Missouri Wrestling Revival

By Ben Simon

Art by Rob Schamberger

Updated 5/4/15

In December 2013, Randy Orton and John Cena met to unify the WWE and “World Heavyweight” championships.  After the match, there was one world heavyweight champion in all (the top level) of pro wrestling.  It got me to thinking, can I trace the best lineage of champions all the way from the beginning?

At any time in history, who was the real Heavyweight Champion of the World?

For this project, I had to decide what my definition of “world champion” is.  To many of my friends on the independent circuit, if a title is defended on different continents, it can be a “world title.”  Instead, this lineage follows the title that a wrestling industry majority considers to be the most prestigious at any given time.

Let me lay out some ground rules and specifications.  First, this is not a lineal championship; one doesn’t necessarily have “to beat the man to be the man,” although that is how it almost always works out.  Second, the man can only be the champion if he is recognized as such by the strongest sanctioning group or promoter; Ric Flair‘s “real world champ” campaign in the WWF wasn’t official.  Finally, only one champion can exist at any time; in the summer of 2011, there were two WWE champs simultaneously but that doesn’t apply here.

NOTES

In 1905, Hackenschmidt established himself as the de facto champ with his win over Jenkins.

In 1915, Joe Stecher was the first real successor to the throne following Gotch’s retirement.  Cutler and Schoenlein were not widely-accepted claimants.

In 1929, Gus Sonnenberg was stripped by all of the athletic commissions that went on to form the National Wrestling Association.  This was the start of Tom Packs’s (St. Louis, NWA) vs. Paul Bowser’s (AWA, Boston) promotional squabbles.  Sonnenberg remained AWA champ, but the commissions of the NWA had more power, territory, and recognition.  July 1st, 1929 is listed as an approximation of the stripping.

In 1930, Jim Londos  beat NYSAC Champion Dick Shikat for Shikat’s title.  From this, the NWA commissions recognized Londos as their champion too.  This made “The Golden Greek” the real world champion.

In 1936, Everett Marshall’s public recognition ceased because the NWA wanted to have a tournament to crown a champion.  September 1st, 1936 is an approximation of the reign’s end.

In 1937, John Pesek was given the NWA Title after being the only wrestler to pay to enter the tournament.  His recognition was withdrawn shortly later.  Pesek was a real badass, but the reign was a joke.  He didn’t win or lose the title in the ring.  September 13th, 1937 is an approximation of the reign’s end (in the public eye).

In 1937, Lou Thesz beat Marshall for the AWA (Boston) Championship.  It is uncertain but probable that the National Wrestling Association sanctioned this as well, retroactively.  It was for the Boston title in St. Louis (a NWA town!).  The NWA perhaps still recognized Pesek’s reign at this time, but Thesz was the man!

In 1938, Steve Casey was stripped of his mainstream recognition due to his affiliation and exclusivity with the AWA.  A bogus reason was given that Casey was “out of the country;” if only the Internet existed then!  Everett Marshall is awarded the NWA Title that had been taken from him two years prior.  Casey’s title end is approximated.

From Marshall in 1938 to Thesz in 1949, my lineage follows the old NWA’s official list.

In 1949 during Thesz’s reign, the National Wrestling Association and the new National Wrestling Alliance were consolidated.  The Association was losing ground to Sam Muchnick’s new Alliance before the merger.

From Thesz in 1949 to Flair in 1991, my lineage follows the new NWA’s official list.

In 1991, Flair’s conflict with NWA President Jim Herd came to a boil.  Flair left the Alliance and the Title for Vince McMahon’s WWF.  Succession is interrupted for the first time in 53 years.

In 1992, Ric Flair wins the WWF’s Royal Rumble match and the WWF Championship.  The WWF had been expanding since 1983 and this event seemed to shift fans’ interest in favor of the WWF Title.  “Real World Champion,” indeed!

From Flair in 1992 to present day, my lineage follows WWE’s official WWE Championship list, with one exception.  CM Punk was deemed to be an official champion in the summer of 2011.  Rey Mysterio’s and John Cena’s opposing reigns weren’t seen as the best; Punk’s is counted for that time.

This canon of world heavyweight champions may change with my philosophy someday.  However, I think pro wrestling is more fun with only one world champ at a time.  The title at the top means more.  Really, this is a list of the men who were the official champions of the top promotional entities of their days.

Even wrestlers in peak shape can have underlying health conditions, such as issues with their feet. Say if they have heel spurs, then they have to get more comfortable by getting one of the best shoes for heel spurs to protect your feet when outside of the ring.

I’m interested in what the MWR readers think of this.  Comment and let me know.

Real World Championship Fun Facts

• Sheamus is the third Irish champion, behind Danno O’Mahony and Steve Casey.
• Alberto Del Rio is the only Mexican champion.
• Giant Baba is the only Japanese champion.
• Saint Louis has the most title changes at 18.  New York City is in second with 11.  Thanks, Tom and Sam!
• Lou Thesz has the longest single reign ever at 2,805 days.
• Semi-related house cleaning: Georg Hackenschmidt’s name misses the “e” on purpose.  It’s pronounced “Gay-Org.”
• The 30’s were confusing and really difficult to research.
• Hulk Hogan clocks in at a mere 98 days.  His prime was during the wild 80’s, when Flair still had hold of the big belt.
• Bruno Sammartino isn’t on this list.  Neither is Verne Gagne.  They were beloved champions but never held #1.
• 72 Champions, 171 single reigns

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