Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the wrestler has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes are not known.
*
If used next to the names of the wrestlers, they may, in fact, not have held the title in the period indicated. If used next to the dates or places, either they are possibly wrong or the title changes are fictitious.
<
Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a wrestler held the title at a certain time but not when he/she won it.
+
Broadcast date; the actual recording date is unknown.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
#
Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the wrestler shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are also italicized in HTML files
Empire State Wrestling
Heavyweight Title (as of 2026-05-08)
Scott Davidson
2002
Awarded as the first champion when the promotion starts; vacates on 02-08-04 due to injury.
Steve Davidson
2002-08-04
Niagara Falls, NY
Defeats Jonny Puma.
Jonny Puma
2003-01-11
Sanborn, NY
Mastiff (Will Calrissian)
2003-10-04
N. Tonawanda, NY
Jonny Puma [2]
2004-08-21
Niagara Falls, NY
Damien Alexander
2005-04-23
N. Tonawanda, NY
Will Christiansen (Mastiff) [2]
2005-11-26
Niagara Falls, NY
Title inactive after 06 when ESW becomes NWA Empire.
Kevin Grace
2009-04-04
Niagara Falls, NY
Wins 4-way elimination match against Jonny Puma, Chris Cooper, and Will Calrissian when the promotion restarts.
Chris Cooper
2010-04-10
N. Tonawanda, NY
Brandon Thurston
2011-06-04
N. Tonawanda, NY
Asylum
2012-01-21
N. Tonawanda, NY
Brandon Thurston [2]
2012-04-13
N. Tonawanda, NY
Blackjack Phoenix
2012-10-06
Lockport, NY
Chris Cooper [2]
2013-06-01
N. Tonawanda, NY
Bill Collier
2014-11-22
Lockport, NY
Will Calrissian
2015-08-22
N. Tonawanda, NY
Cashes in his Ilio DiPaolo Cup during Collier vs Chris Hero match and pins Collier.
Bill Collier [2]
2016-08-20
N. Tonawanda, NY
R.J. City
2017-05-20
N. Tonawanda, NY
Kevin Bennett
2017-11-25
Niagara Falls, NY
Defeats City and Braxton Sutter in a 3-way match.
Pepper Parks
2018-05-19
N. Tonawanda, NY
Brandon Thurston
2019-01-19
N. Tonawanda, NY
Daniel Garcia
2019-06-29
N. Tonawanda, NY
Kevin Blackwood
2021-11-27
Niagara Falls, NY
Kevin Bennett [2]
2022-10-08
Buffalo, NY
Defeats Blackwood and Vince Valor in a 3-way match.
Matt Cardona
2023-05-13
Buffalo, NY
Kevin Bennett [3]
2023-05-13
Buffalo, NY
Vince Valor
2023-11-17
Buffalo, NY
Bill Collier [3]
2024-01-19
Buffalo, NY
Attacks Valor during his championship address and claims the title; Valor is out indefinitely and is expected to miss several months of action; still champion as of 14-05-18.
Vince Valor [2]
2024-11-22
Buffalo, NY
Gregory Iron
2025-11-21
Buffalo, NY
Defeats Valor, John McChesney, and Gavin Glass in a 4-way match.