By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

The NWA issued the following press release Saturday on Satoshi Kojima capturing the NWA World Title from Rob Conway at the "Wrestle Kingdom" Tokyo Dome event in Japan.

Kojima's victory ended Conway's nine-month title reign and represented the first NWA World Title change in Japan since 2002.

*** Press Release ***

New NWA World Heavyweight Champion Crowned in Tokyo
Saturday, January 4, 2014

Tokyo - Satoshi Kojima defeated “Ironman” Rob Conway at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s “Wrestle Kingdom 8” event at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday, January 4 to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Conway had been champion since March 2013 after defeating the Toyko Monster Kahagas in San Antonio, Texas and had since successfully defended the title many times both in the United States and several times in Japan, including against Kojima on April 7, 2013 in his first defense as champion.

In November in Osaka, Conway also won the NWA World Tag Team titles along with Jax Dane when Conway pinned Kojima in a triple treat match also involving Kojima and Tenzan and the Killer Elite Squad.

Kojima’s victory marks the first time the NWA World Heavyweight Championship has changed hands in Japan since Dan Severn defeated Shinya Hashimoto on March 9, 2002.

Also in attendance at the match was former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race, who presented the new champion with the title.

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