{{short description|Professional wrestling championship}} {{Infobox pro wrestling championship |championshipname = NEVER Openweight Championship |image = NEVER Openweight Championship.PNG |image_size = |caption = The NEVER Openweight Championship belt |currentholder = Ren Narita |won = February 11, 2026 |aired = |promotion = New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) |created = November 19, 2012<ref name=ChampionshipAnnouncedPWTorch/><ref name=ChampionshipAnnounced/> |mostreigns = Tomohiro Ishii (6 reigns) |firstchamp = Masato Tanaka<ref name=NEVER111912Results>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=672 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121122011027/http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=672 | script-title=ja:東京・Shibuya-AX ～初代NEVER無差別級王座決定トーナメント Final～ | archive-date=November 22, 2012 | access-date=November 19, 2012 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref> |shortestreign = Michael Elgin ({{age in days|month1=06|day1=09|year1=2018|month2=06|day2=17|year2=2018}} days) |longestreign = Masato Tanaka ({{age in days|month1=11|day1=19|year1=2012|month2=09|day2=29|year2=2013}} days) |oldest = Minoru Suzuki ({{age in years months and days|1968|06|17|2020|08|29}})<ref name=Suzuki>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/profile/706 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161226145018/http://www.njpw.co.jp/profile/706 | script-title=ja:鈴木 みのる | archive-date=December 26, 2016 | access-date=April 27, 2017 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref> |youngest = Will Ospreay ({{age in years months and days|1993|05|7|2019|01|04}})<ref name=Watanabe>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=704 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151016030922/http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=704 | script-title=ja:渡辺 高章 | archive-date=October 16, 2015 | access-date=November 5, 2016 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref> |heaviest = Jeff Cobb ({{convert|120|kg|lb|abbr=on}})<ref name=Makabe>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=029 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150106191911/http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=029 | script-title=ja:真壁 刀義 | archive-date=January 6, 2015 | url-status = live | access-date=January 4, 2015 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref> |lightest = Kenta ({{convert|85|kg|lb|abbr=on}})<ref name=Tanaka>{{cite web | url = https://www.njpw1972.com/profile/903 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190725043432/https://www.njpw1972.com/profile/903 | script-title=ja:田中 将斗 | archive-date=July 25, 2019 | url-status = live | access-date=February 3, 2013 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref> |pastnames = |titleretired = |pastlookimages = }} The {{Nihongo|'''NEVER Openweight Championship'''|NEVER無差別級王座|NEVER musabetsu-kyū ōza}} is a professional wrestling championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. NEVER is an acronym of the terms "New Blood", "Evolution", "Valiantly", "Eternal", and "Radical" and was an NJPW-promoted series of events, which featured younger up-and-coming talent and outside wrestlers not signed to the promotion.<ref name=ChampionshipAnnouncedPWTorch>{{cite web | url = http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_65739.shtml | title = News items: Velvet Sky launches clothing line, Details on Nash's next int'l tour, NJPW introducing new title | last=Caldwell | first=James | date=October 5, 2012 | access-date=October 27, 2012 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref name=NEVERAnnounced>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=28 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101228091940/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=28 | script-title=ja:Nextジェネレーション育成 新プロジェクト「NEVER」シリーズがスタート!! | archive-date=December 28, 2010 | date=July 12, 2010 | access-date=October 27, 2012 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref> The project was officially announced on July 12, 2010,<ref name=NEVERAnnounced/> and held its first event on August 24, 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=1 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101228132756/http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=1 | title = NEVER．1 | archive-date=December 28, 2010 | access-date=October 27, 2012 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref> On October 5, 2012, NJPW announced that NEVER was going to get its own championship, the NEVER Openweight Championship.<ref name=ChampionshipAnnouncedPWTorch/><ref name=ChampionshipAnnounced/> Ren Narita is the current champion in his first reign. He won the title by defeating champion Aaron Wolf at The New Beginning in Osaka in Osaka, Japan on February 11, 2026.
The title was originally scheduled to be defended exclusively at NEVER events, but this plan was quickly changed and since its foundation, the title has been defended on the undercards of NJPW events.<ref name=ChampionshipAnnounced/><ref name=NaitoNEVER/> The original concept of having younger workers wrestle for the title has also not been realized with the first seven holders of the title having been in their thirties or forties.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/239346/ | script-title=ja:石井の野望「ＮＥＶＥＲ王座のブランド化」 | date=February 28, 2014 | access-date=February 28, 2014 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=March 5, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305014637/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/239346/ | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/520230/ | script-title=ja:Ｖ２柴田がＮＥＶＥＲ王座の改名を予告 | date=March 20, 2016 | access-date=March 20, 2016 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=March 24, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324043833/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/520230/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Instead, through the likes of Katsuyori Shibata, Togi Makabe, and Tomohiro Ishii, the NEVER Openweight Championship became known for its "gritty" title matches and "hard hitting" style.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.njpw1972.com/78067|title=New NEVER 6-Man Tag Champions to be crowned in Korakuen tournament | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2017/01/27/new-japan-feud-focus-tracking-key-matches-tomohiro-ishii-vs-togi-makable-rivalry-wrestle-kingdom-9/ | title = New Japan Feud Focus: Tracking the key matches in the Tomohiro Ishii vs. Togi Makable rivalry from Wrestle Kingdom 9 to | last=Andrews | first=R.W. | date=January 27, 2017 | access-date=April 29, 2017 | work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> Though named an "openweight" championship, NJPW has also categorized the title as a heavyweight title.<ref name=KizunaRoad2014>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=855 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140629232412/http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=855 | title = Kizuna Road 2014 | archive-date=June 29, 2014 | access-date=June 29, 2014 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref><ref name=KizunaRoad2014TS>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/284048/ | script-title=ja:裕二郎がＮＥＶＥＲ王座強奪！バレットクラブが新日のヘビー級全王座独占 | date=June 30, 2014 | access-date=June 30, 2014 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=August 25, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825185730/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/284048/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> The title forms what has unofficially been called the "New Japan Triple Crown" (新日本トリプルクラウン, ''Shin Nihon Toripuru Kuraun'') along with the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/511753/ | script-title=ja:真壁 ＩＣ王座に照準の真意 | date=February 29, 2016 | access-date=February 29, 2016 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=July 2, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702151409/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/511753/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> The title's openweight nature means that both heavyweight and junior heavyweight wrestlers are eligible to challenge for it.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/266147/ | script-title=ja:飯伏が狙う新日ジュニア版“３冠戦” | date=May 15, 2014 | access-date=November 27, 2016 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=June 14, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614144253/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/266147/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
==History==
On October 5, 2012, over two years after the founding of NEVER, New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced the creation of the project's first championship, the NEVER Openweight Championship.<ref name=ChampionshipAnnouncedPWTorch/><ref name=ChampionshipAnnounced>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8296 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121008203843/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8296 | script-title=ja:あの『NEVER』がリニューアル!! "無差別級王座"も新設!! 11.15＆11.19Shibuya AXで再出発!! | archive-date=October 8, 2012 | date=October 5, 2012 | access-date=October 27, 2012 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref><ref name=ChampionshipAnnouncedNikkanSports>{{cite web | url = http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20121005-1028133.html | script-title=ja:新日若手興行ＮＥＶＥＲで王座決定戦開催 | date=October 5, 2012 | access-date=October 27, 2012 | work=Nikkan Sports | language=ja}}</ref> The title was originally created with the idea of using it to "elevate younger wrestlers".<ref name=NaitoNEVEROriginal/>
==Inaugural championship tournament (2012)== The first champion was to be determined in a sixteen-man single-elimination tournament, which was set to take place November 15 and 19, 2012.<ref name=TournamentAnnounced/><ref name=TournamentAnnouncedNikkanSports/> The title and the tournament were announced by New Japan president Naoki Sugabayashi and NEVER regular Tetsuya Naito,<ref name=ChampionshipAnnounced/><ref name=ChampionshipAnnouncedNikkanSports/> who was scheduled to enter the tournament, but was forced to pull out after suffering a knee injury.<ref name=NaitoNEVER>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/144973/ | script-title=ja:復帰の内藤 標的はＮＥＶＥＲ王座 | date=May 24, 2013 | access-date=May 24, 2013 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=June 14, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614171545/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/144973/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Much like regular NEVER events, the tournament also featured wrestlers not signed to New Japan; freelancer Daisuke Sasaki, Hiro Tonai, Kengo Mashimo, Ryuichi Sekine, Shiori Asahi and Taishi Takizawa from Kaientai Dojo, and Masato Tanaka from Pro Wrestling Zero1.<ref name=TournamentAnnounced>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8335 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121014185328/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8335 | script-title=ja:11月15日＆19日『NEVER』無差別級トーナメント決定！ 初日にKushidavs田中将斗！ 新人2人もデビュー!! | archive-date=October 14, 2012 | date=October 11, 2012 | access-date=October 27, 2012 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref><ref name=TournamentAnnouncedNikkanSports>{{cite web | url = http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20121011-1031175.html | script-title=ja:新日ＮＥＶＥＲトーナメント出場者発表 | date=October 11, 2012 | access-date=October 27, 2012 | work=Nikkan Sports | language=ja}}</ref> In the final of the tournament, Tanaka, the 39-year-old, who, despite officially being affiliated with Pro Wrestling Zero1, had worked for NJPW regularly since August 2009, defeated Karl Anderson to become the inaugural NEVER Openweight Champion.<ref name=NEVER111912Results/><ref name=NEVER111912ResultsKDojo/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/p-bt-tp0-20121120-1049339.html | script-title=ja:将斗 死闘を制して初代王座／新日本 | date=November 20, 2012 | access-date=November 23, 2012 | work=Nikkan Sports | language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/56140/ | script-title=ja:ＮＥＶＥＲ初代王者・将斗１・４でＷヘッダーだ | date=November 23, 2012 | access-date=November 23, 2012 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610195014/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/56140/ | archive-date=June 10, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Though the title was originally designed to be defended at NEVER events, NJPW has not held a single NEVER event since the championship tournament.<ref name=NaitoNEVEROriginal>{{cite web | url=http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/190135/ | script-title=ja:内藤「俺の使命はＮＥＶＥＲ復権」 | date=October 3, 2013 | access-date=October 3, 2013 | work=Tokyo Sports | language=ja | archive-date=October 5, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005011217/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/190135/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Tournament bracket=== {{16TeamBracket-NoSeeds | RD1=First round<br />(November 15)<ref name=NEVER111512Results>{{cite web | url = http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=671 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121119225917/http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=671 | script-title=ja:東京・Shibuya-Ax ～初代NEVER無差別級王座決定トーナメント 1st Round～ | archive-date=November 19, 2012 | access-date=November 15, 2012 | work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling | language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://k-dojo.co.jp/results/1211/121115.html | script-title=ja:2012年11月15日（木）NEVER～初代NEVER無差別級王座決定トーナメント1st Round～(東京・Shibuya-Ax) | access-date=December 24, 2012 | work=Kaientai Dojo | language=ja | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200201/http://k-dojo.co.jp/results/1211/121115.html | archive-date=October 29, 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> | RD2=Second round<br />(November 19)<ref name=NEVER111912ResultsKDojo>{{cite web | url=http://k-dojo.co.jp/results/1211/121119.html | script-title=ja:2012年11月19日（月）NEVER～初代NEVER無差別級王座決定トーナメント Final～(東京・Shibuya-Ax) | access-date=December 24, 2012 | work=Kaientai Dojo | language=ja }}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> | RD3=Semifinals<br />(November 19)<ref name=NEVER111912ResultsKDojo/> | RD4=Final<br />(November 19) | RD1-team01 ='''Karl Anderson''' | RD1-team02 =Yujiro Takahashi | RD1-score01=Pin | RD1-score02={{nowrap|11:12<ref name=NEVER111512Results/>}} | RD1-team03 =Hiromu Takahashi | RD1-team04 ='''Shiori Asahi''' | RD1-score03={{nowrap|06:14<ref name=NEVER111512Results/>}} | RD1-score04=Pin | RD1-team05 ='''Ryusuke Taguchi''' | RD1-team06 =Hiro Tonai | RD1-score05=Pin | RD1-score06={{nowrap|08:19<ref name=NEVER111512Results/>}} | RD1-team07 =Bushi | RD1-team08 ='''Kengo Mashimo''' | RD1-score07={{nowrap|08:02<ref name=NEVER111512Results/>}} | RD1-score08=Pin | RD1-team09 =Kushida | RD1-team10 ='''Masato Tanaka''' | RD1-score09={{nowrap|13:02<ref name=NEVER111512Results/>}} | RD1-score10=Pin | RD1-team11 =Captain New Japan | RD1-team12 ='''Taishi Takizawa''' | RD1-score11={{nowrap|07:22<ref name=NEVER111512Results/>}} | RD1-score12=Pin | RD1-team13 ='''Tomohiro Ishii''' | RD1-team14 =Daisuke Sasaki | RD1-score13=Pin | RD1-score14={{nowrap|08:39<ref name=NEVER111512Results/>}} | RD1-team15 ='''Yoshi-Hashi''' | RD1-team16 =Ryuichi Sekine | RD1-score15=Pin | RD1-score16={{nowrap|07:14<ref name=NEVER111512Results/>}} | RD2-team01 ='''Karl Anderson''' | RD2-team02 =Shiori Asahi | RD2-score01=Pin | RD2-score02={{nowrap|03:59<ref name=NEVER111912Results/>}} | RD2-team03 =Ryusuke Taguchi | RD2-team04 ='''Kengo Mashimo''' | RD2-score03={{nowrap|07:54<ref name=NEVER111912Results/>}} | RD2-score04=Sub | RD2-team05 ='''Masato Tanaka''' | RD2-team06 =Taishi Takizawa | RD2-score05=Pin | RD2-score06={{nowrap|04:28<ref name=NEVER111912Results/>}} | RD2-team07 ='''Tomohiro Ishii''' | RD2-team08 =Yoshi-Hashi | RD2-score07=Pin | RD2-score08={{nowrap|06:57<ref name=NEVER111912Results/>}} | RD3-team01 ='''Karl Anderson''' | RD3-team02 =Kengo Mashimo | RD3-score01=Pin | RD3-score02={{nowrap|06:14<ref name=NEVER111912Results/>}} | RD3-team03 ='''Masato Tanaka''' | RD3-team04 =Tomohiro Ishii | RD3-score03=Pin | RD3-score04={{nowrap|10:47<ref name=NEVER111912Results/>}} | RD4-team01 =Karl Anderson | RD4-team02 ='''Masato Tanaka''' | RD4-score01={{nowrap|15:12<ref name=NEVER111912Results/>}} | RD4-score02=Pin }}
==Reigns== {{Main|List of NEVER Openweight Champions}} [[File:Ren Narita 2025.jpg|thumb|Current champion Ren Narita]] As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}}, there have been 51 reigns shared among 26 wrestlers with one vacancy. Masato Tanaka was the first champion in the title's history. He also holds the record for the longest reign at {{age in days|month1=11|day1=19|year1=2012|month2=09|day2=29|year2=2013}} days during his only reign. Tomohiro Ishii has the most reigns with six. Michael Elgin's only reign of 8 days is the shortest in the title's history. Minoru Suzuki is the oldest champion when he won it at 52 years old, while Will Ospreay is the youngest at 25 years old.
Ren Narita is the current champion in his first reign. He won the title by defeating champion Aaron Wolf at The New Beginning in Osaka in Osaka, Japan on February 11, 2026.
==See also== *IWGP U-30 Openweight Championship
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[http://www.njpw.co.jp/champions/never Official title history at NJPW.co.jp] *[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/never-op.html Title history at Wrestling-Titles.com]
{{NEVER Openweight Championship}} {{New Japan Pro Wrestling}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Never Openweight Championship}} Category:New Japan Pro-Wrestling championships Category:Openweight wrestling championships