IWA World Heavyweight Championship (International Pro Wrestling)
Encyclopedia
The International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling
world heavyweight championship
of the Japan
ese professional wrestling
promotion known as International Pro Wrestling
(Kokusai Puroresu). It was the first Japanese heavyweight title to be billed as a World title, and in the 1970s and early 80s it was one of the most important titles in Japan. The title died with the promotion in 1981 but was later revived by Goro Tsurumi for his independent Kokusai Promotion.
1Billy Robinson defeated Toyonobori
in the final of an 11-man round-robin
tournament to become the first IWA World champion.
2Robinson defeated Great Kusatsu in a tournament final.
3Rusher Kimura defeated The Undertaker (Hans Schroeder) in a rematch for the held-up title.
4Kimura defeated Super Assassin, who had replaced the injured Umanosuke Ueda in the rematch for the held-up title.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
world heavyweight championship
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
of the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
promotion known as International Pro Wrestling
International Pro Wrestling
International Pro Wrestling , also known as International Wrestling Enterprise, was a professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1966 to 1981. Founded by Isao Yoshihara, it was affiliated with the American Wrestling Association in the United States and also had tie-ins with promotions in Europe...
(Kokusai Puroresu). It was the first Japanese heavyweight title to be billed as a World title, and in the 1970s and early 80s it was one of the most important titles in Japan. The title died with the promotion in 1981 but was later revived by Goro Tsurumi for his independent Kokusai Promotion.
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Place: |
| Billy Robinson Billy Robinson Billy Robinson is a British professional wrestler and catch wrestling instructor. Robinson was well known in Japan where he has trained mixed martial arts fighters in catch wrestling... 1 |
1 | December 12, 1968 | Okayama, Okayama Okayama, Okayama is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 705,224 and a population density of 893 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km².... |
| Thunder Sugiyama | 1 | May 19, 1969 | Sendai, Miyagi Sendai, Miyagi is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and the largest city in the Tōhoku Region. In 2005, the city had a population of one million, and was one of Japan's 19 designated cities... |
| Dr. Bill Miller | 1 | March 4, 1971 | Kokura, Fukuoka |
| Strong Kobayashi | 1 | June 19, 1971 | Duluth, MN |
| Wahoo McDaniel Wahoo McDaniel Edward "Wahoo" McDaniel was a Choctaw-Chickasaw Native American who achieved fame as a professional American football player and later as a professional wrestler.-Early life:... |
1 | November 9, 1973 | Tokushima,Katsuura |
| Strong Kobayashi | 2 | November 30, 1973 | Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... |
| The title was vacated on February 13, 1974 when Kobayashi jumped to New Japan Pro Wrestling New Japan Pro Wrestling is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it... to challenge Antonio Inoki Antonio Inoki is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes... . |
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| Billy Robinson2 | 2 | June 3, 1974 | Korakuen Hall Korakuen Hall is an arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts matches. Part of Tokyo Dome City, it is one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. It opened on April 16, 1962 and has a capacity of approximately 1,800 people. The venue hosted the boxing... , Tokyo Bunkyo, Tokyo is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. Situated in the middle of the ward area, Bunkyō is a residential and educational center. Beginning in the Meiji period, literati like Natsume Sōseki, as well as scholars and politicians have lived there... |
| Superstar Billy Graham | 1 | August 16, 1974 | Denver, CO |
| Mighty Inoue | 1 | October 7, 1974 | Koshigaya, Saitama Koshigaya, Saitama is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 325,074 and a population density of 5,390 persons per km². The total area is 60.31 km².... |
| Mad Dog Vachon Maurice Vachon Maurice Vachon is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known by his ring name "Mad Dog" Vachon. He is the brother of wrestlers Paul and Vivian Vachon, and the uncle of wrestler Luna Vachon... |
1 | April 10, 1975 | Tokyo,Adachi Adachi, Tokyo is one of the Special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is located north of the heart of Tokyo. The ward consists of two separate areas: a small strip of land between the Sumida River and Arakawa River and a larger area north of the Arakawa River... |
| Rusher Kimura | 1 | April 19, 1975 | Sapporo, Hokkaido Sapporo, Hokkaido is the fourth-largest city in Japan by population, and the largest city on the island of Hokkaido. It is the capital of Hokkaidō Prefecture, located in Ishikari Subprefecture, and an ordinance-designated city of Japan.... |
| Kimura vacates the title after being unsatisfied with a match (indecisive conclusion) against The Undertaker (Hans Schroeder) on April 13, 1976 in Sapporo, Hokkaido Sapporo, Hokkaido is the fourth-largest city in Japan by population, and the largest city on the island of Hokkaido. It is the capital of Hokkaidō Prefecture, located in Ishikari Subprefecture, and an ordinance-designated city of Japan.... . |
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| Rusher Kimura3 | 2 | April 22, 1976 | Sendai, Miyagi Sendai, Miyagi is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and the largest city in the Tōhoku Region. In 2005, the city had a population of one million, and was one of Japan's 19 designated cities... |
| Umanosuke Ueda Umanosuke Ueda Hiroshi Ueda is a Japanese retired professional wrestler, known by his ring name Umanosuke Ueda, who mainly distinguished himself as the rare Japanese who wrestled with bleached blonde hair... |
1 | June 11, 1976 | Koga, Ibaraki Koga, Ibaraki is a city located in Ibaraki, Japan.-Old City of Koga:The city has its origins in the Tokugawa period when a castle was built in the 16th century at the river crossing point and a town sprang up around it. The site of the castle is still visible near Koga 1st elementary school. The modern city was... |
| The title was held up after a match against Rusher Kimura on July 28, 1976. | |||
| Rusher Kimura4 | 3 | July 31, 1976 | Koshigaya, Saitama Koshigaya, Saitama is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 325,074 and a population density of 5,390 persons per km². The total area is 60.31 km².... |
| Alexis Smirnoff | 1 | July 21, 1979 | Niigata,Murakami Murakami, Niigata is a city located in northern Niigata, Japan.On April 1, 2008, the city merged with the towns of Sanpoku and Arakawa, and the villages of Asahi and Kamihayashi, all from Iwafune District.... |
| Rusher Kimura | 4 | July 25, 1979 | Mishima, Shizuoka Mishima, Shizuoka is a city located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 112,078 and a population density of 1,800 persons per km². The total area is 62.13 km²... |
| Verne Gagne Verne Gagne Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne , is a retired American professional wrestler, football player, and professional wrestling trainer and promoter. He was the former owner/promoter of the American Wrestling Association , based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which was the predominant promotion throughout... |
1 | November 13, 1979 | Niigata,Sanjō Sanjo, Niigata is a city located in central part of Niigata, Japan. The city has a Jōetsu Shinkansen stop at Tsubame-Sanjō Station.- Geography :Sanjō is located in the center of Niigata prefecture. It is about 2 hours from Tokyo by way of the Jōetsu Shinkansen or 4 hours on the Kan-Etsu Expressway and Hokuriku... |
| Rusher Kimura | 5 | November 16, 1979 | Wakayama, Wakayama Wakayama, Wakayama is the capital city of Wakayama Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan.-Background:Wakayama occupies 4% of the land area and has 40% of Wakayama prefecture's population. The city was founded on April 1, 1889.... |
| The IPW promotion closes on September 30, 1981; the title is abandoned. | |||
1Billy Robinson defeated Toyonobori
Toyonobori
Michiharu Sadano, known in sumo and professional wrestling as Toyonobori, was a Japanese Sumo wrestler.After retiring as a Rikishi from sumo, he became a professional wrestler.-In professional wrestling:...
in the final of an 11-man round-robin
Round-robin
The term round-robin was originally used to describe a document signed by multiple parties in a circle to make it more difficult to determine the order in which it was signed, thus preventing a ringleader from being identified...
tournament to become the first IWA World champion.
2Robinson defeated Great Kusatsu in a tournament final.
3Rusher Kimura defeated The Undertaker (Hans Schroeder) in a rematch for the held-up title.
4Kimura defeated Super Assassin, who had replaced the injured Umanosuke Ueda in the rematch for the held-up title.