NNew Japan Pro Wrestling

The IWGP Canadian tag team championship? (MLP spoilers)

  • March 28, 2026


So the first ever MLP Canadian tag team champions were crowned last night. Beautiful titles, but a few people pointed out that the titles bears some similarities to the V4 IWGP heavyweight, V3 Junior heavyweight and V2 Intercontinental belts.

There are a few slight differences. None of those three have the notches on the top and bottom, nor are the sides of the belt so pronounced. Also the side plates don't match any of the prior three. Which makes me wonder if this was could've been a prototype design for a new title, before NJPW went with some more 'creative' belt designs.

by ArchDukeNemesis

9 comments

  1. My guess is they just ripped off the IWGP look. Their front and center logo on the belt is hideous.

  2. Errr…..I mean. It looks like a nice championship title. Doesn’t scream IWGP designs necessarily

  3. Looks more like the NEVER belt to me, if I had to compare it to any NJPW title.

  4. They mightve been inspired by the iwgp belts, a lot of titles are pretty same-y, could also just be a coincidence.

  6. Almost certainly not. Much more likely when MLP commissioned the titles they used the V4 as a reference for the style they wanted.

  7. Might be the same belt maker? Belt makers reuse designs when requested if they own rights to the designs.

  9. I’m pretty sure that redditor Hexhellfire designed the MLP Canadian Championship (as well as the TNA International Championship), so I wouldn’t be surprised if he designed these tag titles as well.

    He’s talked openly about being influenced by the work of Reggie Parks (Winged Eagle, IWGP v4 I think?) and Dave Millican (AEW World Championship).

    So I don’t think these belts would be *directly* influenced by IWGP title, they’ve just got layered relief (“3D”) plates with intricate detailing as well.

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