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
Bills himself as the champion for the European tour with the approval by the NWA; Houston NWA promoter Morris Sigel claims that Thesz has won the title by defeating Antonino Rocca in 49.
Defeats Thesz in a non-title match and claims the title; Thesz continues to be billed as champion in various territories in the US until regaining the World Title in 63-01; vacant on 63-12-15 when Rikidōzan dies from stab wounds suffered on 63-12-08 in Tōkyō.
Wins tournament when Bruiser Brody is injured and unable to wrestle in the final; defeats Terry Funk for his first title defense instead; loses to Mr. Wrestling II on 82-01-26 in Tampa, FL, but the title is returned to Funk since Wrestling is a substitute for the scheduled challenger Mike Graham; defeats Graham & Wrestling via DQ to retain the title in a handicap match on 82-02-02 in Tampa, FL.
