IWGP Heavyweight Championship

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
IWGP Heavyweight Championship

Kazuchika Okada, the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion in his second reign.
Details
Current champion(s) Kazuchika Okada
Date won April 7, 2013
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. Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tatsumi Fujinami share the record for most reigns with 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 25 recognized champions, who have had a combined 59 official reigns.

Contents


Title history [edit]

Key
Reign The reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed.
Event The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the title was 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 May 14, 2013

# Wrestler Reign Date Days
held		 Location Event Successful defenses Notes
1 Inoki, AntonioAntonio Inoki 1 01987-06-12June 12, 1987 7002325000000000000325 Tokyo, Japan House show 4 Defeated Masa Saito in a tournament final.
— Vacated 1 01988-05-02May 2, 1988 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to Inoki fracturing his left foot.
2 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 1 01988-05-08May 8, 1988 700119000000000000019 Tokyo, Japan House show 1 Defeated Big Van Vader.
— Vacated 1 01988-05-27May 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 01988-06-24June 24, 1988 7002285000000000000285 Osaka, Japan House show 7 Defeated Riki Chōshū in a rematch.
— Vacated 1 01989-04-05April 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 01989-04-24April 24, 1989 700131000000000000031 Tokyo, Japan House show 0 Defeated Shinya Hashimoto in a tournament final with Lou Thesz as the special referee.
5 Hashimikov, SalmanSalman Hashimikov 1 01989-05-25May 25, 1989 700148000000000000048 Osaka, Japan House show 0
6 Chōshū, RikiRiki Chōshū 1 01989-07-12July 12, 1989 700129000000000000029 Osaka, Japan House show 0
7 Big Van Vader 2 01989-08-10August 10, 1989 7002374000000000000374 Tokyo, Japan House show 4
8 Chōshū, RikiRiki Chōshū 2 01990-08-19August 19, 1990 7002129000000000000129 Tokyo, Japan House show 1
9 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 3 01990-12-26December 26, 1990 700122000000000000022 Hamamatsu, Japan House show 0
10 Big Van Vader 3 01991-01-17January 17, 1991 700146000000000000046 Yokohama, Japan House show 0
11 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 4 01991-03-04March 4, 1991 7002306000000000000306 Hiroshima, Japan House show 3
12 Chōshū, RikiRiki Chōshū 3 01992-01-04January 4, 1992 7002225000000000000225 Tokyo, Japan Starrcade 1992 in Tokyo Dome 4 This match was also for Chōshū's Greatest 18 Championship.
13 The Great Muta 1 01992-08-16August 16, 1992 7002400000000000000400 Fukuoka, Japan House show 5 This was also for Chōshū's Greatest 18 Championship.
14 Hashimoto, ShinyaShinya Hashimoto 1 01993-09-20September 20, 1993 7002196000000000000196 Nagoya, Japan House show 4
15 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 5 01994-04-04April 4, 1994 700127000000000000027 Hiroshima, Japan Battle Line Kyushu tour 0
16 Hashimoto, ShinyaShinya Hashimoto 2 01994-05-01May 1, 1994 7002367000000000000367 Fukuoka, Japan Wrestling Dontaku 9
17 Mutoh, KeijiKeiji Mutoh
(formerly The Great Muta)		 2 01995-05-03May 3, 1995 7002246000000000000246 Fukuoka, Japan Wrestling Dontaku 5
18 Takada, NobuhikoNobuhiko Takada 1 01996-01-04January 4, 1996 7002116000000000000116 Tokyo, Japan Wrestling World 1
19 Hashimoto, ShinyaShinya Hashimoto 3 01996-04-29April 29, 1996 7002489000000000000489 Tokyo, Japan Battle Formation 7
20 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 1 01997-08-31August 31, 1997 7002216000000000000216 Yokohama, Japan Final Power Hall in Yokohama 3
21 Fujinami, TatsumiTatsumi Fujinami 6 01998-04-04April 4, 1998 7002126000000000000126 Tokyo, Japan Antonio Inoki Retirement Show 2
22 Chono, MasahiroMasahiro Chono 1 01998-08-08August 8, 1998 700144000000000000044 Osaka, Japan Rising the Next Generation in Osaka Dome 0
— Vacated 1 01998-09-21September 21, 1998 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to Chono's neck injury.
23 Norton, ScottScott Norton 1 01998-09-23September 23, 1998 7002103000000000000103 Yokohama, Japan Big Wednesday 4 Defeated Yuji Nagata to win the vacant title.
24 Mutoh, KeijiKeiji Mutoh 3 01999-01-04January 4, 1999 7002340000000000000340 Tokyo, Japan Wrestling World 5
25 Tenryu, GenichiroGenichiro Tenryu 1 01999-12-10December 10, 1999 700125000000000000025 Osaka, Japan Battle Final tour 0 [7]
26 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 2 02000-01-04January 4, 2000 7002279000000000000279 Tokyo, Japan Wrestling World 5
— Vacated 1 02000-10-09October 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 02001-01-04January 4, 2001 700172000000000000072 Tokyo, Japan Wrestling World 1 Defeated Toshiaki Kawada in a tournament final.
28 Norton, ScottScott Norton 2 02001-03-17March 17, 2001 700123000000000000023 Nagoya, Japan Hyper Battle tour 0
29 Fujita, KazuyukiKazuyuki Fujita 1 02001-04-09April 9, 2001 7002270000000000000270 Osaka, Japan Strong Style 2
— Vacated 1 02002-01-04January 4, 2002 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to an injured achilles tendon.
30 Yasuda, TadaoTadao Yasuda 1 02002-02-16February 16, 2002 700148000000000000048 Tokyo, Japan Fighting Spirit tour 1 Defeated Yuji Nagata in a tournament final.
31 Nagata, YujiYuji Nagata 1 02002-04-05April 5, 2002 7002392000000000000392 Tokyo, Japan Toukon Special 10
32 Takayama, YoshihiroYoshihiro Takayama 1 02003-05-02May 2, 2003 7002185000000000000185 Tokyo, Japan Ultimate Crush 3 Was also for Takayama's NWF Heavyweight Championship.[8]
33 Tenzan, HiroyoshiHiroyoshi Tenzan 1 02003-11-03November 3, 2003 700136000000000000036 Yokohama, Japan Yokohama Dead Out 0
34 Nakamura, ShinsukeShinsuke Nakamura 1 02003-12-09December 9, 2003 700158000000000000058 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 02004-02-05February 5, 2004 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to various injuries.
35 Tenzan, HiroyoshiHiroyoshi Tenzan 2 02004-02-15February 15, 2004 700126000000000000026 Tokyo, Japan Fighting Spirit tour 1 Defeated Genichiro Tenryu in a tournament final
36 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 4 02004-03-12March 12, 2004 700116000000000000016 Tokyo, Japan Hyper Battle tour 0
37 Sapp, BobBob Sapp 1 02004-03-28March 28, 2004 700166000000000000066 Tokyo, Japan King of Sports 1
— Vacated 1 02004-06-02June 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 02004-06-05June 5, 2004 7002126000000000000126 Osaka, Japan The Crush II 1 Defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the vacant title.
39 Sasaki, KensukeKensuke Sasaki 5 02004-10-09October 9, 2004 700164000000000000064 Tokyo, Japan Pro-Wrestlers Be Strongest 2
40 Tenzan, HiroyoshiHiroyoshi Tenzan 3 02004-12-12December 12, 2004 700170000000000000070 Nagoya, Japan Battle Final tour 0
41 Kojima, SatoshiSatoshi Kojima 1 02005-02-20February 20, 2005 700183000000000000083 Tokyo, Japan New Year Gold Series 1 This match was also for Kojima's AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship.
42 Tenzan, HiroyoshiHiroyoshi Tenzan 4 02005-05-14May 14, 2005 700165000000000000065 Tokyo, Japan Nexess VI 1
43 Fujita, KazuyukiKazuyuki Fujita 3 02005-07-18July 18, 2005 700182000000000000082 Sapporo, Japan Summer Fight Series tour 0
44 Lesnar, BrockBrock Lesnar 1 02005-10-08October 8, 2005 7002280000000000000280 Tokyo, Japan Toukon Souzou New Chapter 3 This was a three–way match that also included Masahiro Chono.
— Vacated 1 02006-07-15July 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 02006-07-17July 17, 2006 7002270000000000000270 Sapporo, Japan Circuit 2006 Turbulance 4 Defeated Giant Bernard in a tournament final.
46 Nagata, YujiYuji Nagata 2 02007-04-13April 13, 2007 7002178000000000000178 Osaka, Japan Circuit 2007 New Japan Brave tour 2
47 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 2 02007-10-08October 8, 2007 700188000000000000088 Tokyo, Japan Explosion '07 1 [9]
48 Nakamura, ShinsukeShinsuke Nakamura 2 02008-01-04January 4, 2008 7002114000000000000114 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 02008-04-27April 27, 2008 7002252000000000000252 Osaka, Japan Circuit 2008 New Japan Brave tour 4
50 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 3 02009-01-04January 4, 2009 7002122000000000000122 Tokyo, Japan Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome 3
51 Nakanishi, ManabuManabu Nakanishi 1 02009-05-06May 6, 2009 700145000000000000045 Tokyo, Japan Dissidence 0
52 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 4 02009-06-20June 20, 2009 700158000000000000058 Osaka, Japan Dominion 6.20 1
— Vacated 1 02009-08-17August 17, 2009 N/A N/A N/A N/A Vacated due to Tanahashi fracturing his eye socket.
53 Nakamura, ShinsukeShinsuke Nakamura 3 02009-09-27September 27, 2009 7002218000000000000218 Kobe, Japan Circuit 2009 New Japan Generation tour 6 Defeated Togi Makabe to win the vacant title.
54 Makabe, TogiTogi Makabe 1 02010-05-03May 3, 2010 7002161000000000000161 Fukuoka, Japan Wrestling Dontaku 2010 3
55 Kojima, SatoshiSatoshi Kojima 2 02010-10-11October 11, 2010 700185000000000000085 Tokyo, Japan Destruction '10 1
56 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 5 02011-01-04January 4, 2011 7002404000000000000404 Tokyo, Japan Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome 11
57 Okada, KazuchikaKazuchika Okada 1 02012-02-12February 12, 2012 7002125000000000000125 Osaka, Japan The New Beginning 2
58 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 6 02012-06-16June 16, 2012 7002295000000000000295 Osaka, Japan Dominion 6.16 7
59 Okada, KazuchikaKazuchika Okada 2 02013-04-07April 7, 2013 700137000000000000037+ Tokyo, Japan Invasion Attack 1

List of combined reigns [edit]

As of May 14, 2013

Key
† Indicates the current champion
Hiroshi Tanahashi, a six-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, who shares the record for most reigns with Tatsumi Fujinami.
Rank Wrestler # Of Reigns Combined defenses Combined Days
1 Mutoh, KeijiKeiji Mutoh 4 19 1,238
2 Tanahashi, HiroshiHiroshi Tanahashi 6 27 1,237
3 Hashimoto, ShinyaShinya Hashimoto 3 20 1,052
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 Okada, KazuchikaKazuchika Okada† 2 3 162+
17 Makabe, TogiTogi Makabe 1 3 161
18 Norton, ScottScott Norton 2 4 126
19 Takada, NobuhikoNobuhiko Takada 1 1 116
20 Sapp, BobBob Sapp 1 1 66
21 Hashimikov, SalmanSalman Hashimikov 1 0 48
21 Yasuda, TadaoTadao Yasuda 1 1 48
23 Nakanishi, ManabuManabu Nakanishi 1 0 45
24 Chono, MasahiroMasahiro Chono 1 0 44
25 Tenryu, GenichiroGenichiro Tenryu 1 0 25

References [edit]

General
Specific
  1. ^ "IWGP Heavyweight Championship title history". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 2007-07-06. 
  2. ^ a b "IWGP Heavyweight Championship title history". TitleHistories.com. Retrieved 2007-07-06. 
  3. ^ "History of the IWGP Heavyweight Title". Official Website of the Inoki Dojo. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  4. ^ Molinaro, John F. "Vader rejuvenated in Japan". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  5. ^ Martin, Adam (2007-06-28). "Brock Lesnar in Japan with IWGP Title; could defend against Kurt Angle". WrestleView. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  6. ^ Martin, Adam (2007-07-02). "Video online of Angle vs. Lesnar in Japan, Ask TNA Wrestling, TNA Today". WrestleView. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
  7. ^ Molinaro, John (1999-12-11). "Tenryu wins IWGP Heavyweight title". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. 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. Retrieved 2007-10-08. 

External links [edit]

Portal icon Professional wrestling portal
  • v
  • t
  • e
IWGP Heavyweight Champions
Champions recognized by
New Japan Pro Wrestling
Champions recognized by
Inoki Genome Federation