Title history
Key
No. |
Overall reign number |
Reign |
Reign number for the specific champion |
Days |
Number of days held |
N/A |
Unknown information |
(NLT) |
Championship change took place "no later than" the date listed |
No. |
Champion |
Championship change |
Reign statistics |
Notes |
Ref. |
Date |
Event |
Location |
Reign |
Days
|
1 |
Albion Britt |
April 20, 1936 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7002245000000000000♠245 |
Britt defeated Ted Christy in a tournament final to become the first NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion. Subsequent title reigns are recognized by the National Wrestling Association. |
[1]
|
2 |
Dude Chick |
December 21, 1936 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7002623000000000000♠623 |
|
[2]
|
3 |
Sgt. Bob Kenaston |
September 5, 1938 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7002203000000000000♠203 |
|
[3]
|
4 |
John Swenski |
March 27, 1939 |
Live event |
Tulsa, Oklahoma |
1 |
7001840000000000000♠84 |
|
[4]
|
5 |
Leroy McGuirk |
June 19, 1939 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
|
|
[5]
|
— |
Vacated |
1947 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
The championship is vacated in Los Angeles sometime after February 1947 and a 40-man tournament is held to crown a new champion. McGuirk, however, continues to be billed as champion in other territories. |
|
6 |
Billy Varga |
September 29, 1947 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7001560000000000000♠56 |
Varga defeated Danny McShain in a tournament final to win the vacant championship. |
[6]
|
7 |
Martino Angelo |
November 24, 1947 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7002133000000000000♠133 |
|
|
8 |
Leo Wallick |
April 5, 1948 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7001300000000000000♠30 |
|
|
9 |
Gorilla Ramos |
May 5, 1948 |
Live event |
Bakersfield, California |
1 |
7001400000000000000♠40 |
|
|
10 |
Maurice La Chapelle |
June 14, 1948 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7001210000000000000♠21 |
|
[7]
|
11 |
Danny McShain |
July 5, 1948 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7001420000000000000♠42 |
|
|
12 |
Billy Darnell |
August 16, 1948 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7002210000000000000♠210 |
|
|
13 |
Billy Varga |
March 14, 1949 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
2 |
7002119000000000000♠119 |
|
|
14 |
Danny McShain |
July 11, 1949 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
2 |
7001490000000000000♠49 |
|
|
15 |
Red Berry |
August 29, 1949 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7000800000000000000♠8 |
|
|
16 |
Johnny Demchuck |
September 6, 1949 |
Live event |
San Diego, California |
1 |
7001200000000000000♠20 |
|
|
17 |
Sonny Myers |
September 26, 1949 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
1 |
7001570000000000000♠57 |
|
|
18 |
Ivan Kalmikoff |
November 22, 1949 |
Live event |
San Diego, California |
1 |
7001570000000000000♠57 |
Kalmikoff defeats Danny McShain, who is billed as champion, at a January 4, 1950 title defence in Bakersfield, California. |
|
19 |
Billy Varga |
January 18, 1950 |
Live event |
Bakersfield, California |
3 |
7001440000000000000♠44 |
|
|
20 |
Leo Garibaldi |
March 3, 1950 |
Live event |
Los Angeles, California |
1 |
7001870000000000000♠87 |
|
|
21 |
Billy Varga |
May 29, 1950 |
Live event |
Hollywood, California |
4 |
7001430000000000000♠43 |
|
|
21 |
Leo Garibaldi |
July 11, 1950 |
Live event |
San Diego, California |
2 |
7001420000000000000♠42 |
|
|
22 |
Baron Michele Leone |
August 22, 1950 |
Live event |
San Diego, California |
1 |
7002310000000000000♠310 |
|
|
23 |
Leo Garibaldi |
June 28, 1951 |
Live event |
Salt Lake City, Utah |
3 |
7001970000000000000♠97 |
|
[8]
|
24 |
Red Berry |
October 3, 1951 |
Live event |
Los Angeles, California |
2 |
7002196000000000000♠196 |
|
|
25 |
Rito Romero |
April 16, 1952 |
Live event |
Los Angeles, California |
1 |
7001390000000000000♠39 |
|
|
26 |
Danny McShain |
May 25, 1952 |
Live event |
Los Angeles, California |
3 |
<1 |
The championship is unified with the NWA World Middleweight Championship and ceases to exist. |
[9][10]
|
References
- ↑ Hornbaker, Tim (September 11, 2010). "Hollywood Wrestling Results - 1936". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
- ↑ Hoops, Brian (December 21, 2016). "Daily Pro Wrestling History (12/21): Jerry Lawler Wins The AWA Southern Title". F4Wonline.com. Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Weekly.
- ↑ "Old Hill Crab Versus Spin Of Chick Top Card". Medford Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. August 20, 1939.
- ↑ Hornbaker, Tim. "Tulsa Wrestling Results - 1939". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
- ↑ Hornbaker, Tim (March 6, 2007). "Hollywood Wrestling Results - 1939". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
- ↑ Hornbaker, Tim (September 16, 2010). "Hollywood Wrestling Results - 1947". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
- ↑ Hornbaker, Tim (September 11, 2010). "Hollywood Wrestling Results - 1948". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
- ↑ Taylor, Becky. "Salt Lake City Wrestling Results - 1951". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
- ↑ Bryant, Steve (January 12, 2016). "Biggest match in SoCal history?". SoCalUncensored.com.
- ↑ Hornbaker, Tim (2007). National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Professional Wrestling. Toronto: ECW Press. p. 227. ISBN 1554902746.