NWF Heavyweight Championship

Last updated
NWF Heavyweight Championship
NWF Heavyweight Championship.jpg
Details
Promotion National Wrestling Federation (NWF)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Date established1970
2002
Date retired1981
2004
Other name(s)
  • NWF World Heavyweight Championship
    (1970–1976)
  • NWF Heavyweight Championship
    (1976–1981, 2002–2004) [1]
Statistics
First champion(s) Johnny Powers
Final champion(s) Antonio Inoki
Most reigns Antonio Inoki
(4 reigns)
Longest reign Antonio Inoki
(1,688 days)

The NWF Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship used as part of the National Wrestling Federation and later New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Contents

History

The NWF (National Wrestling Federation) Heavyweight Championship was created by wrestling promoter Pedro Martinez for his NWF promotion in New York in 1970. The title was mainly defended in the New York/Eastern Canada area, until then-champion Johnny Powers took the belt with him on a tour of Japan with Tokyo Pro Wrestling. Powers would eventually lose the title to Antonio Inoki, who would take the belt with him when he founded New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Inoki became the wrestler most associated with the title due to his high-profile defenses of the title, defeating the likes of Stan Hansen, André the Giant, Tiger Jeet Singh, and Ernie Ladd while champion. Recognized as a four-time NWF Heavyweight champion, between the years of 1973 and 1983 Inoki was champion for all but six months. Inoki's fourth reign was actually due to the decision to hold up the championship, following a defense against Stan Hansen on April 17, 1981, that ended in a no contest. Inoki later regained the title on April 23, 1981, by defeating Hansen in a rematch. He retired the NWF title immediately after the match due to his desire to enter the 1983 IWGP League. [2]

Then as part of a NJPW storyline, the NWF Heavyweight championship was revived in August 2002. Mixed martial arts fighter Kazuyuki Fujita held a tournament to crown a new champion to rival the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The tournament participants were announced to be wrestlers with a background in MMA, including Fujita, Yoshihiro Takayama, Tsuyoshi Kosaka, and Tadao Yasuda. Takayama won the tournament on January 4, 2003, beating Kosaka with a knee kick in the finals to become the first revived champion in over two decades. Takayama later lost the NWF Championship to Shinsuke Nakamura exactly a year later to unify the NWF and IWGP titles. Nakamura formally announced his vacating of the NWF Heavyweight title on January 5, 2004, retiring the belt for a second time during its history. [3]

The title history was previously viewable on the NJPW website until removed for unknown reasons.

Reigns

Original version

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
N/AUnknown information
(NLT)Championship change took place "no later than" the date listed
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDays
1 Johnny Powers 1970(NLT) Live event Los Angeles, CA 1 [Note 1] Defeated Freddie Blassie to become inaugural champion. 
2 Waldo Von Erich October 23, 1971 Live event Akron, OH 115The Title held-up on November 7th, 1971, after a match with Dominic DeNucci in Akron, OH. 
3 Waldo Von Erich November 13, 1971 live event Akron, OH 219Defeated Dominic DeNucci in rematch. 
4 Dominic DeNucci December 2, 1971 Live event Cleveland, OH 128  
5 Waldo Von Erich December 30, 1971 Live event Cleveland, OH 3162  
6 Ernie Ladd June 9, 1972 Live event Cleveland, OH 115  
7 Abdullah the Butcher June 24, 1972 Live event Akron, OH 1 [Note 2]   
8 Victor Rivera September 1972(NLT) Live event N/A1 [Note 3]   
9 Abdullah the Butcher October 1972(NLT) Live event N/A2 [Note 4]   
10 Johnny Valentine October 19, 1972 Live event Cleveland, OH 149  
Vacated December 7, 1972After a match against Johnny Powers, Johnny Valentine left the NWF in January 1973.
11 Jacques Rougeau January 24, 1973 Live event Buffalo, NY 1 [Note 5] Defeated Waldo Von Erich in finals of tournament for the vacant championship. [4]
12 Johnny Valentine August 1973(NLT) Live event N/A2 [Note 6]  
13 Johnny Powers October 1973(NLT) Live event N/A2 [Note 7] Powers took the title to Japan for a tour with New Japan Pro-Wrestling  
14 Antonio Inoki December 10, 1973 World Title Challenge Series Tokyo, Japan 1429  [5]
Vacated February 12, 1975 Antonio Inoki vacated the championship as refusal of an NWF ordered defense against Tiger Jeet Singh.
15 Tiger Jeet Singh March 13, 1975 Big Fight Series Hiroshima, Japan 1105Defeated Antonio Inoki for the vacant championship. [6]
16 Antonio Inoki June 26, 1975 Golden Fight Series Tokyo, Japan 21,688Ordered by the NWA to stop referring to belt as a world title at annual NWA meeting on August 7, 1976. [7]
17 Stan Hansen February 8, 1980 New Year Golden Series Tokyo, Japan 155  [8]
18 Antonio Inoki April 3, 1980 Big Fight Series Tokyo, Japan 3434  [9] [10]
Vacated April 17, 1981 Big Fight Series II Kagoshima, Japan The championship was vacated after a defense against Stan Hansen ends in a no contest. [11]
19 Antonio Inoki April 23, 1981 Big Fight Series II Tokyo, Japan 4 [Note 8] Defeated Stan Hansen to win the vacant championship. [12]
Deactivated1981 Antonio Inoki vacated the championship following the match to enter the NJPW IWGP League. 

Revived version

NWF Heavyweight Championship
Nwf-h.png
Details
Promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Date establishedAugust 2002
Date retiredJanuary 2004
Statistics
First champion(s) Yoshihiro Takayama
Final champion(s) Shinsuke Nakamura
Longest reign Yoshihiro Takayama
(365 days)
Shortest reign Shinsuke Nakamura
(<1 day)
Oldest champion Yoshihiro Takayama
(36 years, 107 days)
Youngest champion Shinsuke Nakamura
(23 years, 314 days)
Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
DefensesNumber of successful defenses
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDaysDefenses
1 Yoshihiro Takayama January 4, 2003 Wrestling World 2003 Tokyo, Japan 13657Defeated Tsuyoshi Kosaka in a tournament for the revived title. [13]
2 Shinsuke Nakamura January 4, 2004 Wrestling World 2004 Tokyo, Japan 110Nakamura officially unifies NWF title with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. [14]
Unified January 5, 2004Championship merged with IWGP Heavyweight Championship, no longer promoted as a separate title

Notes

  1. The exact date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 324 and 688 days.
  2. The exact date the championship was lost is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 98 days.
  3. The exact date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 98 days.
  4. The exact date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 47 days.
  5. The exact date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 218 days.
  6. The exact date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 319 days.
  7. The exact date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 319 days.
  8. The exact date the championship was won is uncertain, which means that the reign lasted between 1 and 15 days.

See also

Contemporary titles in Japan:

Former belt used for a shoot-style title in Japan:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IWGP Heavyweight Championship</span> Championship of New Japan Pro-Wrestling

The IWGP Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was introduced on June 12, 1987, in the final of an IWGP tournament. It was unified with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship on March 4, 2021, to form the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuji Nagata</span> Japanese professional wrestler (born 1968)

Yuji Nagata is a Japanese professional wrestler, and former mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Considered one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all time, he is the fifth longest-reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion with a reign of 392 days, and formerly held the record for most successful title defenses with 10, until Hiroshi Tanahashi broke the record at Wrestle Kingdom VI. He is the only wrestler to have won Japanese professional wrestling's three biggest singles tournaments; New Japan Pro-Wrestling's G1 Climax, All Japan Pro Wrestling's Champion Carnival and Pro Wrestling Noah's Global League. In addition, he is the only man to have held all four major heavyweight championships in Japanese professional wrestling, the IWGP, World, GHC and Triple Crown heavyweight championships, making him the only "Grand Slam" champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taiyō Kea</span> American professional wrestler

Maunakea Mossman is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, better known under his stage name Taiyō Kea (太陽ケア). Best known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), he is the only wrestler in AJPW's history to have held the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, the World Tag Team Championship and the World Junior Heavyweight Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world junior heavyweight championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. Only wrestlers under the junior heavyweight weight-limit may hold the championship. NJPW currently controls two junior heavyweight championships: the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. The weight-limit for the title is 100 kg (220 lb). The current champion is Sho, who is in his first reign. He won the title by defeating El Desperado at The New Beginning in Sapporo on February 23, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IWGP U-30 Openweight Championship</span>

The IWGP U-30 Openweight Championship was a professional wrestling openweight championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling for younger wrestlers who were under the age of 30. It was proposed as part of a tournament called the G2 U-30 Climax by Hiroshi Tanahashi, who ended up winning the tournament in April 2003. The U-30 Openweight Championship became officially recognized as an IWGP title in November 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Asia Tag Team Championship</span> Professional wrestling tag team championship

The (All) Asia Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). Originally it was the top tag team title in the JWA, but its status became secondary once the NWA International Tag Team Championship was brought from the United States. It is currently one of two tag team titles in AJPW, along with the World Tag Team Championship. It is also the current oldest active title in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl Anderson</span> American professional wrestler

Chad Allegra is an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name Karl Anderson. He is currently signed to WWE where he performs on the SmackDown brand. He is a member of the stable The O.C. as well as a former member of the Bullet Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kota Ibushi</span> Japanese professional wrestler

Kota Ibushi is a Japanese professional wrestler and martial artist who is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He is best known for his tenure with New Japan-Pro Wrestling (NJPW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zack Sabre Jr.</span> British professional wrestler (born 1987)

Luke James Uggles Eatwell, known by his ring name Zack Sabre Jr. and its abbreviated form ZSJ, is an English-born professional wrestler currently signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). In NJPW, he is the leader of the group The Mighty Don't Kneel (TMDK) and is a former two-time and inaugural NJPW World Television Champion. He also makes sporadic appearances for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and its sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IWGP Intercontinental Championship</span> Professional wrestling championship

The IWGP Intercontinental Championship was a professional wrestling championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix. The title was officially announced on January 5, 2011, and the Inaugural Champion MVP was crowned on May 15, 2011, during NJPW's first tour of the United States. On March 4, 2021, the championship was retired by NJPW after being unified with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to form the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. The final champion was Kota Ibushi, who was in his second reign at the time of the title's retirement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chase Owens</span> American professional wrestler

Steven Owens, better known by the ring name Chase Owens is an American professional wrestler currently signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a member of Bullet Club. He is a three-time and current IWGP Tag Team Champion, having won the belts twice with Kenta and once with Bad Luck Fale. Owens has also won the provisional KOPW trophy once.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NJPW Ultimate Crush</span> 2003 New Japan Pro-Wrestling event

Ultimate Crush was a major professional wrestling and mixed martial arts event promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The event took place on May 2, 2003, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The card contained a mixture of pro wrestling matches and mixed martial arts fights. The show was headlined by Yoshihiro Takayama defending the NWF Heavyweight Championship against Yuji Nagata, who also defended the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in a unification match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Real World Championship</span> New Japan Pro-Wrestling championship (1972)

The World Heavyweight Championship, also referred to as the Real World Championship was a championship established and promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Karl Gotch was billed as a first champion by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It used the belt of American Wrestling Alliance (Ohio)'s AWA World Heavyweight Championship, which was held by Karl Gotch from September 11, 1962 to September 7, 1964. The title was successfully defended only once, by Antonio Inoki against Red Pimpernel on day 12 of New Golden Series on October 9, 1972. Karl Gotch was the final champion in his second reign, winning the title from Antonio Inoki on October 10, 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strong Kobayashi</span> Japanese professional wrestler (1940–2021)

Shozo "Strong" Kobayashi, also known by the stage name Strong Kongô, was a Japanese professional wrestler and actor. He is known for his appearances with International Wrestling Enterprise and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, as well as his appearances on television series including Choudenshi Bioman and Takeshi's Castle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Davis (wrestler)</span> Professional wrestler

Davis Passfield, better known by his in-ring name Mark Davis, is an Australian professional wrestler. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He also appears in its sister company Ring of Honor (ROH), where he is a former one-time ROH World Tag Team Champion. He also appears for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former IWGP Tag Team Champion, and record-setting and inaugural two-time Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion and Revolution Pro Wrestling, where he is a former two-time Undisputed British Tag Team Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship</span> Mens professional wrestling championship

The Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. The title is exclusively featured on NJPW's United States based television program NJPW Strong Live. The current champions are Guerrillas of Destiny, who are in their second reign as a team and individually. They defeated TMDK at Resurgence on May 11, 2024 in Ontario, California.

References

  1. IWGP王者・中邑の対戦相手は“帝王”高山善廣!/1月4日東京ドーム公開記者会見 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  2. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN   0-9698161-5-4.
  3. Tanabe, Hisaharu. "N.W.F. Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 2007-06-26.
  4. Hoops, Brian (January 24, 2020). "Pro wrestling history (01/24): WWF Royal Rumble 1999". Wrestling Observer Newsletter . Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  5. Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 10, 1973). "NJPW World Title Challenge Series 1973 - Tag 9 - TV-Show @ Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  6. Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 13, 1975). "NJPW Big Fight Series 1975 - Tag 20 - TV-Show @ Hiroshima Prefectural Gymnasium in Hiroshima, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  7. Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 26, 1975). "NJPW Golden Fight Series 1975 - Tag 24 - TV-Show @ Kuramae Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  8. Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 8, 1980). "NJPW New Year Golden Series 1980 - Tag 31 - TV-Show @ Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  9. F4W Staff (April 3, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling title change history: Gotch vs. Hackenschmidt, Inoki Vs. Hansen, Guerrero Vs. Jericho". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 3, 1980). "NJPW Big Fight Series 1980 – Tag 28 – TV-Show @ Kuramae Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan 2". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  11. Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 17, 1981). "NJPW/WWF Big Fight Series II - Day 13". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  12. Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 23, 1981). "NJPW WWF Big Fight Series II - Tag 17 - TV-Show @ Kuramae Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  13. Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 4, 2003). "NJPW Wrestling World 2003 - TV-Show @ Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  14. Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 4, 2004). "NJPW Wrestling World 2004 - TV-Show @ Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
Sporting positions
Preceded by New Japan Pro-Wrestling's top heavyweight championship
1973–1981
2003–2004
Succeeded by
IWGP Heavyweight Championship
(original version)