being a professional wrestling championship, it was won via a scripted ending to a match or awarded to a wrestler because of a storyline. all title changes occurred at jcp or wcw-promoted events. the inaugural champion was danny miller, who defeated ole anderson on february 27, 1974, in the finals of a tournament. booker t holds the record for most reigns, with six. rick steamboat's second reign ended due to vacancy for unknown reasons. the day on which the reign ended is also unknown, although it is known that the reign began on june 10, 1978, and came to a close sometime in 1980. as such, if the reign ended on january 1, 1980, or any later time during 1980, then steamboat's second reign is the longest in the title's history, at over 570 days. five different reigns are tied for the record for shortest reign in the title's history, at one day.