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 Maurice Boyer for the World Light Heavyweight Title; billed as World Heavyweight Title after this match; also billed as champion in Nebraska, Northern Ohio, Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Kansas; Orville Brown defeats Bruns on 40-06-13 in Kansas City, KS to be recognized by the Midwest Wrestling Association; Bruns still/again recognized as of 41-03-17 in Bridgeport, CT and 42-02-16 in Washington, DC.
Rube Wright
1942-10
Has defeated Swedish Angel in tournament final on 42-08-19 in Los Angeles, CA; promoted as a tournament to replace Jim Londos as World champion; however, the California state commission refuses to recognize Wright as World champion and recognizes him as California champion by 43-01 instead; recognized as world champion in NY by Jack Pfefer between 42-10 and 42-11.
Defeats Babe Sharkey, who claims the title in Maryland; loses to Sharkey on on 46-07-03 in Portland, OR but continues to be recognized by Pfefer; the Volga Boatman defeats Levin on 47-07-07 in Denver, CO for the local recognition; Levin continues to be recognized outside Colorado.
Leroy McGuirk defeats Rogers on 47-09-08 in Tulsa, OK and is later billed as Midwest Wrestling Association champion in West Texas; Rogers is still/again recognized as international champion in Southern California as of 48-06 and is later billed as world champion.
Jim Londos defeats the Demon on 50-04-17 in Cleveland, OH and is billed as the champion in Green Bay, WI until 50-06; Demon continues to be recognized in Toledo, OH.
