IWGP Intercontinental Championship

IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Record setting five-time and longest reigning former champion Shinsuke Nakamura with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship belt.
Details
Promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW)
Date established January 5, 2011[1]
Current champion(s) Chris Jericho
Date won June 9, 2018

The IWGP Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" is the acronym of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix.[7] The title was officially announced on January 5, 2011, and the inaugural champion was crowned during NJPW's first tour of the United States the following May. The title is unofficially considered part of the "New Japan Triple Crown" (新日本トリプルクラウン, Shin Nihon Toripuru Kuraun) along with the IWGP Heavyweight and NEVER Openweight Championships.[8]

Being a professional wrestling championship, the title is won as a result of a predetermined outcome. Overall, there have been seventeen reigns shared among eleven wrestlers. Chris Jericho is the current champion in his first reign, after defeating Tetsuya Naito on June 9, 2018 at Dominion.

History

IWGP Intercontinental Championship belt
(May 2011 — August 2012)

Championship tournament

On October 3, 2010, American promotion Jersey All Pro Wrestling announced that it had reached an agreement with NJPW for the promotion to run its first shows in the United States.[9] NJPW officially announced the NJPW Invasion Tour 2011: Attack on East Coast tour on January 4, 2011, with shows taking place on May 13 in Rahway, New Jersey, May 14 in New York City and May 15 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[10] and the following day added that during the tour, the promotion would introduce the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, with the inaugural champion to be crowned in a tournament taking place over the three shows.[1] Participants for the tournament were announced on April 8, 2011. The list of participants included former World Wrestling Entertainment performer MVP, who had signed a contract with WWE in January 2011, Kazuchika Okada, who had been on a learning excursion to American promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) since February 2010, Hideo Saito, who had been on a similar tour of Puerto Rican World Wrestling Council since September 2010, former IWGP Tag Team and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi of No Limit, NJPW regulars Tama Tonga and Toru Yano and American independent worker Dan Maff, who made his first appearance for NJPW during the tour.[11] On May 6 it was announced that Tonga had suffered an injury, which would force him out of the tournament. He would be replaced by former TNA and Ring of Honor performer Josh Daniels.[12] On May 15, MVP defeated Yano in the finals of the tournament to become the inaugural champion.[2]

Tournament bracket
Round One
(May 13) 		Semifinals
(May 14) 		Final
(May 15)
         
MVP Sub
Kazuchika Okada 12:45[13]
MVP Sub
Tetsuya Naito 10:57[14]
Josh Daniels Pin
Tetsuya Naito 12:28[13]
MVP Sub
Toru Yano 09:27[2]
Dan Maff Pin
Toru Yano 10:38[13]
Toru Yano Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 07:47[14]
Hideo Saito Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 08:28[13]

Nakamura and elevation

Shinsuke Nakamura, who held the title five times between 2012 and 2016

Through MVP's inaugural reign and the subsequent reigns of Masato Tanaka and Hirooki Goto,[15][16] the IWGP Intercontinental Championship was largely a midcard title, remaining firmly behind the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Tag Team Championship in importance.[17][18][19] However, after Shinsuke Nakamura captured the title from Goto on July 22, 2012,[20] Nakamura was already a former three-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and, with his first reign of 313 days, the title began gaining importance. Nakamura also made the title international again, defending it in both the United States and Mexico.[21][22] On May 31, 2013, while on tour with Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, with whom NJPW has a working relationship, Nakamura lost the title to La Sombra. This marked the first time the title had changed hands outside of NJPW.[23][24] Nakamura regained the title back in NJPW two months later on July 20, and in the process became the first two-time holder of the title.[25]

Nakamura continued elevating the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, culminating with the IWGP Intercontinental Championship match receiving top billing over the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match at NJPW's biggest annual event, Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2014,[26][27] where former multi-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi became the new champion.[28][29] Afterwards, Tokyo Sports wrote that the Intercontinental and Heavyweight Championships were now equals, while Dave Meltzer wrote that Nakamura and Tanahashi made the Intercontinental Championship feel like "the real world title belt".[30][31] Nakamura regained the title from Tanahashi in another main event match on April 6 at Invasion Attack 2014.[32][33][34] Nakamura's association with the championship continued to 2016, when he successfully defended it against former IWGP Heavyweight Champion A.J. Styles at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome.[35][36] On January 25, 2016, Nakamura was stripped of the title due to his departure from the promotion at the end of the month.[37][38][39]

From 2012 to 2016, Nakamura held the IWGP Intercontinental Championship for a record five times and defended it at four consecutive Wrestle Kingdom events.[40] The title was also associated with Nakamura as it was he who personally introduced the current title belt design shortly into his first reign in August 2012. He was outspokenly disapproving of the first belt design with bronze plates on a black strap for its resemblance to a 10 yen coin and saw it as a mockery of the IWGP.[20][41] The new design featured gold plates on a white strap. The white strap was unprecedented for the IWGP,[21] and symbolized a clean slate for its holder to add to and define.[42] Over the years, the title belt's physical condition got progressively worse, most notably during the first reign of Tetsuya Naito, who began systematically destroying the belt, forcing NJPW to have it repaired in June 2017.[43][44]

Reigns

There have been nineteen reigns shared among twelve wrestlers. MVP was the first champion in the title's history.[2] Shinsuke Nakamura holds the record for most reigns at five.[20][25][32][45][46] His first reign of 313 days is the longest reign in the title's history. Tetsuya Naito’s second reign of 41 days is the shortest in the title's history. Chris Jericho is the current champion in his first reign beating Tetsuya Naito at Dominion.

References

  1. 1 2 Caldwell, James (January 5, 2011). "WWE News: New Japan to introduce new title on U.S. tour, officially announces dates & venues for "Invasion" tour". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "NY遠征最終日、真壁がライノ撃破! 初代インターコンチ王者はMVP！ ライガーまさかの王座陥落!!（結果速報）". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  3. ↑ 棚橋 弘至. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 11, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  4. ↑ 「ビバ！メヒコ メキシコ通信局」次代のニューヒーロー・ソンブラ. NPN (in Japanese). November 25, 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  5. ↑ バッドラック・ファレ. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Statistics for Professional wrestlers". PWI Presents: 2008 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. pp. 66–79. 2008 Edition.
  7. ↑ Fiorvanti, Tim (January 2, 2017). "What to watch for at New Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 11". ESPN. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ 真壁 ＩＣ王座に照準の真意. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). February 29, 2016. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
  9. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (October 3, 2010). "New Japan Pro Wrestling comes to the U.S." Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on October 6, 2010. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  10. ↑ Johnson, Mike (January 4, 2011). "New Japan announces dates and cities for American tour". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  11. ↑ Martin, Adam (April 8, 2011). "Indy News #2: Chikara, WWE, Wrestling on GFL". Wrestleview. Archived from the original on April 13, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  12. ↑ "ニューヨーク遠征のカードが続々決定!! 棚橋はチャーリー・ハースとIWGP戦! ジュニアタッグ防衛戦も決定!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 6, 2011. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 4 初日から大熱狂も、真壁がライノに敗戦! 新設ベルト争奪戦は？ 5.13ニュージャージー大会詳細アップ!!. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 14, 2011. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. 1 2 夜の摩天楼で奏でる渾身のエアギター！棚橋がＣ・ハースをハイフライ葬！ 大熱狂のニューヨーク大会2日目詳報！. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 15, 2011. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Destruction '11". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  16. ↑ "The New Beginning". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 15, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Dominion 6.18". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Power Struggle". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 14, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  19. ↑ "New Japan Alive 2011". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 6, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 "NJPW 40th anniversary Tour Kizuna Road". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  21. 1 2 "【アメリカ遠征速報!!】中邑がIC王座初防衛!! 新ベルトも披露!! A・シェリーをKushidaが救出!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). August 28, 2012. Archived from the original on August 30, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  22. ↑ Gee Schoon Tong, Chris (August 27, 2012). "8/26 SWF results Northern California: Alex Shelley & A.J. Kirsch challenge for IWGP Jr. Tag Titles, New Japan's IC Title defended, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  23. ↑ Salazar López, Alexis A. (June 1, 2013). "Resultados Arena México Viernes 31 de Mayo '13". Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (in Spanish). Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
  24. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (June 1, 2013). "Sombra wins IC title at Arena Mexico". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  25. 1 2 "吉野家Presents Kizuna Road 2013". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  26. ↑ "【WK8】1.4東京ドーム全カード!! 　メインは中邑vs棚橋に決定!! 後藤vs柴田! 真壁vsファレ! 小島がNWA挑戦! ハーリー・レイス氏も登場!! 　"X"とは？". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). December 9, 2013. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  27. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (December 9, 2013). "Tokyo Dome main event is". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  28. ↑ "バディファイトPresents Wrestle Kingdom 8 in 東京ドーム". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  29. ↑ Caldwell, James (January 4, 2014). "Caldwell's NJPW Tokyo Dome results 1/4: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of New Japan's biggest show of the year - four title changes, former WWE/TNA stars featured, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  30. ↑ 棚橋 ＩＣ王座防衛したら「ＮＪＣボイコット」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). February 8, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  31. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (February 9, 2014). "New Japan The New Beginning live coverage from Hiroshima". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  32. 1 2 "Invasion Attack 2014". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  33. ↑ 中邑が棚橋破りインターコンチ王座奪回. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). April 7, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  34. ↑ Caldwell, James (April 6, 2014). "Caldwell's NJPW PPV results 4/6: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of "Invasion Attack 2014" - Nakamura regains IC Title, A.J. Styles big angle, new NWA tag champions, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  35. ↑ 【WK10】“日米カリスマ対決”は、大激戦を制した中邑がAJにボマイェで逆転勝利！「さらなる高みを目指す」【1.4東京ドーム結果】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 4, 2016. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  36. ↑ Caldwell, James (January 4, 2016). "1/4 NJPW "Wrestle Kingdom" Tokyo Dome Show – Caldwell's Complete Live Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  37. ↑ 中邑真輔が退団会見でインターコンチ王座を返上し、深々と礼。 新日本のレスラー人生を振り返り「こんなレスラー、他にいなかったなと」【1.25会見】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). January 25, 2016. Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  38. ↑ 中邑が新日退団会見「新たな刺激、環境、舞台を求めて挑戦し続ける」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). January 25, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  39. ↑ Caldwell, James (January 25, 2016). "Nakamura formally announces NJPW exit, stripped of IC Title". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  40. ↑ 中邑が１・４ドームＩＣ戦の挑戦者を公募. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). October 24, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  41. ↑ 「中邑との闘いは、ほかの選手たちとは違った感情」/7・22山形決戦直前！ IWGP IC王座防衛戦に臨む後藤洋央紀に直撃インタビュー！. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). July 21, 2016. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  42. ↑ 「前のベルトに戻す!!」荒武者がインターコンチ愛を告白!! 中邑は「好きにすればいい」と余裕の構え!!（IC王座調印式）. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 5, 2012. Archived from the original on November 8, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  43. ↑ Currier, Joseph (June 24, 2017). "Daily Update: Mae Young Classic additions, Ranallo, Tanahashi". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  44. ↑ Rose, Bryan (June 10, 2017). "NJPW Dominion live results: Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  45. ↑ "Destruction in Kobe". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Destruction in Kobe". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 24, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
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