Forgotten Titles
Chapter Five: AWA Americas Heavyweight Title
#PWHS #Article #ForgottenTitles #FT #AWA #AmericanWrestlingAssociation
September 15, 1985 - Minneapolis Star-Tribune
As with any promotion that goes out of business, even modern ones, it doesn't take too long for their minor and/or lesser championships to be forgotten about and only the most important get remembered, if any at all. That is certainly the case with Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association's titles. The older fan or the historian will undoubtedly have heard of the majority of the titles, but there's at least two generations of fans out there who probably will have never heard of some of them, especially this one. With all honesty this one is very forgettable though given it's short existence. So short even some of the fans who saw it as it happened may actually have forgotten about it. Still it is a valuable piece of history though that should be recorded.
So, Who Held It?
Zbyszko Gets Slaughtered
Well in traditional professional wrestling style Larry Zbyszko took a trip to Mexico. Once there he competed in a three day long tournament and won it to be crowned the first ever America's Heavyweight Champion. Yeah right, as you'd suspect that tournament never happened and he was given it on his entry into the company, but, there has to be a story for the fans. As far as the audience knew the tournament took place in early January 1985.
From what I can tell the championship was made to try and capitalize upon the success Zbyszko was coming off of in the WWF/E and a way to raise his importance even more by him winning this brand new title that represented all of the Americas. With the added bonus it gave Zbyszko a natural storyline being the hated villain with good guys trying to win the title off of him. Whether it was thought out ahead that Sgt. Slaughter, the American Drill Sergeant, would be the perfect opponent for Zbyszko or not is unclear. But, it happened and it made sense.
Zbyszko picked up several wins before entering into his feud with Slaughter in the spring of 1985. Then for the foreseeable future the two battled, and battled in an entertaining feud. Zbyszko used every dirty trick in the book and would try to stall matches and avoid fighting. Finally Slaughter won the championship on June 21, 1985. A couple of title defenses following Slaughter's win and the title was pretty much-retired. It no longer seemed to have a purpose. However, it would be pulled out of the bag to spice any feuds the Sarge ended up in against evil foreigners. By August 27, 1986 it had fully disappeared, even though Slaughter stayed with the company for the next few years.
By all accounts this title never even had a physical representation [See End Notes]. There are stories of Slaughter having to use a tag-team title in promos back stage trying to hide the main plate so the audience didn't know. On video footage it can be seen that a title was not carried to the ring either. So, that's it. The title that that lasted just over a year and never even had an actual belt made to symbolize the it. Held by only two men. The American Wrestling Association Americas Heavyweight Championship.
So, Who Held It?
Zbyszko Gets Slaughtered
Well in traditional professional wrestling style Larry Zbyszko took a trip to Mexico. Once there he competed in a three day long tournament and won it to be crowned the first ever America's Heavyweight Champion. Yeah right, as you'd suspect that tournament never happened and he was given it on his entry into the company, but, there has to be a story for the fans. As far as the audience knew the tournament took place in early January 1985.
From what I can tell the championship was made to try and capitalize upon the success Zbyszko was coming off of in the WWF/E and a way to raise his importance even more by him winning this brand new title that represented all of the Americas. With the added bonus it gave Zbyszko a natural storyline being the hated villain with good guys trying to win the title off of him. Whether it was thought out ahead that Sgt. Slaughter, the American Drill Sergeant, would be the perfect opponent for Zbyszko or not is unclear. But, it happened and it made sense.
Zbyszko picked up several wins before entering into his feud with Slaughter in the spring of 1985. Then for the foreseeable future the two battled, and battled in an entertaining feud. Zbyszko used every dirty trick in the book and would try to stall matches and avoid fighting. Finally Slaughter won the championship on June 21, 1985. A couple of title defenses following Slaughter's win and the title was pretty much-retired. It no longer seemed to have a purpose. However, it would be pulled out of the bag to spice any feuds the Sarge ended up in against evil foreigners. By August 27, 1986 it had fully disappeared, even though Slaughter stayed with the company for the next few years.
By all accounts this title never even had a physical representation [See End Notes]. There are stories of Slaughter having to use a tag-team title in promos back stage trying to hide the main plate so the audience didn't know. On video footage it can be seen that a title was not carried to the ring either. So, that's it. The title that that lasted just over a year and never even had an actual belt made to symbolize the it. Held by only two men. The American Wrestling Association Americas Heavyweight Championship.
List Of Champions
01 - Larry Zbyszko, Early January 1985
02 - Sgt. Slaughter, June 21, 1985
// - Retired, August 27, 1986 (By This Date)
01 - Larry Zbyszko, Early January 1985
02 - Sgt. Slaughter, June 21, 1985
// - Retired, August 27, 1986 (By This Date)
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter Five.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: August 27, 2014
Article: #60.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter Five.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: August 27, 2014
Article: #60.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter Six - Read Here.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter Four - Read Here.
Other articles by Jimmy can be Read Here.