Australian Heavyweight Championship

In September 1885 Australian William Miller wrestled American Clarence Whistler in Australia in a match billed as being to decide the champion of the world with Whistler winning then dying in November.{{Cite news |date=16 April 1901 |title=Championship Wrestling Match|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/201593936 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=Ovens and Murray Advertiser|location=Beechworth, Vic|page=1}}

A later mention of a wrestling championship for Australia being actively contested came in April 1901 when Jim McDermott, billed as champion of New South Wales, challenged Indian wrestler Buttan Singh to a bout to determine the champion of Australia,{{Cite news |date=16 April 1901 |title=Champion Wrestling Match|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32598611 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=Karlgoorlie Western Argus|location=Karlgoorlie, WA|page=28}} which Singh won on April 16.{{Cite news |date=16 April 1901 |title=The Wrestling Championship: Buttan Singh v. McDermott|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/138474818 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate|location=Newcastle, NSW|page=5}} When Singh lost to Gunga Brahm in April 1903 Brahm was billed as the new champion of Australia,{{Cite news |date=1 May 1903 |title=The Revival of Wrestling|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9829350 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Argus|location=Melbourne, Vic|page=6}} holding the title until losing to Abdul Kadir in February 1904 who was a late stand in for Singh who was injured.{{Cite news |date=2 February 1904 |title=Wrestling|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/217423857 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=Coolgardie Miner|location=Coolgardie, WA|page=3}}{{Cite news |date=9 February 1904 |title=Wrestling|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32738713 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=Karlgoorlie Western Argus|location=Karlgoorlie, WA|page=42}} Kadir's win was ignored a week later when Buttan Singh and Gunga Brahm were billed as wrestling for the Australian Championship,{{Cite news |date=13 February 1904 |title=Wrestling|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/25081122 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The West Australian|location=Perth, WA|page=1}} with Singh winning.{{Cite news |date=20 February 1904 |title=Wrestling|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/41706069 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=Western Mail|location=Perth, WA|page=38}} Singh was billed as champion throughout 1904 and 1905,{{Cite news |date=20 December 1905 |title=Buttan Singh and Weber|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120500785 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=Referee|location=Sydney, NSW|page=7}} holding the title until losing to Clarence Weber on November 20, 1906.{{Cite news |date=20 November 1906 |title=Wrestling|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/151587595 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=Daily Telegraph|location=Launceston, Tas|page=5}}

Weber remained champion until the First World War disrupted professional wrestling in Australia. After the war Billy Meeske attempted to revive professional wrestling and in 1920 he challenged Weber for the heavyweight championship, however he was advised Weber had officially retired in 1913 and as such claimed to hold the title by default.{{cite news | title = Wrestling| newspaper= Advocate|location=Melbourne, Vic| page =24 | date =18 November 1920| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/171052781| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} Due to the lack of organisation many professional bookings fell through and the newspaper The Sporting Globe hosted a meeting of professional wrestlers, chaired by Weber, at which it was decided Meeske and Joe Bailey were the two wrestlers with the best claim to the heavyweight championship and a bout was scheduled for November 22, 1922, which Meeske won becoming recognized as the undisputed champion of Australia.{{cite news | title = Wrestlers Active| newspaper= Sporting Globe|location=Melbourne, Vic| page =14| date =23 August 1922| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/184798151| access-date = 17 June 2020 }}{{cite news | title = Stadium Wrestling: Meeske's Clear-Cut Victory| newspaper= The Herald|location=Melbourne, Vic| page =2| date =23 November 1922| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243781891| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} On September 1, 1923, Weber came out of retirement and took the title back from Meeske,{{cite news | title = Wrestling Match| newspaper= The Brisbane Courier|location= Brisbane, Qld| page =11| date =3 September 1923| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20638808| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} holding it until September 18, 1926, when Meeske beat him in a rematch.{{cite news | title = Quiet Party| newspaper= The Herald|location=Melbourne, Vic| page =3| date =20 September 1926| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243704958| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} Meeske often lost to visiting international wrestlers during his title reigns, however it had been decided that wrestlers who had lived in Australia for less than six months were ineligible for Australian titles.{{cite news | title = Meeske's Plan| newspaper= Sporting Globe|location= Melbourne, Vic| page =10| date =3 September 1924| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/185069646| access-date = 17 June 2020 }}

In December 1932 the company Stadiums Ltd. booked a match between Tom Lurich and Bonnie Muir as a championship decider due to Meeske not wrestling at their stadium in Sydney for an extended period with the decision being met with criticism from the public with Lurich responding by arguing that he had beaten Meeske previously, although as a foreigner he had been ineligible for the title at the time of his victories under the established rules.{{cite news | title = Tom Lurich Replies to Critics| newspaper= The Labor Daily|location= Sydney, NSW| page =3| date =2 December 1932| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237074517| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} Despite the decision Meeske continued to be billed as the champion in Western Australia and Queensland.{{Cite news |date=8 July 1933 |title=Meeske Lacked Vigor|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/85003408|access-date=12 September 2024 |work=Daily News|location=Perth, WA|page=24}}{{Cite news |date=6 August 1933 |title=Meeske Retains Title|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/97705425|access-date=12 September 2024 |work=Sunday Mail|location=Brisbane, Qld|page=10}}{{Cite news |date=5 November 1933 |title=Two Falls to One: Meeske Beats Gotch|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/97703150|access-date=12 September 2024 |work=Sunday Mail|location=Brisbane, Qld|page=23}}

The first Lurich-Muir match was a draw and Stadiums then booked several wrestlers to face Lurich promoting him as having defeated every notable wrestler in the country except for Muir.{{cite news | title = Will Be a New Champion| newspaper= The Labor Daily|location= Sydney, NSW| page =3| date =2 December 1932| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237069102| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} In March 1934 Meeske lost to Martin Bucht and acknowledged Bucht as the new heavyweight champion,{{Cite news |date=5 March 1934|title=The Usual Thrills|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55528117|access-date=12 September 2024 |work=Morning Bulletin|location=Rockhampton, Qld|page=10}}{{Cite news |date=17 March 1934|title=Bucht Holder of the Title|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182632409|access-date=12 September 2024 |work=The Telegraph|location=Brisbane, Qld|page=3}} while Stadiums Ltd. named Lurich heavyweight champion after he finally defeated Muir in June.{{cite news | title = The Lurch of Lurich| newspaper= Toowoomba Daily Chronicle|location= Toowoomba, Qld| page =5| date =5 June 1933| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254326444| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} Meeske resumed billing himself as the heavyweight champion in 1936,{{Cite news |date=30 May 1936|title=Meeske Retains Championship|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55828095|access-date=12 September 2024 |work=The Mail|location=Adelaide, South Australia|page=22}}{{Cite news |date=9 July 1936|title=Wild Scene Follows Wrestling Bout|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/182314666|access-date=12 September 2024 |work=The Telegraph|location=Brisbane, Qld|page=21}} and the same year Billy Bayne claimed to be heavyweight champion based on having beaten Martin Bucht.{{Cite news |date=28 February 1936|title=Lurich Agrees|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/184014011|access-date=12 September 2024 |work=The Telegraph|location=Brisbane, Qld|page=3}}

In 1938 a bout between Eddie Scarf and Jim Bartlett was billed as being for the heavyweight championship with Scarf being reported as champion after his win,{{cite news | title = Wrestling| newspaper= Examiner|location= Launceston, Tas| page =8| date =19 December 1938| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52241579| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} however Lurich continued to be billed as the unbeaten reigning heavyweight champion by Stadiums Ltd. until dropping the title to George Pencheff in December, 1939.{{cite news | title = Risks His Title| newspaper= Daily News|location= Sydney, NSW| page =7| date =30 November 1939| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/236333220| access-date = 17 June 2020 }}{{cite news | title = Pencheff New Champion| newspaper= Daily News|location= Sydney, NSW| page =8| date =11 December 1939| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/236343217| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} Leo Demetral issued a public claim to be the only legitimate heavyweight champion of Australia in July 1940 based on having beaten Billy Meeske in a match in 1938, ignoring Bucht's earlier victory, and he challenged others to wrestle him for the title,{{cite news | title = Wrestling Title is Mine, Says Demetral| newspaper= News|location= Adelaide, SA| page =4| date =20 July 1940| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131417920| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} losing it to Fred Atkins in August.{{cite news | title = Wrestlers Shake After| newspaper= Daily News|location= Perth, WA| page =20| date =31 August 1940| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/78799940| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} Atkins and Pencheff wrestled each other in October 1940 however the match was ruled a non title bout by both their promoters,{{cite news | title = Atkins-Pencheff in Non-Title Bout| newspaper= News|location= Adelaide, SA| page =7| date =9 October 1940| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132000525| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} with Atkins ultimately winning.{{cite news | title = Atkins Wins on Points| newspaper= The Advertiser|location= Adelaide, SA| page =7| date =14 October 1940| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/30590868| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} Atkins agreed to wrestle Pencheff again in January 1941 however he was ultimately unable to participate in the match due to travel problems,{{cite news | title = Woods to Replace Atkins in Tuesday's Wrestle| newspaper= Newcastle Morning Herald|location= Newcastle, NSW| page =10| date =11 January 1941| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/140428330| access-date = 17 June 2020 }} although on February 1 it was reported Pencheff had defeated Atkins unifying the title claims.{{cite news | title = Lurich and Pencheff Wrestle Tonight| newspaper= Barrier Daily Truth|location= Broken Hill, NSW| page =6| date =1 February 1941| url =https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/141583787| access-date = 17 June 2020 }}

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Category:Heavyweight wrestling championships

Category:Continental professional wrestling championships

Category:National professional wrestling championships

Category:Professional wrestling in Australia