Scott Norton wins I.W.G.P title

By JOHN F. MOLINARO -- SLAM! Wrestling

Scott Norton defeated Kensuke Sasaki today in Nagoya, Japan to capture the I.W.G.P. World heavyweight title.

 A sell-out crowd of 9000 fans jammed into the Aiichi Gym to watch the former WCW star pin Sasaki in 11:49 following a jumping lariat.

 This is the second I.W.G.P. title reign for Norton. A regular with New Japan Pro Wrestling since 1990, Norton first captured the title on September 23, 1998 by defeating Yuji Nagata in Yokohama to win the vacated title. The title became vacant two days earlier when then-champion Masahiro Chono sustained a serious neck injury in Nagoya.

 Norton lost the title three months later to Keiji Mutoh, (AKA The Great Muta) at New Japan's annual January 4 Tokyo Dome spectacular.

 Norton becomes only the third American (the other two being Hulk Hogan and Vader) to hold the I.W.G.P. World title. Norton has also held the I.W.G.P. World Tag titles on two occasions with Hercules Hernandez and Tony Halme.