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 January4, 2025.

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, and the NJPW World Television 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 January4, 2025.

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, 2024823 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Tetsuya Naito at King of Pro-Wrestling. [1]
IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship 2023.11.04-tuji.jpg Yota Tsuji 1 January 4, 202500 Tokyo, Japan Defeated David Finlay at Wrestle Kingdom 19.
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship El Desperado 2017.jpg El Desperado 5 January 4, 202500 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Douki at Wrestle Kingdom 19.
NEVER Openweight Championship Konosuke Takeshita Forbidden Door 2024 06 30 008 (cropped).jpg Konosuke Takeshita 1 January 4, 202500 Tokyo, Japan Defeated Shingo Takagi in winner takes all match, where Takeshita's AEW International Championship is also on the line at Wrestle Kingdom 19. [2]
Strong Openweight Championship Gabriel kidd.jpg Gabe Kidd 1 May 11, 20242385 Ontario, California Defeated Eddie Kingston in a No Ropes Last Man Standing match at Resurgence. [3]
NJPW World Television Championship ELP202302.png El Phantasmo 1January 4, 202500 Tokyo, Japan Defeated previous champion Ren Narita, Jeff Cobb, and Ryohei Oiwa in a four-way match at Wrestle Kingdom 19.

Tag team

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays
held
Successful
defenses
LocationNotesRef.
IWGP Tag Team Championship -Vacant-----Previous champions United Empire (Great-O-Khan and Henare) vacated the titles due to Henare suffering an injury. [4]
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship 2023.11.04-Robbie Eagles.jpg
2023.11.04-fujitakosei.jpg
Ichiban Sweet Boys
(Robbie Eagles and Kosei Fujita)
1
(2, 1)
January 4, 202500 Tokyo, Japan Defeated previous champions Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight and Kushida), Catch 2/2 (TJP and Francesco Akira), and Bullet Club War Dogs (Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney) in a Four-way Tokyo Terror ladder match at Wrestle Kingdom 19.
Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship Royce Isaacs 20241214.jpg
No image available.svg
West Coast Wrecking Crew
(Royce Isaacs and Jorel Nelson)
1
(1, 1)
December 15, 2024200 Long Beach, California Defeated Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) at Strong Style Evolved. [5]
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, 20242022 Sapporo, Japan Defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Yota Tsuji, Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi) at New Japan Soul: Night 1. [6]

Women's division

ChampionshipCurrent champion(s)ReignDate wonDays
held
Successful
defenses
LocationNotesRef.
IWGP Women's Championship Iwatani mayu.jpg Mayu Iwatani 1 April 23, 20236229 Yokohama, Japan Defeated Mercedes Moné at All Star Grand Queendom. [7]
Strong Women's Championship Mercedes Mone DYNAMITE 2024 10 02 004 (cropped).jpg Mercedes Moné 1June 30, 20241883 Elmont, New York Defeated Stephanie Vaquer in a Winner Takes All match also for Moné's AEW TBS Championship at Forbidden Door. [8]

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References

  1. 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. Lambert, Jeremy (January 4, 2025). "New NEVER Openweight Champion Crowned At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved January 4, 2025.
  3. 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.
  4. NJPW Global (December 9, 2024). "OFFICIAL: As a result of HENARE's injury, HENARE and Great-O-Khan have vacated the IWGP Tag team Championships" . Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  5. Vetter, Chris (December 16, 2024). "NJPW "Strong Style Evolved" results (12/15): Vetter's review of Mercedes Mone vs. Hazuki for the NJPW Strong Women's Title, Konosuke Takeshita and Jack Perry vs. Shingo Takagi and Yota Tsuji". Pro Wrestling Dot Net . Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.