Here are the meanings of the symbols in the title histories...
[ ] Indicates the number of times the wrestler has held that title at that point.
[...] Indicates a gap in the listing where title changtes are not known.
* If used next to the names of the wrestlers, they may, in fact, not have held the title in the period indicated. If used next to the dates or places, either they are wrong or the title changes are fictitious.
< Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a wrestler held the title at a certain time but not when he won it.
@ Order uncertain. Different title holders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
# Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the wrestler shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are also italicized in HTML files.
Joe Stecher [2] 20/01/30 New York, NY
Defeats Earl Caddock to win World Heavyweight Title; Stecher has also won the title on 15/07/05 in Omaha, NE, defeating Charlie Cutler.
Ed "Strangler" Lewis 20/12/13 New York, NY
Stanislaus Zbyszko 21/05/06 New York, NY
Ed "Strangler" Lewis [2] 22/03/03 Wichita, KS
Wayne Munn 25/01/08 Kansas City, MO
Stanislaus Zbyszko [2] 25/04/15 Phidelphia, PA
Joe Stecher [3] 25/05/30 St. Louis, MO
Ed "Strangler" Lewis defeats Stecher to win the title on 28/02/20 in St. Louis, MO but not recognized by the New York Athletic Commission that awards the title to Hans Steinke.
Hans Steinke 28/02
Awarded by the New York Athletic Commission when considered to be the most legitimate title claimant based on the record.
Dick Shikat 29
Also recognized by National Boxing Association, defeating Jim Londos on 29/08/23 in Philadelphia, PA.
Jim Londos 30/06/06 Phidelphia, PA
Stripped in 32/06 for refusing to meet the winner of Ed Lewis vs. Dick Shikat match, won by Lewis on 32/06/09 in Long Island, NY; Londos continues to be recognized by NBA/National Wrestling Association until 35.
Ed "Strangler" Lewis [3] 32/10/10 New York, NY
Defeats Jack Sherry to be recognized by the New York Athletic Commission.
Jim Browning 33/02/20 New York, NY
Recognized in 23 states.
Jim Londos [2] 34/06/25 New York, NY
Unified with NBA/NWA World title which Londos has been held since 30.
Danno O'Mahoney 35/06/27 Boston, MA
Defeats Ed Don George on 35/07/30 in Boston, MA to unify American Wrestling Association World title and becomes the undisputed world champion.
Dick Shikat [2] 36/03/02 New York, NY
Ali Baba 36/05/05 New York, NY
Dave Levin 36/06/12 Newark, NJ
Wins by disqualification.
Dean Detton 36/09/28 Philadelphia, PA
Has also defeated Ed Stranler Lewis in a title tournament final earlier in the year in Philadelphia, PA.
Bronko Nagurski 37/06/16 Minneapolis, MN
Recognized by The Ring as the true world champion.
Jim Londos [3] 38/11/18 Philadelphia, PA
Retires in 46.
Lou Thesz
Unifies following titles to become the Undisputed World Heavyweight champion :
National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight title, defeating Bill Longson on 48/07/20 in Indianapolis, IN
National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight title, awarded on 49/11/27 when the first champion Orville Brown is injured in an automobile accident on 49/11/01 before a unification match scheduled on 49/11/25 in St. Louis, MO
American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight title (Boston), defeating Gorgeous George on 50/07/27 in Chicago, IL
Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium version of the world title, defeating Baron Michele Leone on 52/05/21 in Los Angeles, CA.
Whipper Billy Watson 56/03/15 Toronto, ON
Lou Thesz [2] 56/11/09 St. Louis, MO
Loses to Edouard Carpentier on 57/06/14 in Chicago, IL when Thesz cannot continue due to a back injury; NWA rules the title cannot change hands through an injury and gives the belt back to Thesz; Carpentier recognized as World champion in Omaha and by World Werstling Association in Los Angeles to legitimate the lineages of their world titles.
Dick Hutton 57/11/14 Toronto, ON
Pat O'Connor 59/01/09 St. Louis, MO
Buddy Rogers 61/06/30 Chicago, IL
Loses NWA world title to Lou Thesz on 63/01/24 in Toronto, ON; however, awarded as the first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion and recognized as World Champion in New York City in 63/04 when promoters in northeast refuse to recognize Rogers's one-fall loss to Thesz; in some accounts, Rogers allegedly defeats Antonino Rocca in a fictitious tournament in Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL for the title.
Bruno Sammartino 63/05/17 New York, NY
Ivan Koloff 71/01/18 New York, NY
Pedro Morales 71/02/08 New York, NY
Reduced from a world title to a regional belt after the WWWF joins the NWA in 71.
Dory Funk Jr. 71
Has defeated Gene Kiniski on 69/02/11 in Tampa, FL for the NWA World Heavyweight Title; recognized as World Champion in New York after WWWF joins the NWA in 71.
Harley Race 73/03/24 Kansas City, MO
Jack Brisco 73/07/20 Houston, TX
Giant Baba 74/12/02 Kagoshima, JAPAN
Jack Brisco [2] 74/12/09 Toyohashi, JAPAN
Terry Funk 75/12/10 Miami, FL
Harley Race [2] 77/02/06 Toronto, ON
Dusty Rhodes 79/08/21 Tampa, FL
Harley Race [3] 79/08/26 Orlando, FL
Giant Baba [2] 79/10/31 Nagoya, JAPAN
Harley Race [4] 79/11/07 Amagasaki, JAPAN
Giant Baba [3] 80/09/04 Saga, JAPAN
Harley Race [5] 80/09/09 Ohtsu, JAPAN
Tommy Rich 81/04/27 Augusta, GA
Harley Race [6] 81/05/01 Gainsville, GA
Dusty Rhodes [2] 81/06/21 Atlanta, GA
Ric Flair 81/09/17 Kansas City, MO
Midnight Rider (Dusty Rhodes) # 82/02/09 Tampa, FL
Ric Flair # 82/02/09 Tampa, FL
Rider returns the belt when asked to indentify himself by NWA president Bob Geigel.
Jack Veneno * 83< DOMINICA
Ric Flair * 83< DOMINICA
Victor Jovica * 83 TRINIDAD
Ric Flair * 83 TRINIDAD
Harley Race [7] 83/06/10 St. Louis, MO
Defeats Ric Flair to win NWA World Heavyweight Title for the seventh time; recognition withdrawn in New York when WWF withdraws from NWA in 83.
Bob Backlund 83
Reigning WWF Heavyweight Champion, recognized as World champion in New York when WWF withdraws from NWA in 83. See WWF World Title List.
