Tatsumi Fujinami a legendary Japanese professional wrestler who made his pro wrestling debut on May 9, 1971 and as of this post, 54 years later is still and active competitor in the ring at 71 years old with a dozen matches so far in 2025.
Among his numerous championships, he is a 6 time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, WWF World Junior Heavyweight Champion, WWF International Heavyweight Championship, 2015 WWE Hall of Fame inductee, and for 59 days in 1991 he was the recognized NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion.
To tell this story though, we need to go back to November 1988 when Ted Turner purchased Jim Crockett Promotions forming WCW: World Championship Wrestling. JCP was an affiliate of the NWA and recognized the NWA Championships, WCW did the same when they acquired JCP.
In their first steps to withdraw from the NWA, WCW decides to declare their own World Champion. On January 11, 1991 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Ric Flair defeated then NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Sting to not only win the NWA World Title but become the first WCW World Champion.
WCW did not have a physical belt to represent the WCW World Championship, instead doubles the Big Gold Belt as both the NWA and WCW championship.
March 21, 1991 WCW & New Japan Pro Wrestling promote a joint show at the Tokyo Dome where 64,500 fans watch the IWGP World Champion: Tatsumi Fujinami pin the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in the main event to capture the championship.
Flair's WCW World Championship was never announced as being on the line. During the closing moments of the match referee Bill Alfonso was knocked out, during that time Fujinami threw Flair over the top rope, a disqualification at the time. NJPW Referee Tiger Hattori ran in and counted the pinfall and declared Fujinami the champion.
During his post match press conference in the back, Flair barged in, took the physical belt and told Fujinami to come and get it. In the United States WCW never recognized the title change stating that Fujinami was disqualified and that Flair was still the champion. In Japan he was recognized at the NWA World Champion.
On May 19, 1991 WCW would hold their inaugural SuperBrawl PPV event in St. Petersburg, Florida featuring the rematch of Ric Flair vs. Tatsumi Fujinami. During the build to the show WCW acknowledge there was controversy from their match in Japan and that at the end of the match we would know who the World Champion was.
During introductions ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta stated the match was for the WCW World Championship. Fujinami was announced as the IWGP Champion however he did not come out with the title. Flair was announced at the WCW World Champion. No-mention was made of the NWA World Championship.
For this match, Tiger Hattori was the assigned in-ring official while Bill Alphonso would be the official at ringside. The finish came when Fujinami rolled up Flair in an O'Connor roll and on kick out Fujinami and Hattori collied heads. Flair then rolled up Fujinami in a school boy and Alphonso jumped in the ring for the 3 count. Cappetta announced Flair as still the WCW World Champion. The NWA Officially recognized Flair as the new NWA Worlds Champion.
The NWA & WCW title lineages would separate for good on July 1, 1991 when Flair left WCW and was stripped of the WCW World Championship, they would declare a new champion and physical belt on July 14, 1991 when Lex Luger defeated Barry Windham in a cage at the Great American Bash.
The NWA would recognize Flair as the NWA World Champion until September 1991 when Flair made his WWF debut with the big gold belt declaring himself the real world's champion.
In the end, we got two outstanding matches between Flair and Fujinami and there appears to be an attempt at creating a good story with a controversial finish. However, it seems neither side could agree on how they want to tell the story, so in the end we got, what we got.
However Fujinami is officially recognized as a former NWA Worlds Champion, holding the title for 59 days from March 21, 1991 - May 19, 1991. He had only 1 defense, when he lost the title back to Flair.
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