AWA World Heavyweight Championship

The AWA World Heavyweight Championship was established in May 1960, after the AWA was formed by the departure of the Minneapolis, Minnesota-area territory from the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Pat O'Connor was conditionally recognized as the first champion upon the AWA's secession from the NWA as O'Connor held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, which he had won on January 9, 1959, though he was ordered to defend against Verne Gagne within 90 days or he would forfeit the AWA title to Gagne.

The creation of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship along with the NWA World Heavyweight Championship would pave the way for the creation of many other world championships in other wrestling promotions. The AWA and the title became inactive in late 1990 and the organization officially closed down in August 1991 with the title also being decommissioned. The championship is featured in the video games WWE '13 as a downloadable title and as an unlockable title in WWE 2K14 and the seventh-generation console versions of WWE 2K15, WWE 2K16, and WWE 2K17.

In 1996, Dale Gagner and his associate Jonnie Stewart, former AWA employees, began using the AWA name in the state of Minnesota and formed a promotion known as AWA Superstars of Wrestling, infringing on the AWA name. The promotion also created their own version of the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. In April 2007, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) filed a lawsuit against Dale Gagner citing trademark infringement, as WWE owned all American Wrestling Association properties due to their purchase after the AWA's closure,{{cite web |url=http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|title=World Wrestling sues promoter|author=Browning, Dan|date=2007-04-28|publisher=Star Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428030922/http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1146399.html|archive-date=2007-04-28}}{{cite web|url=http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/news-notes/2007/05/04.html|title=News and Notes, May 4, 2007|date=2007-05-04|publisher=GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com|access-date=2009-10-22|archive-date=2021-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917222959/http://www.georgiawrestlinghistory.com/news-notes/2007/05/04.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=28334 |title=WWE Files Lawsuit Against "Gagne" For Trademark Violations Associated With AWA |author=Ryder, Bob |date=2007-04-26 |publisher=1wrestling.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102075555/http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=28334 |archive-date=2008-01-02 }} including the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. In October 2008, the court ruled in favor of WWE. The court ruling prohibits Gagner from exploiting or trading on the AWA name or any other derivatives.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news08/1225314623.shtml|title=WWE wins trademark infringement lawsuit over AWA|date=2008-10-28|publisher=wrestleview.com}}

==Title history==

{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=no|unrecognized=yes}}

{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 1

|champion = {{sortname|Pat|O'Connor|dab=wrestler}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1960|05|18}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=5|day1=18|year1=1960|month2=8|day2=16|year2=1960}}

|location =

|event =

|notes = O'Connor, NWA World Heavyweight Championship since 1959, was recognized as the first AWA World Champion in May 1960, but was given 90 days to defend the title against Verne Gagne or be stripped of the title.

|ref = {{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2006|edition=4th|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 2

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1960|08|16}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=8|day1=16|year1=1960|month2=7|day2=11|year2=1961}}

|location =

|event =

|notes = Gagne was awarded the championship after Pat O'Connor failed to defend the title.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 3

|champion = {{sortname|Gene|Kiniski}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1961|07|11}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=7|day1=11|year1=1961|month2=8|day2=8|year2=1961}}

|location = Minneapolis, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 4

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 2

|date = {{dts|1961|08|8}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=8|day1=8|year1=1961|month2=1|day2=9|year2=1962}}

|location = Minneapolis, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 5

|champion = {{sortname|Mr.|M|Dr. Bill Miller}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1962|01|9}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=1|day1=9|year1=1962|month2=8|day2=21|year2=1962}}

|location = Minneapolis, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 6

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 3

|date = {{dts|1962|08|21}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=8|day1=21|year1=1962|month2=7|day2=9|year2=1963}}

|location = Minneapolis, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 7

|champion = {{sortname|The|Crusher|dab=wrestler}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1963|07|9}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=7|day1=9|year1=1963|month2=7|day2=20|year2=1963}}

|location = Minneapolis, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes = The Crusher also won the Omaha version of World Heavyweight Championship from Verne Gagne on February 15, 1963, in Omaha, Nebraska.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 8

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 4

|date = {{dts|1963|07|20}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=7|day1=20|year1=1963|month2=7|day2=27|year2=1963}}

|location = Minneapolis, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes = Gagne won both the AWA Championship and the Omaha Championship.

|ref = {{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/daily-updates/day-pro-wrestling-history-brisco-beats-race-nwa-title-gagne-beats-crusher-awa-title | title=On this day in pro wrestling history: Brisco beats Race for NWA title, Gagne beats Crusher for AWA title, Robinson vs. Gagen | date=July 20, 2015 | access-date=February 11, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 9

|champion = {{sortname|Fritz|Von Erich}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1963|07|27}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=7|day1=27|year1=1963|month2=8|day2=8|year2=1963}}

|location = Omaha, Nebraska

|event = House show

|notes = Von Erich won both the AWA Championship and the Omaha Championship.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 10

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 5

|date = {{dts|1963|08|8}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=8|day1=8|year1=1963|month2=11|day2=16|year2=1963}}

|location = Amarillo, Texas

|event = House show

|notes = Fritz Von Erich's Omaha Championship was not at stake. On September 7, 1963, Gagne defeated Von Erich in Omaha to unify both titles.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 11

|champion = {{sortname|The|Crusher|dab=wrestler}}

|reign = 2

|date = {{dts|1963|11|16}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=11|day1=16|year1=1963|month2=12|day2=14|year2=1963}}

|location = Saint Paul, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 12

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 6

|date = {{dts|1963|12|14}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=12|day1=14|year1=1963|month2=5|day2=2|year2=1964}}

|location = Minneapolis, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 13

|champion = {{sortname|Mad Dog|Vachon}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1964|05|2}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=5|day1=2|year1=1964|month2=5|day2=16|year2=1964}}

|location = Omaha, Nebraska

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 14

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 7

|date = {{dts|1964|05|16}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=5|day1=16|year1=1964|month2=10|day2=20|year2=1964}}

|location = Omaha, Nebraska

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 15

|champion = {{sortname|Mad Dog|Vachon}}

|reign = 2

|date = {{dts|1964|10|20}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=10|day1=20|year1=1964|month2=5|day2=15|year2=1965}}

|location = Minneapolis, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 16

|champion = {{sortname|Mighty Igor|Vodic}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1965|05|15}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=5|day1=15|year1=1965|month2=5|day2=22|year2=1965}}

|location = Omaha, Nebraska

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 17

|champion = {{sortname|Mad Dog|Vachon}}

|reign = 3

|date = {{dts|1965|05|22}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=5|day1=22|year1=1965|month2=8|day2=21|year2=1965}}

|location = Omaha, Nebraska

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 18

|champion = {{sortname|The|Crusher|dab=wrestler}}

|reign = 3

|date = {{dts|1965|08|21}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=8|day1=21|year1=1965|month2=11|day2=12|year2=1965}}

|location = Saint Paul, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 19

|champion = {{sortname|Mad Dog|Vachon}}

|reign = 4

|date = {{dts|1965|11|12}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=11|day1=12|year1=1965|month2=11|day2=12|year2=1966}} ({{age in days|month1=11|day1=12|year1=1965|month2=01|day2=08|year2=1966}})^†

|location = Denver, Colorado

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|sort number = 19.5

|champion = {{sortname|Mr.|Wrestling}}

|reign = 1^†

|date = {{dts|1966|1|8}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=01|day1=08|year1=1966|month2=1|day2=14|year2=1966}}

|location = Omaha, Nebraska

|event = House show

|type = unrecognized

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|sort number = 19.6

|type = unrecognized

|champion = {{sortname|Mad Dog|Vachon}}

|reign = 5^†

|date = {{dts|1966|1|14}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=01|day1=14|year1=1966|month2=11|day2=12|year2=1966}}

|location = Omaha, Nebraska

|event = House show

|notes = AWA president Stanley Blackburn nullified the previous title change, as Mr. Wrestling's legs were on the rope during the pinfall. Vachon defeated Mr. Wrestling in a rematch for the title.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 20

|champion = {{sortname|Dick the|Bruiser}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1966|11|12}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=11|day1=12|year1=1966|month2=11|day2=19|year2=1966}}

|location = Omaha, Nebraska

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 21

|champion = {{sortname|Mad Dog|Vachon}}

|reign = 5

|date = {{dts|1966|11|19}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=11|day1=19|year1=1966|month2=2|day2=26|year2=1967}}

|location = Omaha, Nebraska

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 22

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 8

|date = {{dts|1967|02|26}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=2|day1=26|year1=1967|month2=8|day2=17|year2=1968}}

|location = Saint Paul, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0226-verne-gagne-wins-awa-title-his-birthday-230791 | title=Daily pro wrestling history (02/26): Verne Gagne wins AWA title on his birthday | date=February 26, 2017 | access-date=February 27, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 23

|champion = {{sortname|Dr.|X|Dick Beyer}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1968|08|17}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=8|day1=17|year1=1968|month2=8|day2=31|year2=1968}}

|location = Bloomington, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 24

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 9

|date = {{dts|1968|08|31}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=8|day1=31|year1=1968|month2=11|day2=8|year2=1975}}

|location = Minneapolis, MN

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 25

|champion = {{sortname|Nick|Bockwinkel}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1975|11|8}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=11|day1=8|year1=1975|month2=7|day2=18|year2=1980}}

|location = Saint Paul, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 26

|champion = {{sortname|Verne|Gagne}}

|reign = 10

|date = {{dts|1980|07|18}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=7|day1=18|year1=1980|month2=5|day2=19|year2=1981}}

|location = Chicago, Illinois

|event = House show

|notes = Gagne retired from active wrestling while still the champion.

|ref = {{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/daily-updates/day-pro-wrestling-history-gagne-retires-awa-champion-austins-ex-wife-beats-lesnars | title=On this day in pro wrestling history: Gagne retires as AWA champion, Austin's ex-wife beats Lesnar's wife for WWF title, Steamboat & Youngblood, Thesz Vs Rogers | date=May 10, 2015 | access-date=February 11, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 27

|champion = {{sortname|Nick|Bockwinkel}}

|reign = 2

|date = {{dts|1981|05|19}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=5|day1=19|year1=1981|month2=8|day2=29|year2=1982}} ({{age in days|month1=5|day1=19|year1=1981|month2=4|day2=18|year2=1982}})^†

|location =

|event =

|notes = Bockwinkel was awarded the championship.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|sort number = 27.5

|type = unrecognized

|champion = {{sortname|Hulk|Hogan}}

|reign = 1^†

|date = {{dts|1982|04|18}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=4|day1=18|year1=1982|month2=4|day2=24|year2=1982}}

|location = Saint Paul, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|sort number = 27.6

|type = unrecognized

|champion = {{sortname|Nick|Bockwinkel}}

|reign = 3^†

|date = {{dts|1982|04|24}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=4|day1=24|year1=1982|month2=8|day2=29|year2=1982}}

|location =

|event =

|notes = Bockwinkel was restored the title by AWA president Stanley Blackburn due to Hogan having used a foreign object during the match.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 28

|champion = {{sortname|Otto|Wanz}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1982|08|29}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=8|day1=29|year1=1982|month2=10|day2=9|year2=1982}}

|location = Saint Paul, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2017/09/14/22752384.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915020104/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2017/09/14/22752384.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2017|title=Former AWA World champion Otto Wanz dies|author=Oliver, Greg|publisher=SLAM Wrestling|access-date=September 23, 2017|date=September 14, 2017}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 29

|champion = {{sortname|Nick|Bockwinkel}}

|reign = 3

|date = {{dts|1982|10|9}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=10|day1=9|year1=1982|month2=02|day2=22|year2=1984}}

|location = Chicago, Illinois

|event = House show

|notes = The title was held up on December 27, 1982, after a match with Jerry Lawler, and was restored to Bockwinkel after defeating Lawler in a rematch on January 10, 1983. The AWA retroactively recognized Bockwinkel's title reign as continuous.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 30

|champion = {{sortname|Jumbo|Tsuruta}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1984|02|22}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=2|day1=22|year1=1984|month2=5|day2=13|year2=1984}}

|location = Tokyo, Japan

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0222-sting-defeats-hogan-win-vacant-wcw-title-230591 | title=Daily pro wrestling history (02/22): Sting defeats Hogan to win vacant WCW title | date=February 22, 2017 | access-date=February 27, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 31

|champion = {{sortname|Rick|Martel}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1984|05|13}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=5|day1=13|year1=1984|month2=12|day2=29|year2=1985}}

|location = Saint Paul, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/day-pro-wrestling-history-may-13-rick-martel-wins-awa-gold-kurt-angle-wins-tna-title | title=On this day in pro wrestling history (May 13): Rick Martel wins AWA gold, Kurt Angle wins TNA title, Nash & Hall beat one man to win tag titles | date=May 13, 2015 | access-date=February 11, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 32

|champion = {{sortname|Stan|Hansen}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1985|12|29}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=12|day1=29|year1=1985|month2=6|day2=28|year2=1986}}

|location = East Rutherford, NJ

|event = House show

|notes = Hansen defended the title on All Japan Pro Wrestling cards in July 1986.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 33

|champion = {{sortname|Nick|Bockwinkel}}

|reign = 4

|date = {{dts|1986|06|28}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=6|day1=28|year1=1986|month2=5|day2=2|year2=1987}}

|location = Denver, Colorado

|event = House show

|notes = Bockwinkel was awarded the championship when Stan Hansen left the AWA.

|ref = {{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/day-pro-wrestling-history-2nd-steve-austin-wwe-title-reign-begins-infamous-stan | title=On this day in pro wrestling history: 2nd Steve Austin WWE title reign begins, infamous Stan Hansen AWA title belt stripping story | date=June 29, 2015 | access-date=February 19, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 34

|champion = {{sortname|Curt|Hennig}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1987|05|2}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=5|day1=2|year1=1987|month2=5|day2=9|year2=1988}}

|location = Daly City, CA

|event = SuperClash II

|notes = The title was held up immediately due to controversy over interference by Larry Zbyszko but returned to Hennig days later after the AWA Championship Committee found no no evidence of interference. On February 16, 1988, the title was again held up after a no-contest between Hennig and The Grappler in Portland, OR. Hennig regained the title on March 5 in Portland, when his replacement, The Assassin, defeated The Grappler. AWA recognized Hennig's title reign as continuous.

|ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net//?id=2&nr=2558&page=4&year=1988&promotion=408|title=The Grappler's Cagematch Profile|date=2019-01-21|publisher=cagematch.net}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 35

|champion = {{sortname|Jerry|Lawler}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1988|05|9}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=5|day1=9|year1=1988|month2=1|day2=20|year2=1989}}

|location = Memphis, TN

|event = House show

|notes = Lawler later defeated Kerry Von Erich on December 13, 1988, in Chicago to win the WCCW World Heavyweight Championship to become the first (USWA) Unified World Champion.

|ref = {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLFq6Xkjm58|title = Lead up to Lawler's AWA title win 1|website = YouTube}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|sort number = 35.5

|type = vacated

|date = {{dts|1989|01|20}}

|notes = Jerry Lawler was stripped of the championship after the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) split from the AWA.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 36

|champion = {{sortname|Larry|Zbyszko}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1989|02|7}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=2|day1=7|year1=1989|month2=2|day2=10|year2=1990}}

|location = Saint Paul, Minnesota

|event = House show

|notes = Zbyszko won a battle royal, last eliminating Tom Zenk to win the vacant title.

|ref = {{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0207-bobby-roode-austin-aries-win-tag-team-gold-229726 | title=On this day in pro wrestling history (Feb 7): Bobby Roode & Austin Aries wins tag gold | date=February 7, 2017 | access-date=February 15, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 37

|champion = {{sortname|Mr.|Saito}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|1990|02|10}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=2|day1=10|year1=1990|month2=4|day2=8|year2=1990}}

|location = Tokyo, Japan

|event = Super Fight in Tokyo Dome

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/daily-pro-wrestling-history-0210-masa-saito-wins-awa-gold-tokyo-dome-229891 | title=Daily Pro Wrestling History (02/10): Masa Saito wins AWA gold at the Tokyo Dome | date=February 10, 2017 | access-date=February 10, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|number = 38

|champion = {{sortname|Larry|Zbyszko}}

|reign = 2

|date = {{dts|1990|04|8}}

|days = {{age in days|month1=4|day1=8|year1=1990|month2=12|day2=12|year2=1990}}

|location = Saint Paul, Minnesota

|event = SuperClash IV

|notes =

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|sort number = 38.5

|type = vacated

|date = {{dts|1990|12|12}}

|notes = The title was held up when Larry Zbyszko left the inactive AWA for World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Official kayfabe reason was that Zbyszko refused to defend the title on a tour of Japan.

|ref =

}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle

|sort number = 38.6

|type = deactivated

|date = {{dts|1991|January|12}}

|notes = The championship was deactivated when AWA closed on January 12, 1991.

|ref =

}}

{{BundleEnd}}

File:PatOConnor.jpg]]

File:Verne Gagne 1964.jpg]]

File:Larry_Zbyszko_HOF.jpg]]

• List of early world heavyweight champions in professional wrestling
• World Heavyweight Championship (Omaha)
• USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship
• WCWA World Heavyweight Championship
• WSL World Heavyweight Championship
• Zero1 World Heavyweight Championship

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/awa/awa-h.html AWA World Heavyweight Title History]

{{American Wrestling Association}}

{{AWA World Heavyweight Championship}}

Category:American Wrestling Association championships

Category:World heavyweight wrestling championships