NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship


The NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship started in 1979. It was formed by a split in lineage from the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship caused by the retirement of champion Nelson Royal the same year. The first champion, Steve Keirn, was recognized as World champion only by Florida, Los Angeles, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. This version was eventually taken to the latter promotion by Tatsumi Fujinami, who already held the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship.
In 1981, champion Chavo Guerrero Sr. left NJPW to go back to the United States, only to come back to Japan under the banner of All Japan Pro Wrestling, where a year later, it was renamed the International Junior Heavyweight Championship to avoid confusion and in general line with AJPW's NWA titles. The championship became the cornerstone of AJPW's junior heavyweight division until its eventual replacement by the World Junior Heavyweight Championship, which kept the belt design until 2017.
In March 2007, after over two decades of inactivity, Toryumon Mexico reactivated the championship, using the belt that was used prior to November 1982.

Title history

No.ChampionReignDateDays heldLocationEventNotes
11Los Angeles, Californialive eventDefeated Chavo Guerrero in a decision match to be recognized as NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion in Los Angeles.
21Sapporo, Japanlive eventAlso held the WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship, but defended them separately.
31Hollywood, Floridalive eventRecognized as World Champion in Florida.
42Kawasaki, Japanlive event
Fujinami was injured and unable to defend the championship
51Kita Kyushu, Japanlive eventDefeated Bret Hart in a decision match.
61Tokyo, Japanlive event
71Houston, Texaslive event
82Houston, Texaslive event
91Charlotte, North Carolinalive eventBilled as International champion in Jim Crockett Promotions.
10Sangre Chicana1Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexicolive eventRecognized as World champion in Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre.
112Mexico City, Mexicolive event
Vacated after a match against Chavo Guerrero that ended in a no decision. The National Wrestling Alliance and All Japan Pro Wrestling rename the title the NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship.
123Tokyo, Japanlive eventDefeated Chavo Guerrero in rematch.
Vacated after Onita broke his leg during a match against Hector Guerrero
133Tenryu, Japanlive eventDefeated Ultra Seven in tournament final.
141Osaka, Japanlive event
15Dynamite Kid1Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japanlive event
161Koga, Ibaraki, Japanlive event
171Tokyo, Japanlive event
when Tiger Mask graduates to the heavyweight division. The title was replaced with World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
181Mexico City, Mexicolive eventDefeated Shocker in a tournament final to revive the title for Toryumon Mexico and is awarded the pre-1982 belt.
Vacated when Goto graduates to the heavyweight division.
19Super Delfin1Osaka, Japanlive eventDefeated Último Dragón in a decision match to revive title.
20Último Dragón1Tokyo, Japanlive event
211Mexico City, Mexicolive event
221Tokyo, JapanDream Impact IV
23Último Dragón2+Tokyo, Japanlive eventDefeated Fujita and Hajime Ohara in a three-way dance. Also won AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship on December 15, 2013, but defended titles separately.

Footnotes