NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship
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The NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship started in 1979. It was formed by a split in lineage from the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship caused by the first retirement of champion Nelson Royal the same year. The first champion, Steve Keirn, was recognized as World champion only by Florida, Los Angeles, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. This version was eventually taken to the latter promotion by Tatsumi Fujinami, who already held the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship.
In 1981 champion Chavo Guerrero Sr. left NJPW to go back to the United States, only to come back to Japan under the banner of All Japan Pro Wrestling, where it was renamed the International Junior Heavyweight Championship to avoid confusion and (along with being given a new belt design) in general line with AJPW's NWA titles. The championship became the cornerstone of AJPW's junior heavyweight division until its eventual replacement by the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship, which kept the belt design[1].
Contents |
[edit] Title history
| Wrestler | Reigns | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Keirn | 1 | December 10, 1979 | Los Angeles, California | Defeated Chavo Guerrero in a decision match to be recognized as NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion in Los Angeles. |
| Tatsumi Fujinami | 1 | February 1, 1980 | Sapporo, Japan | Also holds WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship, but defends the titles separately. |
| Mike Graham | 1 | February 15, 1980 | Hollywood, Florida | Recognized as World Champion in Florida. |
| Tatsumi Fujinami | 2 | April 4, 1980 | Kawasaki, Japan | |
| Vacated on June 1980 when Fujinami is injured. | ||||
| Kengo Kimura | 1 | July 2, 1980 | Kita Kyushu, Japan | Defeated Bret Hart in a decision match. |
| Chavo Guerrero | 1 | October 3, 1980 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Gino Hernandez | 1 | February 27, 1981 | Houston, Texas | |
| Chavo Guerrero | 2 | September 1981 | unknown | |
| Atsushi Onita | 1 | March 7, 1982 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Billed as International champion in Jim Crockett Promotions. |
| Sangre Chicana | 1 | April 11, 1982 | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico | Recognized as World champion in Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre. |
| Atsushi Onita | 2 | April 30, 1982 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Title held up on July 30, 1982, after a match against Chavo Guerrero that ended in a no-decision; NWA and AJPW rename the title the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship; Onita and Guerrero have several rematches. | ||||
| Atsushi Onita | 3 | November 4, 1982 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Chavo Guerrero in rematch. |
| Vacated on April 15, 1983 when Onita breaks his leg during a match against Hector Guerrero. | ||||
| Chavo Guerrero | 3 | May 26, 1983 | Tenryu, Japan | Defeats Ultra Seven in tournament final. |
| Mighty Inoue | 1 | February 26, 1984 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Dynamite Kid | 1 | June 8, 1985 | Takamatsu, Japan | |
| Kuniaki Kobayashi | 1 | June 13, 1985 | Koga, Japan | |
| Tiger Mask | 1 | August 31, 1985 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Vacated on June 1986 when Tiger Mask graduates to the heavyweight division; replaced with AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship. | ||||
| Hirooki Goto | 1 | March 4, 2007 | Mexico City, Mexico | Defeated Shocker in a tournament final to revive the title for Toryumon Mexico. |
| Vacated on September 7, 2007 when Goto graduates to the heavyweight division | ||||
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
