Forgotten Titles
Chapter One: IWA International/World Heavyweight Title - Eddie Einhorn and Johnny Powers
#PWHS #Article #ForgottenTitles #FT #IWA #WorldTitle
May 4, 1975 - Akron Beacon-Journal
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I doubt you're ever really going to hear of this championship unless you either look up it's most recognized holder or just happen to stumble across it accidentally. During the mid-1970's the International Wrestling Association, originally owned by Eddie Einhorn attempted to go national way before the WWF ever even thought of it.
Naturally they needed a top title for the company and it was decided upon that it would be the belt we're looking at today. At some point during it's tenure it started to be referred to as the World Heavyweight Championship (around the spring of 1977). Anyway, let's get on with it and take a look at the IWA International/World Heavyweight Championship
So, Who Held It?
Thirty-Nine Years and Counting
A month after the promotion opened in need of a main champion, they decided to go with a big name internationally, not just nationally, known. That man was Mil Mascaras, the man of a thousand masks. He came into the promotion in early February and was awarded with the championship. Whenever he was in the territory for the next two and a bit years he would defend it until eventually leaving. He still claims the championship to this day (October 13, 2013 time of writing).
Controversy
According to Johnny Powers, who bought out the promotion in early 1977, Mil Mascaras left in early 1977. It's possible Ernie Ladd came into the picture here and claimed to have won it from Mil Mascaras as a way to explain why he was the champion. Mascaras kept the physical strap and it was not noted if a new one was made, but I would assume so. Powers goes on to say whilst the company itself closed down in early 1978 in America, syndication continued in Singapore and other far away places.
Powers recalls that from mid-1977 he was a three time champion, however, he did not provide information on other champions. After the closure in 1978, Powers continued to defend his version of the title in places like Singapore and Nigeria, and he would be the true claimant given it was his company the title came from, having it taken off Mascaras when he left. When syndication abroad stopped in 1982, so did his defending of the title.
Tidying Up
Assuming Johnny Powers is accurate in what he says, that would mean Mil Mascaras was stripped of the title in early 1977. From there it's possible Ladd was awarded it and eventually lost it or was stripped of it (After the no-show) and it probably ended up around the waist of Powers.
Over the course of the next four or so years, both Mil Mascaras and Johnny Powers would defend their own versions, obviously Mascaras had no-one controlling him as he had pretty much stolen the title, and would never lose his version. Powers on the other hand traded it with someone twice, or two separate people to become a three time version of his championship until he retired it in 1982.
List of Champions
Johnny Powers Version of History:
01 - Mil Mascaras, February 1975
02 - Ernie Ladd, April 1, 1977 (Possible date)
03 - Vacated, April 23, 1977 (Possible date)
04 - Johnny Powers, Summer 1977
?? - Unknown, Unknown
?? - Possibly other holder(s) here
?? - Johnny Powers, Unknown
?? - Unknown, Unknown
?? - Possibly other holder(s) here
?? - Bulldog Brower, Unknown (Not confirmed)
?? - Johnny Powers, Unknown
?? - Retired, Early 1982
Mil Mascaras Version of History:
01 - Mil Mascaras, February 1975
// - Still Reigning Champion
Johnny Powers Version of History:
01 - Mil Mascaras, February 1975
02 - Ernie Ladd, April 1, 1977 (Possible date)
03 - Vacated, April 23, 1977 (Possible date)
04 - Johnny Powers, Summer 1977
?? - Unknown, Unknown
?? - Possibly other holder(s) here
?? - Johnny Powers, Unknown
?? - Unknown, Unknown
?? - Possibly other holder(s) here
?? - Bulldog Brower, Unknown (Not confirmed)
?? - Johnny Powers, Unknown
?? - Retired, Early 1982
Mil Mascaras Version of History:
01 - Mil Mascaras, February 1975
// - Still Reigning Champion
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter One.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #7.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter One.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #7.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Einhorn left the company in October 1975. His partner Pedro Martinez, and Ron Martinez continued to run the company. They brought in Powers who bought out the company in early 1977, around April.
Forgotten Titles: Chapter Two - Read Here.
Other articles by Jimmy can be Read Here.