NJPW clarifies status of IWGP Championship
NJPW has officially clarified the status of its top title and explained how the lineage of the championship will be handled.
At Wrestle Kingdom 20, Yota Tsuji defeated Konosuke Takeshita to become a double champion — winning the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and retaining the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Tsuji then followed through on his promise to bring back the old fourth-generation design of the IWGP Championship that had been retired in 2021 when the belt was unified with the Intercontinental title.
The fan-favorite classic belt design will be sticking around with NJPW officially bringing back the IWGP Championship to replace the newer World Heavyweight title belt. The IWGP Championship and IWGP World Heavyweight Championship lineages have been merged with Tsuji recognized as the 87th champion.
“Now that the (world and heavyweight) lineages are connected, I expect you to lead NJPW into a new world with the title,” NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi said to Tsuji at a press conference.
The Intercontinental title remains retired with double champion Tsuji holding the IWGP Championship and IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Tsuji announced that his two titles will be defended separately and will have different purposes. The IWGP Championship will be defended in Japan against the best that NJPW has to offer. As for the Global title, it will be defended internationally or in Japan against “invaders” from other promotions.
Jake Lee has stepped up as the first challenger for Tsuji’s IWGP Championship, though Tsuji said at the press conference that he is not accepting Lee’s challenge just yet.
“He needs to convince me and the people of why he joined United Empire and why he deserves the chance,” Tsuji said.
Gabe Kidd and Andrade El Idolo have put themselves in Global title contention with the two likely set for a number one contender’s match at the New Beginning.
Following his victory at Wrestle Kingdom, Tsuji announced the formation of a new faction at New Year Dash. The faction is named “Unbound Company” and includes Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, Shingo Takagi, and the members of Bullet Club War Dogs.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.