Kota Ibushi says almost everyone hated NJPW title unificaiton
New Japan Pro Wrestling’s decision to consolidate their two main championships, the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships, into one new title was not a well-received decision, a fact that the last “double champion” and first IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Kota Ibushi, is fully aware of.
Most NJPW fans appreciated the history and prestige that the IWGP Heavyweight and IC Titles accrued, especially during the company’s most recent creative peak over the last several years. Both belts were presented as treasured prizes that were emblematic of a wrestler’s in-ring excellence. Naturally, folks didn’t care for NJPW pushing aside that history for a new belt (though said belt has retained the lineage of the now-deactivated straps).
From Ibushi’s perspective, the dislike was pretty unanimous.
Kota Ibushi talks about the near-universal dislike fans had for the unification of the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Titles.
In an interview with NJPW1972.com, Ibushi said this about the merging of the titles (h/t to Fightful’s Jeremy Lambert for the transcription):
"“Mixed, I don’t know. I think from fans and wrestlers alike, I’d say 99% were against it,” Ibushi said. “But that was a river we had to cross, I think. Just something I had to take and move on. You know, I get it, I do. It was one of those things where people told me what was happening, and then I went to see what everyone was saying for myself. Then, ‘Ok, so that’s how it is’, and move on.”"
Ibushi defeated Tetsuya Naito to become the double champion on the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 15 and retained the titles the next night against “Switchblade” Jay White. His successful title defense over IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado at the 49th Anniversary Show marked the final time the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships were defended, as Ibushi became the first IWGO World Heavyweight Champion shortly after. Ibushi held the title for 31 days before losing the gold to Will Ospreay at Sakura Genesis.
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As for the championship itself, many fans poked fun at the belt’s design when it was introduced, drawing comparisons to the WWE Divas Championship and even Cody Rhodes’ neck tattoo.