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World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
(May 4, 1905 - June 14, 1957)
Won By: Date: Event: Location: Reign:
Georg Hackenschmidt May 4, 1905 Live Event New York, NY, USA 1065 days
In 1901, Hackenschmidt won several tournaments in Europe to declare a world champion. These tournaments were in Paris, France, Hamburg, Germany, St. Petersburg, Russia, Elberfield, Germany and Berlin, Germany. In November of 1901, in Vienna, Austria, Hackenschmidt won a tournament to be recognized as world champion in Europe. On September 4, 1902, he defeated Tom Cannon for the European Greco-Roman Championship. He solidified his status after defeating Ahmed Madrali in London, England on January 30, 1904. Then on May 4, 1905, Hackenschmidt defeated American Heavyweight Champion Tom Jenksins in a non-title match to be recognized as the North American World Heavyweight Champion.
Frank Gotch Apr 3, 1908 Live Event Chicago, IL, USA 1824 days
** Title Vacated ** Apr 1, 1913 -- --
Retires as champion after a match on April 1, 1913, in Kansas City, MO. Gotch declares that Americus and Fred Beell should wrestle to determine a new champion.
Americus Mar 13, 1914 Live Event Kansas City, MO, USA 55 days
Stanislaus Zbyszko May 7, 1914 Live Event Kansas City, MO, USA 161 days
** Title Vacated ** Oct 1914 -- --
Zbyszko vacates the title in October of 1914, to enlist in the Austro-Hungarian Army.
Charlie Cutler Jan 8, 1915 -- -- 178 days
After defeating Dr. Benjamin Roller, the reigning American Heavyweight Champion, billed as world champion and recognized in Omaha, Des Moines, Chicago and New York.
Joe Stecher Jul 5, 1915 Live Event Omaha, NE, USA 644 days
Earl Caddock Apr 9, 1917 Live Event Omaha, NE, USA 1026 days
Joe Stecher Jan 30, 1920 Live Event New York, NY, USA 318 days
Ed Lewis Dec 13, 1920 Live Event New York, NY, USA 144 days
Stanislaus Zbyszko May 6, 1921 Live Event New York, NY, USA 301 days
Ed Lewis Mar 3, 1922 Live Event Wichita, KS, USA 1042 days
Wayne Munn Jan 8, 1925 Live Event Kansas City, MO, USA 97 days
Stanislaus Zbyszko Apr 15, 1925 Live Event Philadelphia, PA, USA 45 days
Munn is continued to be recognized as champion in Michigan and Illinois.
Joe Stecher May 30, 1925 Live Event St. Louis, MO, USA 996 days
Ed Lewis Feb 20, 1928 Live Event St. Louis, MO, USA 319 days
Defeated Wayne Munn on February 2, 1928 in Michigan City, Indiana for disputed line of World Heavyweight Championship still defended in Michigan and Illinois.
Gus Sonnenberg Jan 4, 1929 Live Event Boston, MA, USA 705 days
Ed Don George Dec 10, 1930 Live Event Los Angeles, CA, USA 124 days
Ed Lewis Apr 13, 1931 Live Event Los Angeles, CA, USA 679 days
Lewis loses the A.W.A. Boston World Heavyweight title by disqualification to Henri Deglane on May 4, 1931 in Montreal, PQ, however he is still recognized as World Champion in Chicago. After losing the N.Y.S.A.C. World Championship to Jim Browning on February 20, 1933, recognition as World Champion becomes disputed.
Danno O'Mahoney Jun 27, 1935 Live Event Boston, MA, USA 249 days
O'Mahoney defeated Jim Londos to win the N.Y.S.A.C. and N.B/W.A. World titles. On July 30, 1935, he defeated Ed Don George in Boston, MA to win the A.W.A. Boston title and to be recognized as the undisputed World Champion.
Dick Shikat Mar 2, 1936 Live Event New York, NY, USA 53 days
Ali Baba Apr 24, 1936 Live Event Detroit, MI, USA 49 days
Dave Levin Jun 12, 1936 Live Event Newark, NJ, USA 108 days
Dean Detton Sep 28, 1936 Live Event Philadelphia, PA, USA 261 days
Bronko Nagurski Jun 16, 1937 Live Event Minneapolis, MN, USA 520 days
Jim Londos Nov 18, 1938 Live Event Philadelphia, PA, USA 2628 days
Retires as champion in 1946, last wrestling against Lord Albert Mills on January 28, 1946 in Denver, CO.
Lou Thesz May 21, 1952 Live Event Los Angeles, CA, USA 1394 days
Thesz defeated Bill Longson on July 20, 1948 for the N.B/W.A. title. He is awarded the N.W.A. title after Orville Brown is unable to compete in a unification match on November 27, 1949. Thesz defeated A.W.A. Champion Gorgeous George in a non-title match on July 27, 1950. After defeating Baron Michele Leone on May 21, 1952 for the Los Angeles World Championship, Thesz is recognized as the Undisputed World Champion.
Whipper Bill Watson Mar 15, 1956 Live Event Toronto, ON, Canada 239 days
Lou Thesz Nov 9, 1956 Live Event St. Louis, MO, USA 217 days
On June 14, 1957, Thesz loses to Edouard Carpentier via forfeit when Thesz is unable to continue the match due to a back injury. Thesz defeated Carpentier in a rematch by disqualification on July 24, 1957. Soon after, the Montreal promotion withdraws from the N.W.A. and Carpentier is stripped of the title and it is returned to Thesz. However, promotions in Omaha, Boston, Georgia and Los Angeles still recognized Carpentier as champion and the recognition of the undisputed World Champion is abandoned.