New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) witnessed a thrilling turn of events on January 30, 2025, at the Sendai Sun Plaza Hall, during the "Road to THE NEW BEGINNING" event. The House of Torture (H.O.T) emerged victorious, capturing the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship title
With the arena buzzing with 1,077 fans, the match featured the reigning champions Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, and Oleg Boltinin defending their title for the third time against challengers Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi, and Sho.
This confrontation was particularly significant for H.O.T, as they had faced defeats against Tanahashi's team previously. Entering the ring, the challengers held the championship belt, having claimed it from the champions earlier this month at the January 19 Sakurada show. The tension escalated as the champions attempted to reclaim their title pre-match, leading to heated exchanges even before the bell rang.
The match kicked off with immediate chaos as the champions targeted their opponents, leading to outdoor brawls and high-intensity moves. Sho displayed aggression early on, slamming Yano against the barriers, showcasing the challengers' strategy to disrupt their opponents' rhythm. Despite the champions' initial struggle, the tide began to turn with Boltinin's powerful shoulder tackle, which shifted momentum.
Tanahashi and Yano, determined to defend their titles, launched full-throttle counterattacks, but H.O.T responded with their own relentless barrage. The champions utilized clever tactics to gain the upper hand, including Tanahashi executing his famous Sling Blade move, creating suspense among the audience as the count fell short time and again.
H.O.T seemed unyielding, especially when Narita and Yujiro worked together seamlessly to press the champions, attempting to disrupt their cohesive teamwork. The match progressed to tension-filled near falls where both sides exchanged blows, with each team desperate to secure the title. Despite their efforts, the champions faced continual onslaughts from H.O.T, leaving them at the brink of submission.
One of the defining moments came when Yano turned the tides, momentarily trapping Sho but failing to secure the pin, allowing for Boltinin's dramatic re-entry, which reignited the challenges. The climax saw SHO pull off the roll-up pin move successfully, securing the count of three and bringing about jubilant celebrations for H.O.T. This resulted in them claiming their first NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team titles, marking their growing dominance within the division.
Post-match, tensions flared as Tanahashi and Boltinin protested against the decision, marking moments of frustration against the officiation. Boltinin attempted to confront H.O.T but was intercepted by Yujiro, who used the championship belt to land a decisive blow, underlining H.O.T's ruthless reputation.
With the titles now around their waists, Narita, Yujiro, and Sho celebrated behind the scenes with camaraderie, toasting with cans of beer. Their elation was encapsulated by Narita's statement, “Only we are deserving of this belt, you fools!” reinforcing their claim to the championship. Yujiro boasted about their dominance, asserting, “We were the rightful holders of this title from the start!”
Despite the bitter defeat, Tanahashi vowed to reclaim their titles stating, “I won't accept this result. This isn't over. We have plans to dismantle House of Torture piece by piece.” Boltinin echoed his sentiments with evident frustration about losing, vowing to eventually get revenge and retrieve the championship belt he deeply coveted.
The recent match has set the stage for what promises to be exciting upcoming events as the tension between H.O.T and its rivals escalates. Fans can anticipate this intensified rivalry following the spirited confrontation seen during the match.
The NEVER 6-Man Tag Team title victory for H.O.T marks only the beginning of their story within NJPW, demonstrating their lengths of ambition and proving their capability as strong contenders. Looking forward, it's foreseeable for major shakeups and matches to occur as these teams prepare for the inevitable rematches and battles yet to come.