Daily pro wrestling history (12/22): Wladek Zbysko defeats Strangler Lewis for World Title

1917

New York City, New York:
– Wladek Zbyszko defeated Ed “Strangler” Lewis in a tournament final to stake his unrightful claim as the World Heavyweight Champion

1941

Hollywood, California:
– Wild Red Berry defeated Billy Varga to win the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title

1945

Wichita, Kansas:
– MWA Title match: Orville Brown beat Cowboy Roy Graham to retain the title 
– Vic Holbrook beat Jerry Meeker 
– Bobby Bruns beat Jack Hader 
– Jay Steele beat Elmer (Zeke) Estep

1950

Tacoma, Washington:
– Frank Stojack defeated Leo Wallick to win the Pacific Northwest Junior Heavyweight Title

1954 

Tokyo, Japan:
– Rikidozan becomes the first and only Japanese Heavyweight Champion by defeating Masahiko Kimura

1956 

Fresno, Calfornia:
– Enrique Torres and Ronnie Etchison defeated Ben and Mike Sharpe for the San Francisco version of the NWA World Tag Team Title 

1960

Chattanooga, Tennessee:
– Bill Monroe defeated Mike Clancy for the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title in Chattanooga, Tennessee

1969

Tampa, Florida:
– Mr. Saito defeated Dale Lewis to win the Florida Heavyweight Title

1970

Tampa, Florida:
– Tarzan Tyler defeated Dusty Rhodes for the Florida Brass Knuckles Title 

1971

Miami, Florida:
– The Australians (Larry O’Day and Ron Miller) defeated The Alaskans (Mike York and Frank Monte) to win the Florida Tag Team Titles

1972

Tampa, Florida:
– Tarzan Tyler won a tournament to win the vacant Florida Brass Knuckles Title 

1979

Bayaman, Puerto Rico:
– Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk defeated Invaders I and II for the WWC Tag Team Titles

Mexico City, Mexico:
– El Halcon defeated El Gran Markus to win the National Heavyweight title

1980

Memphis, Tennessee:
– Bill Dundee and Tommy Rich defeated Guy Mitchell and Roger Kirby for the AWA Southern Tag Team Title 

1984

Bremen, Germany:
– Tony St. Clair won a tournament to become the first Catch Wrestling Association World Middleweight Title

1990

Bremen, Germany:
– Bull Power (Leon White) defeated Otto Wanz to win the Catch Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title

1991

Minneapolis, Minnesota:
– Ricky Rice defeated The Lightning Kid (Sean Waltman) for the Pro Wrestling America Light Heavyweight Title 

1996

Vancouver, Washington:
– Buddy Wayne defeated Bart Sawyer to win the Championship Wrestling USA Television Title 

1997

– Triple H pinned Shawn Michaels when Michaels laid down for Triple H to win the WWF Eurpoean Title

2000

Puebla, Mexico:
– Ultimo Guerrero defeated Dos Caras Jr (Alberto Del Rio) to win the CMLL title

2001

Cornelia, Georgia:
– A.J. Styles defeated Rick Michaels for the NWA Wildside Heavyweight Title 

2001

Tokyo, Japan:
– Sasuke and Sasuke the Great defeated Dick Togo and Gedo to win the Universal Wrestling Association/Universal Wrestling Federation
Intercontinental Tag Team Titles