New Japan Pro Wrestling made a major announcement during last night’s Ring of Honor/NJPW co-branded ‘War of the Worlds’ pay per view.
The following is from the NJPW1972.com website detailing the brand new IWGP United States Championship:
“New Japan Pro-Wrestling Chairman Naoki Sugabayshi, and referee Tiger Hattori, Kevin Kelly, Ring of Honor COO Joe Koff, George Carroll Jr and ROH Ambassador Cary Silkin stood in a sold out Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, New York and shocked the world.
New Japan officials took note of the demand for the global branding and wanted to ensure that the already epic G1 in the USA specials on July 1 & 2 become truly landmark events in the history of professional wrestling.
It was announced that at the G1 in the US Specials in Long Beach California, the stars of New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Ring of Honor will complete in a round robin tournament.
For the first time in its 45 year history, New Japan Pro-Wrestling will add their first championship based in the US. At the G1 Specials in the USA, The winner of this tournament will become the New IWGP United States Champion!
It was also announced that former ROH World Champion Jay Lethal would be the first competitor announced for this epic tournament!
The Bullet Club’s Hangman Page attempted to crash that party and let Lethal and NJPW officials know that he wants to be the first champion!”
There has previously been speculation that New Japan were looking to give Kenny Omega the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and make him the focal point for their push into the American market. With this announcement of the new title there is an even greater chance that Kazuchika Okada retains his title at Dominion on June 11th.
Will you be headed to the G1 Specials at Long Beach in July? Who do you think should be crowned the inaugural IWGP United States Champion? Let us know in the comments
Major G1 Specials in the US Announcementhttps://t.co/n6Ruic6MdY pic.twitter.com/CkijjncsCS
— njpw_global (@njpwglobal) May 13, 2017
