He was a nine-time world champion, having won the WWA World Heavyweight Championship once and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship eight times and was the first NWA United States Heavyweight Champion (now WWE United States Championship).

In 1973, Race faced NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. in Kansas City, Missouri. Race emerged from the battle as the new World Champion in a stunning upset.

Harley took his NWA World Title to New York to meet the WWF Champion, Bob Backlund, in a special match on September 22, 1980. The first bout between the two in the latter’s territory.

The NWA World's Heavyweight Championship is a world heavyweight championship owned and promoted by the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), an American professional wrestling promotion. It is the promotion's premier title.

Jan 17, 2025 · As the consummate babyface, Rhodes was in constant pursuit of wrestling’s most illustrious prize: the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. After failing to defeat Jack Brisco 10 times, Terry Funk 20 times, and Harley Race 27 times: Rhodes finally defeated Race on August 21, 1979, in Tampa, FL.

Jun 21, 2016 · "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes defeated "Handsome" Harley Race for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on June 21, 1981 at the Omni in Atlanta Georgia. 35 years ago today! News of Dusty's big win was reported all over the world.

Aug 6, 2019 · Harley Race was one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling during the 1970s. He won the NWA World Championship A total of four times during that decade, and with the exception of a few short-term losses he held it for over four years. Unlike a lot of other wrestlers, Harley Race was not a stage name. It was his genuine birth name.

Mar 5, 2023 · After 631 days, Harley Race dethroned Flair, becoming a seven-time champion, which at the time was a record-breaking number of reigns. In winning the NWA World Title from Ric Flair, Harley Race kicked off a lengthy feud with The Nature Boy.

In April of 1981, Tommy Rich shocked the world when he upset Harley Race to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the belt known as the "ten pounds of gold." Most fans didn't learn about Rich's historic win until after he had already lost the title back to Race.

Feb 20, 2024 · During his three-decade in-ring career, Race also has the distinction of being the first-ever NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, a title that exists today as the WWE United States Championship — but that isn’t the end of his relationship to WWE. Harley Race is a legend in both NWA & WWE.