NWA TITLE DEFENSES


NWA World Title Defenses - Jim Crockett Promotions 1948-1981
A Work in Progress 

We are constantly searching for more information on NWA title defenses in the Crockett/Mid-Atlantic territory that we don't have listed. If you have any further information we could add to the list, please contact us on our CONTACT page. Thanks!

Note: Since the Newspapers.com website does not yet include Greensboro, Norfolk, or Richmond papers, there are bound to be lots of those dates to mix in with some of these 1950s/1960s NWA champion tours.

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LOU THESZ
11/27/49 - 3/15/56

1951
05/23/51 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Ala (Terrible Turk) Pasha

1953
05/18/53 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Armory) Lou Thesz vs. Juan Humberto
05/19/53 Columbia SC (Township Auditorium) Lou Thesz vs. ?
05/20/53 Raleigh NC (Memorial Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Jack Moore
05/21/53 Norfolk VA - Lou Thesz vs. ?
05/22/53 Richmond VA (Atlantic Rural Exposition) - Lou Thesz vs. Charro Aztec

1956
01/13/56 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Lou Thesz vs. George Becker



"WHIPPER" BILLY WATSON 
03/15/56 - 11/09/56
No title defenses found so far.



LOU THESZ
11/09/56 - 11/14/57
 No title defenses found so far. 




DICK HUTTON 
11/14/57 - 01/09/59

1958
05/12/58 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Dick Hutton vs. Nick Roberts
05/15/58 Norfolk VA (Venue Unknown) - Dick Hutton vs. Mr. Moto
05/16/58 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Dick Hutton vs. Mr. Moto
05/17/58 Lexington NC (YMCA) - Dick Hutton vs. Mr. Moto



PAT O'CONNOR
01/09/59 - 06/30/61

1960
02/29/60 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Pat O'Connor vs. Larry (Crusher) Hamilton
03/01/60 Raleigh NC (Memorial Auditorium) - Pat O'Connor vs. McClarity
03/05/60 Lexington NC (Lexington YMCA) - Pat O'Connor vs. Karl Von Hess
03/07/60 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Pat O'Connor vs. The Great Bolo
03/08/60 Raleigh NC (Memorial Auditorium) - Pat O'Connor vs. Larry Hamilton

1961
01/02/61 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Pat O'Connor vs. Danny McShane
01/03/61 Raleigh NC (Memorial Auditorium) - Pat O'Connor vs. Danny McShane
01/09/61 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Pat O'Connor vs. Waldo Von Erich
01/10/61 Raleigh NC (Memorial Auditorium) - Pat O'Connor vs. Ike Eakins



BUDDY ROGERS
06/30/61 - 01/24/63

1961
07/17/61 Charlotte NC (Memorial Stadium) - Buddy Rogers vs. P. Y. Chung
10/23/61 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Buddy Rogers vs. Rip Hawk

1962
01/29/62 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Buddy Rogers vs. Guy Larose
02/12/62 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) - Buddy Rogers vs. Johnny Valentine
03/26/62 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) - Buddy Rogers vs. Johnny Valentine
03/27/62 Raleigh NC (Memorial Auditorium) - Buddy Rogers vs. Johnny Weaver
08/27/62 Charlotte NC (Memorial Stadium) - Buddy Rogers vs. Haystack Calhoun




LOU THESZ
01/24/63 - 01/07/66

1963
11/24/63 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Lou Thesz vs. Ike Eakins
11/25/63 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Lou Thesz vs. Tarzan Tyler (non-title)
11/27/63 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver
11/28/63 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Lou Thesz vs. Swede Hanson
11/29/63 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Lou Thesz vs. Tarzan Tyler

1964
03/16/64 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Lou Thesz vs. John Smith
03/17/64 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Lou Thesz vs. The Great Bolo
03/18/64 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver
03/19/64 TBD *Likely Norfolk. Wasn't in Greensboro.
03/20/64 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver

THESZ MISSED THESE SCHEDULE DATES BECASUE OF BROKEN RIBS
05/04/64 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Lou Thesz vs. Ronnie Etchison
05/05/64 Raleigh NC (Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Great Bolo
05/06/64 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver
05/08/64 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver  
*Promoter Joe Murnick notified his towns (Raleigh, Richmond). No advance word on the others .

06/22/64 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Lou Thesz vs. Ron Etchison
06/23/64 Raleigh NC (Memorial Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Tim Woods
06/24/64 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver
06/26/64 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver
06/29/64 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Jack Allen
06/30/64 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Lou Thesz vs. Sandy Scott

1965
02/09/65 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver
02/10/65 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Abe Jacobs
02/12/65 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver 
02/13/65 Lexington NC (Lexington Gym) - Lou Thesz vs. The Alaskan
04/05/65 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver
05/24/65 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver 
05/25/65 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Lou Thesz vs. George Scott
05/26/65 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. George Scott
05/28/65 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Lou Thesz vs. George Scott
06/14/65 Greenville SC (Mem. Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver
06/15/65 Raleigh NC (Memorial Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. George Scott
06/17/65 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Lou Thesz vs. Dale Lewis
11/01/65 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Abe Jacobs 
11/02/65 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Lou Thesz vs. Sandy Scott
11/03/65 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Johnny Weaver
11/05/65 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Lou Thesz vs. Abe Jacobs
11/22/65 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Lou Thesz vs. Abe Jacobs
11/23/65 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Lou Thesz vs. Nelson Royal (O'Connor on card, too.)
11/24/65 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Lou Thesz teams with Hawk & Hanson!*
   *The NWA had a rule then that the NWA Champion should not be featured in tag team matches (much less six-man tags!), but by the mid-60s, promoters were beginning to ignore it. This was one of the big bones of contention between Sam Muchnick and Vince McMahon - - that Buddy Rogers, when he was NWA champion, was working in so many tags in Madison Square Garden.
11/25/65 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Lou Thesz vs. Pat O'Connor
11/26/65 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Lou Thesz vs. Pat O'Connor



GENE KINISKI
01/07/66 - 02/11/69

1966
01/24/66 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Abe Jacobs
01/25/66 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. Abe Jacobs
01/27/66 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Hans Schmidt
01/28/66 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Gene Kiniski vs. Ike Eakins 
01/29/66 Roanoke VA (Starland Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. Abe Jacobs
06/06/66 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Abe Jacobs
06/07/66 Raleigh NC (State Fairgrounds) - Gene Kiniski vs. Abe Jacobs
08/29/66 Greenville SC (Mem Aud) - Gene Kiniski in tag team match vs. Thesz
08/30/66 Columbia SC (Township Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Johnny Weaver
08/31/66 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Tex McKensie
09/01/66 Greensboro NC (Greensboro Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Lou Thesz
09/02/66 Richmond VA (Strawberry Hill) - Gene Kiniski vs. Tex McKensie
09/03/66 Spartanburg SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Johnny Weaver
11/21/66 Charlotte NC (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Tex McKenzie
11/22/66 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. Johnny Weaver
11/23/66 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Klondike Bill
11/24/66 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Missouri Mauler


1967
02/23/67 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Tex McKensie
02/24/67 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Gene Kiniski vs. Klondike Bill
02/25/67 Roanoke VA (Starland Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. Klondike Bill
02/27/67 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Tex McKensie
02/28/67 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. Klondike Bill
11/20/67 Charlotte NC (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Missouri Mauler
11/21/67 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Kiniski teams with Hawk and Hanson 
11/23/67 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Johnny Weaver 
11/24/67 Richmond VA (Strawberry Hill) - Gene Kiniski vs. Tex McKensie

1968
01/26/68 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Gene Kiniski vs. George Scott
01/27/68 Roanoke VA (Starland Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. Abe Jacobs
01/29/68 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Gene Kiniski vs. Abe Jacobs
01/31/68 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. George Scott
03/09/68 Roanoke VA (Starland Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. Paul Jones
03/11/68 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. George Scott
03/12/68 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. George Scott
04/25/68 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. George Scott
04/26/68 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Gene Kiniski vs. Johnny Weaver
04/27/68 Roanoke VA (Starland Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. Bobby Red Cloud
04/29/68 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Chief Little Eagle
04/30/68 Columbia SC (Township Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Abe Jacobs
09/02/68 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Lou Thesz
09/03/68 Columbia SC (Township Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Johnny Weaver
09/05/68 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Lou Thesz
09/06/68 Richmond VA (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Lou Thesz
09/07/68 Rocky Mount NC (Municipal Stadium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Johnny Weaver


1969
01/27/69 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Mr. Wrestling
01/28/69 Columbia SC (Township Auditorium) - Gene Kiniski vs. Missouri Mauler
01/30/69 Greensboro NC (Coliseum) - Gene Kiniski vs. Sam Steamboat
01/31/69 Richmond VA (Strawberry Hill) - Gene Kiniski vs. Mr. Wrestling
02/01/69 Roanoke VA (Starland Arena) - Gene Kiniski vs. Johnny Weaver



DORY FUNK JR.
02/11/69 - 5/24/73

1969
02/17/69 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Funk Jr. vs. Lee Henning (cancelled; weather)
02/18/69 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) - Dory Funk, Jr. vs. Bulldog Lee Henning
02/19/69 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Panch Valdez (cancelled; weather)
02/20/69 Burlington NC (Elon College Gym) - Dory Funk, Jr. vs. El Lobo
02/21/69 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Bulldog Lee Henning
02/24/69 Charlotte NC (Park Center) - Dory Funk Jr. vs. Bulldog Lee Henning
06/27/69 Richmond VA (State Fairgrounds) - Dory Funk Jr. vs. Rock Hunter
06/28/68 Burlington NC (Ball Park) - Dory Funk Jr. vs Abe Jacobs (Non-title)
06/30/69 Charlotte NC (Coliseum) - Dory Funk Jr. vs. Great Malenko
07/01/69 Columbia SC (Township Auditorium) - Dory Funk Jr vs. Rock Hunter
07/02/69 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) - Dory Funk Jr. vs. Bronco Lubich


1970
03/09/70 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jack Brisco
03/10/70 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Ole Anderson
03/12/70 Norfolk VA (Scope Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Gene Anderson
03/13/70 Richmond VA (Richmond Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Ole Anderson
03/14/70 Lexington NC (Lexington Gym) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Art Nelson
06/29/70 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jack Brisco
06/30/70 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Art Nelson
07/03/70 Richmond VA (Richmond Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Bronko Lubich
07/04/70 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Art Nelson
09/07/70 Greenville SC (Memorial Auditorium) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Rip Hawk
09/08/70 Columbia SC (Township Auditorium) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
09/10/70 Norfolk VA (Norfolk Scope) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Sandy Scott
09/11/70 Richmond VA (Richmond Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Gene Anderson
11/23/70 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Rip Hawk
11/24/70 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Thunderbolt Patterson
11/25/70 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
11/26/70 Greensboro NC (Greensboro Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jerry Brisco
11/27/70 Richmond VA (Richmond Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Missouri Mauler
11/28/70 Salem VA (Civic Center) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Luther Lindsey
(Dory's 1970 title defenses can also be found on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archive site.)

1971 
02/01/71 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
02/02/71 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Gene Anderson
02/04/71 Norfolk VA (Scope Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Luther Lindsey
02/05/71 Richmond VA (Richmond Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jerry Brisco
07/05/71 Charlotte NC (Park Center) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
07/06/71 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arenas) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Nelson Royal
07/07/71 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Gene Anderson
07/08/71 Norfolk VA (Scope Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
09/06/71 Charlotte NC (Park Center) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
09/07/71 Columbia SC (Township Auditorium) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Brute Bernard
09/09/71 Greensboro NC (Greensboro NC) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Danny Miller
09/10/71 Richmond VA (Richmond Fairgrounds) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Danny Miller
11/22/71 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jerry Brisco
11/23/71 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
11/25/71 Norfolk VA (Scope Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jerry Brisco
(Dory's 1971 title defenses can also be found on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archive site.) 

1972
02/14/72 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
02/15/72 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Rock Hunter
02/16/72 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Rip Hawk
02/17/72 Greensboro NC (Greensboro Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jack Brisco
04/10/72 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
04/29/72 Hampton VA (Hampton Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
07/03/72 Fayetteville NC (Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Missouri Mauler
07/04/72 Columbia SC (Township Auditorium) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jerry Brisco
07/06/72 Norfolk VA (Norfolk Scope) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Rip Hawk
09/05/72 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) Dory Funk Jr. Jack Brisco
09/07/72 Norfolk VA (Norfolk Scope ) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jim Dillon
09/08/72 Richmond VA (Richmond Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. Johnny Weaver
11/20/72 Charlotte NC (Charlotte Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. Jack Brisco
11/21/72 Raleigh NC (Dorton Arena) Dory Funk Jr. Johnny Weaver
11/24/72 Charleston SC (County Hall) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Jerry Brisco
11/25/72 Hampton VA (Hampton Coliseum) Dory Funk Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
(Dory's 1972 title defenses can also be found on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archive site.)

1973
01/26/73 Charleston SC (County Hall) - Dory Funk, Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
01/27/73 Spartanburg SC (Memorial Auditorium) Dory Funk, Jr. vs. Johnny Weaver
(Dory's 1973 title defenses can also be found on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archive site.)




HARLEY RACE
05/24/73 - 07/20/73 
1973
07/02/73 Charlotte NC (Park Center) Harley Race vs. Jerry Brisco
07/03/73 Raliegh NC (Civic Center) Harley Race vs. Lord Jonathan Boyd
07/04/73 Asheville NC (City Auditorium) Harley Race vs. Johnny Weaver
07/05/73 Norfolk VA (Scope Coliseum) Harley Race vs. Rip Hawk
(Race's 1973 title defenses can also be found on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archive site.)



JACK BRISCO 
 07/20/73 - 12/10/75 
1973
Jack Brisco's 1973 NWA title defenses are currently listed on the Mid-Atlantic Gateway Archive site. These results will eventually be transferred to this page, too.

1974
Jack Brisco's 1974 NWA title defenses currently listed on the Gateway Archive site.
These results will eventually be transferred to this page, too.

1975 
Jack Brisco's 1975 NWA title defenses currently listed on the Gateway Archive site.
These results will eventually be transferred to this page.




TERRY FUNK
  12/10/75 - 2/06/77
 1976
Terry Funk's 1976 NWA title defenses currently listed on the Gateway Archive site.
These results will eventually be transferred to this page.



Work in progress.