Author: Today in Pro Wrestling History: On June 12th, 1987, Antonio Inoki defeated Masa Saito in the finals of the IWGP Champion Series to become the inaugural titleholder.
Today in Pro Wrestling History: (June 12): The Birth of the IWGP Title
Antonio Inoki never held the NWA World Middleweight Championship. The NWA World Middleweight Championship was primarily defended in Mexico.
Inoki was a prominent figure in Japanese professional wrestling and held numerous championships throughout his career, but the NWA World Middleweight Championship was not one of them. He did win the WWF Heavyweight Championship in 1979, but his reign is not officially recognized by WWE.
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