KOPW Championship

On this page, you find the full Title History for the KOPW Championship, with all Championship Info, Statistics, the Belt Design changes through the years, and the full list of Title Reigns, along with dates, events, and reign durations.

The KOPW Championship is contested in New Japan Pro Wrestling, by men wrestlers.

The championship was first established on July 28, 2020, and the inaugural champion was Toru Yano.

KOPW (King of Pro-Wrestling) follows a non-traditional formula: a "provisional champion" is first determined early in the year, with the provisional title being defended and potentially changing hands over the course of the year; the provisional champion at the end of the year is officially recognized as the year's sole official champion. The title matches are exclusively focused on non-regular stipulations; each of the wrestlers involved in a title match proposes a stipulation, and fans vote to select which is followed.

The current champion is Yuya Uemura (current Provisional Champion), who won the title on April 27, 2024, and has been reigning for 35 days (Taiji Ishimori defeated Great-O-Khan, Toru Yano and YOH in a 4-way match at New Year Dash!! to become the first provisional 2024 champion. Great-O-Khan won the provisional title at The New Beginning in Nagoya, then Yuya Uemura won it at Road to Wrestling Dontaku: Night 7.).

KOPW Championship: Title History

Promotions / Brands

Promotion	from	to
Promotion NJPW	July 28, 2020	Present

Championship Names & Belt Designs
- KOPW Championship December 22, 2022
- KOPW July 28, 2020 December 21, 2022

KOPW Championship: Title Reigns

N.	Champion	Reign
5	Yuya Uemura (current Provisional Champion) April 27, 2024 35+ days Taiji Ishimori defeated Great-O-Khan, Toru Yano and YOH in a 4-way match at New Year Dash!! to become the first provisional 2024 champion. Great-O-Khan won the provisional title at The New Beginning in Nagoya, then Yuya Uemura won it at Road to Wrestling Dontaku: Night 7.	35+ days
4	Taichi 1 November 17, 2023 Tokyo, Japan \| Road to Tokyo Dome 44 days Shingo Tagaki defeated Great-O-Khan, SHO and Toru Yano in a 4-way match at New Year Dash!! to become the first provisional 2023 champion. Taichi won the provisional title at Wrestling Satsuma No Kuni, then SHO won it at Destruction in Kobe, then Taichi won it at New Japan Road, and he retained it to become the official 2023 champion.	44 days
3	Shingo Takagi 1 April 25, 2022 Tokyo, Japan \| JTO 50th Anniversary for TakaTaichi Together 250 days Minoru Suzuki defeated Chase Owens, Cima and Toru Yano in a 4-way match at Wrestle Kingdom 16 to become the first provisional 2022 champion. Toru Yano won the provisional title at New Years Golden Series (Night 4), then Taichi won it at Wrestle Grand Hyper Battle '22, then Shingo Takagi won it at Golden Fight Series 2022, and he retained it to become the official 2022 champion.	250 days
2	Toru Yano 2 September 4, 2021 Tokyo, Japan \| Road to Tokyo Dome 118 days Yano defeated Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale and BUSHI in a 4-way match at Wrestle Kingdom 15 to become the first provisional 2021 champion. Chase Owens won the provisional title at Wrestle Grand Slam in Tokyo Dome, then Yano won it back at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, and he retained it to become the official 2021 champion.	118 days
1	Toru Yano 1 August 29, 2020 Tokyo, Japan \| Road to Tokyo Dome 124 days Defeated Kazuchika Okada, El Desperado and Sanada in a 4-way match at Summer Struggle in Jingu to become the first provisional 2020 champion, and he retained it to become the official 2020 champion. KOPW follows a non-traditional formula: only one wrestler per year is recognized as champion; A "provisional champion" is first determined, then he must defend his provisional title during the year; the provisional champion at the end of the year is officially recognized as the year's official champion.	124 days

KOPW Championship: Statistics

Promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling
Gender Male
Title Type Tertiary Title
Date Established July 28, 2020
Notes KOPW (King of Pro-Wrestling) follows a non-traditional formula: a "provisional champion" is first determined early in the year, with the provisional title being defended and potentially changing hands over the course of the year; the provisional champion at the end of the year is officially recognized as the year's sole official champion. The title matches are exclusively focused on non-regular stipulations; each of the wrestlers involved in a title match proposes a stipulation, and fans vote to select which is followed.

First ChampionToru Yano

Most Number of Reigns

Rank	Wrestler	Reigns
	Toru Yano	2
	Shingo Takagi	1
	Taichi	1

Most Combined Days

Rank	Wrestler	Days
	Shingo Takagi	250
	Toru Yano	242
	Taichi	44

Longest Reigns

Wrestler	Reign	Days
Shingo Takagi	April 25, 2022 - December 31, 2022	250
Toru Yano	August 29, 2020 - December 31, 2020	124
Toru Yano	September 4, 2021 - December 31, 2021	118
Taichi	November 17, 2023 - December 31, 2023	44
Yuya Uemura (current Provisional Champion)	April 27, 2024 - June 1, 2024	35+