Will Ospreay Vacates IWGP World Heavyweight Title Due To Injury
A new champion will need to be crowned
May 20, 2021
Will Ospreay's reign as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion has come to an abrupt end.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced today that Ospreay suffered a neck injury during his match with Shingo Takagi at Wrestling Dontaku. As there is no timetable on when The Commonwealth Kingpin will return, the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship has been vacated.
NJPW will address the status of the world title at a later date.
In regards to Ospreay, he will return to the United Kingdom "for treatment and rehabilitation."
The United Empire leader captured the IWGP World Heavyweight Title from Kota Ibushi at Sakura Genesis on April 4. He successfully defended the belt in the aforementioned match against Shingo Takagi and Ospreay was scheduled to put the gold on the line against Kazuchika Okada at the postponed Wrestle Grand Slam show.
With the vacation, Ospreay's title reign comes to an end after 46 days. This is also the first time a major heavyweight title in New Japan has been vacated since 2016 when Shinsuke Nakamura relinquished the IWGP Intercontinental Championship after signing with WWE.
