George Hackenschmidt

05.04.1905 - 04.03.1908

- defeated Tom Jenkins to become the first widely recognized World Heavyweight Champion of professional wrestling

 

Frank Gotch

04.03.1908 - 04.01.1913

 

VACANT

04.01.1913 - 03.13.1914

- Frank Gotch vacated the title upon his retirement

 

Gus Schoenlein

03.13.1914 - 05.07.1914

- defeated Fred Beell to become the new World Heavyweight Champion

 

Stanislaus Zbyszko

05.07.1914 - 10.01.1914

 

VACANT

10.01.1914 - 01.08.1915

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

 

Charlie Cutler

01.08.1915 - 07.05.1915

- defeated Benjamin Roller to become the new World Heavyweight Champion

 

Joe Stecher

07.05.1915 - 04.09.1917

 

Earl Caddock

04.09.1917 - 01.30.1920

 

Joe Stecher (2)

01.30.1920 - 12.13.1920

 

Ed Lewis

12.13.1920 - 05.06.1921

 

Stanislaus Zbyszko (2)

05.06.1921 - 03.03.1922

 

Ed Lewis (2)

03.03.1922 - 01.18.1925

 

Wayne Munn

01.18.1925 - 04.15.1925

 

Stanislaus Zbyszko (3)

04.15.1925 - 05.30.1925

 

Joe Stecher (3)

05.30.1925 - 02.21.1928

 

Ed Lewis (3)

02.21.1928 - 01.04.1929

 

Gus Sonnenberg

01.04.1929 - 12.10.1930

 

Ed Don George

12.10.1930 - 04.13.1931

 

Ed Lewis (4)

04.13.1931 - 07.30.1935

 

Danno O'Mahoney

07.30.1935 - 03.02.1936

 

Dick Shikat

03.02.1936 - 04.25.1936

 

Ali Baba

04.25.1936 - 06.12.1936

 

Dave Levin

06.12.1936 - 09.29.1936

 

Dean Detton

09.29.1936 - 06.29.1937

 

Bronko Nagurski

06.29.1937 - 11.18.1938

 

Jim Londos

11.18.1938 - 01.28.1946

 

VACANT

01.28.1946 - 05.21.1952

- Jim Londos vacated the title upon his retirement

 

Lou Thesz

05.21.1952 - 03.15.1956

- defeated Billy Watson to become the new World Heavyweight Champion

 

Billy Watson

03.15.1956 - 11.09.1956

 

Lou Thesz (2)

11.09.1956 - 12.31.1957

- Thesz had unified the NWA - National Wrestling Association Heavyweight Championship and NWA - National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship with this title

 

DEACTIVATED

12.31.1957