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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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List Of TNA World Champions

The TNA World Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned by the promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). From June 2002 to May 2007, TNA used the NWA World Heavyweight Championship as their primary championship as part of an agreement with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). On May 13, 2007, the NWA abruptly ended the arrangement and retrieved control of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. On the same night, TNA were set to host their annual Sacrifice pay-per-view event, in which the NWA World Heavyweight Championship was to be defended by then-champion Christian Cage against Kurt Angle and Sting in a three-way match. Angle won the match and on the following episode of TNA's television program Impact! on May 17, was declared the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. He was stripped of the championship later in the program, with Management Director Jim Cornette citing a problematic finish to the title match. The ownership of the championship was decided on June 17, 2007, at TNA's Slammiversary event in a King of the Mountain match involving Angle and Cage along with A.J. Styles, Chris Harris and Samoa Joe, which Angle won.

Despite the championship being primarily contested for by a male roster, it was once won by a female competitor (Tessa Blanchard). Being a professional wrestling championship, the title is won via a scripted ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a storyline. Reigns that began on Impact Wrestling usually air on tape delay and as such are listed with the day the tapings occurred, rather than the air date. Angle holds the record for most reigns, with six. At 335 days, Josh Alexander's second reign is the longest in the title's history. Alexander's first reign holds the record for shortest reign in the title's history at only a few minutes. Overall, there have been 59 reigns shared among 34 wrestlers, with seven vacancies.

Title history

Names

Name Years
TNA World Heavyweight Championship May 13, 2007 – March 1, 2017
Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship March 2, 2017 – July 2, 2017
Unified GFW World Heavyweight Championship July 2, 2017 – August 17, 2017
GFW Global Championship August 17, 2017 – September 18, 2017
Impact Global Championship September 18, 2017 – January 10, 2018
Impact World Championship January 10, 2018 – March 13, 2021
Impact Unified World Championship March 13, 2021 – March 16, 2021
Impact World Championship March 16, 2021 – January 13, 2024
TNA World Championship January 13, 2024 –

Reigns

For a list of world champions in TNA between 2002 and 2007, see the list of NWA World Heavyweight Champions.

As of July 7, 2024.

Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)
1 Kurt Angle May 13, 2007 Sacrifice Orlando, FL 1 1 Angle defeated Christian Cage and Sting in a three-way match to become the inaugural champion after National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Executive Director Robert Trobich stripped Cage of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and ended NWA's business relationship with TNA earlier that day.
Vacated May 14, 2007 Impact! Orlando, FL Angle was stripped of the championship due to a double-fall result of the three-way match at Sacrifice. This episode aired on tape delay on May 17, 2007
2 Kurt Angle June 17, 2007 Slammiversary Nashville, TN 2 119 This was a King of the Mountain match also involving A.J. Styles, Chris Harris, Christian Cage and Samoa Joe. After the event, Angle's reign and the vacancy were no longer recognized and thus is viewed to be the start of the title's history. TNA counted Angle's previous reign to his credit without detailing why, giving loose recognition towards that reign.
3 Sting October 14, 2007 Bound for Glory Duluth, GA 1 2
4 Kurt Angle October 16, 2007 Impact! Orlando, FL 3 180 This episode aired on tape delay on October 25, 2007.
5 Samoa Joe April 13, 2008 Lockdown Lowell, MA 1 182 This was a six sides of steel cage title vs. career match.
6 Sting October 12, 2008 Bound for Glory IV Hoffman Estates, IL 2 189 This was a no countout match.
7 Mick Foley April 19, 2009 Lockdown Philadelphia, PA 1 63 This was a six sides of steel cage match.
8 Kurt Angle June 21, 2009 Slammiversary Auburn Hills, MI 4 91 This was a King of the Mountain match also involving A.J. Styles, Jeff Jarrett and Samoa Joe.
9 A.J. Styles September 20, 2009 No Surrender Orlando, FL 1 211 This was a five-way match also involving Hernandez, Matt Morgan and Sting.
10 Rob Van Dam April 19, 2010 Impact! Orlando, FL 1 113
Vacated August 10, 2010 Impact! Orlando, FL The championship was vacated due to Rob Van Dam suffering a storyline injury.
This episode aired on tape delay on August 19, 2010.
11 Jeff Hardy October 10, 2010 Bound for Glory Daytona Beach, FL 1 91 Hardy defeated Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson in a three-way tournament final to win the vacant title. Per the pre-match stipulation, Angle (in storyline) was forced to retire.
12 Mr. Anderson January 9, 2011 Genesis Orlando, FL 1 35
13 Jeff Hardy February 13, 2011 Against All Odds Orlando, FL 2 11 This was a ladder match.
14 Sting February 24, 2011 Impact! Fayetteville, NC 3 108 This episode aired on tape delay on March 3, 2011
15 Mr. Anderson June 12, 2011 Slammiversary IX Orlando, FL 2 29
16 Sting July 11, 2011 Impact! Orlando, FL 4 27 This episode aired on tape delay on July 14, 2011.
17 Kurt Angle August 7, 2011 Hardcore Justice Orlando, FL 5 72
18 James Storm October 18, 2011 Impact! Orlando, FL 1 8 This episode aired on tape delay on October 20, 2011.
19 Bobby Roode October 26, 2011 Impact! Macon, GA 1 256 This episode aired on tape delay on November 3, 2011.
20 Austin Aries July 8, 2012 Destination X Orlando, FL 1 98 Aries voluntarily vacated the X Division Championship in exchange for a TNA World Heavyweight Championship match at the event.
21 Jeff Hardy October 14, 2012 Bound for Glory Phoenix, AZ 3 147
22 Bully Ray March 10, 2013 Lockdown San Antonio, TX 1 130 This was a steel cage match.
23 Chris Sabin July 18, 2013 Impact: Destination X Louisville, KY 1 28 Sabin voluntarily vacated the X Division Championship in exchange for a TNA World Heavyweight Championship match at the event.
24 Bully Ray August 15, 2013 Impact: Hardcore Justice Norfolk, VA 2 66 This was a steel cage match.
25 A.J. Styles October 20, 2013 Bound for Glory San Diego, CA 2 9 This was a no disqualification match.
Vacated October 29, 2013 TNA President Dixie Carter announced via Twitter that A.J. Styles had been stripped of the championship due to a contract dispute. Styles continued to carry around the championship belt proclaiming himself champion in the storyline.
26 Magnus December 3, 2013 Impact: Final Resolution Orlando, FL 1 128 Defeated Jeff Hardy in a tournament final to win the vacant title. This was a Dixieland match which aired on tape delay on December 19, 2013.
On the January 9, 2014 episode of Impact Wrestling (taped December 6, 2013), A.J. Styles returned claiming to be the legitimate TNA World Heavyweight Champion as he was never defeated for the championship (though not recognized as such by TNA). Magnus defeated him later that night to become the undisputed champion.
27 Eric Young April 10, 2014 Impact! Orlando, FL 1 70 If Magnus had been counted out or disqualified, he would have lost the title.
If anyone had interfered in the match, they would have been fired.
28 Lashley June 19, 2014 Impact! Bethlehem, PA 1 91 If anyone besides MVP or Kenny King had interfered, they would have been fired.
29 Bobby Roode September 18, 2014 Impact! Bethlehem, PA 2 111 This episode aired on tape delay on October 29, 2014. Kurt Angle was the special guest referee.
30 Lashley January 7, 2015 Impact! New York, NY 2 24
31 Kurt Angle January 31, 2015 Impact! London, England 6 145 This episode aired on tape delay on March 20, 2015.
32 Ethan Carter III June 25, 2015 Impact! Orlando, FL 1 101 This episode aired on tape delay on July 1, 2015.
33 Matt Hardy October 4, 2015 Bound for Glory Concord, NC 1 2 This was a three-way match also involving Drew Galloway who Matt pinned. Jeff Hardy was the special guest referee.
Vacated October 6, 2015 Vacated due to a legal injunction filed by Ethan Carter III as part of the storyline.
34 Ethan Carter III January 5, 2016 Impact! Bethlehem, PA 2 3 Carter III defeated Matt Hardy in the finals of the TNA World Title Series to win the vacant title.
35 Matt Hardy January 8, 2016 Impact! Bethlehem, PA 2 67 This was a last man standing match. Had Hardy not won, he would have left TNA. This episode aired on tape delay on January 19, 2016.
36 Drew Galloway March 15, 2016 Impact! Orlando, FL 1 89 Galloway invoked his Feast or Fired championship opportunity to challenge Matt Hardy for the championship and win the title.
37 Lashley June 12, 2016 Slammiversary Orlando, FL 3 113 This was a knockout or tapout only match.
On July 13, 2016, Lashley also won the TNA X Division Championship defeating then-champion Eddie Edwards in a title vs. title steel cage match. On August 11, 2016, Lashley also won the TNA King of the Mountain Championship by defeating then-champion James Storm in a title vs. titles match. The following day, Lashley retired the TNA King of the Mountain Championship and vacated the X Division Championship.
38 Eddie Edwards October 3, 2016 Impact! Orlando, FL 1 97 This episode aired on tape delay on October 6, 2016.
39 Lashley January 8, 2017 Impact: Genesis Orlando, FL 4 175 This was a 30-minute Iron Man match. This episode aired on tape delay on January 26, 2017. On March 2, 2017, the championship was renamed to the Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship following the renaming of the promotion.
Global Force Wrestling (GFW)
40 Alberto El Patrón July 2, 2017 Slammiversary XV Orlando, FL 1 43 This was a unification match to unify the Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship and the original GFW Global Championship. The championship was renamed to the Unified GFW World Heavyweight Championship.
Vacated August 14, 2017 Vacated due to Alberto El Patrón's suspension.
41 Eli Drake August 17, 2017 Impact! Orlando, FL 1 146 This was a 20-man Gauntlet for the Gold match. Drake pinned Eddie Edwards to win the match once they were the last two wrestlers. The championship took the GFW Global Championship name, while retaining the TNA World Heavyweight Championship history. On August 24, 2017, the championship was renamed the "Impact Global Championship" (aired on tape delay on September 18, 2017).
Impact Wrestling
42 Austin Aries January 10, 2018 Impact! Orlando, FL 2 102 This episode aired on tape delay on February 1, 2018. During his reign, the championship took the Impact World Championship name.
43 Pentagón Jr. April 22, 2018 Redemption Orlando, FL 1 2 This was a triple threat match also involving Fénix.
44 Austin Aries April 24, 2018 Impact! Under Pressure Orlando, FL 3 173 This episode aired on tape delay on May 31, 2018. Aries unified the Impact World Championship with the Impact Grand Championship.
45 Johnny Impact October 14, 2018 Bound for Glory New York, NY 1 196
46 Brian Cage April 28, 2019 Rebellion Toronto, ON 1 180 Lance Storm was the special guest referee.
47 Sami Callihan October 25, 2019 Impact! Windsor, ON 1 79 This was a steel cage match. The episode aired on tape delay on October 29, 2019.
48 Tessa Blanchard January 12, 2020 Hard to Kill Dallas, TX 1 165 Blanchard became the first woman to hold the championship.
Vacated June 25, 2020 After a period of inactivity during which Blanchard missed multiple tapings due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, her contract was terminated by Impact Wrestling and she was stripped of the title.
49 Eddie Edwards July 18, 2020 Slammiversary Nashville, TN 2 28 This was a five-way elimination match also involving Ace Austin, Trey, Rich Swann, and Eric Young.
50 Eric Young August 15, 2020 Impact! Nashville, TN 2 70 The episode aired on tape delay on September 1, 2020.
51 Rich Swann October 24, 2020 Bound for Glory Nashville, TN 1 183 At Sacrifice on March 13, 2021, Swann defeated Moose to unify the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, which was officially sanctioned as a separate title, with the Impact World Championship. The TNA title was deactivated while the Impact title became briefly known as the Impact Unified World Championship before reverting to Impact World Championship. Swann would carry both belts to represent the championship.
52 Kenny Omega April 25, 2021 Rebellion Nashville, TN 1 110 This was a Winner Takes All match in which Omega also defended the AEW World Championship.
53 Christian Cage August 13, 2021 AEW Rampage Pittsburgh, PA 1 71 Cage retired the TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt on the August 19, 2021, episode of Impact!, leaving the championship once again represented by a single belt.
54 Josh Alexander October 23, 2021 Bound for Glory Sunrise Manor, NV 1 <1 Alexander voluntarily vacated the X Division Championship in exchange for an Impact World Championship match at the event.
55 Moose October 23, 2021 Bound for Glory Sunrise Manor, NV 1 182 Moose invoked his Call Your Shot Gauntlet championship privilege he earned at the event.
56 Josh Alexander April 23, 2022 Rebellion Poughkeepsie, NY 2 335
Vacated March 24, 2023 Impact! Windsor, ON Vacated due to Josh Alexander requiring surgery for a torn triceps. This episode aired on tape delay on April 6, 2023.
57 Steve Maclin April 16, 2023 Rebellion Toronto, ON 1 54 Defeated Kushida to win the vacant championship.
58 Alex Shelley June 9, 2023 Against All Odds Columbus, OH 1 218 During this reign, the name of the company was reverted back to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)
59 Moose January 13, 2024 Hard To Kill Paradise, NV 2 176+ Moose invoked his Feast or Fired world title opportunity.

Combined reigns

As of July 7, 2024.

Indicates the current champion
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns
Combined days
1 Kurt Angle 6 608
2 Lashley 4 403
3 Austin Aries 3 373
4 Bobby Roode 2 367
5 Moose 2 358+
6 Josh Alexander 2 335
7 Sting 4 326
8 Jeff Hardy 3 249
9 A.J. Styles 2 220
10 Alex Shelley 1 218
11 Bully Ray 2 196
Johnny Impact 1
13 Rich Swann 1 183
14 Samoa Joe 1 182
15 Brian Cage 1 180
16 Tessa Blanchard 1 165
17 Eli Drake 1 146
18 Eric Young 2 140
19 Magnus 1 128
20 Eddie Edwards 2 125
21 Rob Van Dam 1 113
22 Kenny Omega 1 110
23 Ethan Carter III 2 104
24 Drew Galloway 1 89
25 Sami Callihan 1 79
26 Christian Cage 1 71
27 Matt Hardy 2 69
28 Mr. Anderson 2 64
29 Mick Foley 1 63
30 Steve Maclin 1 54
31 Alberto El Patrón 1 43
32 Chris Sabin 1 28
33 James Storm 1 8
34 Pentagón Jr. 1 2

See also