NJPW: 3 reasons Chris Jericho shouldn’t win the IWGP Heavyweight Title

New Japan Needs A Successful Heavyweight Champion

The last IWGP Heavyweight Champion of any notable length of time was Kenny Omega. Omega held the title for 209 days, and the two men directly following him were champion for less than 2 months.

Though Omega’s reign didn’t come close to Omega’s record of 12 successful defenses, he did add 3 notches to his belt before being dethroned by Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Tanahashi and successor Jay White, though? Zero successful defenses.

After coming off of an insane Okada run as champion with over 700 days as New Japan’s number one, it’s felt a little bit like a game of hot potato with the title finding its way around the waist of 3 different men in 4 months time.

I was pretty firm in my belief that Jay White should have been a long-term champion.

As a fresh face at the top of the card and someone whose bravado was proven right at almost every turn, it would have made sense for White to hold onto the gold for an expansive Okada redemption story.

Unfortunately for White and my secret prediction game, ‘The Rainmaker’ came calling at G1 Supercard.

Now, with Okada back on top, it’s time for him to stay on top. Another championship transition at what will be just over 60 days of Okada as champion would not only be a blow to the Okada revival story, but a blow to the IWGP Heavyweight Title itself.

Not everybody needs to hold the championship for 700 days or even 200 days, but looking back at the lineage of the title it’s more common to see reigns lasting more than 100 days. Of course, those reigns mean little if the title isn’t being defended against top contenders.

Chris Jericho is one of those top contenders.

After already overcoming SANADA, whom Okada now considers his contemporary and rival, it’s time to let this rose keep its bloom for just a little bit longer.

In fact, it’s time to let all of the roses in New Japan spread their wonderful stink for the next few months. We’re in what feels like an incredible point of transition for New Japan with 3 of its top belts just changing hands this past April. At the time of writing, only one championship, the US Title, has broken 100 consecutive days with a single champion.

With the focus shifting away from The Elite and onto the stars who are with New Japan for the long haul, we need to see the wrestlers who have made NJPW their bread and butter pushed to the forefront.

Above all else, we need champions who are going to be seen on the cerulean blue mat on a consistent basis.