IWGP Heavyweight Championship

This article is about NJPW's former top heavyweight title. For the new world title, see IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. For the original version, see IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version). For the IGF version, see IWGP Heavyweight Championship (IGF). For other uses, see IWGP Heavyweight Championship (disambiguation).

The IWGP Heavyweight Championship (IWGPヘビー級王座, IWGP hebī-kyū ōza) was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship^[3] owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix (インターナショナル・レスリング・グラン・プリ, intānashonaru resuringu guran puri).^[4] The title was introduced on June 12, 1987, in the final of an IWGP tournament. It was unified with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship on March 4, 2021, to form the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

IWGP Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt (2008 – 2021)
Details
Promotion	New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Date established	June 12, 1987
Date retired	March 4, 2021
Statistics First champion Antonio Inoki Final champion Kota Ibushi Most reigns Hiroshi Tanahashi (8 reigns) Longest reign Kazuchika Okada (4th reign) (720 days) Shortest reign Kensuke Sasaki (4th reign) (16 days) Oldest champion Genichiro Tenryu (49 years, 10 months and 8 days)[1] Youngest champion Shinsuke Nakamura (23 years, 9 months and 15 days)[2]

The championship was represented by four different belts from 1987 to 2021. The fourth and last generation belt was introduced in March 2008.^[5] The title formed what was unofficially called the "New Japan Triple Crown" (新日本トリプルクラウン, Shin Nihon Toripuru Kuraun) along with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and the NEVER Openweight Championship.^[6]

Title history

An early version of this championship was introduced in 1983 for the winner (Hulk Hogan) of the IWGP League 1983. Since then, the championship was defended annually against the winner of the IWGP League of the year. A new IWGP Heavyweight Championship arrived only in 1987, replacing the old version.^[7] The 1987 version was defended regularly and was the top championship of NJPW until the introduction of the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in 2021.

Throughout the history of the championship, several wrestlers were forced to relinquish the title due to an inability to participate in title defenses. When a wrestler had been injured or unable to compete for other reasons, tournaments were held to determine the new champion.^[8][9]

In 2006, Brock Lesnar was stripped of the title for refusing to defend it, claiming he was owed money by NJPW. The company went on to crown a new champion, while Lesnar kept the physical belt.^[10] He signed with Antonio Inoki's Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) in 2007, and lost the championship to Kurt Angle on the promotion's inaugural event.^[11][12] Angle later lost the belt in a unification match to the NJPW-recognized champion Shinsuke Nakamura in 2008.

On January 5, 2020, Tetsuya Naito won the Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships. Both titles kept their individual history, but were defended at the same time. Sometimes, they were called "Double Championship".^[13][14] One year after Naito's victory, Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced the unification of both titles, deactivating the Intercontinental title and forming the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.^[15] On March 4, 2021, the Double Champion Kota Ibushi defeated El Desperado to unify and retire both titles.

On October 21, 2021, after winning the G1 Climax, winner Kazuchika Okada asked for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt to be awarded to him for winning the G1 instead of the typical briefcase and contract for an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 16. On October 25 at Road to Power Struggle, Okada's request was approved and he appeared with the championship; despite holding the championship belt, Okada was not recognized as the official IWGP Heavyweight Champion and the belt is still considered deactivated.

Reigns

Final champion Kota Ibushi

There were seventy three reigns shared among thirty-one wrestlers with ten vacancies. Title changes happen at NJPW-promoted events. Big Van Vader, Salman Hashimikov, Scott Norton, Bob Sapp, Brock Lesnar, A.J. Styles, Kenny Omega and Jay White were the eight non-Japanese wrestlers (billed as gaijin) to have held the title, with Vader being the first American champion, Hashimikov being the only Soviet-born champion,^[16] Omega is the only Canadian champion and White the only New Zealand champion. Antonio Inoki was the first champion in the title's history. Hiroshi Tanahashi held the record for most reigns with eight. Kazuchika Okada held the record for the longest reign in the title's history at 720 days during his fourth reign, over which he successfully defended the title 12 times, more defenses than any other title holder. Kensuke Sasaki's fourth reign of 16 days is the shortest in the title's history. Over his five reigns, Okada successfully defended the title 30 times, the most of any champion. Big Van Vader's first and third reigns, Salman Hashimikov's only reign, Riki Choshu's first reign, Tatsumi Fujinami's third and fifth reigns, Masahiro Chono's only reign, Genichiro Tenryu's only reign, Scott Norton's second reign, Hiroyoshi Tenzan's first and third reigns, Kensuke Sasaki's fourth reign, Kazuyuki Fujita's third reign, Manabu Nakanishi's only reign, Hiroshi Tanahashi's eighth reign, and Jay White's only reign are all tied for least successful defenses at zero.

Key

No.	Overall reign number
Reign	Reign number for the specific champion
Days	Number of days held
Defenses	Number of successful defenses

No.	Champion	Championship change			Reign statistics			Notes	Ref.
		Date	Event	Location	Reign	Days	Defenses
1	Antonio Inoki	June 12, 1987	IWGP Champion Series 1987	Tokyo, Japan	1	325	4	Inoki defeated Masa Saito in a tournament final.	[17]
—	Vacated	May 2, 1988	—	—	—	—	—	Vacated due to Inoki fracturing his left foot.
2	Tatsumi Fujinami	May 8, 1988	Super Fight Series 1988	Tokyo, Japan	1	19	1	Fujinami defeated Big Van Vader to win the vacant title.	[18]
—	Vacated	May 27, 1988	—	—	—	—	—	Title held up after defense against Riki Choshu ended in a no contest.
3	Tatsumi Fujinami	June 24, 1988	IWGP Champion Series 1988	Osaka, Japan	2	285	7	Fujinami defeated Riki Choshu to win the vacant title.	[19]
—	Vacated	April 5, 1989	—	—	—	—	—	Vacated so the title could be decided in a tournament.
4	Big Van Vader	April 24, 1989	Battle Satellite in Tokyo Dome	Tokyo, Japan	1	31	0	Vader defeated Shinya Hashimoto in a tournament final to win the vacant title.	[20]
5	Salman Hashimikov	May 25, 1989	Battle Satellite 1989 in Osaka Dome	Osaka, Japan	1	48	0		[21][22]
6	Riki Choshu	July 12, 1989	Summer Fight Series 1989	Osaka, Japan	1	29	0		[23][24]
7	Big Van Vader	August 10, 1989	Fighting Satellite of 1989	Tokyo, Japan	2	374	4		[25]
8	Riki Choshu	August 19, 1990	Summer Night Fever II	Tokyo, Japan	2	129	1		[26]
9	Tatsumi Fujinami	December 26, 1990	King of Kings	Hamamatsu, Japan	3	22	0		[27]
10	Big Van Vader	January 17, 1991	New Year Dash 1991	Yokohama, Japan	3	46	0		[28]
11	Tatsumi Fujinami	March 4, 1991	Big Fight Series 1991	Hiroshima, Japan	4	306	3		[29][30]
12	Riki Choshu	January 4, 1992	Super Warriors in Tokyo Dome	Tokyo, Japan	3	225	4	This match was also for Choshu's Greatest 18 Championship.	[31]
13	The Great Muta	August 16, 1992	G1 Climax Special 1992	Fukuoka, Japan	1	400	5	This match was also for Choshu's Greatest 18 Championship.	[32]
14	Shinya Hashimoto	September 20, 1993	G1 Climax Special 1993	Nagoya, Japan	1	196	4		[33][34]
15	Tatsumi Fujinami	April 4, 1994	Battle Line Kyushu	Hiroshima, Japan	5	27	0		[35]
16	Shinya Hashimoto	May 1, 1994	Wrestling Dontaku 1994	Fukuoka, Japan	2	367	9		[36]
17	Keiji Mutoh	May 3, 1995	Wrestling Dontaku 1995	Fukuoka, Japan	2	246	5	Mutoh previously won the title as The Great Muta.	[37][38]
18	Nobuhiko Takada	January 4, 1996	Wrestling World 1996	Tokyo, Japan	1	116	1		[39]
19	Shinya Hashimoto	April 29, 1996	Battle Formation	Tokyo, Japan	3	489	7		[40]
20	Kensuke Sasaki	August 31, 1997	Final Power Hall in Yokohama	Yokohama, Japan	1	216	3		[41]
21	Tatsumi Fujinami	April 4, 1998	Antonio Inoki Retirement Show	Tokyo, Japan	6	126	2		[42]
22	Masahiro Chono	August 8, 1998	Rising the Next Generation in Osaka Dome	Osaka, Japan	1	44	0		[43]
—	Vacated	September 21, 1998	—	—	—	—	—	Title was vacated due to Chono's neck injury.
23	Scott Norton	September 23, 1998	Big Wednesday	Yokohama, Japan	1	103	4	Norton defeated Yuji Nagata to win the vacant title.	[44]
24	Keiji Mutoh	January 4, 1999	Wrestling World 1999	Tokyo, Japan	3	340	5		[45]
25	Genichiro Tenryu	December 10, 1999	Battle Final 1999	Osaka, Japan	1	25	0		[46][47]
26	Kensuke Sasaki/Power Warrior	January 4, 2000	Wrestling World 2000	Tokyo, Japan	2	279	5		[48]
—	Vacated	October 9, 2000	—	—	—	—	—	Vacated after Sasaki lost a non-title match to Toshiaki Kawada at Do Judge!!.
27	Kensuke Sasaki	January 4, 2001	Wrestling World 2001	Tokyo, Japan	3	72	1	Sasaki defeated Toshiaki Kawada in a tournament final to win the vacant title.	[49]
28	Scott Norton	March 17, 2001	Hyper Battle 2001	Nagoya, Japan	2	23	0		[50]
29	Kazuyuki Fujita	April 9, 2001	Strong Style 2001	Osaka, Japan	1	270	2		[51][52]
—	Vacated	January 4, 2002	—	—	—	—	—	Fujita vacated the title due to an injured achilles tendon.
30	Tadao Yasuda	February 16, 2002	Fighting Spirit 2002	Tokyo, Japan	1	48	1	Yasuda defeated Yuji Nagata in a tournament final to win the vacant title.	[53][54]
31	Yuji Nagata	April 5, 2002	Toukon Special	Tokyo, Japan	1	392	10		[55]
32	Yoshihiro Takayama	May 2, 2003	Ultimate Crush	Tokyo, Japan	1	185	3	This match was also for Takayama's NWF Heavyweight Championship.	[56][57]
33	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	November 3, 2003	Yokohama Dead Out	Yokohama, Japan	1	36	0		[58]
34	Shinsuke Nakamura	December 9, 2003	Battle Final 2003	Osaka, Japan	1	58	1	Nakamura defeated Yoshihiro Takayama to unify the IWGP Heavyweight Championship with the NWF Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2004, at Wrestling World 2004.	[59]
—	Vacated	February 5, 2004	—	—	—	—	—	Title was vacated due to Nakamura suffering various injuries.
35	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	February 15, 2004	Fighting Spirit 2004	Tokyo, Japan	2	26	1	Tenzan defeated Genichiro Tenryu in a tournament final for the vacant title.	[60][61]
36	Kensuke Sasaki	March 12, 2004	Hyper Battle 2004	Tokyo, Japan	4	16	0		[62]
37	Bob Sapp	March 28, 2004	King of Sports	Tokyo, Japan	1	66	1		[63]
—	Vacated	June 2, 2004	—	—	—	—	—	Title vacated after Sapp lost a K-1 fight to Kazuyuki Fujita.
38	Kazuyuki Fujita	June 5, 2004	The Crush II	Osaka, Japan	2	126	1	Fujita defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the vacant title.	[64]
39	Kensuke Sasaki	October 9, 2004	Pro-Wrestlers Be Strongest	Tokyo, Japan	5	64	2		[65]
40	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	December 12, 2004	Battle Final 2004	Nagoya, Japan	3	70	0		[66]
41	Satoshi Kojima	February 20, 2005	New Year Gold Series	Tokyo, Japan	1	83	1	This match was also for Kojima's Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.	[67]
42	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	May 14, 2005	Nexess VI	Tokyo, Japan	4	65	1		[68]
43	Kazuyuki Fujita	July 18, 2005	Summer Fight Series 2005	Sapporo, Japan	3	82	0		[69][70]
44	Brock Lesnar	October 8, 2005	Toukon Souzou New Chapter	Tokyo, Japan	1	280	3	This was a three-way match, also involving Masahiro Chono.	[71][72]
—	Vacated	July 15, 2006	—	—	—	—	—	Title was vacated due to Lesnar refusing to return and defend it. Lesnar kept the physical championship belt, and later was recognized by the Inoki Genome Federation as their first champion, using the same belt.	[10]
45	Hiroshi Tanahashi	July 17, 2006	Circuit2006 Turbulence	Sapporo, Japan	1	270	4	Tanahashi defeated Giant Bernard in a tournament final for the title.	[73][74]
46	Yuji Nagata	April 13, 2007	Circuit2007 New Japan Brave tour	Osaka, Japan	2	178	2		[75]
47	Hiroshi Tanahashi	October 8, 2007	Explosion '07	Tokyo, Japan	2	88	1		[76][77]
48	Shinsuke Nakamura	January 4, 2008	Wrestle Kingdom II in Tokyo Dome	Tokyo, Japan	2	114	2	Nakamura defeated Kurt Angle on February 17, 2008, on the Circuit2008 New Japan Ism tour to unify the NJPW and IGF versions of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.	[78]
49	Keiji Mutoh	April 27, 2008	Circuit2008 New Japan Brave tour	Osaka, Japan	4	252	4		[79]
50	Hiroshi Tanahashi	January 4, 2009	Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome	Tokyo, Japan	3	122	3		[80]
51	Manabu Nakanishi	May 6, 2009	Dissidence	Tokyo, Japan	1	45	0		[81]
52	Hiroshi Tanahashi	June 20, 2009	Dominion 6.20	Osaka, Japan	4	58	1		[82]
—	Vacated	August 17, 2009	—	—	—	—	—	Title vacated due to Tanahashi fracturing his eye socket.
53	Shinsuke Nakamura	September 27, 2009	Circuit2009 New Japan Generation tour	Kobe, Japan	3	218	6	Nakamura defeated Togi Makabe to win the vacant title.	[83]
54	Togi Makabe	May 3, 2010	Wrestling Dontaku 2010	Fukuoka, Japan	1	161	3		[84]
55	Satoshi Kojima	October 11, 2010	Destruction '10	Tokyo, Japan	2	85	1		[85]
56	Hiroshi Tanahashi	January 4, 2011	Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome	Tokyo, Japan	5	404	11		[86]
57	Kazuchika Okada	February 12, 2012	The New Beginning	Osaka, Japan	1	125	2		[87]
58	Hiroshi Tanahashi	June 16, 2012	Dominion 6.16	Osaka, Japan	6	295	7		[88]
59	Kazuchika Okada	April 7, 2013	Invasion Attack	Tokyo, Japan	2	391	8		[89]
60	A.J. Styles	May 3, 2014	Wrestling Dontaku 2014	Fukuoka, Japan	1	163	2		[90]
61	Hiroshi Tanahashi	October 13, 2014	King of Pro-Wrestling	Tokyo, Japan	7	121	1		[91]
62	A.J. Styles	February 11, 2015	The New Beginning in Osaka	Osaka, Japan	2	144	1		[92]
63	Kazuchika Okada	July 5, 2015	Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall	Osaka, Japan	3	280	3		[93]
64	Tetsuya Naito	April 10, 2016	Invasion Attack 2016	Tokyo, Japan	1	70	1		[94]
65	Kazuchika Okada	June 19, 2016	Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall	Osaka, Japan	4	720	12		[95]
66	Kenny Omega	June 9, 2018	Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall	Osaka, Japan	1	209	3	This was a no time limit two out of three falls match in which Omega won 2–1.	[96]
67	Hiroshi Tanahashi	January 4, 2019	Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome	Tokyo, Japan	8	38	0		[97]
68	Jay White	February 11, 2019	The New Beginning in Osaka	Osaka, Japan	1	54	0		[98]
69	Kazuchika Okada	April 6, 2019	G1 Supercard	New York City, U.S.	5	274	5		[99]
70	Tetsuya Naito	January 5, 2020	Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome Night 2	Tokyo, Japan	2	189	1	This match was also for Naito's IWGP Intercontinental Championship.	[100]
71	Evil	July 12, 2020	Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall	Osaka, Japan	1	48	1	This match was also for Naito's IWGP Intercontinental Championship.	[101]
72	Tetsuya Naito	August 29, 2020	Summer Struggle in Jingu	Tokyo, Japan	3	128	1	This match was also for Evil's IWGP Intercontinental Championship.	[102]
73	Kota Ibushi	January 4, 2021	Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome Night 1	Tokyo, Japan	1	59	3	This match was also for Naito's IWGP Intercontinental Championship.	[103][104]
—	Unified	March 4, 2021	Anniversary Event	Tokyo, Japan	—	—	—	Unified with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to form the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.	[105]

Combined reigns

Five-time champion Kazuchika Okada holds the records for longest reign at 720 days, longest combined reign at 1,790 days, most defenses in one reign at 12, and most combined defenses at 30.

Record eight-time champion Hiroshi Tanahashi

Rank	Wrestler	No. of reigns	Combined defenses	Combined days
1	Kazuchika Okada	5	30	1,790
2	Hiroshi Tanahashi	8	28	1,396
3	Keiji Mutoh/The Great Muta	4	19	1,238
4	Shinya Hashimoto	3	20	1,052
5	Tatsumi Fujinami	6	13	785
6	Kensuke Sasaki/Power Warrior	5	11	647
7	Yuji Nagata	2	12	570
8	Kazuyuki Fujita	3	3	478
9	Big Van Vader		4	451
10	Shinsuke Nakamura		9	390
11	Tetsuya Naito		3	387
12	Riki Choshu		5	383
13	Antonio Inoki	1	4	325
14	A.J. Styles	2	3	307
15	Brock Lesnar	1		280
16	Kenny Omega			209
17	Hiroyoshi Tenzan	4	2	197
18	Yoshihiro Takayama	1	3	185
19	Satoshi Kojima	2	2	168
20	Togi Makabe	1	3	161
21	Scott Norton	2	4	126
22	Nobuhiko Takada	1	1	116
23	Bob Sapp			66
24	Kota Ibushi		3	59
25	Jay White		0	54
26	Evil		1	48
	Tadao Yasuda
	Salman Hashimikov		0
29	Manabu Nakanishi			45
30	Masahiro Chono			44
31	Genichiro Tenryu			25

See also

• G1 Climax
• New Japan Cup
• IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version)