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
Temporarily held up by the District Athletic Commissioner after the match against Farmer Jones on 57-12-09 in Monroe, LA for using "very unfair tactics" but reinstated as the champion later in the month.
Bill Barney
1957-12-23
Monroe, LA
Bernard Hodgemyer
1958-03-03
Monroe, LA
Vacant after Hodgemyer no-shows the scheduled defense on 58-03-31 and leaves the area.
Jerry Christy
1958-06-16
Monroe, LA
Defeats Charley Laye in tournament final; vacant in 58-09 when Christy leaves the area.
Bill Barney [2]
1958-09-22
Monroe, LA
Defeats Al Massey.
Firpo Zybysko
1959-06-01
Monroe, LA
Also defeats Chuck Benson on 59-06-18 in New Orleans, LA, possibly for the vacant local recognition.
Chris Belkas
1959-07-15
New Orleans, LA
Vacant in 59-10.
Mickey Sharpe
1959-11-05
New Orleans, LA
Defeats Firpo Zybysko in tournament final; still champion as of 59-12-10.
Firpo Zybysko [2]
1959-12-19
Lafayette, LA *
"Saturday at Lafayette" (Monroe News-Star, 59-12-22); "last week" (The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, LA, 60-01-03); results of the weekly Friday show on 59-12-18 is unavailable; possibly a phantom change with Sharpe injured around this time.
Adrien Baillargeon
1960-01-29
Lafayette, LA
Starts being billed as Southern champion in 60-06; Louisiana title inactive after 60-09.