10 Greatest NWA World Heavyweight Champions

This NCAA Division I ace was essentially the NWA's chosen one as the '70s rolled in. Despite his lengthy time on top, Brisco's runs with the title are scarred by an odd blemish. In 1974, he dropped the title to All Japan founder Giant Baba only to regain the belt from the aptly named behemoth a mere week later.

For those outside of Japan, nothing had ever really changed yet Brisco's hopes of establishing a record-breaking title reign were scuppered. Despite the odd booking, the puritanical technician's work with the title was widely lauded by fans and peers alike. Like every NWA World Heavyweight Champion back then, Brisco travelled far and wide on an interminable journey of main event title defences to maintain the title's internationally recognised prestige.

With his brother Gerald, Brisco also engaged in an almost decade-long feud with the Funks. His title reigns became oddly defined and bookended by both kayfabe and political issues with Dory Funk Sr.'s sons. Initially miffed that Dory Funk Jr. dropped the title to Harley Race instead of him as planned, Brisco ultimately suffered another surprise when he dropped it to Terry Funk in a late stage booking change.

Unlike the Baba feud, Brisco never got his win back and ultimately went back to travelling the territories now without his crown jewel. A fast, aggressive and technically sound warrior, Brisco was everything the NWA looked for at the time.