Promotion NWA Detroit Date retired October, 1980 Most reigns The Sheik (12 reigns) | Date established September 3, 1953 First champion(s) Verne Gagne | |
Longest reign The Sheik
(1,300+ days) | ||
The NWA Detroit United States Heavyweight Championship was a version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Title. It was known as the Chicago version from 1953 until 1959 and was later renamed the Detroit version from 1959 until 1980. While the National Wrestling Alliance recognized only one World Heavyweight Champion, there were a number of different versions of the United States Championship recognized in various NWA territories across the country. Most NWA promotions had some version of an "American" or "United States" titles and, like these other titles, the Detroit version was the primary singles championship within the NWA Detroit promotion. Over the course of its existence, the title was held by well known names such as Bobo Brazil, The Sheik, Wilbur Snyder, Johnny Valentine, and multi-time AWA World Heavyweight Champions Verne Gagne and Dick the Bruiser.