- WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship
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The World Wrestling Federation (WWF) World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship was a world heavyweight championship in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and later in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). It was created on December 18, 1978, and awarded to NJPW mainstay Antonio Inoki by Vincent J. McMahon, upon Inoki's arrival to the promotion. The title was known for being contested in shoot wrestling fights. The WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship was contested only in NJPW after the promotion became unaffiliated with the WWF in 1985.
During the thirtieth anniversary of Inoki's career, NJPW created the "Greatest 18 Club", a hall of fame. NJPW then created a new title, the Greatest 18 Championship, which was intended to complement the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. The Greatest 18 Championship was represented by the former Martial Arts Championship and was awarded to Riki Chōshū in 1990. Chōshū lost the title to The Great Muta in 1992. Muta retired the title on September 23, in order to focus on his IWGP Heavyweight Championship title defenses. The title was subsequently officially retired by NJPW.
Title history
Wrestler: Reigns: Date: Place: Notes: WWWF/WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship Antonio Inoki 1 December 18, 1978 New York City, New York Awarded by Vincent J. McMahon Shota Chochishvili 1 April 24, 1989 Tokyo, Japan Fifth round knockout Antonio Inoki 2 May 25, 1989 Osaka, Japan Greatest 18 Championship Riki Chōshū 1 1990 Awarded The Great Muta 1 August 16, 1992 Fukuoka Title retired Title retired by NJPW. References
- The WWF New Japan Martial Arts Championship at Solie's Title Histories.com
- the WWF New Japan Martial Arts Championship at Wrestling Information Archive
External links
Former championships in WWE World Secondary United States (reigns) (1970–1975) · North American Heavyweight (reigns) (1979–1981) · International Heavyweight (reigns) (1959–1963,1982–1985) · Canadian (reigns) (1985–1986) · European (reigns) (1997–2002)Tag Team United States Tag Team (reigns) (1963–1967) · International Tag Team (reigns) (1969–1985) · Women's Tag Team (reigns) (1983–1989) · Intercontinental Tag Team (reigns) (1991) · WCW Tag Team (reigns) (2001) · World Tag Team (reigns) (1971–2010)Weight Div. Junior Heavyweight (reigns) (1967–1985) · Light Heavyweight (reigns) (1981–2001) · Cruiserweight (reigns) (2001–2008)Other New Japan Pro Wrestling Championships Active IWGP Heavyweight (reigns) · IWGP Junior Heavyweight (reigns) · IWGP Tag Team (reigns) · IWGP Junior Tag Team (reigns) · IWGP Intercontinental (reigns)Inactive IWGP U-30 (reigns) · NWA International Junior Heavyweight (reigns) · NWA World Junior Heavyweight (reigns) · NWF Heavyweight (reigns) · NWF North American Heavyweight (reigns) · NWA North American Tag Team (reigns) · UWA World Junior Light Heavyweight (reigns) · WWF International Heavyweight (reigns) · WWF International Tag Team (reigns) · WWF Junior Heavyweight (reigns) · WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight (reigns)Tournaments Miscellaneous Categories:- WWE championships
- New Japan Pro Wrestling championships
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