Joe Savoldi had a claim at one time as the World Heavyweight Champion, which was a long way away from his humble beginnings in the hills of Italy.  Savoldi immigrated as a pre-teen to Michigan and would later play football under the famous Knute Rockne at Notre Dame.  Savoldi fell into Professional Wrestling and was praised for his dropkick, a unique move at the time.  Under the guidance of Billy Sandow, he beat Jim Londos in controversial fashion (perhaps a double-cross) in 1933 and was recognized in some circles as the Heavyweight Champion.  He would lose that claim in a match to Jim Browning but had high profile rematches against Londos to huge crowds.  He couldn’t beat Londos again but he was a draw for a decade and a half to come.