The IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix) Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in the Japanese promotion of New Japan Pro Wrestling, and is contested exclusively among junior heavyweight (<100 kg (220 lb)) wrestlers. The title was created on February 6, 1986 when Shiro Koshinaka defeated The Cobra in a tournament final.[1] In 1992, Jushin Liger is the only man to briefly unify the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship and the WCW World Light Heavyweight Championship. Between 1996 and 1997, the championship was part of the J-Crown. In addition to Japan, the title has also been defended in the United States[1] and Mexico.[2] There have been a total of 28 recognized champions who have had a combined 58 official reigns.
[edit] Title history | Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: | | Shiro Koshinaka | 1 | February 6, 1986 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated The Cobra in a tournament final.[1] | | Nobuhiko Takada | 1 | May 19, 1986 | Tokyo, Japan | [3] | | Shiro Koshinaka | 2 | September 19, 1986 | Fukuoka, Japan | [3] | | Vacated | August 2, 1987 | | Vacated due to Koshinaka injuring his leg.[1] | | Kuniaki Kobayashi | 1 | August 20, 1987 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Nobuhiko Takada.[3] | | Hiroshi Hase | 1 | December 27, 1987 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Inoki Toukon Live III.[4] | | Owen Hart | 1 | May 27, 1988 | Sendai, Japan | [3] | | Shiro Koshinaka | 3 | June 24, 1988 | Osaka, Japan | [5] | | Hiroshi Hase | 2 | March 16, 1989 | Yokohama, Japan | [5] | | Jushin Liger | 1 | May 25, 1989 | Osaka, Japan | [5] | | Naoki Sano | 1 | August 10, 1989 | Tokyo, Japan | [5] | | Jushin Liger | 2 | January 31, 1990 | Osaka, Japan | [5] | | Pegasus Kid | 1 | August 19, 1990 | Tokyo, Japan | [5] | | Jushin Liger | 3 | November 1, 1990 | Tokyo, Japan | [6] | | Vacated | April 15, 1991 | | Vacated so the title could be decided in the Top of the Super Juniors tournament.[6] | | Norio Honaga | 1 | April 30, 1991 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Jushin Liger in the finals of the Top of the Super Juniors tournament.[6] | | Jushin Liger | 4 | June 12, 1991 | Tokyo, Japan | [6] | | Akira Nogami | 1 | August 9, 1991 | Tokyo, Japan | [6] | | Norio Honaga | 2 | November 5, 1991 | Tokyo, Japan | [6] | | Jushin Liger | 5 | February 8, 1992 | Sapporo, Japan | Briefly unified with the WCW World Light Heavyweight Championship. [6] | | El Samurai | 1 | June 26, 1992 | Tokyo, Japan | [7] | | Último Dragón | 1 | November 22, 1992 | Tokyo, Japan | [7] | | Jushin Liger | 6 | January 4, 1993 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome.[8] | | Vacated | September 24, 1994 | | Vacated due to Liger fracturing his left ankle.[7] | | Norio Honaga | 3 | September 27, 1994 | Osaka, Japan | Defeated Pegasus Kid in a tournament final on the G1 Climax Special tour.[9] | | Koji Kanemoto | 1 | February 19, 1995 | Tokyo, Japan | [7] | | Sabu | 1 | May 3, 1995 | Fukuoka, Japan | Won the title at Wrestling Dontaku.[10] | | Koji Kanemoto | 2 | June 14, 1995 | Tokyo, Japan | This match was also for Kanemoto's UWA World Welterweight Championship.[10] | | Jushin Liger | 7 | January 4, 1996 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Wrestling World.[11] | | The Great Sasuke | 1 | April 29, 1996 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Battle Formation.[11] On August 5, 1996, Sasuke wins an 8-man tournament on the G1 Climax tour to form the J-Crown, an octuple-belt championship that includes the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title; these titles are still considered separate, but are defended together.[12][13] | | Último Dragón | 2 | October 11, 1996 | Osaka, Japan | [14] | | Jushin Liger | 8 | January 4, 1997 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Wrestling World.[15] Liger loses the WAR International Junior Heavyweight Championship from the J-Crown on June 6, 1997, but continues to defend the other 7 belts.[13] | | El Samurai | 2 | July 6, 1997 | Sapporo, Japan | Won the title on the Summer Struggle tour.[16] | | Shinjiro Otani | 1 | August 10, 1997 | Nagoya, Japan | Won the title at The Four Heaven in Nagoya Dome.[15] On November 5, 1997, Otani vacates all J-Crown belts but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title after the WWF retakes control of its Light Heavyweight title, effectively sealing the J-Crown.[13] | | Jushin Liger | 9 | February 7, 1998 | Sapporo, Japan | Won the title on the Fighting Spirit tour.[17] | | Koji Kanemoto | 3 | March 17, 1999 | Hiroshima, Japan | Won the title on the Hyper Battle tour.[18] | | Kendo Kashin | 1 | August 28, 1999 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Jingu Climax.[19] | | Jushin Liger | 10 | October 11, 1999 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Final Dome.[19] | | Juventud Guerrera | 1 | November 29, 1999 | Denver, CO | Won the title on World Championship Wrestling's Monday Nitro.[20][21] | | Jushin Liger | 11 | December 6, 1999 | Milwaukee, WI | Defeated Psychosis on WCW Monday Nitro due to Guerrera suffering a fractured right arm.[20][21][22] | | Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 1 | July 20, 2000 | Sapporo, Japan | Won the title on the Summer Struggle tour.[23] | | Minoru Tanaka | 1 | October 29, 2000 | Kobe, Japan | Won the title on the Get a Right!! BLACK vs. G-EGGS tour.[24] | | Masayuki Naruse | 1 | July 20, 2001 | Sapporo, Japan | Won the title at Dome Quake.[25] | | Kendo Kashin | 2 | October 8, 2001 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Indicate of Next.[25] | | Minoru Tanaka | 2 | February 16, 2002 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title on the Fighting Spirit tour.[26] | | Koji Kanemoto | 4 | July 19, 2002 | Sapporo, Japan | Won the title at Sapporo Toukon Memorial Day 1st.[27] | | Tiger Mask IV | 1 | April 23, 2003 | Hiroshima, Japan | Won the title on the Strong Energy tour.[28] | | Vacated | September 23, 2003 | | Vacated so the title could be decided in a battle royal.[1] | | Jado | 1 | October 13, 2003 | Tokyo, Japan | This was an 11-man battle royal at Ultimate Crush II.[29] | Heat (formerly Minoru Tanaka) | 3 | December 14, 2003 | Nagoya, Japan | Won the title on the Battle Final tour.[30] | | Tiger Mask IV | 2 | January 4, 2005 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Toukon Festival ~ Wrestling World.[31] | | Black Tiger IV | 1 | October 8, 2005 | Tokyo, Japan | This match, at Toukon Souzou New Chapter, was also for Black Tiger's NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.[31] | | Tiger Mask IV | 3 | February 19, 2006 | Tokyo, Japan | This match, on the Circuit 2006 Acceleration tour, was also for Black Tiger's NWA World Junior Heavyweight title.[32] | | Koji Kanemoto | 5 | May 3, 2006 | Fukuoka, Japan | Won the title on the New Japan Cup Special tour.[33] | Minoru (formerly Heat) | 4 | December 24, 2006 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Battle Xmas! Catch the Victory.[34] | | Ryusuke Taguchi | 1 | July 6, 2007 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title on the Circuit 2007 New Japan Soul tour.[35] | | Wataru Inoue | 1 | December 8, 2007 | Osaka, Japan | Won the title on the Circuit 2007 New Japan Alive tour.[36] | | Vacated | June 16, 2008 | | Vacated due to Inoue graduating to the heavyweight division. | | Tiger Mask IV | 4 | July 8, 2008 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Prince Devitt in a tournament final on the New Japan Trill tour. | | Low Ki | 1 | September 21, 2008 | Kobe, Japan | Won the title on the Circuit 2008 New Japan Generation tour. | | Tiger Mask IV | 5 | January 4, 2009 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome. | | Místico | 1 | August 15, 2009 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title on the G1 Climax 2009 tour. | | Tiger Mask IV | 6 | November 8, 2009 | Tokyo, Japan | Won the title at Destruction '09.[37] | [edit] List of individual reigns As of December 31, 2009. | Wrestler | Days Held | Date Won | Date Lost | | Jushin Liger | 628 | January 4, 1993 | September 24, 1994 | | Jushin Liger | 403 | February 7, 1998 | March 17, 1999 | | Heat | 387 | December 14, 2003 | January 4, 2005 | | Shiro Koshinaka | 317 | September 19, 1986 | August 2, 1987 | | Koji Kanemoto | 278 | July 19, 2002 | April 23, 2003 | | Tiger Mask IV | 277 | January 4, 2005 | October 8, 2005 | | Shiro Koshinaka | 265 | June 24, 1988 | March 16, 1989 | | Minoru Tanaka | 264 | October 29, 2000 | July 20, 2001 | | Koji Kanemoto | 235 | May 3, 2006 | December 24, 2006 | | Jushin Liger | 227 | December 6, 1999 | July 20, 2000 | | Tiger Mask IV | 223 | January 4, 2009 | August 15, 2009 | | Koji Kanemoto | 204 | June 14, 1995 | January 4, 1996 | | Jushin Liger | 200 | January 31, 1990 | August 19, 1990 | | Minoru | 194 | December 24, 2006 | July 6, 2007 | | Wataru Inoue | 191 | December 8, 2007 | June 16, 2008 | | Jushin Liger | 183 | January 4, 1997 | July 6, 1997 | | Shinjiro Otani | 181 | August 10, 1997 | February 7, 1998 | | Naoki Sano | 174 | August 10, 1989 | January 31, 1990 | | Jushin Liger | 165 | November 1, 1990 | April 15, 1991 | | The Great Sasuke | 165 | April 29, 1996 | October 11, 1996 | | Koji Kanemoto | 164 | March 17, 1999 | August 28, 1999 | | Ryusuke Taguchi | 155 | July 6, 2007 | December 8, 2007 | | Minoru Tanaka | 153 | February 16, 2002 | July 19, 2002 | | Tiger Mask IV | 153 | April 23, 2003 | September 23, 2003 | | Hiroshi Hase | 152 | December 27, 1987 | May 27, 1988 | | El Samurai | 149 | June 26, 1992 | November 22, 1992 | | Norio Honaga | 145 | September 27, 1994 | February 19, 1995 | | Jushin Liger | 139 | February 8, 1992 | June 26, 1992 | | Black Tiger IV | 134 | October 8, 2005 | February 19, 2006 | | Kendo Kashin | 131 | October 8, 2001 | February 16, 2002 | | Kuniaki Kobayashi | 129 | August 20, 1987 | December 27, 1987 | | Nobuhiko Takada | 123 | May 19, 1986 | September 19, 1986 | | Jushin Liger | 116 | January 4, 1996 | April 29, 1996 | | Low Ki | 105 | September 21, 2008 | January 4, 2009 | | Shiro Koshinaka | 102 | February 6, 1986 | May 19, 1986 | | Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 101 | July 20, 2000 | October 29, 2000 | | Norio Honaga | 95 | November 5, 1991 | February 8, 1992 | | Akira Nogami | 88 | August 9, 1991 | November 5, 1991 | | Último Dragón | 85 | October 11, 1996 | January 4, 1997 | | Místico | 85 | August 15, 2009 | November 8, 2009 | | Masayuki Naruse | 80 | July 20, 2001 | October 8, 2001 | | Jushin Liger | 77 | May 25, 1989 | August 10, 1989 | | Tiger Mask IV | 75 | July 8, 2008 | September 21, 2008 | | Pegasus Kid | 74 | August 19, 1990 | November 1, 1990 | | Koji Kanemoto | 73 | February 19, 1995 | May 3, 1995 | | Tiger Mask IV | 73 | February 19, 2006 | May 3, 2006 | | Hiroshi Hase | 70 | March 16, 1989 | May 25, 1989 | | Jado | 62 | October 13, 2003 | December 14, 2003 | | Jushin Liger | 58 | June 12, 1991 | August 9, 1991 | | Tiger Mask IV | 53 | November 8, 2009 | Current champion | | Jushin Liger | 49 | October 11, 1999 | November 29, 1999 | | Kendo Kashin | 44 | August 28, 1999 | October 11, 1999 | | Norio Honaga | 43 | April 30, 1991 | June 12, 1991 | | Último Dragón | 43 | November 22, 1992 | January 4, 1993 | | Sabu | 42 | May 3, 1995 | June 14, 1995 | | El Samurai | 35 | July 6, 1997 | August 10, 1997 | | Owen Hart | 28 | May 27, 1988 | June 24, 1988 | | Juventud Guerrera | 7 | November 29, 1999 | December 6, 1999 | [edit] List of combined reigns length As of December 31, 2009. [edit] References - ^ a b c d e "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship title history". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/history/jrtitle.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "Jushin Liger's tenth reign". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/history/info/jrhw/liger10.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b c d "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history (page 1)" (in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. http://www.njpw.co.jp/histry/jr_main01.html. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW results, 1972 - 1989". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results7080s.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b c d e f "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history (page 2)" (in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. http://www.njpw.co.jp/histry/jr_main02.html. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history (page 3)" (in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. http://www.njpw.co.jp/histry/jr_main03.html. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b c d "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history (page 4)" (in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. http://www.njpw.co.jp/histry/jr_main04.html. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW results, 1993". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results93.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW G1 Climax Special tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/g1s94.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b "NJPW results, 1995". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results95.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b "NJPW results, 1996". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results96.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW G1 Climax 1996 tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/g196.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b c "J-Crown title history". TitleHistories.com. http://titlehistories.com/J-Crown_Octuple_Title.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history (page 5)" (in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. http://www.njpw.co.jp/histry/jr_main05.html. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b "NJPW results, 1997". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results97.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Summer Struggle 1997 tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/struggle97.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Fighting Spirit 1998 tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/fspirit98.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Hyper Battle tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/hyper99.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b "NJPW results, 1999". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results99.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history (page 6)" (in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. http://www.njpw.co.jp/histry/jr_main06.html. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b "WCW Monday Nitro results, 1999". Wrestling Information Archive. http://100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wcw/nit1999.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history (page 7)" (in Japanese). NJPW.co.jp. http://www.njpw.co.jp/histry/jr_main07.html. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Summer Struggle 2000 tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/struggle00.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Get a Right!! BLACK vs. G-EGGS tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/getaright00.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b "NJPW results, 2001". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results01.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Fighting Spirit 2002 tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/fspirit02.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Summer Fight Series tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/summerfight02.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Strong Energy tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/energy03.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW results, 2003". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results03.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Battle Final tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/battle03.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b "NJPW results, 2005". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results05.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Circuit 2006 Acceleration tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/circuit06.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW New Japan Cup Special tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/njcup06sp.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW results, 2006". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results06.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Circuit 2007 New Japan Soul tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/circuitsoul07.php. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ "NJPW Circuit 2007 New Japan Alive tour results". Strong Style Spirit. http://puroresufan.com/njpw/results/circuitalive07.php. Retrieved 2007-12-08.
- ^ "Resultados NJPW DESTRUCTION – Tiger Mask vence a Místico – Team 3D y Nakamura retienen" (in Spanish). SuperLuchas Magazine. November 8, 2009. http://superluchas.net/2009/11/08/resultados-njpw-destruction-tiger-mask-vence-a-mistico-team-3d-y-nakamura-retienen/. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
[edit] See also [edit] External links |