IWGP Heavyweight Championship
NJPWCurrent Champion
Yota Tsuji
Won: June 14, 2026Reign: 133 daysWon at: Dominion 6.14 in Osaka-jo Hall
Longest Reign
Kazuchika Okada
720 days
Shortest Reign
Kensuke Sasaki
16 days
Most Reigns
Hiroshi Tanahashi
8-time champion
Reigns
89
41 different champions
Reign Timeline
19901995200020052010201520202025
Full Title History
| # | Champion | Date Won | Date Lost | Days Held | Won At |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 | Yota Tsuji | Jun 14, 2026 | Present | 133+ | Dominion 6.14 in Osaka-jo Hall |
| 88 | Callum Newman | Apr 4, 2026 | Jun 14, 2026 | 71 | Sakura Genesis |
| 87 | Yota Tsuji | Jan 4, 2026 | Apr 4, 2026 | 90 | Wrestle Kingdom 20 |
| 86 | Konosuke Takeshita | Oct 13, 2025 | Jan 4, 2026 | 83 | King of Pro-Wrestling |
| 85 | Zack Sabre Jr. | Jun 29, 2025 | Oct 13, 2025 | 106 | Tanahashi Jam |
| 84 | Hirooki Goto | Feb 11, 2025 | Jun 29, 2025 | 138 | The New Beginning in Osaka |
| 83 | Zack Sabre Jr. | Oct 14, 2024 | Feb 11, 2025 | 120 | King of Pro-Wrestling |
| 82 | Tetsuya Naito | Jun 30, 2024 | Oct 14, 2024 | 106 | AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door |
| 81 | Jon Moxley | Apr 12, 2024 | Jun 30, 2024 | 79 | Windy City Riot |
| 80 | Tetsuya Naito | Jan 4, 2024 | Apr 12, 2024 | 99 | Wrestle Kingdom 18 |
| 79 | Sanada | Apr 8, 2023 | Jan 4, 2024 | 271 | Sakura Genesis |
| 78 | Kazuchika Okada | Jan 4, 2023 | Apr 8, 2023 | 94 | Wrestle Kingdom 17 |
| 77 | Jay White | Jun 12, 2022 | Jan 4, 2023 | 206 | Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall |
| 76 | Kazuchika Okada | Jan 4, 2022 | Jun 12, 2022 | 159 | Wrestle Kingdom 16 |
| 75 | Shingo Takagi | Jun 7, 2021 | Jan 4, 2022 | 211 | Dominion 6.6 in Osaka-jo Hall |
| 74 | Will Ospreay | Apr 4, 2021 | May 20, 2021 | 46 | Sakura Genesis |
| 73 | Kota Ibushi | Jan 4, 2021 | Mar 4, 2021 | 59 | Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome |
| 72 | Tetsuya Naito | Aug 29, 2020 | Jan 4, 2021 | 128 | Summer Struggle in Jingu |
| 71 | Evil | Jul 12, 2020 | Aug 29, 2020 | 48 | Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall |
| 70 | Tetsuya Naito | Jan 5, 2020 | Jul 12, 2020 | 189 | Wrestle Kingdom 14 in Tokyo Dome |
| 69 | Kazuchika Okada | Apr 6, 2019 | Jan 5, 2020 | 274 | G1 Supercard |
| 68 | Jay White | Feb 11, 2019 | Apr 6, 2019 | 54 | The New Beginning in Osaka |
| 67 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | Jan 4, 2019 | Feb 11, 2019 | 38 | Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome |
| 66 | Kenny Omega | Jun 9, 2018 | Jan 4, 2019 | 209 | Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall |
| 65 | Kazuchika Okada | Jun 19, 2016 | Jun 9, 2018 | 720 | Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall |
| 64 | Tetsuya Naito | Apr 10, 2016 | Jun 19, 2016 | 70 | Invasion Attack 2016 |
| 63 | Kazuchika Okada | Jul 5, 2015 | Apr 10, 2016 | 280 | Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall |
| 62 | AJ Styles | Feb 11, 2015 | Jul 5, 2015 | 144 | The New Beginning in Osaka |
| 61 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | Oct 13, 2014 | Feb 11, 2015 | 121 | King of Pro-Wrestling |
| 60 | AJ Styles | May 3, 2014 | Oct 13, 2014 | 163 | Wrestling Dontaku 2014 |
| 59 | Kazuchika Okada | Apr 7, 2013 | May 3, 2014 | 391 | Invasion Attack |
| 58 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | Jun 16, 2012 | Apr 7, 2013 | 295 | Dominion 6.16 |
| 57 | Kazuchika Okada | Feb 12, 2012 | Jun 16, 2012 | 125 | The New Beginning |
| 56 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | Jan 4, 2011 | Feb 12, 2012 | 404 | Wrestle Kingdom V in Tokyo Dome |
| 55 | Satoshi Kojima | Oct 11, 2010 | Jan 4, 2011 | 85 | Destruction '10 |
| 54 | Togi Makabe | May 3, 2010 | Oct 11, 2010 | 161 | Wrestling Dontaku 2010 |
| 53 | Shinsuke Nakamura | Sep 27, 2009 | May 3, 2010 | 218 | Circuit2009 New Japan Generation tour |
| 52 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | Jun 20, 2009 | Aug 17, 2009 | 58 | Dominion 6.20 |
| 51 | Manabu Nakanishi | May 6, 2009 | Jun 20, 2009 | 45 | Dissidence |
| 50 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | Jan 4, 2009 | May 6, 2009 | 122 | Wrestle Kingdom III in Tokyo Dome |
| 49 | Keiji Muto | Apr 27, 2008 | Jan 4, 2009 | 252 | Circuit2008 New Japan Brave tour |
| 48 | Shinsuke Nakamura | Jan 4, 2008 | Apr 27, 2008 | 114 | Wrestle Kingdom II in Tokyo Dome |
| 47 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | Oct 8, 2007 | Jan 4, 2008 | 88 | Explosion '07 |
| 46 | Yuji Nagata | Apr 13, 2007 | Oct 8, 2007 | 178 | Circuit2007 New Japan Brave tour |
| 45 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | Jul 17, 2006 | Apr 13, 2007 | 270 | Circuit2006 Turbulence |
| 44 | Brock Lesnar | Oct 8, 2005 | Jul 15, 2006 | 280 | Toukon Souzou New Chapter |
| 43 | Kazuyuki Fujita | Jul 18, 2005 | Oct 8, 2005 | 82 | Summer Fight Series 2005 |
| 42 | Hiroyoshi Tenzan | May 14, 2005 | Jul 18, 2005 | 65 | Nexess VI |
| 41 | Satoshi Kojima | Feb 20, 2005 | May 14, 2005 | 83 | New Year Gold Series |
| 40 | Hiroyoshi Tenzan | Dec 12, 2004 | Feb 20, 2005 | 70 | Battle Final 2004 |
| 39 | Kensuke Sasaki | Oct 9, 2004 | Dec 12, 2004 | 64 | Pro-Wrestlers Be Strongest |
| 38 | Kazuyuki Fujita | Jun 5, 2004 | Oct 9, 2004 | 126 | The Crush II |
| 37 | Bob Sapp | Mar 28, 2004 | Jun 2, 2004 | 66 | King of Sports |
| 36 | Kensuke Sasaki | Mar 12, 2004 | Mar 28, 2004 | 16 | Hyper Battle 2004 |
| 35 | Hiroyoshi Tenzan | Feb 15, 2004 | Mar 12, 2004 | 26 | Fighting Spirit 2004 |
| 34 | Shinsuke Nakamura | Dec 9, 2003 | Feb 5, 2004 | 58 | Battle Final 2003 |
| 33 | Hiroyoshi Tenzan | Nov 3, 2003 | Dec 9, 2003 | 36 | Yokohama Dead Out |
| 32 | Yoshihiro Takayama | May 2, 2003 | Nov 3, 2003 | 185 | Ultimate Crush |
| 31 | Yuji Nagata | Apr 5, 2002 | May 2, 2003 | 392 | Toukon Special |
| 30 | Tadao Yasuda | Feb 16, 2002 | Apr 5, 2002 | 48 | Fighting Spirit 2002 |
| 29 | Kazuyuki Fujita | Apr 9, 2001 | Jan 4, 2002 | 270 | Strong Style 2001 |
| 28 | Scott Norton | Mar 17, 2001 | Apr 9, 2001 | 23 | Hyper Battle 2001 |
| 27 | Kensuke Sasaki | Jan 4, 2001 | Mar 17, 2001 | 72 | Wrestling World 2001 |
| 26 | Kensuke Sasaki | Jan 4, 2000 | Oct 9, 2000 | 279 | Wrestling World 2000 |
| 25 | Genichiro Tenryu | Dec 10, 1999 | Jan 4, 2000 | 25 | Battle Final 1999 |
| 24 | Keiji Muto | Jan 4, 1999 | Dec 10, 1999 | 340 | Wrestling World 1999 |
| 23 | Scott Norton | Sep 23, 1998 | Jan 4, 1999 | 103 | Big Wednesday |
| 22 | Masahiro Chono | Aug 8, 1998 | Sep 21, 1998 | 44 | Rising the Next Generation in Osaka Dome |
| 21 | Tatsumi Fujinami | Apr 4, 1998 | Aug 8, 1998 | 126 | Antonio Inoki Retirement Show |
| 20 | Kensuke Sasaki | Aug 31, 1997 | Apr 4, 1998 | 216 | Final Power Hall in Yokohama |
| 19 | Shinya Hashimoto | Apr 29, 1996 | Aug 31, 1997 | 489 | Battle Formation |
| 18 | Nobuhiko Takada | Jan 4, 1996 | Apr 29, 1996 | 116 | Wrestling World 1996 |
| 17 | Keiji Muto | May 3, 1995 | Jan 4, 1996 | 246 | Wrestling Dontaku 1995 |
| 16 | Shinya Hashimoto | May 1, 1994 | May 3, 1995 | 367 | Wrestling Dontaku 1994 |
| 15 | Tatsumi Fujinami | Apr 4, 1994 | May 1, 1994 | 27 | Battle Line Kyushu |
| 14 | Shinya Hashimoto | Sep 20, 1993 | Apr 4, 1994 | 196 | G1 Climax Special 1993 |
| 13 | The Great Muta | Aug 16, 1992 | Sep 20, 1993 | 400 | G1 Climax Special 1992 |
| 12 | Riki Choshu | Jan 4, 1992 | Aug 16, 1992 | 225 | Super Warriors in Tokyo Dome |
| 11 | Tatsumi Fujinami | Mar 4, 1991 | Jan 4, 1992 | 306 | Big Fight Series 1991 |
| 10 | Big Van Vader | Jan 17, 1991 | Mar 4, 1991 | 46 | New Year Dash 1991 |
| 9 | Tatsumi Fujinami | Dec 26, 1990 | Jan 17, 1991 | 22 | King of Kings |
| 8 | Riki Choshu | Aug 19, 1990 | Dec 26, 1990 | 129 | Summer Night Fever II |
| 7 | Big Van Vader | Aug 10, 1989 | Aug 19, 1990 | 374 | Fighting Satellite of 1989 |
| 6 | Riki Choshu | Jul 12, 1989 | Aug 10, 1989 | 29 | Summer Fight Series 1989 |
| 5 | Salman Hashimikov | May 25, 1989 | Jul 12, 1989 | 48 | Battle Satellite 1989 in Osaka Dome |
| 4 | Big Van Vader | Apr 24, 1989 | May 25, 1989 | 31 | Battle Satellite in Tokyo Dome |
| 3 | Tatsumi Fujinami | Jun 24, 1988 | Apr 5, 1989 | 285 | IWGP Champion Series 1988 |
| 2 | Tatsumi Fujinami | May 8, 1988 | May 27, 1988 | 19 | Super Fight Series 1988 |
| 1 | Antonio Inoki | Jun 12, 1987 | May 2, 1988 | 325 | IWGP Champion Series 1987 |
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), refreshed automatically.
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