Felix Upton on January 5, 2026
Yota Tsuji has officially revived the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
At NJPW New Year Dash!!, Tsuji revealed the title before his scheduled eight-man tag team match, presenting the classic IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt to the live crowd. This comes just days after Tsuji defeated Konosuke Takeshita at Wrestle Kingdom 20 to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
The IWGP World Heavyweight Title was introduced in 2021, when Kota Ibushi unified the original IWGP Heavyweight Championship with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.
Tsuji is also still the reigning IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. Before Wrestle Kingdom 20, Tsuji frequently expressed his desire to restore the legacy of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which was originally established in 1987.
Tsuji often spoke about wanting to restore the legacy of the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which was established in 1987, in the lead up to Wrestle Kingdom 20. With the belt now back in circulation, all eyes are on what this means for NJPW’s championship hierarchy.
Do you think reviving the IWGP Heavyweight Title was the right call? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
January 5, 2026 6:57 am
Disqus Comments Loading...