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Professional wrestling championship
The Southern States Wrestling (SSW) Heavyweight Championship is the primary professional wrestling championship in Southern States Wrestling . It was first won by The Tennessee Equalizer when he defeated George Hiatt in Elizabethton, Tennessee on February 16, 1991. The title is generally defended in the Southern United States , most often in its home base in East Tennessee , but also as far away as Virginia and West Virginia .[1] In August 2004, then champion Ray Idol began wrestling for rival promotion NWA Championship Wrestling. Although he was immediately stripped of the title, Idol continued defending a different NWA Championship Wrestling-version under the SSW name. However, this was short-lived and the title became a regular title within the main promotion. There are 41 recognized champions with a total of 69 title reigns and 8 vacancies.[2] [3] Wayne Adkins is the current Champion in his second reign. He won the title off of Lord Murphy Costigan at a house show in Kingsport.
Key
No.
Overall reign number
Reign
Reign number for the specific champion
Days
Number of days held
<1
Reign lasted less than a day
+
Current reign is changing daily
No.
Champion
Championship change
Reign statistics
Notes
Ref.
Date
Event
Location
Reign
Days
1
Tennessee Equalizer
February 16, 1991
House show
Elizabethton, Tennessee
1
146
Defeated George Hiatt to become the inaugural champion.
[1] [2] [3]
2
Skyfire
July 12, 1991
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
111
[1] [2] [3]
3
Stan Lee
October 31, 1991
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
250
[1] [2] [3]
4
Wayne Rogers
July 7, 1992
House show
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
185
[1] [2] [3]
5
G.Q. Stratus
January 8, 1993
House show
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
196
[1] [2] [3]
6
Jimmy Golden
March 30, 1993
House show
Weber City, Virginia
1
115
[1] [2] [3]
7
Wayne Rogers
July 23, 1993
House show
Fall Branch, Tennessee
2
218
[1] [2] [3]
8
Mike Samson
February 26, 1994
House show
Morristown, Tennessee
1
69
[1] [2] [3]
9
The Mongolian Stomper
May 6, 1994
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
186-216
This reign's length is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
—
Vacated
September 1994
—
—
—
—
The Mongolian Stomper vacated the title somewhere in September after he announced his retirement from professional wrestling due to a legitimate injury. Therefore, his reign's exact length is uncertain.
10
Chic White
October 1, 1994
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
97
Defeated Danny Christian to win the vacant title.
[1] [2] [3]
11
Steve Flynn
January 6, 1995
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
75
[1] [2] [3]
12
Mike Samson
March 21, 1995
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
2
143
[1] [2] [3]
13
Steve Flynn
August 11, 1995
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
2
57
[1] [2] [3]
14
Iron Man
October 7, 1995
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
104
[1] [2] [3]
15
Eddie Bruiser
January 19, 1996
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
42
Defeated Iron Man by forfeit due to Iron Man not showing up to the defense.
[1] [2] [3]
16
Tennessee Equalizer
March 1, 1996
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
2
227
[1] [2] [3]
17
Danny Christian
September 2, 1996
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
33
[1] [2] [3]
18
K. C. Thunder
October 5, 1996
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
118
[1] [2] [3]
19
Dan Cooley
January 31, 1997
House show
Shawsville, Virginia
1
68
[1] [2] [3]
—
Vacated
April 9, 1997
—
—
—
—
Title was declared vacated after Dan Cooley was stripped out of it due to unknown circumstances.
20
Steve Flynn
May 2, 1997
House show
Fall Branch, Tennessee
3
122
Defeated Frank Parker in a tournament final to win the vacant title.
[1] [2] [3]
—
Vacated
September 1, 1997
—
—
—
—
Steve Flynn was stripped of the championship after he failed to appear for a scheduled title defense. The title was subsequently vacated.
21
Johnny Thunder
September 1, 1997
House show
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
54
This was a tag team match in which Thunder pinned Otto Schwanz to win the vacant title.
[1] [2] [3]
22
The War Machine
October 25, 1997
House show
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
49
This was a four corners match also involving Johnny Thunder, Steve Flynn and Ricky Harrison.
[1] [2] [3]
23
Ricky Harrison
December 13, 1997
SSW
Mountain City, Tennessee
1
118
[1] [2] [3]
24
Buddy Landel
April 10, 1998
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
<1
[1] [2] [3]
25
Beau James
April 10, 1998
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
1
7
[1] [2] [3]
26
Ricky Harrison
April 17, 1998
SSW
Fall Branch, Tennessee
2
274
This was a loser leaves the company match .
[1] [2] [3]
27
Beau James
January 16, 1999
SSW
Kingsport, Tennessee
2
140
[1] [2] [3]
28
Iron Cross
June 5, 1999
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
124
[1] [2] [3]
29
The War Machine
October 7, 1999
House show
Johnson City, Tennessee
2
148
[1] [2] [3]
30
Tracy Smothers
March 3, 2000
House show
Saltville, Virginia
1
190
[1] [2] [3]
31
Iron Cross
September 9, 2000
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
2
128
[1] [2] [3]
32
Stan Sierra
January 15, 2001
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
11
[1] [2] [3]
33
Brian Overbay
January 26, 2001
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
<1
Won the title by forfeit.
[1] [2] [3]
34
Steve Phillips
January 26, 2001
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
15
[1] [2] [3]
35
Brian Overbay
February 10, 2001
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
2
111
Overbay was awarded the title via referee's reverse decision.
[1] [2] [3]
36
Ricky Harrison
June 1, 2001
SSW
Kingsport, Tennessee
3
207
[1] [2] [3]
37
Beau James
December 25, 2001
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
3
186-217
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
38
Heinrich Von Keller
July 2002
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
31-62
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
—
Vacated
September 1, 2002
—
—
—
—
The title was declared vacated after Von Keller was stripped of it due to attacking a local televisiob sponsor.
39
Jesse Taylor
October 15, 2002
SSW
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
71
Defeated Beau James in tournament final to win the vacant title.
[1] [2] [3]
40
Scotty McKeever
December 25, 2002
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
47-75
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
41
Jesse Taylor
February 2003
House show
Beaver, West Virginia
2
70-98
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
42
Robbie Cassidy
May 9, 2003
House show
Greeneville, Tennessee
1
59
[1] [2] [3]
43
Jesse Taylor
July 7, 2003
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
3
59
[1] [2] [3]
44
Brad Batten
September 4, 2003
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
26-57
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
45
Beau James
October 2003
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
4
0-92
James was awarded the title via forfeit. The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
46
Ray Idol
January 2004
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
0-220
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
47
John Noble
August 7, 2004
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
57
Noble was awarded the title after Idol left for rival promotion, NWA Championship Wrestling. Idol's stripping was not recognized as a vacancy but as an official title change without a proper match taking place.
[1] [2] [3]
48
Beau James
October 3, 2004
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
5
173
[1] [2] [3]
49
Danny Ray
March 25, 2005
Event held at the National Guard Armory
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
N/A
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
—
Vacated
2005
—
—
—
—
The title was vacated somewhere in 2005 due to unknown circumstances.
50
Wayne Adkins
September 27, 2008
SSW
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
61
Defeated Ryan Dookie in a tournament final to win the vacant title.
[1] [2] [3]
51
K. C. Thunder
November 27, 2008
SSW
Kingsport, Tennessee
2
43
[1] [2] [3]
—
Vacated
January 9, 2009
—
—
—
—
The title was vacated somewhere in 2005 due to unknown circumstances.
52
Cody Ices
January 9, 2009
SSW New Year's Bash
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
283
This was a 15-man rumble match for the vacant title.
[1] [2] [3]
53
Ray Idol
October 19, 2009
SSW
Kingsport, Tennessee
2
130
[1] [2] [3]
54
Frank Parker
February 26, 2010
SSW 19th Anniversary
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
94-124
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
55
Ray Idol
June 2010
House show
Kingsport, Tennessee
3
148-178
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
56
Frank Parker
November 25, 2010
SSW 19th Annual Thanksgiving Night Extravaganza
Kingsport, Tennessee
2
234
Cagematch.net says this match was also for the SSW Young Guns Championship which was held by Beau James at the moment. However, the site recognizes Ray Idol as the Heavyweight champion instead of Beau James, not specifying a match where Parker took the title from James. Yet this title change appears to be real but no other evidence for this has been recorded.
[1] [2] [3]
57
Ray Idol
July 17, 2011
House show
Mt. Carmel, Tennessee
4
140
[1] [2] [3]
58
Frank Parker
November 24, 2011
House show
Mt. Carmel, Tennessee
3
234
[1] [2] [3]
59
Beau James
July 15, 2012
House show
Mt. Carmel, Tennessee
6
76
[1] [2] [3]
60
Eric Darkstorm
September 29, 2012
House show
Mt. Carmel, Tennessee
1
400
[1] [2] [3]
61
Kyle Matthews
November 3, 2013
House show
Mt. Carmel, Tennessee
1
26
[1] [2] [3]
62
Eric Darkstorm
November 29, 2013
House show
Mt. Carmel, Tennessee
2
140
[1] [2] [3]
63
Kyle Kool
April 18, 2014
House show
Rogersville, Tennessee
1
162
[1] [2] [3]
64
DeAndre Jackson
September 27, 2014
SSW
Kingsport, Tennessee
1
620
[1] [2] [3]
—
Vacated
June 8, 2016
—
—
—
—
65
Iron Cross
July 9, 2016
House show
Gray, Tennessee
3
N/A
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
66
Krunch The Equalizer
2017
House show
Gray, Tennessee
1
0-189
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
67
Beau James
July 8, 2017
House show
Gray, Tennessee
7
176-281
The exact length of this reign is uncertain.
[1] [2] [3]
—
2018
—
—
Cagematch.net shows an unknown status of the title from the beginning of 2018 until October but doesn't say if it is a vacancy or the continuation of James' reign.
68
Beau James
October 8, 2018
House show
Gray, Tennessee
8
26
[1] [2] [3]
69
Daniel Richards
November 3, 2018
SSW
Gray, Tennessee
1
2,006+
[1] [2] [3]
Combined reigns [ edit ]
†
Indicates the current champion
¤
The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest length is considered.
Rank
Wrestler
No. of reigns
Combined days
1
Beau James
8
784-1,012¤
2
Daniel Richards †
1
2,006+
3
Eric Darkstorm
2
640
4
DeAndre Jackson
1
620
5
Ricky Harrison
3
599
6
Frank Parker
3
562-592
7
Ray Idol
4
418-668¤
8
Wayne Rogers
2
403
9
Tennessee Equalizer/Krunch The Equalizer
3
373-562¤
10
Cody Ices
1
283
11
Steve Flynn
3
254
12
Iron Cross
3
252¤
13
Stan Lee
1
250
14
Mike Samson
2
212
15
Jesse Taylor
3
200-228¤
16
The War Machine
2
197
17
G.Q. Stratus
1
196
18
Tracy Smothers
1
190
19
The Mongolian Stomper
1
186-216¤
20
Kyle Kool
1
162
21
K. C. Thunder
2
121
22
Jimmy Golden
1
119
23
Brian Overbay
2
111
Skyfire
1
111
25
Iron Man
1
104
26
Chic White
1
97
27
Dan Cooley
1
68
28
Wayne Adkins
1
61
29
Robbie Cassidy
1
59
30
John Noble
1
57
31
Johnny Thunder
1
54
32
Scotty McKeever
1
47-75¤
33
Eddie Bruiser
1
42
34
Danny Christian
1
33
35
Heinrich Von Keller
1
31-62¤
36
Brad Batten
1
26-57¤
37
Kyle Matthews
1
26
38
Steve Phillips
1
15
39
Stan Sierra
1
11
40
Buddy Landel
1
<1
41
Danny Ray
1
N/A¤
References [ edit ]
External links [ edit ]