AWA Japan Women's Championship
Encyclopedia
The AWA Japan Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling
title
in the AWA Superstars of Wrestling Promotion (legally and historically unrelated to the American Wrestling Association
). It is spun off from the AWA Superstars of Wrestling's version of the World Women's Championship.
The AWA Superstars of Wrestling's version of the World Women's Championship was created in 1999 in Dale Gagner's independent promotion AWA Superstars of Wrestling, who relicensed the AWA name. However, World Wrestling Entertainment
has sued Gagner for the use of the AWA name, citing trademark infringement, as the WWE owns the AWA tape library, trademarks, and logos. AWA Superstars of Wrestling has claimed lineage for their world title to the classic AWA Women's title and control over the title history, but because there is no connection to the original organizations or individuals involved therein, no continuity in title reigns or even physical belts, and questionable legal use of the AWA name, the claims made by AWA Superstars of Wrestling are in historical dispute and in legal jeopardy. AWA Superstars of Wrestling awarded the title to Sherri Martel
in 1999.
The current version of the title, the AWA Japan Women's Championship, was created when the AWA Superstars of Wrestling's version of the AWA World Women's Championship was retired following the death of former champion Sherri Martel
on June 15, 2007. The AWA, wanting to still recognize the current champion, recognized then-champion Nanae Takahashi
of Pro Wrestling ZERO1 as the first AWA Japan Women's Champion..
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
title
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
in the AWA Superstars of Wrestling Promotion (legally and historically unrelated to the American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
). It is spun off from the AWA Superstars of Wrestling's version of the World Women's Championship.
The AWA Superstars of Wrestling's version of the World Women's Championship was created in 1999 in Dale Gagner's independent promotion AWA Superstars of Wrestling, who relicensed the AWA name. However, World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
has sued Gagner for the use of the AWA name, citing trademark infringement, as the WWE owns the AWA tape library, trademarks, and logos. AWA Superstars of Wrestling has claimed lineage for their world title to the classic AWA Women's title and control over the title history, but because there is no connection to the original organizations or individuals involved therein, no continuity in title reigns or even physical belts, and questionable legal use of the AWA name, the claims made by AWA Superstars of Wrestling are in historical dispute and in legal jeopardy. AWA Superstars of Wrestling awarded the title to Sherri Martel
Sherri Martel
Sherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri....
in 1999.
The current version of the title, the AWA Japan Women's Championship, was created when the AWA Superstars of Wrestling's version of the AWA World Women's Championship was retired following the death of former champion Sherri Martel
Sherri Martel
Sherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri....
on June 15, 2007. The AWA, wanting to still recognize the current champion, recognized then-champion Nanae Takahashi
Nanae Takahashi
Nanae Takahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler from Japan. She has wrestled for prominent Japanese promotions All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling SUN, and has held multiple world championships...
of Pro Wrestling ZERO1 as the first AWA Japan Women's Champion..
Title history
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title created by AWA Superstars of Wrestling as AWA World Women's Championship, and awarded to Sherri Martel, claiming lineage to the classic AWA World Women's Championship AWA World Women's Championship The AWA World Women's Championship was the female title in the American Wrestling Association from 1961 until 1990.-Title history:Silver-shaded lines in the history indicate periods of unknown lineage.-See also:*American Wrestling Association... . This claim of lineage is in historical dispute and legal jeopardy. |
||||
| Sherri Martel Sherri Martel Sherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri.... |
4 | June 17, 1999 | Fargo, North Dakota Fargo, North Dakota Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777... |
AWA Superstars of Wrestling President Dale Gagner wished to award Martel the title, however she refused. She instead chooses to face Gagner's selected opponent, Miss Manners, whom she defeated to win the title. |
| Title retired in 2006 when Martel retired. | ||||
| Nanae Takahashi Nanae Takahashi Nanae Takahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler from Japan. She has wrestled for prominent Japanese promotions All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling SUN, and has held multiple world championships... |
1 | October 1, 2006 | Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... , Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
Defeated Afrika 55. |
| Amazing Kong Kia Stevens Kia Michelle Stevens , better known by her ring names Amazing Kong, Awesome Kong and Kharma. She is signed with WWE, but has been inactive since May 2011 due to pregnancy... |
1 | January 14, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Nanae Takahashi | 2 | May 13, 2007 | Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, California Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California... |
|
| Title vacated on May 14, 2007 due to controversies in the match against Amazing Kong. | ||||
| Nanae Takahashi | 3 | May 27, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Wesna Wesna Wesna Busic , better known by her ring name Wesna, is a retired Croatian professional wrestler, who resides in Germany and wrestled mostly there, but also over all of Europe as well as in Japan and America.... and Amazing Kong in a three-way match. |
| Title retired on June 19, 2007 out of respect to former four-time champion Sherri Martel Sherri Martel Sherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri.... , who died on June 15. Takahashi is re-christened the AWA Japan Women's Champion. |
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| Nanae Takahashi Nanae Takahashi Nanae Takahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler from Japan. She has wrestled for prominent Japanese promotions All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling SUN, and has held multiple world championships... |
1 | June 16, 2007 | Recognized as first AWA Japan Women's champion after the AWA Superstars of Wrestling version of the AWA World Women's Championship was retired following the death of former champion Sherri Martel Sherri Martel Sherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri.... four days earlier. |
|
| Jamie D. Jaime Dauncey Jaime Dauncey is a Canadian professional wrestler, best known for her appearances with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2006 under the ring name, Sirelda. She is currently employed by Border City Wrestling.... |
1 | August 5, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Saki Maemura | 1 | October 10, 2007 | Osaka, Japan Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe... |
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| Deactivated | December 16, 2007 | Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and... |
Hikaru defeats Maemura in a hair vs. title match to become the first Hawai'i Championship Wrestling Hawai'i Championship Wrestling Hawai'i Championship Wrestling , was an American professional wrestling promotion founded in 2003. It had been associated with both AWA Superstars, and also, the NWA. The company folded in July 2008.-History:... World Women's champion. |
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See also
- AWA World Women's ChampionshipAWA World Women's ChampionshipThe AWA World Women's Championship was the female title in the American Wrestling Association from 1961 until 1990.-Title history:Silver-shaded lines in the history indicate periods of unknown lineage.-See also:*American Wrestling Association...
- Pro Wrestling ZERO1