NLW Hardcore Championship

The NLW Hardcore Championship is a professional wrestling stop-motion championship created by No Limits Wrestling (NLW). The title was originally created in 2012, and the contests for the title were under hardcore rules.

In 2013, a 24/7 stipulation was added, meaning that anyone could pin the champion anytime and anywhere to become a champion as long as a referee was around. In 2018, the title was quietly retired after six years. At the time, the last champion was Pentagon Jr. In 2021, the title was re-established on the Metal brand. At Metal: Ungovernable, Brodie Lee won the title after defeating Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, and Rhyno in a hardcore match for the title. However, Brodie Lee would retire from Metal, and the championship was again vacated. On Metal episode 77. the debuting Sami Callihan defeated Jon Moxley, "Hangman" Adam Page, Rhyno, Bobby Lashley, and Dustin Rhodes in a Steel Asylum Match to become the Hardcore Champion.

History
In 2012, No Limits Wrestling had its first episode. On that episode, a battle royal was determined to crown the first ever Hardcore Champion. The match was won by Hardcore Holly. In next few episodes, the title matches would be held under Hardcore rules. At NLW Breakdown, the title was contested in an Ultimate-X Match, which was won by AJ Styles. In mid-2013, a 24/7 stipulation was added to the championship, which means the champion could be pinned anywhere and anytime to lose the title. Over the next few years, the title would be fought backstage, in the parking lot, and even in a grocery store.

In 2017, NLW held its first brand split, which split NLW and Metal into two seperate brands. The NLW Hardcore Championship would remain in NLW until early-2018. Pentagon Jr would pin Xavier Woods backstage. Afterwords, the title would not be seen or mentioned during Pentagon's feud with the Undertaker. At WrestleMania III, the title was announced as retired.

In 2021, The Metal Comissioner announced that he had decided to bring back a championship. On the next episode, it was announced that it was the Hardcore Championship. At Metal: Ungovernable, Brodie Lee would defeat Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman, and Rhyno in a hardcore fatal four way. After the match, Brodie's manager, Jake Roberts, said that Brodie had completed his mission. He said afterwords that Brodie should retire as champion and undefeated. The title was then vacated. On the episode of Metal after Ungovernable, The Comissioner announced that the title would be held in the Steel Asulym match. On episode 77. the debuting Sami Callihan defeated Jon Moxley, "Hangman" Adam Page, Rhyno, Bobby Lashley, and Dustin Rhodes to become the Hardcore Champion.