David Finlay captures IWGP Global Heavyweight Title, brawls with Nic Nemeth at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18

Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2024/01/04/david-finlay-captures-iwgp-global-heavyweight-title-brawls-with-nic-nemeth-at-njpw-wrestle-kingdom-18/

The first-ever IWGP Global Champion is crowned. 

At the conclusion of NJPW Power Struggle in November, David Finlay inserted himself in Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay’s face-to-face and went on to smash both the IWGP U.S. and U.K. Heavyweight Championships with a mallet. 

That led to the creation of the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title and the first champion was determined at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Jon Moxley, David Finlay and Will Ospreay competed in a three-way for the belt. BULLET CLUB War Dogs’ Alex Coughlin and Gabe Kidd got involved to assist Finlay. 

Despite the interference, Ospreay and Moxley were able to stay in the fight but ultimately, Finlay walked away as champion after pinning Ospreay. 

While Finlay was celebrating his victory, he began trash-talking Nic Nemeth f.k.a. Dolph Ziggler, who was seated ringside with his brother Ryan Nemeth. Nic and Finlay got in each other’s faces and after Finlay shoved the two-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, they brawled. 

Nemeth was able to break loose from being held back and he chased Finlay to the backstage area.