Current Champion
El Averno was the 85th champion, having won it on November 30, 2007 in Arena Mexico. The championship is current inactive.
History of Championship
The NWA World Middleweight Championship dated back to the early 1920s. The NWA name only existed to establish it as a world championship; since the 30s, it has been property of EMLL (much later CMLL.) It's one of the oldest active wrestling championships in the world.
Corazon de Leon won the championship on December 7, 1993 by defeating Mano Negra. Negra had defeated Bestia Salvaje in a hair match the night prior, but suffered an ankle injury during the match. Leon attacked the hurt ankle, beating Negra in the same straight falls via anklelock. This would be the last time this title would change hands in a CMLL ring for over a decade.
For most of it's existence, the NWA World Middleweight Championship been held by Mexican wrestlers and defended in Mexico. In 1994, the title was sold to Ultimo Dragon, who brought it to Japan to be defended first by himself, and later as a championship belt for his promotions. When Ultimo Dragon left Japan to join WWE in 2003, he sold the belt back to CMLL. CMLL did nothing with it for a year, before doing a decision match with no particular build up.
On 01/01/05, Mistico beat Averno for the NWA World Middleweight Championship, using it as a launch point for his rise to the top of the promotion. Mistico winning was not an upset, but it signaled his transition from a momentarily favored young wrestler to a new permanent star. The match was well received, and the two met many times the rest of the year in rematches of the initial title match (which has never been shown on television.)
Black Warrior won the belt from Mistico, as part of the lead up to their mask match, and to provide big rematches after Mistico won the mask. Mistico was finally able to get the belt back on Kid's Day, 2007.
Averno won the belt back from Mistico in November of 2007. Despite holding the belt for almost 3 years, defenses were rare and the championship was rarely considered.
On August 12, 2010, CMLL announced a change with the NWA group of championships. The current physical title belts were all retired, replaced by newly belts with a different design. The old belts are now part of CMLL's mobile museum, though copies of them have turned up elsewhere.
CMLL referred to the new championships as the CMLL Historic Championships and said the former NWA champions would be the first champions of the new belts. Outside not getting the physical belt back, that appeared to satisfy the NWA's complaints about using their trademarks. However, since within weeks of that press conference, CMLL had changed course. The championships were referred to as NWA World Historic Championships.
This title has not been revived by NWA Mexico.
Champions Listing
#
|
Champion(s)
|
Defeated
|
Date
|
Location
|
|
reigning National Wrestling Association champion declared first champion
|
|
1
|
Gus Kallio
|
(awarded)
|
1939
|
n/a
|
|
national champion versus local champion; EMLL's entry into the NWA
|
|
2
|
Octavio Gaona
|
Gus Kallio
|
1939.02.19
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1
|
Bobby Arreola
|
1939.??.??
|
Mexico City
|
|
3
|
Tarzan Lopez
|
Octavio Gaona
|
1940.02.04
|
Mexico City
|
|
4
|
Black Guzman
|
Tarzan Lopez
|
1941.12.16
|
Mexico City
|
|
5
|
Tarzan Lopez [2]
|
Black Guzman
|
1942.02.11
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1[1]
|
El Santo
|
1943.04.02
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
6
|
Gory Guerrero
|
Tarzan Lopez
|
1946.02.23
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1
|
Rito Romero
|
1947.09.26
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
7
|
Mike Kelly
|
Gory Guerrero
|
1948.04.12
|
Mexico City
|
|
8
|
Tarzan Lopez [3]
|
Mike Kelly
|
1949.05.28
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
9
|
Sugi Sito
|
Tarzan Lopez
|
1950.09.21
|
?
|
|
10
|
Enrique Llanes
|
Sugi Sito
|
1951.09.24
|
Mexico City
|
|
championship vacated on 1952.02.06 for unknown reasons
|
|
tournament for vacant championship
|
|
11
|
Tarzan Lopez [4]
|
?
|
1952.07.13
|
?
|
|
12
|
Sugi Sito [2]
|
Tarzan Lopez
|
1953.06.20
|
Mexico City
|
|
13
|
El Santo
|
Sugi Sito
|
1954.01.01
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
1
|
Black Shadow
|
1954.09.23
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
14
|
Rolando Vera
|
El Santo
|
1956.10.19
|
Monterrey
|
|
15
|
Rene Guajardo
|
Rolando Vera
|
1960.10.13
|
Monterrey
|
|
16
|
Antonio Posa
|
Rene Guajardo
|
1961.12.02
|
Mexico City
|
|
17
|
Rene Guajardo [2]
|
Antonio Posa
|
1962.04.18
|
Mexico City
|
|
18
|
Rayo de Jalisco
|
Rene Guajardo
|
1963.10.25
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
19
|
Benny Galant
|
Rayo de Jalisco
|
1964.05.30
|
Mexico City
|
|
20
|
Rayo de Jalisco [2]
|
Benny Galant
|
1964.09.25
|
?
|
|
21
|
Rene Guajardo [3]
|
Rayo de Jalisco
|
1965.04.09
|
Mexico City
|
|
22
|
Jerry London
|
Rene Guajardo
|
1966.05.14
|
Mexico City
|
|
23
|
Rene Guajardo [4]
|
Jerry London
|
1966.07.01
|
Monterrey
|
|
24
|
Ray Mendoza
|
Rene Guajardo
|
1967.03.11
|
Mexico City
|
|
Ray Mendoza resigns championship on 1967.05.11 due to leaving weight class
|
|
16 man tournament for vacant championship
|
|
25
|
Rene Guajardo [5]
|
Apolo Curiel
|
1967.07.29
|
?
|
|
26
|
Rayo de Jalisco [3]
|
Rene Guajardo
|
1969.04.18
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
1
|
El Santo
|
1969.04.25
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
27
|
El Solitario
|
Rayo de Jalisco
|
1969.08.15
|
Mexico City
|
|
28
|
Masio Koma
|
El Solitario
|
1970.08.28
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1
|
Anibal
|
1970.10.08
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
29
|
Anibal
|
Masio Koma
|
1970.12.06
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1
|
Motoyuki Kitazawa
|
1971.08.06
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
30
|
Rene Guajardo [6]
|
Anibal
|
1973.03.30
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
championship vacated in 1974 when Rene Guajardo leaves EMLL
|
|
final of a tournament for vacant championship
|
|
31
|
Anibal [2]
|
El Cobarde
|
1974.09.20
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
1
|
Rene Guajardo
|
1975.01.29
|
Palacio De Los Deportes
|
|
championship vacant when Anibal jumps to UWA September 1975
|
|
tournament for vacant championship
|
|
32
|
Perro Aguayo
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1975.07.04
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1
|
El Santo
|
1975.09.26
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
2
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1976.04.23
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
33
|
El Faraon
|
Perro Aguayo
|
1976.10.22
|
Mexico City
|
|
34
|
Perro Aguayo [2]
|
El Faraon
|
1977.03.11
|
Mexico City
|
|
35
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
Perro Aguayo
|
1977.07.03
|
Guadalajara
|
|
36
|
Joe Palardy
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1977.10.12
|
Acapulco
|
|
37
|
El Faraon [2]
|
Joe Palardy
|
1977.11.25
|
Mexico City
|
|
38
|
Ringo Mendoza [2]
|
El Faraon
|
1978.02.17
|
Los Angeles
|
|
39
|
Perro Aguayo [3]
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1978.04.09
|
Guadalajara
|
|
40
|
Ringo Mendoza [3]
|
Perro Aguayo
|
1978.06.23
|
Mexico City
|
|
41
|
Tony Salazar
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1978.08.13
|
Mexico City
|
|
42
|
Ringo Mendoza [4]
|
Tony Salazar
|
1979.02.07
|
Acapulco
|
|
|
1
|
Tony Salazar[2]
|
1979.06.15
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
43
|
Satoru Sayama
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1979.09.09
|
Guadalajara
|
|
|
1 [3]
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1979.09.21
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
2 [4]
|
Sangre Chicana
|
1980.02.29
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
44
|
Satanico
|
Satoru Sayama
|
1980.03.28
|
Mexico City
|
|
45
|
Cachorro Mendoza
|
Satanico
|
1980.04.17
|
Monterrey
|
|
46
|
Sangre Chicana
|
Cachorro Mendoza
|
1980.06.15
|
Monterrey
|
|
|
1
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1980.08.29
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
2
|
Fantasma
|
1980.09.26
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
47
|
Tony Salazar [2]
|
Sangre Chicana
|
1981.01.18
|
Monterrey
|
|
48
|
Sangre Chicana [2]
|
Tony Salazar
|
1981.03.13
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
49
|
Ringo Mendoza [5]
|
Sangre Chicana
|
1981.04.03
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1[5]
|
Sangre Chicana
|
1981.05.03
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
2[6]
|
El Faraon
|
1981.06.12
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
3
|
Sangre Chicana
|
1981.06.26
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
50
|
El Faraon [3]
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1981.11.29
|
Guadalajara
|
|
51[7]
|
Cesar Curiel
|
El Faraon
|
1982.04.02
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
52
|
Satanico [2]
|
Cesar Curiel
|
1982.10.25
|
Mexico City
|
|
53
|
El Jalisco
|
Satanico
|
1983.02.20
|
Guadalajara
|
|
54
|
Satanico [3]
|
El Jalisco
|
1983.04.13
|
Arena Neza[8]
|
|
55
|
Lizmark
|
Satanico
|
1983.06.03
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1
|
El Enfermero Jr.
|
1983.08.¿?
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
56
|
Satanico [4]
|
Lizmark
|
1983.12.02
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
1
|
Kamikaze Misawa
|
1984.04.05
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
2
|
Lizmark
|
1984.¿?
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
57
|
Gran Cochisse
|
Satanico
|
1984.08.18
|
Mexico City
|
|
58
|
Satanico [5]
|
Gran Cochisse
|
1984.09.14
|
Mexico City
|
|
59
|
Gran Cochisse [2]
|
Satanico
|
1984.09.30
|
Guadalajara
|
|
60
|
Gran Hamada
|
Gran Cochisse
|
1984.11.18
|
Toreo de Cuatro Caminos
|
|
61
|
La Fiera
|
Gran Hamada
|
1985.04.05
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
62
|
Chamaco Valaguez
|
La Fiera
|
1985.07.20
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
63
|
Gran Cochisse [3]
|
Chamaco Valaguez
|
1986.05.18
|
?
|
|
64
|
Kung Fu
|
Gran Cochisse
|
1986.10.17
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1[9]
|
Talisman
|
1986.12.12
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
65
|
El Dandy
|
Kung Fu
|
1987.07.17
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
66[10]
|
Kung Fu [2]
|
El Dandy
|
1987.10.07
|
Carpa Astro, Mexico City
|
|
|
1
|
Javier Cruz
|
1988.02.19
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
67
|
Atlantis
|
Kung Fu
|
1988.06.10
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
68
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
Atlantis
|
1988.07.17
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
1
|
Atlantis
|
1988.07.28
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
69
|
Atlantis [2]
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1988.07.29
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
70
|
Emilio Charles Jr. [2]
|
Atlantis
|
1988.08.12
|
Mexico City
|
|
|
1
|
Atlantis
|
1988.09.24
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
2
|
Ringo Mendoza
|
1988.10.02
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
71
|
Angel Azteca
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1989.04.28
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
1
|
Hombre Bala
|
1989.09.13
|
San Luis Potosi
|
|
|
2
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1990.01.12
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
3
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1990.01.27
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
4
|
El Hijo del Gladiador
|
1990.05.13
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
72
|
El Dandy [2]
|
Angel Azteca
|
1990.06.01
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
73
|
Atlantis [3]
|
El Dandy
|
1990.08.01
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
1
|
El Dandy
|
1990.08.30
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
|
2
|
El Dandy
|
1990.09.05
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
3
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1990.09.21
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
4
|
El Dandy
|
1990.10.24
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
5
|
Satanico
|
1990.11.20
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
6
|
Satanico
|
1990.11.28
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
7
|
Jerry Estrada
|
1991.01.28
|
Arena Isabel De Leon
|
|
|
8
|
Jerry Estrada
|
1991.02.13
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
9
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1991.03.22
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
10
|
Espectro De Ultratumba
|
1991.04.12
|
Arena Altavilla
|
|
|
11
|
Huracan Sevilla
|
1991.05.01
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
12
|
Kung Fu
|
1991.06.13
|
Arena San Juan Pantitlan
|
|
|
13
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1991.06.18
|
Plaza De Toros, El Cortijo
|
|
|
14
|
Satanico
|
1991.07.05
|
Arena Altavilla
|
|
|
15
|
Blue Panther
|
1991.08.09
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
16
|
Blue Panther
|
1991.10.19
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
17
|
Sangre Chicana
|
1991,11.16
|
Puebla
|
|
|
18
|
Javier Cruz
|
1992.03.17
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
19
|
La Fiera
|
1992.04.03
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
20[11]
|
La Fiera
|
1992.05.30
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
21
|
Bestia Salvaje
|
1992.06.16
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
22[12]
|
El Dandy
|
1992.06.23
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
|
23[13]
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1992.08.14
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
24[14]
|
America
|
1992.08.15
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
25
|
Emilio Charles Jr.
|
1993.01.31
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
74
|
Mano Negra
|
Atlantis[15]
|
1993.03.03
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
1
|
Atlantis
|
1993.03.24
|
Arena Naucalpan
|
|
|
2
|
Oro
|
1993.04.02
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
75
|
Oro
|
Mano Negra
|
1993.05.23
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
76
|
Mano Negra [2]
|
Oro
|
1993.07.03
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
1
|
El Dandy
|
1993.08.01
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
77
|
Corazon de Leon
|
Mano Negra
|
1993.12.07
|
Pista Arena Revolucion
|
|
|
1
|
Black Magic
|
1993.12.15
|
Arena Coliseo De Acapulco
|
|
|
2
|
Ultimo Dragon
|
1994.11.07
|
Chiiba, Japan
|
|
78
|
Ultimo Dragon
|
Corazon de Leon
|
1994.11.08
|
Korakuen Hall - Tokyo
|
|
|
1
|
Corazon de Leon
|
1995.01.06
|
Shizuoka, Japan
|
|
|
2
|
Corazon de Leon
|
1995.03.17
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
|
Negro Casas announced to challenge on 1995.04.01 in Japan, but he was hurt two days prior
|
|
|
3
|
Bestia Salvaje
|
1995.05.23
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
4
|
Scorpio Jr.
|
1997.03.14
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
5
|
Dr. Wagner Jr.
|
1997.12.06
|
Arena Naucalpan
|
|
Ultimo Dragon vacates title 1998 due to arm injury
|
|
6 man tournament for vacant championship
|
|
79
|
The Great Sasuke
|
Tokyo Magnum
|
1999.02.07
|
Yokohama, Japan
|
|
|
1
|
Sumo FUJI
|
1999.05.15
|
Arena Naucalpan
|
|
|
2
|
Ultimo Guerrero
|
1999.05.21
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
80
|
Ultimo Dragon [2]
|
the Great Sasuke
|
2003.05.05
|
Sendai, Japan
|
|
Ultimo Dragon vacates title May 2003 due to WWE jump
|
|
decision match for vacant championship
|
|
81
|
El Averno
|
Zumbido
|
2004.09.03
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
1
|
Volador Jr.
|
2004.10.04
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
2
|
Satanico
|
2004.11.17
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
82
|
Mistico
|
El Averno
|
2005.01.01
|
Arena Coliseo DF
|
|
|
1
|
El Averno
|
2005.01.30
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
2
|
El Averno
|
2005.02.11
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
3
|
El Averno
|
2005.02.21
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
4
|
El Averno
|
2005.10.16
|
Arena Coliseo De Guadalajara
|
|
|
5
|
El Averno
|
2005.12.29
|
Arena Isabel De Cuernavaca
|
|
|
6
|
El Averno
|
2006.01.16
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
83
|
Black Warrior
|
Mistico
|
2006.05.12
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
1
|
Mistico
|
2006.05.14
|
Balneario Olimpico de Pantitlan - Mexico City
|
|
|
2
|
Mistico
|
2006.06.10
|
Cd. Madero
|
|
|
3
|
Heavy Metal
|
2006.08.16
|
Arena Lopez Mateos
|
|
|
4
|
Mistico
|
2006.08.26
|
Plaza de Toros - Cancun
|
|
|
5
|
Mistico
|
2006.09.04
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
6
|
Mistico
|
2006.10.01
|
Arena Neza
|
|
84
|
Mistico [2]
|
Black Warrior
|
2007.04.29
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
1
|
El Averno
|
2007.06.24
|
Poliforum Zamna - Merida, Yucatan
|
|
|
2
|
El Averno
|
2007.06.30
|
Arena Solidaridad
|
|
|
3
|
El Averno
|
2007.09.30
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
|
4
|
El Averno
|
2007.11.22
|
Palenque Expomex de Nuevo Laredo
|
|
85
|
El Averno [2]
|
Mistico
|
2007.11.30
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
1
|
Mistico & Vangelis
|
2007.12.04
|
Queretaro
|
|
|
2
|
Heavy Metal
|
2008.01.01
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
3
|
Mistico
|
2008.01.28
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
|
4
|
Negro Casas
|
2008.03.18
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
|
5
|
Sagrado
|
2008.04.199
|
Poliforum, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
|
|
|
6
|
Blue Panther
|
2009.09.06
|
Arena Coliseo Guadalajara
|
|
|
7
|
Volador Jr.
|
2009.10.23
|
Arena Mexico
|
|
|
8
|
Volador Jr.
|
2009.11.30
|
Arena Puebla
|
|
championship renamed NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship
|
|
|
|
title change
|
successful title defense
|
championship matches which were announced, but results were not found
|
Gallery of Champions
Satanico, 44th, 52nd, 54th, 56th & 58th Champion
|
Gallery of Title Belts
Sources