What Makes New Japan Pro Wrestling Titles So Prestigious? | Sports Illustrated

[@dfgntzfjgyhmghbndfnghcmsfr1089]

The IWGP Heavyweight Championship can actually be called the most prestigious title in the world because its actually treated that way and is respected above all else.

[@cmurphy0707]

And the list of names that have held it are the elite of the elite in professional wrestling history.

[@ajitsrivastva3342]

3002gaming at least john cena , randy orton , Roman never held it . among wwe guys only rock , austin , foley ,HHH deserve a title like that . That is people who revolutionized this industry . Styles is the most deserving 2 time champ tho.

[@drakearmstrong2078]

^Undertaker, as well.

[@pascho1057]

+Ajit Srivastva but jinder didn't

[@cocobarbarian1510]

+Ajit Srivastva to me it doesn't matter who held the title's especially since its determined by Vince. What matters imo is how they treat the belts, and (coming from a fan) wwe doesn't do a good job at that. They expect you to believe that the universal belt is the best. Why? Becuase they put the word universal in the title. A list was more over than the top belt. They never show why people want the titles so bad, or if the wrestlers even want the belt. it's funny how they are in the show business yet they break the first rule of show business all the time which is "show don't tell"

[@aaronwalker1678]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a non wrestling page putting up a wrestling video, and the comment section is filled with diverse and legitimate opinions, and not dumbass marks commenting how "fake" wrestling is....Thank You guys

[@Jazzman2476]

Aaron Walker As soon as I saw the title of the video, my 1st thought was that there would plenty of negativity on here.

[@jeritroll4208]

Aaron Walker there nothing legitimate about guys dressing up in there underwear and pretending to fight

[@anoldsmellyunusedaccount]

Aaron Walker Wrestling in the mainstream excites me but also utterly terrifies me.

[@allenbradford5981]

And guess what, any tv show that you like is the same, FAKE. NJPW does a great job in telling a story in the ring. If you don't like wrestling, then why are you here? And like I said before, any show that you enjoy is as fake as wrestling is.

[@anoldsmellyunusedaccount]

sammyangra Because if you don't know wrestling is fake, you're a moron. Its like going "You love smoking? GUESS WHAT?? CIGARETTES ARE FULL OF NICOTINE! AND TAR! Bet ya didn't know that did ya?"

[@ThatFlyPigeon]

The Titles also look better. Most WWE titles look like toys for sell and are treated as such.

[@DarthMalgusSith_Lord]

if i was the wrestler and i hold the WWE titles, i would treated all the titles in held in WWE like Naito treat his titles

[@IWatchAnime92]

NJPW knows how to book strong champions. Where you win "clean", and don't frequently see titles change on shenanigans. If you win the title in NJPW, you prove you are the better performer qualified to be their champ(at that given time). Not to mention title matches are "earned" in NJPW by either pinning the current champion or winning a tournament.

[@Noobie2k7]

I do love that NJPW has a lot of tournaments and such. Adds to the drama and everyone involveds actual motivations. I mean there's the G1 Climax, World tag League, The New Japan Cup, Best of the Super Juniors, Super Junior Tag Tournament. All with very important rewards people want!

[@RainSennin_ismyAlt]

@@Noobie2k7 yeah unlike WWE where you're given titles out of nowhere

[@lienviebruno6447]

After reading this.. I would like to come back to watching wrestling during this quarantine and follow NJPW or any Japanese wrestling.. too bad I'm too poor to afford the matches at their website

[@bedtimemma]

The IWGP Heavyweight Championship in particular is the most prestigious title in history, not only is the title exclusively defended on a small amount of shows in an entire year, and never for free (unlike the way the WWE handles their world championship), but in order to win it, potential challengers have to go through months, maybe even years, of a strong, legitimate push, again much unlike the WWE who recently had Jinder Mahal become number one contender and win the title in the matter of about 3 - 4 weeks. If Hulk Hogan, with the WWF/E Championship on his shoulder saying that the IWGP Championship is the most prestigious championship in the world didn't convince you, then this hopefully did. Nothing is above that belt, and the same argument could be made for all the other NJPW belts, especially the Intercontinental Championship and WITHOUT DOUBT, the tag team championships, won by thrown together teams on a whim in the WWE and gone through hell to get in NJPW.

[@KobaTheGreat.]

chefplayz What's crazy is that in the last 6 years, only 4 individual wrestlers have held the title since 2011. FOUR PEOPLE Tanahashi, Okada, AJ Styles, And Naito. All four of them have had lengthy reigns (Well can't say the same for Naito) and it's not that NJPW Doesn't have enough talent or not enough star power to carry there brand because unlike WWE, New Japan has long term booking and if a major star goes out of action they has dozens of guys to fill there spot and it wont really hurt them. Guys like Goto, Omega, Sanada, Kota Ibushi(Tiger Mask W), Suzuki, Shibata(If comes back).

[@bedtimemma]

Exactly. WWE would NEVER allow only 4 people to win the title over 6 years because they think that it's more interesting when it changes hands every month and a half or so, when in actuality, what we find so prestigious and interesting in the IWGP belt is that not only is it very rare for it to change hands (which is a draw for the fans, wanting to see it change hands) as well as the fact that it's intense and interesting to see people try to earn their place in history as the elite few who have won that title, giving it far more meaning than the WWE Championship. To summarize, basically, the IWGP title is a prize, the WWE title is a plot device.

[@ShockwaveZephyr]

Also, whoever holds the IWGP title usually has stellar matches defending said title. The matches are so grueling, so physically demanding, the overarching story basically says "Whoever wins this is the best this company has. They are proving that they have earned the right to have that belt put on them when the bell rings." When you see two guys wrestle their hearts out just to win the championship, it's easy to get invested, because the performers are invested. A good twist on this is actually Naito's reign with the IWGP Intercontinental championship. The title actually feels worth more, because EVERYONE (not in LIJ) is appaled at how he treats the championship. Now it becomes a storyline of "who can save the championship from the champion?" Everything NJPW does for their championship stories, is revolving around everyone wanting to be the best. And the performers fucking act like it.

[@funkriderx7534]

+florianfan2008 Popularity =/= Respect. It's easy to be popular when you became the face of an already successful company and booked semi-decently in the readily available programming said company is broadcasting on. Don't get me wrong, Cena has been impressive in many bits throughout his career, and while I don't much personally care for him, I definitely respect his accomplishments. Also, you seem to be wanting to focus on the people rather than the subject of the topic - the championships they are competing for and how said champions are handled. If respecting a championship that these (in your words) "200 pound midgets" will put on stellar performances for that naturally get a viewer invested means I am going to(again, in your words) "wank off to 200 pound midgets", sure why not. I will gladly watch programming that delivers satisfying stories, compelling matches, and prestigious championships. You are more than welcome to keep watching WWE, some people genuinely like the product. That's fine. I don't, and I won't knock anyone for watching it. Just don't expect me to think the WWE championship is on the same level as the IWGP Heavyweight championship when the WWE Championship clearly isn't booked with the reverence such a championship deserves.

[@funkriderx7534]

+florianfan2008 Oh and one more thing. If WWE is the bee knees in wrestling, what match has WWE put on in the last year or so that has even come close to matching okada vs omega? Or styles vs nakamura at wrestle kingdom x last year? I can't even remember the last i saw a 5 star match in WWE lol.

[@rissipenv]

The fact that only 4 men (Okada, Naito, Tanahashi & Styles) has held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship for the last 6 years is really remarkable. They are not hotshotting it around like WWE.

[@SmithCommaBenjamin]

Hulk Hogan has stated his whole career, that the IWGP title has always been wrestling's most important title.

[@alternative7586]

He was a better wrestler in NJPW than he was in WWF!

[@troytravince]

IWGP Heavyweight Championship, in my opinion, is the most prestigious title ever.

[@DarthMalgusSith_Lord]

not just your opinion, it's the wrestling world community

[@thedean0]

If we're talking ever as in of all time, then the 1980's NWA world title may be in the conversation.

[@ATTJ7628]

@@thedean0 Too bad the NWA title is a joke these days, I can't name a single champion since the TNA era

[@garodahkingnds2756]

@@ATTJ7628 Nick Aldis has been the NWA champion for a while now. That guy is a high-caliber badass. NWA and NJPW need to join together again.

[@punxlixx]

The nww world heavyweight title back when it was a allience

[@maxpower3596]

The IWGP is not for part-timers

[@darwinarciniega8685]

The funny thing is that Brock Lesnar held that one, and he treated it like shit. One of the reasons New Japan was shit in the 2000's.

[@JSayelBaldomero]

Brock lesner is a peice of shit

[@JSayelBaldomero]

The majority of you lesner fan boys lack common sense and moral guidance. Go outside and interact with humans.

[@diogor2285]

TacoKing No...lesnar fans are like a cancer to wrestling in geral "yeah Look at that body OMG such a beast" even know he use steroids and appear 2 time in 4 months

[@jovanapeseta7311]

Buuuuuuuuurn!!

[@cheekibreeki1869]

I absolutely love that SI has covered NJPW. Tons of us wrestling fans here in the west are huge supporters of NJPW and the way it's beginning to get a foothold here is just good news for fans of the industry as a whole, providing more accessible international variety to anybody who might like to broaden their horizons a little bit.

[@jemica9464]

Jay Lethal started cutting a promo on this dude xD

[@aaronwalker1678]

Pretty much

[@TPilly]

not only was he cutting a promo, he was putting the ROH titles over...

[@mr.otaku2399]

that's how it's done!

[@florianfan2008]

who in the roody poo is jay lethal? Oh i remember, that 200 pound indie midget who rips off a certain wwe legend? Why are we discussing nobodies again?

[@JoeyJplus50lbs]

Call it ripping off, call it imitation, call it flattery -- call it whatever you want. His mimic promos of Savage and Flair were still some of the best things to ever come out of TNA, and that was at a time when TNA was actually a somewhat decent promotion. Lemme guess, you're the kind of fan whose favorite wrestler is Brock Lesnar.

[@PLUX4]

The word "wrestling" is taken seriously and is the main reason why NJPW is my favourite promotion in the world of wrestling to watch today.

[@LA-ze1os]

NJPW and ROH is where ''WRESTLING' at in 2021

[@christianjohnsjohns8723]

In terms of an alternative to WWE i will take New Japan over Impact Wrestling any day. #NJPW4Life

[@Spaxecowboy]

Christian Johns Johns agreed, I've been watching a few matches and they are so good

[@christianjohnsjohns8723]

Johnny Gat I know right!

[@jameel2076]

Christian Johns Johns njpw is my favorite wrestling in the world for years period my only downside is i miss the championship ceremony for iwgp heavyweight championship

[@christianjohnsjohns8723]

Jameel Yeah New Japan Rev Pro ROH and PWG are my favorites

[@jameel2076]

Christian Johns Johns great choices!!!

[@Rossen42]

Some of my favorite current day wrestlers are in New Japan, i can watch Tanahashi, Naito and Kushida wrestle all day long. And i have to admit i like to watch Yano.

[@mothra__13]

Rossen42 yano is amazing, i love that crazy fucker

[@benjaminrichardmarsh8472]

I didn't realise tanahashi speaks some English

[@otalaedwin]

Tanahashi vs Wrestlemania 34 confirmed, soccer mom hair match

[@andreareynolds6143]

KLAUS Prime you did that wrong

[@obsidiana07]

His English is improving and said soon he won't need a translator. A lot of those guys speak some English. Kushida, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, Evil, and Okada to name a few.

[@FF18Cloud]

Tanahashi is also, apparently a sneaker head, wearing them equality brons

[@boi7942]

Even Hulk Hogan also mention the IWGP title is the true world title.

[@twistidtimmer]

ya I just saw a video somewhere on youtube a few weeks ago with Hogan in japan

[@DraculettaSchwarz]

Mario Boche IWGP heavyweight championship is a world title lol

[@DraculettaSchwarz]

Mario Boche how is not a world title? Even WWE has mentioned it as a world title. Plus it's been defended on Mexico, USA and Japan. As far i know the ones that don't count as words titles are the ones from AAA and CMLL

[@1daboi100]

Mario Boche now WWE universal title, where in the universe is it defended

[@DarthMalgusSith_Lord]

Boi!!! Even WWE mentioned the IWGP titles on television programs

[@SubzeroWeather]

The NJPW titles are very prestigious because its not passed around like a hot potato and it takes effort and patience to win, this is where WWE fails big time by letting their top belts be handled by anyone and everyone the case with Jinder Mahal is a perfect example, very abrupt which slowly diminishes the value of the belt.

[@ARKOVZ]

WWE Champions: Champion will lose every other non title match and last champion for a few weeks or few months. Then get it back at the next PPV. Champion is chosen based on how desperate the fan base wants or when a promotion is stubborn to make someone that isn't over champion for merchandise profits. NJPW Champions: Champion stays champion for a long time, rarely loses, and when the champion loses the belt it's against another very over and skilled opponent. Chooses champion on skill, talent and how over the champion is. This is why NJPW has more prestigious championships, and this is coming from a guy who grew up watching WWE and WCW.

[@ridleyroid9060]

Because booking. Sorry, but when 2 men fight 30 minutes for a belt succeeded by the winner holding it for a LONG ass time, it just gives the belt way more meaning when the champion is rarely pinned. Not to mention that singles action is much rarer in NJPW than in any other promotion, making the title matches even more special.

[@Noobie2k7]

30 minutes? I can't remember the last time we had a NJPW title match that short xD Also yeah, New Japan love their multi man matches. I feel like there's a Japanese Teddy Long there somewhere who gets off on 6 and 8 man tag matches.

[@zackeryJ228]

They have more tag team matches to not only help protect the Health Status of there talent, but it also helps build up the Feud going into the Tittle bout.

[@stevensaidsomething]

@@Noobie2k7 Gedo?

[@drevandamva]

shout out to sports illustrated for keeping it 💯 wwe titles dont mean shit. only nxt titles have prestige at this point

[@Apacolyptic]

NJPW is taking over, baby. Tell your friends, tell your family. Pro wrestling is going through a revival thanks to NJPW!

[@florianfan2008]

Cena is more popular than the entire NJPW roster

[@jaredgarcia5443]

Barristan Selmy FUCK THE REVIVAL 🖕🏽🤘🏽

[@beau9956]

Florianfan2008 how fucking sad are you? saying virtually the same thing across lots of different comments.. are you that sad an lonely that you need attention THAT badly?? if you don't like NJPW what are you doing watching this video? you're a pathetic little person.

[@florianfan2008]

If you dont like my comments what are you doing reading them? :D Truth hurts doesnt it?

[@beau9956]

you pathetic little person.

[@kenquiroz7863]

What makes the title prestigious to me is that not all superstars can win it, only the chosen ones or the most deserving. That to me makes the title hard to get and that you need to push your self over your limit and climb your way to the very summit. Just like the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the only deserving or chosen people can won that, even Finn Balor (Prince Devitt) didn't win the Championship. Only the Chosen and Deserving Few. That's why I'm not upset when Will Ospreay won the Title because he deserves it. He walk his way up to the peak of the mountain, being on NJPW for so many years. Congrats to Will Ospreay

[@heydude514]

What makes NJPW so prestigious? The way Naito treats them 😂

[@countrylife04]

i completely agree, IWGP Heavyweight Champion belt is the most prestigeous belt in pro-wrestling

[@maxway7465]

But ye, they (njpw) actually care about all their titles, unlike wwe lol. They let all of the singles title main event numerous shows throughout the year, to test those guys drawing ability who are not IC or HW champ. While titles in wwe are used as props for storylines instead of guys being a dominant champ.

[@JAStudiosDankestManLiv]

Naito doesn't care about the IC title XD

[@maxway7465]

JSAProductions He doesn't care about any NJPW belt lol.

[@kairix4070]

@JSAProductions That is his character lol.

[@HM4Hill]

Naito literally broke it though lol while we loved it, I'm sure backstage was less than happy about it

[@maxway7465]

O.G. Loki That's his character lol, he would've destroyed the hw title if given a long reign. He resents the fans and NJPW for taking away his Tokyo dome main event.

[@highspotplays]

History, the importance given to champions and title matches in the company, and the fact that the titles truly feel like world-wide championships since people from many different promotions compete in NJPW.

[@beau9956]

Jay Lethal is amazing I have seen him wrestle live and had my picture taken with him and got to have a chat and he is just a stand up guy.

[@christinaowen1110]

It’s not defended all the time and the guy who holds it is actually someone who feels like he should have it.

[@Nick94956]

All you need to know to see that NJPW’s Championships are more prestigious than WWE’s is to look at the number of people who have held the belts Number of WWE Champions since May 2011: 16 Number of IWGP Heavyweight Champions since May 2011: 4 I don’t think I need to say anymore

[@jeremiah7244]

I was waiting for someone to bring this up

[@GStefanes_]

Not only prestigious but most likely the best looking tittles in professional wrestling today

[@TheCraigy111]

You have to be one of the best wrestlers on the planet to have a shot at those titles, and you have to earn it by putting on the best matches. They don't do what WWE does and stick the belts on anyone and risk tarnishing the title's importance.

[@Kayfabe-226]

Actually in WWE titles don't matter that much because it's all about angles but in NJPW the title is everything...next is that the stories they try and sell are believable.. there is no reality or believability in WWE because most of their fans don't care that aspect of wrestling business..they just want to go on raw,boo Roman chant with Enzo and take selfies...the difference between both WWE and NJPW are so obvious you'd need to be blind not to see it...

[@tristancreed]

Because they respect their championships. They treat them with that mystique and prestige.

[@JRKudlick77]

The IWGP and ROH titles in my eyes are way more prestigious than any others because of the continuity of the holders, the work the holders have done and continue to do. Even the tag titles. When a good champ has them, feuds seem to start around the belts, almost like the belts have this empowerment over people. I love everything about New Japan and ROH

[@brown_rice_and_ahi7039]

For me what makes the iwgp titles so prestigious is the people who hold it. The iwgp heavyweight championship has been held by fujinami, inoki, tanahashi, great muta, okada, nakamura and others. The title holders, unlike many other world championships, are legitimate and believable. Also the title reigns are longer, making it more believable when the title holder looses the title

[@IMzKDC23]

Yep. Naito would like to know what makes those titles prestigious

[@YuutoHiroshige]

IMzKDC23 gonna watch wrestle kingdom 12 ;)

[@seancailes5146]

this title is just so respected

[@terrymcginnis4633]

the IWGP is so prestigious is because of the quality of matches pro wrestlers have there they have put there best foot forward in order to "rise the bar"

[@ajtheva6694]

Piss on WWE titles, IGWP is just gorgeous

[@domsweeney5329]

It's because they're actually treated like championships and with legitimate importance, rather rather than the way WWE simply treat them as props these days...

[@jjLeakee_]

Another thing that makes the championship prestigious is that they mention how times that the IWGP, NJPW, and ROH titles have been defended.

[@Nenad1382]

I mean Triple H knows what he is doing in NXT but Vince Meekmahan is crazy NXT Championship>>Universal Championship>WWE Championshio (as of right now cuz Brock>>>>>Jinder)

[@sumeetagrawal9708]

how often do you see okada loose these days ? not a lot wwe has no clue how a champion should be booked

[@ShockwaveZephyr]

Seeing Bad Luck Fale get a pinfall victory on Okada in a tag match leading up to wrestling Dontaku was such a big deal because how rarely that happens, and made the feud a LOT more interesting IMHO. Watching the feud, I knew Fale wasn't going to win. But that win Fale got, using the tombstone no less, had effectively sewn the seed that became the tiny voice in the back of my head that said "what if...". Thus the feud became much more enjoyable to see unfold.

[@sumeetagrawal9708]

ShockwaveZephyr​ further prooves the point that wins and losses do matter 

[@bazingitty9282]

Look at neville the cruiserweight champion, or Brock lesnar lmao

[@sumeetagrawal9708]

Kylo Xyloto then look at Kevin owens and Seth Rollins whose reigns were booked like shit

[@ShockwaveZephyr]

I get that you are defending WWE by pointing out champions who are doing well within the company, but I will respectfully disagree. Not that Lesnar or Neville aren't good champions, they very much are. But there are just too many booking decisions that just don't make sense revolving around the championships, and quite frankly I have felt like it has jerked the viewers around to the point where I have lost *almost* all interest. If you like the way WWE books their championships, then you have my blessing. There have just been too many "out of left field" moments for my personal liking when it comes to championship storylines, I will stick to the prestige and fanfare of the IWGP championships.

[@RavenStorm332]

why are the IWPG titles more prestigious because NJPW knows how to book champions and they're not changing up the title design every couple of years and they switch up the champion less often as well

[@dgenerate707]

Japanese promotions treat wrestling like a sport not Sports Entertainment, they can get silly but they know when its time to get down to business.

[@rollins1212]

the way they work with the iwgp championship makes it so prestigious, first only when you´re the best of the best you can win it, and before eve doing that you better prove yourself in matches in njpw, then the champion is protected making him loose in a non title match means something and its never on 1 on 1 i think always at tag matches, when a title match comes around they worked their ass off, no stupid gimmick match only 2 guys doing what they love to do, even tho the championship is not defended once a month the champ is around the company and they make the company go around him, o and also if you look at the alternate title de ic title its almost at the same level and its also being defended by top guys so yeah when you have a secondary title at main event status you should keep your main title even bigger

[@Nix-7741]

NJPW has better characters and Matches. wwe is more on pleasing. the kids and wrestling bandwagoners

[@ghostspectre1861]

"We have the freedom to do whatever we want..." Pretty much sums it up.

[@fyrewatermelons]

Way to bring up ROH in a question about NJPW Jay. LOL. (Also, the ROH title SI showed is outdated.)

[@sliva666]

tre flowers Well you gotta respect his loyalty at least. ROH made him a main eventer.

[@planescaped]

Don't know if Sport's Illustrated didn't know the difference between ROH and NJPW or what happened there. XD

[@kingcoheed1208]

planescaped it was war of the worlds so both NJPW and ROH were in the same place so Jay have a answer boosting the company he has great ties too

[@maninblack5783]

Ring of Honor and New Japan have a working agreement where they do a lot of cross promotion. For the past few years, it's been fairly common to see New Japan guys on Ring of Honor and vice versa.

[@EdSmith313]

For one, there's no public video of female talent within the company taking money shots on the belt.

[@baruser2575]

Helps that New Japan has no females on the roster.

[@jjLeakee_]

Maizeandbluekid Aha, I see what you did there..

[@romeojavier7997]

André Pinheiro NJPW is Anti-SJW.

[@TheMad808]

Not be passed around like skittles its a start...

[@johnnicolonatividad]

My favorite IWGP belt is.......... The IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship!!!!!!!

[@m.muradbasic4186]

ROH has great STARTING belts for upcomers like CM Punk, Austin Aeris, Samoa Joe, Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles, but later on, they realize the big League is outside ROH, most of them went to TNA and in it's prime time, the belts were damn prestigeous, for instance Bobby Roode, Kurt Angle, James Storm and Samoa Joe pushed big the World Title, while AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Austin Aries and Chris Sabin put the X-Devision on fire.

[@85futureshock]

Thank you New Japan for saving pro wrestling.

[@johnsmith550]

Because they weren't put on Jinder Mahal...

[@Clbbullet]

john smith are u mad bro

[@danalexevici6757]

john smith Jinder is actually a great heel and champion. So glad he got his well deserved push.

[@damobart15]

Smokey haven't heard that one since 2011

[@user-jo2uv1xj2w]

I love pro wrestling and love every company so all the titles are prestigious

[@EManFXW]

I agree with all these 100%. Side note: I had no idea Tanahashi spoke English.

[@1987ragon]

This Championship Is In My Opinion Is The Most Projistious Wrestling Championship In The World And It Should Be

[@superchacho777]

In my opinion in WWE the man makes The Title while in NJPW The Title pretty much makes the man

[@rockysmith371]

its a beautiful belt i know that

[@dr.manhattan4138]

NJPW presents their product as sports, thus, treated as sports. Kayfabe is live and well in Japan

[@darringardner6310]

i think was Cody said was on point .. WWE broke away from the sport instead of making world renowned 5 star grade-A athletes they made glorified Saturday morning cartoon characters

[@ninjaphenom2]

Jay Lethal, the ultimate ROH mark.

[@zioncartel]

because it's represents professional wrestling as is supposed to be

[@toddwilliams374]

Most prestigious title in the wrestling world

[@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1]

NJPW doesn't wink at the audience, they treat it seriously.

[@HACHIAttack]

"NJPW is the most prestigious title in the world." Meanwhile, Naito is throwing the Intercotinental Champion like he doesn't give a fuck. Ohh the irony... But what they say is true though, NJPW's championships were more prestigious than WWE has. I mean, take a look the Universal Title now, how the fuck does Brock Lesnar defending his championship without being seen on WWE TV for almost 2 months now?

[@jeremiah7244]

With the way WWE is structured, don't be surprised if Heath Slater is the next WWE champion

[@StopCapN]

This title and ROH is all that matters along with PWG, right now has a good thing going for them WCPW

[@robchicano1986]

IWGP!! NEW JAPAN PRO WRESTLING is the BEST wrestling out there!

[@mowdegrassetyson7676]

Cody's point was so smart

[@CezrDaPleazr]

It's awesome!

[@limb7098]

it's because they're beautiful

[@ronanlangford2747]

To me, it feels great that they don't mention TNA in this video. I've hated TNA since they brought in Hogan and Bischoff. I wish they just killed it off. it's just embarrassing hearing the likes of JB and Josh matthews actually getting excited about it

[@Lunacorva]

I don't think the WWE titles are treated as less prestigious because WWE is entertainment. They're treated as less prestigious because it's BAD entertainment. Look at Lucha Underground by comparison. It's actually even FURTHER on the entertainment scale than the WWE is, but they treat their champions with the exact same respect NJPW does.

[@57HarleyDavidson]

@Lunacorva WWF/WWE is Professional wrestling always has been.

[@Shastagamers]

NJPW is getting more exposure WWE is gonna get pissed

[@RDSArcade]

Oli Freakin Davis Who cares?!

[@HittoTheAssassin]

IWGP and the NWA titles are the most prestigious... Don't care what anybody says. That NWA title is my favorite

[@priyadarshnabasnayaka2380]

How prestigious the iwgp heavyweight title is!!! Hope kenny omega will be the next iwgp heavyweight champion at dominion 6.11

[@Shastagamers]

Priyadarshna forever maybe just maybe ........

[@RainSennin_ismyAlt]

This year did

[@jasen5379]

Well it doesnt change champs every for starters unlike other promotions

[@RAA10382]

For years, THS title (New Japan’s IWGP heavyweight championship) and All-Japan’s triple crown championship were THE ELITE (no pun intended lol) championships in all of puroresu and pro wrestling in general. I miss All-Japan Pro Wrestling so much.

[@Kevvythegreat]

The IWGP Title looks like a real title and treated like it’s the most prestige to get it. Not playing hot potato like wwe

[@erikzuniga1346]

Oh shit, I didn't even notice the change of voice between Cody and Matt! They kinda sounded the same

[@GameVids321]

NJPW and ROH have both been really rising in terms of ratings, and they're making Wwe look like a joke.

[@TomBaker316]

What's the best way to watch New Japan in the U.K.? I'm pretty interested, as a massive wwe fan

[@Zcumgod]

Tom Baker try their website

[@cfwcentralfloridawrestling1281]

WWE champion is always being handed out from one wrestler to another or give it to part timers and not defend it like back in the day when the WWF champion actually meant something. NJPW knows how prestigious championships are therefore NJPW and ROH are the best wrestling organization I have seen until this day !

[@RDSArcade]

Gravekeeper Spy Here's how it goes: If you win the WWE Championship, that means you're marketable. If you win the NJPW Championship, you're a force to be reckoned with in the ring.

[@cfwcentralfloridawrestling1281]

RDSArcade Totally agree ! Look at John Cena 16 time world champion

[@jeremiah7244]

Look at Jinder Mahal

[@theonlykingA]

Why am I just now see this video.

[@mehdidavoudiyeh4519]

Is ring of honour connected to njwp

[@FYeaWrestling]

They work together

[@mattpryokra2245]

When you look at the NJPW titles, they literally tell you a story.... Unlike those out of place belts in WWE.

[@AlchemyCAWS]

I thought this a documentary style video. Of course these guys are going to put over their own titles

[@colonelkenpachi5009]

damn it jay lethal why you got to cut a promo on this poor lad now he well never recover

[@rolandmendozain]

New Japan has better looking titles period

[@Umega101]

They'll pretend people that won one didn't win it... true story.

[@punxlixx]

Its pretty simple, Japanese titles involve actual wrestling instead of wwe giving out titles to anyone that they think is good enough. If you cant actually wrestle, you wont win any titles in japan. And the iwgp gold doesn’t ever get passed around with short reigns, its always atleast over 100 days

[@michaelfang1393]

Better wrestling. Better matches.....

[@maninblack5783]

I haven't watched ROH in a long time, so I was a little shocked to see a bald Jay Lethal.

[@warrenwallsjr.2564]

Cody threw some shade at WWE XD

[@odurosik7727]

I WPG championship mean sports champion, while the WWE championship means entertainment champion

[@collinjay7108]

I like how this whole video is about new Japan’s world belt the the best and here comes their lease saying we’re in honor is LOL

[@RicardoPerez-rz8pu]

Imagine if There should be a Stanley Cup in NJPW that would elevate The World of Wrestling better than The IGP World Championship Belt

[@MrDjillest303]

Tanahashi is a good looking dude.... NO HOMO

[@jmthehologram]

Anthony I *gives Tanahashi towel* *he whipes his armpits and hands it back* *faints* lol but yeah he's the best