# IWA Intercontinental Championship

The IWA Intercontinental Championship is a secondary professional wrestling title defended in Puerto Rico. It was originally defended in the original International Wrestling Association, later being reintroduced in the World Wrestling League (WWL). The title was used since 2002, when Super Crazy became the first champion, defeating Eddie Guerrero at the very first Ring of Honor event, The Era of Honor Begins, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The championship was modified in 2009, changing the original black belt to another colored red.
In 2021, Fernando Tonos and Manny Ferno created the group La Alianza IWE with the intention of completing a hostile takeover on behalf of International Wrestling Entertainment. Members of the stable won all of the IWA-PR titles. In response, general manager Chicky Starr and Savio Vega introduced parallel titles for each division in March 2022. While the storyline continued, there was a pair of belts contested independently of each other, with the original being referenced to as the "IWE Intercontinental Championship".

## History

In early 2015, while Vega was part of La Radio PR's "Más Allá del Ring" show, the title made appearances as part of the studio's decore along the Undisputed World Heavyweight and World Tag Team Championships.
Reintroduced by Savio Vega as part of the main angle of Golpe de Estado 2018, in which he led a group that intended to convert the WWL into the second incarnation of the IWA. At the event, Richard Rondón carried the title with him. Despite IWA failing at Golpe de Estado, the angle was continued. In the meantime, the Intercontinental Championship was featured in an event sponsored by the municipal administration of Naranjito, still lacking formal adjudication.

### Reintroduction (2019)

On June 15, 2019, in Naranjito, Puerto Rico IWA started doing matches to determine a new Intercontinental Champion. the new champion will be determined at Golpe de Estado in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico on September 7, 2019. On August 24 edition of Impacto Total, Chicky Starr announced that Monster Pain would replace Sweet Nasty Papi due he was beaten and unable to participate at the event.

## Tournament

| Impacto Total 06/15 Naranjito | Impacto Total 06/15 Naranjito | Impacto Total 06/15 Naranjito | Zona de Conflicto 08/17 Vega Alta | Zona de Conflicto 08/17 Vega Alta | Zona de Conflicto 08/17 Vega Alta | Golpe de Estado 09/07 Guaynabo | Golpe de Estado 09/07 Guaynabo |
| 1 | Huracan Castillo | W | | | | | |
| 8 | Pupe Jackson | | | | | | |
| 8 | Pupe Jackson | | Thunder | Thunder | W | | |
| | | | Huracan Castillo | Huracan Castillo | | | |
| 4 | Thunder | W | Huracan Castillo | Huracan Castillo | | | |
| 5 | PMS Dean Rose | | | | | | |
| 5 | PMS Dean Rose | | | | | Huracan Castillo | Huracan Castillo |
| | | | | | | Monster Pain | Monster Pain |
| 2 | Sweet Nasty Papi | W | | | | | | Monster Pain | Monster Pain |
| 7 | Excellent Mantell | | | | | | |
| 7 | Excellent Mantell | | Lightning | Lightning | W | | |
| | | | Sweet Nasty Papi | Sweet Nasty Papi | | | |
| 3 | Lightning | W | Sweet Nasty Papi | Sweet Nasty Papi | | | |
| 6 | Bolo The Red Bulldog | | | | | | |

## Belt designs

The original was crafted by Reggie Parks using acid etching in 2002, it used the same basic template that this craftsman has used in the 1986 WWE Intercontinental Championship belt and other titles in his line. Like those belts, the IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship had a main plate composed by three gilded rectangles of receding size, which due to usage exposed the silver coloring underneath. The central area of the design features a geographical World Map inside a circle, flanked by the same design of six five-pointed stars grouped together. Above and under are three black-colored ribbons, with the upper one prominently reading “INTERCONTINENTAL” and the inferior pair “HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLING CHAMPION”. The lower part features two eight-pointed stars, an element that is also present in the Parks belts. The crown of the belt has the acronym, “IWA”, inside a trapezoid that is surrounded by leaf motifs. There are four two side square side plates which originally featured designs of wrestlers grappling under the company name. These were replaced with ones that depict the flags of Puerto Rico, Japan, Germany and the United States with their capitalized names over each. The title was modified in 2009, when strap was replaced with a new made of red-colored leather. The template was shared with the IWA Hardcore Championship and later the IWA Puerto Rico/Caribbean Heavyweight Championship.
In 2021, IWA-PR commissioned new belts to commemorate its 20th anniversary from Collection Spot. The Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship was replaced with an original design, which was based on the original. The new belt featured an oblong central plaque that preserved the World Map and ribbons. However, it introduced two flanking black ribbons which contained five stars and widespread use of heraldic wreath motifs and mantling. The grouping of six stars forming another star, a feature created by Parks and present in many of his designs, was used inside a circle placed at the bottom of the central plaque. The side plates were redesigned to be circular and removing the flags. Both feature maps surrounded by two ribbons with five stars and wreaths, with the left plaque depicting the Western Hemisphere and the right the Eastern Hemisphere. All three plates include a silver-colored IWA logo at the top. Meanwhile, the original belt was repurposed as the IWE Intercontinental Championship with a sticker of the stable's logo being placed over the "IWA" in the crown of the center plate.

## Title history

* Indicates disputed IWA/IWE champions.
* Indicates title reigns and changes not recognized by IWA or vacancies.
Highlights in bold denotes after Juicio Final 2022 each division have 2 champions due by the controversy between IWA and IWE, in which the latter took control of the old titles forcing IWA to create new titles in each division
| # | Wrestlers | Reign | Date | Days held | Location | Event | Notes |
| 1 | Super Crazy | 1 | February 23, 2002 | 42 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | ROH : The Era of Honor Begins | Defeated Eddie Guerrero at Ring of Honor's debut show to become the first champion. |
| 2 | "El Lobo" Andy Anderson | 1 | April 6, 2002 | 7 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Juicio Final II | Defeated Super Crazy in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match. |
| 3 | Super Crazy | 2 | April 13, 2002 | 7 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | | Won the title by forfeit due to Lobo being injured. |
| 4 | Anarchy | 1 | April 20, 2002 | 28 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | | |
| 5 | Chicano | 1 | May 18, 2002 | 98 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | |
| 6 | "El Lobo" Andy Anderson | 2 | August 24, 2002 | 42 | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | |
| | Vacant | | October 5, 2002 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | Miguel Pérez stripped El Lobo of the title due to an injury. | |
| 7 | Justin Sane | 1 | October 5, 2002 | 28 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | Defeated Diabólico. |
| 8 | Eric Alexander | 1 | November 2, 2002 | 42 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | |
| 9 | Abyss | 1 | December 14, 2002 | 1 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Christmas in PR (2002) | |
| 10 | Glamour Boy Shane | 1 | December 15, 2002 | 83 | San Germán, Puerto Rico | Christmas in PR (2002) | |
| 11 | Nord | 1 | March 8, 2003 | 42 | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | |
| 12 | Chicano | 2 | April 19, 2003 | 98 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | |
| 13 | Ricky Banderas | 1 | July 26, 2003 | 125 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | Also Defeated Vampiro to win his 5th reign for the IWA Hardcore Championship on July 12, 2003 in San Juan, Puerto Rico and Banderas Defeated Vampiro again to win his 6th for the IWA Hardcore Championship on October 7, 2003 in Kissimmee, Florida. |
| | Vacant | | November 28, 2003 | Manatí, Puerto Rico | Hardcore Weekend (2002) | Ray Gonzalez requested a match with David Flair for the belt. | |
| 14 | David Flair | 1 | November 28, 2003 | 2 | Manatí, Puerto Rico | Hardcore Weekend (2002) | Defeated Ray Gonzalez for the vacant championship. |
| 15 | Ray González | 1 | November 30, 2003 | 27 | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico | | |
| 16 | Invader I | 1 | December 27, 2003 | 119 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | | |
| 17 | Glamour Boy Shane | 2 | April 24, 2004 | 210 | Cayey, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | |
| 18 | Bison | 1 | November 20, 2004 | 84 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Hardcore Weekend (2004) | |
| 19 | Slash Venom | 1 | February 12, 2005 | 13 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | This was a Steel Cage match. |
| 20 | Kasey James | 1 | February 25, 2005 | 30 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | | |
| 21 | Ricky Banderas | 2 | March 27, 2005 | 20 | Guayanilla, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | |
| 22 | Jean-Pierre Lafitte | 1 | April 16, 2005 | 63 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | | |
| 23 | Ricky Banderas | 3 | June 18, 2005 | 103 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | | Won the title in a Steel Cage match. |
| 24 | Hannibal | 1 | September 29, 2005 | 10 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | | |
| 25 | Noriega | 1 | October 9, 2005 | 27 | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | | |
| 26 | Invader I | 2 | November 5, 2005 | 84 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | | |
| 26 | Chicano | 3 | January 28, 2006 | 42 | Levittown, Puerto Rico | | |
| 27 | Ray González | 2 | March 11, 2006 | 99 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | | |
| | Vacant | | June 18, 2006 | Yabucoa, Puerto Rico | | Title stripped. | |
| 28 | Magnificent Chris | 1 | July 15, 2006 | 91 | Toa Baja, Puerto Rico | | Won a battle royal, last eliminating Joe Bravo. |
| 29 | Chicano | 4 | October 14, 2006 | 83 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Hardcore Weekend (2006) | If Magnificent Chris loses, he will have to dress like a woman. |
| 30 | Mr. Big | 1 | January 5, 2007 | 15 | Isabela, Puerto Rico | Histeria Boricua (2007) | |
| 31 | Lightning | 1 | January 20, 2007 | 85 | Levittown, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | |
| 32 | El Diamante (Julio César Cruz) | 1 | April 15, 2007 | 34 | Isabela, Puerto Rico | | |
| 33 | "Jumpin" Jeff Jeffrey | 1 | May 19, 2007 | 40 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Juicio Final - La Revancha | Won the title pinning the champion in a tag team match |
| | Vacant | | July 28, 2007 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | | Jeff Jeffrey jumped to WWC so the title was stripped from him. | |
| 34 | Vito | 1 | August 18, 2007 | 45 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Armagedón (2007) | Defeated El Bacano. |
| | Vacant | | October 2, 2007 | Yabucoa, Puerto Rico | | Title vacant. | |
| 35 | Richard Rondón | 1 | January 6, 2008 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | 69 | Histeria Boricua (2008) | Won a battle royal. |
| 36 | Romeo | 1 | March 15, 2008 | 63 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | IWApr.tv Exclusive | The event was branded exclusive for IWApr.tv website. |
| 37 | Richard Rondón | 2 | May 17, 2008 | 56 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Juicio Final VIII | |
| | Vacant | | July 12, 2008 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | | Title vacant. | |
| 38 | Romeo | 2 | July 19, 2008 | 8 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Summer Attitude (2008) | Defeated Mr. Big. |
| 39 | Mr.Big | 2 | July 27, 2008 | 27 | Levittown, Puerto Rico | Summer Attitude - La Revancha | |
| 40 | Richard Rondón | 3 | August 23, 2008 | 42 | Levittown, Puerto Rico | Road to Armaggedon | Before the match Romeo attacks brutally Mr. Big, later in the same night Richard Rondón returns and Defeated Romeo to become the new IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion. |
| 41 | Joe Bravo | 1 | October 4, 2008 | 133 | Isabela, Puerto Rico | Golpe de Estado (2008) | |
| 42 | Super Crazy | 3 | February 14, 2009 | 93 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Noche de Campeones (2009) | |
| 43 | Rick Stanley | 1 | May 16, 2009 | 63 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Juicio Final (2009) | |
| 44 | Diabólico | 1 | July 18, 2009 | 84 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | IWA 10th Anniversary | Defeated Rick Stanley in a Ladder Match. |
| 45 | Joe Bravo | 2 | October 10, 2009 | 18 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | Also Defeated Miguel Pérez, Jr. for the IWA World Heavyweight Championship to become double champion. |
| 46 | Dennis Rivera | 1 | October 28, 2009 | 80 | Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico | | |
| 47 | Joe Bravo | 3 | January 16, 2010 | 91 | Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico | IWA TV Taping | |
| 48 | Noel Rodríguez | 1 | April 17, 2010 | 70 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Juicio Final (2010) | |
| 49 | Gilbert | 1 | June 26, 2010 | 21 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | V Copa José Miguel Pérez | |
| 50 | Noel Rodríguez | 2 | July 17, 2010 | 21 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Summer Attitude (2010) | Defeated Gilbert in a TLC match. |
| 51 | Diabólico | 2 | August 7, 2010 | 120 | Toa Alta, Puerto Rico | Back to School | Defeated Ash Rubinsky and Noel Rodríguez in 3-way match. |
| 52 | Chris Angel | 1 | December 5, 2010 | 327 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Christmas in P.R (2010) | After Diabólico no showed the match, Chris Angel Defeated Savio Vega in his in-ring debut to win the vacant title. |
| 53 | El Ilegal (Jeff Jeffrey) | 2 | October 28, 2011 | 106 | Toa Alta, Puerto Rico | Halloween Mayhem (2011) | |
| 54 | Zcion | 1 | February 11, 2012 | 126 | Toa Alta, Puerto Rico | Kaos and Odissey | Defeated El Ilegal, Jay-Cobs and Enigma in a 4-way match. |
| | Deactivated | | June 16, 2012 | | | When IWA closed | |
| 55 | Huracan Castillo | 1 | September 7, 2019 | <1day | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico | Golpe de Estado (2019) | The President of IWA, Savio Vega named Huracan Castillo as the Tournament Champion by default and the New IWA Intercontinental Champion. |
| 56 | Monster Pain | 1 | September 7, 2019 | 84 | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico | Golpe de Estado (2019) | |
| 57 | Electro | 1 | November 30, 2019 | 98 | Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico | Hardcore Weekend (2019) | |
| 58 | Manny Ferno | 1 | March 7, 2020 | 623 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Histeria Boricua (2020) | |
| 59 | Chicano | 5 | November 20, 2021 | 1 | Manati, Puerto Rico | Impacto Total | |
| 60 | Mighty Ursus | 1 | November 21, 2021 | 20 | Manati, Puerto Rico | Impacto Total | |
| 61 | Chicano | 6 | December 11, 2021 | 70 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Christmas in P.R (2021) | During his reign on January 22, 2022, Chicano was viciously attacked by Mighty Ursus, with the latter stealing his title and unofficially self-proclaimed himself as Champion, with him calling referring it as the IWE Intercontinental Championship or just as Intercontinental Championship as Tonos and the alliance takeover control of titles |
| 62 | Khriz Díaz (IWE Half) | 1 | February 19, 2022 | 70 | Manati, Puerto Rico | Impacto Total | After legitimate champion Chicano was viciously injured and was not available to defend for 3 months, in a meeting between Vega, Tonos, Ferno and Promoter Edwin Ortega. 4th contender Díaz was awarded the title by Manny Ferno who was the number 1 contender after he withdrew from a signed match at the meeting between him and Díaz (Grimm and Ursus (unofficial self-proclaimed champion) were second and third contenders respectively and were out with injuries. |
| 63 | Niche (IWA Half) | 1 | April 30, 2022 | 49 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Juicio Final (2022) | IWA crowned a new IWA Intercontinental Champion in a X Match also involved Ezdraz, El Hijo Del Enigma, Dean Rose & Azazel |
| 64 | Electro (IWE Half) | 2 | April 30, 2022 | 28 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Juicio Final (2022) | |
| 65 | Khriz Diaz (IWE Half) | 2 | May 28, 2022 | 21 | Vega Baja, Puerto Rico | La Gran Amenaza (2022) | Defeated Electro in a rematch to win the IWE Intercontinental Championship, in other side Niche retains the IWA Intercontinental Championship |
| 66 | Aiden Grimm (IWE Half) | 1 | June 18, 2022 | 42 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Summer Attitude (2022) | Defeated Khris Diaz to win the IWE Intercontinental belt. |
| 67 | Azazel (IWA Half) | 1 | June 18, 2022 | 12 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Summer Attitude (2022) | Defeated El Niche to win the IWA Intercontinental belt. |
| 68 | Niche (IWA Half) | 2 | July 30, 2022 | 142 | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico | Summer Attitude (2022) | Defeated Azazel to win the IWA Intercontinental belt. |
| 69 | Manú (IWE half/Unification) | 1 IWE half / 2 Undisputed | July 30, 2022 | 189 | Guaynabo, Puerto Rico | Summer Attitude (2022) | Defeated Aiden Grimm to win the IWE half, months later during his reign he defeated Niche on November 19 to win the IWA half, unifying the belts and became the Undisputed IWA Intercontinental champion. Ending the IWA/IWE title dispute storyline |
| 68 | Azazel | 2 | February 4, 2023 | 21 | Humacao, Puerto Rico | Vendetta (2023) | |
| 69 | Manú | 3 | February 25, 2023 | 266 | Unknown River location | Impacto Total | This was a segment-match, defeated Azazel to win the IWA title in a last man standing match that started in the parking lot of Coliseo Emilio Huyke and ended in an unknown river, where the former champion drowned and did not respond. |
| 70 | John Hawking | 1 | November 18, 2023 | 422+ | Juncos, Puerto Rico | Mano Dura | During this reign, on the September 28 Golpe de Estado event, Hawking defeat Pedro Portillo III in a triple title match for the IWA World Heavyweight Championship, Heavyweight Championship, the IWA Puerto Rico Championship and retained his IWA Intercontinental Championship. |

## Combined reigns

    As of January 13, 2025.
| † | Indicates the current champion |
| Rank | Wrestler | No. of reigns | Combined days |
| 1 | Manny Ferno | 1 | 623 |
| 2 | Chicano | 6 | 507 |
| 3 | Chris Angel | 1 | 326 |
| 4 | John Hawking | 1 | 422+ |
| 5 | Glamour Boy Shane | 2 | 293 |
| 6 | Joe Bravo | 3 | 280 |
| 7 | Ricky Banderas | 3 | 248 |
| 8 | Ray Gonzalez | 2 | 244 |
| 9 | Invader I | 2 | 202 |
| 10 | Diabólico | 2 | 198 |
| 11 | Richard Rondón | 3 | 167 |
| 12 | Super Crazy | 3 | 140 |
| 13 | Zcion | 1 | 126 |
| 14 | Electro | 1 | 98 |
| 15 | Noel Rodríguez | 2 | 91 |
| 15 | Magnificent Chris | 1 | 91 |
| 17 | Lightning | 1 | 87 |
| 18 | Bison Smith | 1 | 84 |
| 19 | Monster Pain | 1 | 80 |
| 20 | Romeo | 2 | 71 |
| 21 | Khriz Díaz | 1 | 70 |
| 22 | Jeff Jeffrey | 1 | 67 |
| 23 | Jean Pierre Lafitte | 1 | 63 |
| 23 | Rick Stanley | 1 | 63 |
| 25 | Dennis Rivera | 1 | 49 |
| 26 | E2 Lobo (Andy Anderson) | 2 | 48 |
| 27 | Big Vito | 1 | 45 |
| 28 | Nord | 1 | 42 |
| 28 | Eric Alexander | 1 | 42 |
| 30 | Mr. Big | 2 | 35 |
| 31 | Diamante | 1 | 32 |
| 32 | Kasey James | 30 |
| 33 | Anarchy | 28 |
| 34 | Justin Sane | 27 |
| 35 | Noriega | 27 |
| 36 | Gilbert | 21 |
| 37 | Mighty Ursus | 20 |
| 38 | Slash Venom | 13 |
| 39 | Hannibal | 10 |
| 40 | David Flair | 1 |
| 41 | Abyss | 1 |
| 42 | Huracan Castillo | 1 | <1 |