Inoki saw this event as an error made by NJPW and spawned the IGF version of the title's history, with Lesnar still recognized as the official champion.

[4] Lesnar cited visa issues along with NJPW owing him compensation as his reasons for failing to appear at the planned title defense.

[6] On June 29, 2007, IGF held its debut show with Lesnar defending the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Kurt Angle in the main event.

Angle defeated Lesnar to win the championship and went on to appear in the American Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) promotion with the physical title belt.

[8][9] The title belt became relevant to the storyline rivalry between Joe and Angle heading into TNA's Hard Justice pay-per-view (PPV) event.

Joe pinned Brother Ray in the bout, thus winning the World Tag Team Championship for himself and a partner of his choosing.

[16] Angle's third defense was against then-NJPW-recognized IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinsuke Nakamura in a unification match on February 17, 2008 at NJPW's Circuit 2008 New Japan ISM event.

On the center plate, the words "IWGP Heavyweight Champion" were featured alongside the caricature of an eagle or similar bird of prey.