IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship

IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling championship title in the New Zealand promotion Impact Pro Wrestling. It was the original heavyweight title of the Mania Pro Wrestling promotion, later used in IPW as its primary singles title. It was introduced as the MPW Heavyweight Championship on 9 April 2002. When a new promotion was founded by a core group of MPW wrestlers in 2003, the title was established as its new heavyweight championship.

IPW Heavyweight Championship
Details
PromotionImpact Pro Wrestling
Date established9 April 2002
Current champion(s)Horus
Date won13 May 2023
Statistics
First champion(s)The Machine
Most reignsDal Knox, Kingi and Vinny Dunn (4 reigns)
[1]
Longest reignJake Shehaan (515+ days)
Shortest reignBrook Duncan (4 minutes and 16 seconds)
Youngest championLyte Playa (17 years)
Heaviest championJamie Tagataese 145 kg (320 lb)
Lightest championAlfred Valentine 92 kg (203 lb)
Former IPW Heavyweight Champion, Mr Burns

The promotion became Impact Pro Wrestling and the title became the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship. On 29 May 2010, the title was won by former K-1 kickboxer and "New Zealand's strongest man"[2] Reuben de Jong. The current champion is Jake Shehaan who is in his second reign, which is the longest reign for the title.

The championship is regularly defended throughout New Zealand, most often in central Auckland, at live events such as the Armageddon Expo as well at monthly supercards and on its weekly series IPW Ignited.[3] In 2007, the title made its debut in the Northland Region, with the promotion's IPW Collision event in Whangārei. The title match featured Jon E. King facing off against the Samoan Silverback Alexander.[4] It has also been defended at several interpromotional events both in New Zealand and Australia. IPW Heavyweight Champion Jon E. King competed at the 2006 NZPWI Invitational with KPW Heavyweight Champion H-Flame where both men made it to the semi-finals and where King was eliminated by "Heartless" Alfred Valentine. The 2007 NZPWI Invitational saw the first ever "champion vs. champion" match when returning champions Jon E. King and H-Flame faced each other in a non-title match in the opening rounds. King went on to win the tournament.

The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants execute scripted endings rather than contend in direct competition. The inaugural champion was The Machine, who defeated Jon E. King in Māngere, Auckland on 9 April 2002 to become the first MPW Heavyweight Champion; King had won a Royal Rumble-type match, eliminating "Superstar" Troy Daniels to earn a place in the championship decider. IPW recognized both MPW Heavyweight Championship reigns when the promotion became Impact Pro Wrestling in 2003. King and Davey Deluxeo hold the record for most reigns, with three each.[1] At 515 days, Deluxeo's first reign was the longest in the title's history. Vinny Dunn's second reign, which lasted mere minutes, was the shortest in the history of the title. Overall, there have been 21 reigns shared between 11 wrestlers, with one vacancy.

The promotion has often been represented by the reigning IPW Champion in the national media. In May 2005, TVNZ's Hadyn Jones conducted an interview with The Machine and then IPW Champion The Economist at their Auckland gym.[5] On 2 February 2006, Jon E. King was a guest on Ngati Hine FM where he was interviewed by disc jockey Darcy Edwards[6] and with fellow IPW wrestler Alfred Valentine on the TV One's morning talk show Breakfast by Kay Gregory that summer.[7][8] Jordan Invincible was among the wrestlers featured on 10 October 2008 edition Television New Zealand's IAM TV and where Invincible wrestled the host in a mock battle at their IPW facility in Auckland.[9] IPW New Zealand Champion Dal Knox was interviewed at the 2008 Armageddon Expo, along with IPW colour commentator Dion McCracken, as part of an upcoming documentary on professional wrestling in New Zealand, A Kiwi Century On The Mat, in April 2009.[10] Knox was also profiled by 20/20 in a special report on professional wrestling in New Zealand,[11] as well as on the Māori Television sports show Hyundai Code.[12]

Title history

Reigns
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
1 The Machine 9 April 2002 Slaughter in the South Māngere 1 242 The Machine defeated Jon E. King to become the inaugural champion. King had previously won a Royal Rumble-style match to face The Machine.
2 Davey Deluxeo 7 December 2002 Nightmare Before Xmas Point Chevalier 1 515 The championship renamed the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship when IPW is formed in 2003.
3 Lyte Playa 5 May 2004 Genesis Point Chevalier 1 105 [13]
4 Davey Deluxeo 18 August 2004 Rival Turf Point Chevalier 2 122 [14]
5 The Machine 18 December 2004 Nightmare Before Xmas 2 Māngere 2 123 [15]
— Vacated 20 April 2005 — — — — The championship was vacated due to The Machine suffering a hand injury. [16]
6 The Economist 23 April 2005 Collision Māngere 1 189 The Economist won the vacant championship in tournament final by defeating Joey Kinkade, Jon E. King and The Machine in a fatal four-way elimination match. [17]
7 Alfred Valentine 29 October 2005 Unleashed Lynfield 1 147 [18]
8 Jon E. King 25 March 2006 Full Breaking Point Lynfield 1 21 [19]
9 Alfred Valentine 15 April 2006 Collision Lynfield 2 63 [20]
10 Jon E. King 17 June 2006 Breakdown Lynfield 2 71 This was a ladder match. [21]
11 Davey Deluxeo 27 August 2006 Unbreakable Lynfield 3 91 [22]
12 Jon E. King 26 November 2006 Extreme Measures Lynfield 3 384 This was fatal four-way elimination match also involving Jordan Invincible and Alexander. [23]
13 Dal Knox 15 December 2007 Nightmare Before Xmas 5 Westlake 1 196 This was a Fans Bring the Weapons match. [24]
14 Jordan Invincible 28 June 2008 Redemption Lynfield 1 98 This was a no disqualification match. [25][26]
15 Dal Knox 4 October 2008 Rival Turf Lynfield 2 336 [27]
16 Joseph Kinkade 5 September 2009 Fallout Lynfield 1 98 [28][29]
17 Vinny Dunn 12 December 2009 Nightmare Before Xmas 7 Westlake 1 168 This was a Fans Bring the Weapons match. [28][30]
18 Reuben de Jong 29 May 2010 Genesis Westlake 1 85 This was an open challenge match put out to any professional wrestler in New Zealand by Vinny Dunn. [28][31]
19 Vinny Dunn 22 August 2010 Rival Turf Westlake 2 <1 [32]
20 Dal Knox 22 August 2010 Rival Turf Westlake 3 111 [32]
21 Vinny Dunn 11 December 2010 Nightmare B4 Xmas Westlake 3 91 [33]
22 Dal Knox 12 March 2011 Genesis Westlake 4 313 [34]
23 Alexander 19 January 2012 Mana Mamau Westlake 1 15 [35]
24 Kingi 3 February 2012 Mana Mamau Westlake 1 449 [36]
25 Travis Banks 27 April 2013 A Decade of Impact Lynfield 1 91 [36]
26 Vinny Dunn 27 July 2013 Revival of the Fittest Mt. Albert 4 189 [36]
27 Travis Banks 1 February 2014 The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Lynfield 2 175 [36]
28 Liam Fury 26 July 2014 Trial by Combat Mt. Albert 1 266 [36]
29 James Shaw 18 April 2015 The Rush for Gold Mt. Albert 1 84 [36]
30 Jakob Cross 11 July 2015 The Ultimate Prize Mt. Albert 1 99
— Vacated 18 October 2015 — — — — The championship was vacated due to Jakob Cross attacking a fan. [37]
31 James Shaw 19 December 2015 Nightmare Before Xmas Lynfield 2 112 A Nightmare Championship Series was used to determine the winner of the vacant championship. The series involved Brook Duncan, Curt Chaos, Dal Knox, Johnny Idol, Liger, No Face and Shane Sinclair. Shaw defeated Idol in a Fans Bring the Weapons match to win the vacant championship. [36]
32 Curt Chaos 9 April 2016 Championship Carnage Mt. Albert 1 378 Chaos cashed in his Eliminator contract immediately after James Shaw had successfully defended the championship against The Dapper Agents. [36]
33 Brook Duncan 22 April 2017 The Eliminator Lynfield 1 <1 [36]
34 James Shaw 22 April 2017 The Eliminator Lynfield 3 78 Brook Duncan defeated Curt Chaos but was then challenged and beaten by Shaw. Duncan's reign lasted exactly four minutes and sixteen seconds. [36]
35 Reuben de Jong 9 July 2017 Bangers and Smash Mt. Eden 2 <1 [38]
36 James Shaw 9 July 2017 Bangers and Smash Mt. Eden 4 41 [38]
37 Brook Duncan 19 August 2017 Ultimatum Mt. Eden 2 119 This was The Ultimate match; A 30 minute Iron man match in which the first 20 minutes of the match contested under traditional rules, before the final ten minutes switches to no disqualification. [36][39]
38 Burns 16 December 2017 Nightmare Before Xmas Mt. Eden 1 154 Mr. Burns defeated Brook Duncan following interference from the Young Nats.
39 Liam Fury 19 May 2018 IPW XV Lynfield 2 91
40 Liger 18 August 2018 Homecoming Balmoral 1 28 Liger cashed in his Eliminator contract and defeated Liam Fury after interfering with Liam Fury's match against Henare
41 Liam Fury 15 September 2018 Pride vs. Fury Māngere 3 91
42 Jakob Cross 15 December 2018 Nightmare Before Xmas Mt. Eden 2 182 This was a Fans Bring the Weapons match. [40]
43 Jamie Tagataese 15 June 2019 IPW Winter Warfare Mt. Eden 1 413
44 Jake Shehaan 1 August 2020 Fans Bring The Weapons: Tagataese VS Shehaan 2 Mt. Eden 1 140 This was a Fans Bring the Weapons match.
45 Jamie Tagataese 19 December 2020 Nightmare Before Xmas Te Atatū Peninsula 2 182 This was a Triple Threat Steel Cage match also featuring Cam Kaiba.
46 Charlie Roberts 19 June 2021 The Eliminator Mt. Eden 1 <1
47 Jake Shehaan 19 June 2021 The Eliminator Mt. Eden 2 693 Shehaan cashed in his Eliminator contract which he had won earlier in the night.
48 Horus 13 May 2023 IPW XX Mt. Eden 1 165+

Combined reigns

As of October 25, 2023.

† Indicates the current champion
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns		 Combined
days
1 Dal Knox4956
2 Jake Shehaan2833
3 Davey Deluxeo3728
4 Jamie Tagataese2595
5 Jon E. King3476
6 Kingi1449
7 Liam Fury3448
Vinny Dunn4448
9 Curt Chaos1378
10 The Machine2365
11 James Shaw4315
12 Jakob Cross2281
13 Travis Banks2266
14 Alfred Valentine2210
15 The Economist1189
16 Mr. Burns1154
17 Brook Duncan2119
18 Horus †1165+
19 Lyte Playa1105
20 Jordan Invincible198
Joseph Kinkade198
22 Reuben de Jong285
23 Liger128
24 Alexander115
25 Charlie Roberts1<1

Footnotes

    References
    1. Rawhiti-Forbes, Troy (26 October 2007). "Auckland pro wrestlers battle it out for hero status". The New Zealand Herald. APN Holdings NZ Limited. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
    2. Hay, Rob (29 March 2006). "Would-be strongman puts his money on line". Bay of Plenty Times.
    3. McCracken, Dion. "IPW brings New Zealand pro-wrestling back to television!". Fight Times. Fight Times Magazine. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
    4. Eves, Tim (5 February 2007). "WRESTLING - Wrestling returns to Whangārei". The Northern Advocate. APN News & Media Ltd. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
    5. Hadyn Jones (Interviewer) (5 May 2005). Close Up: Kiwi Wrestlers Aim High (Television production). Auckland: Television New Zealand.
    6. Edwards, Darcy (Interviewer) (2 February 2006). Ngati Hine FM interviews Jon E. King (Radio interview). Whangārei: Ngati Hine FM. Archived from the original on 20 May 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
    7. Alvarez, Bryan (8 August 2006). "Tuesday news: Drug testing, ECW tonight, Mexico, Tito vs. Ken rematch set, Tank to fight again, more". Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online. F4Wonline.com. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    8. Kay Gregory (Interviewer) (8 August 2006). "Tuesday August 8". Breakfast. Television New Zealand. TV One.
    9. "IPW New Zealand Stars on TVNZ's IAM TV". IAM TV. Auckland. 10 October 2008. Television New Zealand. TV2.
    10. Hutchings, Mark (4 April 2009). "Shooting this weekend at Armageddon". KiwiWrestling.com. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    11. Sonia Wilson (Interview) (20 July 2009). "20/20: The Wrestler". 20/20. 13:12 minutes in. Television New Zealand.
    12. "Impact Pro Wrestling". Hyundai Code. 6 August 2009. Māori Television.
    13. "Lyte Playa captures IPW Championship at Genesis". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. 16 May 2004. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
    14. McCraken, Dion (16 August 2004). "Lyte Playa cheated out of IPW Championship by WCWA, XS at Rival Turf". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
    15. "Machine regains IPW Championship at Nightmare 2!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. 19 December 2004. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    16. McCracken, Dion (20 April 2005). "IPW Championship vacated, new Champ to be crowned at Collision!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    17. "The Economist becomes new champion at IPW Collision!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. 23 April 2005. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    18. ""Heartless" Alfred Valentine Crowned New Champ At IPW Unleashed!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. 30 October 2005. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    19. Wall, Danya (26 March 2006). "IPW: King's Championship reign begins!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    20. "Valentine Reclaims IPW Championship at Collision!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. 16 April 2006. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    21. "King regains IPW Championship in Breakdown Ladder Match!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. 18 June 2006. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    22. "Davey Deluxeo Wins IPW Title At Unbreakable!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. 27 August 2006. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    23. "King Takes Out Fatal 4-Way At IPW Extreme Measures!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    24. Wall, Dayna (15 December 2007). "Dal Knox new IPW Champion at NBX5!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    25. Wall, Dayna (29 June 2008). "Jordan Invincible becomes the new IPW heavyweight champion!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    26. Martin, Adam; Callum Rule (30 June 2008). ""Georgia Wrestling History" for June 29, NWA Upstate report + NZ IPW". WrestleView.com. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    27. Wall, Dayna (5 October 2008). "IPW Rival Turf: Team NZ victorious; Knox new champ!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    28. Ogilvie, Steve (2008). "New Zealand Results". New Zealand Independent Results. OnlineWorldofWrestling.com. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    29. Wall, Dayna (6 September 2009). "Joseph Kinkade NEW IPW Champion!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    30. Wall, Dayna (13 December 2009). "NBX7: The One new IPW Champion!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    31. Farmer, Luke (30 May 2010). "New IPW Champion crowned!". Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    32. Farmer, Luke (24 August 2010). "Rival Turf: Dunn gets screwed!". 2010 Stories. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
    33. Farmer, Luke (15 December 2010). "NBX: Blood, Carnage and Gold". New Zealand Scene. NZPWI.co.nz. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
    34. IPW (13 March 2011). "Geneisis:Knox makes the last stand". IPW. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
    35. IPW (20 January 2012). "Brand new IPW NZ Heavyweight Champion crowned!". IPW. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
    36. IPW (3 May 2012). "Preview: Smack Industries collide in the series finale!". IPW. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
    37. Taylor, Brendon (18 October 2015). "Breaking News: Cross removed from IPW, Championship now vacant". Stories. impactprowrestling.co.nz.
    38. "IPW - Bangers And Smash - Live Pro Wrestling". Facebook. Impact Pro Wrestling. 1 July 2017.
    39. "The Ultimate Match: Sax And Violence!". Impact Pro Wrestling.
    40. "IPW Nightmare Before Christmas 2018". Events. CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wretling Database.
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