List of current champions in New Japan Pro-Wrestling

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New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano, Tokyo. Title reigns are either determined by professional wrestling matches or are awarded to a wrestler, as a result of the culmination of various scripted storylines. There are 11 total active championships promoted by NJPW - featuring six singles championships, three traditional tag team championships, and a six-man tag team championship for male wrestlers, with two singles championship for female wrestlers. 16 wrestlers currently hold the titles.

Contents

The list includes the number of times the wrestler has held the title, the date and location of the win, and a description of the winning bout. The following is correct as of November14, 2024.

Overview

Men's Singles

At the top of NJPW's championship hierarchy for male wrestlers in the heavyweight division is the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Secondary titles include the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, the NJPW World Television Championship, and the KOPW (King of Pro Wrestling) Championship.

In the junior heavyweight division, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is the primary title

The NEVER Openweight Championship and the Strong Openweight Championship are available to male wrestlers regardless of weight class.

Men's Tag Team

For tag teams, there are three traditional championships for two-man teams—the IWGP Tag Team Championship, the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship, and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the junior heavyweight division.

The NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship serves as the title for three-man teams.

Women's Division

There are two championships for female wrestlers in NJPW - the IWGP Women's Championship (the primary title which is defended in NJPW and sister promotion Stardom), and the Strong Women's Championship.

Current champions

As of November14, 2024.

Men's division

Singles

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays
held
Successful
defenses
LocationNotesRef.
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Zack Sabre Jr, June 2022.jpg Zack Sabre Jr. 1 October 14, 2024312 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Tetsuya Naito at King of Pro-Wrestling. [1]
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship 2023.11.04-David Finlay (cropped).jpg David Finlay 2 May 4, 20241944 Fukuoka, Japan Defeated Nic Nemeth at Wrestling Dontaku: Night 2. [2]
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship No image available.svg Douki 1 July 5, 20241324 Tokyo, Japan Defeated El Desperado at New Japan Soul: Night 7. [3]
NEVER Openweight Championship SHINGO TAKAGI 2020.02.20.jpg Shingo Takagi 5 September 29, 2024461 Kobe, Japan Defeated Henare at Destruction in Kobe. [4]
Strong Openweight Championship Gabriel kidd.jpg Gabe Kidd 1 May 11, 20241874 Ontario, California Defeated Eddie Kingston in a No Ropes Last Man Standing match at Resurgence. [5]
KOPW 2024 2023.11.04-Great-O-Khan.jpg Great-O-Khan 2
(provisional)
June 9, 20241580 Osaka, Japan Defeated Yuya Uemura in a Storm Catch Rules match at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall. [6]
NJPW World Television Championship No image available.svg Ren Narita 1October 14, 2024310 Tokyo, Japan Defeated previous champion Jeff Cobb and Yota Tsuji in a three-way match at King of Pro-Wrestling. [1]

Tag teams

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays
held
Successful
defenses
LocationNotesRef.
IWGP Tag Team Championship Forbidden Door (AEW x NJPW) (52292917294) (cropped).jpg
Henare 2023.jpg
United Empire
(Great-O-Khan and Henare)
1
(3, 1)
November 4, 2024100 Osaka, Japan Defeated TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste) at Power Struggle. [7]
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship 20231104 kebinnaito Kevin Knight.png
KUSHIDA 2017.jpg
Intergalactic Jet Setters
(Kevin Knight and Kushida)
2
(2, 4)
October 14, 2024311 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney and Clark Connors) at King of Pro-Wrestling. [1]
Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship Grizzled Young Veterans (cropped).jpg Grizzled Young Veterans
(James Drake and Zack Gibson)
1
(1, 1)
November 8, 202460 Lowell, Massachusetts Defeated TMDK (Mikey Nicholls and Shane Haste) at Fighting Spirit Unleashed. [8]
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship 20240426 hiroshi tanahashi.jpg
Toru Yano NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion.JPG
Oleg Boltin (cropped).JPG
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano and Oleg Boltin 2
(6, 6, 2)
June 16, 20241512 Sapporo, Japan Defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Yota Tsuji, Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi) at New Japan Soul: Night 1. [9]

Women's division

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays
held
Successful
defenses
LocationNotesRef.
IWGP Women's Championship Iwatani mayu.jpg Mayu Iwatani 1 April 23, 20235717 Yokohama, Japan Defeated Mercedes Moné at All Star Grand Queendom. [10]
Strong Women's Championship Mercedes Mone DYNAMITE 2024 10 02 004 (cropped).jpg Mercedes Moné 1June 30, 20241372 Elmont, New York Defeated Stephanie Vaquer in a Winner Takes All match also for Moné's AEW TBS Championship at Forbidden Door. [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Vetter, Chris (October 14, 2024). "NJPW "King of Pro Wrestling" results (10/14): Vetter's review of Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, David Finlay vs. Hirooki Goto for the IWGP Global Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  2. Vetter, Chris (May 4, 2024). "NJPW "Wrestling Dontaku" results (5/4): Vetter's review of Jon Moxley vs. Ren Narita for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Nic Nemeth vs. David Finlay for the IWGP Global Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  3. Vetter, Chris (July 5, 2024). "NJPW "Soul" results (7/5): Vetter's review of Boltin Oleg vs. Taichi, and Yoshi-Hashi vs. Callum Newman in the G1 qualifier tourney finals, El Desperado vs. Douki for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  4. Vetter, Chris (September 29, 2024). "NJPW "Destruction in Kobe" results (9/29): Vetter's review of Tetsuya Naito vs. Great-O-Khan for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, David Finlay vs. Yoshi-Hashi for the IWGP Global Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  5. Vetter, Chris (May 12, 2024). "NJPW Resurgence results (5/11): Vetter's review of Jon Moxley vs. Shota Umino for the IWGP World Hvt. Championship, Eddie Kingston vs. Gabe Kidd for the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  6. Vetter, Chris (June 9, 2024). "NJPW "Dominion" results (6/9): Vetter's review of Taiji Ishimori vs. El Desperado Best of the Super Juniors final, Jon Moxley vs. Evil in a lumberjack match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  7. Vetter, Chris (November 4, 2024). "NJPW "Power Struggle" results (11/4): Vetter's review of Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Shingo Takagi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Kenny Omega appears, Super Junior Tag Tournament final". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  8. Vetter, Chris (November 8, 2024). "NJPW "Fighting Spirit Unleashed" results (11/8): Vetter's review of Gabe Kidd vs. Kosei Fujita for the NJPW Strong Openweight Title, Konosuke Takeshita vs. TJP for the AEW International Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  9. Vetter, Chris (June 16, 2024). "NJPW "Soul" results (6/15): Vetter's review of G1 entrants announced, Sho vs. El Desperado in a cage match for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship, David Finlay vs. Sanada for the IWGP Global Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  10. Vetter, Chris (April 27, 2023). "Stardom "All Star Grand Queendom" results: Vetter's review of Giulia vs. Tam Nakano for the World of Stardom Title, Mercedes Mone vs. Mayu Iwatani for the IWGP Women's Championship, Syuri vs. Chihiro Hashimoto, Kairi, Saori Anou, and Natsupoi vs. Kurumi Hiragi, Suzu Suzuki, and Risa Sera, Mina Shirakawa vs. Saya Kamitani". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  11. Powell, Jason (June 30, 2024). "AEW Forbidden Door results: Powell's live review of Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay for the AEW World Championship, Jon Moxley vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 30, 2024.