Heading into 1991, WCW was part of the National Wrestling Alliance and Sting was recognized as NWA World Heavyweight Champion. However, on January 11 at a live event in East Rutherford, New Jersey Ric Flair defeated Sting to win his seventh world title. When WCW pulled out of the NWA in early-1991, Flair became recognized as the first WCW World Heavyweight Champion with this victory as the official beginning.