No you were right William but that was not the "IWGP" Heavyweight Belt in the sense that it was in 87, it was the IWGP League Title...same belt and same significance but I guess they wanted to try it out a few years. In 1981, Inoki disbanded the NWF Heavyweight Championship in favor of the IWGP League. Each May/June from 1983 to 1987, a tournament was held to crown the winner of the IWGP League. After losing to Hogan the first year (in controversial fashion), Inoki would win the League in 1984, 1986, and 1987. After his win in 1987 it was decided that Inoki would become the first ever IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
That is probably where all the controversy comes from, same belt, essentially same status but "officially" the IWGP Heavyweight Championship is considered as being valid in 1987
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Not trading anymore, if you are interested we can work something out. Look ma I am sorta famous (and again).
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