IWGP U.S. Title Drama?

By: Karen Peterson

Making NJPW’s N.A. Legacy Worth its Weight in Gold

The IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship was unveiled by New Japan ProWrestling at the G1 Special in Long Beach, California in 2017. With its debut, NJPW declared a long-term commitment to its international fanbase with a promise for consistent matches in the United States as part of a global expansion effort. In addition to the LA Dojo, they announced joint cards with Ring of Honor, famously selling out Madison Square Garden for the G1 Supercard in April 2019, and formally establishing NJPW of America that October. But as luck would have it, the IWGP U.S. Championship has had a rather volatile history.

The first two champions hailed from Canada (Kenny Omega) and New Zealand (Jay White) and both defended the championship in the US and in Japan. White would become the only champion to defend the U.S. Championship in Canada. While several challengers would hail from the United States, it would be over a year before the U.S. Championship found its first American Champion in Juice Robinson. On the American shows in which it was defended, the U.S. Championship wasn’t the title match either. Cody Rhodes briefly carried the belt through some Bullet Club drama, then the title’s legacy really got choppy.

By the end of 2020, the title’s place in IWGP lore – and the weight that its champion presumably carries – was still unclear to fans. NJPW gave us the impression the U.S. Title hovered just between the Intercontinental Championship and NEVER Openweight title in the championship hierarchy, serving as a litmus test for future Heavyweight Champion contenders as well as mid-card foreign talent.

Consider the challenges New Japan has faced, right alongside the rise of All Elite Wrestling in America: IWGP U.S. Title defenses have been postponed and scrapped entirely due to a catastrophic typhoon, the global pandemic, transitional champs on their way to AEW’s title picture, and a rash of injuries.

The latest black mark on its legacy? A fractured orbital bone to SANADA, who relinquished the belt shortly after winning it

from Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Say it Ain’t So, SANADA!

Without an opportunity to defend his newly won championship, SANADA surrendered the Championship after undergoing surgery for a fractured orbital bone. He did provide a creative hook, by suggesting that he return it to previous champion Tanahashi, leaving it up for grabs and further adding to its instability. If SANADA’s composure in this situation is any indication of the type of singles champion he could be, Naito, Okada, and Tanahashi were right in earmarking him as someone to keep an eye on. True champions put the title and the company before themselves, and it’s only a matter of time

before SANADA could say that he loves “the USA the best” while in an American ring. Nix

Transitional Champ Tanahashi

Need a championship elevated? Put it on The Ace. When Tanahashi isn’t circling the Heavyweight title scene, he’s always got his eyes on what he can do for the company. He raised the image of the Intercontinental and NEVER belts and became the second Grand Slam Champion as the U.S. Champion at Resurgence last year. With both previous reigns cut short, this would be a prime chance to allow him to have a lengthy run, starting in Fukuoka.

While fighting Tanahashi is akin to fighting for a championship, he’s often positioned to protect newer talents the company wishes to push, but his reigns are short. Matches with him get higher billing, which is great for the opponent and championship, but short defense records do him a disservice. Fans abroad are looking forward to more Japanese talent returning to American shows and Tanahashi ranks high on that list. He still has a rematch invitation outstanding with Lance Archer from Resurgence and extended an open invitation to SANADA to rechallenge once he’s cleared to return.

Defend the US Championship in America

There was no U.S. Championship defense at the G1 Supercard in MSG, which was an exceptional disservice to both the title and then workhorse champion Juice Robinson. Although New Japan STRONG tapes monthly, it’s Tom Lawlor and the Strong Openweight Championship currently sitting at the pinnacle of the American branch. With international travel requirements easing, there is no reason why the U.S. Championship should not be featured more heavily on Strong and the big American shows.

This would provide the champions an additional route to build the legacy of the championship as the volume of championship matches on big shows in Japan often forces the U.S. Championship to the middle of the card. There shouldn’t be big events in the U.S. without the U.S. Championship present. If a secondary big title is necessary for Japan shows, bring back the Intercontinental Championship or elevate the other singles titles.

MSTM: Minoru Suzuki Travel Model

Since the pandemic, when Suzuki comes to the US, he doesn’t just drop in for the weekend. He makes the rounds on New Japan STRONG but also visits multiple other promotions like AEW, Impact, and Ring of Honor as well as smaller independent companies like GCW, PWX, and Warrior Wrestling. Imagine if the U.S. Champion could do the same, visiting multiple companies representing New Japan’s US presence. This would allow for greater visibility of the U.S. Championship, creator curiosity in NJPW as a brand, more championship defenses with fresh matchups, and greater cross-promotion. Arenas of casual fans in the U.S. have started singing “Kaze Ni Nare,” so The King’s formula might be the recipe for success.

Halting Hardcore Stipulations

At Wrestle Kingdom 12, Kenny Omega’s defense against Chris Jericho brought the first No Disqualification stipulation to the U.S. Championship. The dream match secured the semi-main event slot for the U.S. Championship and two wildly popular Canadians. In October 2019, Lance Archer and Juice Robinson would fight over Moxley’s vacated title in a no DQ match. Archer walked into Wrestle Kingdom 14 as U.S. Champion, only to lose the title back to Moxley in a Texas Deathmatch. The no DQ and the Archer Special Texas Deathmatch formats have become regular fixtures around the U.S. Championship. However, with several key players out with injury, avoiding this stipulation, for the time being, might be an added insurance policy for the longevity of future champions.

Jay White is Bullet Club, but Not Bullet-Proof

With the U.S. of Jay Challenge, White hovers at the top New Japan STRONG, promoted as the marquee talent. The USoJ has showcased Strong talents like Yuta Wheeler, Fred Yehi, and Hikuleo and brought surprise dream matches like Christopher Daniels, Chris Sabin, and SW3RVE. What I love about the USoJ Challenge is that it has given Jay something to do as a former U.S. Champion while working in the United States and that answering the challenge without the need for a title belt, leaves room for the Strong Openweight Championship to continue gaining momentum. His matches are must-watch and Jay has unmatched in-ring acumen, but there is a lack of vulnerability despite losing the NEVER Openweight to Ishii at Resurgence. He’s reorganized the power structure in Bullet Club from across the Pacific Ocean, but as a result, there is a lack of peril for him. Serve Jay some high-profile losses because a desperate Jay is a dangerously creative one.

Keepin’ Up with King KENTA

Like Tanahashi, he deserves a minimum six-month run with the championship as that is how long he carried around the Big Red Briefcase. While the championship was shelved, KENTA kept the U.S. Championship relevant by defending his challenge certificate five times, including at Wrestle Kingdom 15 against Satoshi Kojima. KENTA got sidelined after the no DQ match with Tanahashi with multiple injuries, but could easily hop the queue as he loves making big statements. However, with no return date announced and being blissfully removed from all the Bullet Club turbulence at the moment, it is still unknown which banner KENTA waves currently. With his bilingual promos and consistent involvement in NJPW Strong, he could easily defend the championship in both countries and have fun doing it like he did when he was NEVER Openweight Champion.

Red, White & Blueprint for the Future

The ideal champion doesn’t need to be American or live in America, they just need to come here more frequently. When launched, the U.S. Championship was a big step in a global promise. Unfortunately, good intentions, brand loyalty, and a very flashy title belt aren’t enough for legitimate, e

nduring success. International travel restrictions due to the global pandemic were one of the biggest invisible opponents for the mobility of the championship across the ocean, but as conditions improve, it is time to strike while the iron is hot.

While not ideal, the recent vacating of the IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship provides an opportunity for the development of an action plan for its future. Until the title has some stability, selecting the next champion could be crucial for its future success. While the Forbidden Door is open, the U.S. title could certainly be a master key in ensuring it remains that way.