IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship

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IWRG Intercontinental Middleweight Championship
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The middleweight championship belt
Details
PromotionInternational Wrestling Revolution Group
Date establishedJuly 27, 1997[1]
Current championArez
Date wonMay 1, 2024
Statistics
First championEl 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 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.[a][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]

The current champion is Arez who defeated then-champion Noisy Boy for the title on May 1, 2024. Arez is the 49th overall champion. 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.[b] 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,[c] or real life issues such as a champion suffering an injury being unable to defend the championship,[d] or leaving the company.[e]

Championship tournaments

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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

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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

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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

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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  [f] 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  [g]   [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 (IV)  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 (IV)  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  [h]    [15]
 20  Matrix  2004  IWRG show Naucalpan, State of Mexico  6  [i] 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 1 361 This was a title vs. title match in which Puma de Oro also defended the Mexico Championship. [33]
Vacated February 18, 2024
48 Noisy Boy February 18, 2024 IWRG El Protector 2024 Naucalpan, State of Mexico 1 73 Defeated Aster Boy, El Hijo del Alebrije, Septimo Dragon and Spider Fly in a five-way match for the vacant title. [34]
49 Arez May 1, 2024 IWRG Choque De Fieras Encadenados Naucalpan, State of Mexico 1 738+ [35]

Combined reigns

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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 Casas 1 1,643
2 Bombero Infernal/Matrix 7 675¤
3 El Hijo de Pirata Morgan 1 668
4 Veneno 4 623
5 Imposible 2 619
6 Arez 1 738+[36]
7 Último Vampiro (V) 1 569
8 Puma de Oro 1 476
9 Dragon Bane 1 469
10 Pentagón Black 1 365
11 Black Dragon 2 322
12 Heddi Karaoui 1 315
13 Demonio Infernal 1 298
14 Dr. Cerebro 2 287
15 Último Vampiro (III) 3 280
16 Mr. Niebla 2 238
Relámpago 1
18 El Ángel 1 186
19 Oficial AK-47 1 154
Tonalli
21 Cyborg 1 143
22 Pantera / Pantera II 3 121¤
23 Magnum Tokyo 1 91
24 Noisy Boy 1 73
25 Fantasy 1 66
26 Eterno 2 63
27 Travis Banks 1 56
28 Tony Rivera 1 28
29 Nitro 1 6
30 El Hijo del Gladiador 1 N/A
Cerebro Negro 1 N/A

Footnotes

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  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

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  4. ^ Hornbaker 2016, p. 550.
  5. ^ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 271.
  6. ^ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 20.
  7. ^ Duncan & Will 2000, p. 201.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  36. ^ As of May 9, 2026.
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