The original version of was a

professional wrestling Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to Real life, real- ...

world heavyweight championship owned by the

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a Puroresu, Japanese professional-wrestling Professional wrestling promotion, promotion founded on January 13, 1972, by Antonio Inoki, and based in Nakano, Tokyo. It is currently majority owned by card-game company Bushiroad, with TV As ...

(NJPW)

professional wrestling promotion A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. "Promotion" also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event. Within ...

. "IWGP" is the initialism of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced in 1983 for the winner of the IWGP League 1983. Subsequently, the championship was defended annually against the winner of the IWGP League of the year. The 1987–2021

IWGP Heavyweight Championship The was 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 . The title was introduced on June 12, 1987, in the final of an IW ...

debuted in 1987 (replacing this version) and was defended regularly; the original IWGP belt was kept in use until 1997.

History

The inaugural champion was determined in the 1983 edition of the IWGP League, a 10-man round-robin tournament. Wrestlers from several promotions worldwide participated. Participants included World Heavyweight Champions from other international promotions (such as Canek, at the time UWA World Heavyweight Champion or

Otto Wanz Otto Wanz (; 13 June 1943 – 14 September 2017) was an Austrian professional wrestler and boxer. He made his professional wrestling debut in 1968. He is a one time American Wrestling Association champion and former operator of the Catch ...

, at the time CWA World Heavyweight Champion).

Hulk Hogan Terry Gene Bollea (; born August 11, 1953), better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE as a brand ambassador. Known for his flamboyance and massive physiq ...

won the tournament, after beating

Antonio Inoki (born ; 20 February 1943 – 1 October 2022) was a Japanese professional wrestler, Glossary of professional wrestling terms#school, professional wrestling trainer, martial arts, martial artist, politician, and Promoter (entertainment), promot ...

via knockout. As a result, Hogan became the first IWGP Heavyweight Champion in this format. After that, the championship was defended annually against the winner of the IWGP League of The Year. Antonio Inoki won the title in 1984. Inoki successfully defended it in 1985 against André The Giant ( IWGP League winner of 1985) and Hulk Hogan. Hogan was the only challenger that didn't win the tournament to challenge for the championship. In 1986, Inoki vacated the title, because he wanted to compete in the IWGP League. Therefore, the 1986 edition was the first to crown a new Champion since the 1983 edition. Inoki won the 1986 League, and became champion for the second time. In 1987, the title was deactivated and replaced by a new version of

(active between 1987 and 2021), which was awarded to the winner of the IWGP League 1987. The new championship was defended regularly, rather than as part of a tournament. Its lineage does not acknowledge the champions of the original title.

Reigns

Over the championship's three-year history, there were only three reigns between two champions.

was the inaugural champion, with

being the last, and a record two-time champion. Inoki's first reign was the longest at 701 days, while his second being the shortest at 326 days. Inoki was the oldest champion at 43 years old, while Hogan the youngest at 29 years old.

Combined reigns

References

External links

njpw.co.jp
{{New Japan Pro Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling championships World heavyweight wrestling championships