IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
Encyclopedia : I : IW : IWG : IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
The IWGP (International Wrestling Grand Prix) Junior Heavyweight Championship is the top singles title in New Japan Pro Wrestling's Junior Heavyweight division. With a legacy set by many great matches, the title's value is immensely high. It has existed since February 6, 1986 to present.
Title history
| Wrestler: | Defeated: | Date: | Place: |
| Shiro Koshinaka | The Cobra | June 28 1986 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan (Tournament final) |
| Nobuhiko Takada | Shiro Koshinaka | May 19 1986 | Tokyo Korakuen Hall |
| Shiro Koshinaka (2) | Nobuhiko Takada | September 15 1986 | Fukuoka Sports Center |
| Vacated | None | July, 1987 | Koshinaka vacated due to injury |
| Kuniaki Kobayashi | Nobuhiko Takada | August 20 1987 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan |
| Hiroshi Hase | Kuniaki Kobayashi | December 27 1987 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan |
| Owen Hart | Hiroshi Hase | May 27 1988 | Miyagi Sports Center |
| Shiro Koshinaka (3) | Owen Hart | June 24 1988 | Miyagi Sports Center |
| Hiroshi Hase (2) | Shiro Koshinaka | March 16 1989 | Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium |
| Jushin Liger | Hiroshi Hase | May 25 1989 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium |
| Naoki Sano | Jushin Liger | August 10 1989 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (2) | Naoki Sano | January 31 1990 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium |
| Pegasus Kid | Jushin Thunder Liger | August 19 1990 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (3) | Pegasus Kid | November 1 1990 | Tokyo Nippon Budokan |
| Vacated | None | April 15 1991 | Liger vacates for the 1991 Top of the Super Jr. |
| Norio Honaga | Jushin Thunder Liger | April 30 1991 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (4) | Norio Honaga | June 12 1991 | Tokyo Nippon Budokan |
| Akira Nogami | Jushin Thunder Liger | August 9 1991 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan |
| Norio Honaga (2) | Akira Nogami | November 5 1991 | Tokyo Nippon Budokan |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (5) | Norio Honaga | February 8 1992 | Nakajima Sports Center |
| El Samurai | Jushin Thunder Liger | June 26 1992 | Tokyo Nippon Budokan |
| Ultimo Dragon | El Samurai | November 22 1992 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (6) | Ultimo Dragon | January 4 1993 | Tokyo Dome |
| Vacated | None | September 24 1994 | Liger vacates due to a broken left leg. |
| Norio Honaga (3) | Wild Pegasus | September 27 1994 | Osaka Castle Hall |
| Koji Kanemoto | Norio Honaga | February 19 1995 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan |
| Sabu | Koji Kanemoto | May 3 1995 | Fukuoka Dome |
| Koji Kanemoto (2) | Sabu | June 14 1995 | Tokyo Nippon Budokan |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (7) | Koji Kanemoto | January 4 1996 | Tokyo Dome |
| Great Sasuke | Jushin Thunder Liger | April 29 1996 | Tokyo Dome |
| Ultimo Dragon (2) | Great Sasuke | October 1996 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (8) | Great Sasuke | January 4 1997 | Tokyo Dome |
| El Samurai (2) | Jushin Thunder Liger | July 7 1997 | Sapporo Ice Arena |
| Shinjiro Otani | El Samurai | August 101997 | Nagoya Dome |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (9) | Shinjiro Otani | February 7 1998 | Nakajima Sports Center |
| Koji Kanemoto (3) | Jushin Thunder Liger | March 17 1999 | Hiroshima Sun Plaza |
| Kendo Kashin | Koji Kanemoto | August 28 1999 | Jingu Stadium |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (10) | Kendo Kashin | October 11 1999 | Tokyo Dome |
| Juventud Guerrera *Unrecognized | Jushin Thunder Liger | November 29 1999 | Denver Pepsi Arena, USA |
| Jushin Thunder Liger (11) *Unrecognized | Psicosis | December 6 1999 | Milwaukee Arena, USA. (Juventud Guerrera was injured). |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Jushin Thunder Liger | July 20 2000 | Hokkaido Sports Center |
| Minoru Tanaka | Tatsuhito Takaiwa | October 29 2000 | Kobe World Hall |
| Masayuki Naruse | Minoru Tanaka | July 20 2001 | Sapporo Dome |
| Kendo Kashin (2) | Masayuki Naruse | October 9 2001 | Tokyo Dome |
| Vacant | None | February 1 2001 | Kashin vacates on when he leaves the company. |
| Minoru Tanaka (2) | Masahito Kakihara | February 16 2002 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan |
| Koji Kanemoto (4) | Minoru Tanaka | July 19 2002 | Hokkaido Sports Center |
| Tiger Mask IV | Koji Kanemoto | April 23 2003 | Hiroshima Sun Plaza |
| Vacant | None | September 23 2003 | Tiger Mask vacates to put it on the line at the Tokyo Dome. |
| Jado | 11 Men | October 13 2003 | Tokyo Dome (Jado won an 11 Man Super Jr. New Japan Rumble) |
| Heat aka Minoru Tanaka (3) | Jado | December 14 2003 | Nagoya Rainbow Hall |
| Tiger Mask IV (2) | Heat | January 4 2005 | Tokyo Dome |
| Black Tiger IV | Tiger Mask | October 8 2005 | Tokyo Dome |
| Tiger Mask IV (3) | Black Tiger | February 19 2006 | Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan (Also wins NWA Junior Heavyweight Title) |
| Koji Kanemoto (5) | Tiger Mask IV | 3rd May 2006 | Fukuoka International Center |
Trivia
- Jushin Liger has won the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title a record 11 times. Koji Kanemoto is second with 5 wins.
- Jushin Liger's title loss to Juventud Guerrera nor Guerrera himself are recognized in the title lineage. Both title changes occurred in World Championship Wrestling in the United States. According to NJPW Liger is still a 10 time champion.
- To date, Sabu & Black Tiger IV are the only Americans to hold the title, Juventud Guerrera is the only Mexican, and Owen Hart and Pegasus Kid (Chris Benoit) are the only Canadians to hold it.
See also
References
[Strong Style Spirit][Body Slammin 4 Ever]
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