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
Recognized as the wrestling champion by the National Boxing Association (The Austin American, Austin, TX, 30-09-21).
Dutch Mantell *
1931<
Billed as having defeated Kopecky for the title (The Austin American, Austin, TX, 31-06-07).
Yaqui Joe
1931-06-03<
Billed as having defeated Mantell (The Austin American, Austin, TX, 31-06-07) and recognized as the wrestling champion by the National Boxing Association (The Austin American, 31-06-11); recognition withdrawn around 32-10 in San Antonio, TX where a tournament to determine new champion is held.
Silent Rattan
1933-03
Detroit, MI *
Billed as champion in Dallas, TX and San Antonio, TX for having won a tournament (San Antonio Light, 33-07-21; Dallas Morning News, 33-09-21); still champion as of 33-10-08.
[...]
Yaqui Joe [2]
1934-06<
Billed as champion in Houston, TX.
Benny Wilson
1932-09-12
Salem, OR *
Billed as having won the title from Wildcat Pete (Big Spring Daily Herald, Big Spring, TX, 35-02-18); has won the "championship of the American Wrestling Association recently on the West Coast" (Corsicana Semi-Weekly Light, Corsicana, TX, 32-12-06).
Recognized as the world champion; often billed as World Junior Welterweight Title and American Junior Middleweight Title; loses to Tuffy McMullen on 33-12-05 in Longview, TX but continues to be recognized in Corsicana, TX; billed as NWA world champion in Oklahoma in 33-12; McMullen is recognized in Longview, TX until 34-09; Tribble is still recognized as Texas champion in Abilene, TX as of 34-01-25.
