A new era began in NJPW as the first-ever IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship match took place.
With the IWGP United States and United Kingdom Championships now discontinued after David Finlay destroyed Will Ospreay’s titles with a hammer in November 2023, New Japan elected to introduce a new championship at Wrestle Kingdom 18 that can be defended around the world.
The match to crown the inaugural champion saw Finlay, Ospreay and Jon Moxley compete in a 3-way match. In the press conference the day before, Ospreay elected that he and Moxley have a 5-minute cease-fire to target Finaly and make the match a one-on-one affair. The terms were seemingly agreed after the opening bell as Ospreay and Moxley targeted Finlay.
The No Disqualification factor was utilised throughout with chairs, tables and a shillelagh utilised in the title match. With Finlay consistently targeted, Bullet Club War Dogs Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd would provide interference later in the match. However, Ospreay and Mox would fight off the War Dogs, once again making it an even fight.
.@WillOspreay "Swanton Bomb"
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The match would come to an end when Finlay attacked Ospreay after The Ariel Assassin hit a Stormbreaker onto Moxley. Finlay hit an Oblivion onto Ospreay to win the match and the championship.
First Challenger For NJPW Championship Seemingly Revealed
Earlier in the night, Nic Nemeth [FKA as Dolph Ziggler in WWE] was seen making his way to the ringside area. Following Finlay’s victory, the new IWGP Global Champion got in Nemeth’s face to gloat about the victory. As Finlay shoved the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, both men came to blows and had to be separated.
50 years later and ex-WWE stars have shockingly won NJPW gold.