View source for AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version)

{{about|the regional championship contested from 1928–1952|the championship contested from 1960–1990|AWA World Heavyweight Championship}}
{{Infobox pro wrestling championship
|name = AWA World Heavyweight Championship
|image =
|caption =
|currentholder =
|won =
|created = February 21, 1928
|promotion =
|firstchamp = [[Ed Lewis (wrestler)|Ed Lewis]]
|finalchamp = [[Don Eagle]]
|mostreigns = [[Steve Casey]] (6 reigns)
|longestreign = [[Frank Sexton]] (1791 days)
|shortestreign = [[Don Eagle]] (3 days)
|oldest =
|youngest =
|heaviest =
|lightest =
|titleretired =November 1952
|pastnames =
}}
[[File:Chief Don Eagle - 1950.jpg|thumb|upright|Final champion [[Chief Don Eagle]]]]
The '''AWA World Heavyweight Championship''' was a [[professional wrestling]] [[Professional wrestling championship#World championships|world heavyweight championship]] promoted by [[Paul Bowser]] in [[Boston]].<ref name=AWAWHC>{{cite web|title=American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/newengland/awa/ma-awa-h.html|work=Pro-Wrestling Title Histories}}</ref>
The title was created by Bowser after [[Gus Sonnenberg]], who had beaten [[Ed Lewis (wrestler)|Ed Lewis]] for the [[World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (original version)|original World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship]] in 1929,<ref name="firstreign">{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/821218122.html?dids=821218122:821218122&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021161429/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/821218122.html?dids=821218122:821218122&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2012|title=Gus Sonnenberg Captures World Wrestling Championship From Strangler Lewis|work=[[The Hartford Courant]]|date=May 1, 1929|accessdate=June 12, 2009}}</ref> was stripped of recognition as champion by the [[National Boxing Association]]. Browser continued to recognize Sonnenberg as champion and named his championship after the "American Wrestling Association" governing body, which hitherto did not actually exist.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Solomon|first1=Brian|title=Pro Wrestling FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Most Entertaining Spectacle|year=2015|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-1617135996}}</ref> Rival promoters, including [[Jack Curley]], countered by forming the [[National Wrestling Association]] and its [[World Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)|NWA World Heavyweight Championship]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Beekman|first1=Scott|title=Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America|year=2006|publisher=[[Praeger Publishing]]|isbn=978-0275984014|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ringsidehistoryo00beek/page/62 62–63]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/ringsidehistoryo00beek/page/62}}</ref>
During [[Don Eagle]]'s second reign, splinter titles were created by regional promoters in Chicago and Ohio. Bowser abandoned the championship later in Eagle's reign, while he was rendered inactive due to injuries in November 1952.<ref name="HOF"/>
==Title history==
=== AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version)===
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=no}}
{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 1
|champion = {{sortname|Ed|Lewis|Ed Lewis (wrestler)}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|February 20, 1928}}
|days = 319
|location =St. Louis, Missouri
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =Defeated [[Joe Stecher]] to win the [[List of early world heavyweight champions in professional wrestling|original main line title]]
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/><ref name="firstreign"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 2
|champion = {{sortname|Gus|Sonnenberg}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|January 4, 1929}}
|days = 705
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 3
|champion = {{sortname|Ed Don|George}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|December 10, 1930}}
|days = 124
|location =Los Angeles, California
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 4
|champion = {{sortname|Ed|Lewis|Ed Lewis (wrestler)}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|April 13, 1931}}
|days = 21
|location =Los Angeles, California
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 5
|champion = {{sortname|Henri|Deglane}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|May 4, 1931}}
|days = 648
|location =Montreal, Quebec
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =Won by DQ after allegedly being bitten; recognized in Boston and Montreal as AWA champion; Lewis still recognized in California and also wins [[New York State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Championship]] the following year.
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 6
|champion = {{sortname|Ed Don|George}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|February 10, 1933}}
|days = 900
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 7
|champion = {{sortname|Danno|O'Mahoney}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|July 30, 1935}}
|days = 352
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =The title was unified with the [[World Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)|NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] and [[New York State Athletic Commission World Heavyweight Championship]] to be the Unified World Heavyweight Championship; loses to [[Dick Shikat]] on March 2, 1936 in New York, but continues to be recognized as champion by AWA.
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 8
|champion = {{sortname|Yvon|Robert}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|July 16, 1936}}
|days = 531
|location =Montreal, Quebec
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|sort number = 8.5
|type=vacated
|date = {{dts|1937|December}}
|notes =Robert was stripped of the championship for not defending it against [[Lou Thesz]].
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 9
|champion = {{sortname|Lou|Thesz}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|December 29, 1937}}
|days = 44
|location =St. Louis, Missouri
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =Defeats [[Everett Marshall]] for the [[MWA World Heavyweight Championship#MWA World Heavyweight Championship (Ohio)|MWA World Heavyweight Championship]] and also recognized by AWA. Retroactively recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance as the real World champion.
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 10
|champion = {{sortname|Steve|Casey}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|February 11, 1938}}
|days = 384
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =Recognized by MWA and AWA, both belts are presented to him. Retroactively recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance as the real World champion until September 13, 1938 due to Casey being out of the country (actually defending the AWA championship during a tour in Casey's native [[Irish Free State]]) Retroactive Alliance recognition switched to [[World Heavyweight Championship (National Wrestling Association)|NWA World Heavyweight Championship]].
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 11
|champion = {{sortname|Marv|Westenberg}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|March 2, 1939}}
|days = 14
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 12
|champion = {{sortname|Gus|Sonnenberg}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|March 16, 1939}}
|days = 13
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 13
|champion = {{sortname|Steve|Casey}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|March 29, 1939}}
|days = 20
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 14
|champion = {{sortname|Ed Don|George}}
|reign = 3
|date = {{dts|April 18, 1939}}
|days = 199
|location =Albany, New York
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 15
|champion = {{sortname|Steve|Casey}}
|reign = 3
|date = {{dts|November 3, 1939}}
|days = 192
|location =Buffalo, New York
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 16
|champion = {{sortname|The|French Angel}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|May 13, 1940}}
|days = 730
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/><ref name=F4W0513>{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/day-pro-wrestling-history-may-13-rick-martel-wins-awa-gold-kurt-angle-wins-tna-title | title=On this day in pro wrestling history (May 13): Rick Martel wins AWA gold, Kurt Angle wins TNA title, Nash & Hall beat one man to win tag titles | date=May 13, 2015 | accessdate=February 11, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 17
|champion = {{sortname|Steve|Casey}}
|reign = 4
|date = {{dts|May 13, 1942}}
|days = 811
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 18
|champion = {{sortname|The|French Angel}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|August 1, 1944}}
|days = 14
|location =San Francisco, California
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 19
|champion = {{sortname|Steve|Casey}}
|reign = 5
|date = {{dts|August 15, 1944}}
|days = 253
|location =San Francisco, California
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =Casey joined the US Army; [[Sándor Szabó (wrestler)|Sándor Szabó]] emerged from a series of elimination bouts as the duration world champion; Casey defeats Szabo in the consolidation match on April 4, 1945 in Boston, Massachusetts.
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/><ref name=F4W0815>{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/daily-updates/day-pro-wrestling-history-iwgp-champ-wins-g-1-1995-orton-beats-benoit-158066 | title=On this day in pro wrestling history: IWGP Champ wins 1-G, Orton beats Benoit | date=August 15, 2015 | accessdate=February 11, 2017 | first=Brian | last=Hoops | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 20
|champion = {{sortname|Sándor|Szabó|Sándor Szabó (wrestler)}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|April 25, 1945}}
|days = 7
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 21
|champion = {{sortname|Frank|Sexton}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|May 2, 1945}}
|days = 35
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 22
|champion = {{sortname|Steve|Casey}}
|reign = 6
|date = {{dts|June 6, 1945}}
|days = 21
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 23
|champion = {{sortname|Frank|Sexton}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|June 27, 1945}}
|days = {{sort|1791|1,791}}
|location =Boston, Massachusetts
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 24
|champion = {{sortname|Don|Eagle}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|May 23, 1950}}
|days = 3
|location =Cleveland, Ohio
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 25
|champion = [[Gorgeous George]]
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|May 26, 1950}}
|days = 97
|location =Chicago, Illinois
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes = This was a [[screwjob]] finish orchestrated by promoter [[Fred Kohler (wrestling promoter)|Fred Kohler]] to weaken Eagle's value as an attraction. The title change was initially ignored by Bowser and other promoters.
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/><ref name=F4W0526>{{cite web | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/day-pro-wrestling-history-may-26-dick-bruiser-crusher-beat-larry-hennig-harley-race | title=On this day in pro wrestling history (May 26): Dick the Bruiser & Crusher beat Larry Hennig & Harley Race in a nine fall death match, Tiger Mask wins WWF Jr. Heavyweight gold | date=May 26, 2015 | accessdate=February 11, 2017 | author=F4W Staff | work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref><ref name="screwjob">{{cite book|last1=Laprade|first1=Pat|last2=Hebert|first2=Bertland|title=Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs: The Untold Story of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling|year=2013|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|isbn=1770410945}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 26
|champion = {{sortname|Don|Eagle}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|August 31, 1950}}
|days = {{sort|759|<ref group=Note>Don Eagle's second reign lasted between 759 and 822 days.</ref>}}
|location =[[Columbus, Ohio]]
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes = This change re-established the lineage, which was disputed after George defeated Eagle in a screwjob finish.
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/><ref name="screwjob"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|sort number = 26.5
|type=deactivated
|date = {{dts|1952|November}}
|notes =Vacated in November 1952 when Eagle was inactive due to back injuries.
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/><ref name="HOF"/>
}}
{{BundleEnd}}
===Splinter titles===
==== AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Chicago version)====
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=no}}
{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 1
|champion = {{sortname|Don|Eagle}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|August 31, 1950}}
|days = 244
|location =Cleveland, Ohio
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes = Defeats Gorgeous George for the main line title (above).
|ref =<ref name=Chicago>{{cite web|title=American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title [Chicago]|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/il/awa/il-awa-h.html|work=Pro-Wrestling Title Histories}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 2
|champion = [[Ralph "Ruffy" Silverstein|Ruffy Silverstein]]
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|May 2, 1951}}
|days = 105
|location =Chicago, Illinois
|event =
|notes =
|ref = <ref name="Chicago"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 3
|champion = {{sortname|Dr. Bill|Miller}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|August 15, 1951}}
|days = 133
|location =Chicago, Illinois
|event =
|notes =
|ref = <ref name="Chicago"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 3
|champion = [[Ralph "Ruffy" Silverstein|Ruffy Silverstein]]
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|December 26, 1951}}
|days = 296
|location =Chicago, Illinois
|event =
|notes =
|ref = <ref name="Chicago"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 4
|champion = {{sortname|Buddy|Rogers|Buddy Rogers (wrestler)}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|October 17, 1952}}
|days = 0
|location =Chicago, Illinois
|event =
|notes =
|ref = <ref name="Chicago"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|sort number = 5
|type=deactivated
|date = {{dts|October 17, 1952}}
|notes =Rogers was already the Ohio AWA Champion (see below) and his reign continued under that lineage.
|ref =
}}
{{BundleEnd}}
====AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Ohio version)====
Ohio-based promoter [[Al Haft]] created a splinter version of the title after recognizing [[Don Eagle]]'s loss to [[Dr. Bill Miller]] on May 1, 1952 as a title change. The change was not recognized by Bowser. That title continued until 1954 when incumbent [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|Buddy Rogers]] was stripped of the title.<ref name="HOF">{{cite book|last1=Oliver|first1=Greg|authorlink1=Greg Oliver|last2=Johnson|first2=Steven|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes & Icons |year=2012|publisher=[[ECW Press]]|isbn=978-1770410374|page=1800}}</ref>
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=no}}
{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 1
|champion = {{sortname|Don|Eagle}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|August 31, 1950}}
|days = 609
|location =[[Columbus, Ohio]]
|event = [[House show|Live event]]
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=AWAWHC/><ref name="HOF"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 2
|champion = {{sortname|Dr. Bill|Miller}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|May 1, 1952}}
|days = 124
|location =Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|event =
|notes =
|ref =<ref name="HOF"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 3
|champion = {{sortname|Don|Arnold}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|September 2, 1952}}
|days = 24
|location =Dayton, Ohio
|event =
|notes =
|ref =<ref name=Ohio>{{cite web|title=American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title [Ohio]|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/oh/mwa/oh-awa-h.html|work=Pro-Wrestling Title Histories}}</ref>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 4
|champion = {{sortname|Buddy|Rogers|Buddy Rogers (wrestler)}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|October 14, 1952}}
|days = 79-107
|location =Dayton, Ohio
|event =
|notes =
|ref =<ref name="Ohio"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 5
|champion = {{sortname|Don|Arnold}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|January 1953}}
|days = 0-28
|location =
|event =
|notes =
|ref =<ref name="Ohio"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 6
|champion = {{sortname|Buddy|Rogers|Buddy Rogers (wrestler)}}
|reign = 2
|date = {{dts|January 29, 1953}}
|days = 33
|location =Cleveland, Ohio
|event =
|notes =
|ref =<ref name="Ohio"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 7
|champion = {{sortname|Antonino|Rocca}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|March 3, 1953}}
|days = 37
|location =Cleveland Ohio
|event =
|notes =
|ref =
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|number = 8
|champion = [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|Buddy Rogers]]
|reign = 3
|date = {{dts|April 9, 1953}}
|days = 387-417
|location =Cleveland, Ohio
|event =
|notes =
|ref =<ref name="Ohio"/>
}}{{Professional wrestling title history middle
|sort number = 9
|type=deactivated
|date = {{dts|1954|May}}
|notes =Rogers was stripped of the title in 1954 for not defending his championship against [[Ralph "Ruffy" Silverstein|Ruffy Silverstein]]. A tournament was scheduled to crown a new champion in May 1954 but never took place.
|ref =<ref name="Ohio"/>
}}
{{BundleEnd}}
==Footnotes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Portal bar|United States}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180512110934/http://prowrestlinghistoricalsociety.com/awa-boston-world-heavyweight-championship.html AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston)] at Pro Wrestling Historical Society
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20180515112730/http://prowrestlinghistoricalsociety.com/awa-ohio-world-heavyweight-championship.html AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Ohio)] at Pro Wrestling Historical Society
* [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/il/awa/il-awa-h.html AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Chicago)] at Wrestling-Titles.com
[[Category:World heavyweight wrestling championships]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling in Boston]]