World Middleweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)

World Middleweight Championship
Details
PromotionNational Wrestling Association
Date establishedAugust 7, 1928
Date retired1940
Statistics
First champion(s)Gus Kalio
Final champion(s)Tarzán López
Most reignsGus Kalio (5 reigns)

The National Wrestling Association (NWA) World Middleweight Championship was a professional wrestling title sanctioned by the National Wrestling Association, an offshoot of the National Boxing Association (NBA). The title existed from 1928 through 1940, and is said to have connecting lineage to what would become the National Wrestling Alliance's World Middleweight Championship. The title had a weight range of 155 lb (70 kg) to 160 lb (73 kg).

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 1 245 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 1 623 [2]
3 Sgt. Bob Kenaston September 5, 1938 Live event Hollywood, California 1 203 [3]
4 John Swenski March 27, 1939 Live event Tulsa, Oklahoma 1 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 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 1 133
8 Leo Wallick April 5, 1948 Live event Hollywood, California 1 30
9 Gorilla Ramos May 5, 1948 Live event Bakersfield, California 1 40
10 Maurice La Chapelle June 14, 1948 Live event Hollywood, California 1 21 [7]
11 Danny McShain July 5, 1948 Live event Hollywood, California 1 42
12 Billy Darnell August 16, 1948 Live event Hollywood, California 1 210
13 Billy Varga March 14, 1949 Live event Hollywood, California 2 119
14 Danny McShain July 11, 1949 Live event Hollywood, California 2 49
15 Red Berry August 29, 1949 Live event Hollywood, California 1 8
16 Johnny Demchuck September 6, 1949 Live event San Diego, California 1 20
17 Sonny Myers September 26, 1949 Live event Hollywood, California 1 57
18 Ivan Kalmikoff November 22, 1949 Live event San Diego, California 1 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 44
20 Leo Garibaldi March 3, 1950 Live event Los Angeles, California 1 87
21 Billy Varga May 29, 1950 Live event Hollywood, California 4 43
21 Leo Garibaldi July 11, 1950 Live event San Diego, California 2 42
22 Baron Michele Leone August 22, 1950 Live event San Diego, California 1 310
23 Leo Garibaldi June 28, 1951 Live event Salt Lake City, Utah 3 97 [8]
24 Red Berry October 3, 1951 Live event Los Angeles, California 2 196
25 Rito Romero April 16, 1952 Live event Los Angeles, California 1 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]

Footnotes

References

  1. ^ Hornbaker, Tim (September 11, 2010). "Hollywood Wrestling Results - 1936". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Old Hill Crab Versus Spin Of Chick Top Card". Medford Mail Tribune. Medford, Oregon. August 20, 1939.
  4. ^ Hornbaker, Tim. "Tulsa Wrestling Results - 1939". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
  5. ^ Hornbaker, Tim (March 6, 2007). "Hollywood Wrestling Results - 1939". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
  6. ^ Hornbaker, Tim (September 16, 2010). "Hollywood Wrestling Results - 1947". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
  7. ^ Hornbaker, Tim (September 11, 2010). "Hollywood Wrestling Results - 1948". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
  8. ^ Taylor, Becky. "Salt Lake City Wrestling Results - 1951". LegacyOfWrestling.com.
  9. ^ Bryant, Steve (January 12, 2016). "Biggest match in SoCal history?". SoCalUncensored.com.
  10. ^ Hornbaker, Tim (2007). National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Professional Wrestling. Toronto: ECW Press. p. 227. ISBN 978-1554902743.