IWGP Heavyweight Championship

"IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix (インターナショナル・レスリング・グラン・プリ, intānashonaru resuringu guran puri).

[6] An early version of this championship was introduced in 1983 for the winner (Hulk Hogan) of the IWGP League 1983.

[8][9] In 2006, Brock Lesnar was stripped of the title for refusing to defend it, claiming he was owed money by NJPW.

[15] On March 4, 2021, the Double Champion Kota Ibushi defeated El Desperado to unify and retire both titles.

On October 21, 2021, after winning the G1 Climax, winner Kazuchika Okada asked for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt to be awarded to him for winning the G1 instead of the typical briefcase and contract for an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at Wrestle Kingdom 16.

Big Van Vader, Salman Hashimikov, Scott Norton, Bob Sapp, Brock Lesnar, A.J.

Final champion Kota Ibushi
Five-time champion Kazuchika Okada holds the records for longest reign at 720 days, longest combined reign at 1,790 days, most defenses in one reign at 12, and most combined defenses at 30.
Hiroshi Tanahashi posing with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt in front of a crowd.
Record eight-time champion Hiroshi Tanahashi