NEVER Openweight Championship

Lore & Background

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. 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. 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. Though named an 'openweight' championship, NJPW has also categorized the title as a heavyweight title. 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. The title's openweight nature means that both heavyweight and junior heavyweight wrestlers are eligible to challenge for it.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights dimmed, casting long shadows across the canvas where the NEVER Openweight Championship lay gleaming under a single spotlight. The crowd's roar was a physical force, vibrating through the turnbuckles as the challenger stepped forward, eyes locked on the gold. This wasn't just about winning; it was about claiming the mantle of the New Era, proving that the future belonged to those brave enough to seize it in the heat of battle.

Reader's Guide

The first champion was determined in a sixteen-man single-elimination tournament held November 15 and 19, 2012. In the final, Masato Tanaka defeated Karl Anderson to become the inaugural champion. As of the source, there have been 52 reigns shared among 26 wrestlers with one vacancy. Masato Tanaka holds the record for the longest reign. Tomohiro Ishii has the most reigns with six. Michael Elgin's only reign of 8 days is the shortest. Minoru Suzuki is the oldest champion at 52 years old, while Will Ospreay is the youngest at 25 years old. Aaron Wolf is the current champion in his second reign.

Did You Know?

• The NEVER Openweight Championship was announced on October 5, 2012, as a singles title.
• The original concept of having younger workers wrestle for the title was not realized; the first seven holders were in their thirties or forties.
• Kazuchika Okada has never held the NEVER Openweight Championship.