Challengers
National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship
#PWHS #Article #Challengers #NWA #WorldChampionship #NWAWorldTitle #NationalWrestlingAlliance
I took part in a recent Facebook discussion about George “The Animal” Steele challenging four different W(W)WF Heavyweight Champions. Most people agreed that it was a significant achievement and it was difficult to find other wrestlers who could match it. The feat was brought into question as just “wrestling and losing against some legends”. The response was that being a title contender over a long period of time against a variety of champions was difficult to do in the W(W)WF during that era. I believe that a great champion needs great challengers and to be put in the challenger position multiple times is a credit to any wrestler.
All of that leads me to think that it would be fun to take a close look at the guys who have challenged for the title. The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title to be specific. Why that title? It’s just my personal preference. Many wrestling fans believe that there are “official” world titles and “recognized” world titles. I even took the debate to Facebook and asked people what made a world title legitimate in their eyes there were a few different answers. Ultimately, professional wrestling doesn’t have a governing body that defines these things. That still won’t stop me from viewing the World Heavyweight Title from the heyday of the National Wrestling Alliance as the premier wrestling title.
One of my favorite things about the National Wrestling Alliance was that their champion defended the title in many territories. That means a lot of people who stood out in their areas received title shots, but I want to find out who the standouts of the standouts were. Who had the most title shots? Who had title shots in the most areas? Who challenged the most champions for the title? Who were the top challengers for each champion? Who received title shots over the longest span of time?
This examination is going to focus on my favorite era and unfortunately that leaves out some of wrestling’s most popular years. I started watching NWA wrestling around the time that Jim Crockett Promotions started promoting themselves as the NWA. The Horsemen, The Russians, The Rock N Roll Express, The Midnight Express, Dusty Rhodes, and Magnum TA were the big stars that hooked me on Pro Wrestling. This era, however, will not be part of my look at challengers to the NWA Championship because one promotion was beginning to dominate the title matches. I want to study the challengers from the territory era and for me that ends with Starrcade. Around that time, Dusty Rhodes was starting to get involved with Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and his involvement played a large role in their expansion. The WWF expansion was about to explode as they would invade St Louis one month later and introduce their version of Hulkamania. To top it off, the NWA was already weakened by the retirement of Sam Muchnick and the loss of LA, San Francisco, Detroit, and smaller cities like Amarillo.
So, I’ve covered why, what, who, and when. Let’s look at how. We’ll use the results from “The Records of NWA World Heavyweight Championship Matches” at wrestling-titles to find out which challengers hold distinctions. Champion, challenger, date, and location data will be used to answer the questions posed earlier and provide some analysis for the most notable challengers.
All of that leads me to think that it would be fun to take a close look at the guys who have challenged for the title. The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title to be specific. Why that title? It’s just my personal preference. Many wrestling fans believe that there are “official” world titles and “recognized” world titles. I even took the debate to Facebook and asked people what made a world title legitimate in their eyes there were a few different answers. Ultimately, professional wrestling doesn’t have a governing body that defines these things. That still won’t stop me from viewing the World Heavyweight Title from the heyday of the National Wrestling Alliance as the premier wrestling title.
One of my favorite things about the National Wrestling Alliance was that their champion defended the title in many territories. That means a lot of people who stood out in their areas received title shots, but I want to find out who the standouts of the standouts were. Who had the most title shots? Who had title shots in the most areas? Who challenged the most champions for the title? Who were the top challengers for each champion? Who received title shots over the longest span of time?
This examination is going to focus on my favorite era and unfortunately that leaves out some of wrestling’s most popular years. I started watching NWA wrestling around the time that Jim Crockett Promotions started promoting themselves as the NWA. The Horsemen, The Russians, The Rock N Roll Express, The Midnight Express, Dusty Rhodes, and Magnum TA were the big stars that hooked me on Pro Wrestling. This era, however, will not be part of my look at challengers to the NWA Championship because one promotion was beginning to dominate the title matches. I want to study the challengers from the territory era and for me that ends with Starrcade. Around that time, Dusty Rhodes was starting to get involved with Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and his involvement played a large role in their expansion. The WWF expansion was about to explode as they would invade St Louis one month later and introduce their version of Hulkamania. To top it off, the NWA was already weakened by the retirement of Sam Muchnick and the loss of LA, San Francisco, Detroit, and smaller cities like Amarillo.
So, I’ve covered why, what, who, and when. Let’s look at how. We’ll use the results from “The Records of NWA World Heavyweight Championship Matches” at wrestling-titles to find out which challengers hold distinctions. Champion, challenger, date, and location data will be used to answer the questions posed earlier and provide some analysis for the most notable challengers.
Things to keep in mind:
The wrestling-titles website and the results I’ll reference are constantly updated, so just as they may not be 100% complete at any given time, any numbers I use here may possibly not represent the results from wrestling-titles at any point after February 26th, 2017 (when I gathered the results).
Unless otherwise noted, any generic references to titles, champions, or championships are about the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title.
References to States include Canadian Provinces and PR.
Data will be used from defenses by Leo Nomellini and Edouard Carpentier. Even though they never held the title, their reigns as claimants were in cooperation with the National Wrestling Alliance.
We’re just having fun. Any figures listed below are just comparisons and list building. Nothing is guaranteed to be 100% accurate.
We’ll start by looking at the top 25 challengers based on their total number of title matches, including the top 10 with notes and 15 more as honorable mentions. After that, we’ll see who faced the most champions, challenged for the title in the most states, challenged over the largest span of years, and check out the top challengers for each champion.
Top Challengers to the World Title
Top Dog - Dusty Rhodes (123)
Dusty stands pretty far ahead of the number two challenger when it comes to title matches. With 123 title shots, he’s as far ahead of number two as number two is to number six. This is pretty considerable since it precedes his Mid-Atlantic\JCP feuds with Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen where his number would have ballooned much higher. Dusty’s early shots came against Dory Funk Jr including one in West Texas and a two more in the Tri-States area where he held the North American Champ. In 1974, he was Jack Brisco’s top challenger in Florida before he made his big face turn. Finally, he was Harley Race, Terry Funk, and Ric Flair’s top challenger for the title.
Terrific Three - Jack Brisco (100), Harley Race (98), and Dory Funk Jr. (95)
These three spent over 8.5 years with the title in the 70s. Jack Brisco and Harley Race each received their first shot at the title versus Funk in 1969. Brisco only received two shots that year, but became Funk’s top challenger in 1970, 1972, and 1973. Race received his first shots in West Texas before moving the matches to Central States region where he would eventually win the title in May 1973. Dory Funk Jr received his first shots in 1963 versus Lou Thesz. He faced both Lou Thesz and his successor Gene Kiniski five times, mostly in West Texas, with one shot against Kiniski coming in St Louis and the final coming in Tampa, Florida where he would win the championship. With 85 matches, Dory Funk Jr and Jack Brisco have wrestled for the title more times than any other pair.
These three spent over 8.5 years with the title in the 70s. Jack Brisco and Harley Race each received their first shot at the title versus Funk in 1969. Brisco only received two shots that year, but became Funk’s top challenger in 1970, 1972, and 1973. Race received his first shots in West Texas before moving the matches to Central States region where he would eventually win the title in May 1973. Dory Funk Jr received his first shots in 1963 versus Lou Thesz. He faced both Lou Thesz and his successor Gene Kiniski five times, mostly in West Texas, with one shot against Kiniski coming in St Louis and the final coming in Tampa, Florida where he would win the championship. With 85 matches, Dory Funk Jr and Jack Brisco have wrestled for the title more times than any other pair.
Hard Hitters - Johnny Valentine (85), Wahoo McDaniel (77)
Unlike the first four on the list, these two never held the World Championship. Johnny Valentine faced seven champs from 1954 through 1975. He’s challenged for the title in 21 states and the Bahamas. Valentine had the most title shots in the 60s and was the top challenger to Buddy Rogers during his reign. Wahoo first challenged Gene Kiniski in 1966 in Florida and faced every long term champ through the end of the era. Unlike Valentine, his title shots were limited to the states Florida, Georgia, Texas, and the Mid-Atlantic area.
Unlike the first four on the list, these two never held the World Championship. Johnny Valentine faced seven champs from 1954 through 1975. He’s challenged for the title in 21 states and the Bahamas. Valentine had the most title shots in the 60s and was the top challenger to Buddy Rogers during his reign. Wahoo first challenged Gene Kiniski in 1966 in Florida and faced every long term champ through the end of the era. Unlike Valentine, his title shots were limited to the states Florida, Georgia, Texas, and the Mid-Atlantic area.
Another Terrific Trio – Gene Kiniski (75), Lou Thesz (75), Pat O’Connor (73
For over 15 and a half years of the 50s and 60s, one of these guys was the World Champion. At number 7, Gene Kiniski stands out from the rest. He’s got the greatest range of years challenging for the title, starting in 1954 during Lou Thesz’s first reign and going through 1982 to face Ric Flair. It’s no surprise that the 11 champions he’s faced lead the pack. Lou Thesz ties Kiniski for lucky number 7 and tops the list at challenging for the title in 23 states. He’s also tied for second by challenging nine different champions for the title. Pat O’Connor was Whipper Billy Watson’s top challenger and with more than half of his title shots coming against Lou Thesz, he was Thesz’s second most frequent challenger. He’s also right behind Thesz and Valentine with title shots 19 states.
For over 15 and a half years of the 50s and 60s, one of these guys was the World Champion. At number 7, Gene Kiniski stands out from the rest. He’s got the greatest range of years challenging for the title, starting in 1954 during Lou Thesz’s first reign and going through 1982 to face Ric Flair. It’s no surprise that the 11 champions he’s faced lead the pack. Lou Thesz ties Kiniski for lucky number 7 and tops the list at challenging for the title in 23 states. He’s also tied for second by challenging nine different champions for the title. Pat O’Connor was Whipper Billy Watson’s top challenger and with more than half of his title shots coming against Lou Thesz, he was Thesz’s second most frequent challenger. He’s also right behind Thesz and Valentine with title shots 19 states.
Most Dangerous – Dick The Bruiser (63)
It should be no surprise that Dick The Bruiser has had a lot of title shots in the mid-west. He’s also challenged for the title in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Quebec. Dick joins Gene Kiniski as the only two to challenge Lou Thesz during his first reign as well as Ric Flair. Despite facing nine different champions, almost two-thirds of his title matches were against Gene Kiniski and Lou Thesz.
It should be no surprise that Dick The Bruiser has had a lot of title shots in the mid-west. He’s also challenged for the title in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, and Quebec. Dick joins Gene Kiniski as the only two to challenge Lou Thesz during his first reign as well as Ric Flair. Despite facing nine different champions, almost two-thirds of his title matches were against Gene Kiniski and Lou Thesz.
Honorable Mentions 11-25
Mr. Wrestling II (Johnny Walker) (58), Wladek Kowalski (Killer Kowalski) (56), Don Leo Jonathan (56), Fritz Von Erich (53), Dick Murdoch (52), Hans Schmidt (50), Buddy Rogers (49), Tommy Rich (44), Paul Jones (43), Billy Watson (42), Pepper Gomez (42), Johnny Weaver (41), Terry Funk (41), Ric Flair (41), and Bobo Brazil (39).
Mr. Wrestling II (Johnny Walker) (58), Wladek Kowalski (Killer Kowalski) (56), Don Leo Jonathan (56), Fritz Von Erich (53), Dick Murdoch (52), Hans Schmidt (50), Buddy Rogers (49), Tommy Rich (44), Paul Jones (43), Billy Watson (42), Pepper Gomez (42), Johnny Weaver (41), Terry Funk (41), Ric Flair (41), and Bobo Brazil (39).
Most Champions Faced
11 - Gene Kiniski
09 - Dick the Bruiser
09 - Fritz Von Erich
09 - Lou Thesz
08 - Don Leo Jonathan
08 - Hans Schmidt
08 - Pat O'Connor
07 - Mr. Wrestling II (Johnny Walker)
07 - Harley Race
07 - Bobo Brazil
07 - Johnny Valentine
07 - Luther Lindsay
07 - Ron Etchison
07 - The Sheik
Most States
23 - Lou Thesz
21 - Johnny Valentine
19 - Gene Kiniski
19 - Hans Schmidt
19 - Pat O'Connor
17 - Antonino Rocca
16 - Buddy Rogers
15 - Harley Race
14 - Bobo Brazil
13 - Don Leo Jonathan
23 - Lou Thesz
21 - Johnny Valentine
19 - Gene Kiniski
19 - Hans Schmidt
19 - Pat O'Connor
17 - Antonino Rocca
16 - Buddy Rogers
15 - Harley Race
14 - Bobo Brazil
13 - Don Leo Jonathan
Greatest Span Of Years
28 - 1954-1982 - Gene Kiniski
27 - 1953-1980 - Bobo Brazil
27 - 1950-1977 - Don Leo Jonathan
27 - 1952-1979 - The Sheik
26 - 1956-1982 - Dick the Bruiser
25 - 1955-1980 - Fritz Von Erich
25 - 1951-1976 - Pat O'Connor
24 - 1951-1975 - Hans Schmidt
24 - 1958-1982 - Mr. Wrestling II (Johnny Walker)
23 - 1953-1976 - Kinji Shibuya
23 - 1956-1979 - Peter Maivia
Double Figure Challenges In All Three Sub Eras
1948-1959: 16 - 1960-1969: 50 - 1970-1983: 19 - Johnny Valentine
1948-1959: 25 - 1960-1969: 25 - 1970-1983: 25 - Gene Kiniski
1948-1959: 33 - 1960-1969: 27 - 1970-1983: 13 - Pat O'Connor
1948-1959: 11 - 1960-1969: 29 - 1970-1983: 13 - Fritz Von Erich
Top Challengers Per Champion
Orville Brown
12 - Don Eagle
10 - Buddy Rogers
10 - Bobby Bruns
07 - Joe Pazandak
05 - Otto Kuss
04 - Sonny Myers
04 - Bronko Nagurski
04 - Roy Graham
03 - Ron Etchison
03 - Lucky Simunovich
03 - Ali Baba
03 - Bob Wagner
Lou Thesz
41 - Wladek Kowalski (Killer Kowalski)
38 - Pat O'Connor
33 - Enrique Torres
33 - Ray Gunkel
30 - Dick the Bruiser
29 - Hans Schmidt
28 - Buddy Rogers
26 - Wilbur Snyder
24 - Bobby Managoff
23 - Johnny Valentine
23 - Bill Miller
Billy Watson
10 - Pat O'Connor
09 - Hard Boiled Haggerty
07 - Dick Hutton
06 - Lou Thesz
06 - Buddy Rogers
04 - Bobo Brazil
04 - Mighty Ursus
03 - Fritz Von Erich
03 - Hans Schmidt
Dick Hutton
14 - Lou Thesz
13 - Billy Watson
07 - Gene Kiniski
06 - Bill Longson
05 - Ilio DiPaolo
04 - Bob Ellis
04 - Buddy Rogers
Pat O'Connor
22 - Pepper Gomez
15 - Gene Kiniski
14 - Dick Hutton
13 - Lou Thesz
10 - Don Leo Jonathan
09 - Hans Schmidt
09 - Torbellino Blanco
07 - Luther Lindsay
22 - Pepper Gomez
15 - Gene Kiniski
14 - Dick Hutton
13 - Lou Thesz
10 - Don Leo Jonathan
09 - Hans Schmidt
09 - Torbellino Blanco
07 - Luther Lindsay
Buddy Rogers
22 - Johnny Valentine
18 - Bobo Brazil
16 - Antonino Rocca
16 - Bruno Sammartino
11 - Art Thomas
10 - Edouard Carpentier
09 - Shohei Baba (Giant Baba)
06 - Reggie Lisowski
06 - Dory Dixon
Gene Kiniski
29 - Lou Thesz
21 - Fritz Von Erich
18 - Don Leo Jonathan
13 - John Tolos
12 - Eddie Graham
10 - Dick the Bruiser
10 - Johnny Valentine
10 - Edouard Carpentier
10 - Klondike Bill
09 - Johnny Weaver
29 - Lou Thesz
21 - Fritz Von Erich
18 - Don Leo Jonathan
13 - John Tolos
12 - Eddie Graham
10 - Dick the Bruiser
10 - Johnny Valentine
10 - Edouard Carpentier
10 - Klondike Bill
09 - Johnny Weaver
Dory Funk Jr.
41 - Jack Brisco
22 - Ciclon Negro
18 - Dick Murdoch
17 - Gene Kiniski
16 - Pak Song
15 - Johnny Valentine
15 - Johnny Weaver
14 - Harley Race
14 - Rufus R. Jones
12 - Dale Lewis
10 - Danny Hodge
09 - Wahoo McDaniel
09 - Buddy Colt
Harley Race
49 - Dusty Rhodes
38 - Ric Flair
24 - Wahoo McDaniel
23 - Jack Brisco
22 - Dory Funk Jr.
22 - Dick Murdoch
22 - Tommy Rich
22 - Ricky Steamboat
22 - Mr. Wrestling II (Johnny Walker)
17 - Bruiser Brody
16 - Terry Funk
Jack Brisco
44 - Dory Funk Jr.
28 - Harley Race
18 - Terry Funk
16 - Paul Jones
15 - Bob Roop
14 - Buddy Colt
13 - Dusty Rhodes
12 - Bill Watts
11 - Wahoo McDaniel
11 - Dick Murdoch
44 - Dory Funk Jr.
28 - Harley Race
18 - Terry Funk
16 - Paul Jones
15 - Bob Roop
14 - Buddy Colt
13 - Dusty Rhodes
12 - Bill Watts
11 - Wahoo McDaniel
11 - Dick Murdoch
Terry Funk
29 - Dusty Rhodes
14 - Jack Brisco
12 - Harley Race
10 - Mr. Wrestling II (Johnny Walker)
09 - Paul Jones
08 - Thunderbolt Patterson
07 - Super Destroyer (Art Nelson, Art Neilson)
07 - Jose Lothario
06 - Wahoo McDaniel
06 - Rocky Johnson
06 - Mike George
06 - Gene Kiniski
06 - Billy Robinson
Giant Baba
3 - Harley Race
2 - Jack Brisco
3 - Harley Race
2 - Jack Brisco
Dusty Rhodes
13 - The Assasin (Assassin, Masked Assassin, Assassin #1, Joe Hamilton, Jody Hamilton)
10 - Dory Funk Jr.
09 - Harley Race
04 - Terry Funk
03 - Ivan Koloff
03 - Ken Patera
02 - Ric Flair
02 - Iron Sheik
02 - Bobby Jaggars (Bobby Jaggers)
13 - The Assasin (Assassin, Masked Assassin, Assassin #1, Joe Hamilton, Jody Hamilton)
10 - Dory Funk Jr.
09 - Harley Race
04 - Terry Funk
03 - Ivan Koloff
03 - Ken Patera
02 - Ric Flair
02 - Iron Sheik
02 - Bobby Jaggars (Bobby Jaggers)
Tommy Rich
04 - Harley Race
Ric Flair
29 - Dusty Rhodes
28 - Harley Race
24 - Wahoo McDaniel
22 - Tommy Rich
20 - Jack Brisco
19 - Bruce Reed
15 - Roddy Piper
14 - Barry Windham
11 - Ricky Steamboat
11 - Mike Graham
29 - Dusty Rhodes
28 - Harley Race
24 - Wahoo McDaniel
22 - Tommy Rich
20 - Jack Brisco
19 - Bruce Reed
15 - Roddy Piper
14 - Barry Windham
11 - Ricky Steamboat
11 - Mike Graham
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Challengers.
Author: Mark D. Robinson.
Published: March 8, 2017.
Article: #166.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Challengers.
Author: Mark D. Robinson.
Published: March 8, 2017.
Article: #166.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.