IWGP U.S. Championship revealed.

[¡Tranquilo!]

This is the prize of US G1 tournament. I guess this event will kick off an NJPW touring brand here. I'm pretty interested to see who they crown as the inaugural US champ, I'm thinking Juice Robinson.

As for the belt itself I'm just not a fan of the red straps anymore. The gold plates look bad on them.

 

[RedDwarfTechy]

The straps make the belt look ugly tbh. But swap the straps to black and you have a pretty decent looking belt. I guess they didnt want it looking similar to the other belts hence the red straps.

I have a feeling Juice will be a champ if not the inaugural champ, at least in the first 3-4.

Do we know who is part of the G1 US tournament? Is Cody an option?

 

[Leo C]

As long as it doesn't just become a random belt defended in regular NJPW shows undercards it should be fine.

 

[Rosie]

It is NJPW probably trying to take a shot at WWE without going into direct competition with them. But with a fair amount of American competitors they have, it can work.

But, Black Straps please?

 

[Geese]

I don't have an issue with the design of the belt but there seems to be more than enough championship titles in New Japan as it is: World Heavyweight, Intercontinental Championship, NEVER Openweight, IWGP Jr. Heavyweight, IWGP Jr. tag team titles, IWGP Tag team titles, and the NEVER 6-man tag team titles.

Having too many championships dilutes the meaning of the word champ.

 

[Prince Bálor]

Ya know, I haven't been keeping up with NJPW for a while now, but I actually don't mind that belt's design. I do agree it would've looked better with a different color, though.

So, this G1 Climax in the US will basically serve like a prelude to the 2017 G1? Nice. And since they're looking to expand in the US, I guess having the first US champ being an actual American would make sense. Also, the fact that both IWGP Heavyweight and IC titles will be defended on the show is nice.

 

[Stopspot]

that belt is ugly as fuck

 

[Aurtle The Turtle]

How many Shinsuke Nakamura jackets have to die so these companies can make their ugly red belts?

 

[¡Tranquilo!]

The straps make the belt look ugly tbh. But swap the straps to black and you have a pretty decent looking belt. I guess they didn't want it looking similar to the other belts hence the red straps.

I have a feeling Juice will be a champ if not the inaugural champ, at least in the first 3-4.

Do we know who is part of the G1 US tournament? Is Cody an option?

I haven't read about any confirmed names I just assumed everyone was apart of the tournament or at the very least all non-japanese talent.

As long as it doesn't just become a random belt defended in regular NJPW shows undercards it should be fine.

I think they'll abandon the title if the westward expansion doesn't go as planned. It'll be better than keeping it around.

I don't have an issue with the design of the belt but there seems to be more than enough championship titles in New Japan as it is: World Heavyweight, Intercontinental Championship, NEVER Openweight, IWGP Jr. Heavyweight, IWGP Jr. tag team titles, IWGP Tag team titles, and the NEVER 6-man tag team titles.

Having too many championships dilutes the meaning of the world champ.

Eh, I feel like the amount of belts work for NJPW as they treat their product more like a sport than WWE does.