New Japan Pro-Wrestling Unifies Its IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships
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New Japan Pro-Wrestling confirmed on Sunday night that it is officially merging the IWGP Intercontinental Championship with its top title, the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The decision came at the insistance of reigning double-champion Kota Ibushi, who won both championships from Tetsuya Naito at
Wrestle Kingdom 15 in January. New Japan's IC title was first introduced back in 2011 and was eventually pushed as the 1B title to the Heavyweight's 1A.
The 2020
Wrestle Kingdom 14 event saw Naito win both the IC and Heavyweight Championships in back-to-back nights and over the following year both titles would be defended simultaneously in pay-per-view main events.