TheWCWA Television Championship was a secondaryprofessional wrestlingchampionship that was used and defended in theWorld Class Wrestling Association (WCWA). Originally created in 1979 as theNWA Television Championship, one of many television championships across theNWA territories, it was primarily defended on their weekly television show. At the time of its creation the championship was promoted by NWA Big Time Wrestling (BTW). BTW changed its name to "World Class Championship Wrestling" (WCCW) in 1982 and the championship became known as theWCCW Television Championship. In 1986 WCCW withdrew from the NWA and became known as the World Class Wrestling Association. As it is a professional wrestling championship, it is won not by actual competition, but by ascripted ending to a match.[a]
The first NWA Television Champion wasThe Spoiler, who won abattle royal on January 7, 1979, to claim the championship.[2][3]Bill Irwin won the championship a record-setting seven times between 1979 and 1982. Irwin's second reign lasted 181 days, the longest individual reign of any of the champions and his combined reigns total at least 464 days, possibly 467 days.[2][3]Kevin Von Erich was awarded the championship due to a disqualification, but refused to win the championship in such manner and immediately vacated it, putting his reign at only a couple of minutes, the shortest of any champion.[2][3] After the final champion,Tony Atlas, left the company, the Championship was abandoned in April 1987.[2][3]
Haynes left WCCW and vacated the title after (in storyline) being attacked and injured by Oliver on February 4th in Ft. Worth. The footage and announcement of Haynes' injury aired on February 16, 1985.
^Hornbaker (2016) p. 550: "Professional wrestling is a sport in which match finishes are predetermined. Thus, win–loss records are not indicative of a wrestler's genuine success based on their legitimate abilities – but on now much, or how little they were pushed by promoters"[1]
^The exact date on which Bugsy McGraw lost the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between26 and29 days.
^The exact date on which Bill Iwrin won the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between0 and3 days.
^The exact date on which Checkmate vacated the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between0 and27 days.
^The exact date on which Frank Dusek won the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between2 and28 days.
^The exact date on which Iceman Parsons vacated the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between11 and40 days.
^The exact date on which Bruiser Brody gave up the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between15 and30 days.
^The exact date on which Chris Adams was given the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between0 and161 days.
^The exact date on which WCCW abandoned the title is unknown, which means the title reign lasted between121 and150 days.
Hornbaker, Tim (2016). "Statistical notes".Legends of Pro Wrestling - 150 years of headlocks, body slams, and piledrivers (Revised ed.). New York, New York: Sports Publishing.ISBN978-1-61321-808-2.
