World Heavyweight Championship | |||||||||||
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Details | |||||||||||
Promotion | New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) | ||||||||||
Date established | 1972 | ||||||||||
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The World Heavyweight Championship (世界ヘビー級王座, sekai hebī-kyū ōza), also referred to as the Real World Championship was a championship established and promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling.[1] Karl Gotch was billed as a first champion by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It used the belt (or belt replica) of American Wrestling Alliance (Ohio)'s AWA World Heavyweight Championship,[a] which was held by Karl Gotch from September 11, 1962 to September 7, 1964.[2] The title was successfully defended only once, by Antonio Inoki against Red Pimpernel on day 12 of New Golden Series on October 9, 1972.[3] Karl Gotch was the final champion in his second reign,[4] winning the title from Antonio Inoki on October 10, 1972.[5]
Over the championship's one-year history, there were only two reigns between two champions. Karl Gotch was the inaugural champion with most reigns, at two times. Gotch was also the final champion.
No. | Overall reign number |
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Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
Days | Number of days held |
Defences | Number of successful defences |
N/A | Unknown information |
(NET) | Championship change took place "no earlier than" the date listed |
No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | ||||
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Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Defences | ||||
1 | Karl Gotch | January 13, 1972 (NET) |
N/A | N/A | 1 | N/A | 0 | Recognized as a champion by NJPW using the belt (or its replica) of AWA World Heavyweight Championship. | |
2 | Antonio Inoki | October 4, 1972 | New Golden Series | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 6 | 1 | Won the title via count-out. Lou Thesz was the special guest referee. | [6][7] |
3 | Karl Gotch | October 10, 1972 | New Golden Series | Osaka, Japan | 2 | N/A | 0 | [5] | |
— | Deactivated | October 10, 1972 (NET) |
— | — | — | — | — | The championship was abandoned without any formal announcement. |