IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship explained

Championshipname:IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
Currentholder:David Finlay
Won:May 4, 2024
Promotion:New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Created:December 11, 2023
Mostreigns:David Finlay
(2 reigns)
Firstchamp:David Finlay
Longestreign:David Finlay
(2nd reign, + days)
Shortestreign:David Finlay
(1st reign, 50 days)
Oldest:Nic Nemeth
Youngest:David Finlay
Heaviest:Nic Nemeth
(220lb)
Lightest:David Finlay
(209lb)
Pastnames:
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
    (2023-present)
  • IWGP Global Championship

The is a professional wrestling championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" are the initials of NJPW's governing body, the .[1] The title was created when the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship was retired. The current champion is David Finlay, who is in his record-setting second and longest reign. He defeated Nic Nemeth at Wrestling Dontaku: Night 2 on May 4, 2024 in Fukuoka, Japan.

History

Background

At the 2023 Power Struggle, after Will Ospreay had defended the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Shota Umino in the main event, Bullet Club leader David Finlay destroyed both the U.S. belt and Ospreay's custom IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship belt with a mallet after attacking Ospreay and Umino's former mentor, AEW's Jon Moxley, and a three-way match was scheduled for three men at Wrestle Kingdom 18.[2]

At a press conference on November 6, 2023, NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced that a new championship would replace the United States Heavyweight Championship for the bout.[3] On December 11, at another press conference, he announced the name of the new championship, the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.[4] [5]

Belt design

The new championship belt was revealed on January 3, 2024. It is set on a white strap, similar to the now-retired IWGP Intercontinental Championship, and features five plates: one center and two set of side plates. The center plate features depictions of lions on each side, the "IWGP" letters in the center, and the words (all in capital letters) "Global" and "Champion" on the top and bottom, respectively; the New Japan logo is also featured on the top. Four gold circles with a ruby in the center are vertically set, two on each side, next to the center plate. The two sets of side plates each feature different parts of the world globe.[6]

Reigns

As of,, there have been three reigns shared among two wrestlers. David Finlay was the inaugural champion, has the most reigns at two, and was the youngest champion, winning it as 30 years old. Nic Nemeth was the oldest champion when he won it at 43 years old.

David Finlay is the current champion in his record-setting second reign. He defeated Nic Nemeth at Wrestling Dontaku: Night 2 in Fukuoka, Japan on May 4, 2024.

Combined reigns

As of, .

Indicates the current champion
RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns
Combinded
defenses
Combined
days
12 1 +
21 1 71

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: What to watch for at New Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170103173227/http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/18393248/new-japan-pro-wrestling-watch-wrestle-kingdom-11 . Fiorvanti . Tim . January 3, 2017 . January 2, 2017 . May 12, 2017 . ESPN.
  2. Web site: David Finlay Smashes Both IWGP UK And US Championships, Attacks Ospreay And Moxley At NJPW Power Struggle | Fightful News. www.fightful.com.
  3. Web site: NJPW Creating New Title To Replace IWGP US And UK Championship. Brennan. Corey. November 4, 2023 . November 11, 2023 . Fightful.
  4. Web site: NJPW introducing IWGP Global Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 18 . Renner . Ethan . December 11, 2023 . December 11, 2023 . Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  5. Web site: 菅林会長が、"IWGP US ヘビー級王座に変わる新王座"に言及。1.4東京ドーム大会のオスプレイvsモクスリーvsフィンレー 3WAYマッチは、「IWGP GLOBAL ヘビー級選手権 初代王者決定戦」に正式変更へ【WK18】 . www.njpw.co.jp . 2023-12-11 . ja.
  6. Web site: NJPW unveils IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Andrew. Thompson. January 3, 2024.