AWA International Heavyweight Championship

The AWA International Heavyweight Championship, originally known as the CWA/AWA International Heavyweight Championship (also identified in "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" magazine as the Mid-Southern International Championship and the AWA International Championship) was a major professional wrestling title defended in the Continental Wrestling Association. It was created in 1983 from the CWA's partnership with the American Wrestling Association. The title lasted until 1987, when it was unified with the NWA Mid-America Heavyweight and AWA Southern Heavyweight championships, creating the CWA Heavyweight Championship.

Title history

AWA Superstars of Wrestling

The title was supposedly revived in 1996 in Dale Gagner's independent promotion AWA Superstars of Wrestling, who relicensed the AWA name. However, World Wrestling Entertainment has sued Gagner for the use of the AWA name, citing trademark infringement, as the WWE owns the AWA tape library, trademarks, and logos. AWA Superstars of Wrestling has claimed lineage for their title to the classic AWA/CWA title and control over the title history, but because there is no connection to the original organizations or individuals involved therein, no continuity in title reigns or even physical belts, and questionable legal use of the AWA name, the claims made by AWA Superstars of Wrestling are in historical dispute and in legal jeopardy.

ee also

*American Wrestling Association
*Continental Wrestling Association
*CWA Heavyweight Championship

References

External links

* [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/cwa-int-h.html CWA International Heavyweight Championship history – Wrestling-Titles.com]
* [http://prowrestlinghistory.com/memphis/index.html Mid-South Coliseum results – ProWrestlingHistory.com]
* [http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/old/awaint.htm AWA International Heavyweight Championship history – Wrestling Information Archive]