AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
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The AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship was a title in the American Wrestling Association from 1981 until it closed in 1991. Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling claimed the title in 1990 and used it until 1993 but the AWA never recognized their champions. They each had their own AWA Light Heavyweight Champions until the AWA closed in 1991.
The title was revived in 1996 by AWA Superstars, but wasn't known as a World Title until 2005.
Contents |
[edit] Title history
[edit] AWA
Champions recognized by the AWA.
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Graham | 1 | June 1981 | Graham was awarded the title. | |
| Buck Zumhofe | 1 | June 19, 1983 | Hamburg, Minnesota | Bobby Heenan defeated Zumhofe several times but was over the Light Heavyweight weight limit. |
| Steve Regal | 1 | March 25, 1984 | St. Paul, Minnesota | |
| Buck Zumhofe | 2 | November 28, 1985 | St. Paul, Minnesota | |
| Title vacated | July 1986 | The title was vacated when Zumhofe was sent to prison. | ||
| Mike Graham | 2 | 1988 | Graham was awarded the title. | |
| Title vacated | 1990 | Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling claimed the championship in December 1988. See listing of FMW branch below. | ||
| Buck Zumhofe | 3 | August 11, 1990 | Rochester, Minnesota | Defeated Johnny Stewart to win the vacant title. |
| Title retired | January 1991 | Title retired when the AWA closed. | ||
| Kirby Mack | 1 | July 30, 2005 | Burlington, North Carolina | Defeated Shannon Moore in a tournament final after the title is reactivated by AWA Superstars of Wrestling. |
| Xsiris | 1 | September 8, 2005 | Charleston, West Virginia | AWA President Dale Gagne counted Mack's shoulders for three when the referee was knocked out. Gagne announced Xsiris as champion on September 27, 2005. Mack continued to claim he was still champion. |
| T.J. Mack | 1 | December 2, 2006 | Burlington, North Carolina | Defeated Xsiris and Kirby Mack in a ladder match to become undisputed champion. |
| Kirby Mack | 2 | January 7, 2007 | Pottstown, Pennsylvania | Defeated T.J. Mack, Shane Hagadorn, Pelle Primeau, Alex Payne, and Rhett Titus. |
[edit] FMW branch
Champions recognized by FMW, which are not recognized by the AWA.
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Backlund | 1 | December 1988 | Tampa, Florida | Recognized as champion by FMW and possibly did defeat AWA champion Mike Graham to win the title. |
| Lee Gak Soo | 1 | April 1, 1990 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Title vacated | September 1990 | Title vacated when Lee Gak Soo quit FMW. | ||
| Katsuji Ueda | 1 | September 25, 1990 | Nagoya, Japan | Defeated Jim Backlund to win the vacant title. |
| Jim Backlund | 2 | November 5, 1990 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Ricky Fuji | 1 | May 29, 1991 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Mark Starr | 1 | August 24, 1991 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Katsuji Ueda | 2 | August 31, 1991 | Chiba, Japan | |
| Dr. Luther | 1 | March 23, 1992 | Saitama, Japan | Title renamed WWA World Martial Arts Junior Heavyweight Championship in April 1992. |
| Katsuji Ueda | 3 | September 7, 1992 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Title abandoned | 1993 | |||
