IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
Zack Sabre Jr. as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
Details
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
Date establishedMarch 1, 2021
Current champion(s)Zack Sabre Jr.
Date wonAugust 13, 2026

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (IWGP世界ヘビー級王座, IWGP Sekai hebī-kyū ōza) is a professional wrestling championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). It is the top men's championship and the most important championship in NJPW.

The "IWGP" part is an acronym of International Wrestling Grand Prix, which is New Japan Pro-Wrestling's governing body.

History

At Wrestle Kingdom 14, Tetsuya Naito became a double champion. He won the IWGP Intercontinental Championship from Jay White on Night 1 and then won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship from Kazuchika Okada in a Double Gold Dash match on Night 2.

At Wrestle Kingdom 15, Kota Ibushi would defeat Naito for both of the championships. On March 1, 2021, it was announced that the IWGP Intercontinental Championship and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship would be unified and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship would replace them.

The official title unification took place after Ibushi defeated El Desperado in a match at the NJPW 49th Anniversary Show.

Zack Sabre Jr. is the current champion. He is in his first reign as champion, having defeated Tetsuya Naito at King of Pro-Wrestling.

Title history

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 Kota Ibushi March 4, 2021 49th Anniversary Show Tokyo, Japan 1 31 Ibushi was already both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion. After he defended them both against El Desperado, the titles were then both unified to make the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and Ibushi became the first champion.
2 Will Ospreay April 4, 2021 Sakura Genesis Tokyo, Japan 1 46
— Vacated May 20, 2021 — — — — The championship was vacated because Will Ospreay ended up suffering a neck injury.
3 Shingo Takagi June 7, 2021 Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall Osaka, Japan 1 211 Defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the vacated championship.
4 Kazuchika Okada January 4, 2022 Wrestle Kingdom 16 (Night 1) Tokyo, Japan 1 159
5 Jay White June 12, 2022 Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall Osaka, Japan 1 206
6 Kazuchika Okada January 4, 2023 Wrestle Kingdom 17 Tokyo, Japan 2 94
7 Sanada April 8, 2023 Sakura Genesis Tokyo, Japan 1 271
8 Tetsuya Naito January 4, 2024 Wrestle Kingdom 18 Tokyo, Japan 1 99
9 Jon Moxley April 12, 2024 Windy City Riot Chicago, United States 1 79
10 Tetsuya Naito June 30, 2024 AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door Elmont, New York, U.S. 2 106
11 Zack Sabre Jr. October 14, 2024 King of Pro-Wrestling Tokyo, Japan 1 727+

References

  1. ↑ "2020.01.04 WRESTLE KINGDOM in TOKYO DOME night 1". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Archived from the original on May 30, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  2. ↑ "2020.01.05 WRESTLE KINGDOM in TOKYO DOME night 2". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ "2021.01.04 WRESTLE KINGDOM in TOKYO DOME night 1". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  4. ↑ "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】". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  5. ↑ "2021.03.04 Anniversary Event - NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  6. ↑ "NJPW 49th Anniversary show live results: Ibushi vs. El Desperado". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  7. ↑ "NJPW Sakura Genesis Results (4/4): Will Ospreay Battles Kota Ibushi". Fightful. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Will Ospreay injured; vacates world title". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  9. ↑ "2021.06.07 Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  10. ↑ "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 16 Night One Live Results: Shingo Vs. Okada". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  11. ↑ "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 Newsletter. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  12. ↑ "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". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  13. ↑ "2023.04.08 SAKURA GENESIS 2023". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  14. ↑ "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 results: Powell's live review of Sanada vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Hvt. Championship, Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson, Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay for the IWGP Global Title". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  15. ↑ "IWGP World Heavyweight Title History on the official website". New Japan Pro Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  16. ↑ "AEW Forbidden Door results: Powell's live review of Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay for the AEW World Championship, Jon Moxley vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Zack Sabre Jr. becomes IWGP World Heavyweight Champion at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling, title match set for Royal Quest IV". POSTWrestling. Retrieved January 13, 2025.

Other websites