IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship

The IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship (Campeonato Intercontinental de Peso Medio IWRGL in Spanish) is a professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican wrestling promotion International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG). The official definition of the Middleweight weight class in Mexico is between 82 kg (181 lb) and 87 kg (192 lb), but the weight limits are not always strictly adhered to.[lower-alpha 1][2] Because Lucha Libre puts more emphasis on the lower weightclasses, this division is considered more important than the normally more prestigious heavyweight division of the promotion.[3]

IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship
The middleweight championship belt
Details
PromotionInternational Wrestling Revolution Group
Date establishedJuly 27, 1997[1]
Current champion(s)Puma de Oro
Date wonOctober 30, 2022
Statistics
First champion(s)El Pantera[1]
Most reignsBombero Infernal (7 reigns)
Longest reignPentagón Black (At least 351 days) (Individual)
Bombero Infernal (At least 488 days) (Combined)
Shortest reignNitro (6 days) (Confirmed)

The current champion is Puma de Oro who defeated Tonalli for the title on October 30, 2022. Puma de Oro is the 47st overall champion and the 29th person to have held the championship. The first champion was Pantera, who defeated Tony Rivera in Naucalpan, Mexico on July 27, 1997 in the finals of a tournament.[1] It has since been defended throughout Mexico, but primarily in Naucalpan which is the IWRG's "home ground". In November 2007 Negro Casas, who was under contract with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) but worked for IWRG under a talent sharing agreement between IWRG and CMLL, won the title. The talent sharing agreement ended in 2008 but the Middleweight championship was not declared vacant even though Negro Casas was not able to defend it. After four years of inactivity, the title was vacated and put up in a tournament in May 2012 and has been active in IWRG since.

As it is a professional wrestling championship, the championship was not won not by actual competition, but by a scripted ending to a match determined by the bookers and match makers.[lower-alpha 2] On occasion the promotion declares a championship vacant, which means there is no champion at that point in time. This can either be due to a storyline,[lower-alpha 3] or real life issues such as a champion suffering an injury being unable to defend the championship,[lower-alpha 4] or leaving the company.[lower-alpha 5]

Championship tournaments

Details of the initial tournament in July 1997 has not been verified only that Pantera II defeated Tony Rivera in the finals of an eight-man tournament.[1]

November 2007 Championship tournament

IWRG stripped Pentagón Black of the championship and started an eight-man, single elimination tournament on October 15, 2007. The final match took place on November 1, 2007 at IWRG's annual El Castillo del Terror tournament.[8]

Quarter-finals semi-finals Finals
         
1 Ultraman, Jr. W
8 Oficial Fierro [8]
Ultraman, Jr. [8]
Negro Casas W
4 Nitro [8]
5 Negro Casas W
Negro Casas W
Villano III [8]
2 Villano III W
7 El Felino [8]
Villano III W
Damian 666 [8]
3 Bogeman [8]
6 Damian 666 W

May 2012 Championship tournament

The Middleweight Championship had been inactive since late 2007 until May 1, 2012 when IWRG officially announced that the championship was vacated and would be decided in an eight-man tournament that was the focal point of their May 6, 2013 Caravan de Campeones show.[9]

Quarter-finals semi-finals Finals
         
1 The Mummy W
8 Tony Rivera [9]
The Mummy [9]
Oficial AK-47 W
4 Oficial Spartan [9]
5 Oficial AK-47 W
Oficial AK-47 W
Veneno [9]
2 Veneno W
7 El Hijo del Diablo [9]
Veneno W
Super Nova [9]
3 Dr. Cerebro [9]
6 Super Nova W

Title history
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
N/A Unknown information
(NLT) Championship change took place "no later than" the date listed
† Championship change is unrecognized by the promotion
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
 1  Pantera II  July 27, 1997  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  [lower-alpha 6] Won an 8-man tournament by defeating Tony Rivera to become first champion. [1]
 2  El Hijo del Gladiador  Unknown  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  [lower-alpha 7]   [1]
 3  Magnum Tokyo  July 5, 1998  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  91   [1]
 4  Mr. Niebla  October 4, 1998  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  98   [1]
 5  Bombero Infernal  January 10, 1999  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  147   [1]
 6  Mr. Niebla  June 6, 1999  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  2  140 During this reign Mr. Niebla is unmasked and begins to work under the ring name Mr. Mexico. [1]
 7  Bombero Infernal  October 24, 1999  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  2  53   [1]
 8  Último Vampiro (III)  December 16, 1999  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  24    [1]
 9  Black Dragon  January 9, 2000  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  315    [10][11]
 10  Bombero Infernal  November 19, 2000  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  3  126    [11][10]
 11  Último Vampiro (III)  March 25, 2001  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  2  246    [12]
 12  Bombero Infernal  November 25, 2001  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  4  13    [12]
 13  Último Vampiro (III)  December 2, 2001  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  3  53    [12]
 14  Pantera  January 24, 2002  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  2  49 Defeated Último Vampiro in a "title vs. mask" triangle match that also included Pentagón Black. [13][14]
 15  Bombero Infernal  March 14, 2002  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  5  136    [13]
 16  Tony Rivera  July 28, 2002  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  28    [13]
 17  Último Vampiro (V)  August 25, 2002  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  569 A different wrestler had taken over the Último Vampiro character, but the reign was recognized as uninterrupted. [13]
— Vacated  March 16, 2004 — — — — Championship vacated when Último Vampiro left the promotion
 18  Fantasy  March 18, 2004  Rey del Ring Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  66 Won the championship by winning the annual IWRG Rey del Ring tournament. [15]
 19  Cerebro Negro  May 23, 2004  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  [lower-alpha 8]    [15]
 20  Matrix  2004  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  6  [lower-alpha 9] Previously won the title under the name Bombero Infernal. [15]
 21  Veneno  January 13, 2005  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  147    [16]
 22  Black Dragon  June 9, 2005  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  2  7    [16]
 23  Veneno  June 16, 2005  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  2  35    [16]
 24  Cyborg  July 21, 2005  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  143    [16]
 25  Veneno  December 11, 2005  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  3  231    [16]
 26  Pantera  July 30, 2006  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  3  71    [17]
 27  Nitro  October 9, 2006  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  6    [17]
 28  Pentagón Black  October 15, 2006  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  365    [17]
— Vacated  October 15, 2007 — — — — Championship vacated when Pentagón Black left the promotion. [8]
29 Negro Casas November 1, 2007 El Castillo del Terror Naucalpan, State of Mexico 1 1,643 Defeated Villano III in the finals of an eight-man tournament to win the vacant title. [8]
— Vacated  May 1, 2012 — — — — Championship officially vacated due to inactivity.
 30  Oficial AK-47  May 6, 2012  Caravana de Campeones Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  154 Defeated Veneno in the finals of an eight-man tournament to win the vacant title. [9]
 31  El Ángel  October 7, 2012  Live event Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  186 This was a ten-man steel cage match, also involving Carta Brava Jr., Carta Brava Jr. (II), El Hijo del Dr. Wagner, El Hijo de Pirata Morgan, El Hijo de Máscara Año 2000, Oficial Factor, Veneno and Violencia Jr. [18]
 32  Eterno  April 11, 2013  Live event Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  49    [19]
 33  El Hijo de Pirata Morgan  April 11, 2013  Live event Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  668    [20]
 34  Veneno  March 29, 2015  Live event Naucalpan, State of Mexico  4  210   [21]
 35  Heddi Karaoui  October 25, 2015  Live event Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  315    [22]
 36  Imposible  September 4, 2016  La Hora de la Verdad Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  140   [23]
 37  Relámpago  January 22, 2017  IWRG House show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  238   [24]
 38  Eterno  September 17, 2017  Caravana de Campeones Naucalpan, State of Mexico  2  14   [25]
 39  Bombero Infernal  October 1, 2017  IWRG House show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  7  324   [26]
 40  Dr. Cerebro  January 21, 2018  IWRG House show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  231  
 41  Imposible  September 9, 2018  Caravana de Campeones Naucalpan, State of Mexico  2  479   [27]
— Vacated  January 1, 2020 — — — —
 42  Demonio Infernal  January 1, 2020  Cinco Luchas en Jaula Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  298 Demonio Infernal defeated Fuerza Guerrera Nueva Generacion, Pasion Cristal, Ave Rex, Emperador Azteca, El Hijo del Alebrije in a Steel cage match for the "Briefcase of Glory" and the vacant title. [28]
 43  Dragon Bane  October 25, 2020  Live event Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  469   [29]
 44  Travis Banks  February 6, 2022  IWRG El Protector 2022 Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  56   [30]
 45  Dr. Cerebro  April 3, 2022  IWRG Guerra del Golfo 2022 Naucalpan, State of Mexico  2  56   [31]
 46  Tonalli  May 29, 2022  Live event Naucalpan, State of Mexico  1  154   [32]
47 Puma de Oro October 30, 2022 IWRG Castillo Del Terror 2022 Naucalpan, State of Mexico 1 350+ This was a title vs. title match in which Puma de Oro also defended the Mexico Championship. [33]

Combined reigns
† Indicates the current champion
¤ The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest possible length is used.
+ Indicates that the date changes daily for the current champion
Rank Wrestler No. of
reigns		 Combined days
1 Negro Casas11,643
2 Bombero Infernal/Matrix7675¤
3 El Hijo de Pirata Morgan1668
4 Veneno4623
5 Imposible2619
6 Último Vampiro (V)1569
7 Dragon Bane1469
8 Pentagón Black1365
9 Puma de Oro1350+[34]
10 Black Dragon2322
11 Heddi Karaoui1315
12 Demonio Infernal1298
13 Dr. Cerebro2287
14 Último Vampiro (III)3280
15 Relámpago1240
16 Mr. Niebla2238
17 El Ángel1186
18 Oficial AK-471154
Tonalli
20 Cyborg1143
21 Pantera / Pantera II3121¤
22 Magnum Tokyo191
23 Fantasy166
24 Eterno263
25 Travis Banks156
26 Tony Rivera128
27 Nitro16
28 El Hijo del Gladiador1N/A
Cerebro Negro1N/A

Footnotes
  1. One example the weightlimits not being strictly enforced is Mephisto winning the CMLL World Welterweight Championship, a championship with a 78 kg (172 lb) upper limit despite weighing 90 kg (200 lb).
  2. Hornbaker (2016) p. 550: "Professional wrestling is a sport in which match finishes are predetermined. Thus, win–loss records are not indicative of a wrestler's genuine success based on their legitimate abilities – but on now much, or how little they were pushed by promoters"[4]
  3. Duncan & Will (2000) p. 271, Chapter: Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [World Class, Adkisson] "Championship held up and rematch ordered because of the interference of manager Gary Hart"[5]
  4. Duncan & Will (2000) p. 20, Chapter: (United States: 19th Century & widely defended titles – NWA, WWF, AWA, IW, ECW, NWA) NWA/WCW TV Title "Rhodes stripped on 85/10/19 for not defending the belt after having his leg broken by Ric Flair and Ole & Arn Anderson"[6]
  5. Duncan & Will (2000) p. 201, Chapter: (Memphis, Nashville) Memphis: USWA Tag Team Title "Vacant on 93/01/18 when Spike leaves the USWA."[7]
  6. The exact date Pantera lost the Championship is not known placing the title reign between 1 and 342 days.
  7. The exact date Hijo del Gladiador won the Championship is not known placing the title reign between 1 and 342 days.
  8. The exact date on which Cerebro Negro lost the title is not documented, which means the title reign lasted between 1 and 222 days.
  9. The exact date on which Matrix won the title is not documented, which means the title reign lasted between 13 and 234 days.

References
  • Hornbaker, Tim (2016). "Statistical notes". Legends of Pro Wrestling - 150 years of headlocks, body slams, and piledrivers (Revised ed.). New York, New York: Sports Publishing. ISBN 978-1-61321-808-2.
  • Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, ON: Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  1. Royal Duncan and Gary Will (2000). "MEXICO: IWRG Intercontinental World Middleweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. p. 402. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  2. Arturo Montiel Rojas (2001-08-30). "Reglamento de Box y Lucha Libre Professional del Estado de Mexico" (PDF). Comisión de Box y Lucha Libre Mexico D.F. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2009. Articulo 242: "Super welter 82 kilos / Medio 87 kilos"
  3. Madigan, Dan (2007). ""Okay... what is Lucha Libre?"". Mondo Lucha a Go Go: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperCollins Publisher. pp. 29–40. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
  4. Hornbaker 2016, p. 550.
  5. Duncan & Will 2000, p. 271.
  6. Duncan & Will 2000, p. 20.
  7. Duncan & Will 2000, p. 201.
  8. "2007 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). December 26, 2007. issue 244. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
  9. "Los campeones, firmes en sus tronos en IWRG; AK-47, nuevo campeón de peso medio". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). May 7, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  10. "SLAM! Wrestling International -- 2000: The Year-In-Review Mexico". Slam Wrestling!. Canoe. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  11. "2000 Especial". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 9, 2001. pp. 2–20. issue 2488.
  12. "2001: Los Campeones". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 13, 2002. pp. 15–17. issue 2540.
  13. "2002: considerar detrás". Box y Lucha Magazine (in Spanish). January 19, 2003. 2593.
  14. Hoops, Brian (January 24, 2020). "Pro wrestling history (01/24): WWF Royal Rumble 1999". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 25, 2020.
  15. "Número Especial - Lo mejor de la lucha libre mexicana durante el 2004". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 24, 2005. 91.
  16. "2005 Lo Mejor de la Lucha Mexicana". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). January 3, 2006. issue 140.
  17. "Lo Mejor de la Lucha Libre Mexicana duranted el 2006". SuperLuchas (in Spanish). December 23, 2006. issue 192. Retrieved July 11, 2009.
  18. "El Ángel, nuevo campeón de peso medio". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). October 8, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  19. "Sigue la guerra entre Toscano y Máscara Año Dos Mil jr". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). April 11, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  20. Eguiluz, Diego Mejía (April 12, 2013). "Sigue la guerra entre Toscano y Máscara Año Dos Mil jr" (in Spanish). The Gladiatores. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  21. Eguiluz, Diego Mejía (March 30, 2015). "Pese a ser una pareja disfuncional, Negro Navarro y Pirata Morgan salieron con el brazo en alto" (in Spanish). The Gladiatores. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  22. Eguiluz, Diego Mejía (October 26, 2015). "Con ayuda de un capo, el francés Karaoui es el nuevo campeón de peso medio" (in Spanish). The Gladiatores. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
  23. Reyes Ruiz, Eduardo (September 4, 2016). "Canis Lupus pierde la máscara, su verdugo, el Trauma Primero". Estrellas del Ring (in Spanish). Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  24. Mejía Eguiluz, Diego (January 23, 2017). "Relámpago destronó al Imposible". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  25. Lizárraga, Alfonso (September 18, 2017). "Los Warriors continúan como campeones de parejas en Naucalpan". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved September 19, 2017.
  26. Lizárraga, Alfonso (October 2, 2017). "Bombero Infernal nuevo campeón Intercontinental Medio de IWRG". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  27. Lizarraga, Alfonso (September 10, 2018). "Mr. Electro continúa como campeón, Cuervo y Escoria llegan a Naucalpan". The Gladiatores (in Spanish). Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  28. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "IWRG El Protector 2022". cagematch.net. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  29. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "IWRG Cinco Luchas En Jaula". cagematch.net. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  30. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "IWRG El Protector 2022". cagematch.net. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  31. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "IWRG Guerra del Golfo 2022". cagematch.net. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  32. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "IWRG Live event". cagematch.net. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  33. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "IWRG Castillo Del Terror 2022". cagematch.net. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  34. As of October 15, 2023.
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