NAME FORMAT CHANGE IN PROCESS: Names of the wrestlers from countries where the family names come before the given names will be listed as such (Japan, Korea, etc.). The family names will be in bold letters.
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 William Schora in tournament final to become the first 9-stone (126lb) champion.
Thomas Haigh
1861-04-01
Newton Heath, Manchester
William Schora
1861-06-08
Newton Heath, Manchester
John Meadowcroft [2]
1862-03-22
Newton Heath, Manchester
Joe Acton
1862-06-23
Awarded when Meadowcroft is stripped for "not fullfilling the agreement".
John Meadowcroft [3]
1862-11-25
Awarded when Acton declines the challenge from Meadowcroft; title retired in 63-11 when Meadowcroft keeps it for the required 12 months and becomes the owner of the (physical) belt.
Henry Counsel
1864-07-23
Newton Heath, Manchester
Defeats J. Bentley in tournament final to become the 9st 4lb champion after the promoter Thomas Hayes buys the belt from Meadowcroft.
John Meadowcroft [4]
1865-04-08
Awarded most likely because Counsel refuses to defend the title against Meadowcroft.
Teddy Lowe (Edward Lowe)
1865-05-25
Newton Heath, Manchester
Title retired in 66-05 when Lowe keeps it for the required 12 months and becomes the owner of the belt.
Frank Robinson
1867-06-24
Newton Heath, Manchester
Defeats Joseph Birtwistle in tournament final to become the 9st 8lb (134lb) champion when Hayes and Lowe reactivate the title; Lowe also continues to be recognized as co-champion; Robinson and Lowe wrestle to draw on 67-11-23 and 67-11-25 and vacate their titles when they decide they no longer wrestle each other for the title; title officially retired in 68-01; Copenhagen Grounds close in 69.
