NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship

The NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). For the majority of its existence the title was promoted by Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), where it was known as the Campeonato Mundial Semi Completo de NWA. It began as an official National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) title and was given to the NWA's Mexican affiliate, Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL), to control. The title was also promoted in NWA Hollywood Wrestling until its closure in 1982. The title remained under the control of EMLL even after EMLL pulled out of the Alliance and changed its name to Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Due to its history, it was considered the most important title in EMLL/CMLL.[1][2] As it is a professional wrestling championship, it is not won legitimately; it is instead won via a scripted ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a storyline. The official definition of the light heavyweight weight class in Mexico is between 92 kg (203 lb) and 97 kg (214 lb), but is not always strictly enforced.[Note 1][3]

NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
Close up of the championship belt design currently used
Details
PromotionNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)

The first champion was Gypsy Joe, who won the title on November 6, 1952. In 1957 the NWA stripped Frank Stojack of the title for lack of NWA-mandated title defenses, but Stojack kept the physical belt and defended the title for over a year until the NWA regained possession of the actual Championship belt. After Stojack was stripped of the title, the NWA Executive board decided to give Salvador Lutteroth and Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre control of the championship in 1958.[4] The first champion under Lutteroth's authority was Dory Dixon, who had worked for EMLL for many years. During the late 1970s and early 1980s the title was also defended in the Los Angeles area until that promotion closed in the early 1980s; from then on the title has only been defended in Mexico.

In March 2010, Blue Demon, Jr., the president of NWA Mexico, sent letters to CMLL, telling them to stop promoting the NWA-branded championships since they were not part of the NWA. NWA Mexico had previously tried to reclaim the three NWA-branded championships promoted by CMLL, but was ignored by CMLL. The promotion did not directly respond to the latest claim either; the NWA Welterweight Champion, Mephisto, commented, simply stating that the titles belonged to CMLL.[5] Finally, on August 12, 2010, CMLL debuted the new NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship and returned the old title to NWA.[6]

There have been a total of 64 reigns shared between 39 wrestlers. Ray Mendoza has held the Championship the highest number of times with six title reigns; Gory Guerrero's two reigns combined come to 1,963 days, the highest total of any champion. Roddy Piper is the champion with the shortest reign, 2 days; while the longest title reign belongs to Frank Stojack with 1,573 days.

Title history
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
N/A Unknown information
(NLT) Championship change took place "no later than" the date listed
† Championship change is unrecognized by the promotion
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)
1 Gypsy Joe November 6, 1952 Live event Des Moines, Iowa 1 277 Gypsy Joe defeated Johnny Balbo in a decision match to become the inaugural champion. [G]
2 Frank Stojack August 10, 1953 Live event Spokane, Washington 1 1,573   [G]
— Vacated November 30, 1957 — — — —   Stojack was stripped of the title due to inactivity. [G]
National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) / Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre (EMLL)
3 Dory Dixon February 13, 1958 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 575 Dixon defeated Al Kashley to win the vacant championship.[4] [G]
4 Ray Mendoza September 11, 1959 Live event Guadalajara, Jalisco 1 323   [G]
5 Gory Guerrero July 30, 1960 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 1,102   [G]
6 Ali Bey August 6, 1963 Live event El Paso, Texas 1 49   [G]
7 Gory Guerrero September 24, 1963 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 2 861   [G]
— Vacated February 1, 1966 — — — — Guerrero was stripped of the title after leaving the promotion; Guerrero kept the physical belt for nine years after being stripped of the championship. [G]
8 Ray Mendoza August 4, 1967 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 2 289 Mendoza defeated Dory Dixon in a tournament final to win the vacant title. [G]
9 Ángel Blanco May 19, 1968 Live event Torreón, Coahuila 1 220   [G]
10 Ray Mendoza December 25, 1968 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 3 359   [G]
11 Coloso Colosetti December 19, 1969 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 91   [G]
12 Ray Mendoza March 20, 1970 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 4 252   [G]
13 El Solitario November 27, 1970 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 476   [G]
14 David Morgan March 17, 1972 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 35   [G]
15 Ray Mendoza April 21, 1972 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 5 53   [G]
16 Alfonso Dantés June 13, 1972 Live event Tijuana, Baja California 1 381   [G]
17 Kim Sung Ho June 29, 1973 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 175   [G][7]
18 Ray Mendoza December 21, 1973 Live event Los Angeles, California 6 [Note 2]   [G]
— Vacated February 1974 — — — — The championship was vacated when Mendoza left EMLL to form the Universal Wrestling Association. [G]
19 Dr. Wagner September 22, 1974 EMLL 41st Anniversary Show Mexico City, Mexico 1 523 Dr. Wagner defeated El Halcon in a tournament final to win the vacant title. [G]
20 Adorable Rubí February 27, 1976 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 140   [G]
21 Carlos Plata July 16, 1976 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 100   [G]
22 Alfonso Dantés October 24, 1976 Live event Guadalajara, Jalisco 2 110   [G]
23 Chavo Guerrero February 11, 1977 Live event Los Angeles, California 1 30   [G]
24 Roddy Piper March 13, 1977 Live event California 1 2   [G]
25 Chavo Guerrero March 15, 1977 Live event Los Angeles, California 2 6   [G]
26 Alfonso Dantés April 21, 1977 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 3 407   [G]
27 El Faraón June 2, 1978 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 193   [G][8]
28 Pak Choo December 8, 1978 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 145   [G]
29 Alfonso Dantés April 30, 1979 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 4 265   [G]
30 Raul Mata January 20, 1980 Live event Guadalajara, Jalisco 1 330   [G][9]
31 Alfonso Dantés December 15, 1980 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 5 112   [G]
32 Tony Salazar April 3, 1981 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 343   [G][10]
33 David Morgan March 12, 1982 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 2 21   [G][11]
34 Máscara Año 2000 April 2, 1982 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 228   [G]
35 El Faraón November 16, 1982 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 2 60   [G]
36 Ringo Mendoza January 15, 1983 Live event Guadalajara, Jalisco 1 194 [G][12]
37 El Satánico July 28, 1983 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 87   [G][13]
38 Ringo Mendoza October 23, 1983 Live event Guadalajara, Jalisco 2 479   [G]
39 MS-1 February 13, 1985 Live event Acapulco, Guerrero 1 39   [G]
40 Rayo de Jalisco, Jr. June 21, 1985 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 637   [G]
Empresa Mexicana de la Lucha Libre (EMLL)
41 MS-1 March 20, 1987 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 2 65   [G]
42 Cien Caras June 24, 1987 Live event Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico State 1 270   [G]
43 Lizmark March 20, 1988 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 96   [G]
44 Fabuloso Blondy June 24, 1988 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 168   [G]
45 Lizmark December 9, 1988 JUicio Final Mexico City, Mexico 2 224   [G]
46 El Satánico July 21, 1989 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 2 92   [G]
47 Pirata Morgan October 21, 1989 Live event Cuernavaca, Morelos 1 116   [G]
47 Fabuloso Blondy February 14, 1990 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 2 35   [G]
49 Lizmark March 21, 1990 Live event Acapulco, Guerrero 3 249   [G]
50 El Satánico November 25, 1990 Live event León, Guanajuato 3 157   [G]
51 Lizmark May 1, 1991 Live event Acapulco, Guerrero 4 340   [G]
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)
52 El Satánico April 5, 1992 CMLL Domingos Arena Mexico Mexico City, Mexico 4 111   [G]
53 Apolo Dantés July 25, 1992 Live event Puebla, Puebla 1 243   [G]
54 Jaque Mate March 25, 1993 Live event Cuernavaca, Morelos 1 619   [G]
55 El Dandy December 4, 1994 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 681   [G]
56 Black Warrior October 15, 1996 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 201   [G]
57 Shocker May 4, 1997 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 310   [G]
58 Black Warrior March 10, 1998 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 2 727   [G]
59 Tarzan Boy March 6, 2000 Live event Puebla, Puebla 1 [Note 3]   [G]
— Vacated 2003 — — — — The championship was vacated when Tarzan Boy was unable to defend the championship due to injury. [14]
60 Vampiro Canadiense February 9, 2003 Live event Mexico City, Mexico 1 450 Vampiro defeated Tarzan Boy in a decision match for the vacant title. [14][15]
61 Shocker May 3, 2004 Live event Puebla, Puebla 2 [Note 4]   [16]
— Vacated 2005 — — — — CMLL stripped Shocker of the title when he did not appear for a scheduled title defense. [17]
62 Dr. Wagner, Jr. April 17, 2005 CMLL Domingos De Coliseo Mexico City, Mexico 1 461 Dr. Wagner, Jr. defeated Último Guerrero in a decision match for the vacant title. [17]
63 Atlantis July 22, 2006 Super Viernes Mexico City, Mexico 1 988   [18]
64 El Texano, Jr. April 5, 2009 CMLL Guadalajara Domingos Guadalajara, Jalisco 1 494    
— Deactivated August 12, 2010 — — — — The championship was vacated when CMLL returned it to NWA. CMLL replaces the championship with the NWA World Historic Light Heavyweight Championship.[19] [20]
National Wrestling Alliance (NWA Mexico)
† Super Nova May 19, 2013 Live event Blackfoot, Idaho 1 283 Defeated El Hijo de Rey Misterio and Lizmark Jr. in a tournament finals. Billed as an NWA title in Mexico but is not recognized by the NWA.

Reigns by combined length
Key
Symbol Meaning
† Indicates the current champion
¤ The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used.
+ Indicates that the date changes daily for the current champion.
Rank Wrestler No. of Reigns Combined Days
1 Gory Guerrero21,963
2 Ray Mendoza61,318¤ [Note 2]
3 Alfonso Dantés51,275
4 Apolo Dantés11,098
5 Tarzan Boy11,031¤ [Note 3]
6 Atlantis1988
7 Black Warrior2928
8 Lizmark4909
9 El Dandy1681
10 Ringo Mendoza2673
11 Rayo de Jalisco, Jr.1637
12 Jaque Mate1619
13 Dory Dixon1575
14 Shocker3553¤ [Note 4]
15 Dr. Wagner1523
16 Fabuloso Blondy2511
17 El Texano, Jr.1494
18 El Solitario1476
19 Dr. Wagner, Jr.1461
20 Vampiro Canadiense1450
21 El Satánico4447
22 Tony Salazar1343
23 Raul Mata1330
24 Super Nova1283¤
25 Gypsy Joe1277
26 Cien Caras1270
27 El Faraón2253
28 Adorable Rubí1231
29 Máscara Año 20001228
30 Ángel Blanco1220
31 Kim Sung Ho1175
32 Pak Choo1145
33 Pirata Morgan1116
34 MS-11104
35 Carlos Plata1100
36 Coloso Colosetti191
37 Ali Bey149
38 David Morgan256
39 Chavo Guerrero236
40 Roddy Piper12

Footnotes
  1. The most recent case of this is Mephisto's holding the NWA World Welterweight Championship, a belt with a 78 kg (172 lb) upper limit, despite weighing 90 kg (200 lb).
  2. The exact date on which Ray Mendoza vacated the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between 42 and 69 days.
  3. The exact date on which Tarzan Boy vacated the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between 1,031 and 1,069 days.
  4. The exact date on which Shocker vacates the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between 243 and 348 days.
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gollark: DC time it would be 2.
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gollark: "Why hope"

See also

References
General source for title changes before 2000

[G] - Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "Mexico: EMLL NWA World Light Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 389. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

Specific
  1. "Pastor y Luchador / Both a priest and a wrestler". Lucha Libre: Masked Superstars of Mexican Wrestling. Distributed Art Publishers, Inc. 2005. pp. 191–194. ISBN 968-6842-48-9.
  2. Madigan, Dan (2007). "Ángel Blanco". Mondo Lucha a Go-Go: the bizarre and honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperColins Publisher. pp. 102–105. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  3. Arturo Montiel Rojas (August 30, 2001). "Reglamento de Box y Lucha Libre Professional del Estado de Mexico" (PDF) (in Spanish). Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2006. Retrieved July 27, 2009. Articulo 242: "Super medio 92 kilos / Semi Completo 97 kilos"
  4. Hornbaker, Tim (2007). "Distinguished Wrestling Champions". National Wrestling Alliance: the untold story of the monopoly that strangled pro wrestling. ECW Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-1-55022-741-3.
  5. Ruiz Glez, Alex (March 12, 2010). "Mephisto responde a Blue Demon Jr.: "No tengo que entrar a ninguna eliminatoria porque yo soy el campeón..."". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  6. "Campeones" (in Spanish). Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  7. Hoops, Brian (June 29, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history: 2nd Steve Austin WWE title reign begins, infamous Stan Hansen AWA title belt stripping story". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. Hoops, Brian (June 2, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (June 2): Hogan beats Inoki to win 1st IWGP tourney, HTM's Intercontinental title reign begins". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  9. Hoops, Brian (January 20, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/20): HHH returns, wins 2002 Royal Rumble". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  10. Centela, Trddy (April 4, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 1981: Sangriento choque Villano III-Kuniaki Kobayashi — Águila India y Gran Cochisse, rapados" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas Magazine. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  11. Centinela, Teddy (March 12, 2015). "En un día como hoy… 1982: David Morgan, campeón — Se presenta Atsushi Onita — El Fantasma y César Curiel ganan lucha de apuestas". SuperLuchas Magazine (in Spanish). Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  12. Hoops, Brian (January 15, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/15): Big John Studd wins 1989 Royal Rumble". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  13. Hoops, Brian (July 28, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (July 28): Lou Thesz wrestles the husband of the world's greatest all-time female athlete". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  14. "Número Especial – Lo mejor de la mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana durante el 2003". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 5, 2004. 40.
  15. Hoops, Brian (February 9, 2017). "On this day in pro wrestling history (Feb 9): The Midnight Rider defeated Ric Flair". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  16. "Número Especial – Lo mejor de la mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana durante el 2004". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 24, 2005. 91.
  17. "2005 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 3, 2006. 140.
  18. "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana duranted el 2006". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). December 23, 2006. 192. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
  19. Ocampo, Jorge (April 13, 2009). "Texanito derrota Atlantis". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). issue 310.
  20. "Número Especial - Lo mejor de la mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana durante el 2010". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 12, 2011. 399.
  21. Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2006). "New Jersey: NWA Light Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 53. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.

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