NWA International Heavyweight Championship
A historic NWA singles title, unified into the Triple Crown in 1989.
The NWA International Heavyweight Championship was a singles title recognized by the National Wrestling Alliance through its partnership with the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance, and later by All Japan Pro Wrestling.
Quick Facts
- Promotion
- New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW)
- Type
- Singles, open weight class
- Card position
- Secondary championship, below the main-event title
- Status
- Retired
- Active era
- 1980s through the 1990s
- Notable holders
- Bob Backlund
- Stan Hansen
- Toshiaki Kawada
- Masahiro Chono
- Keiji Mutoh
Lore & Background
It is one of the three titles unified into the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship in 1989. In 1983, Giant Baba would elevate the title further in the eyes of many when he, as the reigning PWF Heavyweight Champion, declared Jumbo Tsuruta to be the new 'Ace' of All Japan after Jumbo won the NWA International Heavyweight Championship from Bruiser Brody. Following the withdrawal of All Japan from the NWA, the International title was briefly sanctioned by the Pacific Wrestling Federation until the unification of the Triple Crown could be completed.
Reader's Guide
Under Rikidōzan the belt had a design similar to Lou Thesz's original NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt during the 1950s, but after Rikidōzan's death, the belt given to Giant Baba had the design seen on the belt part of the Triple Crown until 2013. The original design was later used on the PWF Heavyweight Championship, the UWFI belt (which was the original Lou Thesz belt), and a belt later given to Kazushi Sakuraba for show.
More in Championships & Titles
Elsewhere in New Japan Pro Wrestling
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