The NWF Heavyweight Title was created in 1970 as the main singles title for Pedro Martinez' National Wrestling Federation in New York. The sphere of influence from the promotion covered a large area, pushing into Canada, and then when Johnny Powers toured with Tokyo Pro, Japan. He would lose the title to Inoki though, beginning a new era for the belt, which would move to New Japan and be largely based there. Following over a two decade absence, the title was revived at the beginning of 2003 by New Japan. Click each wrestler's name to get a list of title defenses during his reign (if there is no link for a wrestler, it means that he had no successful title defenses). Title defenses for anything but Inoki's first reign and everything after the revival in 2003 are unavailable.
1. (1970) Johnny Powers beat Freddy Blassie (decision match)
2. (11/20/71) Waldo Von Erich beat Johnny Powers
3. (12/8/71) Dominic DeNucci beat Waldo Von Erich
4. (1/5/72) Waldo Von Erich (2) beat Dominic DeNucci
5. (6/9/72) Ernie Ladd beat Waldo Von Erich
6. (6/24/72) Abdullah The Butcher beat Ernie Ladd
7. (10/19/72) Johnny Valentine beat Abdullah The Butcher
-- Valentine is stripped of the title in 1/73.
8. (1/24/73) Jacques Rougeau beat Waldo Von Erich (tournament final)
9. (8/73) Johnny Valentine (2) beat Jacques Rougeau
10. (1973) Johnny Powers (2) beat Johnny Valentine
11. (12/10/73 @ Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium / 2/3 Falls) Antonio Inoki beat Johnny Powers (31:25). Inoki used a Cobra Twist on Powers (20:26). Powers used a figure-eight leglock on Inoki (5:49). Inoki used an Octopus hold on Powers (5:10).
-- Inoki vacates on 2/12/72 after refusing an order from the NWF to defend the title against Tiger Jeet Singh.
12. (3/13/75) Tiger Jeet Singh beat Antonio Inoki (decision match)
13. (6/26/75) Antonio Inoki (2) beat Tiger Jeet Singh
14. (2/8/80) Stan Hansen beat Antonio Inoki
15. (4/3/80) Antonio Inoki (3) beat Stan Hansen
-- The title is held up after Inoki vs. Hansen on 4/17/81 finishes as a no contest.
16. (4/23/81) Antonio Inoki (4) beat Stan Hansen (decision match)
-- Inoki abandons the title to enter the 1983 IWGP League.
17. (1/4/03 @ Tokyo Dome) Yoshihiro Takayama beat Tsuyoshi Kosaka (10:19) with a knee kick (tournament final).
18. (1/4/04 @ Tokyo Dome) Shinsuke Nakamura beat Yoshihiro Takayama (13:55) with a chickenwing armlock.
-- Nakamura seals the title immediately after defeating Takayama, absorbing it into the IWGP Heavyweight Title.
