IWA World Heavyweight Championship (International Pro Wrestling)

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The International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship was the main title of the Japanese professional wrestling promotion known as International Pro Wrestling (Kokusai Puroresu). It was the first Japanese heavyweight title to be billed as a World title, and in the 1970s and early 80s it was one of the most important titles in Japan. The title died with the promotion in 1981 but was later revived by Goro Tsurumi for his independent Kokusai Promotion.

Wrestler: Times: Date: Place:
Billy Robinson1 1 December 12, 1968 Okayama, Okayama
Thunder Sugiyama 1 May 19, 1969 Sendai, Miyagi
Dr. Bill Miller 1 March 4, 1971 Kokura, Fukuoka
Strong Kobayashi 1 June 19, 1971 Duluth, MN
Wahoo McDaniel 1 November 9, 1973 Wakayama, Wakayama
Strong Kobayashi 2 November 30, 1973 Tokyo
The title was vacated on February 13, 1974 when Kobayashi jumped to New Japan Pro Wrestling to challenge Antonio Inoki.
Billy Robinson2 2 June 3, 1974 Tokyo
Superstar Billy Graham 1 August 16, 1974 Denver, CO
Mighty Inoue 1 October 7, 1974 Saitama
Mad Dog Vachon 1 April 10, 1975 Tokyo
Rusher Kimura 1 April 19, 1975 Sapporo, Hokkaido
Kimura vacates the title after being unsatisfied with a match (indecisive conclusion) against The Undertaker (Hans Schroeder) on April 13, 1976 in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Rusher Kimura3 2 April 22, 1976 Sendai, Miyagi
Umanosuke Ueda 1 June 11, 1976 Ibaraki
The title was held up after a match against Rusher Kimura on July 28, 1976.
Rusher Kimura4 3 July 31, 1976 Koshigaya, Saitama
Alexis Smirnoff 1 July 21, 1979 Niigata, Niigata
Rusher Kimura 4 July 25, 1979 Mishima, Shizuoka
Verne Gagne 1 November 13, 1979 Niigata, Niigata
Rusher Kimura 5 November 16, 1979 Wakayama, Wakayama
The IPW promotion closes on September 30, 1981; the title is abandoned.

1Billy Robinson defeated Toyonobori in the final of an 11-man round-robin tournament to become the first IWA World champion.
2Robinson defeated Great Kusatsu in a tournament final.
3Rusher Kimura defeated The Undertaker (Hans Schroeder) in a rematch for the held-up title.
4Kimura defeated Super Assassin, who had replaced the injured Umanosuke Ueda in the rematch for the held-up title.