List of current champions in New Japan Pro-Wrestling
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) is a professional wrestling promotion based in Nakano, Tokyo. Title reigns are either determined by professional wrestling matches or are awarded to a wrestler, as a result of the culmination of various scripted storylines. There are 11 total active championships promoted by NJPW - featuring six singles championships, three traditional tag team championships, and a six-man tag team championship for male wrestlers, with two singles championship for female wrestlers. 16 wrestlers currently hold the titles.
The list includes the number of times the wrestler has held the title, the date and location of the win, and a description of the winning bout. The following is correct as of December 23, 2024.
Overview
[edit]Men's Singles
At the top of NJPW's championship hierarchy for male wrestlers in the heavyweight division is the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Secondary titles include the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, and the NJPW World Television Championship.
In the junior heavyweight division, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship is the primary title.
The NEVER Openweight Championship and the Strong Openweight Championship are available to male wrestlers regardless of weight class.
Men's Tag Team
For tag teams, there are three traditional championships for two-man teams—the IWGP Tag Team Championship, the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship, and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the junior heavyweight division.
The NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship serves as the title for three-man teams.
Women's Division
There are two championships for female wrestlers in NJPW - the IWGP Women's Championship (the primary title which is defended in NJPW and sister promotion Stardom), and the Strong Women's Championship.
Current champions
[edit]As of December 23, 2024.
Men's division
[edit]Singles
[edit]| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held |
Successful defenses |
Location | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWGP World Heavyweight Championship | 
|
Zack Sabre Jr. | 1 | October 14, 2024 | 70 | 2 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Tetsuya Naito at King of Pro-Wrestling. | [1] |
| IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship | 
|
David Finlay | 2 | May 4, 2024 | 233 | 4 | Fukuoka, Japan | Defeated Nic Nemeth at Wrestling Dontaku: Night 2. | [2] |
| IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship | 
|
Douki | 1 | July 5, 2024 | 171 | 4 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated El Desperado at New Japan Soul: Night 7. | [3] |
| NEVER Openweight Championship | 
|
Shingo Takagi | 5 | September 29, 2024 | 85 | 1 | Kobe, Japan | Defeated Henare at Destruction in Kobe. | [4] |
| Strong Openweight Championship | 
|
Gabe Kidd | 1 | May 11, 2024 | 226 | 5 | Ontario, California | Defeated Eddie Kingston in a No Ropes Last Man Standing match at Resurgence. | [5] |
| NJPW World Television Championship |
|
Ren Narita | 1 | October 14, 2024 | 70 | 0 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated previous champion Jeff Cobb and Yota Tsuji in a three-way match at King of Pro-Wrestling. | [1] |
Tag team
[edit]| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held |
Successful defenses |
Location | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWGP Tag Team Championship | - | Vacant | - | December 9, 2024 | - | - | - | Previous champions United Empire (Great-O-Khan and Henare) vacated the titles due to Henare suffering an injury. | [6] |
| IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship |  
|
Intergalactic Jet Setters (Kevin Knight and Kushida) |
2 (2, 4) |
October 14, 2024 | 70 | 1 | Tokyo, Japan | Defeated Bullet Club War Dogs (Drilla Moloney and Clark Connors) at King of Pro-Wrestling. | [1] |
| Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship | 
|
West Coast Wrecking Crew (Royce Isaacs and Jorel Nelson) |
1 (1, 1) |
December 15, 2024 | 8 | 0 | Long Beach, California | Defeated Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) at Strong Style Evolved. | [7] |
| NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship |   
|
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano and Oleg Boltin | 2 (6, 6, 2) |
June 16, 2024 | 190 | 2 | Sapporo, Japan | Defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Yota Tsuji, Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi) at New Japan Soul: Night 1. | [8] |
Women's division
[edit]| Championship | Current champion(s) | Reign | Date won | Days held |
Successful defenses |
Location | Notes | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWGP Women's Championship | 
|
Mayu Iwatani | 1 | April 23, 2023 | 610 | 8 | Yokohama, Japan | Defeated Mercedes Moné at All Star Grand Queendom. | [9] |
| Strong Women's Championship | 
|
Mercedes Moné | 1 | June 30, 2024 | 176 | 3 | Elmont, New York | Defeated Stephanie Vaquer in a Winner Takes All match also for Moné's AEW TBS Championship at Forbidden Door. | [10] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Vetter, Chris (October 14, 2024). "NJPW "King of Pro Wrestling" results (10/14): Vetter's review of Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, David Finlay vs. Hirooki Goto for the IWGP Global Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ Vetter, Chris (May 4, 2024). "NJPW "Wrestling Dontaku" results (5/4): Vetter's review of Jon Moxley vs. Ren Narita for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, Nic Nemeth vs. David Finlay for the IWGP Global Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Vetter, Chris (July 5, 2024). "NJPW "Soul" results (7/5): Vetter's review of Boltin Oleg vs. Taichi, and Yoshi-Hashi vs. Callum Newman in the G1 qualifier tourney finals, El Desperado vs. Douki for the IWGP Jr. Hvt. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
- ^ Vetter, Chris (September 29, 2024). "NJPW "Destruction in Kobe" results (9/29): Vetter's review of Tetsuya Naito vs. Great-O-Khan for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, David Finlay vs. Yoshi-Hashi for the IWGP Global Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ Vetter, Chris (May 12, 2024). "NJPW Resurgence results (5/11): Vetter's review of Jon Moxley vs. Shota Umino for the IWGP World Hvt. Championship, Eddie Kingston vs. Gabe Kidd for the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ NJPW Global (December 9, 2024). "OFFICIAL: As a result of HENARE's injury, HENARE and Great-O-Khan have vacated the IWGP Tag team Championships". Retrieved December 9, 2024.
- ^ Vetter, Chris (December 16, 2024). "NJPW "Strong Style Evolved" results (12/15): Vetter's review of Mercedes Mone vs. Hazuki for the NJPW Strong Women's Title, Konosuke Takeshita and Jack Perry vs. Shingo Takagi and Yota Tsuji". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
- ^ Vetter, Chris (June 16, 2024). "NJPW "Soul" results (6/15): Vetter's review of G1 entrants announced, Sho vs. El Desperado in a cage match for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship, David Finlay vs. Sanada for the IWGP Global Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- ^ Vetter, Chris (April 27, 2023). "Stardom "All Star Grand Queendom" results: Vetter's review of Giulia vs. Tam Nakano for the World of Stardom Title, Mercedes Mone vs. Mayu Iwatani for the IWGP Women's Championship, Syuri vs. Chihiro Hashimoto, Kairi, Saori Anou, and Natsupoi vs. Kurumi Hiragi, Suzu Suzuki, and Risa Sera, Mina Shirakawa vs. Saya Kamitani". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ Powell, Jason (June 30, 2024). "AEW Forbidden Door results: Powell's live review of Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay for the AEW World Championship, Jon Moxley vs. Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
