World Junior Heavyweight Championship (AJPW)

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World Junior Heavyweight Championship
Atsushi Aoki with the current design of the belt (2017–present)
Details
PromotionAll Japan Pro Wrestling
Date establishedJuly 31, 1986
Current champion(s)Rising Hayato
Date wonMarch 9, 2024
Other name(s)
AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1985–present)
Statistics
First champion(s)Hiro Saito
Most reignsMasanobu Fuchi (5 reigns)
Longest reignMasanobu Fuchi (1,309 days)
Shortest reignShinichi Nakano (4 days)
Oldest championTiger Mask (51 years, 7 months and 30 days)
Youngest championKatsuhiko Nakajima (18 years, 11 months and 6 days)

The Pacific Wrestling Federation (PWF) World Junior Heavyweight Championship (世界ジュニアヘビー級王座, Sekai Junia Hebī-kyū Ōza) is a professional wrestling world title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight (<100 kg (220 lb)) wrestlers. It was created on July 31, 1986, when Hiro Saito defeated Brad Armstrong in a tournament final.[1]

The original World Junior Heavyweight Championship belt had a similar design to the title it replaced, the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship, which had been around since 1982 and only replacing the word "International" with "World". This belt was replaced with a new belt on August 27, 2017. On June 3, 2019, then-champion Atsushi Aoki died from a motorcycle accident and the belt was retired and given to Aoki's family. A new belt with a new design debuted on January 3, 2020. There have been a total of 40 recognized champions who have had a combined 63 official reigns and six vacancies. The title is currently held by Dan Tamura who is in his first reign.

Hikaru Sato with the second design of the title in July 2017.

Title history[edit]

Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
Defenses Number of successful defenses
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days Defenses
1 Hiro Saito July 31, 1986 Live event Tokyo, Japan 1 115 3 Defeated Brad Armstrong in a tournament final. [1][2]
2 Kuniaki Kobayashi November 23, 1986 Live event Tokyo, Japan 1 41 1 [3]
3 Masanobu Fuchi January 3, 1987 Live event Tokyo, Japan 1 748 7 [3]
4 Joe Malenko January 20, 1989 Live event Fukuoka, Japan 1 5 0 [3]
5 Mighty Inoue January 25, 1989 Live event Osaka, Japan 1 42 2 [3]
6 Masanobu Fuchi March 8, 1989 Live event Tokyo, Japan 2 39 1 [3]
7 Shinichi Nakano April 16, 1989 Live event Tokyo, Japan 1 4 0 [3]
8 Mitsuo Momota April 20, 1989 Live event Osaka, Japan 1 72 2 [3]
9 Joe Malenko July 1, 1989 Live event Omiya, Japan 2 111 2 [3][4]
10 Masanobu Fuchi October 20, 1989 Live event Nagoya, Japan 3 1,309 14 [3]
11 Dan Kroffat May 21, 1993 Live event Sapporo, Japan 1 94 1 [3]
12 Masanobu Fuchi August 23, 1993 Live event Shizuoka, Japan 4 323 2 [3]
13 Dan Kroffat July 12, 1994 Live event Kagoshima, Japan 2 425 5 [3][5]
14 Yoshinari Ogawa September 10, 1995 Live event Tokyo, Japan 1 294 4 [3]
15 Masanobu Fuchi June 30, 1996 Live event Tokyo, Japan 5 24 0 [3]
16 Tsuyoshi Kikuchi July 24, 1996 Live event Tokyo, Japan 1 175 2 [3]
17 Yoshinari Ogawa January 15, 1997 Live event Tokyo, Japan 2 219 1 [3]
18 Maunakea Mossman August 22, 1997 Live event Tokyo, Japan 1 294 3 [3]
— Vacated June 12, 1998 — — — — — Vacated due to Mossman graduating to the heavyweight division. [1]
19 Yoshinari Ogawa July 19, 1998 Summer Action Series tour Niigata, Japan 3 698 5 Defeated Satoru Asako in a tournament final. [1]
— Vacated June 16, 2000 — — — — — Vacated due to Ogawa and several others leaving AJPW to form Pro Wrestling Noah. [3][6]
20 Kendo Kashin April 13, 2002 Grand Champion Carnival Tokyo, Japan 1 670 8 Defeated Masanobu Fuchi. [7][8]
— Vacated February 12, 2004 — — — — — Vacated on February 12, 2004 due to inactivity. [1][3]
21 Kaz Hayashi February 22, 2004 Excite Series tour Tokyo, Japan 1 323 6 Defeated Blue-K. [9][10]
22 Taka Michinoku January 10, 2005 Kaientai Dojo's CLUB-K SUPER kick Tokyo, Japan 1 285 12 This match was also for Hayashi's Strongest-K Championship. [11]
23 Shuji Kondo October 22, 2005 Shining Series tour Tokyo, Japan 1 483 5 [12]
24 Katsuhiko Nakajima February 17, 2007 Puroresu Love in Ryogoku vol. 2 Tokyo, Japan 1 378 3 The title was held up on October 18, 2007 after a title defense against Silver King ended in a no contest, though Nakajima remained the official champion. [1][13]
25 Silver King March 1, 2008 Puroresu Love in Ryogoku vol. 4 Tokyo, Japan 1 59 0 [14]
26 Ryuji Hijikata April 29, 2008 Growin' Up tour Nagoya, Japan 1 152 3 [15]
27 Naomichi Marufuji September 28, 2008 Flashing tour Yokohama, Japan 1 131 4
28 Kaz Hayashi February 6, 2009 Excite Series tour Tokyo, Japan 2 695 17
29 Minoru January 2, 2011 New Year Shining Series tour Tokyo, Japan 1 152 1 [16]
— Vacated June 3, 2011 — — — — — Vacated after All Japan Pro Wrestling suspended Minoru.
30 Kai June 19, 2011 2011 Puroresu Love in Ryōgoku Tokyo, Japan 1 126 2 Defeated Shuji Kondo for the vacant title. [17]
31 Kenny Omega October 23, 2011 Puroresu Love in Ryōgoku Vol. 13 Tokyo, Japan 1 217 5
32 Kai May 27, 2012 Rise Up Tour 2012 Tokyo, Japan 2 77 0
33 Hiroshi Yamato August 12, 2012 Summer Impact 2012 Tokyo, Japan 1 143 5
34 Shuji Kondo January 2, 2013 2013 New Year Shining Series: New Year 2Days Tokyo, Japan 2 52 0 This match was also contested for Kondo's GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship.
35 Yoshinobu Kanemaru February 23, 2013 2013 Excite Series Tokyo, Japan 1 295 7
36 Último Dragón December 15, 2013 2013 Fan Appreciation Day Tokyo, Japan 1 165 2
37 Atsushi Aoki May 29, 2014 2014 Super Power Series Tokyo, Japan 1 302 5
38 Kotaro Suzuki March 27, 2015 2015 Dream Power Series Tokyo, Japan 1 234 6
— Vacated November 16, 2015 — — — — — Vacated due to Suzuki leaving AJPW.
39 Atsushi Aoki February 21, 2016 2016 Excite Series Tokyo, Japan 2 119 3 Defeated Hikaru Sato in the finals of the 2016 Jr. Battle of Glory.
40 Hikaru Sato June 19, 2016 2016 Dynamite Series Tokyo, Japan 1 70 1
41 Soma Takao August 28, 2016 Ryōgoku Peter Pan 2016 Tokyo, Japan 1 91 1 This was a DDT Pro-Wrestling event. [18]
42 Keisuke Ishii November 27, 2016 Zen Nihon Puroresu in Ryōgoku Kokugikan Tokyo, Japan 1 152 3
43 Hikaru Sato April 28, 2017 2017 Champion Carnival: 45th Anniversary Series Okayama, Japan 2 93 4
44 Tajiri July 30, 2017 2017 Summer Action Series Osaka, Japan 1 28 0
45 Último Dragón August 27, 2017 2017 Summer Explosion Tokyo, Japan 2 55 1
46 Tajiri October 21, 2017 Jun Akiyama and Takao Omori Debut 25th Anniversary Show Yokohama, Japan 2 105 3 [19]
47 Atsushi Aoki February 3, 2018 2018 Yokohama Twilight Blues Special Yokohama, Japan 3 204 4
48 Koji Iwamoto August 26, 2018 2018 Summer Explosion ~ Jr. Tag Battle of Glory Chiba, Japan 1 27 0
49 Shuji Kondo September 22, 2018 Royal Road Tournament 2018 Fukuoka, Japan 3 68 1 [20]
50 Koji Iwamoto November 29, 2018 Real World Tag League 2018 Nagoya, Japan 2 172 2
51 Atsushi Aoki May 20, 2019 Super Power Series 2019 Tokyo, Japan 4 184 0 On June 3, 2019, Aoki died in a motorcycle accident. AJPW announced Aoki would be recognized as champion until November 20. On October 24, AJPW announced a tournament to crown a new champion would start on November 21 and finish on January 3, 2020. [21]
— Vacated November 20, 2019 — — — — — Vacated after Aoki died in a motorcycle accident and the six month deadline for a title defense expired. [22]
52 Susumu Yokosuka January 3, 2020 New Year Wars 2020 Tokyo, Japan 1 204 5 Defeated Hikaru Sato in a tournament final to win the vacant championship [23]
53 Koji Iwamoto July 25, 2020 Summer Action Series 2020 Tokyo, Japan 3 210 4 [24]
54 Cima February 20, 2021 Excite Series 2021 - Day 2 Nagoya, Japan 1 109 2 [25]
55 Koji Iwamoto June 9, 2021 AJPW Dynamite Series 2021 - Day 1 Tokyo, Japan 4 17 0 [26]
56 Francesco Akira June 26, 2021 Champions Night ~ From The Land Of The Triple Crown Unification Flight To The 50th Anniversary Tokyo, Japan 1 26 0 [27][28]
57 Sugi July 22, 2021 Summer Action Series 2021 Tokyo, Japan 1 86 2 [29]
58 Izanagi October 16, 2021 AJPW Champions Night 2 ~ All Japan Pro Wrestling 20th Anniversary Tokyo, Japan 1 61 0 [30]
59 Super Crazy December 16, 2021 Prime Night 2021 Tokyo, Japan 1 18 0 [31]
60 Sugi January 3, 2022 New Year Wars 2022 Tokyo, Japan 2 51 2 [32]
61 Hikaru Sato February 23, 2022 AJPW Excite Series 2022 Tokyo, Japan 3 116 3 [33]
62 Tiger Mask June 19, 2022 AJPW Champions 50th Anniversary Tokyo, Japan 1 91 3 [34]
63 Atsuki Aoyagi September 18, 2022 AJPW 50th Anniversary Tokyo, Japan 1 154 5 [35]
64 Naruki Doi February 19, 2023 AJPW Excite Series 2023 Tokyo, Japan 1 99 2 [36]
65 Atsuki Aoyagi May 29, 2023 Super Power Series 2023 Tokyo, Japan 2 33 1 [37]
66 El Lindaman July 2, 2023 Summer Action Series 2023 Tokyo, Japan 1 182 4 [38]
67 Dan Tamura December 31, 2023 Mania X 2023 Tokyo, Japan 1 69 3 [39]
68 Rising Hayato March 9, 2024 Dream Power Series 2024 Tokyo, Japan 1 38+ 1 [40]

Combined reigns[edit]

Record five-time and longest single reigning champion at 1,309 days and combined reigning at 2,443 days, Masanobu Fuchi.

As of April 16, 2024.

† Indicates the current champion
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns 		Combined
defenses 		Combined days
1 Masanobu Fuchi 5 24 2,443
2 Yoshinari Ogawa 3 10 1,211
3 Kaz Hayashi 2 23 1,018
4 Atsushi Aoki 4 12 810
5 Kendo Kashin 1 8 670
6 Shuji Kondo 3 6 603
7 Dan Kroffat 2 6 519
8 Koji Iwamoto 4 6 426
9 Katsuhiko Nakajima 1 3 378
10 Yoshinobu Kanemaru 1 7 295
11 Maunakea Mossman 1 3 294
12 Taka Michinoku 1 12 285
13 Hikaru Sato 3 8 279
14 Kotaro Suzuki 1 6 234
15 Último Dragón 2 3 220
16 Kenny Omega 1 5 217
17 Susumu Yokosuka 1 5 204
18 Kai 2 2 203
19 Atsuki Aoyagi 2 6 187
20 El Lindaman 1 4 182
21 Tsuyoshi Kikuchi 1 2 175
22 Keisuke Ishii 1 3 152
Ryuji Hijikata 1 3 152
Minoru 1 1 152
25 Hiroshi Yamato 1 5 143
26 Sugi 2 4 137
27 Tajiri 2 3 133
28 Naomichi Marufuji 1 4 131
29 Joe Malenko 2 2 116
30 Hiro Saito 1 3 115
31 Cima 1 2 109
32 Naruki Doi 1 2 99
33 Tiger Mask 1 3 91
Soma Takao 1 1 91
35 Mitsuo Momota 1 2 72
36 Dan Tamura 1 3 69
37 Izanagi 1 0 61
38 Silver King 1 0 59
39 Mighty Inoue 1 2 42
40 Kuniaki Kobayashi 1 1 41
41 Francesco Akira 1 0 26
42 Rising Hayato † 1 1 38+
43 Super Crazy 1 0 18
44 Shinichi Nakano 1 0 4

Belt design[edit]

The standard Championship belt has five plates on a black leather strap.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship". Wrestling-Titles.com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  2. ^ Hoops, Brian (July 31, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (July 31): Stan Hansen wins NWA International title, Giant Baba, Hulk Hogan in AWA". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship official title history" (in Japanese). All-Japan.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-04-03. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  4. ^ Hoops, Brian (July 1, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (July 1): Ric Flair stripped of WCW title, Von Erich win WCCW Tag titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  5. ^ Hoops, Brian (July 12, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (July 12): Gagne, Bruiser & Crusher, Ladd wins Americas title, 1992 Bash with Sting vs. Vader". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  6. ^ "AJPW Triple Crown Championship official title history" (in Japanese). All-Japan.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  7. ^ "AJPW Champion's Carnival tour results". Shining Road. Archived from the original on 2007-05-30. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  8. ^ "We are the Champions (as of July 8)". Power Slam Magazine. Lancaster, Lancashire, England: SW Publishing LTD. August 2003. p. 15. 109.
  9. ^ "AJPW Excite Series tour results". Shining Road. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  10. ^ Hoops, Brian (February 22, 2017). "Daily pro wrestling history (02/22): Sting defeats Hogan to win vacant WCW title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  11. ^ "Kaientai Dojo results, 2005" (in German). PuroLove.com. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  12. ^ "AJPW Shining Series tour results". Shining Road. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  13. ^ "AJPW Excite Series 2007 tour results". Shining Road. Archived from the original on 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  14. ^ "AJPW Excite Series 2008 tour results". Shining Road. Archived from the original on 26 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  15. ^ "AJPW Growin' Up tour results". Shining Road. Archived from the original on 14 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  16. ^ Meltzer, Dave (2011-01-02). "Complete Sunday update: Legendary feud, ratings, long time champ drops title today, Reaction to UFC". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
  17. ^ http://www.puroresuspirit.com/2011/06/19/results-for-june-19th-2011/ [dead link]
  18. ^ Dark angel (August 31, 2016). "DDT: Results «Ryogoku Peter Pan 2016 - World's Hottest Summer» - 28/08/2016 - The giant Shuji Ishikawa is champion again". superluchas.com. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  19. ^ Daly, Wayne (October 22, 2017). "AJPW Results: Jun Akiyama & Takao Omori Debut 25th Anniversary Show – Yokohama, Japan (10/21)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  20. ^ Sanchez, Mark (September 22, 2018). "AJPW "The 6th Royal Road Tournament - Tag 6"". moonsault.de. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  21. ^ Di Trolio, Gerard (May 21, 2019). "AJPW SUPER POWER SERIES 2019 (MAY 20) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  22. ^ Polden, Jake (June 4, 2019). "Atsushi Aoki dead: WWE stars pay tribute as top wrestler dies in motorcycle crash, aged 41". mirror.co.uk. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  23. ^ Daly, Wayne (January 3, 2020). "AJPW Results: New Year Wars 2020 Day 2 – Tokyo, Japan (1/3)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  24. ^ Völsch, Paul (July 25, 2020). "AJPW SUMMER ACTION SERIES 2020 DAY 3 (JULY 25) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  25. ^ Daly, Wayne (February 20, 2021). "AJPW Results: Excite Series 2021 Day 2 – Nagoya, Japan (2/20)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  26. ^ Stuart, Walker (June 9, 2021). "AJPW Dynamite Series 2021 – Day 1 Results". ewrestlingnews.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  27. ^ Hymantor, Michael (June 26, 2021). "#AndNEW: Three Titles Changes at AJPW Champions Night". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  28. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 26, 2021). "AJPW Champions Night ~ From The Land Of The Triple Crown Unification Flight To The 50th Anniversary - TV-Show @ Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  29. ^ All Japan Pro Wrestling (July 22, 2021). 7月22日(木・祝)後楽園大会. all-japan.co (in Japanese). Retrieved July 22, 2021.
  30. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 16, 2021). "AJPW Champions Night 2 ~ All Japan Pro Wrestling 20th Anniversary". cagematch.net (in German). Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  31. ^ 12月16日(木)後楽園大会. All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  32. ^ 「2022 NEW YEAR WARS」東京・後楽園ホール≪11:30開始. All Japan Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  33. ^ Di Trolio, Gerard (February 23, 2022). "AJPW EXCITE SERIES 2022 (FEBRUARY 23) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  34. ^ All Japan Pro Wrestling (June 19, 2022). 6月19日(日)大田区大会. all-japan.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved June 19, 2022.
  35. ^ All Japan Pro Wrestling (September 18, 2022). 9月18日(日)日本武道館大会. all-japan.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  36. ^ PWIMania Staff (February 19, 2023). "AJPW Excite Series 2023 Pro-Wrestling Day MANIAx Results (2/19/2023); Major Title Changes". pwmania.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  37. ^ Black, Ethan (May 29, 2023). "AJPW Super Power Series Night 4 Results – May 29, 2023". pwmania.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  38. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 2, 2023). "AJPW Dynamite Series 2023 - Tag 5". cagematch.net. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  39. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 31, 2023). "AJPW Mania X 2023". cagematch.net. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  40. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 9, 2024). "AJPW Dream Power Series 2024 - Tag 1". cagematch.net. Retrieved March 9, 2024.

External links[edit]

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