NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship explained

Championshipname:NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship
Currentholder:Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano and Oleg Boltin
Won:June 16, 2024
Promotion:New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
Created:December 21, 2015
Mostreigns:As a team (3 reigns):

As an individual (6 reigns):

Firstchamp:Chaos
Shortestreign:1 day:
Longestreign:Chaos

(454 days)
Oldest:Minoru Suzuki
[1]
Youngest:David Finlay
[2]
Heaviest:Bad Luck Fale
(156kg (344lb))[3]
Lightest:Taiji Ishimori
(75kg (165lb))[4] [5]

The is a professional wrestling championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) promotion. The current champions are Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano and Oleg Boltin, who are in their second reign as a team. It is Yano and Tanahashi's record sixth reign as individuals, and the second for Boltin. They defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Yota Tsuji, Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi) on June 16, 2024 in Sapporo, Japan on Night 1 of New Japan Soul.

The title was announced on December 21, 2015, with the first champions crowned on January 4, 2016. Through NJPW's relationship with Ring of Honor (ROH), the title has also been defended in the American promotion. The championship is contested for by teams of three wrestlers and is the first title of its kind in the history of NJPW. The title's openweight nature means that both heavyweight and junior heavyweight wrestlers are eligible to challenge for it.

Like most professional wrestling championships, the title is won as a result of a match with a predetermined outcome.

History

On December 11, 2015, NJPW announced that at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2016, the Bullet Club trio of Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga and Yujiro Takahashi would take on Toru Yano and two mystery partners.[6] [7] Eight days later, Yano revealed his partners as the Ring of Honor (ROH) tag team The Briscoe Brothers (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe).[8] On December 21, NJPW added that the match would be for the newly created NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, the promotion's first six-man title.[9] [10] The title's name carried the acronym NEVER, which stood for "New Blood", "Evolution", "Valiantly", "Eternal", and "Radical" and was a NJPW-promoted series of events that ran from 2010 to 2012 and featured younger up-and-coming talent and outside wrestlers not signed to the promotion.[11] This is the second title to carry the NEVER name, after the NEVER Openweight Championship, which was introduced in November 2012.[9] [12]

On January 4, 2016, Toru Yano and The Briscoe Brothers defeated Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga and Yujiro Takahashi to become the inaugural champions.[13] [14] After losing the title to Fale, Tonga and Takahashi on February 11 at The New Beginning in Osaka,[15] Yano and The Briscoe Brothers also became the first two-time winners of the title, when they regained it three days later at The New Beginning in Niigata.[16] Later that month, the title was defended outside Japan for the first time, when new champions Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) successfully defended it against A. C. H., Kushida and Matt Sydal at ROH's 14th Anniversary Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.[17] [18] On September 25, 2016, the title was vacated for the first time due to one of the champions, Matt Sydal, failing to make it to a scheduled championship defense because of "travel issues".[19] NJPW crowned new champions that same day.[20]

On January 4, 2017, at Wrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome, the Los Ingobernables de Japón (L.I.J.) trio of Bushi, Evil and Sanada won a four-team gauntlet match to capture the title for the first time.[21] [22] They then began exchanging the title with members of the Taguchi Japan stable, resulting in them becoming record three-time champions on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2017.[23] The quick title changes resulted in the title earning a reputation as a "hot potato",[24] [25] with Japanese media nicknaming it the .[26] During its first 20 months of existence, the title changed hands 12 times, with no championship team successfully defending it more than two times until L.I.J.'s record-breaking third title reign.[26] [27] [28] The title was also slotted on the undercards of NJPW events and some championship matches took place as early as the second match on a seven-match show with no other title matches. Bushi publicly criticized NJPW's handling of the title, claiming that the booking was costing the title credibility.[27] L.I.J.'s record-setting reign ended on December 17, 2017, when they were defeated by Bullet Club's Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa in their fourth defense.[29]

Reigns

See main article: List of NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions.

There have been 28 reigns shared among 39 wrestlers and 22 teams with 2 vacancies.[30] Chaos (Jay Briscoe, Mark Briscoe and Toru Yano) were the first champions in the title's history.[13] Chaos (Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii and Yoshi-Hashi) hold the record for the longest reign and most defenses in an individual reign, while Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Evil and Sanada) hold the record for the shortest reign in the title's history, with their first reign of one day being the shortest. They also hold the record for most reigns as a team with three.[30] Individually, Evil holds the record for six reigns, later followed by Toru Yano.

The current champions are Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano and Oleg Boltin, who are in their second reign as a team. It is Yano's record sixth reign as an individual, and the second for Tanahashi and Boltin. They defeated Los Ingobernables de Japón (Yota Tsuji, Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi) on June 16, 2024 in Sapporo, Japan on Night 1 of New Japan Soul.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/profile/706. ja:鈴木みのる. February 11, 2023. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.
  2. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/profile/744. ja:デビッド・フィンレー. January 5, 2017. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.
  3. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/profile/729. https://web.archive.org/web/20171208004551/http://www.njpw.co.jp/profile/729. ja:バッドラック・ファレ. December 8, 2017. live. December 17, 2017. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.
  4. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=852. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042635/http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=852. ja:マット・ジャクソン. March 4, 2016. February 20, 2016. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja. live.
  5. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=847. https://web.archive.org/web/20160703085319/http://www.njpw.co.jp/data/detail_profile.php?f=847. ja:リコシェ. July 3, 2016. July 3, 2016. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.
  6. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/56287. ja:【WK10】来年1月3日(日)『大プロレス祭り』“公開記者会見”のスケジュールが決定! 岡倫之選手の入団会見も実施!. December 11, 2015. August 3, 2017. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.
  7. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/482651/. ja:真壁&本間 1・4東京ドームでIWGPタッグ挑戦. December 11, 2015. August 3, 2017. Tokyo Sports. ja.
  8. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/56397. ja:【WK10】1.4東京ドームの第2試合は矢野&ブリスコ・ブラザーズvsファレ&裕二郎&タマに決定!ウワサの“ブリスコ兄弟”の凄さとは?. December 20, 2015. August 3, 2017. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.
  9. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=15516. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100946/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=15516. ja:【WK10】1.4東京ドームは“8大選手権”! 第2試合は初代NEVER無差別級6人タッグ王座戦! 第3試合はROH世界選手権に! NJランボー参戦選手も追加!. December 22, 2015. December 21, 2015. December 21, 2015. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja. live.
  10. Web site: NJPW Tokyo Dome Updates – Briscoes vs. Bullet Club for new titles, more. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222123901/http://www.pwtorch.com/site/2015/12/20/full-njpw-tokyo-dome-line-up-roh-title-match-included/. December 22, 2015. December 20, 2015. December 21, 2015. Pro Wrestling Torch. live.
  11. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=28. https://web.archive.org/web/20101228091940/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=28. 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!!. December 28, 2010. July 12, 2010. December 21, 2015. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.
  12. Web site: News items: Velvet Sky launches clothing line, Details on Nash's next int'l tour, NJPW introducing new title. Caldwell. James. October 5, 2012. December 21, 2012. Pro Wrestling Torch.
  13. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/490418/. ja:【新日・東京ドーム】「NEVER無差別級6人タッグ」矢野組が初代王者に. January 5, 2016. January 5, 2016. Tokyo Sports. ja.
  14. Web site: Wrestle Kingdom 10 live results: Kazuchika Okada vs Hiroshi Tanahashi. Meltzer. Dave. Dave Meltzer. January 3, 2016. January 4, 2016. Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  15. Web site: 2/11 New Japan "New Beginning in Osaka" Results – Okada defends IWGP World Title, two big title changes. February 11, 2016. August 3, 2017. Pro Wrestling Torch.
  16. Web site: 2/14 New Japan "New Beginning in Niigata" Results – Tanahashi vs. Omega for vacant IWGP IC Title, Bullet Club everywhere. February 14, 2016. August 3, 2017. Pro Wrestling Torch.
  17. Web site: ROH 14th Anniversary. August 3, 2017. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.
  18. Web site: ROH 14th Anniversary live results: Jay Lethal vs. Kyle O'Reilly vs. Adam Cole. Rose. Bryan. February 26, 2016. February 26, 2016. Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  19. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=17429. https://web.archive.org/web/20160925073455/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=17429. ja:【お知らせ】マット・サイダル選手が飛行機トラブルのため9.25神戸大会を欠場。デビッド・フィンレー選手が代打出場でNEVER6人タッグは「王座決定戦」に変更. September 25, 2016. September 25, 2016. September 25, 2016. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.
  20. Web site: NJPW Destruction in Kobe results: Elgin defends his title against Naito. Rose. Bryan. September 25, 2016. August 3, 2017. Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  21. Web site: Omega vs. Okada classic, Tanahashi vs. Naito, lots of title changes & more: complete New Japan Wrestle Kingdom 11 coverage (page two). Johnson. Mike. January 4, 2017. August 3, 2017. Pro Wrestling Insider.
  22. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/636044/. ja:【新日1・4ドーム】NEVER6人タッグはSanada組が制す. January 5, 2017. August 3, 2017. Tokyo Sports. ja.
  23. Web site: https://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2017/05/04/0010155089.shtml. ja:“田口ジャパン”またNEVER陥落…ロス・インゴが3度目戴冠. May 4, 2017. August 3, 2017. Daily Sports Online. Kobe Shimbun. ja.
  24. Web site: 1/5 New Japan's New Year's Dash from Tokyo: Takahashi, Nakanishi, Kushida, Ricochet, O'Reilly, Finlay, Cole, Elgin, Young Bucks. Andrews. R.W.. January 17, 2017. August 3, 2017. Pro Wrestling Torch.
  25. Meltzer. Dave. Dave Meltzer. February 20, 2017. February 20, 2017 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WWE financials, death of Chavo Guerrero, more. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. 1083-9593. 20. The show was built around five title matches, with one change, the hot potato Never trios titles which went back to Sanada & Evil & Bushi, who defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Ryusuke Taguchi & Manabu Nakanishi..
  26. Web site: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/761446/ . ja:【新日本】LIJ NEVER6人タッグ王座V3 . September 11, 2017 . September 11, 2017 . . ja.
  27. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/652662/ . ja:【新日本】NEVER6人タッグ王者のBushiが試合順に難クセ . February 16, 2017 . August 3, 2017 . . ja.
  28. Web site: https://www.daily.co.jp/ring/2017/06/21/0010300472.shtml . ja:新日・制御不能軍が田口ジャパン撃破で史上最多タイのNEVER6人王座V2 . June 21, 2017 . August 3, 2017 . Daily Sports Online . . ja.
  29. Web site: JRA presents Road to Tokyo Dome . December 17, 2017 . . ja.
  30. Web site: NEVER Open 6 Men Tag Class. August 3, 2017. New Japan Pro-Wrestling. ja.