Strong Openweight Championship Explained

Championshipname:Strong Openweight Championship
Currentholder:Gabe Kidd
Won:May 11, 2024
Promotion:New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Created:April 2, 2021
Mostreigns:Kenta (2 reigns)
Firstchamp:Tom Lawlor
Longestreign:Tom Lawlor
(387 Days)
Shortestreign:Hikuleo
(18 Days)
Oldest:Kenta
Youngest:Gabe Kidd
Heaviest:Hikuleo
(264lb)
Lightest:Kenta
(187lb)
Pastnames:
  • Strong Openweight Championship
    (2021-present)
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Championship

The is a professional wrestling championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. The title was officially announced on April 2, 2021, and the inaugural champion was Tom Lawlor. The current champion is Gabe Kidd, who is in his first reign. He won the title on May 11, 2024 by defeating Eddie Kingston at Resurgence in Ontario, California, USA.

The title is primarily featured on NJPW's American television program NJPW Strong, which includes American wrestlers, as well as on programming by NJPW partner promotions All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH).[1]

History

The title was officially announced on April 2, 2021. Initially, the title was exclusively featured on NJPW's American television program NJPW Strong, which includes a distinct roster of American wrestlers.

On November 11, 2023, NJPW's American partner promotion AEW announced a tournament called the Continental Classic, with the winner becoming the first AEW Continental Champion.[2] [3] [4] Eddie Kingston, who held the ROH World Championship and the Strong Openweight Championship, announced that he would be putting his championships on the line in the tournament and that the tournament's winner would be an American Triple Crown Champion (collectively referred to as the Continental Crown).[4] [5] At AEW's Worlds End event, Kingston defeated Jon Moxley in the Continental Classic final, retaining the Strong Openweight and ROH World championships and becoming the first Continental Crown Champion. Kingston would lose the AEW Continental Championship to Kazuchika Okada on the March 20, 2024, episode of AEW Dynamite, thus losing his recognition as Triple Crown Champion.[6]

Inaugural tournament

Reigns

As of January 1, 2024, there have been seven reigns between six champions. Tom Lawlor was the inaugural champion. Kenta is the oldest, and only two time champion, when he won it at 41 years old, while Gabe Kidd is the youngest champion at 27 years old. Lawlor's reign is the longest at 389 days while Hikuleo's reign is the shortest at 18 days.

Gabe Kidd is the current champion in his first reign. He defeated Eddie Kingston on May 11, 2024 at Resurgence in Ontario, California, USA.

Combined reigns

As of, .

Indicates the current champion
RankWrestlerNo. of
reigns
Combined
defenses
Combined
days
Combined days
rec. by NJPW
11 9 N/A 387
21 12 311
31 7 279 238
42 2 119
5Gabe Kidd1 1 +
61 0 18

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Solowrestling. 2021-04-03. NJPW anuncia la creación del Campeonato STRONG Openweight. 2021-04-24. solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com. es.
  2. Web site: Defelice. Robert. Tony Khan Announces AEW Continental Classic Tournament Starts On 11/22, Concludes At AEW Worlds End. Fightful. November 11, 2023. November 11, 2023. November 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231112034526/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-announces-aew-continental-classic-tournament-starts-1122-concludes-aew-worlds-end. live.
  3. Web site: Rose . Bryan . AEW announces Continental Classic tournament, Bryan Danielson first entrant . November 11, 2023. November 14, 2023 . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online.
  4. Web site: Renner . Ethan . AEW announces new title & Continental Classic competitors . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. November 18, 2023. November 18, 2023.
  5. Web site: Thomas . Jeremy . Tony Khan Gives More Details on AEW Continental Classic, Will Conclude At Worlds End . . November 19, 2023 . November 19, 2023.
  6. Web site: Tony Khan Clarifies Rules Around AEW Continental Title. March 22, 2024. Thomas. Jeremy. 411Mania. March 22, 2024.