On this page, you find the full Title History for the OVW Heavyweight Championship, with all Championship Info, Statistics, the Belt Design changes through the years, and the full list of Title Reigns, along with dates, events, and reign durations.
The OVW Heavyweight Championship is a main title contested in Ohio Valley Wrestling, by men wrestlers.
The championship was first established on August 17, 1997.
The current champion is Jay DeNiro, who won the title on May 17, 2026, and has been reigning for 22 days.
OVW Heavyweight Championship: Title History
OVW Heavyweight Championship: Title Reigns
N. Image Champion Reign 148 Jay DeNiro 1
May 17, 2026 Louisville, KY | OVW Collision Course 202622+days147 Dustin Jackson 1
December 11, 2025 Louisville, KY | OVW Rise157days146 Kal Herro
July 1, 2025 Louisville, KY | OVW Independence RageHerro defeated Crixus in a tournament final for the vacant championship.163days
Vacant
October 3, 2024 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsKhadeem announced unforeseen health concerns and vacated the title.271days145 Mt. Khadeem
September 12, 2024 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings21days144 Ca$h Flo 4
September 12, 2024 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThis was a gauntlet match that also involved AJZ, Dalton McKenzie and Tony Gunn.0days
Vacant
September 12, 20240days143 Crixus 1
May 30, 2024 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings105days142 Tony Evans
May 2, 2024 Louisville, KY | OVW Double Crossed28days141 Luke Kurtis
March 28, 2024 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings35days140 Tony Gunn
March 16, 2024 Louisville, KY | OVW March MayhemThis was a Double Jeopardy Tag Match between the team of Gunn and Luke Kurtis and the team of Vaughn and OVW National Heavyweight Champion EC3, where if either Vaughn or EC3 were pinned, the man who pinned them would win their respective title. Gunn pinned Vaughn.12days139 Jack Vaughn 3
January 25, 2024 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings51days138 Tony Gunn
December 7, 2023 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsnZo served as the special guest referee.49days137 Jack Vaughn 2
July 27, 2023 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings133days136 Ca$h Flo 3
June 22, 2023 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings35days135 Shera 1
November 24, 2022 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings210days134 Ca$h Flo 2
October 13, 2022 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThis match was also for Storm's OVW National Heavyweight Championship.42days133 James Storm 1
August 27, 2022 Louisville, KY | OVW The Big One47days132 Omar Amir
August 11, 2022 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings16days131 Jack Vaughn 1
July 7, 2022 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings35days130 Omar Amir
June 2, 2022 Louisville, KY | OVW TV: All Systems Go35days129 Ryan Howe
October 21, 2021 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThis was 20-man battle royal for the vacant championship.224days
Vacant
October 7, 202114days128 Omar Amir
June 26, 2021 Louisville, KY | Saturday Night Special - Chained Carnage 2021This was a Chained Carnage match.103days127 Ca$h Flo 1
May 6, 2021 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Taping51days126 Omar Amir
January 9, 2021 Louisville, KY | OVW Nightmare Rumble 2021Won the 2021 Nightmare Rumble to become the new OVW Heavyweight Champion.117days
Vacant
January 2, 2021Pillman vacated the championship due to his AEW commitments.7days125 Brian Pillman Jr. 1
December 5, 2020 Louisville, KY | OVW Christmas ChaosThis was a Steel Cage Match.28days124 Tony Gunn
March 7, 2020 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special273days123 Maximus Khan
February 1, 2020 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialThis was a 3-Way Dance, also including Ca$h Flo.35days122 Justin Smooth
June 1, 2019 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialThis was a No Disqualification match.245days121 Michael Hayes
May 15, 2019 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThe championship was awarded to Hayes by Dean Hill after Smooth got disqualified at the Saturday Night Special.17days120 Justin Smooth
April 24, 2019 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThis was a three-way match, also including Amon.21days119 Dimes
April 17, 2019 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThis was a gauntlet match also for the OVW Television Championship including Amon, Brandon Wolfe, Drew Hernandez and William Lutz.7days118 Tony Gunn
January 30, 2019 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings77days117 Abyss 2
October 10, 2018 Louisville, KY | OVW 1000Abyss defeated Justin Smooth in a tournament final to win the vacant championship.112days
Vacant
August 1, 2018 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThe championship vacated by Dean Hill.70days116 Abyss 1
July 25, 2018 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsAbyss became champion after Amon gave him the championship.7days115 Amon
July 7, 2018 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialThis was a casket match.18days114 Michael Hayes
March 3, 2018 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialThis was a three-way elimination match, also including Chris Silvio.126days113 Randy Royal
February 14, 2018 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings17days112 Michael Hayes
November 4, 2017 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialThis was Hayes War Games cash in match.102days111 Tyler Matrix
September 2, 2017 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special63days110 Adam Revolver 2
July 1, 2017 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialMichael Hayes served as the special guest referee.63days109 Big Jon
April 1, 2017 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialThis was a steel cage match.91days108 Rocco Bellagio
May 14, 2016 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialThis was a No Holds Barred match.322days107 Big Jon
April 16, 2016 Elizabethtown, KY | Live eventJon defeated Rocco Bellagio to win the vacant championship.28days
Vacant
April 16, 2016 Elizabethtown, KY | Live eventThe championship was vacated by OVW founder Danny Davis.0days106 Devin Driscoll
March 19, 2016 Elizabethtown, KY | Live event28days105 Ryan Howe
January 2, 2016 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special77days104 Rob Conway 5
December 9, 2015 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings24days103 Ryan Howe
December 5, 2015 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special4days102 Chris Silvio
July 24, 2015 Louisville, KY | OVW Friday Night Fights 2134days101 Eddie Diamond
April 29, 2015 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings86days100 Mohamad Ali Vaez
February 7, 2015 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special81days99 Adam Revolver 1
December 6, 2014 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special63days98 Cliff Compton 3
October 4, 2014 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialThis was a three-way match, also including Marcus Anthony.63days97 Melvin Maximus
August 2, 2014 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special63days96 Marcus Anthony
July 5, 2014 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Specialthis was a Last Man Standing match.28days95 Jamin Olivencia
May 10, 2014 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special56days94 Marcus Anthony
January 4, 2014 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special126days93 Jamin Olivencia
December 7, 2013 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialOlivencia defeated Johnny Spade to win the vacant championship.28days
Vacant
December 4, 2013 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThe championship was vacated by OVW owner Danny Davis over inappropriate actions on OVW TV.3days92 Jamin Olivencia
April 10, 2013 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special238days91 Douglas Williams 1
January 30, 2013 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings70days90 Robbie T 2
December 1, 2012 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night Special60days89 Crimson 1
September 12, 2012 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings80days88 Johnny Spade
July 7, 2012 Louisville, KY | OVW Saturday Night SpecialSpade defeated Rob Terry in the finals of a ten men gauntlet match to win the vacant championship.67days
Vacant
June 27, 2012 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsOVW Board of Directors member Ken Wayne vacated all OVW championships.10days87 Robbie T 1
May 12, 2012 Louisville, KY | Saturday Night Special46days86 Johnny Spade
March 3, 2012 Louisville, KY | Saturday Night Special70days85 Rudy Switchblade
November 2, 2011 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsSwitchblade defeated Adam Revolver, James Thomas, Jason Wayne, Mike Mondo, Nick Dinsmore, Rocco Bellagio and Ted McNaler and in an Eight Man Melee.122days84 Eugene 10
October 26, 2011 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings7days83 Jason Wayne
July 1, 2011 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsWayne defeated Mike Mondo in a tournament final to win the vacant championship.117days
Vacant
June 1, 2011 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsPridemoore vacated the championship after finding out that he had won it due to outside interference from Mike Mondo.30days82 Elvis Pridemoore
May 25, 2011 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings7days81 Cliff Compton 2
May 14, 2011 Louisville, KY | Live eventThis was a brass knuckles on a pole match against Mike Mondo with Danny Davis served as the special guest referee.11days
Vacant
May 4, 2011 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThe championship was vacated after Mike Mondo attacked OVW president Danny Davis.10days80 Mikey 2
March 5, 2011 Louisville, KY | Live eventThis was a three-way ladder match, also involving Low Rider.60days79 Cliff Compton 1
January 8, 2011 Louisville, KY | Live eventThis was a three-way match, also involving Mike Mondo.56days78 Low Rider
July 31, 2010 Louisville, KY | Live event161days77 James Thomas
June 16, 2010 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThomas is formerly known as Moose.45days76 Mikey 1
May 29, 2010 Louisville, KY | Live event18days75 Brent Wellington 1
February 27, 2010 Louisville, KY | Live eventWellington won a battle royal to win the vacant championship.91days
Vacant
February 27, 2010Moose was stripped of the championship due to attacking officials.0days74 Moose
January 6, 2010 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings52days73 Low Rider
July 18, 2009 Louisville, KY | Live event172days72 Apocalypse 2
May 17, 2009 Louisville, KY | Live event62days71 Vaughn Lilas
April 25, 2009 Louisville, KY | Live event22days70 Apocalypse 1
February 7, 2009 Louisville, KY | Live event77days69 Vaughn Lilas
January 17, 2009 Louisville, KY | Live event21days68 Idol Stevens 2
November 29, 2008 Louisville, KY | Live event49days67 Anthony Bravado
November 1, 2008 Louisville, KY | Live event28days66 Ryback 1
October 18, 2008 Louisville, KY | Live event14days65 Anthony Bravado
June 25, 2008 Louisville, KY | Live event115days64 Eugene 9
February 20, 2008 Louisville, KY | Live event126days63 Jay Bradley 2
February 13, 2008 Louisville, KY | Live eventBradley became the first OVW Heavyweight Champion since OVW and WWE parted ways.7days62 Matt Sydal 1
December 5, 2007 Louisville, KY | Live eventSydal is the last OVW Heavyweight Champion while OVW is a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) developmental territory.70days61 Michael Washington Kruel
July 28, 2007 Elizabethtown, KY | Live eventPinned at backstage130days60 Vladimir Kozlov 1
July 28, 2007 Elizabethtown, KY | Live event0days59 Paul Burchill 4
June 27, 2007 Louisville, KY | Live event31days58 Jay Bradley 1
June 1, 2007 Louisville, KY | Live eventBradley defeated Paul Burchill and Aaron Stevens in a three-way match to win the vacant championship.26days
Vacant
May 23, 2007 Louisville, KY | Live eventThe championship was vacated after a double pin in a contest between Paul Burchill and Idol Stevens.9days57 Paul Burchill 3
May 9, 2007 Louisville, KY | Live event14days56 Idol Stevens 1
March 14, 2007 Louisville, KY | Live event56days55 Paul Burchill 2
February 18, 2007 Louisville, KY | Live event24days54 Cody Runnels 1
February 17, 2007 Elizabethtown, KY | Live event1day53 Paul Burchill 1
December 13, 2006 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings66days52 Chet the Jett
December 13, 2006 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings0days51 Jacob Duncan 1
October 25, 2006 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings49days50 Chet the Jett
August 30, 2006 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings56days49 CM Punk 1
May 3, 2006 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThis was a strap match119days48 Brent Albright
March 1, 2006 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsAlbright defeated CM Punk in a tournament finals to become the new champion.63days
Vacant
February 8, 2006 Louisville, KY | Live eventMatt Cappotelli vacated the championship after announcing that he had a brain tumor.21days47 Matt Cappotelli
November 9, 2005 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings91days46 Johnny Jeter 2
August 3, 2005 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings98days45 Brent Albright
April 27, 2005 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings98days44 Matt Morgan 2
April 13, 2005 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings14days43 Elijah Burke 1
December 8, 2004 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings126days42 Chad Toland 1
December 1, 2004 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings7days41 Chris Cage 1
October 13, 2004 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings49days40 Matt Morgan 1
April 14, 2004 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings182days39 Nick Dinsmore 8
January 7, 2004 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsDinsmore defeated Johnny Jeter to win the vacant championship.98days
Vacant
December 10, 2003The championship was vacated due to Mark Magnus being pinned by both Nick Dinsmore and Johnny Jeter in a three-way match on December 3.28days38 Mark Magnus 1
October 15, 2003 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings56days37 Johnny Jeter 1
August 13, 2003 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings63days36 Rob Conway 4
August 13, 2003 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings0days35 Danny Basham 4
July 30, 2003 Louisville, KY | OVW TV TapingsThis was a Loser Leaves Town match.14days34 Doug Basham 4
April 6, 2003 Louisville, KY | OVW TV Tapings115days33 Nick Dinsmore 7
February 19, 2003 Louisville, KY | Live event46days32 Damaja 3
November 6, 2002 Louisville, KY | Live event105days31 Nova 1
May 15, 2002 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event175days30 The Prototype 1
February 20, 2002 Jeffersonville, IN | OVW TV Tapings84days29 Leviathan 1
November 28, 2001 Jeffersonville, IN | OVW TV Tapings84days28 The Machine 3
July 25, 2001 Jeffersonville, IN | OVW TV TapingsOVW breaks away from the NWA in October 2001. The championship is renamed the OVW Heavyweight Championship.126days27 Flash Flanagan
April 4, 2001 Louisville, KY | Bluegrass Brawl112days26 Rico Constantino
February 27, 2001 Louisville, KY | Live event36days25 Nick Dinsmore 6
October 25, 2000 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event125days24 Rob Conway 3
September 6, 2000 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event49days23 Nick Dinsmore 5
August 4, 2000 Louisville, KY | Live event33days22 Flash Flanagan
July 8, 2000 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event27days21 Nick Dinsmore 4
May 24, 2000 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event45days20 Damaja 2
April 4, 2000 Louisville, KY | Live event50days19 Flash Flanagan
February 17, 2000 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event47days18 Rico Constantino
February 6, 2000 Louisville, KY | Live event11days17 Flash Flanagan
December 26, 1999 Louisville, KY | Live event42days16 Rico Constantino
November 10, 1999 Louisville, KY | Live event46days15 Rob Conway 2
August 17, 1999 Louisville, KY | Live event85days14 Damaja 1
June 8, 1999 Louisville, KY | Live event70days13 Nick Dinsmore 3
May 7, 1999 New Albany, IN | Live event32days12 Rob Conway 1
April 28, 1999 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event9days11 Nick Dinsmore 2
April 18, 1999 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event10days10 Rod Steele
February 2, 1999 Louisville, KY | Live eventNick Dinsmore defeated Steele on February 7, 1999 at a live event, but returned the title to Steele after learning of outside interference during their encounter.75days9 Rip Rogers
January 3, 1999 Louisville, KY | Live event30days8 Doug Basham 2
December 29, 1998 Louisville, KY | Live event5days7 Rip Rogers
September 13, 1998 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event107days6 Doug Basham 1
July 5, 1998 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event70days5 David C.
June 10, 1998 Jeffersonville, IN | Live eventDavid C. won the championship by forfeit.25days4 Nick Dinsmore 1
June 3, 1998 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event7days3 Rip Rogers
November 23, 1997 Jeffersonville, IN | Live event192days2 Bill Dundee
November 16, 1997 Jeffersonville, IN | Live eventDundee won a battle royal to win the vacant championship.7days
Vacant
November 1, 1997Title vacated.15days1 Trailer Park Trash
August 17, 1997 Jeffersonville, IN | Live eventTrailer Park Trash defeated Vic the Bruiser to become the inaugural champion.76days
OVW Heavyweight Championship: Names & Belt Designs
OVW Heavyweight Championship: Statistics
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion
OVWAugust 17, 1997 Present
- Promotion
Ohio Valley Wrestling - TerritoryState
- DivisionPrimary
- GenderMale
- Date EstablishedAugust 17, 1997
- Current Champion
Jay DeNiro
Most Number of Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eugene | 10 |
| 2 | Rob Conway | 5 |
| 3 | Tony Gunn | 4 |
| 4 | The Machine | 4 |
| 5 | Omar Amir | 4 |
| 6 | Damaja | 4 |
| 7 | Flash Flanagan | 4 |
| 8 | Paul Burchill | 4 |
| 9 | Ca$h Flo | 4 |
Most Combined Days
| Rank | Wrestler | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Eugene | 529 | |
| Tony Gunn | 411 | |
| Low Rider | 333 | |
| Rip Rogers | 329 | |
| Rocco Bellagio | 322 |
Longest Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reign | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocco Bellagio | May 14, 2016 - April 1, 2017 | 322 | |
| Tony Gunn | March 7, 2020 - December 5, 2020 | 273 | |
| Justin Smooth | June 1, 2019 - February 1, 2020 | 245 | |
| Jamin Olivencia | April 10, 2013 - December 4, 2013 | 238 | |
| Ryan Howe | October 21, 2021 - June 2, 2022 | 224 |














































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