World Heavyweight Championship

1905 - 1957


Lou Thesz

May 21, 1952 - March 15, 1956

1,394 days

 

*Unified the NWA - National Wrestling Association Heavyweight Championship, the NWA - National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship,

and the Los Angeles Olympic Auditorium Heavyweight Championship to become the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion


VACANT

January 28, 1946 - May 21, 1952

2,305 days

 

*The championship was vacated when Jim Londos retired


Jim Londos

November 18, 1938 - January 28, 1946

2,628 days


Bronko Nagurski

June 29, 1937 - November 18, 1938

507 days


Dean Detton

September 29, 1936 - June 29, 1937

273 days


Dave Levin

June 12, 1936 - September 29, 1936

109 days


Ali Baba

April 25, 1936 - June 12, 1936

48 days


Dick Shikat

March 2, 1936 - April 25, 1936

54 days


Danno O'Mahoney

July 30, 1935 - March 2, 1936

216 days


Ed Lewis (4)

April 13, 1931 - July 30, 1935

1,569 days


Ed Don George

December 10, 1930 - April 13, 1931

124 days


Gus Sonnenberg

January 4, 1929 - December 10, 1930

705 days


Ed Lewis (3)

February 21, 1928 - January 4, 1929

318 days


Joe Stecher (3)

May 30, 1925 - February 21, 1928 

997 days


Stanislaus Zbyszko (3)

April 15, 1925 - May 30, 1925

45 days


Wayne Munn

January 8, 1925 - April 15, 1925

97 days


Ed Lewis (2)

March 3, 1922 - January 18, 1925

1,042 days


Stanislaus Zbyszko (2)

May 6, 1921 - March 3, 1922

301 days


Ed Lewis

December 13, 1920 - May 6, 1921

144 days


Joe Stecher (2)

January 30, 1920 - December 13, 1920

318 days


Earl Caddock

April 9, 1917 - January 30, 1920

1,026 days


Joe Stecher

July 5, 1915 - April 9, 1917

644 days


Charlie Cutler

January 8, 1915 - July 5, 1915

178 days

 

*Claimed the championship after defeating American Heavyweight Champion Benjamin Roller


VACANT

October 1, 1914 - January 8, 1915

99 days

 

*Stanislaus Zbyszko vacated the championship when he enlisted in the Austro-Hungarian Army


Stanislaus Zbyszko

May 7, 1914 - October 1, 1914

147 days


Gus Schoenlein

March 13, 1914 - May 7, 1914

55 days

 

*Defeated Fred Beell to win the vacant championship


VACANT

April 1, 1913 - March 13, 1914

346 days

 

*Frank Gotch vacated the championship upon his retirement


Frank Gotch

April 3, 1908 - April 1, 1913

1,824 days


George Hackenschmidt

May 4, 1905 - April 3, 1908

1,065 days

 

*Defeated Tom Jenkins to become the first recognized World Heavyweight Champion