The King of Pro-Wrestling (KOPW) championship, the title that redefined chaos and creativity in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, is officially retired. NJPW’s IWGP committee confirmed the decision Thursday, marking the end of an era filled with quirky stipulations, fan interactions, and one legendary run by Toru Yano that’s still inspiring shenanigans in locker rooms everywhere.
Incepted in 2020 by none other than Kazuchika Okada—yes, the same Okada who now holds the AEW Continental Championship—the KOPW title was unlike any other. Champions were crowned through a system where they and their challengers proposed stipulations, leaving the ultimate decision to fan votes. Think of it as a wrestling version of “Choose Your Own Adventure,” but with more chair shots.
However, despite Okada’s grand vision, he never held the title himself. Instead, the KOPW scene was dominated by Toru Yano, the mischievous master of cheap tricks, who captured hearts (and belts) with his cunning. Yano became the first and only two-time KOPW Champion and spent a staggering 476 days as interim champion, a record that will forever be etched in NJPW history books.
The KOPW title’s final chapter came in 2024, courtesy of The Great-O-Khan, who ended the championship’s run in dramatic fashion. After being crowned the last-ever KOPW champion, O-Khan demanded the title’s retirement, sealing its fate and giving himself an exclusive claim to its legacy.
For NJPW fans, the retirement of the KOPW title signals the end of an experimental yet entertaining era. From Toru Yano’s banana-peel victories to Shingo Takagi’s dominant reign, this belt gave us plenty of moments to laugh, cheer, and occasionally wonder, “What on Earth are we watching?”