AWA Brass Knuckles Championship

The AWA Brass Knuckles Championship was a professional wrestling championship owned by the American Wrestling Association (AWA) promotion. The championship was introduced on February 12, 1979, at a Mid-South Coliseum live event. It was active until May 1981 when the title belt was abandoned after Crusher Lisowski left the promotion.

AWA Brass Knuckles Championship
Details
PromotionAmerican Wrestling Association (AWA)
Date establishedFebruary 12, 1979
Date retiredMay 1981
Statistics
First champion(s)Don Fargo
Most reignsN/A
Longest reignDon Fargo (595 days)
Shortest reignGino Martino (176 days)

It debuted as a part of a storyline to introduce Don Fargo to the Memphis wrestling territory; this allowed Fargo to challenge various wrestlers in hardcore-themed matches. Like most professional wrestling "brass knuckle" championships, both wrestlers would heavily tape their fists to give the impression that each participant was wearing brass knuckles; the title was generally defended in no-disqualification matches and it was legal to punch an opponent. Fargo and Lisowski were the only champions.

History

The AWA Brass Knuckles Championship was first defended on February 12, 1979, at the Mid-South Coliseum, in a match between Don Fargo and Robert Gibson. Fargo was billed by the promotion as the "World Brass Knuckles Champion",[1] however, the title mostly defended in the Continental Wrestling Association. Together with manager Al Greene, Fargo would use the title to engage in wild brawls with other stars of the Memphis territory. During his 1979-80 run with the CWA and his brother Jackie Fargo were allies of Jerry "The King" Lawler; Fargo also formed tag teams Chris Colt, The Destroyer, and Dennis Condrey.[2] One of his most notable matches as AWA Brass Knuckles Champion was against Jimmy Valiant on September 29, 1980, who defeated Fargo via disqualification.[3] The title was abandoned after Fargo left the Memphis territory at the end of the month.[4]

On October 20, 1980, Crusher Lisowski won the vacant title after defeating "Crusher" Jerry Blackwell in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lisowski defended the title in the American Wrestling Association for five months until leaving the promotion in the summer of 1981, after having suffered a career-ending injury at the hands of Jerry Blackwell,[5][6] and the title became abandoned once again.[4]

Reigns

Don Fargo was the first champion in the title's history. He also held the record for longest reign at 595 days.

Title history
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
 1  Don Fargo  February 12, 1979  Live event Memphis, TN  1  595 Don Fargo is billed as champion upon entering the promotion. [4]
— Deactivated  October 1980 — — — — The title is abandoned after Don Fargo leaves the Continental Wrestling Association. [4]
 2  Crusher Lisowski  October 12, 1980  Live event Saint Paul, MN  1   [4]
— Deactivated  May 1981 — — — — The title is abandoned after Crusher Lisowski leaves the American Wrestling Association. [4]

References
  1. Dills, Tim. "Memphis/CWA #7 Page #2". Regional Territories: Memphis/CWA. KayfabeMemories.com. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  2. "1979". Mid-South Coliseum 1979 (Jarrett). ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  3. "1980". Mid-South Coliseum 1980 (Jarrett). ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  4. Ferraro, John (2005). "AWA Brass Knuckles Title History". Solie's Title Histories. Solie.org. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  5. Keith, Scott. "AWA #24 Page #2". Regional Territories: AWA. KayfabeMemories.com. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  6. Oliver, Greg (October 23, 2005). "SLAM! Wrestling: The Crusher dead at 79". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
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