The IWA Intercontinental Championship is a secondary professional wrestling title defended in Puerto Rico. It was originally defended in the original International Wrestling Association, later being reintroduced in the World Wrestling League (WWL). The title was used since 2002, when Super Crazy became the first champion, defeating Eddie Guerrero at the very first Ring of Honor event, The Era of Honor Begins, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The championship was modified in 2009, changing the original black belt to another colored red.
In 2021, Fernando Tonos and Manny Ferno created the group La Alianza IWE with the intention of completing a hostile takeover on behalf of International Wrestling Entertainment. Members of the stable won all of the IWA-PR titles. In response, general manager Chicky Starr and Savio Vega introduced parallel titles for each division in March 2022. While the storyline continued, there was a pair of belts contested independently of each other, with the original being referenced to as the "IWE Intercontinental Championship".
History In early 2015, while Vega was part of La Radio PR's "Más Allá del Ring" show, the title made appearances as part of the studio's decore along the Undisputed World Heavyweight and World Tag Team Championships.
Reintroduced by Savio Vega as part of the main angle of Golpe de Estado 2018, in which he led a group that intended to convert the WWL into the second incarnation of the IWA. At the event, Richard Rondón carried the title with him. Despite IWA failing at Golpe de Estado, the angle was continued. In the meantime, the Intercontinental Championship was featured in an event sponsored by the municipal administration of Naranjito, still lacking formal adjudication.
Reintroduction (2019) On June 15, 2019, in Naranjito, Puerto Rico IWA started doing matches to determine a new Intercontinental Champion. the new champion will be determined at Golpe de Estado in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico on September 7, 2019. On August 24 edition of Impacto Total, Chicky Starr announced that Monster Pain would replace Sweet Nasty Papi due he was beaten and unable to participate at the event.
Tournament
Belt designs The original was crafted by Reggie Parks using acid etching in 2002, it used the same basic template that this craftsman has used in the 1986 WWE Intercontinental Championship belt and other titles in his line. Like those belts, the IWA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship had a main plate composed by three gilded rectangles of receding size, which due to usage exposed the silver coloring underneath. The central area of the design features a geographical World Map inside a circle, flanked by the same design of six five-pointed stars grouped together. Above and under are three black-colored ribbons, with the upper one prominently reading “INTERCONTINENTAL” and the inferior pair “HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLING CHAMPION”. The lower part features two eight-pointed stars, an element that is also present in the Parks belts. The crown of the belt has the acronym, “IWA”, inside a trapezoid that is surrounded by leaf motifs. There are four two side square side plates which originally featured designs of wrestlers grappling under the company name. These were replaced with ones that depict the flags of Puerto Rico, Japan, Germany and the United States with their capitalized names over each. The title was modified in 2009, when strap was replaced with a new made of red-colored leather. The template was shared with the IWA Hardcore Championship and later the IWA Puerto Rico/Caribbean Heavyweight Championship.
In 2021, IWA-PR commissioned new belts to commemorate its 20th anniversary from Collection Spot. The Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship was replaced with an original design, which was based on the original. The new belt featured an oblong central plaque that preserved the World Map and ribbons. However, it introduced two flanking black ribbons which contained five stars and widespread use of heraldic wreath motifs and mantling. The grouping of six stars forming another star, a feature created by Parks and present in many of his designs, was used inside a circle placed at the bottom of the central plaque. The side plates were redesigned to be circular and removing the flags. Both feature maps surrounded by two ribbons with five stars and wreaths, with the left plaque depicting the Western Hemisphere and the right the Eastern Hemisphere. All three plates include a silver-colored IWA logo at the top. Meanwhile, the original belt was repurposed as the IWE Intercontinental Championship with a sticker of the stable's logo being placed over the "IWA" in the crown of the center plate.
Title history Indicates disputed IWA/IWE champions.Indicates title reigns and changes not recognized by IWA or vacancies.
#WrestlersReignDateDays heldLocationEventNotesRef1Super Crazy1February 23, 2002Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaROH : The Era of Honor Begins2"El Lobo" Andy Anderson1April 6, 2002Carolina, Puerto RicoJuicio Final II3Super Crazy2April 13, 2002Bayamón, Puerto Rico4Anarchy1April 20, 2002Bayamón, Puerto Rico5Chicano1May 18, 2002Caguas, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping6"El Lobo" Andy Anderson2August 24, 2002Toa Baja, Puerto RicoIWA TV TapingVacantOctober 5, 2002Bayamón, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping7Justin Sane1October 5, 2002Bayamón, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping8Eric Alexander1November 2, 2002Bayamón, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping9Abyss1December 14, 2002Carolina, Puerto RicoChristmas in PR (2002)10Glamour Boy Shane1December 15, 2002San Germán, Puerto RicoChristmas in PR (2002)11Nord1March 8, 2003Toa Baja, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping12Chicano2April 19, 2003Bayamón, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping13Ricky Banderas1July 26, 2003Bayamón, Puerto RicoIWA TV TapingVacantNovember 28, 2003Manatí, Puerto RicoHardcore Weekend (2002)14David Flair1November 28, 2003Manatí, Puerto RicoHardcore Weekend (2002)15Ray González1November 30, 2003Mayagüez, Puerto Rico16Invader I1December 27, 2003Carolina, Puerto Rico 17Glamour Boy Shane2April 24, 2004Cayey, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping18Bison1November 20, 2004Bayamón, Puerto RicoHardcore Weekend (2004)19Slash Venom1February 12, 2005Caguas, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping20Kasey James1February 25, 2005Gurabo, Puerto Rico21Ricky Banderas2March 27, 2005Guayanilla, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping22Jean-Pierre Lafitte1April 16, 2005Caguas, Puerto Rico23Ricky Banderas3June 18, 2005Carolina, Puerto Rico24Hannibal1September 29, 2005Gurabo, Puerto Rico25Noriega1October 9, 2005Toa Baja, Puerto Rico26Invader I2November 5, 2005Bayamon, Puerto Rico26Chicano3January 28, 2006Levittown, Puerto Rico27Ray González2March 11, 2006Bayamón, Puerto RicoVacantJune 18, 2006Yabucoa, Puerto Rico28Magnificent Chris1July 15, 2006Toa Baja, Puerto Rico29Chicano4October 14, 2006Caguas, Puerto RicoHardcore Weekend (2006)30Mr. Big1January 5, 2007Isabela, Puerto RicoHisteria Boricua (2007)31Lightning1January 20, 2007Levittown, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping32El Diamante 1April 15, 2007Isabela, Puerto Rico33"Jumpin" Jeff Jeffrey1May 19, 2007Carolina, Puerto RicoJuicio Final - La RevanchaVacantJuly 28, 2007Carolina, Puerto Rico34Vito1August 18, 2007Bayamón, Puerto RicoArmagedón (2007)VacantOctober 2, 2007Yabucoa, Puerto Rico35Richard Rondón1January 6, 2008Bayamón, Puerto RicoHisteria Boricua (2008)36Romeo1March 15, 2008Caguas, Puerto RicoIWApr.tv Exclusive37Richard Rondón2May 17, 2008Bayamón, Puerto RicoJuicio Final VIIIVacantJuly 12, 2008Bayamón, Puerto Rico38Romeo2July 19, 2008Bayamón, Puerto RicoSummer Attitude (2008)39Mr.Big2July 27, 2008Levittown, Puerto RicoSummer Attitude - La Revancha40Richard Rondón3August 23, 2008Levittown, Puerto RicoRoad to Armaggedon41Joe Bravo1October 4, 2008Isabela, Puerto RicoGolpe de Estado (2008)42Super Crazy3February 14, 2009Bayamón, Puerto RicoNoche de Campeones (2009)43Rick Stanley1May 16, 2009Bayamón, Puerto RicoJuicio Final (2009)44Diabólico1July 18, 2009Bayamón, Puerto RicoIWA 10th Anniversary45Joe Bravo2October 10, 2009Bayamón, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping46Dennis Rivera1October 28, 2009Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico47Joe Bravo3January 16, 2010Aguas Buenas, Puerto RicoIWA TV Taping48Noel Rodríguez1April 17, 2010Bayamón, Puerto RicoJuicio Final (2010)49Gilbert1June 26, 2010Bayamón, Puerto RicoV Copa José Miguel Pérez50Noel Rodríguez2July 17, 2010Bayamón, Puerto RicoSummer Attitude (2010)51Diabólico2August 7, 2010Toa Alta, Puerto RicoBack to School52Chris Angel1December 5, 2010Bayamón, Puerto RicoChristmas in P.R (2010)53El Ilegal (Jeff Jeffrey)2October 28, 2011Toa Alta, Puerto RicoHalloween Mayhem (2011)54Zcion1February 11, 2012Toa Alta, Puerto RicoKaos and OdisseyDeactivatedJune 16, 201255Huracan Castillo1September 7, 2019<1dayGuaynabo, Puerto RicoGolpe de Estado (2019)56Monster Pain1September 7, 2019Guaynabo, Puerto RicoGolpe de Estado (2019)57Electro1November 30, 2019Trujillo Alto, Puerto RicoHardcore Weekend (2019)58Manny Ferno1March 7, 2020Humacao, Puerto RicoHisteria Boricua (2020)59Chicano5November 20, 2021Manati, Puerto RicoImpacto Total60Mighty Ursus1November 21, 2021Manati, Puerto RicoImpacto Total61Chicano6December 11, 2021Humacao, Puerto RicoChristmas in P.R (2021) 62Khriz Díaz (IWE Half)1February 19, 2022Manati, Puerto RicoImpacto Total63Niche (IWA Half)1April 30, 2022Humacao, Puerto RicoJuicio Final (2022)64Electro (IWE Half)2April 30, 2022Humacao, Puerto RicoJuicio Final (2022)65Khriz Diaz (IWE Half)2May 28, 2022Vega Baja, Puerto RicoLa Gran Amenaza (2022)66Aiden Grimm (IWE Half)1June 18, 2022Humacao, Puerto RicoSummer Attitude (2022)67Azazel (IWA Half)1June 18, 2022Humacao, Puerto RicoSummer Attitude (2022)68Niche (IWA Half)2July 30, 2022Guaynabo, Puerto RicoSummer Attitude (2022)69Manú (IWE half/Unification)1 IWE half / 2 UndisputedJuly 30, 2022 Guaynabo, Puerto RicoSummer Attitude (2022)68Azazel2February 4, 2023Humacao, Puerto RicoVendetta (2023)69Manú3February 25, 2023Unknown River locationImpacto Total 70John Hawking658Juncos, Puerto RicoMano DuraDuring this reign, on the September 28 Golpe de Estado event, Hawking defeat Pedro Portillo III in a triple title match for the IWA World Heavyweight Championship, Heavyweight Championship, the IWA Puerto Rico Championship and retained his IWA Intercontinental Championship.—VacatedSeptember 6, 202571El CuervoOctober 18, 2025Halloween Mayhem Humacao, Puerto RicoHe defeated Manu in the final for the vacant title.
Combined reigns As of , .
†Indicates the current champion Rank Wrestler No. of reignsCombined days1Manny Ferno12John Hawking1+3Chicano65074Chris Angel13265Glamour Boy Shane22936Joe Bravo32807Ricky Banderas32488Ray Gonzalez22449Invader I220210Diabólico219811Richard Rondón316712Super Crazy314013Zcion114Electro115Noel Rodríguez291Magnificent Chris19117Lightning18718Bison Smith18419Monster Pain18020Romeo27121Khriz Díaz122Jeff Jeffrey16723Jean Pierre Lafitte163Rick Stanley16325Dennis Rivera14926E2 Lobo (Andy Anderson)24827Big Vito14528Nord142Eric Alexander14230Mr. Big23531Diamante13232Kasey James33Anarchy2834Justin Sane2735Noriega 2736Gilbert2137Mighty Ursus2038Slash Venom39Hannibal1040David Flair141Abyss142Huracan Castillo1<1
References
External links Wrestling-titles.com IWA / IWE Puerto Rico Intercontinental Championship at Cagematch.net