The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is the top singles title in New Japan Pro Wrestling. It was created in January 2021 when the IWGP Heavyweight & Intercontinental Championships, which for the prior year were defended together because the same person held both titles simultaneously, were unified to create a new championship. The decision, as well as the design of the new title belt, have received overwhelmingly negative reactions from both fans and wrestlers. The title was first awarded to Kota Ibushi in March 2021 as the final prior double champion.
As of 10/14/2024 there have been 11 IWGP World Heavyweight Champions. They are listed below in order of reign, which reign it was, length and number of successful defenses.
1-Kota Ibushi. 1st reign. Length: 3/1/2021-4/4/2021. Successful defenses: 1.
2-Will Ospreay. 1st reign. Length: 4/4/2021-5/20/2021. Successful defenses: 1. Vacated title on 5/20/2021 due to injury.
3-Shingo Takagi. 1st reign. Length: 6/7/2021-1/4/2022. Successful defenses: 3.
4-Kazuchika Okada. 1st reign. Length: 1/4/2022-6/12/2022. Successful defenses: 4.
5-Jay White. 1st reign. Length: 6/12/2022-1/4/2023. Successful defenses: 2.
6-Kazuchika Okada. 2nd reign. Length: 1/4/2023-4/8/2023. Successful defenses: 1.
7-SANADA. 1st reign. Length: 4/8/2023-1/4/2024. Successful defenses: 4.
8-Tetsuya Naito. 1st reign. Length: 1/4/2024-4/12/2024. Successful defenses: 2.
9-Jon Moxley. 1st reign. Length: 4/12/2024-6/30/2024. Successful defenses: 4.
10-Tetsuya Naito. 2nd reign. Length: 6/30/2024-10/14/2024. Successful defenses: 1. Won title in All Elite Wrestling.
11-Zack Sabre Jr. 1st reign. Length: 10/14/2024-Present (Current Champion). Successful defenses: 2. Next defense: 1/4/2025 vs. Shota Umino. (Note: The winner will next/first defend on 1/5/2025, if it’s Sabre title defense will be vs. Ricochet. If it’s Umino title defense will be vs. Claudio Castagnoli)
