The WWF North American Heavyweight Championship was a relatively short-lived title in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) from 1979 until 1981.[1] It was established as the WWWF North American Heavyweight Championship on February 13, 1979 before the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) was renamed to WWF the following month. The inaugural champion was Ted DiBiase and the final champion was Seiji Sakaguchi.[2]
Second champion Pat Patterson was recognised by the WWF as Intercontinental Championship after he reported on WWF television that he had won a (fictitious) one-night tournament in Rio de Janeiro to create a new overall title.[3][4] Nonetheless the North American title was later awarded to Sakaguchi on a New Japan Pro Wrestling house show.[5]
In March 2018, the now WWE established a new North American championship for their NXT brand, the NXT North American Championship. This new title, however, does not carry the lineage of the promotion's original North American championship.[6]
Over the championship's two-year history, there were only three reigns among three champions. Ted DiBiase was the inaugural champion, with Seiji Sakaguchi being the last. Sakaguchi has the longest reign at 532 days, while DiBiase has the shortest at 126 days. Pat Patterson was the oldest champion at 38 years old, while DiBiase being the youngest at 25 years old.
Awarded the title when he signed with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). The following month, the promotion was renamed to World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and the title was renamed accordingly.
^Ted DiBiase: The Million Dollar Man, p.108, Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo, Pocket Books, New York, NY, 2008, ISBN978-1-4165-5890-3.
^"WWF @ Hamburg, PA – Fieldhouse – August 22, 1979 Championship Wrestling taping: 8/25/79 – hosted by Vince McMahon & Pat Patterson: WWF IC Champion Pat Patterson (w/ the Grand Wizard) defeated Johnny Rivera via submission with the Boston Crab at 7:01; after the bout, Vince McMahon interviewed Patterson & Wizard at ringside where Wizard explained how Patterson was now the IC Champion after winning a gruelling tournament last week in Rio de Janeiro with Patterson saying he doesn’t care what happens to the North American title he previously held" - History of WWE - 1979, HistoryofWWE.com, retrieved April 10, 2024
^WWF Championship Wrestling, transmitted August 25 1979, Pat Patterson and The Grand Wizard interviewed by Vince McMahon retrieved April 10, 2024
^ abcde"WWF North American Heavyweight Title". WrestlingTitles. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
^Johnson, Mike (March 7, 2018). "SPOILER: NEW WWE CHAMPIONSHIP CONFIRMED, HOW FIRST CHAMPION WILL BE CROWNED". PWInsider. from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
External linksedit
WWF North American Heavyweight Title History
January 01, 1970
north, american, heavyweight, championship, confused, with, north, american, championship, relatively, short, lived, title, world, wrestling, federation, from, 1979, until, 1981, established, february, 1979, before, world, wide, wrestling, federation, wwwf, re. Not to be confused with NXT North American Championship The WWF North American Heavyweight Championship was a relatively short lived title in the World Wrestling Federation WWF now WWE from 1979 until 1981 1 It was established as the WWWF North American Heavyweight Championship on February 13 1979 before the World Wide Wrestling Federation WWWF was renamed to WWF the following month The inaugural champion was Ted DiBiase and the final champion was Seiji Sakaguchi 2 WWF North American Heavyweight ChampionshipThe North American Heavyweight Championship belt DetailsPromotionWorld Wrestling Federation WWF New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW Date establishedFebruary 13 1979Date retiredApril 23 1981Other name s WWWF North American Heavyweight Championship 1979 WWF North American Heavyweight Championship 1979 1981 StatisticsFirst champion s Ted DiBiaseFinal champion s Seiji SakaguchiMost reignsAll titleholders 1 Longest reignSeiji Sakaguchi 532 days Shortest reignTed DiBiase 126 days Oldest championPat Patterson 38 years 152 days Youngest championTed DiBiase 25 years 26 days Heaviest championSeiji Sakaguchi 287lb 130kg Lightest championPat Patterson 237lb 108kg Second champion Pat Patterson was recognised by the WWF as Intercontinental Championship after he reported on WWF television that he had won a fictitious one night tournament in Rio de Janeiro to create a new overall title 3 4 Nonetheless the North American title was later awarded to Sakaguchi on a New Japan Pro Wrestling house show 5 In March 2018 the now WWE established a new North American championship for their NXT brand the NXT North American Championship This new title however does not carry the lineage of the promotion s original North American championship 6 Contents 1 Reigns 1 1 Names 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksReigns editOver the championship s two year history there were only three reigns among three champions Ted DiBiase was the inaugural champion with Seiji Sakaguchi being the last Sakaguchi has the longest reign at 532 days while DiBiase has the shortest at 126 days Pat Patterson was the oldest champion at 38 years old while DiBiase being the youngest at 25 years old Names edit Name Years WWWF North American Heavyweight Championship February 13 1979 March 30 1979 WWF North American Heavyweight Championship March 30 1979 June 13 1980 Key No Overall reign number Reign Reign number for the specific champion Days Number of days held No Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref Date Event Location Reign Days World Wide Wrestling Federation WWWF 1 Ted DiBiase February 13 1979 Championship Wrestling tapings Allentown PA 1 126 Awarded the title when he signed with the World Wide Wrestling Federation WWWF The following month the promotion was renamed to World Wrestling Federation WWF and the title was renamed accordingly 5 World Wrestling Federation WWF 2 Pat Patterson June 19 1979 Championship Wrestling Taping Allentown PA 1 158 5 3 Seiji Sakaguchi November 8 1979 House show Otaru Japan 1 532 5 Deactivated April 23 1981 WWF abandoned the title 5 See also editNXT North American Championship NXT Women s North American Championship NWA North American ChampionshipReferences edit Shields Brian Sullivan Kevin 2009 WWE Encyclopedia Dorling Kindersley p 227 ISBN 978 0 7566 4190 0 Ted DiBiase The Million Dollar Man p 108 Ted DiBiase with Tom Caiazzo Pocket Books New York NY 2008 ISBN 978 1 4165 5890 3 WWF Hamburg PA Fieldhouse August 22 1979 Championship Wrestling taping 8 25 79 hosted by Vince McMahon amp Pat Patterson WWF IC Champion Pat Patterson w the Grand Wizard defeated Johnny Rivera via submission with the Boston Crab at 7 01 after the bout Vince McMahon interviewed Patterson amp Wizard at ringside where Wizard explained how Patterson was now the IC Champion after winning a gruelling tournament last week in Rio de Janeiro with Patterson saying he doesn t care what happens to the North American title he previously held History of WWE 1979 HistoryofWWE com retrieved April 10 2024 WWF Championship Wrestling transmitted August 25 1979 Pat Patterson and The Grand Wizard interviewed by Vince McMahon retrieved April 10 2024 a b c d e WWF North American Heavyweight Title WrestlingTitles Retrieved 2008 02 02 Johnson Mike March 7 2018 SPOILER NEW WWE CHAMPIONSHIP CONFIRMED HOW FIRST CHAMPION WILL BE CROWNED PWInsider Archived from the original on March 8 2018 Retrieved March 7 2018 External links editWWF North American Heavyweight Title History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title WWF North American Heavyweight Championship amp oldid 1218640729, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
