Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the wrestler has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes 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 possibly 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/she won it.
+
Broadcast date; the actual recording date is unknown.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders 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
Loses to NWA world champion Lou Thesz on 64-09-07 in Columbus, OH in a match billed as "a pair of heavyweight champions meeting" (Columbus Dispatch, 64-09-06); Gotch is again billed as the world champion for the match against Taro Miyake on 65-04-17 in Columbus, OH but is billed as American champion by 65-08; Gotch billed as "Real World Champion" by New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 72 with the same belt (or a replica), loses the title to Antonio Inoki on 72-10-04 in Tōkyō, and regains on 72-10-10 in Ōsaka.
