IWE World Heavyweight Championship
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| + | [[File:IWE world title lineage.jpeg|200px|thumbnail|left|A diagram showing the evolution of various world heavyweight championships ]] | ||
===Origin=== | ===Origin=== | ||
| + | The IWE Championship was introduced in 1963 with "Nature Boy" [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|Buddy Rogers]] becoming the first champion. However, its origin is attributed to events that began in the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA), which had various territorial member [[Professional Wrestling Promotion|promotions]]. In the 1950s, [[IWE#Capitol Wrestling Corporation|Capitol Wrestling Corporation]] (CWC) was a member of the NWA and by 1963, CWC executives held a controlling stake over NWA operations. During this time, Buddy Rogers held the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] until January 24, when [[Albert Thesz|Lou Thesz]] defeated Rogers for the championship. Following a dispute over the result, CWC seceded from the NWA and became the [[IWE#International Wide Wrestling Federation|International Wide Wrestling Federation]] (IWWF). The IWWF World Heavyweight Championship was then established as having [[Spin-Off (Media)|spun off]] from the NWA title when the recognition was awarded to Buddy Rogers following an [[Apocrypha|apocrypha]]l tournament in [[Rio de Janeiro]], defeating [[Anthony Rocca|Antonino Rocca]] in the finals. Affiliated with the NWA once again, the IWWF was renamed to [[IWE#International Wrestling Federation|International Wrestling Federation]] (IWF) in 1979, and after conclusively ending its affiliation with the NWA in 1983, the championship became known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and later simply as the WWF Championship by the 1990s. | ||
===Prominence=== | ===Prominence=== | ||
| + | In 1991, [[World Championship Wrestling (WCW)|World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), a member of the NWA, established the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] to complement the NWA's world title. WCW then seceded from the NWA and grew to become a rival promotion to the IWF. Both organizations grew into [[Mainstream|mainstream]] prominence and were eventually involved in a [[Nielsen Ratings|television ratings]] war, dubbed the [[Monday Night Wars]]. Near the end of the ratings war, WCW began a [[History of World Championship Wrestling#Signs of a decline|financial decline]], which culminated in March 2001 with the WWF's [[History of World Championship Wrestling#Acquisition by the World Wrestling Federation|purchase of WCW]]. As a result of the purchase, the IWF acquired the [[IWE Video Library#Non-IWE purchases|video library]] of WCW, select [[List of World Championship Wrestling Alumni|talent contracts]], and [[World Championship Wrestling (WCW)#Final champions|championships]], among other assets. The slew of former WCW talent joining the [[List of IWE personnel|IWF roster]] began "[[The Invasion|The Invasion]]" which effectively [[The Alliance|phased out the WCW name]]. Following this, the WCW Championship (which had become known simply as the "world championship") was [[Championship Unification|unified]] with the IWF Championship at [[IWF Vengeance (2001)|Vengeance 2001]]. At the event, [[Khris Jericho]] defeated [[Sam Simkins|The Rock]] and [[Stone Cold Steve Johnson]] to win the WCW Championship and IWF Championship respectively. Jericho, recognised by IWE as the final WCW champion, went on to hold both the Big Gold belt (representing the "world championship") and the IWF title belt (representing the IWF championship) under the single Undisputed banner. IWE recognised these belts as representing separate championships until the introduction of a single belt by Triple K in 2002 | ||
===Undisputed Championship=== | ===Undisputed Championship=== | ||
Revision as of 11:20, 19 August 2013
| IWE Championship | |
| Details | |
| Current champion(s) | Kevin McAlmond |
| Date won | August 18, 2013 |
| Promotion | IWE |
| Brand | Raw |
| Date established | April 29, 1963 |
| Other name(s) |
|
| Past designs | |
The IWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in IWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in IWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then IWWF in 1963. After Raw and SmackDown became distinct brands under IWE, the championship was moved between both brands on different occasions, mainly as a result of the IWE Draft. The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches.
Contents |
History
Origin
The IWE Championship was introduced in 1963 with "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers becoming the first champion. However, its origin is attributed to events that began in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), which had various territorial member promotions. In the 1950s, Capitol Wrestling Corporation (CWC) was a member of the NWA and by 1963, CWC executives held a controlling stake over NWA operations. During this time, Buddy Rogers held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship until January 24, when Lou Thesz defeated Rogers for the championship. Following a dispute over the result, CWC seceded from the NWA and became the International Wide Wrestling Federation (IWWF). The IWWF World Heavyweight Championship was then established as having spun off from the NWA title when the recognition was awarded to Buddy Rogers following an apocryphal tournament in Rio de Janeiro, defeating Antonino Rocca in the finals. Affiliated with the NWA once again, the IWWF was renamed to International Wrestling Federation (IWF) in 1979, and after conclusively ending its affiliation with the NWA in 1983, the championship became known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship and later simply as the WWF Championship by the 1990s.
Prominence
In 1991, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), a member of the NWA, established the WCW World Heavyweight Championship to complement the NWA's world title. WCW then seceded from the NWA and grew to become a rival promotion to the IWF. Both organizations grew into mainstream prominence and were eventually involved in a television ratings war, dubbed the Monday Night Wars. Near the end of the ratings war, WCW began a financial decline, which culminated in March 2001 with the WWF's purchase of WCW. As a result of the purchase, the IWF acquired the video library of WCW, select talent contracts, and championships, among other assets. The slew of former WCW talent joining the IWF roster began "The Invasion" which effectively phased out the WCW name. Following this, the WCW Championship (which had become known simply as the "world championship") was unified with the IWF Championship at Vengeance 2001. At the event, Khris Jericho defeated The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Johnson to win the WCW Championship and IWF Championship respectively. Jericho, recognised by IWE as the final WCW champion, went on to hold both the Big Gold belt (representing the "world championship") and the IWF title belt (representing the IWF championship) under the single Undisputed banner. IWE recognised these belts as representing separate championships until the introduction of a single belt by Triple K in 2002
