NJPW Championship Formally Retired

NJPW

An NJPW Championship has been officially formally retired after the December 22, 2024 Road To Tokyo Dome show.

As previously reported, the KOPW Championship was won by Great-O-Khan on the show following a controversial double-KO finish against Taichi.

At the show, Great-O-Khan said he would be retiring the championship, with the Wrestle Kingdom Ranbo battle royal now granting the winner a match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

The King of Pro Wrestling Championship has now been formally retired by the IWGP Committee, as stated in a press release that reads:

“After the request of KOPW 2024 Champion Great-O-Khan on December 22 2024, the IWGP Committee has hereby formally retired the KOPW Championship.

“The KOPW title was created in July 2020 by Kazuchika Okada. With fan votes determining rules, over 50 matches were contested for the KOPW Championships over its lifespan.

“On behalf of the IWGP Committee, NJPW thanks fans for their support of the KOPW title, and for their votes and interaction over the years.”

Wrestle Kingdom 19 on January 4 2025 saw Hirooki Goto win the Ranbo to determine the number one contender for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.

Goto eliminated Great-O-Khan to take the spot with Zack Sabre Jr retaining the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Shota Umino on the main show itself,

Introduced in July 2020, the KOPW title was first held by Toru Yano in 2020 who would eventually have four reigns.

Great-O-Khan had two separate reigns as KOPW Champion with the title no inactive.

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• NJPW
• King of Pro Wrestling
• kopw
• Great-O-Khan

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