Who was the first WCW World Heavyweight Champion?

Ric Flair was the first WCW World Heavyweight Champion.

The championship was created in January 1991 after WCW separated its world title from the National Wrestling Alliance championship lineage. Flair was recognized as the inaugural champion because he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship when WCW established its own title.

Flair’s status as the first champion reflected his central role in the promotion and his long history with the NWA title. He was also one of WCW’s most important performers during the company’s early years.

The title later became the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and was held by stars including Sting, Vader, Hulk Hogan and Goldberg. In 2001, WWE acquired WCW’s assets, and the WCW championship was eventually unified with the WWF Championship at that year’s Survivor Series.