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 Dick Schikat in tournament final (Rocca wrestles in Brazil for the first half of the year and then moves to USA); according to the Weekly Gong, Rocca wins the title by defeating Buddy Rogers in 59-07 in New York, NY; vacant in 60s<; title inactive; no confirmation of Rocca acutally holding the title.
Parisi is originally scheduled to defend the title against Fujinami but is replaced by Brito on the day of the event; Brito is announced to have won a tournament during the broadcasting in Japan.
Wins match by countout but refuses the belt; Chōshū can't get into Canada for scheduled rematch in Calgary, AB on 83-08-12, and Fujinami is given
recognition as champion.
Defeats Pierre Lefebvre and is awarded a disputed version by WWF President Shinma Hisashi upon the starting of the (original) Universal Wrestling Federation; some reports say the title is later renamed UWF Heavyweight Title; vacates on 84-07-23 when Shinma leaves UWF (Maeda never defends the title).
Fujinami vacates the title after the match against Super Strong Machine ends with DDQ on 85-07-19 in Sapporo, JPN; title retired on 85-10-31 when New Japan and WWF end their working agreement.
