IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (IWGP世界ヘビー級王座, IWGP Sekai hebī-kyū ōza) is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix (インターナショナル・レスリング・グラン・プリ, intānashonaru resuringu guran puri).[1] The championship was created on March 1, 2021 by the unification of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship,and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. The current champion is Sanada, who is in his first reign.

This article is about NJPW's top heavyweight title. For NJPW's former top heavyweight title, see IWGP Heavyweight Championship. For the inactive DDT Pro-Wrestling parody championship, see IMGP World Heavyweight Championship. For other uses, see IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship belt
Details
PromotionNew Japan Pro Wrestling
Date establishedMarch 1, 2021
Current champion(s)Sanada
Date wonApril 8, 2023
Statistics
First champion(s)Kota Ibushi
Most reignsKazuchika Okada
(2 reigns)
Longest reignShingo Takagi
(211 days)
Shortest reignKota Ibushi
(31 days)
Oldest championKota Ibushi
(38 years, 255 days)
Youngest championWill Ospreay
(28 years, 56 days)
Heaviest championKazuchika Okada
(236 lb (107 kg))
Lightest championKota Ibushi
(205 lb (93 kg))

History
The inaugural champion was Kota Ibushi.

In 2019, when he was IWGP Intercontinental Champion, Tetsuya Naito declared his intention of making history by becoming the first to hold the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the Intercontinental Championship at the same time.[2] By the end of the year, Jay White, who had won the Intercontinental Championship from Naito, and Kota Ibushi, who was the next challenger for the Heavyweight Championship, also expressed the same desire. After a fan vote, it was decided that Naito, White, Ibushi, and Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada would compete at Wrestle Kingdom 14 on January 4–5, 2020, where one would end up with both titles.[3] Naito achieved the feat to become the first "Double Champion" and the two titles were defended together since (apart from one time). During 2020, Naito said his original intention was for the titles to be defended separately. He requested for this, or otherwise for the titles to be unified, but no change happened. [4]

After Ibushi won the titles from Naito at Wrestle Kingdom 15 on January 4, 2021, he expressed his desire for the titles to be unified.[5] On March 1, 2021, with Ibushi still champion, the unification of the titles to create the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship was officially announced, with Ibushi as the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion. After the announcement, Ibushi, who was scheduled to face El Desperado at the NJPW 49th Anniversary Show on March 4, 2021 in a non-title match, requested for the match to be for the Double Championship.[6] His request was granted with the title unification delayed until after the match, of which the winner would be final Double Champion and, therefore, the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion.[7] Ibushi won the match.[8]

With the announcement of the new championship was the announcement of a new championship belt.[5] Until the new belt was ready, Ibushi continued to hold the old IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championship belts. The new belt was eventually revealed and presented to the champion Ibushi in a presentation ceremony on March 30, 2021.[9] Its design incorporated the past belt designs of the two old titles.[10]

Reigns

As of October 25, 2023, there have been seven reigns shared among six wrestlers with one vacancy. Kota Ibushi was the inaugural champion, had the shortest reign at 31 days, and is also the oldest champion, winning the title at 38 years and 255 days old. Kazuchika Okada has most reigns with two. Will Ospreay was the youngest at 28. Shingo Takagi had the longest reign at 211 days and three successful title defenses.


Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
Defenses Number of successful defenses
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign DaysDefenses
1 Kota Ibushi March 4, 2021 49th Anniversary Show Tokyo, Japan 1 310 After Ibushi, who was the reigning IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion, successfully defended both titles against El Desperado at the event, they were unified into the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, with Ibushi as the inaugural champion. [8]
2 Will Ospreay April 4, 2021 Sakura Genesis Tokyo, Japan 1 461 [11]
— Vacated May 20, 2021 — — — —— The championship was vacated due to Will Ospreay suffering a neck injury. [12]
3 Shingo Takagi June 7, 2021 Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall Osaka, Japan 1 2113 Defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the vacant championship. [13]
4 Kazuchika Okada January 4, 2022 Wrestle Kingdom 16
Night 1		 Tokyo, Japan 1 1594 [14]
5 Jay White June 12, 2022 Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall Osaka, Japan 1 2062 [15]
6 Kazuchika Okada January 4, 2023 Wrestle Kingdom 17 Tokyo, Japan 2 942 [16]
7 Sanada April 8, 2023 Sakura Genesis Tokyo, Japan 1 200+4 [17]

Combined reigns
Record-setting two-time champion Kazuchika Okada

As of October 25, 2023.

† Indicates the current champion
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns		 Combined
defenses		 Combined
days
1 Kazuchika Okada26253
2 Shingo Takagi13211
3 Jay White12206
4 Sanada †14200+
5 Will Ospreay1146
6 Kota Ibushi 1 0 31

References
  1. "WK9 101: The Intro". Global Force Wrestling. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  2. なんと挑戦者が握手を要求!? 内藤vsタイチのインターコンチネンタル王座調印式は、不気味な静けさの“挑発”合戦！【公開調印式】 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. February 1, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  3. 【WK14】“ダブル選手権”が正式決定！「史上初の男になってみせますよ」内藤が“二冠”獲得に自信！「おまえのアイディアは俺が成し遂げる」王者・ジェイは不敵に挑発三昧！【東京ドーム会見（1）】 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. November 5, 2019. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  4. 「タイトルマッチは別々に行った方がいい」内藤が今後の“二冠問題”に言及！ 真夏の野外ビッグマッチ恒例化も熱望！SHOがジュニアタッグ王座返上に関してコメント！【8.31二夜明け会見】 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. August 31, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  5. 「この二つのベルトを一つにしたら、もっと凄いことが生まれるんじゃないかなと。絶対おもしろいことになる」“二冠王者”飯伏幸太がベルト統一を再提案！【1.12会見】 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. January 12, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  6. 菅林会長が、IWGPヘビー＆IWGPインターコンチネンタル王座を統一した、“IWGP世界ヘビー級王座”の新設を発表！ 王者・飯伏はデスペラードとの“二冠王座戦”を要求！【3.1一夜明け会見】 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  7. 【3月4日（木）日本武道館、メインはタイトル戦に変更！】飯伏とデスペラードが二冠王座戦で激突！ 『NJC』1回戦で内藤とオーカーンが注目の初対決！ 因縁勃発の小島とコブが激突！ (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  8. Elizabeth, Claire (March 4, 2021). "NJPW 49th Anniversary Show results for Thursday, March 4: Desperado vs. Ibushi, Naito vs. O-Khan, and more". cagesideseats.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  9. "【注目！】"IWGP世界ヘビー級ベルト"がついにお披露目！ 3月30日（火）後楽園ホール大会の試合前、飯伏幸太選手への"贈呈式"を実施！" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  10. "IWGP World Heavyweight Championship revealed in Korakuen Hall". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 30, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  11. Lambert, Jeremy (April 4, 2021). "NJPW Sakura Genesis Results (4/4): Will Ospreay Battles Kota Ibushi". Fightful. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  12. "Will Ospreay injured; vacates world title". njpw1972.com. May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  13. "2021.06.07 Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  14. Fritts, Chick (January 4, 2022). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night One Live Results: Shingo Vs. Okada". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  15. Fritts, Chick (June 12, 2022). "NJPW Dominion live results: Six title matches, AEW interim World title eliminator Kazuchika Okada defends the IWGP title against Jay White in the main event, plus the AEW interim World title eliminator continues". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  16. Powell, Jason (January 4, 2023). "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 results: Powell's live report on Jay White vs. Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega for the IWGP U.S. Championship, Kairi vs. Tam Nakano for the IWGP Women's Title, Taiji Ishimori vs. Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado vs. Master Wato for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  17. "2023.04.08 SAKURA GENESIS 2023". NJPW. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
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