# NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship

The NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling heavyweight championship in Tri-States Wrestling (NWA Tri-State). The original version was created in 1954, however, it was phased out in favor of the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
The Alabama version of the NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship existed from 1960 until 1974. It was defended primarily in Alabama under the banner of NWA Tri-State Wrestling, and at times in Tennessee for NWA Mid-America. Because the championship was a professional wrestling championship, it was not won or lost competitively but instead by the decision of the bookers of a wrestling promotion. The championship was awarded after the chosen team "won" a match to maintain the illusion that professional wrestling is a competitive sport.
The title was revived to replace the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship as the promotion's top singles title after Bill Watts left to form Mid-South Wrestling in 1979. It was vacated and decommissioned when Tri-State promoter Leroy McGuirk closed the promotion in 1982.

## Title history
### Key

| Symbol | Meaning |
| # | The overall championship reign |
| Reign | The reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed. |
| Event | The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the title changed hands |
| — | Used for vacated reigns in order to not count it as an official reign |
| | Indicates periods of unknown lineage |
| (NLT) | Indicates that the championship changed hands "No Later Than" a certain date. |
| ¤ | Indicates that the data presented in this cell is uncertain. |

## Names

| Name | Years |
| NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship | March 31, 1954 – April 28, 1954 |
| NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Alabama version) | September 12, 1960 – October 3, 1974 |
| NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship | September 7, 1980 – 1982 |
| NWA-MCW Heavyweight Championship | 1982 – March 1982 |

## Title history
### NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Original version)

Key :
| No. | Overall reign number |
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Championship change | Championship change | Reign statistics | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. |
| No. | Champion | Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Notes | Ref. |
| 1 | Whitey Whittler | March 31, 1954 | House show | Joplin, MO | 1 | 28 | Defeated Red Berry in a tournament final. | |
| 2 | Red Berry | April 28, 1954 | House show | Joplin, MO | 1 | | | |

### NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Alabama version)

Key :
| No. | Overall reign number |
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Championship change | Championship change | Reign statistics | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. |
| No. | Champion | Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Notes | Ref. |
| 1 | Joe Scarpa | September 12, 1960 | Tri-State show | Memphis, Tennessee | 1 | | Defeated Mario Galento in tournament final to become the first champion. | |
| | Championship history is unrecorded from September 12, 1960 to September 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 12, 1960 to September 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 12, 1960 to September 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 12, 1960 to September 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 12, 1960 to September 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 12, 1960 to September 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 12, 1960 to September 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 12, 1960 to September 1971 (NLT). |
| 2 | Jerry Lawler | September 1971 (NLT) | Tri-State show | | 1 | | Won a battle royal, last eliminating Jimmy Golden. | |
| | Championship history is unrecorded from September 1971 (NLT) to October 29, 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 1971 (NLT) to October 29, 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 1971 (NLT) to October 29, 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 1971 (NLT) to October 29, 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 1971 (NLT) to October 29, 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 1971 (NLT) to October 29, 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 1971 (NLT) to October 29, 1971 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from September 1971 (NLT) to October 29, 1971 (NLT). |
| 3 | Jimmy Golden | October 29, 1971 (NLT) | Tri-State show | | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Tony Russo | November 5, 1971 | Tri-State show | Gadsden, Alabama | 1 | 20 | | |
| 5 | Gary Martin | November 25, 1971 | Tri-State show | Anniston, Alabama | 1 | | | |
| 6 | Tony Russo | December 1971 (NLT) | Tri-State show | | 2 | | | |
| 7 | The Golden Hawk | December 16, 1971 | Tri-State show | Anniston, Alabama | 1 | | Still billed as champion on January 6, 1972 | |
| | Championship history is unrecorded from December 16, 1971 to March 16, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 16, 1971 to March 16, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 16, 1971 to March 16, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 16, 1971 to March 16, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 16, 1971 to March 16, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 16, 1971 to March 16, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 16, 1971 to March 16, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 16, 1971 to March 16, 1972 (NLT). |
| 8 | Buddy Wayne | March 16, 1972 (NLT) | Tri-State show | | 1 | | | |
| 9 | Jimmy Golden | April 6, 1972¤ | Tri-State show | Anniston, Alabama¤ | 2 | | Still champion as of 72/06/08 | |
| | Championship history is unrecorded from April 6, 1972¤ to October 5, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from April 6, 1972¤ to October 5, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from April 6, 1972¤ to October 5, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from April 6, 1972¤ to October 5, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from April 6, 1972¤ to October 5, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from April 6, 1972¤ to October 5, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from April 6, 1972¤ to October 5, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from April 6, 1972¤ to October 5, 1972 (NLT). |
| 10 | Ramon Perez | October 5, 1972 (NLT) | Tri-State show | | 1 | | | |
| | Championship history is unrecorded from October 5, 1972 (NLT) to December 21, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from October 5, 1972 (NLT) to December 21, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from October 5, 1972 (NLT) to December 21, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from October 5, 1972 (NLT) to December 21, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from October 5, 1972 (NLT) to December 21, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from October 5, 1972 (NLT) to December 21, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from October 5, 1972 (NLT) to December 21, 1972 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from October 5, 1972 (NLT) to December 21, 1972 (NLT). |
| 11 | Tony Russo | December 21, 1972 (NLT) | Tri-State show | | 3 | | | |
| | Championship history is unrecorded from December 21, 1972 (NLT) to January 26, 1973 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 21, 1972 (NLT) to January 26, 1973 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 21, 1972 (NLT) to January 26, 1973 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 21, 1972 (NLT) to January 26, 1973 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 21, 1972 (NLT) to January 26, 1973 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 21, 1972 (NLT) to January 26, 1973 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 21, 1972 (NLT) to January 26, 1973 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from December 21, 1972 (NLT) to January 26, 1973 (NLT). |
| 12 | Buddy Wayne | January 26, 1973 (NLT) | Tri-State show | | 2 | | | |
| | Championship history is unrecorded from January 26, 1973 (NLT) to March 7, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from January 26, 1973 (NLT) to March 7, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from January 26, 1973 (NLT) to March 7, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from January 26, 1973 (NLT) to March 7, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from January 26, 1973 (NLT) to March 7, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from January 26, 1973 (NLT) to March 7, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from January 26, 1973 (NLT) to March 7, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from January 26, 1973 (NLT) to March 7, 1974 (NLT). |
| 13 | Jimmy Golden | March 7, 1974 (NLT) | Tri-State show | | 3 | | | |
| 14 | Jack Donovan | March 14, 1974¤ | Tri-State show | Anniston, Alabama¤ | 1 | 70 | | |
| 15 | Jimmy Golden | May 23, 1974¤ | Tri-State show | Anniston, Alabama¤ | 4 | | | |
| | Championship history is unrecorded from May 23, 1974¤ to October 3, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from May 23, 1974¤ to October 3, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from May 23, 1974¤ to October 3, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from May 23, 1974¤ to October 3, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from May 23, 1974¤ to October 3, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from May 23, 1974¤ to October 3, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from May 23, 1974¤ to October 3, 1974 (NLT). | Championship history is unrecorded from May 23, 1974¤ to October 3, 1974 (NLT). |
| 16 | Dennis Condrey | October 3, 1974 (NLT) | Tri-State show | | 1 | | | |
| — | Deactivated | 1974 | — | — | — | — | Championship abandoned. | |

### NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Final version)

Key :
| No. | Overall reign number |
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Championship change | Championship change | Reign statistics | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. |
| No. | Champion | Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Notes | Ref. |
| 1 | Tom Jones | 1981 | Tri-State show | N/A | 1 | | | |
| 2 | Mr. Pogo | 1981 | Tri-State show | N/A | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Tom Jones | 1981 | Tri-State show | N/A | 2 | | | |
| 4 | Mike George | February 28, 1981 | Tri-State show | Tulsa, OK | 1 | 30 | | |
| 5 | Bob Sweetan | March 30, 1981 | Tri-State show | Tulsa, OK | 1 | 63 | | |
| 6 | Mike George | June 1, 1981 | Tri-State show | Tulsa, OK | 2 | 81 | | |
| — | Vacated | August 21, 1981 | — | — | — | — | Championship vacated when George leaves the territory. | |
| 7 | Jimmy Snuka | January 18, 1982 | Tri-State show | Tulsa, OK | 1 | 42 | Won tournament. | |
| 8 | Paul Jones | March 1, 1982 | Tri-State show | Tulsa, OK | 1 | | | |
| 9 | Eddie Mansfield | March 1982 | Tri-State show | N/A | 1 | | | |
| 10 | Paul Jones | March 17, 1982 | Tri-State show | Springfield, MO | 2 | | | |
| — | Deactivated | 1982 | — | — | — | — | NWA Tri-State closed in 1982, and the championship was subsequently abandoned. | |

## List of top combined reigns

| ¤ | The exact length of several title reigns are uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used. |
List of combined reigns :
| Rank | Champion | No. of reigns | Combined days |
| 1 | Mike George | 2 | 111 |
| 2 | Bob Sweetan | 1 | 63 |
| 3 | Terry Gibbs | 1 | 55¤ |
| 4 | Jimmy Snuka | 1 | 42¤ |
| 5 | Mr. Pogo | 2 | 29¤ |
| 6 | Whitey Whittler | 1 | 28 |
| 7 | Eddie Mansfield | 1 | 1¤ |
| 8 | Red Berry | 1 | N/A |
| 9 | Terry Orndorff | 1 | N/A |
| 10 | Tom Jones | 2 | N/A |
| 11 | Paul Jones | 2 | N/A |

## Explanatory footnotes

* ↑ The length of this reign is too uncertain to calculate.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The location of the match was not captured as part of the championship documentation.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 424 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 64 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 402 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 20 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 91 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 90 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 182 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 258 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 112 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 440 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 404 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 133 days.
* ↑ The date the championship was won and lost has not been documented which means the championship reign lasted anywhere between 1 day and 221 days.
* ↑ The exact date on which the title was won is not known, which means their title reign lasted between 1 and 15 days.