IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship

IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship belt
Details
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Date establishedDecember 11, 2023[1]
Current champion(s)David Finlay
Date wonMay 4, 2024
Other name(s)
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
    (2023-present)
  • IWGP Global Championship
Statistics
First champion(s)David Finlay
Most reignsDavid Finlay
(2 reigns)
Longest reignDavid Finlay
(2nd reign, 188+ days)
Shortest reignDavid Finlay
(1st reign, 50 days)
Oldest championNic Nemeth
(43 years, 6 months and 27 days)
Youngest championDavid Finlay
(30 years, 9 months and 7 days)
Heaviest championNic Nemeth
(220 lb (100 kg))
Lightest championDavid Finlay
(209 lb (95 kg))

The IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship (IWGP GLOBALヘビー級王座, IWGP GLOBAL hebī-kyū ōza) 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 International Wrestling Grand Prix (インターナショナル・レスリング・グラン・プリ, intānashonaru resuringu guran puri).[2] 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

Inaugural, two-time, longest reigning, and current champion David Finlay.

At 2023's 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.[3]

While the match was initially listed as for the United States title, NJPW chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced at a press conference on November 6, 2023 that the title would be retired and the match would be for a brand new championship.[4] On December 11, at another press conference, he announced the name of the new championship, the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.[1][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 November 8, 2024, 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 at 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.

Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
Defenses Number of successful defenses
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days Defenses
1 David Finlay January 4, 2024 Wrestle Kingdom 18 Tokyo, Japan 1 50 0 Defeated Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley in a three-way match to become the inaugural champion. [7]
2 Nic Nemeth February 23, 2024 The New Beginning in Sapporo: Night 1 Sapporo, Japan 1 71 1 [8]
3 David Finlay May 4, 2024 Wrestling Dontaku: Night 2 Fukuoka, Japan 2 188+ 4 [9]

Combined reigns

As of November 8, 2024.

† Indicates the current champion
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns 		Combinded
defenses 		Combined
days
1 David Finlay † 2 4 238+
2 Nic Nemeth 1 1 71

References

  1. ^ a b Renner, Ethan (December 11, 2023). "NJPW introducing IWGP Global Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 18". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Fiorvanti, Tim (January 2, 2017). "What to watch for at New Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 11". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  3. ^ "David Finlay Smashes Both IWGP UK And US Championships, Attacks Ospreay And Moxley At NJPW Power Struggle | Fightful News". www.fightful.com.
  4. ^ Brennan, Corey (November 4, 2023). "NJPW Creating New Title To Replace IWGP US And UK Championship". Fightful. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  5. ^ "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 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  6. ^ Thompson, Andrew (January 3, 2024). "NJPW unveils IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship".
  7. ^ Powell, Jason (January 4, 2024). "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". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "2024.02.23 THE NEW BEGINNING in SAPPORO | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Archived from the original on 2024-02-04. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  9. ^ Fritts, Chick (May 4, 2024). "NJPW Wrestling Dontaku night two live results: Moxley vs. Narita IWGP title match". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
Sporting positions
Preceded by New Japan Pro-Wrestling's secondary heavyweight championship
2023–present 		Succeeded by
Current