Titles Of Convenience
#PWHS #Article #TitlesOfConvenience
January 31, 1971 - NY Daily News
Recently, a discussion occurred in the PWHS Facebook group. The topic of discussion was Championship Titles of questionable authenticity-for example, the United States Title that Pedro Morales was given and defended for all of 6 weeks before he vacated the title upon winning the WWWF Heavyweight Title. This discussion led me to thinking about all the titles in wrestling history that came and went with little to no fanfare.
The WWWF United States Title
This was the WWWF's most used and most disused title in the company's history. For a period of years in the early days of the WWWF, there actually was a United States title. At times, referred to as the United States TV Title, this championship was held by Bobo Brazil, Johnny Barend, and Johnny Valentine. It was the secondary title behind the WWWF World Heavyweight Title.
By the time the late-1960's rolled around, the U.S. Title was being defend sporadically, and by 1970, it had disappeared. The title (with a hideous-looking belt) was revived temporarily for Morales' entry into the territory. It disappeared again after Morales became the WWWF Heavyweight Champion.
After that period, the title was used in name only. Whenever Bobo Brazil would have a run in the WWWF, he would always be billed as the United States Champion. Brazil wore no belt, and never made a defense of this "title", but he was still billed as the champion. After Brazil's last WWF run, the United States title disappeared until the acquisition of WCW by WWE.
The All-Asiatic Title
This was a title that was given to Gorilla Monsoon when he made his debut in the WWWF in the mid-1960's. At the time, the bearded, heel Monsoon was billed as being from Manchuria. Being the All-Asiatic Champion made sense given that billing. There was no belt and there were no title defenses made.
It became comical by the 1970's. By that point in time, Monsoon had been established as a mainstay, babyface in the WWWF. Now clean shaven, it was a bit of a laugh to hear that the "All-Asiatic Champion" was being billed from Cherry Hills, or Willingboro, New Jersey. When Monsoon retired from the ring in 1981, the title retired with him.
The European Championship
Not to be confused with the WWE European Title that was defended during the Attitude Era, this particular title came with not only one belt, but two. In the 1960's, Hans Mortier (a true resident of Europe) was billed as the European Champion and had a unique belt that he wore to the ring. In the 1970's, Waldo Von Erich (a Canadian), wore a belt to the ring and was billed as "European Champion". To the best of my knowledge, neither title was legitimate nor was neither title ever defended in a WWWF ring.
The Alabama Junior Heavyweight Title
Otherwise known as "Mike Jackson's belt", this title was recognized and defended in various Gulf Coast territories at various times in the 1970's and 1980's. But mainly, it was used as billing for Jackson when he did enhancement work for NWA and WCW television matches. As far as I know, Jackson still owns the title (although there is no organization that sanctions the title), and may defended it on Gulf Coast independent cards.
The British Empire and British Commonwealth Titles
This one is a hodgepodge of different eras, different territories and different levels of validity. At various times, this title was recognized and defended in Stampede Wrestling; AWA-Winnepeg; New Zealand; England; Greater Europe; India; Quebec, Canada and Vancouver, Canada.
The problem is that this title was not one title. each territory recognized their own Commonwealth Title and used it as it was convenient. The title would appear and disappear with regularity-often with little rhyme nor reason. The territory/promotion where it was most regularly used was for Joint Promotions in England.
The AWA Ladies Title, The Midget Title, and The NWA Women's Title
Don't even ask...
Which titles do YOU remember that came and went with little to no explanation???
The WWWF United States Title
This was the WWWF's most used and most disused title in the company's history. For a period of years in the early days of the WWWF, there actually was a United States title. At times, referred to as the United States TV Title, this championship was held by Bobo Brazil, Johnny Barend, and Johnny Valentine. It was the secondary title behind the WWWF World Heavyweight Title.
By the time the late-1960's rolled around, the U.S. Title was being defend sporadically, and by 1970, it had disappeared. The title (with a hideous-looking belt) was revived temporarily for Morales' entry into the territory. It disappeared again after Morales became the WWWF Heavyweight Champion.
After that period, the title was used in name only. Whenever Bobo Brazil would have a run in the WWWF, he would always be billed as the United States Champion. Brazil wore no belt, and never made a defense of this "title", but he was still billed as the champion. After Brazil's last WWF run, the United States title disappeared until the acquisition of WCW by WWE.
The All-Asiatic Title
This was a title that was given to Gorilla Monsoon when he made his debut in the WWWF in the mid-1960's. At the time, the bearded, heel Monsoon was billed as being from Manchuria. Being the All-Asiatic Champion made sense given that billing. There was no belt and there were no title defenses made.
It became comical by the 1970's. By that point in time, Monsoon had been established as a mainstay, babyface in the WWWF. Now clean shaven, it was a bit of a laugh to hear that the "All-Asiatic Champion" was being billed from Cherry Hills, or Willingboro, New Jersey. When Monsoon retired from the ring in 1981, the title retired with him.
The European Championship
Not to be confused with the WWE European Title that was defended during the Attitude Era, this particular title came with not only one belt, but two. In the 1960's, Hans Mortier (a true resident of Europe) was billed as the European Champion and had a unique belt that he wore to the ring. In the 1970's, Waldo Von Erich (a Canadian), wore a belt to the ring and was billed as "European Champion". To the best of my knowledge, neither title was legitimate nor was neither title ever defended in a WWWF ring.
The Alabama Junior Heavyweight Title
Otherwise known as "Mike Jackson's belt", this title was recognized and defended in various Gulf Coast territories at various times in the 1970's and 1980's. But mainly, it was used as billing for Jackson when he did enhancement work for NWA and WCW television matches. As far as I know, Jackson still owns the title (although there is no organization that sanctions the title), and may defended it on Gulf Coast independent cards.
The British Empire and British Commonwealth Titles
This one is a hodgepodge of different eras, different territories and different levels of validity. At various times, this title was recognized and defended in Stampede Wrestling; AWA-Winnepeg; New Zealand; England; Greater Europe; India; Quebec, Canada and Vancouver, Canada.
The problem is that this title was not one title. each territory recognized their own Commonwealth Title and used it as it was convenient. The title would appear and disappear with regularity-often with little rhyme nor reason. The territory/promotion where it was most regularly used was for Joint Promotions in England.
The AWA Ladies Title, The Midget Title, and The NWA Women's Title
Don't even ask...
Which titles do YOU remember that came and went with little to no explanation???
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Titles Of Convenience.
Author: Harry Grover.
Published: March 25, 2015.
Article: #83.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Titles Of Convenience.
Author: Harry Grover.
Published: March 25, 2015.
Article: #83.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Other articles by Harry can be Read Here.