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 Chick to end the dispute; recognized by National Boxing Association after defeating Charlie Grip on 30-02-21 in Cincinnati, OH; vacates on 30-03-22.
Reinstated by NBA president Stanley Isaacs on 30-04-12.
Johnny Stote
1934-04
Recognized by the American Federation of Wrestling when Jack Reynolds is barred due to "his alleged participation in a Cincinnati muder" (The Sun-Democrat, Paducah, KY, 34-05-01); loses to NWA world champion Lord Patrick Finnegan on 35-03-27 in Oklahoma City, OK but continues to be billed as champion in Paducah, KY and Knoxville, TN; also billed as champion in Jackson, TN in 37-08 for having defeated "Bobby Due Chick in New York City" (The Jackson Sun, 37-08-04) in "September, 1934" (The Jackson Sun, 37-08-01).
Scotty Williams
1938-02-17
Louisville, KY
Defeats Stote in tournament final and is awarded the belt by Jack Reynolds, who continues to be recognized by the NWA; vacates in 41 when Williams can no longer maintain the weight limit.
