10 Most Prestigious Wrestling Titles Of All Time
9. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight scene is rightly credited with popularising the lightweight aerial style which has endured throughout the years, despite a significantly powerful detractor in Vince McMahon.
To claim its top prize, being spectacular isn't enough. In its golden periods, of which there are several, one had to be a veritable revolutionary to separate themselves from a hugely competitive field.
Ultimo Dragon, who innovated the Asai Moonsault and Asai DDT, enjoyed reigns in its nineties heyday. The Great Sasuke, from whom Dragon wrestled the strap in October '96, invented the Michinoku Driver and the High-Angle Senton Bomb deployed by Jeff Hardy on many a WWE highlight reel. Stretching back further, Hiroshi Hase broadened the junior - and heavyweight - oeuvre by inventing the Northern Lights Suplex.
And, of course, Jushin 'Thunder' Liger invented a move which arguably remains the most spectacular aerial in wrestling - the Shooting Star Press.
Even to this day, the men in the title's orbit are - for better or worse, depending on your perspective - evolving the mat game. Will Ospreay and Ricochet caused a social media meltdown after the Best Of The Super Juniors match earlier this year, in which unprecedentedly mystifying balletic movement was emphasised over a traditional, rest-heavy match structure.