IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship
Updated: 11/6/2025, 2:27:50 AM Wikipedia source
The IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship (IWGP USヘビー級王座, IWGP US hebī-kyū ōza) was a professional wrestling championship owned and promoted by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. "IWGP" are the initials of NJPW's governing body, the International Wrestling Grand Prix (インターナショナル・レスリング・グラン・プリ, intānashonaru resuringu guran puri). The final champion was Will Ospreay, who was in his second reign at the time of the title's deactivation. On December 11, 2023, the title was replaced by the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.
Infobox
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Date established
May 12, 2017
Date retired
December 11, 2023
Statistics
StatisticsFirst championKenny OmegaFinal championWill OspreayMost reigns3 reigns: Hiroshi Tanahashi Juice Robinson Longest reignJon Moxley(2nd reign, 564 days)Shortest reignHiroshi Tanahashi(3rd reign, 13 days)Oldest championHiroshi Tanahashi(45 years, 169 days)Youngest championJay White(25 years, 110 days)Heaviest championLance Archer(124 kg (273 lb))Lightest championKenta(85 kg (187 lb))
First champion
Kenny Omega
Final champion
Will Ospreay
Most reigns
3 reigns: Hiroshi Tanahashi Juice Robinson
Longest reign
Jon Moxley(2nd reign, 564 days)
Shortest reign
Hiroshi Tanahashi(3rd reign, 13 days)
Oldest champion
Hiroshi Tanahashi(45 years, 169 days)
Youngest champion
Jay White(25 years, 110 days)
Heaviest champion
Lance Archer(124 kg (273 lb))
Lightest champion
Kenta(85 kg (187 lb))
Tables
· Reigns › Names
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship
Name
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship
Years
May 12, 2017 – December 11, 2023
IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship
IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship
Name
IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship
Years
August 12, 2023 – December 11, 2023
| Name | Years |
| IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship | May 12, 2017 – December 11, 2023 |
| IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship | August 12, 2023 – December 11, 2023 |
Key · Reigns › Names
Reign
Reign
No.
Reign
Overall reign number
Reign number for the specific champion
Days
Days
No.
Days
Overall reign number
Number of days held
Defenses
Defenses
No.
Defenses
Overall reign number
Number of successful defenses
+
+
No.
+
Overall reign number
Current reign is changing daily
| No. | Overall reign number |
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| Defenses | Number of successful defenses |
| + | Current reign is changing daily |
· Reigns › Names
Date
Date
No.
Date
Champion
Event
Championship change
Location
Championship change
Reign
Championship change
Days
Reign statistics
Defenses
1
1
No.
1
Champion
Kenny Omega
Championship change
July 2, 2017
Championship change
G1 Special in USANight 2
Championship change
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
210
Reign statistics
4
Notes
Defeated Tomohiro Ishii in the final of an eight-man single-elimination tournament to become the inaugural champion.
2
2
No.
2
Champion
Jay White
Championship change
January 28, 2018
Championship change
The New Beginning in Sapporo
Championship change
Sapporo, Japan
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
160
Reign statistics
3
3
3
No.
3
Champion
Juice Robinson
Championship change
July 7, 2018
Championship change
G1 Special in San Francisco
Championship change
Daly City, California, U.S.
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
85
Reign statistics
0
4
4
No.
4
Champion
Cody
Championship change
September 30, 2018
Championship change
Fighting Spirit Unleashed
Championship change
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
96
Reign statistics
0
5
5
No.
5
Champion
Juice Robinson
Championship change
January 4, 2019
Championship change
Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome
Championship change
Tokyo, Japan
Reign statistics
2
Reign statistics
152
Reign statistics
3
6
6
No.
6
Champion
Jon Moxley
Championship change
June 5, 2019
Championship change
Best of the Super Juniors 26 Final
Championship change
Tokyo, Japan
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
130
Reign statistics
0
—
—
No.
—
Champion
Vacated
Championship change
October 14, 2019
Championship change
—
Championship change
—
Reign statistics
—
Reign statistics
—
Reign statistics
—
Notes
The championship was vacated after Jon Moxley was unable to wrestle in a scheduled championship defense at King of Pro-Wrestling due to travel issues arising from Typhoon Hagibis.
7
7
No.
7
Champion
Lance Archer
Championship change
October 14, 2019
Championship change
King of Pro-Wrestling
Championship change
Tokyo, Japan
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
82
Reign statistics
1
Notes
Defeated Juice Robinson in a no disqualification match to win the vacant championship.
8
8
No.
8
Champion
Jon Moxley
Championship change
January 4, 2020
Championship change
Wrestle Kingdom 14Night 1
Championship change
Tokyo, Japan
Reign statistics
2
Reign statistics
564
Reign statistics
5
Notes
This was a Texas Death Match.
9
9
No.
9
Champion
Lance Archer
Championship change
July 21, 2021
Championship change
AEW Fyter FestNight 2
Championship change
Garland, Texas, U.S.
Reign statistics
2
Reign statistics
24
Reign statistics
1
Notes
This was a Texas Death Match.
10
10
No.
10
Champion
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Championship change
August 14, 2021
Championship change
Resurgence
Championship change
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
84
Reign statistics
1
11
11
No.
11
Champion
Kenta
Championship change
November 6, 2021
Championship change
Power Struggle
Championship change
Osaka, Japan
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
60
Reign statistics
0
12
12
No.
12
Champion
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Championship change
January 5, 2022
Championship change
Wrestle Kingdom 16Night 2
Championship change
Tokyo, Japan
Reign statistics
2
Reign statistics
45
Reign statistics
0
Notes
This was a no disqualification match.
13
13
No.
13
Champion
Sanada
Championship change
February 19, 2022
Championship change
New Years Golden Series
Championship change
Sapporo, Japan
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
49
Reign statistics
0
—
—
No.
—
Champion
Vacated
Championship change
April 9, 2022
Championship change
—
Championship change
—
Reign statistics
—
Reign statistics
—
Reign statistics
—
Notes
The championship was vacated after Sanada suffered a fractured orbital bone.
14
14
No.
14
Champion
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Championship change
May 1, 2022
Championship change
Wrestling Dontaku
Championship change
Fukuoka, Japan
Reign statistics
3
Reign statistics
13
Reign statistics
0
Notes
Defeated Tomohiro Ishii to win the vacant championship.
15
15
No.
15
Champion
Juice Robinson
Championship change
May 14, 2022
Championship change
Capital Collision
Championship change
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Reign statistics
3
Reign statistics
28
Reign statistics
0
Notes
This was a fatal four-way match, also involving Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay.
—
—
No.
—
Champion
Vacated
Championship change
June 11, 2022
Championship change
—
Championship change
—
Reign statistics
—
Reign statistics
—
Reign statistics
—
Notes
The championship was vacated after Juice Robinson was unable to wrestle in a scheduled championship defense at Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall due to suffering from appendicitis.
16
16
No.
16
Champion
Will Ospreay
Championship change
June 12, 2022
Championship change
Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall
Championship change
Osaka, Japan
Reign statistics
1
Reign statistics
206
Reign statistics
4
Notes
Defeated Sanada to win the vacant championship.
17
17
No.
17
Champion
Kenny Omega
Championship change
January 4, 2023
Championship change
Wrestle Kingdom 17
Championship change
Tokyo, Japan
Reign statistics
2
Reign statistics
172
Reign statistics
1
18
18
No.
18
Champion
Will Ospreay
Championship change
June 25, 2023
Championship change
AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door
Championship change
Toronto, ON, Canada
Reign statistics
2
Reign statistics
169
Reign statistics
3
Notes
During this reign, Ospreay rebranded the title as the IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship.
—
—
No.
—
Champion
Deactivated
Championship change
December 11, 2023
Championship change
—
Championship change
—
Reign statistics
—
Reign statistics
—
Reign statistics
—
Notes
Replaced by the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship.
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | ||||||
| Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Defenses | ||||||
| New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) | |||||||||||
| 1 | Kenny Omega | July 2, 2017 | G1 Special in USANight 2 | Long Beach, California, U.S. | 1 | 210 | 4 | Defeated Tomohiro Ishii in the final of an eight-man single-elimination tournament to become the inaugural champion. | |||
| 2 | Jay White | January 28, 2018 | The New Beginning in Sapporo | Sapporo, Japan | 1 | 160 | 3 | ||||
| 3 | Juice Robinson | July 7, 2018 | G1 Special in San Francisco | Daly City, California, U.S. | 1 | 85 | 0 | ||||
| 4 | Cody | September 30, 2018 | Fighting Spirit Unleashed | Long Beach, California, U.S. | 1 | 96 | 0 | ||||
| 5 | Juice Robinson | January 4, 2019 | Wrestle Kingdom 13 in Tokyo Dome | Tokyo, Japan | 2 | 152 | 3 | ||||
| 6 | Jon Moxley | June 5, 2019 | Best of the Super Juniors 26 Final | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 130 | 0 | ||||
| — | Vacated | October 14, 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | The championship was vacated after Jon Moxley was unable to wrestle in a scheduled championship defense at King of Pro-Wrestling due to travel issues arising from Typhoon Hagibis. | |||
| 7 | Lance Archer | October 14, 2019 | King of Pro-Wrestling | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 82 | 1 | Defeated Juice Robinson in a no disqualification match to win the vacant championship. | |||
| 8 | Jon Moxley | January 4, 2020 | Wrestle Kingdom 14Night 1 | Tokyo, Japan | 2 | 564 | 5 | This was a Texas Death Match. | |||
| 9 | Lance Archer | July 21, 2021 | AEW Fyter FestNight 2 | Garland, Texas, U.S. | 2 | 24 | 1 | This was a Texas Death Match. | |||
| 10 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | August 14, 2021 | Resurgence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | 1 | 84 | 1 | ||||
| 11 | Kenta | November 6, 2021 | Power Struggle | Osaka, Japan | 1 | 60 | 0 | ||||
| 12 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | January 5, 2022 | Wrestle Kingdom 16Night 2 | Tokyo, Japan | 2 | 45 | 0 | This was a no disqualification match. | |||
| 13 | Sanada | February 19, 2022 | New Years Golden Series | Sapporo, Japan | 1 | 49 | 0 | ||||
| — | Vacated | April 9, 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | The championship was vacated after Sanada suffered a fractured orbital bone. | |||
| 14 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | May 1, 2022 | Wrestling Dontaku | Fukuoka, Japan | 3 | 13 | 0 | Defeated Tomohiro Ishii to win the vacant championship. | |||
| 15 | Juice Robinson | May 14, 2022 | Capital Collision | Washington, D.C., U.S. | 3 | 28 | 0 | This was a fatal four-way match, also involving Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay. | |||
| — | Vacated | June 11, 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | The championship was vacated after Juice Robinson was unable to wrestle in a scheduled championship defense at Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall due to suffering from appendicitis. | |||
| 16 | Will Ospreay | June 12, 2022 | Dominion 6.12 in Osaka-jo Hall | Osaka, Japan | 1 | 206 | 4 | Defeated Sanada to win the vacant championship. | |||
| 17 | Kenny Omega | January 4, 2023 | Wrestle Kingdom 17 | Tokyo, Japan | 2 | 172 | 1 | ||||
| 18 | Will Ospreay | June 25, 2023 | AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door | Toronto, ON, Canada | 2 | 169 | 3 | During this reign, Ospreay rebranded the title as the IWGP United Kingdom Heavyweight Championship. | |||
| — | Deactivated | December 11, 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | Replaced by the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. | |||
· Combined reigns
1
1
Rank
1
Wrestler
Jon Moxley
No. ofreigns
2
Combineddefenses
5
Combineddays
694
2
2
Rank
2
Wrestler
Kenny Omega
No. ofreigns
2
Combineddefenses
5
Combineddays
382
3
3
Rank
3
Wrestler
Will Ospreay
No. ofreigns
2
Combineddefenses
7
Combineddays
375
4
4
Rank
4
Wrestler
Juice Robinson
No. ofreigns
3
Combineddefenses
5
Combineddays
265
5
5
Rank
5
Wrestler
Jay White
No. ofreigns
1
Combineddefenses
3
Combineddays
160
6
6
Rank
6
Wrestler
Hiroshi Tanahashi
No. ofreigns
3
Combineddefenses
1
Combineddays
142
7
7
Rank
7
Wrestler
Lance Archer
No. ofreigns
2
Combineddefenses
2
Combineddays
106
8
8
Rank
8
Wrestler
Cody
No. ofreigns
1
Combineddefenses
0
Combineddays
96
9
9
Rank
9
Wrestler
Kenta
No. ofreigns
1
Combineddefenses
0
Combineddays
60
10
10
Rank
10
Wrestler
Sanada
No. ofreigns
1
Combineddefenses
0
Combineddays
49
| Rank | Wrestler | No. ofreigns | Combineddefenses | Combineddays |
| 1 | Jon Moxley | 2 | 5 | 694 |
| 2 | Kenny Omega | 2 | 5 | 382 |
| 3 | Will Ospreay | 2 | 7 | 375 |
| 4 | Juice Robinson | 3 | 5 | 265 |
| 5 | Jay White | 1 | 3 | 160 |
| 6 | Hiroshi Tanahashi | 3 | 1 | 142 |
| 7 | Lance Archer | 2 | 2 | 106 |
| 8 | Cody | 1 | 0 | 96 |
| 9 | Kenta | 1 | 0 | 60 |
| 10 | Sanada | 1 | 0 | 49 |
· External links
Preceded byIWGP Intercontinental Championship
Preceded byIWGP Intercontinental Championship
Sporting positions
Preceded byIWGP Intercontinental Championship
Sporting positions
New Japan Pro-Wrestling's secondary heavyweight championship 2021–2023
Sporting positions
Succeeded byIWGP Global Heavyweight Championship
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded byIWGP Intercontinental Championship | New Japan Pro-Wrestling's secondary heavyweight championship 2021–2023 | Succeeded byIWGP Global Heavyweight Championship |
References
- Wrestling Observer Newsletterhttp://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-crown-first-iwgp-united-states-champion-long-beach-235471
- Wrestling Observer Newsletterhttps://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/njpw-introducing-iwgp-global-championship-at-wrestle-kingdom-18
- New Japan Pro-Wrestlinghttp://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/89543?showResult=1
- ESPNhttps://web.archive.org/web/20170103173227/http://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/18393248/new-japan-pro-wrestling-watch-wrestle-kingdom-11
- Pro Wrestling Insiderhttp://pwinsider.com/article/109574/new-japan-announces-new-championship-unveils-belt.html?p=1
- New Japan Pro-Wrestlinghttps://web.archive.org/web/20170513092925/http://www.njpw.co.jp/96430
- Wrestling Observer Newsletterhttps://search.worldcat.org/issn/1083-9593
- Nikkan Sportshttp://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/1761037.html
- Tokyo Sportshttps://web.archive.org/web/20170622214755/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/687155/
- Pro Wrestling Insiderhttp://www.pwinsider.com/article/54081/new-japan-to-institute-new-belt-in-united-states-and-more-njpw-in-the-states-news.html?p=1
- ESPNhttp://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/19776391/the-ultimate-guide-new-japan-pro-wrestling-g1-special-usa-shows-long-beach
- "Will Ospreay Introduces New NJPW Title Belt"https://whatculture.com/wwe/will-ospreay-introduces-new-njpw-title-belt
- "Will Ospreay reveals IWGP United Kingdom Championship! 【G133】 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING"https://www.njpw1972.com/157711
- New Japan Pro-Wrestlinghttps://web.archive.org/web/20180109063846/http://www.njpw.co.jp/97273
- New Japan Pro-Wrestlinghttps://web.archive.org/web/20170618180350/http://www.njpw.co.jp/101285
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- Wrestling Observer Newsletterhttp://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-g1-special-live-results-first-iwgp-us-champion-crowned-238471
- New Japan Pro-Wrestlinghttp://www.njpw.co.jp/tornament/89537?showResult=1
- Wrestling Observer Newsletterhttp://www.f4wonline.com/japan/njpw-destruction-kobe-live-results-kenny-omega-vs-juice-robinson-243361
- Wrestling Observer Newsletterhttp://www.f4wonline.com/roh-results/roh-global-wars-chicago-live-results-kenny-omega-vs-yoshi-hashi-244586
- Tokyo Sportshttps://web.archive.org/web/20171112021151/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/825325/
- New Japan Pro-Wrestlinghttp://www.njpw.co.jp/champions
- WON/F4Whttps://www.f4wonline.com/new-japan-news/njpw-new-japan-cup-usa-2021-tournament-bracket-set-337091
- "David Finlay Smashes Both IWGP UK and US Championships, Attacks Ospreay and Moxley at NJPW Power Struggle | Fightful News"https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/david-finlay-smashes-both-iwgp-uk-and-us-championships-attacks-ospreay-and-moxley-njpw-power?amp
- "NJPW creating new title to replace IWGP US/UK Championship"https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/njpw-creating-new-title-to-replace-iwgp-us-uk-championship
- "NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo 2018 - Day 2"https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=192404
- "NJPW G1 Special In San Francisco"https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=201964
- "NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed"https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=210484
- "NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 13 In Tokyo Dome"https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=217624
- "NJPW Best Of The Super Junior XXVI - Day 15"https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=231730
- Wrestling Observer Figure Four Onlinehttps://www.f4wonline.com/new-japan-news/moxley-sabre-njpw-kopw-due-travel-issues-us-title-now-vacant-294791
- Wrestling Observer Figure Four Onlinehttps://www.f4wonline.com/new-japan-results/njpw-king-pro-wrestling-live-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-sanada-294781
- "2020.01.04 WRESTLE KINGDOM in TOKYO DOME"https://web.archive.org/web/20220530232522/https://www.njpw1972.com/tornament/49954?showResult=1
- Pro Wrestling Dot Nethttps://prowrestling.net/site/2021/07/21/7-21-aew-dynamite-results-barnetts-live-review-of-fyter-fest-night-two-with-jon-moxley-vs-lance-archer-in-a-texas-deathmatch-for-the-iwgp-u-s-championship-britt-baker-vs-nyla-rose-for-the/
- Pro Wrestling Dot Nethttps://prowrestling.net/site/2021/08/14/8-14-njpw-resurgence-results-lance-archer-vs-hiroshi-tanahashi-for-the-iwgp-u-s-championship-jay-white-vs-david-finlay-for-the-never-openweight-championship-jon-moxley-and-a-mystery-partner-vs/
- "NJPW Power Struggle 2021 - TV-Show @ EDION Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan"https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=325636
- Pro Wrestling Dot Nethttps://prowrestling.net/site/2022/01/05/1-5-njpw-wrestle-kingdom-16-results-kazuchika-okada-vs-will-ospreay-for-the-iwgp-world-heavyweight-championship-kenta-vs-hiroshi-tanahashi-for-the-iwgp-u-s-championship-tetsuya-naito-vs-jeff-co/
- "NJPW New Years Golden Series 2022 - Tag 14 - TV-Show @ Hokkaido Prefectural Sports Center in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan"https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=331623
- "NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2022 - TV-Show @ Fukuoka Dome in Fukuoka, Japan"https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=331610
- Wrestling Observer Figure Four Onlinehttps://www.f4wonline.com/.amp/news/new-japan/results/njpw-capital-collision-live-results-tanahashi-vs-ospreay-vs-moxley-vs-robinson
- Fightfulhttps://www.fightful.com/wrestling/juice-robinson-stripped-iwgp-us-title-new-champion-be-crowned-njpw-dominion
- Wrestling Observer Figure Four Onlinehttps://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/results/njpw-dominion-live-results-six-title-matches-aew-interim-world-title-eliminator
- Pro Wrestling Dot Nethttps://prowrestling.net/site/2023/01/04/njpw-wrestle-kingdom-17-results-powells-live-report-on-jay-white-vs-kazuchika-okada-for-the-iwgp-world-heavyweight-championship-will-ospreay-vs-kenny-omega-for-the-iwgp-u-s-championship-kairi/
- Pro Wrestling Dot Nethttps://prowrestling.net/site/2023/06/25/aew-njpw-forbidden-door-results-powells-live-review-of-bryan-danielson-vs-kazuchika-okada-kenny-omega-vs-will-ospreay-for-the-iwgp-u-s-championship-mjf-vs-hiroshi-tanahashi-for-the-aew-world/