WLW Heavyweight Championship

The World League Wrestling (WLW) Heavyweight Championship, is a professional wrestling championship in independent professional wrestling promotion World League Wrestling. It is the promotion's primary championship.

WLW Heavyweight Championship
Details
PromotionWorld League Wrestling
Date establishedFebruary 1999
Current champion(s)“Superstar” Steve Fender
Date wonOctober 15th, 2022
Statistics
First champion(s)Steve Sharp
Most reignsLeland Race(6 reigns)
Longest reignTrevor Murdoch (434-464 days)
Shortest reignWade Chism, Luminous Warrior and Rick Steiner (1 day)

The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants execute scripted finishes rather than contend in direct competition. Some reigns were held by champions using a ring name while others use their real name. Moses is the current champion in his first reign. He won the title in a six-man tag team match featuring himself, Leland Race, and Kyle Roberts against then-champion Derek Stone, Jon Webb, and Camaro Jackson in Troy, Missouri.

As of June 5, 2024, there have been 64 recognized reigns between 35 recognized champions and 9 recognized vacancies. The first champion was Steve Sharp, who won the championship on February 12, 1999. The champion with the single longest reign is Trevor Murdoch, who held the title for 448 days. The champion with the most reigns is Homer Jones, who has held the title six times.

Title history

No.ChampionDateEventLocationReignDaysNotesRef.
1Steve SharpFebruary 12, 1999Springfield, Missouri164Defeated Greg Valentine in a tournament final.[1]
2Derek StoneApril 17, 1999Quincy, Illinois1210
Vacated
November 13, 1999
The title was held up after a match against Luminous Warrior.
3Derek StoneNovember 14, 1999Kansas City, Missouri269Stone was awarded the title due to an injury to Luminous Warrior.
4Luminous WarriorJanuary 22, 2000WLWCalifornia, Missouri11
5Derek StoneJanuary 23, 2000WLWLexington, Missouri334
6Luminous WarriorFebruary 26, 2000WLWIberia, Missouri221
7Mr. DestinyMarch 18, 2000WLWMexico, Missouri113
8Luminous WarriorMarch 31, 2000WLWKahoka, Missouri320Warrior won by reverse decision after Mr. Destiny won the match by hitting Warrior with the title belt.
9MengApril 20, 2000WLWGrain Valley, Missouri12
10Trevor RhodesApril 22, 2000WLWEldon, Missouri1181
11GrizJune 17, 2000WLWOsage Beach, Missouri1125
12MengOctober 20, 2000WLWSpringfield, Missouri214
13The BarbarianNovember 3, 2000Belle, Missouri17
14GrizNovember 10, 2000WLWJoplin, Missouri271
15Luminous WarriorJanuary 20, 2001WLW470
16Butch ReedMarch 31, 2001WLWCrocker, Missouri1300
17Dennis McHawesJanuary 25, 2002WLWImperial, Missouri1155
VacatedJune 29, 2002East St. Louis, Illinois
18Wade ChismJune 29, 2002WLW1
4
19Takao OmoriJuly 13, 2002WLWOmaha, Nebraska1175
20Superstar SteveJanuary 4, 2003WLWNeosho, Missouri135
21HakuFebruary 8, 2003WLWEl Dorado Springs, Missouri342Haku was previously known as Meng.
VacatedMarch 22, 2003The title was vacated after match against Trevor Rhodes.
22Ron PowersMay 2, 2003WLWKansas City, Missouri178Defeated Superstar Steve in a tournament final.
23Ron HarrisJuly 19, 2003WLWEldon, Missouri155
24Takeshi MorishimaSeptember 12, 2003Navigation Over the Date LineTokyo, Japan1196Match hosted by Pro Wrestling NOAH.
25Rick SteinerMarch 26, 2004Chariton, Iowa11
26Takeshi MorishimaMarch 27, 2004Bolivar, Missouri266
27Daisuke IkedaJune 1, 2004Navigation with BreezeSapporo, Japan161Match hosted by Pro Wrestling NOAH.
28Rick SteinerAugust 1, 2004Exceeding Our Dreams tourNagoya, Japan2110Match hosted by Pro Wrestling NOAH.
29Trevor RhodesNovember 19, 2004WLWColumbus, Nebraska2197
30Ty DaltonJune 4, 2005WLWEldon, Missouri149Dalton won the WLW Heavyweight Championship in his debut match with WLW
31Wade ChismJuly 23, 2005WLWEldon, Missouri2189
VacatedJanuary 28, 2006Eldon, MissouriThe title was held up after a match against Keith Walker.
32Wade ChismFebruary 24, 2006WLWSt. Joseph, Missouri31Defeated Jason Bates and Keith Walker in a Three Way match.
33Jason BatesFebruary 25, 2006WLWEl Dorado Springs, Missouri149
34Wade ChismApril 15, 2006WLWEl Dorado Springs, Missouri428
35Keith WalkerMay 13, 2006WLWSt. Joseph, Missouri156
36Wade ChismJuly 8, 2006WLWEldon, Missouri549This was a lumberjack match. Chism became the first 5 time WLW Heavyweight Champion
37Daniel CrossAugust 26, 2006WLWWest Plains, Missouri1105Daniel Cross became the youngest WLW heavyweight Champion at 20 years old.
38Trevor MurdochDecember 9, 2006WLWMaryland Heights, Missouri3216Murdoch defeated Cross and Ted Dibiase Jr in a 3 way match with Dave Hebner as special referee. Trevor Murdoch was previously known as Trevor Rhodes.
39Derek McQuinnJuly 13, 2007Night of LegendsWaterloo, Iowa1106
40Keith WalkerOctober 27, 2007WLWMaryland Heights, Missouri2105Walker won the Championship on his first match back from his WWE release.
41Chris MastersFebruary 9, 2008WLWFordland, Missouri176
42Derek McQuinnApril 25, 2008WLWLebanon, Missouri2141
VacatedSeptember 13, 2008Derek McQuinn vacated the title due to his having to retire due to injury.
43Go ShiozakiOctober 4, 2008WLWWest Plains, Missouri1119Won a nine-man battle royal.
VacatedJanuary 30, 2009Richmond, Missouri
44Steve AnthonyJanuary 30, 2009WLWRichmond, Missouri150Defeated Eugene and Superstar Steve in a three-way match.
45Superstar SteveMarch 21, 2009WLWEldon, Missouri2196
46Brian BreakerOctober 3, 2009WLWEldon, Missouri1153
47Trent StoneMarch 5, 2010WLWLeavenworth, Kansas149
48Trevor MurdochApril 23, 2010WLWRichmond, Missouri4[Note 1]The title was vacated in July 2011.
VacatedJuly, 2011
49Brian BreakerSeptember 18, 2011WLWBurlington, Iowa255Defeated Jason Jones to win the vacated title.
50Jason JonesNovember 12, 2011WLWRichmond, Missouri1364
51Britton TuckerNovember 10, 2012WLWSpringfield, Missouri128
52Jason JonesDecember 8, 2012WLWRichmond, Missouri2170
VacatedMay 27, 2013Jones begins wrestling under his real name, Leland Race, and vacates the title.
53Elvis AliagaSeptember 14, 2013WLWRichmond, Missouri1217Defeated Leland Race in tournament final.
54Leland RaceApril 19, 2014WLWRichmond, Missouri398Previously known as Jason Jones.
55Ace SteelJuly 26, 2014WLWTroy, Missouri1112
56Leland RaceNovember 15, 2014WLWTroy, Missouri4364
57Trevor MurdochNovember 14, 2015WLWTroy, Missouri5448
Vacated2016
58Karim BriganteFebruary 4, 2017WLWTroy, Missouri177Defeated Leland Race and Steve Fender (formerly Superstar Steve) in tournament final.[2]
59Leland RaceApril 22, 2017WLWRichmond, Missouri5322
60Jon WebbMarch 10, 2018WLWMoscow Mills, Missouri1420
61Derek StoneMay 4, 2019WLW4168
62Leland RaceOctober 19, 2019The Harley Race Memorial ShowBurlington Junction, Missouri614Special guest Trevor Murdoch counted the pinfall while the referee was unconscious.[3]
63Derek StoneNovember 2, 2019Fight Night 4Troy, Missouri5371The championship was returned to Stone when it was determined that Stone's foot was under the rope during the pinfall on October 19.
64Moses PowellNovember 7, 2020WLWTroy, Missouri1707This was a six-man tag team match between Moses Powell, Leland Race, and Kyle Roberts versus Derek Stone, Jon Webb, and Camaro Jackson.
65Steve FenderOctober 15, 2022WLWTroy, Missouri3
599+
Previously held the belt as Superstar Steve.

Combined reigns

As of June 5, 2024.

Indicates the current champion
RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns
Combined days
1Leland Race61334
2Derek Stone5852
3Trevor Murdoch5469-
4Dangerous Derek2428
5Jon Webb1420
6Butch Reed1300
7Wade Chism5281
8Takeshi Morishima2262
9Moses Powell †11,306+
10Superstar Steve2231
11Elvis Aliaga1217
12Brian Breaker2208
13Griz2196
14Takao Omori1175
15Keith Walker2161
16Dennis McHawes1155
17Go Shiozaki1118
18Luminous Warrior4112
Ace Steel1112
20Rick Steiner2111
21Daniel Cross1105
22Ron Powers178
23Karim Brigante177
24Chris Masters176
25Steve Sharp164
26Daisuke Ikeda161
27King Haku358
28Ron Harris155
29Steve Anthony150
30Trent Stone149
Jason Bates149
Ty Dalton149
33Britton Tucker128
34Mr. Destiny113
35The Barbarian17

Footnotes

References

External links