Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the wrestler has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes are not known.
*
If usednext to the names of the wrestlers, they may, in fact, not have held the title in the period indicated. If usednext to the dates or places, either they are possibly wrong or the title changes are fictitious.
<
Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a wrestler held the title at a certain time but not when he/she won it.
+
Broadcast date; the actual recording date is unknown.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
#
Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the wrestler shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are alsoitalicized in HTML files
Vacates six other titles on 97-11-05 after being forced by WWF to vacateWWF World Light Heavyweight Title; continues to hold IWGP Title; defeats WCW World Cruiserweight champion Ultimo Dragon on 98-01-04 in Tōkyō (WCW title not on the line).
With Guerrera injured, WCW orders Psicosis and La Parka to fight for the belt, and Psicosis beats up Parka in backstage; Liger defeats Psicosis in a title match.
Takaiwa Tatsuhito
2000-07-20
Sapporo
Tanaka Minoru
2000-10-29
Kōbe
Naruse Masayoshi
2001-07-20
Sapporo
Kendō Kashin [2]
2001-10-08
Tōkyō
Vacates in 02-02 when Kashin leaves New Japan.
Tanaka Minoru [2]
2002-02-16
Tōkyō
DefeatsKakihara Masahito.
Kanemoto Kōji [4]
2002-07-19
Sapporo
Tiger Mask (4th)
2003-04-23
Hiroshima
A former Michinoku wrestler trained bySayama Satoru; vacates on 03-09-23.
Jadō
2003-10-13
Tōkyō
EliminatesKanemoto Kōji in an 11-man royal rumble.
Heat(Tanaka Minoru)[3]
2003-12-14
Nagoya
Tiger Mask [2]
2005-01-04
Tōkyō
Black Tiger (RickyRomero)
2005-10-08
Tōkyō
ReigningNWA World champion; wins a double title match.
Tiger Mask [3]
2006-02-19
Tōkyō
Wins double title match.
Kanemoto Kōji [5]
2006-05-03
Fukuoka
NWA title not on line.
Minoru(Tanaka Minoru)[4]
2006-12-24
Tōkyō
Taguchi Ryūsuke
2007-06-06
Tōkyō
Inoue Wataru
2007-12-08
Ōsaka
Vacates on 08-06-16 in order to move up to the heavyweight division.
Tiger Mask [4]
2008-07-08
Tōkyō
Defeats PrinceDevitt in a 12-man tournament final.
Low-Ki
2008-09-21
Kōbe
Tiger Mask [5]
2009-01-04
Tōkyō
Mistico
2009-08-15
Tōkyō
Tiger Mask [6]
2009-11-08
Tōkyō
Marufuji Naomichi
2010-01-04
Tōkyō
PrinceDevitt
2010-06-19
Ōsaka
Ibushi Kōta
2011-06-18
Ōsaka
Vacates on 11-09-12 due to shoulder injury
PrinceDevitt [2]
2011-09-18
Kōbe
Defeats KUSHIDA.
Low Ki [2]
2012-05-03
Fukuoka
Ibushi Kōta [2]
2012-07-29
Tōkyō
Low Ki [3]
2012-10-08
Tōkyō
PrinceDevitt [3]
2012-11-11
Ōsaka
Ibushi Kōta [3]
2014-01-04
Tōkyō
KUSHIDA (Kushida Yūjiro)
2014-07-04
Tōkyō
Taguchi Ryūsuke [2]
2014-09-21
Kōbe
KennyOmega
2015-01-04
Tōkyō
KUSHIDA [2]
2015-07-05
Ōsaka
KennyOmega [2]
2015-09-23
Okayama
KUSHIDA [3]
2016-01-04
Tōkyō
BUSHI
2016-09-17
Tōkyō
KUSHIDA [4]
2016-11-05
Ōsaka
Takahashi Hiromu
2017-01-04
Tōkyō
KUSHIDA [5]
2016-06-19
Ōsaka
WillOspreay
2017-10-09
Tōkyō
MartyScurll
2017-11-05
Ōsaka
WillOspreay [2]
2018-01-04
Tōkyō
Defeats Scurll, KUSHIDA, andTakahashi Hiromu in a 4-way match.
Takahashi Hiromu [2]
2018-06-09
Ōsaka
Vacates on 18-08-20 due to injury.
KUSHIDA [6]
2018-10-08
Tōkyō
Defeats MartyScurll in tournament final.
Ishimori Taiji
2019-01-04
Tōkyō
Dragon Lee
2019-04-06
New York, NY, USA
Defeats Ishimori and Bandido in a 3-way match.
WillOspreay [3]
2019-06-09
Ōsaka
Takahashi Hiromu [3]
2020-01-04
Tōkyō
Ishimori Taiji [2]
2020-08-29
Tōkyō
Takahashi Hiromu [4]
2021-01-05
Tōkyō
Vacates on 21-02-25 due to the pectoral injury.
El Desperado
2021-02-28
Ōsaka
Defeats El Phantasmo and BUSHI in a 3-way match.
RobbieEagles
2021-07-25
Tōkyō
El Desperado [2]
2021-11-06
Ōsaka
Ishimori Taiji [3]
2022-05-01
Fukuoka
Takahashi Hiromu [5]
2023-01-04
Tōkyō
Defeats Ishimori, El Desperado, and Master Wato in a 4-way match.
