO, and 66-12-22 in Wichita Falls, TX
Mr. Ito (Ueda Umanosuke) #	1970-01-13	Little Rock , AR
Pins Hodge "under questionable conditions" and is awarded the title (Arkansas Democrat, 70-01-13) for ther local recognition only; later held up due to the match being "so filled with confusion" (Arkansas Gazette, 70-02-20); rematch on 70-01-20 is cancelled due to the weather; Hodge defeats Ito via DQ with the reversed decision on 70-01-22 in Wichita Falls, TX to retain the title.
Danny Hodge #	1970-02
Again billed as champion in Little Rock, AR (Arkansas Democrat, 70-02-10).
Sputnik Monroe	1970-07-13	Shreveport, LA
Danny Hodge [6]	1970-08-10	Tulsa, OK
Or 70-09-14 in Shreveport, LA; Monroe continues to be billed as champion in Wichita Falls, TX but the title is held up after a match between Monroe and Hodge on 70-08-13; Hodge wins the rematch for the local recognition on 70-08-20.
Rip Kirby (Roger Kirby)	1971-05-20	Chalmette, LA
In Greenville, MS, the title is locally held up after a match again Tom Jones on 71-06-24 ends as DCO.
Rip Kirby [2]	1971-07-01	Greenville, MS
The match ends as a draw or no contest, but Kirby is again billed as the champion after this match.
Ramon Torres	1971-09-07	Monroe, LA
Substitutes for Danny Hodge and defeats Kirby; most likely repeated on 71-09-10 in Oklahoma City, OK; in Monroe, LA, title is held up after a match against Dr. X on 71-11-30 ends as a no contest; Torres continues to be billed as champion in other towns.
Dr. X (Jim Osborne)	1971-12-03	Oklahoma City, OK
Also defeats Torres to "win" the held-up title in Monroe, LA on 71-12-07.
Danny Hodge [7]	1972-03-20	Shreveport, LA
Wins the title via DQ.
Ken Mantell	1973-12-19	Jackson, MS
Wrestling Pro #	1974-09-17	Mobile, AL
Awarded with a disputed decision; recognized only in the Gulf Coast territory.
Ken Mantell #	1974-11-05	Mobile, AL
Defeats Wrestling Pro in rematch to become the undisputed champion.
Hiro Matsuda [2]	1975-06-14	St. Petersburg, FL
Danny Hodge [8]	1976-03-02	Shreveport, LA
Vacant on 76-03-15 when Hodge retires after suffering a broken neck in an auto accident.
Pat Barrett	1976-09-28	Shreveport, LA
Defeats Nelson Royal in 6-man tournament final.
Ron Starr	1976-12-02	New Orleans, LA
Nelson Royal	1976-12-06	Tulsa, OK
Chavo Guerrero is billed as having defeated Royal for the title in Albuquerque, NM and defends the title in Lubbock, TX on 78-04-07.
Al Madril	1978-06-25	Houston, TX
Nelson Royal [2]	1978-07
Awarded when Madril is too ill (sometime between 78-07-19 and 78-07-23); Royal defends the title in Alberta, CAN in early 79-07 but has been semi-retired by then; a tournament to crown the new champion starts in 79-09; Royal again defends the title for IWE, a non-member promotion in Japan, on 79-10-05 without an NWA approval; Steve Keirn allegedly defeats Chavo Guerrero on 79-12-10 in Los Angeles, CA to be recognized as champion by New Japan, Los Angeles, and Florida, but the version is renamed International Title in 82.
Ron Starr [2]	1980-02-11	Tulsa, OK
Defeats Les Thornton in tournament final.
Les Thornton	1980-03-10
Wins by default when Starr no-shows the scheduled title defense in Tulsa, OK (Tulsa World, 80-03-18).
Jerry Stubbs	1981-01-20	Mobile, AL
Thornton continues to defend the title in Florida.
Les Thornton [2]	1981-01-30	Dothan, AL
Terry Taylor	1981-06-07	Roanoke, VA
Les Thornton [3]	1981-06-20	Roanoke, VA
Jerry Brisco	1981-09-13	Orlando, FL
Les Thornton [4]	1981-10-16	Knoxville, TN
Joe Lightfoot #	1981-11-07	Bayamon, PR
Les Thornton #	1981-11-14	San Juan, PR
Above changes in Puerto Rico may be for WWC World Title.
Tiger Mask (Sayama Satoru)	1982-05-25	Shizuoka, JPN
Also defeats Black Tiger next day in Ōsaka, JPN to win WWF Title; some of North American promoters may declare the title vacant in 82 after Tiger Mask wrestles for WWF; according to New Japan, NWA Board announces that Tiger Mask is still recognized as champion at the annual meeting in 82-08; vacates the title on 83-04-03 after being injured by Dynamite Kid in a tag match on 83-04-01; Dynamite Kid and Kobayashi Kuniaki meet for the vacant title on 83-04-03 in Tōkyō but have no winner decided; Tiger Mask and Dynamite Kid meet for the vacant title on 83-04-21 in Tōkyō but have no winner decided.
Tiger Mask [2]	1983-06-02	Tōkyō, JPN
Defeats Kobayashi Kuniaki; vacates on 83-08-12 upon retirement.
The Cobra (George Takano)	1983-11-03	Tōkyō, JPN
Defeats Davey Boy Smith; Les Thornton starts claiming the title in Georgia later in the same month: Les Thornton [5] # 1983-11   Wins a fictitious tournament in Manila, PHI; vacant in 84-07 when Thornton joins WWF after its takeover of Georgia Championship Wrestling. Hector Guerrero # 1984-07-13 Los Angeles, CA * Wins a tournament. Mike Davis # 1984-10-02 Albuquerque, NM * Denny Brown # 1984-11-22 Greensboro, NC Recognized as the undisputed champion by NWA first vice president Baba Shōhei after The Cobra vacates the title on 85-08-01 (see below).
Hiro Saitō	1985-07-28	Ōsaka, JPN
Wins the title from The Cobra.
The Cobra [2]	1985-07-28	Ōsaka, JPN
Returns later on the same card to challenge Saitō and wins title; also holds WWF Title; vacates on 85-08-01; Koshinaka Shirō defeats The Cobra on 86-02-06 in Tōkyō to be the first IWGP champion.
Denny Brown	1985-08
Has been billed as the champion by Jim Crockett Promotions since 84-11-22 (see above); recognized as the undisputed champion by NWA first vice president Baba Shōhei after The Cobra vacates the title on 85-08-01.
Gary Royal	1985-08-15	St. Louis, MO
Denny Brown [2]	1985-09-21	Atlanta, GA
Steve Regal	1986-08-02	Atlanta, GA
Denny Brown [3]	1986-09-01	Greenville, SC
Lazor-Tron (Hector Guerrero)	1987-03-07	Atlanta, GA
Vacant in 87-10 when Tron leaves JCP.
Nelson Royal [3]	1987-11-17	Columbia, SC
Defeats Denny Brown; takes the title to USA Championship Wrestling in Knoxville in 88-05; some reports say Fuchi Masanobu, recognized as the world champion by All Japan Pro-Wrestling, is briefly billed as NWA champion in 89< after Royal leaves WCW.
Scott Armstrong	1988-07-22	Knoxville, TN
Nelson Royal [4]	1988-07-23	Hazard, KY
Scott Armstrong [2]	1988-07-30?	Chattanooga, TN?
Nelson Royal [5]	1988-08-19	Knoxville, TN
USA promotoin closes in 88-10; Royal promotes ACW in the Carolinas and bills himself as world champion as late as 90-08.
Motegi Masayoshi	1995-08-30	Tōkyō, JPN
Defeats El Hijo del Santo in tournament final when title is revived by NWA.
The Great Sasuke	1996-08-02	Tōkyō, JPN
Ultimo Dragon	1996-10-11	Ōsaka, JPN
Jūshin Thunder Liger	1997-01-04	Tōkyō, JPN
El Samurai	1997-07-06	Sapporo, JPN
Ōtani Shinjirō	1997-08-10	Nagoya, JPN
Vacates on 97-11-05.
Logan Caine	1999-03-05	Parkersburg, WV
Defeats Viper in 4-man tournament final; stripped on 99-10-28 due to a no-show for title defense against Vince Kaplack.
Vince Kaplack	1999-10-28	Pittsburgh, PA
Defeats Chris Hero.
Tony Kozina	2000-01-14	N. Versailles, PA
Rockford 2000	2000-07-22	Surrey, BC, CAN
Tony Kozina [2]	2000-08-30
Awarded after the NWA board reviewing the tapes of the match from 00-08-26.
Vince Kaplack [2]	2000-10-14	Nashville, TN
Rocky Reynolds	2001-04-07	Pennsboro, WV
Mike Thunder	2001-05-04	N. Richland Hills, TX
Lex Lovett	2001-08-21	Tampa, FL
Jason Rumble	2001-10-13	St. Petersburg, FL
Defeats Lovett, Jimmy Rave, Brandon K, and B.J. Turner in a 5-way match.
Rocky Reynolds [2]	2002-02-02	Titusville, PA
Jason Rumble [2]	2002-02-16	Malden, PA
Rocky Reynolds [3]	2002-04-06	Parkersburg, WV
Jimmy Rave	2002-06-29	Cornelia, GA
Defeats Reynolds and Jeremy Lopez in a 3-way match.
Star	2002-08-10	Columbia, TN
Jimmy Rave [2]	2002-08-17	Columbia, TN
Brother Love	2003-01-18	Greenville, MS
Rocky Reynolds [4]	2003-06-07	Parkersburg, WV
Chris Draven	2003-08-02	Parkersburg, WV
Jerrelle Clark	2004-01-10	St. Petersburg, FL
Jason Rumble [3]	2004-10-17	Winnipeg, MB
Defeats Clark and Vance Desmond in a 3-way match.
Black Tiger (Ricky Romero)	2005-08-25	Columbia, TN
Tiger Mask (IV)	2006-02-19	Tōkyō, JPN
A former trainee of Sayama Satoru, the original Tiger Mask.
Mike Quackenbush	2007-05-11	Portage, IN
Craig Classic	2010-11-06	Ft. Pierce, FL
Vacates on 11-07-11 to protest against the decision made by NWA to strip The Shiek off of the World Heavyweight Title; Classic continues to be recognized by Pro Wrestling ZERO1 in Japan as "New Wrestling Alliance" champion.
Kevin Douglas	2011-10-06	Charlotte, NC
Defeats Chase Owens in an 8-man tournament final; stripped on 12-10-13 when Douglas cannot appear on the scheduled title defense due to injury.
Chase Owens	2012-10-13	Kingsport, TN
Defeats Matt Conard and Zac Vincent in 3-way final of 6-man tournament; also defeats Kevin Douglas on 12-11-24 in Rogersville, TN.
Jason Kincaid	2013-08-10	Kingsport, TN
Chase Owens [2]	2013-10-18	Humble, TX
Ricky Morton	2014-01-04	Kingsport, TN
Chase Owens [3]	2014-03-07	Church Hill, TN
Jūshin Thunder Liger [2]	2014-11-08	Ōsaka, JPN
Steve Anthony	2015-04-13	Las Vegas, NV
Tiger Mask (IV) [2]	2015-09-23	Okayama, JPN
Steve Anthony [2]	2016-03-19	Nagoya, JPN
John Saxon	2016-07-09	Pensacola, FL
Arrick Andrews	2017-04-08	Dyersburg, TN
Mr. USA	2017-05-19	Franklin, KY
Barrett Brown (Americos)	2017-08-12	Dyersburg, TN
NWA terminates the contracts with its licensees on 17-09-30; Brown also wins AWGP Cruiserweight Title, defeating Estrella Galactica in a double title match on 17-11-04 in Longview, TX; still claims the title as of 18-08-12 but is introduced as a former champion during the NWA 70th Anniversary broadcasting on 18-10-21.
Homicide	2020-03-20	Nashville, TN
Defeats Austin Aries, Darius Lockhart, and Colby Corino in the tournament 4-way final.
Kerry Morton	2022-11-12	Chalmette, LA
Colby Corino	2023-08-26	St. Louis, MO
Joe Alonzo	2024-03-02	Dothan, AL
Alex Taylor	2024-06-28	Highland Park, IL
Slade (Spencer Slade)	2025-10-17	Atlanta, GA

* Thanks to Kriss Knights for the additional information.

The Records of the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title Matches
(1948 ~ 1988)

World Junior Heavyweight Championship Tournament
Tulsa, Oklahoma ~ 1950

"The History of the World's Junior Heavyweight Championship"
by Leroy McGuirk
Wrestling Monthly, November, 1971