IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate

The **IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate** (IWGP USヘビー級王座挑戦権利証, *IWGP US Hebī-kyū Ōza Chōsen Kenri-shō*), was a contract given by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion in 2020. The contract is awarded to the winner of the New Japan Cup USA for a title shot at the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. Much like WWE's *Money in the Bank* contract and the Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate, the certificate is kept in a briefcase. The contract was first defended in 2020 at Fighting Spirit Unleashed and usually winners of the New Japan Cup USA have to defend their contract until receiving their title match.

## Concept

Traditionally, the winners of the New Japan Cup USA earn a title shot for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. After KENTA won the tournament in 2020, he was given a briefcase with a contract, making him the official number one contender to the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. He would have to defend his contract as if it were a championship. The primary gimmick of the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate was that it can be only cashed in, when the holder receive his championship match. The briefcase was defended in matches, similar to how championships are defended.

## History

### 2020

In August, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, KENTA along with several other NJPW wrestlers were unable to work on NJPW events in Japan, leading him to take part in *NJPW Strong* series, in which he took part in the 2020 New Japan Cup USA, defeating David Finlay on August 21 in the finals to win the tournament. Following the match, KENTA was handed a contract, which gave him the right to challenge for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, in which he would have to defend it, similar to the Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate. Afterwards, he was attacked by Jeff Cobb, who he had defeated in the semifinals, signaling his first challenger for the contract. On September 11, at Fighting Spirit Unleashed, KENTA defeated Jeff Cobb to make his first successful title defense. During the 2020 G1 Cliamx, on October 6, Hiroshi Tanahashi defeated KENTA in their head-to-head match in the tournament. On October 19, in a post-match interview, Tanahashi challenged KENTA for his contract, leading on November 7 at Power Struggle, KENTA defeating Tanahashi to make his second successfull title defense of the contract. Meanwhile, on October 30, on the thirteenth episode of *NJPW Strong*, KENTA was also challenged to a match for his contract by David Finlay. On November 20, at New Japan Showdown, KENTA defeated Finlay to make his third successful title defense. On December 4, on the eighteenth episode of *NJPW Strong*, Brody King challenged KENTA to a match for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate. On December 18, at Detonation, KENTA made his fourth successfull title defense of the contract against Brody King. During that month, KENTA started a feud with Juice Robinson, after attacking him with his briefcase, causing him and David Finlay to lose the finals of the 2020 World Tag League against KENTA's Bullet Club stablemates the Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa) on December 11. On December 21 at *Road to Tokyo Dome* tour, following a tag team match between KENTA and Robinson, KENTA attempted to attack Robinson with his briefcase, only for Robinson to attack him instead. Afterwards, Robinson left with KENTA's IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship challenge rights certificate briefcase, only to challenge him to a match for his contract at Wrestle Kingdom 15, with KENTA later accepting his challenge. On December 23, NJPW announced that Robinson would miss the event due to an orbital bone fracture, leading Satoshi Kojima to challenge him instead. At Wrestle Kingdom 15 on January 4, 2021, Jon Moxley made an appearance in a pre-taped vignette warning the winner of the match between KENTA and Kojima, KENTA eventually won the match, making his final defense of the contract in the process. On February 26, at The New Beginning in USA, KENTA received his shot at the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Jon Moxley.

## Matches

* Successfully defended the certificate against Jeff Cobb on September 11, 2020, at Fighting Spirit Unleashed
* Successfully defended the certificate against Hiroshi Tanahashi on November 7, 2020, at Power Struggle
* Successfully defended the certificate against David Finlay on November 20, 2020, at New Japan Showdown
* Successfully defended the certificate against Brody King on December 18, 2020, at Detonation
* Successfully defended the certificate against Satoshi Kojima on January 4, 2021, at Wrestle Kingdom 15 in Tokyo Dome
* Lost to Jon Moxley for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship on February 26, 2021, at The New Beginning in USA

## Gallery

* Briefcase holders
* Briefcases

KENTA with his briefcaseKENTA with his briefcase after being repaired

KENTA's briefcaseKENTA's briefcase after being damaged