The IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestlingchampionship title in the New ZealandpromotionImpact Pro Wrestling. It was the original heavyweight title of the Mania Pro Wrestling promotion, later used in IPW as its primary singles title. It was introduced as the MPW Heavyweight Championship on 9 April 2002. When Impact Pro Wrestling was founded by a core group of MPW wrestlers in 2003, the title was established as its new primary singles title and renamed to the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship. The MPW Championship reigns are still recognised in the title's lineage. The current champion is James Shaw who is in his fifth reign.
The championship is regularly defended throughout New Zealand, most often in central Auckland, at monthly live shows. It has formerly been defended at live events such as the Armageddon Expo and on weekly series IPW Ignited.[1] In 2007, the title made its debut in the Northland Region, with the promotion's IPW Collision event in Whangārei. The title match featured Jon E. King facing off against the Samoan Silverback Alexander.[2] It has also been defended at several interpromotional events both in New Zealand and Australia. IPW Heavyweight Champion Jon E. King competed at the 2006 NZPWI Invitational with KPW Heavyweight Champion H-Flame where both men made it to the semi-finals and where King was eliminated by "Heartless" Alfred Valentine. The 2007 NZPWI Invitational saw the first ever "champion vs. champion" match when returning champions Jon E. King and H-Flame faced each other in a non-title match in the opening rounds. King went on to win the tournament.
The championship is contested in professional wrestling matches. The inaugural champion was The Machine, who defeated Jon E. King in Māngere, Auckland on 9 April 2002 to become the first MPW Heavyweight Champion; King had won a Royal Rumble-type match, eliminating "Superstar" Troy Daniels to earn a place in the championship decider. IPW recognised both MPW Heavyweight Championship reigns when the promotion became Impact Pro Wrestling in 2003. James Shaw holds the record for most reigns with five. At 693 days, Jake Shehaan's second reign was the longest in the title's history. Charlie Roberts' sole reign lasted only two minutes and thirty-eight seconds, the shortest in the history of the title. Overall, there have been 51 reigns shared between 25 wrestlers, with three vacancies.
The promotion has often been represented by the reigning IPW Champion in the national media. In May 2005, TVNZ's Hadyn Jones conducted an interview with The Machine and then IPW Champion The Economist at their Auckland gym.[3] On 2 February 2006, Jon E. King was a guest on Ngati Hine FM where he was interviewed by disc jockey Darcy Edwards[4] and with fellow IPW wrestler Alfred Valentine on the TV One's morning talk show Breakfast by Kay Gregory that summer.[5][6] Jordan Invincible was among the wrestlers featured on 10 October 2008 edition Television New Zealand's IAM TV and where Invincible wrestled the host in a mock battle at their IPW facility in Auckland.[7] IPW New Zealand Champion Dal Knox was interviewed at the 2008 Armageddon Expo, along with IPW colour commentator Dion McCracken, as part of an upcoming documentary on professional wrestling in New Zealand, A Kiwi Century On The Mat, in April 2009.[8] Knox was also profiled by 20/20 in a special report on professional wrestling in New Zealand,[9] as well as on the Māori Television sports show Hyundai Code.[10]
The Economist won the vacant championship in tournament final by defeating Joey Kinkade, Jon E. King and The Machine in a fatal four-way elimination match.
A Nightmare Championship Series was used to determine the winner of the vacant championship. The series involved Brook Duncan, Curt Chaos, Dal Knox, Johnny Idol, Liger, No Face, and Shane Sinclair. Shaw defeated Idol in a Fans Bring the Weapons match to win the vacant championship.
James Shaw lost his match against Reuben de Jong during the first half of the show. Shaw proceeded to hold the show hostage until he got a rematch later in the night during which he re-gained the title.
This was The Ultimate match; A 30 minute Iron man match in which the first 20 minutes of the match contested under traditional rules, before the final ten minutes switches to no disqualification.
Shehaan cashed in his Eliminator contract which he had won earlier in the night. Roberts' reign beat the previous shortest title reign record, lasting exactly two minutes and thirty-eight seconds.
Spartan cashed in his Eliminator Contract at Misery Business for a match at Nightmare Before Xmas. This was a 'Winner Take All' match with the Kinkade Cup also on the line.
This was a four-way Ultimate Match also featuring James Shaw and Jake Shehaan. After 30 minutes had elapsed and nobody had scored a fall, the match went into sudden death overtime. Horus won by pinning Spartan.
This was a Triple ThreatSteel Cage match also featuring Spartan. James Shaw won by cutting a hole in the bottom of the cage with bolt cutters and escaping. This win made James Shaw the first ever 5 time IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Champion.
