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
Homer Lane, billed as Western champion, defeats Eastern champion William Louis Ainsworth on 68-06-01 in New York, NY by default to claim the title.
Homer Lane
1868-09-01
Oneida, NY
Has already claimed the title since defeating Louis Ainsworth on 68-06-01 in New York, NY by default; McLaughlin wins an international tournament on 70-03-10 in Detroit, MI and is awarded the American championship belt (Detroit Free Press, 70-03-11); Lane is also scheduled to participate but does not appear.
Defeats Lane and retains the belt (Titusville Morning Herald, 70-05-02); Lane continues to claim the title even after losing to McLaughlin again on 72-03-28; McLaughlin temporarily retires in the spring of 72 and returns in 74-02.
James Owens
1876-12-27
Boston, MA
McLaughlin continues to claim the title but loses to John McMahon on 78-11-23 in Chicago, IL (see below).
Henry M. Dufur
1879-06-11
Boston, MA
Owens continues to claim the title and loses to John McMahon on 79-08-06 in New York, NY.
Duncan C. Ross
1880-10-11
Providence, RI
Henry M. Dufur [2]
1880-11-18
Providence, RI
John McMahon
1880-12-16
Boston, MA
Has defeated James Owens for the title on 79-08-06 in New York, NY and been also recognized in Ohio; faces the graeco-roman champion William Muldoon on 81-03-22 in New York, NY for the Police Gazette mixed championship medal but the match ends as no contest.
McLaughlin continues to claim the title until retirement around 87.
John McMahon [2]
1884-10-15
Boston, MA
Henry M. Dufur [6]
1887-09-03
Marlboro, MA
McMahon continues to claim the title until retirement on 92-10-07.
Edwin Decker
1887-11-10
Swanton, VT
Uzile Prickett
1866-10-06<
Billed as champion in Tennessee.
Tim Waller
1868-06-12
Debbysville, OH
Lew Thompson
1868-08-20
Harrisburg, PA
Defeats Homer Lane.
Homer Lane [2]
1870-05-28
Buffalo, NY
Defeats John Murteigh (or defends on this day).
Perry Higley
1872-09-18
New Haven, CT
Homer Lane [3]
1872-10-28
New Haven, CT
John McMahon
1873-05-30
Troy, NY
Also defeats Canadian champion Thomas Copeland on 73-07-22 in Troy, NY to claim the World Title; also defeats title claimant James H. McLaughlin on 78-11-23 in Chicago, IL.
