IWGP Heavyweight Championship

IWGP Heavyweight Championship - Title History

On this page, you find the full Title History for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, with all Championship Info, Statistics, the Belt Design changes through the years, and the full list of Title Reigns, along with dates, events, and reign durations.

The IWGP Heavyweight Championship was a World Title contested in New Japan Pro Wrestling, by men wrestlers.

The championship was first established on June 12, 1987, and the inaugural champion was Antonio Inoki.

This is a newer version of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version), with its own distinct lineage.

The IWGP Heavyweight Championship was retired on March 4, 2021, when it was unified into the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, with the final champion being Kota Ibushi.

IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Title History

Promotions / Brands

Promotion from to
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight June 12, 1987 March 4, 2021

Promotion	from	to
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	June 12, 1987	March 4, 2021

Championship Names & Belt Designs
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship March 7, 2008 March 4, 2021
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship July 16, 2006 March 6, 2008
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship September 30, 2005 July 15, 2006
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship October 1, 1996 September 29, 2005
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship June 12, 1987 September 30, 1996

For the Title History of the championship in which this title was unified into, see the page for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Title Reigns

N.	Image	Champion	Reign
	Unified into the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship March 4, 2021 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW 49th Anniversary Show 1240+ days The title was unified with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to form the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
73		Kota Ibushi 1 January 4, 2021 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 15 59 days	59 days
72		Tetsuya Naito 3 August 29, 2020 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Summer Struggle in Jingu (2020) 128 days	128 days
71		EVIL 1 July 12, 2020 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall (2020) 48 days	48 days
70		Tetsuya Naito 2 January 5, 2020 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 189 days	189 days
69		Kazuchika Okada 5 April 6, 2019 New York City, U.S. \| ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard 274 days	274 days
68		Jay White 1 February 11, 2019 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW The New Beginning 2015 54 days	54 days
67		Hiroshi Tanahashi 8 January 4, 2019 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 38 days	38 days
66		Kenny Omega 1 June 9, 2018 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall (2018) 209 days	209 days
65		Kazuchika Okada 4 June 19, 2016 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Dominion 6.19 In Osaka-Jo Hall (2016) 720 days	720 days
64		Tetsuya Naito 1 April 10, 2016 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Invasion Attack 2016 70 days	70 days
63		Kazuchika Okada 3 July 5, 2015 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall (2015) 280 days	280 days
62		AJ Styles 2 February 11, 2015 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW The New Beginning 2015 144 days	144 days
61		Hiroshi Tanahashi 7 October 13, 2014 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling 2014 121 days	121 days
60		AJ Styles 1 May 3, 2014 Fukuoka, Japan \| NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2014 163 days	163 days
59		Kazuchika Okada 2 April 7, 2013 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Invasion Attack (2013) 391 days	391 days
58		Hiroshi Tanahashi 6 June 16, 2012 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Dominion 6.16 (2012) 295 days	295 days
57		Kazuchika Okada 1 February 12, 2012 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW The New Beginning 2012 125 days	125 days
56		Hiroshi Tanahashi 5 January 4, 2011 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestle Kingdom V 404 days	404 days
55		Satoshi Kojima 2 October 11, 2010 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Destruction '10 85 days	85 days
54		Togi Makabe 1 May 3, 2010 Fukuoka, Japan \| NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2010 161 days	161 days
53		Shinsuke Nakamura 3 September 27, 2009 Kobe, Japan \| NJPW Circuit2009 New Japan Generation 218 days Defeated Togi Makabe to win the vacant title.	218 days
		Vacant August 17, 2009 41 days The title was vacated due to Tanahashi fracturing his eye socket.	41 days
52		Hiroshi Tanahashi 4 June 20, 2009 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Dominion 6.20 (2009) 58 days	58 days
51		Manabu Nakanishi 1 May 6, 2009 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Dissidence 45 days	45 days
50		Hiroshi Tanahashi 3 January 4, 2009 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestle Kingdom III 122 days	122 days
49		Keiji Muto 4 April 27, 2008 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Circuit2007 New Japan Brave 252 days	252 days
48		Shinsuke Nakamura 2 January 4, 2008 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestle Kingdom II 114 days During this reign, Nakamura defeated Kurt Angle on the Circuit2008 New Japan Ism tour to unify the NJPW and IGF versions of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.	114 days
47		Hiroshi Tanahashi 2 October 8, 2007 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Explosion '07 88 days	88 days
46		Yuji Nagata 2 April 13, 2007 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Circuit2007 New Japan Brave 178 days	178 days
45		Hiroshi Tanahashi 1 July 17, 2006 Sapporo, Japan \| NJPW Circuit2006 Turbulence 270 days Defeated Giant Bernard in a tournament final to win the vacant title.	270 days
		Vacant July 15, 2006 2 days The title was vacated due to Lesnar refusing to return and defend it. Lesnar kept the physical title belt, and later was recognized by the Inoki Genome Federation as their first champion, using the same belt.	2 days
44		Brock Lesnar 1 October 8, 2005 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Toukon Souzou New Chapter 280 days	280 days
43		Kazuyuki Fujita 3 July 18, 2005 Sapporo, Japan \| NJPW Summer Fight Series 2005 82 days	82 days
42		Hiroyoshi Tenzan 4 May 14, 2005 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Nexess VI 65 days	65 days
41		Satoshi Kojima 1 February 20, 2005 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW New Year Gold Series 2005 83 days	83 days
40		Hiroyoshi Tenzan 3 December 12, 2004 Nagoya, Japan \| NJPW Battle Final 2004 70 days	70 days
39		Kensuke Sasaki 5 October 9, 2004 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Pro-Wrestlers Be Strongest 64 days	64 days
38		Kazuyuki Fujita 2 June 5, 2004 Osaka, Japan \| The Crush II 126 days Defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the vacant title.	126 days
		Vacant June 2, 2004 3 days The title was vacant after Sapp lost a K-1 fight to Kazuyuki Fujita.	3 days
37		Bob Sapp 1 March 28, 2004 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW King of Sports 66 days	66 days
36		Kensuke Sasaki 4 March 12, 2004 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Hyper Battle 2004 16 days	16 days
35		Hiroyoshi Tenzan 2 February 15, 2004 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Fighting Spirit 2004 26 days Defeated Genichiro Tenryu in a tournament final to win the vacant title.	26 days
		Vacant February 5, 2004 10 days The title was vacated due to Nakamura suffering various injuries.	10 days
34		Shinsuke Nakamura 1 December 9, 2003 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Battle Final 2003 58 days During this reign, Nakamura defeated Yoshihiro Takayama to unify the IWGP Heavyweight Championship with the NWF Heavyweight Championship at Wrestling World 2004.	58 days
33		Hiroyoshi Tenzan 1 November 3, 2003 Yokohama, Japan \| NJPW Yokohama Dead Out 36 days	36 days
32		Yoshihiro Takayama 1 May 2, 2003 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Ultimate Crush 185 days	185 days
31		Yuji Nagata 1 April 5, 2002 Tokyo, Japan \| Toukon Special 392 days	392 days
30		Tadao Yasuda 1 February 16, 2002 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Fighting Spirit 2002 48 days Defeated Yuji Nagata in a tournament final to win the vacant title.	48 days
		Vacant January 4, 2002 43 days Fujita vacated the title due to an injured achilles tendon.	43 days
29		Kazuyuki Fujita 1 April 9, 2001 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Strong Style 2001 270 days	270 days
28		Scott Norton 2 March 17, 2001 Nagoya, Japan \| NJPW Hyper Battle 2001 23 days	23 days
27		Kensuke Sasaki 3 January 4, 2001 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestling World 2001 72 days Defeated Toshiaki Kawada in a tournament final to win the vacant title.	72 days
		Vacant October 9, 2000 87 days The title was vacated after Sasaki lost a non-title match to Toshiaki Kawada at Do Judge!!.	87 days
26		Kensuke Sasaki 2 January 4, 2000 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestling World 2000 279 days	279 days
25		Genichiro Tenryu 1 December 10, 1999 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Battle Final 1999 25 days	25 days
24		Keiji Muto 3 January 4, 1999 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestling World 1999 340 days	340 days
23		Scott Norton 1 September 23, 1998 Yokohama, Japan \| NJPW G1 Climax Special 1998 - Big Wednesday 103 days Defeated Yuji Nagata to win the vacant title.	103 days
		Vacant September 21, 1998 2 days The title was vacated due to Chono's neck injury.	2 days
22		Masahiro Chono 1 August 8, 1998 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Rising the Next Generations in Osaka Dome 44 days	44 days
21		Tatsumi Fujinami 6 April 4, 1998 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Antonio Inoki Retirement Show 126 days	126 days
20		Kensuke Sasaki 1 August 31, 1997 Yokohama, Japan \| NJPW Final Power Hall in Yokohama 216 days	216 days
19		Shinya Hashimoto 3 April 29, 1996 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Battle Formation 1996 489 days	489 days
18		Nobuhiko Takada 1 January 4, 1996 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Wrestling World 1996 116 days	116 days
17		The Great Muta 2 May 3, 1995 Fukuoka, Japan \| NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1995 246 days	246 days
16		Shinya Hashimoto 2 May 1, 1994 Fukuoka, Japan \| NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 1994 367 days	367 days
15		Tatsumi Fujinami 5 April 4, 1994 Hiroshima, Japan \| NJPW Battle Line Kyushu 1994 - Grand Cross in Hiroshima 27 days	27 days
14		Shinya Hashimoto 1 September 20, 1993 Nagoya, Japan \| NJPW G1 Climax Special 1993 196 days	196 days
13		The Great Muta 1 August 16, 1992 Fukuoka, Japan \| NJPW G1 Climax Special 1992 400 days	400 days
12		Riki Choshu 3 January 4, 1992 Tokyo, Japan \| Super Warriors in Tokyo Dome 225 days	225 days
11		Tatsumi Fujinami 4 March 4, 1991 Hiroshima, Japan \| NJPW Big Fight Series 1991 306 days	306 days
10		Big Van Vader 3 January 17, 1991 Yokohama, Japan \| NJPW New Year Dash 1991 46 days	46 days
9		Tatsumi Fujinami 3 December 26, 1990 Hamamatsu, Japan \| NJPW King of Kings in Hamamatsu Arena 22 days	22 days
8		Riki Choshu 2 August 19, 1990 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Summer Night Fever II 129 days	129 days
7		Big Van Vader 2 August 10, 1989 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Fighting Satellite 1989 - Japan-USA-USSR 3-Nation Competition Series - Part II 374 days	374 days
6		Riki Choshu 1 July 12, 1989 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Summer Fight Series 1989 29 days	29 days
5		Salman Hashimikov 1 May 25, 1989 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW Battle Satellite - Prolympic in Osaka Castle Hall 48 days	48 days
4		Big Van Vader 1 April 24, 1989 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Battle Satellite★Tokyo Dome 31 days Defeated Shinya Hashimoto in a tournament final to win the vacant title.	31 days
		Vacant April 5, 1989 19 days The title was vacated so it could be decided in a tournament.	19 days
3		Tatsumi Fujinami 2 June 24, 1988 Osaka, Japan \| NJPW IWGP Champion Series 1988 285 days Defeated Riki Choshu to win the vacant title.	285 days
		Vacant May 27, 1988 28 days The title was held up after a defense against Riki Choshu ended in a no contest.	28 days
2		Tatsumi Fujinami 1 May 8, 1988 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW Super Fight Series 1988 19 days Defeated Big Van Vader to win the vacant title.	19 days
		Vacant May 2, 1988 6 days The title was vacated due to Inoki fracturing his left foot.	6 days
1		Antonio Inoki 1 June 12, 1987 Tokyo, Japan \| NJPW IWGP Champion Series 1987: IWGP League '87 Finals 325 days Defeated Masa Saito in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion.	325 days

For the Title History of the previous version of this championship, see the page for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version).

IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Statistics

Promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling
Gender Male
Title Type Primary Title
Preceded By IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version)
Date Established June 12, 1987
Date Retired March 4, 2021
Unified Into IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

First ChampionAntonio Inoki
Final ChampionKota Ibushi

Most Number of Reigns

Rank	Wrestler	Reigns
	Hiroshi Tanahashi	8
	Tatsumi Fujinami	6
	Kazuchika Okada	5
	Kensuke Sasaki	5
	The Great Muta	4

Most Combined Days

Rank	Wrestler	Days
	Kazuchika Okada	1790
	Hiroshi Tanahashi	1396
	The Great Muta	1238
	Shinya Hashimoto	1052
	Tatsumi Fujinami	785

Longest Reigns

Wrestler	Reign	Days
Kazuchika Okada	June 19, 2016 - June 9, 2018	720
Shinya Hashimoto	April 29, 1996 - August 31, 1997	489
Hiroshi Tanahashi	January 4, 2011 - February 12, 2012	404
The Great Muta	August 16, 1992 - September 20, 1993	400
Yuji Nagata	April 5, 2002 - May 2, 2003	392

IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Title History

Promotions / Brands

IWGP Heavyweight Championship: Title Reigns

Unified into the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

Kota Ibushi 1

Tetsuya Naito 3

EVIL 1

Tetsuya Naito 2

Kazuchika Okada 5

Jay White 1

Hiroshi Tanahashi 8

Kenny Omega 1

Kazuchika Okada 4

Tetsuya Naito 1

Kazuchika Okada 3

AJ Styles 2

Hiroshi Tanahashi 7

AJ Styles 1

Kazuchika Okada 2

Hiroshi Tanahashi 6

Kazuchika Okada 1

Hiroshi Tanahashi 5

Satoshi Kojima 2

Togi Makabe 1

Shinsuke Nakamura 3

Vacant

Hiroshi Tanahashi 4

Manabu Nakanishi 1

Hiroshi Tanahashi 3

Keiji Muto 4

Shinsuke Nakamura 2

Hiroshi Tanahashi 2

Yuji Nagata 2

Hiroshi Tanahashi 1

Vacant

Brock Lesnar 1

Kazuyuki Fujita 3

Hiroyoshi Tenzan 4

Satoshi Kojima 1

Hiroyoshi Tenzan 3

Kensuke Sasaki 5

Kazuyuki Fujita 2

Vacant

Bob Sapp 1

Kensuke Sasaki 4

Hiroyoshi Tenzan 2

Vacant

Shinsuke Nakamura 1

Hiroyoshi Tenzan 1

Yoshihiro Takayama 1

Yuji Nagata 1

Tadao Yasuda 1

Vacant

Kazuyuki Fujita 1

Scott Norton 2

Kensuke Sasaki 3

Vacant

Kensuke Sasaki 2

Genichiro Tenryu 1

Keiji Muto 3

Scott Norton 1

Vacant

Masahiro Chono 1

Tatsumi Fujinami 6

Kensuke Sasaki 1

Shinya Hashimoto 3

Nobuhiko Takada 1

The Great Muta 2

Shinya Hashimoto 2

Tatsumi Fujinami 5

Shinya Hashimoto 1

The Great Muta 1

Riki Choshu 3

Tatsumi Fujinami 4

Big Van Vader 3

Tatsumi Fujinami 3

Riki Choshu 2

Big Van Vader 2

Riki Choshu 1