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
Awarded the title by the Boston promoter Paul Bowser when the world champion Joe Stecher refuses to wrestle Malcewicz, the last minute replacement of the scheduled opponent Jake Brissler (The Boston Globe, 26-03-12); Stecher continues to be recognized by the New York promoter Jack Curley.
Wins by DQ after allegedly being bitten; recognized
in Boston and Montreal; Lews still recognized in California; AWA is officially formed in 31-06 (The Atlanta Journal, 31-06-16, plus several other newspapers throughout the US).
Has won MWA World Title on 37-12-29; awarded the AWA World Title when Roberts refuses to defend the title against Thesz on 38-02-11 in Boston, MA (The Boston Globe, 38-01-26).
Wins both recognitions; also defeats MWA(Boston) world champion Seelie Samara on 38-03-11 in Boston, MA; recognition withdrawn by MWA(Ohio) around 38-09 for being in Ireland and not defending the title in the US; continues to be recognized by AWA.
After previously being discharged, Casey has been brought back to the U.S. Army in 42-01 and is stationed in Porthmouth, NH (The Porthmouth Herald, 42-01-30); sidelined as a wrestler in the summer after injuring his back "in a tumbling exhibition several weeks ago" (The Boston Globe, 42-09-03); receives medical discharge from the Army in late 43 ("about a month ago", The Porthmouth Herald, 43-12-08); contrary to what has been believed for long time, Casey may have never left the country as he makes guest appearances for various events including wrestling cards as a referee and USO shows; the Golden Terror defeats Leo Numa in tournament final on 43-11-09 to be recognized as the duration champion in Boston, MA (The Boston Globe, 43-11-10); Sandor Szabo defeats the Golden Terror on 44-03-29 in Boston, MA for the duration title and unmasks him as Leon Mahabolsky (The Boston Globe, 44-03-30); Casey is billed as champion in Northern California from 44-01.
Also wins Maryland
version of the world title, defeating Babe Sharkey on 46-01-29 in
Baltimore, MD and NWA World Title, defeating Cliff Gustafson on 48-11-30 in Cleveland, OH; Gustafson continues to be recognized in Minneapolis, MN.
Don Eagle
1950-05-23
Cleveland, OH
Loses to Gorgeous George on 50-05-26 in Chicago, IL in a non-title match (no mention of AWA title on local papers such as Chicago Tribune and Bridgeport News); continues to be recognized as champion by AWA as well as MWA in Ohio; defeats George to retain the title on 50-08-31 in Columbus, OH (Columbus Dispatch, 50-08-31 & 50-09-01); loses to Bill Miller on 52-05-01 in Pittsburgh, PA (see Ohio
branch) but continues to be recognized in New England; vacant in 52-11 when Eagle is inactive due to back
injuries.
