New Japan Pro Wrestling today unveiled the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship design at their Road to Sakura Genesis event. For those unaware, this championship was formed as the lineage of the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships were merged on request from Kota Ibushi. This new championship is the result and represents the undisputed top championship in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
✨The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.✨
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Initial fan reaction to the design has not been positive. The title is a departure from the previous titles with a very different design to what NJPW fans are used to. Many fans have been quick to call the design “ugly” with a general sense that people just aren’t happy with the new design.
More pictures of the new IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
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There are of course others who are fans of the design citing that they’re fans of how unorthodox it is and the fact that it stands out from the Intercontinental and Heavyweight titles. This is something we see time and again, almost any time a new title is unveiled the general response is negative but six months down the line everyone adjusts and sees the good qualities of the title. NJPW will be hoping that happens as the initial response to the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship design has been as negative as any unveiling since the Universal Championship in WWE.
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