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Last updated on 2025-06-13
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World Heavyweight Title
[Illinois & Wisconsin]

Benjamin F. Roller 1914-10<  
Said to have claimed the title since Frank Gotch's retirement.
Yussif Hussane 1914-11-02 Dallas, TX
Still claims the title in Evansville, IN as of 15-05-09.

Ed "Strangler" Lewis 1931-11-02 Chicago, IL
Defeats Wladek Zbyszko; also recognized by the New York State Athelitc Commission, defeating Jack Sherry on 32-10-10.
Jim Browning 1933-02-20 New York, NY
Jim Londos 1934-06-25 New York, NY
Unified with NWA World title.
Danno O'Mahoney 1935-06-27 Boston, MA
Defeats Ed Don George on 35-07-30 in Boston, MA to unify AWA World Title.
Dick Shikat 1936-03-02 New York, NY
Ali Baba 1936-04-24 Detroit, MI
Everette Marshall 1936-06-29 Columbus, OH
Again defeats Baba on 36-11-20 in Chicago, IL to be recognized by the Illinois State Athletic Commission.
Lou Thesz 1937-12-29 St. Louis, MO
Steve Casey 1938-02-11 Boston, MA
Defends the title in Chicago, IL on 38-04-08.
[...]  
Hans Steinke 1940-11-18<
Claims the title in northern Wisconsin.
[...]
Ruffy Silverstein 1940-12-09<
Illinois champion, starts claiming the World Title sometime in 40; still champion as of 41-08-16.
[...]
Steve Casey [2] 1942-06-19<  
Defends the AWA World Title in Milwaukee, WI on 42-06-19.
[...]  
Maurice Tillet 1943-03<  
"Has claimed the heavyweight title for four years" (The Life, Berwyn, IL, 43-03-28).
[...]  
Walter Palmer 1943-11<
Illinois champion, starts claiming the World Title around 43-10 or 43-11; Dave Levin also claims the title in Illinois in 44-11 and 44-12; Palmer loses to Johnny Silvi on 47-03-25 in Rockford, IL when Palmer breaks his ankle; Silvi refuses the title; later declared vacant.
Hans Schnabel 1947-03-29
Awarded in Chicago, IL due to Palmer's injury from 47-03-25; in Rockford, IL, Schnabel defetas Rudy Kay for the title vacated due to Palmer's injury.
Dave Levin # 1947 Sacramento, CA *
Wins a fictitious match sometime between 47-08-12 and 47-11-20.
Walter Palmer # 1947-12-11 Minneapolis, MN *
Illinois Athletic Commission refuses to recognize two title changes above.
Hans Schnabel # 1948-02-10 Rockford, IL
Wrestles Palmer to a draw and awarded back the title by the state commission with the stipulation that Palmer is requried to return the belt to Schnabel unless he wins.
Rudy Kay1948-11-02Rockford, IL
May be for local recognition only.
Walter Palmer [2]1948-11-12Rockford, IL
May be for local recognition only.
Hans Schnabel [2] 1948-11-24 Chicago, IL
Walter Palmer [3] 1949-04-01Chicago, IL
Cyclone Anaya 1949-07-13Chicago, IL
Defeats Palmer for the title (The Herald-Press, St. Joseph, MO, 49-07-13); makes his first defense on 49-07-19 in Rockford, IL since winning the title "recently" defeating Palmer in Chicago (Rockford Morning Star, 49-07-17).
Don Eagle *1949-11-18Chicago, IL
May not be for the title although Anaya is listed as the title claimant entering the match (Chicago Daily Sun-Times, 49-11-18); recognition most likely withdrawn in 49.
Lou Thesz 1949-11-27  
Recognized in Illinois when the Chicago promoter Fred Kohler officially joins the NWA.
Whipper Billy Watson 1956-03-15 Toronto, ON, CAN
Wins by count out.
Lou Thesz [2] 1956-11-09 St. Louis, MO
Edouard Carpentier 1957-06-14 Chicago, IL
Wins NWA World Title when the champion Lou Thesz cannot continue due to a back injury
Verne Gagne 1958-08-09 Omaha, NE
Defeats Carpentier with Fred Kohler as the guest referee; still recognized in Chicago, IL as of 58-12-21 (Chicago Tribune, 58-12-21).

* NWA World Heavyweight Title is again recognized from 1959.