IWGP Heavyweight Championship

IWGP Heavyweight Championship

Five-time champion Hiroshi Tanahashi with the championship belt in June 2011.
Details
Current champion(s) Hiroshi Tanahashi
Date won January 4, 2011
Promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling
Date established June 12, 1987

The International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). It was created in 1987 with NJPW founder Antonio Inoki defeating Masa Saito in the finals of the annual IWGP Tournament.[1][2]

Throughout the history of the championship, several wrestlers have been forced to relinquish the title due to an inability to participate in title defenses. When a wrestler has been injured or unable to compete for other reasons, tournaments have been held to determine the new champion.[3][4]

In 2006, then-champion Brock Lesnar was stripped of the title for being unable to defend it; however, Lesnar claims he was owed money by NJPW and kept the physical belt. He signed with Antonio Inoki's Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) in 2007, losing the championship to Kurt Angle on the inaugural broadcast.[5][6] Angle later lost the belt in a unification match to the NJPW-recognized champion Shinsuke Nakamura in 2008.

Title reigns are determined either by professional wrestling matches involved in pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and storylines or were awarded the title due to scripted circumstances. Wrestlers are portrayed as either villains or fan favorites as they followed a series of tension-building events, which culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches for the championship. The inaugural champion was Antonio Inoki, who beat Masa Saito on June 12, 1987. Tastumi Fujinami holds the most reigns at six. Shinya Hashimoto's 489 days is the longest reign in the title's history. Shinsuke Nakamura is the youngest champion at 23 years and 288 days, while Genichiro Tenryu is the oldest champion at 49 years and 311 days. Overall, there have been a total of 24 recognized champions, who have had a combined 56 official reigns.

Contents


Title history

Key
Reign The reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed.
Event The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the titles were won
Successful defenses The number of successful defenses the champion had during his reign
N/A The specific information is not known
— Used for vacated reigns in order to not count it as an official reign

Statistics correct as of February 23, 2012

# Wrestler Reign Date Days
held		 Location Event Successful defenses Notes
1 Inoki, AntonioAntonio Inoki 1 01987-06-12 June 12, 1987 325 Tokyo, Japan Live event 4 Defeated Masa Saito in a tournament final.
— Vacated 1 01988-05-02 May 2, 1988 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to Inoki fracturing his left foot.
2 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 1 01988-05-08 May 8, 1988 19 Tokyo, Japan Live event 1 Defeated Big Van Vader.
— Vacated 1 01988-05-27 May 27, 1988 N/A Sendai, Japan N/A N/A Held up after a title defense against Riki Chōshū ended in a no contest.
3 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 2 01988-06-24 June 24, 1988 285 Osaka, Japan Live event 7 Defeated Riki Chōshū in a rematch.
— Vacated 1 01989-04-05 April 5, 1989 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated so the title could be decided in a tournament.
4 Big Van Vader 1 01989-04-24 April 24, 1989 31 Tokyo, Japan Live event 0 Defeated Shinya Hashimoto in a tournament final with Lou Thesz as the special referee.
5 Hashimikov, SalmanSalman Hashimikov 1 01989-05-25 May 25, 1989 48 Osaka, Japan Live event 0
6 Chōshū, RikiRiki Chōshū 1 01989-07-12 July 12, 1989 29 Osaka, Japan Live event 0
7 Big Van Vader 2 01989-08-10 August 10, 1989 374 Tokyo, Japan Live event 4
8 Chōshū, RikiRiki Chōshū 2 01990-08-19 August 19, 1990 129 Tokyo, Japan Live event 1
9 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 3 01990-12-26 December 26, 1990 22 Hamamatsu, Japan Live event 0
10 Big Van Vader 3 01991-01-17 January 17, 1991 46 Yokohama, Japan Live event 0
11 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 4 01991-03-04 March 4, 1991 306 Hiroshima, Japan Live event 3
12 Chōshū, RikiRiki Chōshū 3 01992-01-04 January 4, 1992 225 Tokyo, Japan Starrcade 1992 in Tokyo Dome 4 This match was also for Chōshū's Greatest 18 Championship.
13 The Great Muta 1 01992-08-16 August 16, 1992 400 Fukuoka, Japan Live event 5 This was also for Chōshū's Greatest 18 Championship.
14 Hashimoto, ShinyaShinya Hashimoto 1 01993-09-20 September 20, 1993 196 Nagoya, Japan Live event 4
15 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 5 01994-04-04 April 4, 1994 27 Hiroshima, Japan Battle Line Kyushu tour 0
16 Hashimoto, ShinyaShinya Hashimoto 2 01994-05-01 May 1, 1994 367 Fukuoka, Japan Wrestling Dontaku 9
17 Mutoh, KeijiKeiji Mutoh
(formerly The Great Muta)		 2 01995-05-03 May 3, 1995 246 Fukuoka, Japan Wrestling Dontaku 5
18 Takada, NobuhikoNobuhiko Takada 1 01996-01-04 January 4, 1996 116 Tokyo, Japan Wrestling World 1
19 Hashimoto, ShinyaShinya Hashimoto 3 01996-04-29 April 29, 1996 489 Tokyo, Japan Battle Formation 7
20 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 1 01997-08-31 August 31, 1997 216 Yokohama, Japan Final Power Hall in Yokohama 3
21 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 6 01998-04-04 April 4, 1998 126 Tokyo, Japan Antonio Inoki Retirement Show 2
22 Chono, MasahiroMasahiro Chono 1 01998-08-08 August 8, 1998 44 Osaka, Japan Rising the Next Generation in Osaka Dome 0
— Vacated 1 01998-09-21 September 21, 1998 N/A N/A N/A N/A
23 Norton, ScottScott Norton 1 01998-09-23 September 23, 1998 103 Yokohama, Japan Big Wednesday 4 Defeated Yuji Nagata to win the vacant title
24 Mutoh, KeijiKeiji Mutoh 3 01999-01-04 January 4, 1999 340 Tokyo, Japan Wrestling World 5
25 Tenryu, GenichiroGenichiro Tenryu 1 01999-12-10 December 10, 1999 25 Osaka, Japan Battle Final tour 0 [7]
26 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 2 02000-01-04 January 4, 2000 279 Tokyo, Japan Wrestling World 5
— Vacated 1 02000-10-09 October 9, 2000 N/A Tokyo, Japan N/A N/A Vacated after Sasaki lost a non-title match to Toshiaki Kawada at Do Judge!!.
27 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 3 02001-01-04 January 4, 2001 72 Tokyo, Japan Wrestling World 1 Defeated Toshiaki Kawada in a tournament final
28 Norton, ScottScott Norton 2 02001-03-17 March 17, 2001 23 Nagoya, Japan Hyper Battle tour 0
29 Fujita, KazuyukiKazuyuki Fujita 1 02001-04-09 April 9, 2001 270 Osaka, Japan Strong Style 2
— Vacated 1 02002-01-04 January 4, 2002 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to an injured achilles tendon
30 Yasuda, TadaoTadao Yasuda 1 02002-02-16 February 16, 2002 48 Tokyo, Japan Fighting Spirit tour 1 Defeated Yuji Nagata in a tournament final
31 Nagata, YujiYuji Nagata 1 02002-04-05 April 5, 2002 392 Tokyo, Japan Toukon Special 10
32 Takayama, YoshihiroYoshihiro Takayama 1 02003-05-02 May 2, 2003 185 Tokyo, Japan Ultimate Crush 3 Was also for Takayama's NWF Heavyweight Championship.[8]
33 Tenzan, HiroyoshiHiroyoshi Tenzan 1 02003-11-03 November 3, 2003 36 Yokohama, Japan Yokohama Dead out 0
34 Nakamura, ShinsukeShinsuke Nakamura 1 02003-12-09 December 9, 2003 58 Osaka, Japan Battle Final tour 1 Defeated Yoshihiro Takayama to unify the IWGP Heavyweight Championship with the NWF Heavyweight Championship on January 4, 2004, at Wrestling World 2004.
— Vacated 1 02004-02-05 February 5, 2004 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to various injuries.
35 Tenzan, HiroyoshiHiroyoshi Tenzan 2 02004-02-15 February 15, 2004 26 Tokyo, Japan Fighting Spirit tour 1 Defeated Genichiro Tenryu in a tournament final
36 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 4 02004-03-12 March 12, 2004 16 Tokyo, Japan Hyper Battle tour 0
37 Sapp, BobBob Sapp 1 02004-03-28 March 28, 2004 66 Tokyo, Japan King of Sports 1
— Vacated 1 02004-06-02 June 2, 2004 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated after Sapp lost a K-1 fight to Kazuyuki Fujita.[2]
38 Fujita, KazuyukiKazuyuki Fujita 2 02004-06-05 June 5, 2004 126 Osaka, Japan The Crush II 1 Defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the vacant title
39 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 5 02004-10-09 October 9, 2004 64 Tokyo, Japan Pro-Wrestlers Be Strongest 2
40 Tenzan, HiroyoshiHiroyoshi Tenzan 3 02004-12-12 December 12, 2004 70 Nagoya, Japan Battle Final tour 0
41 Kojima, SatoshiSatoshi Kojima 1 02005-02-20 February 20, 2005 83 Tokyo, Japan New Year Gold Series 1 This match was also for Kojima's AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.
42 Tenzan, HiroyoshiHiroyoshi Tenzan 4 02005-05-14 May 14, 2005 65 Tokyo, Japan Nexess VI 1
43 Fujita, KazuyukiKazuyuki Fujita 3 02005-07-18 July 18, 2005 82 Sapporo, Japan Summer Fight Series tour 0
44 Lesnar, BrockBrock Lesnar 1 02005-10-08 October 8, 2005 280 Tokyo, Japan Toukon Souzou New Chapter 3 This was a three–way match that also included Masahiro Chono.
— Vacated 1 02006-07-15 July 15, 2006 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to Lesnar being unable to defend the title because of "problems with a working visa". Lesnar refuses to turn over the championship belt, and later is recognized by the Inoki Genome Federation as their first champion, using the same belt.
45 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 1 02006-07-17 July 17, 2006 270 Sapporo, Japan Circuit 2006 Turbulance 4 Defeated Giant Bernard in a tournament final.
46 Nagata, YujiYuji Nagata 2 02007-04-13 April 13, 2007 178 Osaka, Japan Circuit 2007 New Japan Brave tour 2
47 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 2 02007-10-08 October 8, 2007 88 Tokyo, Japan Explosion '07 1 [9]
48 Nakamura, ShinsukeShinsuke Nakamura 2 02008-01-04 January 4, 2008 114 Tokyo, Japan Wrestle Kingdom II in Tokyo Dome 2 Defeated Kurt Angle on February 17, 2008 on the Circuit 2008 New Japan ISM tour to unify the NJPW and IGF versions of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
49 Mutoh, KeijiKeiji Mutoh 4 02008-04-27 April 27, 2008 252 Osaka, Japan Circuit 2008 New Japan Brave tour 4
50 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 3 02009-01-04 January 4, 2009 122 Tokyo, Japan Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome 3
51 Nakanishi, ManabuManabu Nakanishi 1 02009-05-06 May 6, 2009 45 Tokyo, Japan Dissidence 0
52 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 4 02009-06-20 June 20, 2009 58 Osaka, Japan Dominion 6.20 1
— Vacated 1 02009-08-17 August 17, 2009 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to Tanahashi fracturing his eye socket.
53 Nakamura, ShinsukeShinsuke Nakamura 3 02009-09-27 September 27, 2009 218 Kobe, Japan Circuit 2009 New Japan Generation tour 6 Defeated Togi Makabe to win the vacant title.
54 Makabe, TogiTogi Makabe 1 02010-05-03 May 3, 2010 161 Fukuoka, Japan Wrestling Dontaku 2010 3
55 Kojima, SatoshiSatoshi Kojima 2 02010-10-11 October 11, 2010 85 Tokyo, Japan Destruction '10 1
56 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 5 02011-01-04 January 4, 2011 415+ Tokyo, Japan Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome 11

List of combined reigns

Statistics correct as of February 23, 2012

Key
† Indicates the current champion
Rank Wrestler # Of Reigns Combined defenses Combined Days
1 Mutoh, KeijiKeiji Mutoh 4 19 1,238
2 Hashimoto, ShinyaShinya Hashimoto 3 20 1,052
3 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 5 20 953+
4 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 6 13 785
5 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 5 9 647
6 Nagata, YujiYuji Nagata 2 12 570
7 Fujita, KazuyukiKazuyuki Fujita 3 3 478
8 Big Van Vader 3 4 451
9 Nakamura, ShinsukeShinsuke Nakamura 3 9 390
10 Chōshū, RikiRiki Chōshū 3 5 383
11 Inoki, AntonioAntonio Inoki 1 4 325
12 Lesnar, BrockBrock Lesnar 1 3 280
13 Tenzan, HiroyoshiHiroyoshi Tenzan 4 2 197
14 Takayama, YoshihiroYoshihiro Takayama 1 3 185
15 Kojima, SatoshiSatoshi Kojima 2 2 168
16 Makabe, TogiTogi Makabe 1 3 161
17 Norton, ScottScott Norton 2 4 126
18 Takada, NobuhikoNobuhiko Takada 1 1 116
19 Sapp, BobBob Sapp 1 1 66
20 Hashimikov, SalmanSalman Hashimikov 1 0 48
20 Yasuda, TadaoTadao Yasuda 1 1 48
22 Nakanishi, ManabuManabu Nakanishi 1 0 45
23 Chono, MasahiroMasahiro Chono 1 0 44
24 Tenryu, GenichiroGenichiro Tenryu 1 0 25

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ "IWGP Heavyweight Championship title history". Wrestling-Titles.com. http://wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp-h.html. Retrieved 2007-07-06. 
  2. ^ a b "IWGP Heavyweight Championship title history". TitleHistories.com. http://titlehistories.com/NJPW_IWGP_Heavyweight_Title.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-06. 
  3. ^ "History of the IWGP Heavyweight Title". Official Website of the Inoki Dojo. http://www.njpw.com/about/heavywhistory.shtml. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  4. ^ Molinaro, John F.. "Vader rejuvenated in Japan". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingEditorial/jan5_molinaro.html. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  5. ^ Martin, Adam (2007-06-28). "Brock Lesnar in Japan with IWGP Title; could defend against Kurt Angle". WrestleView. http://www.wrestleview.com/news2006/1183069997.shtml. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  6. ^ Martin, Adam (2007-07-02). "Video online of Angle vs. Lesnar in Japan, Ask TNA Wrestling, TNA Today". WrestleView. http://www.wrestleview.com/news2006/1183415472.shtml. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  7. ^ Molinaro, John (1999-12-11). "Tenryu wins IWGP Heavyweight title". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/dec11_tenryu.html. Retrieved 2009-06-27. 
  8. ^ Power Slam Staff (August 2003). "We are the Champions (as of July 8)". Power Slam Magazine (Lancaster, Lancashire, England: SW Publishing LTD): p. 15. 109. 
  9. ^ "NJPW Explosion '07 official results" (in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. http://www.njpw.co.jp/result/index.php?COM=result_main&SRNO=76&TKNO=1. Retrieved 2007-10-08. 

External links

IWGP Heavyweight Champions