NEVER (professional wrestling)

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NEVER
Promotions
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
First eventNEVER.1
Last eventNEVER: Shodai NEVER Musabetsu Kyu Oza Kettei Tournament Final
Event gimmickShowcase for new and younger talent

NEVER was a series of

Yohei Komatsu
, made their professional wrestling debuts at NEVER events. Takahashi, who debuted at NEVER.1, was the only wrestler who wrestled on all thirteen NEVER events.

On October 5, 2012, NJPW announced that NEVER was going to get its own championship, the NEVER Openweight Championship.[2][4][5] 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.[4][6] NJPW has not held a single NEVER event since the tournament, which crowned the first NEVER Openweight Champion on November 19, 2012.[7] A second NEVER title, the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship, was announced on December 21, 2015, with the first champions crowned on January 4, 2016.[8]

On July 18, 2015, NJPW announced "

Lion's Gate", a project with a theme similar to NEVER,[9] which held its first show on February 25, 2016.[10]

NEVER championships

Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days held Location Ref.
NEVER Openweight Championship EVIL 3 January 20, 2023 3+ Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium,

Nagoya, Japan

 [11]
NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship CHAOS

(Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, & Hiroshi Tanahashi)

1

(1, 3, 4)

May 3, 2023 74+ Wrestling Dontaku

Fukuoka, Japan.

[12]

Events

NEVER.1

NEVER.1
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateAugust 24, 2010[13]
CityTokyo, Japan[13]
VenueShin-Kiba 1st Ring[13]
Attendance300[13]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
— 		Next →
NEVER.2

The first NEVER event was held on August 24, 2010, in

Kaientai Dojo, Kazuhiro Tamura from Style-E, Yusuke Kodama from Smash, Shinobu from 666 and freelancers Osamu Namiguchi and Madoka.[13] The opening match of the event featured the professional wrestling debut of Hiromu Takahashi.[13]

No.Results
Taichi defeated Kazuhiro Tamura and Yusuke Kodama
Tag team match10:50
4Tomohiro Ishii defeated Osamu NamiguchiSingles match11:01
5No Limit (Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Madoka and ShinobuTag team match18:04

NEVER.2

NEVER.2
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateSeptember 16, 2010[14]
CityOsaka, Japan[14]
VenueSekaikan[14]
Attendance200[14]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.1 		Next →
NEVER.3

The second NEVER event was held on September 16, 2010, in

Yohei Nakajima and Yosuke Takii.[14]

No.Results
Yohei Nakajima
Tag team match12:04
4Hirooki Goto defeated Daisuke HaradaSingles match08:28
5No Limit (Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Tadasuke and Yosuke TakiiTag team match14:24

NEVER.3

NEVER.3
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateOctober 8, 2010[15]
CityTokyo, Japan[15]
VenueShin-Kiba 1st Ring[15]
Attendance250[15]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.2 		Next →
NEVER.4

The third NEVER event was held on October 8, 2010, in

Kaientai Dojo and freelancers Daisuke Sasaki and Madoka.[15]

No.Results
Kyosuke Mikami and Ryusuke Taguchi
Tag team match17:39
6No Limit (Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Tomato Kaji and Taishi TakizawaTag team match16:47

NEVER.4

NEVER.4
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateNovember 18, 2010[16]
CityTokyo, Japan[16]
VenueShin-Kiba 1st Ring[16]
Attendance450[16]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.3 		Next →
NEVER.5

The fourth NEVER event was held on November 18, 2010, in Tokyo at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring.[16][17] The event featured six matches, which involved six outsiders; Keisuke Ishii from DDT Pro-Wrestling, Jun Ogawauchi from Secret Base, Shinobu from 666 and freelancers Antonio Honda, Madoka and Daisuke Sasaki.[16] The event featured Hiroyoshi Tenzan's return match, after being sidelined for fifteen months with a back injury.[16][17]

No.Results
King Fale
Singles match07:53
3Tomoaki Honma defeated Jun OgawauchiSingles match10:40
4Tomohiro Ishii defeated Daisuke SasakiSingles match11:56
5Hiroyoshi Tenzan defeated Antonio HondaSingles match13:07
6No Limit (Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi) defeated Madoka and ShinobuTag team match16:01

NEVER.5

NEVER.5
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateFebruary 24, 2011[18]
CityTokyo, Japan[18]
VenueShin-Kiba 1st Ring[18]
Attendance350[18]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.4 		Next →
NEVER.6: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament

The fifth NEVER event was held on February 24, 2011, in

Kushida from Smash and freelancers Daisuke Sasaki and Madoka.[18] In the opening match, Hiromu Takahashi, six months after his debut match, picked up his first professional wrestling win over Hirata.[18]

No.Results
Kushida
Singles match17:30

NEVER.6: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament

NEVER.6: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 7, 2011[19]
April 8, 2011[20]
CityTokyo, Japan[19][20]
VenueShin-Kiba 1st Ring[19][20]
Attendance(April 7) 250[19]
(April 8) 300[20]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.5 		Next →
NEVER.7: Go to the Next Level

The sixth NEVER event, subtitled "Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament", was held over two days on April 7 and 8, 2011, in

Kaientai Dojo, Shinobu from 666, Kazuhiro Tamura from Style-E and freelancers Daisuke Sasaki, Madoka, Osamu Namiguchi and Tsuyoshi Kikuchi.[19][20]

April 7
No.Results
Taichi
defeated Osamu Namiguchi		Singles match; first round in the Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament B08:48
April 8
No.Results
Kaji Tomato, Ken Ohka, Marines Mask and Osamu Namiguchi
Eight-man tag team match15:50
7Daisuke Sasaki defeated Tsuyoshi KikuchiSingles match; finals in the Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament A14:26
8Taichi defeated MadokaSingles match; finals in the Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament B17:45
Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament A
First round Semifinals Finals
         
Kyosuke Mikami
Pin
Ryuichi Sekine 08:56[19]
Ryuichi Sekine Pin
Daisuke Sasaki 05:52[20]
Daisuke Sasaki Pin
Shinichiro Tominaga 10:08[19]
Daisuke Sasaki Pin
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi 14:26[20]
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Pin
Ken Ohka 08:18[19]
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Pin
Kazuhiro Tamura 07:14[20]
Kazuhiro Tamura Pin
Marines Mask 04:21[19]
Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament B
First round Semifinals Finals
         
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Keisuke Ishii 08:18[19]
Keisuke Ishii Sub
Taichi 04:15[20]
Taichi
 		Pin
Osamu Namiguchi 08:48[19]
Taichi Pin
Madoka 17:45[20]
Madoka Pin
Kazuki Hirata 08:53[19]
Madoka Pin
Shinobu 09:13[20]
Shinobu Pin
Kaji Tomato
08:32[19]

NEVER.7: Go to the Next Level

NEVER.7: Go to the Next Level
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateSeptember 21, 2011[23]
CityOsaka, Japan[23]
VenueSekaikan[23]
Attendance200[23]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.6: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament 		Next →
NEVER.8: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament

The seventh NEVER event, subtitled "Go to the Next Level", was held on September 21, 2011, in Osaka at the Sekaikan theater.[23] The event featured six matches and for the first time included no outsiders.[23]

No.Results
Kushida
Singles match12:35

NEVER.8: Go to the Next Level

NEVER.8: Go to the Next Level
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateFebruary 10, 2012[24]
CityOsaka, Japan[24]
VenueSekaikan[24]
Attendance220[24]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.7: Go to the Next Level 		Next →
NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament 1st.

The eighth NEVER event, also subtitled "Go to the Next Level", was held on February 10, 2012, in

King Fale's farewell match, before going on an overseas learning excursion.[24]

No.Results
King Fale
Singles match08:14
7Yujiro Takahashi defeated Tomoaki HonmaSingles match11:48

NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament 1st.

NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament 1st.
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 13, 2012[25]
CityTokyo, Japan[25]
VenueShin-Kiba 1st Ring[25]
Attendance250[25]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.8: Go to the Next Level 		Next →
NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament Final

NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament 1st. was held on April 13, 2012, in

Black Tiger and Madoka.[25]

No.Results
Taichi and Taka Michinoku) defeated Gedo and Jado
Tag team match12:50
6Chaos (Takashi Iizuka and Toru Yano) defeated Captain New Japan and Tetsuya NaitoTag team match09:29

NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament Final

NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament Final
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 15, 2012[26]
CityTokyo, Japan[26]
VenueShin-Kiba 1st Ring[26]
Attendance250[26]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament 1st. 		Next →
NEVER: Shodai NEVER Musabetsu Kyu Oza Kettei Tournament 1st Round

NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament Final was held on April 15, 2012, in

Black Tiger and Madoka.[26] The winner of the tournament, Black Tiger, never entered the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors, as on May 25 NJPW publicly fired the character's performer Kazushige Nosawa, a day after he had been arrested under suspicion of smuggling cannabis.[27]

No.Results
Kushida
Tag team match14:08
6Black Tiger defeated MadokaSingles match; finals in the Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament09:56
Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament
First round Semifinals Finals
         
Hiromu Takahashi Sub
Hiro Tonai 07:48[25]
Hiro Tonai Pin
Madoka 08:49[26]
Madoka Pin
Kaji Tomato
09:38[25]
Madoka Pin
Black Tiger 09:56[26]
Takaaki Watanabe
Pin
Ryuichi Sekine 07:45[25]
Ryuichi Sekine Pin
Black Tiger 06:29[26]
Yusuke Kodama Pin
Black Tiger
 		08:23[25]

NEVER: Inaugural NEVER Openweight Championship Tournament 1st Round

NEVER: Inaugural NEVER Openweight Championship Tournament 1st Round
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateNovember 15, 2012[28]
CityTokyo, Japan[28]
VenueShibuya-AX[28]
Attendance250[28]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER.9: Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament Final 		Next →
NEVER: Shodai NEVER Musabetsu Kyu Oza Kettei Tournament Final
See also: NEVER Openweight Championship § Championship tournament

NEVER: Inaugural NEVER Openweight Championship Tournament 1st Round was held on November 15, 2012, in

Sho Tanaka.[30]

No.Results
Kushida
Singles match; first round in the NEVER Openweight Championship tournament13:02

NEVER: Inaugural NEVER Openweight Championship Tournament Final

NEVER: Inaugural NEVER Openweight Championship Tournament Final
Promotion
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateNovember 19, 2012[30]
CityTokyo, Japan[30]
VenueShibuya-AX[30]
Attendance300[30]
NEVER chronology
← Previous
NEVER: Shodai NEVER Musabetsu Kyu Oza Kettei Tournament 1st Round 		Next →
—

NEVER: Inaugural NEVER Openweight Championship Tournament Final was held on November 19, 2012, in

Yohei Komatsu.[30] In the main event of the show, Masato Tanaka defeated Karl Anderson to win the tournament and become the first NEVER Openweight Champion.[30][32][33] NJPW has not held a single NEVER event since.[7]

No.Results
Kushida defeated Daisuke Sasaki, Hiro Tonai and Ryuichi Sekine
Six-man tag team match11:12
10Masato Tanaka defeated Karl AndersonSingles match; finals in the NEVER Openweight Championship tournament14:11
NEVER Openweight Championship tournament
First round Second round Semifinals Finals
        
Karl Anderson Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 11:12[28]
Karl Anderson Pin
Shiori Asahi 03:59[30]
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Shiori Asahi 06:14[28]
Karl Anderson Pin
Kengo Mashimo 06:14[30]
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
Hiro Tonai 08:19[28]
Ryusuke Taguchi Sub
Kengo Mashimo 07:54[30]
Bushi
Pin
Kengo Mashimo 08:02[28]
Karl Anderson Pin
Masato Tanaka 15:12[30]
Kushida
Pin
Masato Tanaka 13:02[28]
Masato Tanaka Pin
Taishi Takizawa 04:28[30]
Captain New Japan Pin
Taishi Takizawa 07:22[28]
Masato Tanaka Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 10:47[30]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Daisuke Sasaki 08:39[28]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 06:57[30]
Yoshi-Hashi
 		Pin
Ryuichi Sekine 07:14[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "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!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). July 12, 2010. Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Caldwell, James (October 5, 2012). "News items: Velvet Sky launches clothing line, Details on Nash's next int'l tour, NJPW introducing new title". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  3. ^ "Kushidaの"新日本入団会見"にTajiri&酒井代表も出席！ 3.18Smash後楽園には棚橋が来場!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). March 8, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  4. ^ a b "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!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  5. ^ 新日若手興行ＮＥＶＥＲで王座決定戦開催. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 5, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  6. ^ 復帰の内藤 標的はＮＥＶＥＲ王座. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). May 24, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  7. ^ a b 内藤「俺の使命はＮＥＶＥＲ復権」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). October 3, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  8. ^ 【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！. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). December 21, 2015. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  9. ^ 木谷オーナーが「ファーム設立プラン」「21世紀のIWGP構想」、そして「新日本プロレスは株式上場を目指す」と宣言! 【7.18戦略発表会】. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  10. ^ Rose, Bryan (February 25, 2016). "Lion's Gate Project 1 results: Nagata vs. Kitamiya; NJPW and Noah rookies shine". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  11. ^ Kelly, Andrew (January 20, 2024). "NJPW New Beginning In Nagoya Results". Cultaholic. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  12. ^ NJPW. "2023.05.03 Wrestling Dontaku 2023 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NEVER．1". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h "NEVER．2". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h "NEVER．3". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NEVER．4". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  17. ^ a b c 天山がどん底から1年3カ月ぶりに復帰！ファンの大声援を受けて男泣きした天山だが、次なる標的に小島聡を指名！. Battle News (in Japanese). November 18, 2010. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NEVER．5". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "NEVER．6 ～Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament～". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "NEVER．6 ～Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament～". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  21. ^ "BOSJ予選トーナメント1回戦で菊地に敗れた大家、本戦出場の夢☆破れる！大物ルーキーの片鱗を見せた冨永だが、佐々木に惜敗！". Battle News (in Japanese). April 7, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  22. ^ "2日間に渡る予選トーナメントを制してタイチとフリーの佐々木がBOSJ出場権を獲得！大家と対戦した内藤が健闘を称えたが..." Battle News (in Japanese). April 8, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h "NEVER．7 ～Go to the Next Level～". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NEVER．8 ～Go to the Next Level～". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "NEVER．9 ～Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament 1st．～". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "NEVER．9 ～Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament Final～". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  27. ^ 新日本がＢ・タイガーの欠場を正式発表. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. May 26, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  28. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "NEVER". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  29. ^ a b "新生NEVERで新設された無差別級王座を争うトーナメント！田中や田口らが順当に勝ち上がる中、内藤が注目した選手は..." Battle News (in Japanese). November 15, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "NEVER". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  31. ^ a b "田中将斗が石井との激闘を制したあと、G1準優勝者のアンダーソンを撃破して初代NEVER無差別級王者となる！". Battle News (in Japanese). November 19, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  32. ^ 将斗 死闘を制して初代王座／新日本. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 20, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  33. ^ ＮＥＶＥＲ初代王者・将斗１・４でＷヘッダーだ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). November 23, 2012. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2014.

External links

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