Greatest 18 Club Championship#Title history

The title, represented by the old WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship belt, was established on September 29, 1990 during Antonio Inoki's career 30th anniversary as an addition to creation of the Greatest 18 Club (a hall of fame) consisting of Lou Thesz, Karl Gotch, Nick Bockwinkel, Johnny Powers, Johnny Valentine, André the Giant, Stan Hansen, Wim Ruska, Billy Robinson, Hiro Matsuda, Bob Backlund, Verne Gagne, Strong Kobayashi, Hulk Hogan, Muhammad Ali, Seiji Sakaguchi, Antonio Inoki and initially Tiger Jeet Singh later replaced by Dusty Rhodes.{{Cite web|last=NJPW|title=Double Gold Dash: Five Double Title matches in NJPW Tokyo Dome history 【WK14】 {{!}} NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING|url=https://www.njpw1972.com/64975|access-date=2020-06-11|website=NJPW|language=en}}

Riki Choshu was the first champion, being awarded the title by Lou Thesz{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=猪木が巻いたベルトの歴史 ＷＷＦ格闘技世界ヘビー級選手権|url=http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~yf7m-on/belt09.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-03|website=|language=en}} on February 25, 1991. He successfully defended his title against Tiger Jeet Singh at Starrcade in Tokyo Dome,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=NJPW G1 Climax Special 1992 - Tag 2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=832|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-11|website=www.cagematch.net|language=en}} Shinya Hashimoto on day 3 of Tokyo 3 Days Battle{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=NJPW Tokyo 3Days Battle - Tag 3 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=48295|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-11|website=www.cagematch.net|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=NJPW Budokan Hall Show (Nov '91) at Budokan Hall wrestling results - Internet Wrestling Database|url=http://www.profightdb.com/cards/njpw/budokan-hall-show-nov-3991-4380.html|access-date=2020-06-11|website=www.profightdb.com}} and Tatsumi Fujinami at Super Warriors in Tokyo Dome.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=NJPW/WCW Starrcade 1992 In Tokyo Dome « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=3121|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-11|website=www.cagematch.com|language=en}}

The Great Muta retired the championship moments after winning it, in order to focus on his IWGP Heavyweight Championship title defenses.

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{{PWtitlereign|number=1|champion=Riki Choshu|reign=1|date={{dts|February 25, 1991}}|days={{age in days nts|month1=02|day1=25|year1=1991|month2=08|day2=16|year2=1992}}|location=|event=|notes=He was awarded the title.|ref={{Cite web|last=Schadler|first=Kyle|title=Abandoned: WWF Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship in Retrospect|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/955920-abandoned-the-history-of-the-wwf-matrial-arts-heavyweight-championship|access-date=2020-06-11|website=Bleacher Report|language=en}}|defences=3}}{{PWtitlereign|number=2|champion=The Great Muta|reign=1|date={{dts|August 16, 1992}}|days=<1|location=Fukuoka, Japan|event=G1 Climax Special 1992|notes=This match was also for Riki Choshu's IWGP Heavyweight Championship.|defences=0|ref={{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=NJPW G1 Climax Special 1992 - Tag 2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=55963|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-06-11|website=www.cagematch.net|language=en}}}}{{PWtitlereign|sort number=3.5|type=deactivated|date={{dts|August 16, 1992}}|notes=Muta retired the championship in order to focus on his IWGP Heavyweight Championship title defenses.|ref=|defences=—}}

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{{New Japan Pro Wrestling}}

Category:Heavyweight wrestling championships

Category:New Japan Pro-Wrestling championships