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The IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship changed hands at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19.
David Finlay defended the title against Yota Tsuji at the show, and Tsuji pinned him with The Gene Blaster to win the title. In doing so, he captured his first singles championship in NJPW.
Tsuji will defend the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship against AEW’s Jack Perry at NJPW x AEW Wrestle Dynasty on January 5th.
Finlay was the inaugural IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion, as he won the title at Wrestle Kingdom 19. Nic Nemeth beat him for the gold the following month, but Finlay won it back at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Night Two on May 4th. Finlay then held the title for 245 days until Tsuji dethroned him.
The win marks the beginning of Tsuji’s first singles title run in NJPW. He is a former NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champion, and he won the New Japan Cup in 2024.
