American Wrestling Association
AWA World Heavyweight Championship
WON BY
Pat O'Connor
DATE
May 18, 1960
LOCATION
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
*As the reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Pat O'Connor was recognized as the first AWA - American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion, but was given 90 days to defend the title against Verne Gagne or be stripped of it
**Stripped of the championship on August 16, 1960, for failing to meet the 90 day deadline
Verne Gagne
August 16, 1960
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
*Awarded the vacant title
Gene Kiniski
Verne Gagne (2)
Bill Miller
Verne Gagne (3)
The Crusher
Verne Gagne (4)
Fritz Von Erich
Verne Gagne (5)
The Crusher (2)
Verne Gagne (6)
Mad Dog Vachon
Verne Gagne (7)
Mad Dog Vachon (2)
Igor Vodik
Mad Dog Vachon (3)
The Crusher (3)
Mad Dog Vachon (4)
Dick the Bruiser
Mad Dog Vachon (5)
Verne Gagne (8)
Dr. X
Verne Gagne (9)
Nick Bockwinkel
Verne Gagne (10)
July 11, 1961
August 8, 1961
January 9, 1962
August 21, 1962
July 9, 1963
July 20, 1963
July 27, 1963
August 8, 1963
November 16, 1963
December 14, 1963
May 2, 1964
May 16, 1964
October 20, 1964
May 15, 1965
May 22, 1965
August 21, 1965
November 12, 1965
November 12, 1966
November 19, 1966
February 26, 1967
August 17, 1968
August 31, 1968
November 8, 1975
July 18, 1980
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Amarillo, Texas, USA
St. Paul, MInnesota, USA
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Denver, Colorado, USA
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Chicago, Illinois, USA
*Vacated the title on May 19, 1981, upon his retirement
Nick Bockwinkel (2)
May 19, 1981
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
*Awarded the vacant title
Otto Wanz
Nick Bockwinkel (3)
Jumbo Tsuruta
Rick Martel
Stan Hansen
Nick Bockwinkel (4)
Curt Hennig
Jerry Lawler
August 29, 1982
October 9, 1982
February 22, 1984
May 13, 1984
December 29, 1985
June 28, 1986
May 2, 1987
May 9, 1988
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Tokyo, Japan
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
Denver, Colorado, USA
San Francisco, California, USA
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
*Stripped of the title on January 20, 1989, when the CWA split from the AWA
Larry Zbyszko
February 7, 1989
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
*Last eliminated Tom Zenk in a 20-man battle royal to win the vacant title
Mr. Saito
Larry Zbyszko (2)
February 10, 1990
April 8, 1990
Tokyo, Japan
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
*Vacated the title on December 12, 1990, when he left the AWA
**The championship was deactivated on January 12, 1991, after the AWA went out of business