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Linear WWE Champion


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Jason Felix put these two lists together for us at Voices of Wrestling. A fun, goofy project for sure, with all roads seemingly leading to BAD NEWS BARRETT as the linear champ.

 

Singles matches only: http://www.voicesofwrestling.com/2014/03/12/who-is-the-reigning-linear-wwe-champion/

 

Multi-man matches included: http://whywouldanyonereadthis.com/2014/03/12/who-is-the-linear-wwe-champion-including-multi-man-matches/

 

Many people have spotted errors already, but all roads eventually lead back to Barrett. I know there are some hardcore historians here, so I figured some of you would enjoy this, and possibly find more breaks in the chain.

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WWE Title can not be lost by countout or disqualification (keeping with the traditional rules of pro wrestling)

 

 

Well... it's not exactly "traditional". Only with the promotions that chose to do it. Similar to the "ref stop" rules.

 

 

10. Bruno Sammartino (5) – 10/2/67

 

11. Giant Baba – 8/7/68

(Baba won a Best of Three Falls Match 2 Falls to 1.)

(Records from Japan were…spotty to say the best for this time period. Not many matches from Baba were recorded in the cagematch.net Database. Honestly, I do not considering impossible that he didn’t lose a singles match for 2-1/2 years in Japan, so I think this should be accurate.)

 

 

Baba won the third fall (and match) by COR. No "title change".

 

17. Giant Baba (3) – 1/18/78

(Won a Best of Three Falls match 2 Falls to 1)

 

 

Baba won the third fall by DQ. No "title change". Of course it's moot by the item above.

 

18. Kintaro Oki – 4/1/78

(Oki wrestled a singles match on 12/11/79, but did not wrestle one for another year. On 12/11/80, Linear Belt goes to WWF Champion Bob Backlund.)

 

 

Really?

 

He made these known International Title defenses:

 

05/15/80 vs Jos Le Duc

07/01/80 vs Gypsy Joe

09/20/80 vs Bill Dromo

10/04/80 vs Umanosuke Ueda

03/04/81 vs Bob Brown

 

And this AWA Title challenge:

 

03/31/80 vs Nick Bockwinkel

 

It's also somewhat strange that the title would go back to Backlund. Ohki was the Int'l champion. He "gave up" that title after the Brown match, and it (and all claims that went with it) went to the winner of the Int'l tourney that All Japan held on April 26, 1981 - April 30, 1981:

 

http://www.puroresu.com/alljapan/results/aj198103cc.html

 

So the "claim" to the "linear" WWWF Title went into All Japan's International Title.

 

One would have to follow Dory's results to find if he lost a singles match before he and Brody started boucing the title around. If Dory somehow avoided a singles job, it makes its way into Jumbo's International Title reign... which would overlap with his run with the AWA Title and go to Martel.

 

Then we'd have to find if Martel lost any non-title matches before dropping the title to Hansen, and whether any of those non-title matches would roll back into the AWA Title with Martel "winning" it back.

 

Then we'd have to look through Hansen's time in the AWA, as he may have done some non-title jobs to Bockwinkel. If he didn't get those jobs back from Bock before leaving, then the title follows the AWA path... either off it before it got to Lawler, or then into Lawler's post-AWA title claims. Which likely would have eventually gotten in the WWF, unless someone walked out of Memphis without jobbing the title..

 

This is all moot since Baba didn't win the title from Bruno. :)

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Heres what I posted at the F4W board:

 

 

With any list like this you're going to find mistakes or things to nitpick about. Having said that... Baba didn't go undefeated from 68-70. The results from that era are sketchy, but he was definitely in the summer JWA World League so it probably goes something like:

The Destroyer 3/1/69
Giant Baba 3/5/69
Gorilla Monsoon 4/5/69
Antoni Inoki 4/16/69
Gorilla Monsoon 4/25/69
Kotetsu Yamamoto 5/2/69
Pepper Gomez 5/16/69
Antonio Inoki 5/18/69

Theres a lot of missing results so that not exact, but Inoki won the World League on 5/18/69 so its a good bet he was the linear champ then.

Karl Gotch 3/6/72
Antonio Inoki 8/1/74
Karl Gotch 8/8/74

Then Gotch retires so it ends there. If you go by Jason's rules in reverts back to Bruno on 8/8/75.

 

Stan Hansen 4/26/76
Bruno Sammartino 8/7/76
Billy Graham 4/30/77
Dusty Rhodes 7/19/77
Billy Graham 10/24/77
Ivan Putski 10/29/77
Billy Graham 12/12/77
Mil Mascaras 12/19/77
The Destroyer 9/11/78
Nick Bockwinkel 12/12/78
The Crusher 2/3/80

Crusher wrestles Ventura on 5/2/80 – Injures arm “surrenders” Linear belt on 5/2/81 to Bob Backlund and continues on with Felix's history until today.

 

BUT as jdw points at Bruno never lost it to Baba in 68 so that was all for nothing. I still think its ends up the same even if it stays with Bruno though, becuase then it goes

 

Killer Kowalski 5/31/69

Bruno Sammartino 6/14/69

Ivan Koloff 12/9/69

Bruno Sammartino 1/19/70

Crusher Verdu 6/15/70

Bruno Sammartino 7/10/70

Ivan Kollof 1/18/71

Pedro Morales 7/8/71

Stan Stasiak 8/30/71

Bobo Brazil 9/27/71

Giant Baba 2/27/73

Jack Brisco 12/9/74

 

and then back into the results Jason posted. The only one I'm not sure of is Bobo Brazil. Im not sure if he dropped any falls from 71-73 but I couldnt find any.

 

I used puroresu.com historyofwwe.com crazymax.org and cagematch.net to find results so ymmv

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One thing I took away from this is despite his parameters, WWF 2000 has fewer world title changes than WCW 2000 under Russo. Isn't that insane?

I forgot what month it was, maybe May or June, but the title changed 5 or 6 times in a month bouncing between Jarrett, Nash and Flair. Some in the same night. Title history is obnoxious in 2000 WCW

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  • 2 weeks later...

Heres what I posted at the F4W board:

 

 

With any list like this you're going to find mistakes or things to nitpick about. Having said that... Baba didn't go undefeated from 68-70. The results from that era are sketchy, but he was definitely in the summer JWA World League so it probably goes something like:

 

The Destroyer 3/1/69

Giant Baba 3/5/69

Gorilla Monsoon 4/5/69

Antoni Inoki 4/16/69

Gorilla Monsoon 4/25/69

Kotetsu Yamamoto 5/2/69

Pepper Gomez 5/16/69

Antonio Inoki 5/18/69

 

Theres a lot of missing results so that not exact, but Inoki won the World League on 5/18/69 so its a good bet he was the linear champ then.

 

Karl Gotch 3/6/72

Antonio Inoki 8/1/74

Karl Gotch 8/8/74

Then Gotch retires so it ends there. If you go by Jason's rules in reverts back to Bruno on 8/8/75.

 

Stan Hansen 4/26/76

Bruno Sammartino 8/7/76

Billy Graham 4/30/77

Dusty Rhodes 7/19/77

Billy Graham 10/24/77

Ivan Putski 10/29/77

Billy Graham 12/12/77

Mil Mascaras 12/19/77

The Destroyer 9/11/78

Nick Bockwinkel 12/12/78

The Crusher 2/3/80

 

Crusher wrestles Ventura on 5/2/80 – Injures arm “surrenders” Linear belt on 5/2/81 to Bob Backlund and continues on with Felix's history until today.

 

BUT as jdw points at Bruno never lost it to Baba in 68 so that was all for nothing. I still think its ends up the same even if it stays with Bruno though, becuase then it goes

 

Killer Kowalski 5/31/69

Bruno Sammartino 6/14/69

Ivan Koloff 12/9/69

Bruno Sammartino 1/19/70

Crusher Verdu 6/15/70

Bruno Sammartino 7/10/70

Ivan Kollof 1/18/71

Pedro Morales 7/8/71

Stan Stasiak 8/30/71

Bobo Brazil 9/27/71

Giant Baba 2/27/73

Jack Brisco 12/9/74

 

and then back into the results Jason posted. The only one I'm not sure of is Bobo Brazil. Im not sure if he dropped any falls from 71-73 but I couldnt find any.

 

Maybe to Firpo.

 

8/12/72 Detroit, MI @ Cobo Arena

Pampero Firpo beat Bobo Brazil to win US Title

Italian Death Match

The Sheik no contest Tony Marino

Mighty Igor no contest Johnny Valentine

Ben Justice & The Stomper beat George Cannon & Don Kent dq

Tex McKenzie beat Hans Schmidt

Johnny & Jacques Rougeau beat Killer Brooks & Yoshino Sato

Ramon Rougeau beat Butch Morgan

Danny & Bill Miller beat Tony Parisi & Tiger Jeet Singh

Benny & Billy McGuire beat Mike Vigneault & Ben Sharkey & George Guinon

Magnificent Zulu beat Karl Von Stroheim

Joey Russell won a 7 midget battle royal

JB Psycho beat Frankie Laine

Att: 11,247

Note: I think this decision was eventually reversed.

 

10/28/72 Detroit, MI @ Michigan State Fairgrounds

Pampero Firpo beat Bobo Brazil to win US Title

The Sheik ddq Tex McKenzie

Killer Tim Brooks beat JB Psycho dq

Johnny Valentine beat Tony Marino

Al Costello & Don Kent & Kurt Von Hess & Karl Von Shotz drew Danny Miller & Ben Justice & The Stomper & Haystack Calhoun

Darling Dagmar beat Diamond Lil

Jess Ortega drew Magnificent Zulu

Jerry Graham beat Bob Harmon

Lucille DuPree beat Kay Casey

Hans Schmidt drew Tony Parisi

att: 5,625

 

Bobo regains the title here.

 

12/23/72 Detroit, MI @ Cobo Arena

Bobo Brazil beat Pampero Firpo to win US Title

Tex McKenzie beat Mitsu Arakawa

The Sheik no contest Johnny Valentine

Tony Marino beat Killer Tim Brooks dq

Sweet Daddy Siki no contest Mighty Igor

Billy Red Lyons beat Gary Fulton

Ben Justice & The Stomper beat Kurt Von Hess & Frank Diamond

Dan Miller beat Baron Scicluna

Tiger Jeet Singh & Haystacks Calhoun beat Dr. Jerry Graham & Zebra Kid

Hans Schmidt drew Sonny King

JB Psycho & Magnificent Zulu beat The Medics

Att. 9,183

 

Then loses it quickly to the Sheik.

 

12/30/72 Detroit

The Sheik beat Bobo Brazil to win US Title

Pampero Firpo beat Haystacks Calhoun dq

Tex McKenzie & Johnny Valentine beat Kurt Von Hess & Karl Von Shotz

Tony Marino & Chief Jay Strongbow beat Killer Tim Brooks & Eddie Creachman

George Steele beat Hank James

Ben Justice Drew Dr. Jerry Graham

Al Costello & Don Kent beat Magnificent Zulu & Rick Luka

Mighty Igor beat Mike Loren dq

Lucille Dupre beat Tanya West dq

JB Psycho beat Jess Ortega

Farmer Jerome & Sonny Boy Hayes beat Frenchy Lamont & Pee wee Adams

Att. 12,423

 

Then regains it.

 

1/13/73 Detroit, MI @ Cobo Arena

Cage Match

Bobo Brazil beat The Sheik to win US Title

Pampero Firpo beat Haystack Calhoun

Killer Tim Brooks drew Tony Marino

Johnny Valentine & Tex McKenzie no contest Kurt Von Hess & Karl Von Shotz

George Steele beat Dan Miller

Kabooki beat Ben Justice

Tiger Jeet Singh beat Sweet Daddy Siki

Dick Bulldog Brower beat Ray Elmore

JB Psycho beat Dr. Jerry Graham

Mike Loren beat Dr. Beach

Lou Klein beat Rick Luka

Jess Ortega beat Jim Lancaster

Att. 12,643

 

Then loses it back

 

1/27/73 Detroit, MI @ Cobo Arena

Special referee Johnny Valentine

The Sheik beat Bobo Brazil to regain US Title

Stretcher Death Match

Tony Marino beat Killer Tim Brooks

Johnny Valentine & Tex McKenzie & Lord Athol Layton beat Kurt Von Hess & Karl Von Shotz & Pampero Firpo

JB Psycho beat George Steele

Tiger Jeet Singh & Dan Miller beat Hans Schmidt & Zebra Kid

Bulldog Brower beat Magnificent Zulu

Sweet Daddy Siki beat Ben Justice

Kabooki beat Rick O'Toole

Mike Loren beat Rick Luka

Big Bill Miller & Lou Klein beat the Medics

Dr. Jerry Graham beat Dr. Beach

Att: 12,346

 

Another loss to Sheik here.

 

2/5/73 Dayton, OH

The Sheik beat Bobo Brazil

Luis Martinez & Fred Curry beat Kurt Von Hess & Karl Von Shotz COR

Jerry Graham beat Magnificent Zulu

Lou Klein beat Dr Beech

 

Here's an odd one. Ben Justice. Not sure I believe that.

 

8/4/73 Detroit, MI @ Cobo Arena

Johnny Valentine beat Pampero Firpo dq

Ben Justice beat Bobo Brazil

The Mongols beat Wild Bull Curry & Tony Marino

Mighty Igor beat Dr. Jerry Graham

Tiger Jeet Singh beat Baron Scicluna

Chief Jay Strongbow beat Jim Lancaster

Bill Miller beat Bobby Blaine

Tony Marino beat Cliff Lilly

Ali Baba vs JB Psycho

Lou Klein beat Dr Beech

 

Another loss to Sheik.

 

12/1/73 Detroit, MI @ Cobo Arena

US Champion The Sheik beat Bobo Brazil

Fred Curry & Tony Marino beat Ben Justice & Killer Tim Brooks dq

Johnny Valentine beat Pampero Firpo dq

Mighty Igor beat Hans Schmidt

Tony Parisi & Dom Denucci beat Eric The Red & Kabooki

Ray Rougeau beat Jerry Graham

Dan Miller drew Frankie Laine

Hartford Love & Reginald Love beat Bobby Blaine & Magnificent Zulu

Att 7,780

 

I'll check Toronto later.

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