The following champion history features the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Reigns[]
As of November 8, 2025.
| Wrestler: | Times: | Date: | Location: | Notes: | Defenses: | Days Held: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Ibushi | 1 | March 3, 2021 | Tokyo, Japan | Awarded for unifying the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship. | 0 | 31 |
| Will Ospreay | 1 | April 4, 2021 | Tokyo, Japan | 1 | 46 | |
| Championship vacated due to neck injury suffered by Will Ospreay. | ||||||
| Shingo Takagi | 1 | June 7, 2021 | Osaka, Japan | Defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the vacant championship. | 3 | 211 |
| Kazuchika Okada | 1 | January 4, 2022 | Tokyo, Japan | Won at Wrestle Kingdom 16 - Night 1 | 4 | 159 |
| Jay White | 1 | June 12, 2022 | Osaka, Japan | Won at Dominion 6.12 In Osaka-Jo Hall. | 2 | 206 |
| Kazuchika Okada | 2 | January 4, 2023 | Tokyo, Japan | Won at Wrestle Kingdom 17. | 2 | 94 |
| SANADA | 1 | April 8, 2023 | Tokyo, Japan | Won at Sakura Genesis. | 4 | 271 |
| Tetsuya Naitō | 1 | January 4, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan | Won at Wrestle Kingdom 18. | 2 | 99 |
| Jon Moxley | 1 | April 12, 2024 | Chicago, Illinois | Won at Windy City Riot | 4 | 79 |
| Tetsuya Naitō | 2 | June 30, 2024 | Elmont, New York | Won at AEW-NJPW Forbidden Door | 106 | |
| Zack Sabre Jr. | 1 | October 14, 2024 | Tokyo, Japan | Won at King Of Pro-Wrestling | 120 | |
| Hirooki Goto | 1 | February 11, 2025 | Osaka, Japan | 138 | ||
| Zack Sabre Jr. | 2 | June 29, 2025 | Nagoya, Aichi, Japan | 132+ | ||
| Konosuke Takeshita | 1 | October 13, 2025 | Tokyo, Japan | 26+ | ||
List of reign lengths[]
- As of November 8, 2025.
| Wrestler | Days Held | Date Won | Date Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| SANADA | 271 | April 8, 2023 | January 4, 2024 |
| Shingo Takagi | 211 | June 7, 2021 | January 4, 2022 |
| Jay White | 206 | June 12, 2022 | January 4, 2023 |
| Kazuchika Okada | 159 | January 4, 2022 | June 12, 2022 |
| Hirooki Goto | 138 | February 11, 2025 | June 29, 2025 |
| Zack Sabre Jr. | 120 | October 14, 2024 | February 11, 2025 |
| Zack Sabre Jr. (2) | 106 | June 29, 2025 | October 13, 2025 |
| Tetsuya Naitō (2) | 106 | June 30, 2024 | October 14, 2024 |
| Tetsuya Naitō | 99 | January 4, 2024 | April 12, 2024 |
| Kazuchika Okada (2) | 94 | January 4, 2023 | April 8, 2023 |
| Jon Moxley | 79 | April 12, 2024 | June 30, 2024 |
| Will Ospreay | 46 | April 4, 2021 | May 20, 2021 |
| Kota Ibushi | 32 | March 3, 2021 | April 4, 2021 |
| Konosuke Takeshita | 26+ | October 13, 2025 | Current Champion |