| Champion | Date Won | Location | Notes |
| Lou Thesz | 1949 | -a- | |
| Rikizodan | August 27, 1958 | Los Angeles, California | -b- |
| Giant Baba | November 24, 1965 | Osaka, Japan | -c- |
| Bobo Brazil | June 25, 1968 | Nagoya, Japan | |
| Giant Baba [2] | June 27, 1968 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| The Shiek | 1969 | Los Angeles, California | |
| Giant Baba [3] | 1969 | Los Angeles, California | |
| Gene Kiniski | December 3, 1970 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Giant Baba [4] | December 19, 1970 | Los Angeles, California | -d- |
| Bobo Brazil [2] | December 1, 1972 | Yokohama, Japan | -e- |
| Kintaro Ohki | December 4, 1972 | Hiroshima, Japan | -f- |
| Dory Funk Jr. | April 30, 1981 | Matsudo, Japan | -g- |
| Butch Reed | 1981 | Florida | -h- |
| Dory Funk Jr. [2] | 1981 | Florida | |
| Bruiser Brody | October 9, 1981 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Dory Funk Jr. [3] | November 1, 1981 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Bruiser Brody [2] | April 21, 1982 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Jumbo Tsuruta | August 30, 1983 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Stan Hansen | July 31, 1986 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Jumbo Tsuruta [2] | October 21, 1986 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Bruiser Brody [3] | March 27, 1988 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Jumbo Tsuruta [3] | April 19, 1988 | Tokyo, Japan | -i- |
-a- Awarded title by the NWA.
-b- Vacated on December 15, 1963 following the death of Rikizodan.
-c- Defeated Dick the Bruiser for the title.
-d- Vacated on September 2, 1972 when Baba leaves the Japan Wrestling Association (promotion holding the belt at the time) to found AJPW.
-e- Defeated Kintaro Ohki for the belt.
-f- Ordered to vacate the title by the NWA, title was vacated on April 13, 1981.
-g- Wins tournament for the belt after receiving a bye through the finals when Bruiser Brody is injured and unable to compete.
-h- Title change is not recognized in Japan.
-i- Unified the NWA International Heavyweight title with the PWF World and NWA United National titles by defeating Stan Hansen. All three belts are then recognized as the All-Japan Triple Crown Heavyweight Title.
