NJPW has announced that the IWGP US Heavyweight Title will become the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, with Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley vs. David Finlay being crowned the new champion. NJPW issued the following:
“IWGP Global Championship announced for Dome three way 【WK18】
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The post World Tag League press conference on December 11 saw the face of January4’s three way battle between Jon Moxley, David Finlay and Will Ospreay change with the official introduction of a new title for the match.
After Finlay destroyed both the IWGP United States and United Kingdom Championships at Power Struggle in November, Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced that a new title would replace the IWGP US (UK) Championship designation. Today that title has officially been named the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, with this comment from Sugabayashi.
‘The IWGP US Heavyweight Championship came into being in July 2017 to mark NJPW’s first major event in the United States of America in Long Beach. After its introduction, it became the symbol of NJPW competition in the USA.
In the years that followed, the title would be defended in Japan, becoming familiar to Japanese fans as well. However, with the introduction of the IWGP UK Championship this summer, there was confusion among fans as to the status of the title.
With that in mind, this new championship combines and adds to the US and UK Championship roles, and will be called the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. As has already been discussed in a recent business strategy presentation, NJPW is working to ensure that 2024 sees our presence grow not just in the UK and the US, but throughout all of Europe, the rest of Asia and Oceania.
With a mindfulness on the international space, there was discussion of renewing the defunct IWGP Intercontinental Championship, but as we see an entirely new level of international involvement, the IWGP Global Heavyweight name was decided to be the most fitting. We hope fans look forward to seeing the brand new title and the matches contested for it.
As a result, January 4’s three way at Wrestle Kingdom between Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley and David Finlay will officially determine the first IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. Thank you.”
Check out the updated card here.
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NJPW Announces IWGP Global Heavyweight Title for Wrestle Kingdom 18
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) has recently made an exciting announcement regarding the IWGP US Heavyweight Title. At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18, the championship will be transformed into the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title. The inaugural champion will be determined in a three-way match featuring Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley, and David Finlay.
The decision to introduce the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title was made during the World Tag League press conference on December 11. This new title will replace the previous IWGP US (UK) Championship designation, following David Finlay’s destruction of both the IWGP United States and United Kingdom Championships at Power Struggle in November.
Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi explained the reasoning behind this change, stating that the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship was initially created in July 2017 to mark NJPW’s first major event in the United States. Over time, the title gained popularity among Japanese fans as well. However, with the introduction of the IWGP UK Championship this summer, confusion arose regarding the status of the title.
To address this confusion and expand NJPW’s presence globally, the decision was made to combine and enhance the roles of the US and UK Championships. The new title, the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, will not only represent NJPW’s competition in the USA but also in the UK, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
While there were discussions about reviving the defunct IWGP Intercontinental Championship, NJPW ultimately decided that the IWGP Global Heavyweight name best suited their international expansion plans. Fans can look forward to witnessing the brand new title and the exciting matches contested for it.
The first-ever IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion will be determined at Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4, 2024, in a three-way battle between Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley, and David Finlay. This match will undoubtedly be a highlight of the event and set the tone for the future of the championship.
For more information about the updated card for Wrestle Kingdom 18, you can visit the official NJPW website or check out the link provided in the article.
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The introduction of the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title at Wrestle Kingdom 18 marks an exciting new chapter for NJPW and its international expansion. Wrestling fans around the world can look forward to witnessing thrilling matches and the crowning of the first-ever IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.