{"id":121828,"date":"2023-12-13T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T15:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=121828"},"modified":"2023-12-12T18:31:08","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T23:31:08","slug":"njpw-global-heavyweight-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2023\/12\/13\/njpw-global-heavyweight-championship\/","title":{"rendered":"Match Point: Ospreay vs. Moxley vs. Finlay For the NJPW Global Heavyweight Championship, WrestleKingdom 18 (1\/4\/24)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Match Point is an ongoing series at Last Word on Pro Wrestling, where we look at intriguing matchups in indie wrestling and beyond. They may be dream matches, first-time matchups, or hotly anticipated rematches. This edition will focus on the for the inaugural NJPW Global Heavyweight Championship match.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Will Ospreay<\/strong> will leave New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) after eight years with the Japanese promotion following WrestleKingdom 18 on January 4, 2024. His final match will be against Jon Moxley<\/strong> and David<\/strong> Finlay<\/strong> in a three-way bout for the inaugural NJPW Global Heavyweight Championship. Ospreay will join AEW in 2024.<\/p>\n

The NJPW Global Heavyweight Championship will replace the IWGP US\/ UK Heavyweight Championship which has been the source of feuding between the three men. The ambiguity surrounding the championship has also created a lot of confusion. Let’s take an in-depth look at this match.<\/p>\n

NJPW Global Heavyweight Championship To Replace IWGP US (UK) Heavyweight Championship<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The IWGP US Heavyweight Championship was launched in 2017 as part of NJPW’s expansion into the US. Will Ospreay is the current holder of the title in his second reign as champion.<\/p>\n

Ospreay lost the championship to Kenny Omega<\/strong> at WrestleKingdom 17 in a match of the year contender. Omega only defended the championship twice in 2023. First, a victory over Jeff Cobb<\/strong> on AEW Dynamite. Then, he lost the championship to Ospreay at AEW\/NJPW Forbidden Door<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n

Ospreay claimed he had no attachment to the US gold. So he re-christened it the IWGP UK Heavyweight Championship along with a new belt. He kept the old belt and carried both US and UK straps with him.<\/p>\n

Moxley, who like Ospreay has two reigns with the title, appeared at NJPW Power Struggle in November to challenge for the gold. But David Finlay<\/strong> attacked both men and destroyed both the UK and US belts.<\/p>\n

As a result, NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi<\/strong> announced the NJPW Global Heavyweight Championship will replace the titles to clear up the confusion.<\/p>\n

The IWGP US Heavyweight Championship title has also been held by Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes,<\/strong> Hiroshi Tanahashi<\/a>, Lance Archer, SANADA, Jay White, KENTA,<\/strong> and Juice Robinson.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

.@WillOspreay<\/a> vs @JonMoxley<\/a> vs @THEdavidfinlay<\/a><\/p>\n

POWER STRUGGLE\uff5e (Nov. 4th, 2023) Backstage comments!<\/p>\n

Watch FREE\uff5c\u7121\u6599\u516c\u958b\u4e2d
\u21d2 https:\/\/t.co\/QLWq3ExF3O<\/a><\/p>\n

11\/4(\u65e5) #njpst<\/a> #njsjtl<\/a> \u306eBS\u30b3\u30e1\u30f3\u30c8\u3092 #\u65b0\u65e5\u672c\u30d7\u30ed\u30ec\u30b9\u30ef\u30fc\u30eb\u30c9<\/a> \u3067\u7121\u6599\u516c\u958b\u4e2d!#njwk18<\/a> #AEW<\/a> #NJPW<\/a> #njpwworld<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/FonpmCdnyZ<\/a><\/p>\n

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) November 5, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n