|
|
Post by endo on Oct 7, 2012 13:55:18 GMT -5
Not going to get too deep into who won the title and who defeated who, it would take days to cover it all and it still wouldn't be 100% accurate. So, instead I'll focus on the belts and the main champions of the various incarnations. The title was created in 1983 by New Japan Pro Wrestling founder Antonio Inoki. Hulk Hogan defeated Antonio Inoki in the inaugural tournament to become the first IWGP Champion. The first title belt, made by an unknown belt maker.  And Hogan with the title after his win.  Inoki beat Hogan the following year(at the time it was a once a year tournament) to win the title. Here's where it get's funky. Inoki would hold the title until 1985 or 86 when I can only assume the yearly tournament was done away with, and the title became contended like every other title. So, Inoki vacated the IWGP title, to take part in a tournament for the IWGP title. I know, right? Anyhow, Inoki beat Masa Saito to become the "first" IWGP Champion, I'm guessing of the now defended every card title. Anyway, this belt was used until 1997, when during Shinya Hashimoto's third reign as champion he's awarded a new title belt.   No idea who made this belt either, and it was used until 2005, then sporadically between 2006 and 2008. The next belt used was crafted by Dave Millican and was used from 2005 to 2008.   You may remember this particular version of the belt as the one Kurt Angle held along with the Millican made TNA title belt.  The last and current IWGP belt, and my personal favorite has been in use since 2008 and was also made by Dave Millican.   |
|
|
|
Post by NDX on Oct 7, 2012 18:30:12 GMT -5
Those last 2 belts are great.
|
|
|
|
Post by endo on Oct 7, 2012 19:44:07 GMT -5
Both Millican made belts are great, I like the very first one too. Not my favorite, but a pretty unique design. I don't know what was going on with that second one.
I don't care for that one at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by gorepolice on Oct 7, 2012 20:58:49 GMT -5
Those are some really nice belts, 2nd one excluded. I have no idea what they were thinking with that.
|
|
|
|
Post by NDX on Oct 7, 2012 21:13:03 GMT -5
A crown for your other head?
|
|
|
|
Post by gorepolice on Oct 7, 2012 21:15:02 GMT -5
That's the only logical thing I can think of.
|
|
|
|
Post by endo on Oct 8, 2012 10:40:45 GMT -5
Lol. Now I can't get that out of my head.
|
|
|
|
Post by gorepolice on Oct 8, 2012 11:06:11 GMT -5
If that stupid crown thing wasn't there, it would have been a good looking belt.
|
|
|
|
Post by endo on Oct 9, 2012 7:53:59 GMT -5
Yeah, I don't know how you go from the first, classic looking design, to that. Course, they had really weird looking IWGP tag designs too.
Maybe I'll cover them next.
|
|
|
|
Post by gorepolice on Oct 10, 2012 15:09:46 GMT -5
Japan always has to do things weird.
|
|
