Strong Openweight Championship#Reigns

The title was officially announced on April 2, 2021. Initially, the title was exclusively featured on NJPW's American television program NJPW Strong, which includes a distinct roster of American wrestlers.

On November 11, 2023, NJPW's American partner promotion AEW announced a tournament called the Continental Classic, with the winner becoming the first AEW Continental Champion.{{cite web|last=Defelice|first=Robert|title=Tony Khan Announces AEW Continental Classic Tournament Starts On 11/22, Concludes At AEW Worlds End|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-announces-aew-continental-classic-tournament-starts-1122-concludes-aew-worlds-end|work=Fightful|date=November 11, 2023|access-date=November 11, 2023|archive-date=November 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112034526/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-announces-aew-continental-classic-tournament-starts-1122-concludes-aew-worlds-end|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Rose |first=Bryan |title=AEW announces Continental Classic tournament, Bryan Danielson first entrant |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-announces-continental-classic-tournament-bryan-danielson-first-entrant |date=November 11, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}}{{cite web |last=Renner |first=Ethan |title=AEW announces new title & Continental Classic competitors |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-announces-new-title-continental-classic-competitors |work=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|date=November 18, 2023|access-date=November 18, 2023}} Eddie Kingston, who held the ROH World Championship and the Strong Openweight Championship, announced that he would be putting his championships on the line in the tournament and that the tournament's winner would be an American Triple Crown Champion (collectively referred to as the Continental Crown).{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Jeremy |title=Tony Khan Gives More Details on AEW Continental Classic, Will Conclude At Worlds End |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/tony-khan-details-aew-continental-classic-worlds-end/ |work=411Mania |date=November 19, 2023 |access-date=November 19, 2023}} At AEW's Worlds End event, Kingston defeated Jon Moxley in the Continental Classic final, retaining the Strong Openweight and ROH World championships and becoming the first Continental Crown Champion. Kingston would lose the AEW Continental Championship to Kazuchika Okada on the March 20, 2024, episode of AEW Dynamite, thus losing his recognition as Triple Crown Champion.{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/tony-khan-clarifies-rules-aew-continental-title/|title=Tony Khan Clarifies Rules Around AEW Continental Title|date=March 22, 2024|last=Thomas|first=Jeremy|work=411Mania|access-date=March 22, 2024}}

{{Excerpt|New Japan Cup USA|2021|only=template|templates=16TeamBracket-NoSeeds|bold=yes}}

File:Tomohiro Ishii 2016.JPG]]

As of January 1, 2024, there have been eight reigns between seven champions. Tom Lawlor was the inaugural champion. Tomohiro Ishii is the oldest, when he won it at 49 years old, while Gabe Kidd is the youngest champion at 27 years old. Lawlor's reign is the longest at 389 days while Hikuleo's reign is the shortest at 18 days.

Tomohiro Ishii is the reigning champion in his first reign. He defeated Gabe Kidd in a 30-minute iron man match, which Ishii won 2–1 in sudden death overtime at Windy City Riot on April 11, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=yes|defenses=yes|days2=yes|unknown=yes}}

{{PWtitlereign

|sort number = 0.5

|type = promotion

|name = New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW)

}}

{{PWtitlereign

|number = 1

|champion = {{sortname|Tom|Lawlor}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|April 23, 2021}}
{{small|(air date)}}

|days = N/A

|days2 = {{age in days nts|April 23, 2021|May 15, 2022}}

|location = Port Hueneme, CA

|event = New Japan Cup USA 2021

|defenses = 9

|notes = Defeated Brody King in the finals of an 16-man single-elimination tournament to become the inaugural champion. The exact date this event was taped is unknown. It aired on April 23, 2021 on tape delay.

|ref = {{cite web|url=https://heelbynature.com/wrestling-news/njpw-news/njpw-unveils-new-njpw-strong-openweight-championship/|title=NJPW Unveils New NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship|work=heelbynature.com|author=HBN Staff|date=April 3, 2021|access-date=April 3, 2021}}{{cite web | url =https://www.njpw1972.com/94490|title=Strong Openweight Championship revealed 【NJoA】|work=njpw1972.com|author=New Japan Pro-Wrestling|date=April 3, 2021|access-date=April 3, 2021}}

}}{{PWtitlereign

|number = 2

|champion = {{sortname|Fred|Rosser}}

|reign = 1

|date = May 15, 2022

|days = {{age in days|May 15, 2022|February 18, 2023}}

|days2 = {{age in days|June 25, 2022|February 18, 2023}}

|location = Philadelphia, PA

|event = Strong: Collision in Philadelphia

|defenses = 7

|notes = Aired on tape delay on June 25, 2022.

|ref = {{cite web|last=Defelice|first=Robert|title=Spoiler: New NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Crowned At Collision In Philadelphia On 5/15|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/spoiler-new-njpw-strong-openweight-champion-crowned-collision-philadelphia-515|work=Fightful|date=May 15, 2022|access-date=May 16, 2022}}

}}{{PWtitlereign

|number = 3

|champion = {{sortname||Kenta|Kenta Kobayashi}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|February 18, 2023}}

|days = {{age in days|February 18, 2023|May 3, 2023}}

|days2 = yes

|location = San Jose, CA

|event = Battle in the Valley

|defenses = 2

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|title=NJPW Battle In The Valley Results (2/18): Mercedes Mone vs. KAIRI, Tanahashi vs. Okada, Loser Leaves NJPW|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/njpw-battle-valley-results-218-mercedes-mone-vs-kairi-tanahashi-vs-okada-loser-leaves-njpw|work=Fightful|date=February 18, 2023|access-date=February 18, 2023}}

}}{{PWtitlereign

|number = 4

|champion = Hikuleo

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|2023|5|3}}

|days = {{age in days|May 3, 2023|May 21, 2023}}

|days2 = yes

|location = Fukuoka, Japan

|event = Wrestling Dontaku

|defenses = 0

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web|last=Vetter|first=Chris|title=5/3 NJPW “Wrestling Dontaku 2023” results: Vetter’s review of Sanada vs. Hiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Tama Tonga vs. David Finlay for the Never Openweight Title Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, and Ren Narita vs. Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, and Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Never Openweight Six-Man Titles, Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Jeff Cobb for the NJPW TV Title|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/05/03/5-3-njpw-wrestling-dontaku-2023-results-vetters-review-of-sanada-vs-hiromu-takahashi-for-the-iwgp-heavyweight-championship-tama-tonga-vs-david-finlay-for-the-never-openweight-title-minoru-su/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=May 3, 2023|access-date=May 4, 2023}}

}}{{PWtitlereign

|number = 5

|champion = {{sortname||Kenta|Kenta Kobayashi}}

|reign = 2

|date = {{dts|May 21, 2023}}

|days = {{age in days|May 21, 2023|July 5, 2023}}

|days2 = yes

|location = Long Beach, CA

|event = Resurgence

|defenses = 0

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/kenta-wins-njpw-strong-openweight-title-gets-challenged-eddie-kingston-njpw-resurgence|title=KENTA Wins NJPW STRONG Openweight Title, Gets Challenged By Eddie Kingston At NJPW Resurgence|first=Colin|last=Tessier|work=Fightful|date=May 21, 2023|access-date=May 22, 2023}}

}}{{PWtitlereign

|number = 6

|champion = {{sortname|Eddie|Kingston}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|July 5, 2023}}

|days = {{age in days|July 5, 2023|May 11, 2024}}

|days2 = yes

|location = Tokyo, Japan

|event = Independence Day
{{small|Night 2}}

|defenses = 12

|notes = During this reign, the championship became part of the American Triple Crown Championship (also referred to as the Continental Crown), with Kingston defending the championship alongside the AEW Continental Championship and ROH World Championship after winning the Continental Classic tournament at Worlds End. Kingston would lose the AEW Continental Championship to Kazuchika Okada on the March 20, 2024 episode of AEW Dynamite, thus dissolving the Triple Crown.

|ref = {{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|title=Eddie Kingston Wins NJPW Strong Openweight Title At NJPW Strong Independence Day|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/eddie-kingston-wins-njpw-strong-openweight-title-njpw-strong-independence-day|work=Fightful|date=July 5, 2023|access-date=July 6, 2023}}

}}{{PWtitlereign

|number = 7

|champion = {{sortname|Gabe|Kidd}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|May 11, 2024}}

|days = {{age in days|May 11, 2024|April 11, 2025}}

|days2 = yes

|location = Ontario, CA

|event = Resurgence

|defenses = 6

|notes = This was a No Ropes Last Man Standing match.

|ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/new-japan-results/njpw-resurgence-live-results-jon-moxley-vs-shota-umino-iwgp-world-title-match/|title=NJPW Resurgence live results: Jon Moxley vs. Shota Umino IWGP World title match|work=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|first=Chick|last=Fritta|date=May 11, 2024|access-date=May 12, 2024}}

}}

{{PWtitlereign

|number = 8

|champion = {{sortname|Tomohiro|Ishii}}

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|April 11, 2025}}

|days = {{age in days|April 11, 2025}}+

|days2 = yes

|location = Chicago, IL

|event = Windy City Riot

|defenses = 1

|notes = This was a 30-minute iron man match, which Ishii won 2–1 in sudden death overtime.

|ref = {{cite web|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/04/12/njpw-windy-city-riot-results-4-11-vetters-in-person-review-of-konosuke-takeshita-vs-hiroshi-tanahashi-for-the-never-openweight-title-gabe-kidd-vs-tomohiro-ishii-in-an-ironman-match-for-the-str/|title=NJPW Windy City Riot results (4/11): Vetter’s in-person review of Konosuke Takeshita vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Never Openweight Title, Gabe Kidd vs. Tomohiro Ishii in an Ironman match for the Strong Openweight Title|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|first=Chris|last=Vetter|date=April 11, 2025|access-date=April 11, 2025}}

}}{{BundleEnd}}

As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.

• Professional wrestling in the United States

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.njpw.co.jp/champions/njpw-strong Championship history on official website] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://www.njpw1972.com/champions/strong-openweight-championship Championship history on official website] {{in lang|en}}

{{New Japan Pro Wrestling}}

{{Strong Openweight Championship}}

Category:Openweight wrestling championships

Category:New Japan Pro-Wrestling championships