Issue 77 (July 1st, 2025) A Brief History of all the United States Championships of the Territories, Harley Race named first NWA US Champion, MORE
Welcome to the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Daily Chronicle. The daily habit for an injection of significant events that happened on this day and relative time frames in Pro Wrestling History.
July 1st in the Time Tunnel:
Good morning pro wrestling history enthusiast!
Today in our issue of the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Daily Chronicle, I will give a brief history of each regional title named the United States Championship, the North American Championship, the Americas & American title, the National title and more. How they came to be, who the first champions were and some other notable wrestlers and what eventually happened to the championship.
The reason I’m breaking this all down is because this is the day 50 years ago, Harley Race was named the first NWA United States Heavyweight Champion for the new title in the Mid-Atlantic Territory. We’ll get into all of it today as soon as we pay our respects in our Birthday and RIP Salute lists.
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Dr Benjamin Roller 1876
Edward Wollinski\The Original Great Mephisto 1914
Tosh Togo\Harold Sakata 1920
Mike LeBell 1930
Bill Bowman 1933
Jumping Joey Maggs 1969
Joseph Hudson\Josephus\Question Mark 1977
Happy Birthday:
Tom Magee (67)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Stan Frazier 7-1-1992 at the age of 54
George "Crybaby" Cannon 7-1-1994 at the age of 62
Michiharu Sadano\Toyonbori 7-1-1998 at the age of 67
Jacques Rougeau, Sr 7-1-2019 at the age of 89
Select Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Match and Event Flashbacks
50-Year Flashback: 1975
7-1-1985: Harley Race was awarded the newly created NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
I have it on my project list to create a feature around the various NWA United States Titles in the future. For now, let's just quickly and briefly re-cap a complicated title history. I thought besides the US Title, I would make a list and short history for you for the North American Titles as well, since they were all the top singles titles in their respective territories.
A short and brief history of each NWA United States and top Regional Territory Title in the NWA
The Original NWA United States Heavyweight Title (Chicago-Detroit)
In September 1953, the National Wrestling Alliance created the United States Heavyweight Title for Verne Gagne. Gagne was one of the most well-known stars of the wrestling scene during the golden age of television. Lou Thesz, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion had refused to lose the World Title to Gagne because he thought Gagne was too small to be believable and credible as a heavyweight, Gagne had held the World Junior Title and Thesz thought that division was more of a fit for Gagne than the heavyweight division. Nevertheless, Gagne was a star and he and Thesz had a couple of television matches that were classics,
In order to emphasize Gagne's television appeal, the membership of the NWA had voted to call Gagne's title, The NWA United States Television Championship, due to his popularity on the tube. The title was booked and controlled by Jim Barnett, who worked as a booker in Fred Kohler's office in Chicago.
Gagne held the title until dropping it to Wilbur Snyder on April 7th, 1956, in Chicago. The title stayed in Chicago until 1958 when Barnett was running Cincinnati, Ohio and he had the champion, Snyder, who was on his 3rd run with the belt (coincidentally Gagne had the title twice and Snyder beat him for it both times) was bested by Angelo Poffo on television in Cincinnati on December 27th, which led an amazing run by Barnett and Johnny Doyle's newly created World Championship Wrestling company in the United States.
At this point, the title was no longer controlled by the Kohler company in Chicago but rather Barnett and Doyle's company, centered around Detroit, Michigan. This title was the United States Title that ended up in the hands of Ed Farhat, The Sheik and his famous feuds with Bobo Brazil.
The NWA United States Heavyweight Title (WWWF)
During the time that Vince J. McMahon was the booker of Buddy Rogers and they were a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, there was another situation where you had an up and comer vying for the World Heavyweight Title, but the Championship Committee of the NWA was not convinced of Rogers' ability as champion, so the NWA United States Championship was again created, this time for the WWWF office and for Buddy Rogers, who held the title from 1960 to 1961, then he vacated the US Title when he was finally approved by the championship committee to defeat Pat O'Connor for the World Title. The WWWF subsequently re-established the title as its own WWWF US Title from 1963 to 1976.
The NWA United States Heavyweight Title (Central States)
After Pat O'Connor lost the NWA World Title to Buddy Rogers in late June of 1961, an NWA United States Heavyweight Title was established for the Kansas City office, and O'Connor was its first title holder. O'Connor held the title the first time until July 5th, 1962, which will come up again in the July 5ht edition of the Daily Chronicle when we discuss Johnny Valentine's victory over Harley Race for the US Title, both having taken place in Greensboro Coliseum, 14 years apart. The Central States version of the United States title had several distinguished champions including Sonny Myers, Bob Geigel, Bob Orton, The Lawman Don Slatton, Bobby Shane, The Destroyer, Dick Beyer, Dick Murdoch and the final title holder, The Viking in 1970.
The NWA United States Heavyweight Title (San Francisco)
This version of the championship was originally an American Wrestling Alliance title in November of 1960 with Ray Stevens as the top singles star and title holder but was renamed in 1968 as an NWA Title. King Curtis Iaukea was the first NWA United States Champion in the San Francisco office followed by Ray Stevens, Pat Patterson several times, Paul DeMarco, The Great Mephisto, Moondog Mayne, Angelo Mosca, The Brute (Bugsy McGraw) and others. Pat Patterson is the all-time leader in title reigns with this title, holding a total of 6 times during his various runs on the West Coast, this title was retired when the Big Time Wrestling booking office closed in San Francisco in January 1981.
The NWA United States Heavyweight Title (Dallas)
When Fritz Von Erich took over the booking office in Dallas, Texas he created a version of this title for his Territory, mainly for himself to hold as the area's top singles champion. In May 1968, he renamed it the NWA American Heavyweight Title. Fritz held the title through the 60's and 70s dropping it occasionally to Johnny Valentine, The Spoiler and Brute Bernard. After he had renamed his promotion World Class Championship Wrestling and he pulled out of the NWA in 1986, he re-named the title, the World Class Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship. The title was unified by with Jerry Lawler's AWA World Heavyweight Title when Lawler defeated Kerry Von Erich, who was the World Class titleholder. Then, the title was again re-naming the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship until 1997.
The United States Heavyweight Championship (Los Angeles)
This version of the title in the NWA Hollywood office was the top singles title for the promotion starting in 1968 and it was called the NWA Americas Heavyweight Title. It's first champion was Pampero Firpo, who in storyline defeated Coloso Colosetti in a match in Mexico which was a kayfabe match that never took place. Firpo was defeated by Iron Mike DiBiase on June 16, 1967, in Los Angeles for the championship. There were many great Americas Champions including Mark Lewin, Freddie Blassie, Mil Mascaras, The Sheik, Rocky Johnson, John Tolos, Terry Funk, Roddy Piper, Ernie Ladd, Chavo Guerrero and Greg Valentine among others.
The United States Heavyweight Championship (Stampede)
Stu Hart was the promoter and owner of the NWA booking office in Calgary, Alberta and he created his version of a continental title called the North American Title in February 1968 and names Pat O'Connor as the initial champion. He is defeated by Archie Gouldie who trades the belt a couple times with Stan Stasiak. Several great North American Champions including Angelo Mosca, Abdullah the Butcher, Les Thornton, Black Angus Campbell, John Quinn, Tor Kamata, Geoff Portz, Dan Kroffat, Larry Lane and others. Almost one of the longest running title lineages in the history of pro wrestling with the last direct line titleholder being Larry Cameron, who held the North American Title when the promotion closed in December 1989.
The United States Heavyweight Championship (Ohio-Buffalo)
The North American Title for the Cleveland, Ohio office of the National Wrestling Alliance would eventually transition to Buffalo and become the National Wrestling Federation (NWF). Johnny Powers who was always a lead performer for this office and territory was the first champion. Others included Antonina Rocca, Hans Schmidt, Bulldog Brower, Ernie Ladd, Waldo Von Erich and others. It became the North American Title under the NWF in 1970, and which closed in 1974 with Powers as the last champion. The NWF ended up with its own World title which made its way to Japan after being purchased by Antonio Inoki.
The United States Heavyweight Championship (Maritimes)
The Cormier family were the promoters of the Canadian Maritimes provincial area and in 1969 they established a North American Championship for their promotion with The Beast (Yvon Cormier) as the first champion followed by The Stomper (Archie Gouldie), Bobo Brazil, another Cormier brother, Leo Burke, Killer Karl Krupp and others. The title lasts through different versions of the promotional and different affiliations with governing bodies besides the NWA. It was passed around in kind of a convoluted way with different unification matches until it's end in 1984.
The United States Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii)
This version of the championship was held first by Nick Bockwinkel in 1962 and was eventually re-named the North American Title in 1968. Bockwinkel was defeated in June of 1962 by a young Curtis Iaukea, who had a few months run with it until November of that year losing it to Billy White Wolf briefly before regaining it for another long run to July of 1963. During Iaukea's third reign an interesting thing happens in a match with Luther Lindsay on June 24th, 1964. Lindsay defeats Iaukea by referee's decision after the match ends at the one-hour time limit, which technically is a draw under NWA rules. But the referee declared Lindsay the champion and awarded him the title. The Promoter the next day made an announcement. the title could not change hands on a time limit draw and the referee was not authorized to make such a decision and the title was given back to Curtis Iaukea.
Jim Hady defeated Ray Stevens for the US. Title on June 12th, 1968, and he was the last US Champion in Hawaii as the title was re-named the North American Heavyweight Title. The North American champions included Professor Toru Tanaka, Gene Kiniski, Pedro Morales Johnny Barend, Sam Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes and other top names. The North American title in Hawaii was again re-named as a local regional title, the NWA Pacific International Heavyweight Title in 1978 with Big John Studd as its first holder.
The United States Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo)
This version of the title was created in 1957 by Doc Sarpolis to be the top singles championship in the Amarillo, Texas based Western State Sports promotion and was defended across West Texas and New Mexico. It was called the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship. It's first title holder was the flamboyant Dizzy Davis who defeated a wrestler who came into town named Jim Wright, who had never been seen before or since. Such is pro wrestling. Dory Funk, Sr, Mike DiBiase and Bulldog Danny Plechas had a major feud over the title from 1957 through 1959. Funk was a perennial challenger and holder of the title until 1969 when it became the NWA Western States Heavyweight Title, which was more representative of the region occupied by the booking office. Also, just to note, there was also a great feud over this title between Funk, Sr and Buddy Rogers in 1957 and 1958, which was interesting a year or two as Funk and Rogers were both making overtures to become Pat O'Connor's successor to the NWA World Title in 1961.
The United States Heavyweight Championship (Tulsa)
This title was created for LeRoy McGuirk's office in Oklahoma to be the top singles title for the heavyweight division in 1969. McGuirk's office had been and continued to be the office that booked the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title's schedule and matches. This new title would be called the NWA Tri-State North American Heavyweight Title but was supposedly like some of the others covering the competition across the continental US, but really it was a regional championship for the Tulsa territory. The first champion was Chuck Karbo who allegedly won a tournament in Los Angeles to become the first champion in June and was defeated by Danny Hodge in August in Little Rock, Arkansas. Hodge and Kardo then had a program and traded the belt a couple of times until Tarzan Baxter entered the picture in October to break up the Karbo-Hodge hold on the belt. We covered the Bill Watts reigns with the title from 1970 through 1975 recently in an issue of the Daily Chronicle.
This title has a bit of a complicated history as Watts took the title with him when he went to Georgia and Florida and booked the title in that area while he was the creative director there putting the belt on Bob Armstrong and Buddy Colt, while McGuirk continued with his version of the title during the same time frame with champions like Bull Ramos, Armand Hussien and Skandor Akbar. When Watts broke away from McGuirk and formed Mid-South Wrestling, he took the championship with him but pulled his part of the promotion out if the NWA and just called the title the Mid-South North American Championship. Mike George was the first Mid-South champ in September 1979.
The United States Heavyweight Championship (National-Georgia)
When Jim Barnett and his partners, the Brisco Brothers decided to move beyond the Georgia borders, it only made sense that the old NWA Georgia Heavyweight Title was limiting in geographic presence. Buddy Colt, who I believe if not for the horrible plane accident in 1975 would have been the next NWA World Champion really took the Georgia Title to another level during his time in the Peach state. I mentioned this on an upcoming podcast show with Tim Dills regarding Tennessee and the changing of the Tennessee Tag Team Titles to the Southeastern Tag Titles, I understand why they did it and at the same time, I feel like promotions who wanted to "get bigger" with bigger more expanded area titles really lost a connection with the fans of the local area who spent years supporting and cheering for that state and city champion.
They decided to unify the Georgia Championship and the new expanded area National Heavyweight Title to help connect with the wider broadcast area of TBS into Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia which does make sense, I'm just not sure why they couldn't have kept the Georgia Title for the Georgia loop, which is essentially what Crockett did when they bought Ole's company in 1985, until they decided to unify it with the United States Title in a match between NWA National Champion Wahoo McDaniel and the United States Champion, Nikita Koloff, which Koloff won and the National Title was retired. I loved that National belt which was essentially the same design as the World Television Title except instead of red and silver, the National title was black and gold.
The United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic)
Pictured: Harley Race, the first Mid-Atlantic Territory NWA United States Heavyweight Champion named on July 1st, 1975
As you can see, there were several singles titles positioned in territories all around the world recognized as such by the National Wrestling Alliance, some were called the US Title and some were called the North American Title, which brings us to the Mid-Atlantic version of the United States Heavyweight Title.
Because of its exposure on WTBS in the mid-1980s, this is the United States Title most fans today even know much about and because its lineage is still being propagated through its current existence in the WWE.
I am only going to cover its inception because in just a few days in 1975, its going to change hands for the very first time from its first champion to its second. Johnny Valentine who set new standards in the Mid-Atlantic Territory with his Mid-Atlantic Championship reign, lost the title on June 29th, as we covered with Wahoo McDaniel.
The new United States Title in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling was given to Harley Race to be its inaugural champion. Race, who was the booker for Eddie Graham in Florida at the time and now I will give you some assumptive thinking on my part as to why a guy outside the territory was chosen. Harley Race, as I mentioned was working for Eddie Graham was a former short term NWA World Champion, being the "mailman" between Dory Funk, Jr and Jack Brisco. Graham and Jim Barnett were partners with each other in Florida and Georgia. They were aligned with bordering Jim Crockett Promotions, owner and President Jim Crockett, Jr. I believe Graham, Barnett and Crockett were in agreement that Race was going to be the next NWA World Champion. They were not aware of the push Dory Funk Jr was going to make for his brother Terry Funk to become champion at the NWA Annual meeting in just a month.
What better way to kick off a new major singles title in the Carolinas than to have the guy who will become NWA Champion in a few months to be the first champion, so when he loses it to the top contender in the territory it will create an automatic program to sell tickets when the champion comes through. The second reason I believe that is at the championship committee meeting, all three of them voted for Race. If they had known that Race was not going to be champion and Terry was, they would have made Terry the first US champion for the reasons I mentioned.
What's the third reason I believe that? After the vote is taken at the August NWA meeting and its decided Terry is going to be champion succeeding Brisco, Terry gets the US belt in Crockett Country for the logic of building a program when he comes back that I laid out.
Everyone thought King Johnny Valentine's time as the leading man in the Mid-Atlantic territory was over but he's about to have the last laugh, as he is going to defeat Harley Race for the new NWA United States Heavyweight Title, which is going to replace his former championship as the #1 championship in the Mid-Atlantic region.
One Thing I Learned Today About Pro Wrestling History:
The longest reigning United States Heavyweight Champion is Lex Luger at 523 days and the wrestler with the most United States Title reigns is Ric Flair with 6. There have been 105 different US champions.
Thank You for Reading
I'm Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
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