The International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) Jr. Heavyweight Championship is one of the most coveted titles in professional wrestling. Similar to WWE's Cruiserweight Championship and weight limit restriction for the division, the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship is open to those 220 pounds and under and is exclusive to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

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Many legendary battles have taken place for the Japan's junior heavyweight prize and while some competitors made careers in the division, others used the experience to graduate up to the heavyweight division. But some wrestlers hold onto the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship for so long that it feels like the title has become a part of them. Since its debut in February 1986, here are the 10 longest reigning IWGP Jr. Heavyweight champions.

10 Minoru Tanaka (39th Champion - 264 Days)

Minoru Tanaka

Minoru Tanaka is a four-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, who has also held the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Championship five times. As of writing, Tanaka has held the Jr. Heavyweight gold for a combined 998 days. His longest reign, and first with the title, began on October 29, 2000, when he defeated Tatsuhito Takaiwa at Get A Right!! - Tag 13.

Tanaka would defend the title twice in this reign before losing to Masayuki Naruse on July 20, 2001, at NJPW Dome-Quake. Tanaka has also won the 2006 Best Of the Super Juniors and was ranked #12 of Pro Wrestling Illustrated's PWI 500 list in 2002.

9 Shiro Koshinaka (7th Champion - 265 Days)

Shiro Koshinaka is the inaugural IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. Koshinaka, at the time of writing, is a three-time champion, with nine defenses with a total of 702 combined days as champion. He won the title for the third time at NJPW IWGP Champion Series 1988 - Tag 28 on June 24, 1988.

This win came against Owen Hart, ending his only reign as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. Koshinaka's third reign lasted until March 16, 1989, losing to Hiroshi Hase at NJPW Big Fight Series - Tag 16.

8 Tiger Mask (47th Champion - 277 Days)

Tiger Mask Posing

Yoshihiro Yamazaki, famously known as Tiger Mask, is a six-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion with 12 defenses and 858 combined days as champion at the time of writing. While in the Tiger Mask IV regime, his second and longest reign as Junior Champion occurred.

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Tiger Mask's second reign with junior gold began on January 4, 2005, at NJPW Touken Festival - Wrestling World 2005, defeating Heat. Tiger Mask had three successful defenses during this reign but lost the title at NJPW Touken Souzou New Chapter on October 8, 2005, to Black Tiger.

7 Koji Kanemoto (43rd Champion - 278 Days)

Koji Kanemoto

Tiger Mask sits fifth on the all-time total combined days with the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship. Fourth, ahead of Tiger Mask, sits Koji Kanemoto. At the time of writing, Koji is a five-time IWGP Jr. Heavyweight with 14 defenses and 954 total combined days as champion.

Kanemoto, who wrestles freelance, started his fourth and longest reign on July 19, 2002, at NJPW Fight Series 2002 - Tag 20 defeating Minoru Tanaka. This reign had six title defenses. Tiger Mask would end Koji's longest reign on April 23, 2004, at NJPW Strong Energy 2003 - Tag 5.

6 Shiro Koshinaka (3rd Champion - 317 Days)

Shiro Koshinaka became the inaugural IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion by defeating The Cobra on February 6, 1986, at NJPW New Year Dash 1986 - Tag 27 and held the belt for 102 days. Shiro would lose the title to Nobuhiko Takada on May 19, 1986, at NJPW IWGP Champion Series 1986 - Tag 4.

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Shiro's longest of his three reigns started on September 19, 1986 by regaining the junior gold from Takada at NJPW Challenge Spirit 1986 - Tag 17. Koshinaka defended the title twice during this reign but had to relinquish the gold on August 2, 1987, due to an ankle injury.

5 Prince Devitt (60th Champion - 364 Days)

Prince Devitt

Prince Devitt (Finn Balor in WWE) is second on the all-time list for total combined days as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. Though it is unlikely to see Balor win more NJPW gold at the time of writing, he is a three-time champion with 15 defenses and an astounding 1,010 combined days with the title.

Devitt's first reign with the gold started June 19, 2010, at Dominion 6.19 with a victory over Naomichi Marufuji. The inaugural leader of Bullet Club had seven defenses during this reign but lost to Kota Ibushi on June 18, 2011, at Dominion 6.18.

4 Heat (46th Champion - 387 Days)

Minoru Tanaka's split personality "Heat" showed himself in 2002 and this would stick for a few years. Heat wore a mask and was influenced from the video game Touken Heat. Despite the alter ego, Tanaka found success under the mask and would have his longest reign as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion.

This was Tanaka's third reign with the gold, winning it December 13, 2004, at NJPW Battle Final 2003 - Tag 15 from Jado. Heat held the title until January 4, 2005, losing it to Tiger Mask for his longest reign with the championship.

3 Jushin Thunder Liger (32nd Champion - 403 Days)

Jushin Liger As IWGP Jr. Champion

Jushin Thunder Liger wrapped up his untouchable, legendary 36-year career at Wrestle Kingdom 14 on January 5, 2020. Liger will undoubtedly go down as the longest reigning IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion for total combined days with 2,245 which is beyond amazing.

Liger was Junior Champion 11 times with 31 defenses. On February 7, 1998, Liger began his ninth reign defeating Shinjiri Otani at NJPW Fighting Spirit 1998 - Tag 10. Eight successful title defenses occurred in this reign but Liger lost the gold on March 17, 1999, to Koji Kanemoto at NJPW Hyper Battle 1999 - Tag 12.

2 Prince Devitt (66th Champion - 419 Days)

Prince Devitt makes his second and final appearance on this list in honor of his longest reign as IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion. Devitt won the title for the third time on November 11, 2012, defeating Low Ki at Power Struggle.

Similar to the end of his first reign, Devitt's third reign was ended by Kota Ibushi on January 4, 2014, at Wrestle Kingdom 8. Months after Devitt's final and longest Jr. Heavyweight title reign ended, he was expelled from Bullet Club and was WWE bound.

1 Jushin Thunder Liger (21st Champion - 628 Days)

Jushin Thunder Liger entrance WCW

2020 WWE Hall Of Famer Jushin Thunder Liger's record setting reign as longest IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion began on January 4, 1993, with a win over Ultimo Dragon at NJPW Fantastic Story In Tokyo Dome. This was Liger's sixth reign with the title which saw him defend it five times.

The historic reign came to an end on September 24, 1994, when Liger vacated the championship due to an ankle fracture. This was the second time Liger vacated the title due to injury. After relinquishing the prestigious title, Liger would need a year-and-a-half to regain the junior gold. Reminder: Liger was champion for 2,245 days combined. Incredible!

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