NJPW held their second biggest show of the year Sunday from Osaka. 7 title matches took place at the event, including a 60-minute time limit draw between Kenny Omega and IWGP heavyweight champion, Kazuchika Okada.
I'm tired. #njdominion
— Kenny Omega (@KennyOmegamanX) June 11, 2017
While he only retained his title on a time limit draw, Okada has now tied the Great Muta’s tally of total IWGP heavyweight title defences, and is moving closer to the all-time record.
IWGP Heavyweight Champion: Kazuchika Okada
Title Defences (current reign): 6
Title Defences (all-time): 19
Title Reigns: 4
Total Days as Champion: 1,154
Only 5 other wrestlers have ever had title reigns of equal or greater length in terms of title defences: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura, Yuji Nagata, Shinya Hashimoto, and Tatsumi Fujinami.
Tanahashi holds the record for most title defences in a single reign, when he had 11 from 2012 to 2013.
The title defence Sunday moved Okada into a tie with the Great Muta for 3rd most title defences all-time with 19. Should Okada defeat Cody on July 1st in L.A, he would tie Shinya Hashimoto for 2nd with 20 title defences. Tanahashi is again the leader in this category with 28.
Greatest IWGP Heavyweight Champions of All-Time:
- Hiroshi Tanahashi – 7 Title Reigns – 28 Title Defences
- Shinya Hashimoto – 3 Title Reigns – 20 Title Defences
- the Great Muta – 4 Title Reigns – 19 Title Defences
- Kazuchika Okada – 4 Title Reigns – 19 Title Defences
- Tatsumi Fujinami – 6 Title Reigns – 13 Title Defences
- Yuji Nagata – 2 Title Reigns – 12 Title Defences
- Kensuke Sasaki – 5 Title Reigns – 9 Title Defences
- Shinsuke Nakamura – 3 Title Reigns – 9 Title Defences
- Riki Choshu – 3 Reigns – 5 Title Defences
- Big Van Vader – 3 Reigns – 4 Title Defences
Antonio Inoki, the company’s 1st champion, held the title just the once, and defended it 4x.