Title history
- Key
| Symbol |
Meaning |
| N. |
The overall championship reign |
| Reign |
The reign number for the specific wrestler listed. |
| Event |
The event in which the championship changed hands |
| N. |
Wrestler |
Reign |
Date |
Days held |
Location |
Event |
Notes |
Ref. |
|---|
| 1 |
Ed Don George |
1 |
December 10, 1930 |
124 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
Defeated Gus Sonnenberg to win the AWA Boston version of the World title; recognized in California. |
[1] |
| 2 |
Ed Lewis |
1 |
April 13, 1931 |
322 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
|
2 |
| - |
Vacated |
- |
February 28, 1932 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
| 3 |
Jim Londos |
1 |
March 2, 1932 |
407 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
Has defeated Dick Shikat on 30/06/06 in Philadelphia, PA to be recognized as world champion by the state athletic commissions of New York and Pennsylvania; recognized as champion in Los Angeles, CA as late as 33/04/12. |
|
| - |
Vacated |
- |
April 12, 1933 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
| 4 |
Jim Browning |
1 |
May 1, 1933 |
421 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
Has defeated Ed "Strangler" Lewis on 33/02/20 in New York, NY to be recognized as world champion by the state athletic commissions of New York and Pennsylvania; recognized as champion in Los Angeles, CA from 33/05. |
|
| 5 |
Jim Londos |
2 |
June 25, 1934 |
311 |
New York City, New York |
House Show |
Suspended by the California Athletic Commission when Londos fails to appear for the scheduled title defense against Chief Little Wolf on 35/02/27; recognition officially withdrawn in Los Angeles in 35/05 for failure to enter an international tournament. |
|
| - |
Vacated |
- |
May 1, 1935 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
| 6 |
Vincent Lopez |
1 |
July 24, 1935 |
392 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
Defeats Man Mountain Dean in the tournament final. |
|
| 7 |
Dave Levin |
1 |
August 19, 1936 |
41 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
|
|
| 8 |
Dean Detton |
1 |
September 28, 1936 |
262 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
House Show |
|
|
| 9 |
Bronko Nagurski |
1 |
June 16, 1937 |
520 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
House Show |
|
|
| 10 |
Jim Londos |
3 |
November 18, 1938 |
2628 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
House Show |
|
|
| - |
Vacated |
- |
January 28, 1946 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
| 11 |
Babe Sharkey |
1 |
February 1, 1946 |
213 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
Billed as champion on arrival. Previously held the Maryland version of the Title. |
3 |
| 12 |
George Becker |
1 |
September 1, 1946 |
336 |
Portland, Oregon |
House show |
|
[4] |
| 13 |
Enrique Torres |
1 |
December 11, 1946 |
106 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
|
|
| 14 |
Gorgeous George |
1 |
March 26, 1947 |
699 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
|
|
| 15 |
Enrique Torres |
2 |
February 22, 1949 |
638 |
Los Angeles, California |
House Show |
|
|
| 16 |
Baron Michele Leone |
1 |
November 22, 1950 |
546 |
Los Angeles, California |
House show |
|
|
| 17 |
Lou Thesz |
1 |
May 21, 1952 |
<1 |
Los Angeles, California |
House show |
Unified with NWA World Heavyweight Championship as a result of the match |
|
| - |
Deactivated |
- |
May 21, 1952 |
- |
- |
- |
|
|
