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
Defeats Nick Bozinis to become the first champion.
Marion Mynster
1931-09-16
Columbus, OH
Disputed decision; still champion in Columbus, OH as of 31-11-25; Banaski continues to defend title in Cleveland, OH.
John Kilonis
1931-11-26
Dayton, OH
Defeats Mynster for the title; reported in Cleveland, OH as having defeated Joe Banaski for the title "recently" (Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH, 31-12-31); Banaski and Mynster also continues to claim title; title declared vacant in Columbus, OH in 32.
Defeats Joe Banaski in tournament final; has defeated John Kilonis on 32-01-25 in Camden, NJ for the local recognition, but in Ohio, the Camden match is considered as a semi-final of the tournament; vacant in Cleveland, OH in 32; Joe Banaski defeats John Kilonis on 33-01-31 in Cleveland, OH for the local recogntion.
Ray Carpenter
1933-03-17
Schenectady, NY
Wrestles Joe Banaski to a draw on 33-04-07 in Clevaland, OH.
Also defeats claimant Pinky Gardner on 34-03-21 in Columbus, OH; Banaski continues to defend the title in Charlotte, NC until losing to Fischer on 34-04-04.
Goes overseas during WWII but is still recognized after the war ends; wins the world junior heavyweight title on 46-04-25 in Columbus, OH; vacates the light heavyweight title in 46-05 (The Journal Herald, Dayton, OH, 46-05-04).
