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British Heavyweight Championship

For the boxing championship, see List of British heavyweight boxing champions.

The British Heavyweight Championship is a top British wrestling championship found throughout the country's circuit. The championship was recognised and defended on matches screened by UK national television network ITV as part of the professional wrestling slot on World of Sport as well as standalone broadcasts.[1][2] Pre-publicity for these championship match broadcasts was given in ITV's nationally published listings magazine TVTimes.[3][4]

British Heavyweight Championship
Details
Date established1930
Current champion(s)Oliver Grey
Date won14 October 2022
Statistics
First champion(s)Atholl Oakeley
Most reignsBilly Joyce (6 reigns)

Multiple versions of the British Heavyweight Championship may exist in the wrestling circuit of the United Kingdom at any given time, however some versions have been undisputed by dint of being the only active version during that period. The British Wrestling Association version was undisputed 1930-1934 and 1938-1950. The Joint Promotions version was undisputed 1952-1958, 1966-1974 and 1975-1982. This version was then transferred to All Star Wrestling where it remained undisputed until 1985 and became so again from 1989 until the late 1990s (as smaller, often American-style promotions increasingly set up their own versions).

Title histories edit

This is the combined list of different versions of the British Heavyweight Titles, each of which was probably the most significant version at the time. Each version may or may not be connected to another. However, all title changes are either actual or "official" unless indicated otherwise.

Key
SymbolMeaning
No.The overall championship reign
ReignThe reign number for the specific wrestler listed.
EventThe event in which the championship changed hands
N/AThe specific information is not known
—Used for vacated reigns in order to not count it as an official reign
[Note]Indicates that the exact length of the title reign is unknown, with a note providing more details.

British Wrestling Association 1930–1950 edit

No.ChampionReignDateDays heldLocationEventNotesRef.
1Atholl Oakeley11930[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventWon a series of matches to become the first champion. 
—Vacated—1935—N/AN/AVacated when Oakeley retired due to injuries 
2Bill Garnon11935[Note 1]London, EnglandLive event  
3Fazal Mohammed11937[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
4Alan Muir11938[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
5Michael O'Leary11939[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
—Vacated———N/AN/AMichael O'Leary was killed during the outbreak of the war, he died undefeated. 
6Bert Assirati127 January 1945[Note 1]ManchesterLive eventAssirati had been claiming the title since 1940. 
—Vacated—1950—N/AN/AChampionship vacated when Assirati left Britain for India. 
Disputed claims 1934-1938
No.ChampionReignDateDays heldLocationEventNotesRef.
1Bill Garnon11934[Note 1]LondonLive eventSome claim Garnon's first reign began one year earlier 
2Douglas Clark12 November 1934[Note 1]ManchesterLive event  
3George Gregory11938[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventWon by default when Clark fails to appear for a scheduled defence. 
—Vacated———N/AN/AUntil Bert Assirati is recognised as champion 

Joint Promotions 1952–1982 & 1985–1989 edit

No.ChampionReignDateDays heldLocationEventNotesRef.
1Ernie Baldwin1January 1952[Note 1]NewcastleLive eventDefeated Dave Armstrong in a tournament final. 
2Alf Rawlings11953[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
3Dai Sullivan11953[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
4Ernie Baldwin21953[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
5Tony Mancelli19 September 1955[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
—Vacated—1955—N/AN/AChampionship vacated for undocumented reasons. 
6Bert Assirati219 October 1955[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventDefeated Ernie Baldwin 
—Vacated—1958—N/AN/AStripped by Joint Promotions; Assirati would continue to claim the title in BWF 
7Billy Joyce115 April 1958[Note 1]LondonLive eventDefeated Gordon Nelson. 
8Ernie Baldwin3November 1959[Note 1]GlasgowLive event  
9Billy Joyce2December 1959[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
10Dennis Mitchell1December 1959[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
11Billy Joyce315 July 19601,333BradfordLive event  
12Geoff Portz19 March 196417BradfordLive event  
13Billy Joyce426 March 1964693MiddlesbroughLive event  
14Albert Wall117 February 19663NottinghamLive event  
15Gwynn Davies120 February 196625NottinghamLive event  
16Billy Joyce517 March 196648NottinghamLive event  
17Ian Campbell14 May 196655Perth, ScotlandLive event  
18Billy Joyce628 June 1966204EdinburghLive eventBecame the undisputed champion when Shirley Crabtree vacated the BWF version. 
19Billy Robinson118 January 1967[Note 1]ManchesterLive event [5]
—Vacated—February 1970—N/AN/AChampionship vacated when Robinson left for North America. 
20Albert Wall213 April 1970280NottinghamLive eventDefeated Steve Veidor to win the vacant championship 
21Gwynn Davies218 January 1971110LoughboroughLive event  
22Albert Wall38 May 1971[Note 1]ManchesterLive event  
—Vacated—1974—N/AN/AChampionship vacated when Wall "retired" (in fact left Joint to work for independent promoters and continued to claim title - see All Star below) [6] 
23Gwynn Davies315 February 1975833ManchesterLive event  
24Tony St. Clair128 May 1977543ManchesterLive event  
25Giant Haystacks122 November 1978154LondonLive event  
26Tony St. Clair225 April 1979[Note 1]LondonLive eventMoved to #All Star Wrestling in 1982 with the title 
—Vacated—1985—N/AN/ARecognition was withdrawn by Joint Promotions in 1985 
27Ray Steele114 May 1985377CroydonLive event  
28Pat Roach126 April 1986159[Note 2]Live event  
29Dalbir Singh12 October 1986[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
—Vacated—1989—N/AN/AAll Star's Tony St. Clair becomes undisputed champion after Singh joins All Star and renounces his claim. 

Disputed Branch: British Wrestling Federation 1958–1966 edit

No.ChampionReignDateDays heldLocationEventNotesRef.
1Bert Assirati21958[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventStripped by Joint Promotions - Continued to claim title and was recognised by BWF
—Vacated—1960—N/AN/AAssirati stripped by BWF while recovering from injury. 
2Shirley Crabtree11960[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventWon a tournament 
—Vacated—1966—N/AN/ACrabtree retired after a legitimate campaign of harassment by Assirati.[7] No replacement was crowned, making Joint Promotions' Billy Joyce an Undisputed Champion. 

All Star Wrestling 1974, 1982–present edit

No.ChampionReignDateDays heldLocationEventNotesRef.
0Albert Wall38 May 1971[Note 1]ManchesterLive eventContinued to defend title on shows by Wrestling Enterprises (as All Star then known) for some months after 1974 "retirement" from Joint[6]
—Vacated—mid/late 1970s—N/AN/AChampionship vacated when Wall retires completely.[6] 
1Tony St. Clair225 April 1979[Note 1]LondonLive eventCame to All Star in 1982 with the title from Joint Promotions. No direct lineage to above Albert Wall splinter claim. 
2Kendo Nagasaki11988[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
3Tony St. Clair31988[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventBecame undisputed champion after Joint Promotions' champion Singh joins All Star in 1989 and renounces his claim. 
4Dave 'Fit' Finlay15 February 1990425CroydonLive event  
5Dave Taylor16 April 1991759King's LynnLive event  
6Tony St. Clair44 May 1993[Note 1]CroydonLive event  
—Vacated—1995—N/AN/AChampionship vacated for undocumented reasons. 
7Dave Taylor2August 1995[Note 1]CroydonLive eventDefeated Marty Jones in a tournament final. 
8Marty Jones11996[Note 1]CroydonLive event  
—Vacated—1996—N/AN/AUpon Marty Jones' retirement 
9Karl Krammer1circa 1998[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventClaimed title by 1998 
10Doug Williams12001[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventClaiming title by 2001. Would later take the title to the Universal title tournament. 
11Robbie Brookside129 September 2002982LiverpoolLive eventWilliams was still considered the Universal champion 
12Drew McDonald17 June 2005224CroydonLive event  
13Steve Sonic117 January 2006129CroydonLive event  
—Vacated—26 May 2006—N/AN/ASonic would relinquish the title to return to WWE's developmental promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling. 
14James Mason112 November 2006232[Note 2]Live eventMason defeated Drew McDonald, Doug Williams, and Robbie Brookside in a 4-way elimination match to win the vacant title. 
15Brody Steele12 September 2007162LiverpoolLive event [8]
16Robbie Brookside211 February 2008LiverpoolLive event  
—Vacated—May 2009—N/AN/AChampionship vacated due to a knee injury. 
17Rampage Brown116 May 2009270HanleyLive eventWon 4-way elimination final of an 8-man tournament against James Mason, Doug Williams, and Karl Kramer. 
18Dean Allmark12 October 2010774HanleyLive event  
19Rampage Brown225 March 2012356CroydonLive event  
20Dean Allmark216 March 2013566HanleyLive event  
21Thunder (Darren Walsh)13 October 2014333CroydonLive event  
—Vacated—September 2015—N/AN/AChampionship vacated due to a knee injury.;
22Sam Adonis13 October 2015<332CroydonLive eventDefeats James Mason in tournament final   
—Vacated—August 2016—N/AN/AStripped of title due to lack of defences.;
23Robbie Dynamite130 August 2016<1RhylLive eventDefeats James Mason in match for vacant title   
24Dean Allmark330 August 2016150RhylLive eventEarned title shot at new champion Robbie Dynamite after winning Money In The Bank earlier in the evening   
25Harlem Bravado127 January 2017273New BrightonLive event  
26Oliver Grey127 October 20172,416IpswichLive event  
27Niwa119 February 20201,571GravesendLive eventNiwa returned to his native New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic, returning to the UK in 2022. He was excused from defending his title during this period. 
28Oliver Grey214 October 2022603TelfordLive event 

Disputed Branch: The Wrestling Alliance 1999–2003 edit

No.ChampionReignDateDays heldLocationEventdNotesRef.
1Robbie Brookside11999[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventRecognised as champion by TWA 
2Drew McDonald1March 2001[Note 1][Note 2]Live event  
3Justin Starr17 May 200166WeymouthLive event  
—Vacated—12 July 2001—N/AN/AFollowing a controversial finish in the Starr/MacDonald rematch. 
—Vacated—16 December 2001—N/AN/ABrookside was suspended and stripped of the belts-after sanctioning his own defences resulting in a breach of contract. 
4Justin Starr217 January 20029SouthamptonLive event  
5Doug Williams126 January 20020Bognor RegisFWA Champion, Williams defeated Justin Starr to win recognition by The Wrestling Alliance.  
6Robbie Brookside226 January 2002Bognor Regis    
—Vacated—1 February 2002—N/AN/ARumble match would be held the same night to declare new champion. 
7Justin Starr31 February 2002160ExmouthLive eventWon a royal rumble match to win the vacant championship 
8Ricky Knight111 July 2002[Note 1]WeymouthLive event  
9Justin Starr4November 2002 BristolLive event  
—Vacated—2002—N/AN/AChampionship vacated due to injury. 
10Alex Shane123 March 2003[Note 1][Note 2]Live eventDefeated James Mason for the vacant belt. 
—Vacated—25 March 2003—N/AN/ATWA's owner, Scott Conway would strip the title from Shane following his actions in a match against Jake "The Snake" Roberts. 
—Vacated—2003—N/AN/AConway closes the company and emigrates to Thailand. 

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al The length of the championship is too uncertain to calculate.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x The location of the match was not captured as part of the documentation.

Universal British Heavyweight Championship edit

On 10 July 2002 All-Star's Champion, Doug Williams along with other top title holding wrestlers entered into a tournament to be recognised as Universal British Heavyweight Champion by The Wrestling Alliance, Frontier Wrestling Alliance, World Association of Wrestling, All Star Wrestling, and Premier Promotions. Doug Williams would first defeat the then-TWA British Heavyweight Champion, Justin Starr (though Starr would continue to be recognised as champion), before going on to defeat The Zebra Kid in a tournament final to become the Universal British Heavyweight Champion.

The Universal version of this title would not last long with all the promotions splitting out their British Heavyweight titles, but Williams continued to be recognised as the Universal British Heavyweight Champion.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Gwyn Davies successful defence of British Heavyweight Championship against challenger Steve Veidor at Royal Albert Hall, London, 26 May 1976". World Of Sport - Wrestling. ITV. 24 July 1976. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Ray Steele successful defence of British Heavyweight Championship against challenger Colin Joynson at Morley 25 May 1985". World Of Sport - Wrestling. ITV. 8 June 1985. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021.
  3. ^ "British Heavyweight Championship: Gwyn Davies v Steve Veidor". Saturday 24 July - Friday 30 July 1976 - Saturday listings page. TVTimes. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  4. ^ ""British Heavyweight Championship: Ray Steele v Colin Joynson"". Saturday 8 June - Friday 14 June 1985 - Saturday listings page. TVTimes. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  5. ^ Hoops, Brian (18 January 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/18): Ivan Koloff defeats Bruno Sammartino for WWWF title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Fighting Spirit Magazine issue 165, Greetings Grapple Fans column by John Lister on Wall & Davies, pp 66-69
  7. ^ "House of Deception - History of British Wrestling".
  8. ^ Plummer, Russel (3 September 2007). "All Star Wrestling Grapplevine". bigtimewrestlinguk.

External links edit

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