The inaugural champion was determined in the 1983 edition of the IWGP League, a 10-man round-robin tournament. Wrestlers from several promotions worldwide participated. Participants included World Heavyweight Champions from other international promotions (such as
Canek, at the time
UWA World Heavyweight Champion or
Otto Wanz, at the time
CWA World Heavyweight Champion). After that, the championship was defended annually against the winner of the IWGP League of The Year. Antonio Inoki won the title in 1984. Inoki successfully defended it in 1985 against André The Giant (
IWGP League winner of 1985) and Hulk Hogan. Hogan was the only challenger that didn't win the tournament to challenge for the championship. In 1986, Inoki vacated the title, because he wanted to compete in the IWGP League. Therefore, the
1986 edition was the first to crown a new Champion since the 1983 edition. Inoki won the 1986 League, and became champion for the second time. In 1987, the title was deactivated and replaced by a new version of
IWGP Heavyweight Championship (active between 1987 and 2021), which was awarded to the winner of the
IWGP League 1987. The new championship was defended regularly, rather than as part of a tournament. Its lineage does not acknowledge the champions of the original title. ==Reigns==