The title was introduced on September 25, 2004, at FIP's "Emergence: Part Two" event as the FIP Heavyweight Championship.[1] It was renamed the FIP World Heavyweight Championship on March 3, 2007, when then-champion Roderick Strong defeated Pac in Liverpool, England, at the Ring of Honor (ROH) promotion's "Fifth Year Festival: Liverpool" event.[2] Overall, there have been 23 reigns shared among 17 wrestlers. Title changes happen mostly at FIP-promoted events, which are usually released on DVD. The title has changed hands four times at non-FIP events. Reigns two and four occurred at ROH-promoted events, while reigns 10 and 11 happened at Dragon Gate events.
Since being renamed as a "World Championship" after a UK defense in March 2007, the title has been defended internationally multiple times. Not only has the championship been successfully defended in Japan, China, Canada, Mexico[3][4][5][6] but the title has also changed hands in both Japan and China.[7]
The inaugural champion was Homicide, who defeated CM Punk in the finals of a two-night tournament that concluded on September 25, 2004, at FIP's "Emergence: Part Two" event.[1]Roderick Strong holds the record of most reigns, with three. Jon Davis's second reign is the longest singular reign at 632 days, while Erick Stevens reign is the shortest at 35 days. Davis also holds the record for longest combined reign at 821 days. Davis is also the oldest champion at 40, while Austin Theory is the youngest, having won it at 20.
Brian Brock is the current champion in his first reign. He defeated Lucky Ali at WWN Supershow: Mercury Rising on August 27, 2023, in Clearwater, FL.
The title was renamed the "FIP World Heavyweight Championship" on March 3, 2007, when Strong defeated Pac in Liverpool, England, at ROH's Fifth Year Festival: Liverpool event.
Richards was awarded the championship by forfeit after Tyler Black suffered a neck injury the previous night in Berwyn, IL and was forced to relinquish the title.
^"Headlines: FIP Headlines for 3.22.10". Full Impact Pro. 2010-03-22. Archived from the original on 2013-10-05. Retrieved 2010-04-10. After a several month hiatus, the stars of FIP make their 2010 debut as FIP presents Southern Stampede. Due to an unforeseen contractual situation with now former FIP Champion Davey Richards, the FIP Championship Committee has declared the FIP World Heavyweight Championship vacant, and a new Champion will be crowned on April 17th at Southern Stampede.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 2, 2022). "POW Wrestling Rumble". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
^Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 3, 2022). "POW Uncensored". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2023.