Originally, it was simply known as the Texas Heavyweight Championship until its name was changed after the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance in 1948.

For most of the title's existence, at least until the early 1990s, it was defended almost exclusively within the Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio areas of Texas.

From the 1930s to the mid-1960s, these cities and the surrounding towns were within the territory operated by Ed McLemore, which was known simply as Southwest Sports, Inc. at the time.

After McLemore's death, the territory came under the control of Fritz Von Erich and was renamed as Big Time Wrestling.

However, the promotion would be renamed World Class Championship Wrestling in the early 1980s, which is the name the territory is best remembered under today.