Wikipedia
Best of the Super Juniors
The Best of the Super Juniors (stylized as the Best of the Super Jr. and often abbreviated BOSJ) is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), typically in May or June. Originally known as Top of the Super Juniors, the first tournament was held in 1988 with annual tournaments taking place since 1991. The wrestlers in the tournament are typically junior heavyweight wrestlers from promotions all over the world.[1] NJPW has held 29 Super Juniors tournaments. Hiromu Takahashi holds the record for most tournament wins with four, while Jushin Thunder Liger and Koji Kanemoto have won three each. Takahashi is also the only wrestler to have won three consecutive tournaments. Kanemoto holds the record for the most final appearances, having wrestled eight finals between 1997 and 2009. Liger has participated in the most tournaments, competing in all tournaments except 1995 and 2000 until his 26th and final Super Junior tournament in 2017.
History and format edit
The tournament was formed in 1988 by NJPW. It was originally called the Top of the Super Juniors.[1] The tournament is a round-robin style tournament where a wrestler scores points.[1] The winner, assuming they are not already the champion, receives an opportunity to wrestle for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship not long after the tournament is over. Since 2010, the title match has taken place at June/July's Dominion event.
In 1994, the tournament was renamed the Best of the Super Juniors. Since 1996 the tournament has been divided into a two-block system used in many other puroresu tournaments. In this format the top two scorers in each block advance to the semifinals, at which point single-elimination rules take effect. During the round-robin portion, a win is worth two points, a time limit draw is worth one, and any other result zero; all matches have a 30-minute time limit, though in the past it has been twenty minutes.
Top of the Super Juniors (1988–1993) edit
| Tournament | Year | Winner | TOSJ won | Final Venue | Attendance | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOSJ 1988 | 1988 | Shiro Koshinaka | 1 | Nakajima Sports Center | 6,150 | [2][3] |
| TOSJ 1991 | 1991 | Norio Honaga | 1 | Ryōgoku Kokugikan | 11,500 | [2][4] |
| TOSJ 1992 | 1992 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 1 | Ryōgoku Kokugikan | 11,500 | [2][5] |
| TOSJ 1993 | 1993 | Pegasus Kid | 1 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium | 6,580 | [2][6] |
1988 edit
The 1988 Top of the Super Juniors was a 12-man tournament held from January 4 to February 7. The points system at this time was different from today's, though exactly how is unclear. The two wrestlers with the most points at the end of the tournament, Shiro Koshinaka and Hiroshi Hase, faced off in a singles match to determine the winner. The winner, Koshinaka, went on to win the Junior Heavyweight Championship from Owen Hart on June 24, 1988, after failing to win the title from Hiroshi Hase twice on March 19 and May 8.[2][3]
| Wrestler | Score |
|---|---|
| Hiroshi Hase | 41 |
| Shiro Koshinaka | 41 |
| Nobuhiko Takada | 40 |
| Owen Hart | 39 |
| Kazuo Yamazaki | 38 |
| Keiichi Yamada | 31 |
| Kuniaki Kobayashi | 24 |
| Hiro Saito | 24 |
| Tony St. Clair | 14 |
| Tatsutoshi Goto | 9 |
| Masakatsu Funaki | 8 |
| Norio Honaga | 0 |
| Results | Hiro Saito | Hiroshi Hase | Kazuo Yamazaki | Keiichi Yamada | Kuniaki Kobayashi | Masakatsu Funaki | Nobuhiko Takada | Norio Honaga | Owen Hart | Shiro Koshinaka | Tatsutoshi Goto | Tony St. Clair |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiro Saito | — | Hase (13:27) | Yamazaki (13:22) | Saito (11:11) | Kobayashi (12:36) | Saito (7:32) | Takada (12:28) | Saito (forfeit) | Hart (11:49) | Koshinaka (12:03) | Saito (12:28) | Saito (12:29) |
| Hiroshi Hase | Hase (13:27) | — | Yamazaki (11:26) | Hase (12:38) | Kobayashi (10:51) | Hase (10:09) | Double Countout (13:31) | Hase (forfeit) | Hase (13:09) | Hase (12:04) | Hase (13:49) | Hase (12:13) |
| Kazuo Yamazaki | Yamazaki (13:22) | Yamazaki (11:26) | — | Yamada (10:07) | Yamazaki (15:06) | Yamazaki (13:28) | Yamazaki (14:08) | Yamazaki (forfeit) | Hart (12:56) | Koshinaka (12:58) | Yamazaki (11:55) | Yamazaki (8:55) |
| Keiichi Yamada | Saito (11:11) | Hase (12:38) | Yamada (10:07) | — | Kobayashi (16:12) | Yamada (9:24) | Double Countout (12:28) | Yamada (forfeit) | Yamada (10:54) | Koshinaka (18:14) | Yamada (13:18) | Yamada (10:01) |
| Kuniaki Kobayashi | Kobayashi (12:36) | Kobayashi (10:51) | Yamazaki (15:06) | Kobayashi (16:12) | — | Funaki (9:10) | Takada (10:18) | Kobayashi (forfeit) | Hart (10:34) | Koshinaka (13:49) | Kobayashi (11:12) | Kobayashi (11:09) |
| Masakatsu Funaki | Saito (7:32) | Hase (10:09) | Yamazaki (13:28) | Yamada (9:24) | Funaki (9:10) | — | Takada (20:05) | Funaki (forfeit) | Hart (10:55) | Koshinaka (12:04) | Goto (10:28) | St. Clair (7:32) |
| Nobuhiko Takada | Takada (12:28) | Double Countout (13:31) | Yamazaki (14:08) | Double Countout (12:28) | Takada (10:18) | Takada (20:05) | — | Takada (forfeit) | Takada (13:43) | Double KO (20:34) | Takada (19:34) | Takada (11:29) |
| Norio Honaga | Saito (forfeit) | Hase (forfeit) | Yamazaki (forfeit) | Yamada (forfeit) | Kobayashi (forfeit) | Funaki (forfeit) | Takada (forfeit) | — | Hart (forfeit) | Koshinaka (forfeit) | Goto (forfeit) | St. Clair (forfeit) |
| Owen Hart | Hart (11:49) | Hase (13:09) | Hart (12:56) | Yamada (10:54) | Hart (10:34) | Hart (10:55) | Takada (13:43) | Hart (forfeit) | — | Hart (15:00) | Hart (7:57) | Hart (11:28) |
| Shiro Koshinaka | Koshinaka (12:03) | Hase (12:04) | Koshinaka (12:58) | Koshinaka (18:14) | Koshinaka (13:49) | Koshinaka (12:04) | Double KO (20:34) | Koshinaka (forfeit) | Hart (15:00) | — | Koshinaka (8:12) | Koshinaka (9:50) |
| Tatsutoshi Goto | Saito (12:28) | Hase (13:49) | Yamazaki (11:55) | Yamada (13:18) | Kobayashi (11:12) | Goto (10:28) | Takada (19:34) | Goto (forfeit) | Hart (7:57) | Koshinaka (8:12) | — | St. Clair (7:47) |
| Tony St. Clair | Saito (12:29) | Hase (12:13) | Yamazaki (8:55) | Yamada (10:01) | Kobayashi (11:09) | St. Clair (7:32) | Takada (11:29) | St. Clair (forfeit) | Hart (11:28) | Koshinaka (9:50) | St. Clair (7:47) | — |
| Final | ||||
| 1 | Hiroshi Hase | Pin | ||
| 2 | Shiro Koshinaka | 16:43 | ||
1991 edit
The 1991 Top of the Super Juniors was a seven-man tournament held from April 15 to April 30 and the first to use the modern points system. Before the tournament, the reigning Junior Heavyweight Champion, Jushin Thunder Liger, vacated the title so the winner of the 1991 Top of the Super Juniors also became the champion; with his victory over Liger in the final, Norio Honaga also won the championship.[2][4]
| Wrestler | Score |
|---|---|
| Norio Honaga | 8 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 |
| Pegasus Kid | 8 |
| Negro Casas | 8 |
| Owen Hart | 6 |
| David Finlay | 4 |
| Flyin' Scorpio | 0 |
| Results | Negro Casas | Dave Finlay | Owen Hart | Norio Honaga | Pegasus Kid | Jushin Thunder Liger | Flyin' Scorpio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negro Casas | — | Casas (5:33) | Casas (6:45) | Honaga (6:35) | Kid (11:52) | Casas (6:51) | Casas (6:31) |
| Dave Finlay | Casas (5:33) | — | Hart (8:35) | Honaga (6:25) | Finlay (7:04) | Liger (11:38) | Finlay (7:56) |
| Owen Hart | Casas (6:45) | Hart (8:35) | — | Honaga (7:23) | Hart (11:04) | Liger (14:58) | Hart (7:55) |
| Norio Honaga | Honaga (6:35) | Honaga (6:25) | Honaga (7:23) | — | Kid (9:22) | Liger (9:44) | Honaga (7:51) |
| Pegasus Kid | Kid (11:52) | Finlay (7:04) | Hart (11:04) | Kid (9:22) | — | Kid (14:01) | Kid |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Casas (6:51) | Liger (11:38) | Liger (14:58) | Liger (9:44) | Kid (14:01) | — | Liger (8:46) |
| Flyin' Scorpio | Casas (6:31) | Finlay (7:56) | Hart (7:55) | Honaga (7:51) | Kid | Liger (8:46) | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| 1 | Norio Honaga | Pin | |||||||
| 3 | Pegasus Kid | 9:21 | |||||||
| 1 | Norio Honaga | Pin | |||||||
| 2 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 21:54 | |||||||
| 2 | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | |||||||
| 4 | Negro Casas | 11:14 | |||||||
1992 edit
The 1992 Top of the Super Juniors was a nine-man tournament, held from April 16 to April 30. The winner, Jushin Thunder Liger, became the first man to win the tournament while holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[2][5]
| Wrestler | Score |
|---|---|
| El Samurai | 14 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 12 |
| Norio Honaga | 12 |
| Negro Casas | 10 |
| Pegasus Kid | 10 |
| David Finlay | 6 |
| Eddie Guerrero | 4 |
| Flyin' Scorpio | 2 |
| Koji Kanemoto | 2 |
| Results | David Finlay | Eddie Guerrero | El Samurai | Flyin' Scorpio | Jushin Thunder Liger | Koji Kanemoto | Negro Casas | Norio Honaga | Pegasus Kid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Finlay | — | Finlay (12:16) | Samurai (11:08) | Finlay (10:58) | Liger (11:52) | Finlay (10:43) | Casas (9:37) | Honaga (9:26) | Kid (9:29) |
| Eddie Guerrero | Finlay (12:16) | — | Samurai (10:10) | Guerrero (13:48) | Liger (12:13) | Guerrero (11:05) | Casas (7:28) | Honaga (9:34) | Kid (12:06) |
| El Samurai | Samurai (11:08) | Samurai (10:10) | — | Samurai (10:51) | Samurai (15:34) | Samurai (11:29) | Samurai (5:44) | Honaga (10:00) | Samurai (9:36) |
| Flyin' Scorpio | Finlay (10:58) | Guerrero (13:48) | Samurai (10:51) | — | Liger (11:23) | Scorpio (12:52) | Casas (10:05) | Honaga (7:07) | Kid (9:55) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (11:52) | Liger (12:13) | Samurai (15:34) | Liger (11:23) | — | Liger (10:08) | Liger (7:24) | Liger (12:14) | Kid (12:42) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Finlay (10:43) | Guerrero (11:05) | Samurai (11:29) | Scorpio (12:52) | Liger (10:08) | — | Kanemoto (9:14) | Honaga (5:15) | Kid (10:53) |
| Negro Casas | Casas (9:37) | Casas (7:28) | Samurai (5:44) | Casas (10:05) | Liger (7:24) | Kanemoto (9:14) | — | Casas (8:56) | Casas (11:38) |
| Norio Honaga | Honaga (9:26) | Honaga (9:34) | Honaga (10:00) | Honaga (7:07) | Liger (12:14) | Honaga (5:15) | Casas (8:56) | — | Honaga (8:00) |
| Pegasus Kid | Kid (9:29) | Kid (12:06) | Samurai (9:36) | Kid (9:55) | Kid (12:42) | Kid (10:53) | Casas (11:38) | Honaga (8:00) | — |
| Semifinal | Final | ||||||||
| 1 | El Samurai | Pin | |||||||
| 2 | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | 2 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 21:15 | ||||
| 3 | Norio Honaga | 14:26 | |||||||
1993 edit
The 1993 Top of the Super Juniors was an 11-man tournament held from May 26 to June 14. As the result of a four-way tie for second place (Jushin Thunder Liger was also tied, but was eliminated due to injury), the four men held a playoff tournament to challenge first-place Pegasus Kid (better known as Chris Benoit) in the final; this ended up being El Samurai, who would nonetheless fall against Pegasus Kid. Pegasus became the first foreign wrestler to win the tournament as a result.[6] He also went on to challenge the champion Liger unsuccessfully on August 8. Eddie Guerrero participated in the 1992 tournament under his real name, but wrestled in the 1993 tournament as "Black Tiger"[2][5]
| Wrestler | Score |
|---|---|
| Pegasus Kid | 14 |
| Black Tiger II | 12 |
| El Samurai | 12 |
| Dean Malenko | 12 |
| Flyin' Scorpio | 12 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 12 |
| David Finlay | 10 |
| Norio Honaga | 10 |
| Lightning Kid | 8 |
| Shinjiro Otani | 4 |
| Masao Orihara | 4 |
| Results | Black Tiger II | David Finlay | Dean Malenko | El Samurai | Flyin' Scorpio | Jushin Thunder Liger | Lightning Kid | Masao Orihara | Norio Honaga | Pegasus Kid | Shinjiro Otani |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Tiger II | — | Finlay (9:57) | Tiger (12:45) | Tiger (11:25) | Tiger (7:25) | Tiger (14:39) | Lightning (11:30) | Tiger (forfeit) | Tiger (11:25) | Pegasus (13:00) | Otani (13:28) |
| David Finlay | Finlay (9:57) | — | Finlay (11:51) | Samurai (15:05) | Finlay (10:21) | Liger (11:24) | Lightning (6:29) | Orihara (9:26) | Finlay (7:03) | Pegasus (8:02) | Finlay (9:17) |
| Dean Malenko | Tiger (12:45) | Finlay (11:51) | — | Samurai (12:13) | Malenko (13:29) | Malenko (17:23) | Malenko (11:15) | Malenko (forfeit) | Malenko (11:05) | Pegasus (9:41) | Malenko (10:51) |
| El Samurai | Tiger (11:25) | Samurai (15:05) | Samurai (12:13) | — | Samurai (10:25) | Liger (13:27) | Samurai (11:09) | Orihara (11:39) | Samurai (9:06) | Pegasus (10:52) | Samurai (12:05) |
| Flyin' Scorpio | Tiger (7:25) | Finlay (10:21) | Malenko (13:29) | Samurai (10:25) | — | Scorpio (3:30) | Scorpio (8:54) | Scorpio (forfeit) | Scorpio (7:37) | Scorpio (11:00) | Scorpio (8:52) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Tiger (14:39) | Liger (11:24) | Malenko (17:23) | Liger (13:27) | Scorpio (3:30) | — | Liger (10:50) | Liger (forfeit) | Honaga (12:51) | Liger (15:05) | Liger (11:57) |
| Lightning Kid | Lightning (11:30) | Lightning (6:29) | Malenko (11:15) | Samurai (11:09) | Scorpio (8:54) | Liger (10:50) | — | Lightning (forfeit) | Honaga (4:42) | Pegasus (12:13) | Lightning (12:46) |
| Masao Orihara | Tiger (forfeit) | Orihara (9:26) | Malenko (forfeit) | Orihara (11:39) | Scorpio (forfeit) | Liger (forfeit) | Lightning (forfeit) | — | Honaga (forfeit) | Pegasus (9:18) | Otani (forfeit) |
| Norio Honaga | Tiger (11:25) | Finlay (7:03) | Malenko (11:05) | Samurai (9:06) | Scorpio (7:37) | Honaga (12:51) | Honaga (4:42) | Honaga (forfeit) | — | Honaga (7:06) | Honaga (8:39) |
| Pegasus Kid | Pegasus (13:00) | Pegasus (8:02) | Pegasus (9:41) | Pegasus (10:52) | Scorpio (11:00) | Liger (15:05) | Pegasus (12:13) | Pegasus (9:18) | Honaga (7:06) | — | Pegasus |
| Shinjiro Otani | Otani (13:28) | Finlay (9:17) | Malenko (10:51) | Samurai (12:05) | Scorpio (8:52) | Liger (11:57) | Lightning (12:46) | Otani (forfeit) | Honaga (8:39) | Pegasus | — |
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | |||||||||||
| 2 | Black Tiger II | Sub | |||||||||||
| 1 | Pegasus Kid | Pin | |||||||||||
| 4 | Dean Malenko | 13:51 | |||||||||||
| 4 | Dean Malenko | Pin | 3 | El Samurai | 18:44 | ||||||||
| 3 | El Samurai | 12:20 | |||||||||||
| 3 | El Samurai | Pin | |||||||||||
| 5 | Flyin' Scorpio | 10:16 | |||||||||||
Best of the Super Juniors (1994–present) edit
| Tournament | Year | Winner | BOSJ won | Final venue | Attendance | Reference | Total won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOSJ I | 1994 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 1 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium | 6,580 | [2][7] | 2 |
| BOSJ II | 1995 | Wild Pegasus | 1 | Sapporo Nakajima Sports Center | 6,500 | [2][8] | 2 |
| BOSJ III | 1996 | Black Tiger II | 1 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium | 6,650 | [2][9] | 1 |
| BOSJ IV | 1997 | El Samurai | 1 | Nippon Budokan | 14,000 | [2][10] | 1 |
| BOSJ V | 1998 | Koji Kanemoto | 1 | Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium | 8,000 | [2][11] | 1 |
| BOSJ VI | 1999 | Kendo Kashin | 1 | Nippon Budokan | 13,600 | [2][12] | 1 |
| BOSJ VII | 2000 | Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 1 | Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium | 6,200 | [13] | 1 |
| BOSJ VIII | 2001 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 2 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium | 5,700 | [14] | 3 |
| BOSJ IX | 2002 | Koji Kanemoto | 2 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium | 5,200 | [15] | 2 |
| BOSJ X | 2003 | Masahito Kakihara | 1 | Kyoto City Gymnasium | 4,500 | [16] | 1 |
| BOSJ XI | 2004 | Tiger Mask IV | 1 | Korakuen Hall | 1,861 | [17] | 1 |
| BOSJ XII | 2005 | Tiger Mask IV | 2 | Korakuen Hall | 2,005 | [18] | 2 |
| BOSJ XIII | 2006 | Minoru | 1 | Korakuen Hall | 1,646 | [19] | 1 |
| BOSJ XIV | 2007 | Milano Collection A.T. | 1 | Korakuen Hall | 2,005 | [20] | 1 |
| BOSJ XV | 2008 | Wataru Inoue | 1 | Korakuen Hall | 2,010 | [21] | 1 |
| BOSJ XVI | 2009 | Koji Kanemoto | 3 | Korakuen Hall | 2,005 | [22] | 3 |
| BOSJ XVII | 2010 | Prince Devitt | 1 | Korakuen Hall | 2,005 | [23] | 1 |
| BOSJ XVIII | 2011 | Kota Ibushi | 1 | Korakuen Hall | 2,005 | [24] | 1 |
| BOSJ XIX | 2012 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 1 | Korakuen Hall | 2,050 | [25] | 1 |
| BOSJ XX | 2013 | Prince Devitt | 2 | Korakuen Hall | 2,015 | [26] | 2 |
| BOSJ XXI | 2014 | Ricochet | 1 | Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium | 3,014 | [27] | 1 |
| BOSJ XXII | 2015 | Kushida | 1 | Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium | 3,250 | [28] | 1 |
| BOSJ XXIII | 2016 | Will Ospreay | 1 | Sendai Sun Plaza Hall | 2,167 | [29] | 1 |
| BOSJ 24 | 2017 | Kushida | 2 | Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium | 3,454 | [30] | 2 |
| BOSJ 25 | 2018 | Hiromu Takahashi | 1 | Korakuen Hall | 1,740 | [31] | 1 |
| BOSJ 26 | 2019 | Will Ospreay | 2 | Ryōgoku Kokugikan | 7,650 | [32] | 2 |
| BOSJ 27 | 2020 | Hiromu Takahashi | 2 | Nippon Budokan | 3,564 | [citation needed] | 2 |
| BOSJ 28 | 2021 | Hiromu Takahashi | 3 | Ryōgoku Kokugikan | 3,215 | [citation needed] | 3 |
| BOSJ 29 | 2022 | Hiromu Takahashi | 4 | Nippon Budokan | 3,250 | [citation needed] | 4 |
| BOSJ 30 | 2023 | Master Wato | 1 | Ota City General Gymnasium | 3,132 | [citation needed] | 1 |
| BOSJ 31 | 2024 | TBD | - | Osaka-jo Hall | TBD | [citation needed] | - |
1994 edit
The 1994 Best of the Super Juniors, the first tournament to be held under that name, was an 11-man tournament contested from May 26 to June 13. Jushin Thunder Liger once again won while also the reigning Junior Heavyweight champion, and also became the first wrestler to win the tournament twice. Guest natives included Super Delfin and Taka Michinoku from Michinoku Pro Wrestling and Masayoshi Motegi from Wrestle Dream Factory.[2][7]
| Wrestler | Score |
|---|---|
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 14 |
| Super Delfin | 14 |
| El Samurai | 12 |
| Wild Pegasus | 12 |
| Black Tiger II | 12 |
| Dean Malenko | 12 |
| Shinjiro Otani | 10 |
| Tokimitsu Ishizawa | 8 |
| David Finlay | 8 |
| Taka Michinoku | 4 |
| Masayoshi Motegi | 2 |
| Final | ||||
| 1 | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | ||
| 2 | Super Delfin | 18:29 | ||
1995 edit
The 1995 Best of the Super Juniors was a 10-man tournament held from June 23 to July 13. Like Jushin Thunder Liger the year prior, Wild Pegasus (formerly Pegasus Kid) won the tournament for the second time and was the only non Japanese to do so until Prince Devitt won the tournament in 2010.[2][8] Like in 1993, Pegasus failed in his championship challenge, this time against Koji Kanemoto on September 25, 1995. Gran Hamada from Michinoku Pro Wrestling was the guest native.
| Wrestler | Score |
|---|---|
| Wild Pegasus | 10 |
| Shinjiro Otani | 10 |
| Black Tiger II | 10 |
| Koji Kanemoto | 10 |
| Dean Malenko | 9 |
| Gran Hamada | 9 |
| El Samurai | 9 |
| Brian Pillman | 8 |
| Alex Wright | 8 |
| Norio Honaga | 4 |
| Results | Wild Pegasus | Shinjiro Otani | Black Tiger II | Koji Kanemoto | Dean Malenko | Gran Hamada | Brian Pillman | El Samurai | Alex Wright | Norio Honaga |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Pegasus | — | Pegasus (14:28) | Tiger (20:20) | Pegasus (16:30) | Pegasus (16:34) | Pegasus (12:22) | Pillman (11:11) | Draw (30:00) | Pegasus (13:30) | Honaga (9:39) |
| Shinjiro Otani | Pegasus (14:28) | — | Otani (16:37) | Draw (30:00) | Malenko (14:00) | Otani (12:52) | Otani (11:38) | Samurai (13:47) | Otani (14:53) | Otani (Unknown) |
| Black Tiger II | Tiger (20:20) | Otani (16:37) | — | Tiger (17:45) | Malenko (17:39) | Hamada (13:02) | Pillman (13:32) | Tiger (12:03) | Tiger (11:30) | Tiger (Unknown) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Pegasus (16:30) | Draw (30:00) | Tiger (17:45) | — | Kanemoto (15:27) | Hamada (11:08) | Kanemoto (11:15) | Kanemoto (14:58) | Kanemoto (15:13) | Kanemoto (Unknown) |
| Dean Malenko | Pegasus (16:34) | Malenko (14:00) | Malenko (17:39) | Kanemoto (15:27) | — | Draw (30:00) | Malenko (9:56) | Samurai (12:10) | Malenko (13:37) | Honaga (10:28) |
| Gran Hamada | Pegasus (12:22) | Otani (12:52) | Hamada (13:02) | Hamada (11:08) | Draw (30:00) | — | Hamada (12:36) | Samurai (12:21) | Wright (11:47) | Hamada (Unknown) |
| Brian Pillman | Pillman (11:11) | Otani (11:38) | Pillman (13:32) | Kanemoto (11:15) | Malenko (9:56) | Hamada (12:36) | — | Pillman (11:43) | Wright (11:17) | Pillman (Unknown) |
| El Samurai | Draw (30:00) | Samurai (13:47) | Tiger (12:03) | Kanemoto (14:58) | Samurai (12:10) | Samurai (12:21) | Pillman (11:43) | — | Wright (10:41) | Samurai (Unknown) |
| Alex Wright | Pegasus (13:30) | Otani (14:53) | Malenko (11:05) | Kanemoto (15:13) | Malenko (13:37) | Wright (11:47) | Wright (11:17) | Wright (10:41) | — | Wright (8:36) |
| Norio Honaga | Honaga (9:39) | Otani (Unknown) | Tiger (Unknown) | Kanemoto (Unknown) | Honaga (10:28) | Hamada (Unknown) | Pillman (Unknown) | Samurai (Unknown) | Wright (8:36) | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| 1 | Wild Pegasus | Pin | |||||||
| 3 | Black Tiger II | 16:37 | |||||||
| 1 | Wild Pegasus | Pin | |||||||
| 2 | Shinjiro Otani | 19:16 | |||||||
| 2 | Shinjiro Otani | Pin | |||||||
| 4 | Koji Kanemoto | 15:24 | |||||||
1996 edit
The 1996 Best of the Super Juniors was held from May 24 to June 12 and was the first to use the two-block format, featuring seven wrestlers in each block. The winner, Black Tiger, would unsuccessfully challenge The Great Sasuke for the championship on June 17, 1996.[2][9]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| El Samurai | 10 | Black Tiger II | 10 |
| Wild Pegasus | 10 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 8 | Shinjiro Otani | 6 |
| Franz Schumann | 2 | Dean Malenko | 6 |
| Emilio Charles Jr. | 2 | Norio Honaga | 4 |
| Mr. J.L. | 2 | Tokimitsu Ishizawa | 4 |
| Koji Kanemoto | 2 | Villano IV | 2 |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | El Samurai | Pin | |||||||
| B2 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 15:11 | |||||||
| B2 | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | |||||||
| B1 | Black Tiger II | 18:44 | |||||||
| B1 | Black Tiger II | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Wild Pegasus | 20:17 | |||||||
1997 edit
The 1997 Best of the Super Juniors was a two-block, 14-man tournament held from May 16 to June 5. This and the following tournament in 1998 would utilize a points system that involved simply one point for a win, and zero for a loss or draw. The winner, El Samurai, went on to defeat Jushin Thunder Liger for the championship on July 6. Guest natives included Gran Naniwa and Hanzo Nakajima from Michinoku Pro Wrestling and Yoshihiro Tajiri from Big Japan Pro Wrestling.[2][10] The final pitting Kanemoto against Samurai was awarded five stars by Dave Meltzer.[33]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Koji Kanemoto | 5 | El Samurai | 5 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 4 | Shinjiro Otani | 4 |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 4 | Chris Jericho | 4 |
| Gran Naniwa | 3 | Hanzo Nakajima | 3 |
| Dr. Wagner Jr. | 2 | Yoshihiro Tajiri | 3 |
| Doc Dean | 2 | Scorpio Jr. | 1 |
| Chavo Guerrero Jr. | 1 | Robbie Brookside | 1 |
| Block A | Doc Dean | Chavo Guerrero Jr. | Koji Kanemoto | Jushin Thunder Liger | Gran Naniwa | Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Dr. Wagner Jr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doc Dean | — | Dean (16:04) | Kanemoto (10:27) | Dean (11:51) | Naniwa (12:29) | Takaiwa (11:36) | Wagner (7:29) |
| Chavo Guerrero Jr. | Dean (16:04) | — | Kanemoto (15:12) | Liger (10:20) | Guerrero (11:05) | Takaiwa (12:14) | Wagner (11:13) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Kanemoto (10:27) | Kanemoto (15:12) | — | Kanemoto (16:32) | Kanemoto (14:53) | Takaiwa (18:09) | Kanemoto (12:11) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Dean (11:51) | Liger (10:20) | Kanemoto (16:32) | — | Liger (16:32) | Liger (15:53) | Liger (12:59) |
| Gran Naniwa | Naniwa (12:29) | Guerrero (11:05) | Kanemoto (14:53) | Liger (16:32) | — | Naniwa (15:41) | Naniwa (12:39) |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Takaiwa (11:36) | Takaiwa (12:14) | Takaiwa (18:09) | Liger (15:53) | Naniwa (15:41) | — | Takaiwa (9:53) |
| Dr. Wagner Jr. | Wagner (7:29) | Wagner (11:13) | Kanemoto (12:11) | Liger (12:59) | Naniwa (12:39) | Takaiwa (9:53) | — |
| Block B | Robbie Brookside | Chris Jericho | Hanzo Nakajima | Shinjiro Otani | El Samurai | Scorpio Jr. | Yoshihiro Tajiri |
| Robbie Brookside | — | Brookside (13:43) | Nakajima (12:23) | Otani (15:31) | Samurai (11:32) | Scorpio (10:07) | Tajiri (11:34) |
| Chris Jericho | Brookside (13:43) | — | Jericho (10:53) | Otani (12:59) | Jericho (15:12) | Jericho (11:16) | Jericho (13:36) |
| Hanzo Nakajima | Nakajima (12:23) | Jericho (10:53) | — | Otani (12:26) | Samurai (14:30) | Nakajima (8:05) | Nakajima (9:18) |
| Shinjiro Otani | Otani (15:31) | Otani (12:59) | Otani (12:26) | — | Samurai (18:35) | Otani (7:55) | Tajiri (11:44) |
| El Samurai | Samurai (11:32) | Jericho (15:12) | Samurai (14:30) | Samurai (18:35) | — | Samurai (9:00) | Samurai (13:42) |
| Scorpio Jr. | Scorpio (10:07) | Jericho (11:16) | Nakajima (8:05) | Otani (7:55) | Samurai (9:00) | — | Tajiri (9:16) |
| Yoshihiro Tajiri | Tajiri (11:34) | Jericho (13:36) | Nakajima (9:18) | Tajiri (11:44) | Samurai (13:42) | Tajiri (9:16) | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Koji Kanemoto | Pin | ||
| B1 | El Samurai | 23:51 | ||
1998 edit
The 1998 Best of the Super Juniors was a two-block, 12-man tournament held from May 16 to June 3. Like the previous year, it used a simpler points system, including one point for a win and zero for a loss or draw. The winner, Koji Kanemoto, would make an unsuccessful challenge to the champion, Jushin Thunder Liger, on July 15, as well as an equally unsuccessful rematch on January 4, 1999, before beating Liger for the title on March 17, 1999.[2][11]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Wagner Jr. | 4 | Koji Kanemoto | 4 |
| El Samurai | 3 | Shiryu | 3 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 3 | Kendo Kashin | 3 |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 2 | El Felino | 2 |
| Shinjiro Otani | 2 | Hayato Nanjo | 2 |
| Masakazu Fukuda | 1 | Yuji Yasuraoka | 1 |
| Block A | Masakazu Fukuda | Jushin Thunder Liger | Shinjiro Otani | El Samurai | Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Dr. Wagner Jr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masakazu Fukuda | — | Liger (15:54) | Otani (14:38) | Samurai (13:52) | Fukuda (14:18) | Wagner (13:48) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (15:54) | — | Liger (20:37) | Samurai (18:19) | Takaiwa (15:03) | Liger (11:27) |
| Shinjiro Otani | Otani (14:38) | Liger (20:37) | — | Otani (14:55) | Takaiwa (17:46) | Wagner (12:44) |
| El Samurai | Samurai (13:52) | Samurai (18:19) | Otani (14:55) | — | Samurai (14:20) | Wagner (14:16) |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Fukuda (14:18) | Takaiwa (15:03) | Takaiwa (17:46) | Samurai (14:20) | — | Wagner (12:37) |
| Dr. Wagner Jr. | Wagner (13:48) | Liger (11:27) | Wagner (12:44) | Wagner (14:16) | Wagner (12:37) | — |
| Block B | El Felino | Koji Kanemoto | Kendo Kashin | Hayato Nanjo | Shiryu | Yuji Yasuraoka |
| El Felino | — | Kanemoto (12:34) | Kashin (6:14) | Felino (10:52) | Shiryu (10:19) | Felino (forfeit) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Kanemoto (12:34) | — | Kanemoto (15:52) | Kanemoto (7:18) | Kanemoto (16:52) | Yasuraoka (18:07) |
| Kendo Kashin | Kashin (6:14) | Kanemoto (15:52) | — | Kashin (8:58) | Shiryu (10:07) | Kashin (forfeit) |
| Hayato Nanjo | Felino (10:52) | Kanemoto (7:18) | Kashin (8:58) | — | Nanjo (11:22) | Nanjo (forfeit) |
| Shiryu | Shiryu (10:19) | Kanemoto (16:52) | Shiryu (10:07) | Nanjo (11:22) | — | Shiryu (forfeit) |
| Yuji Yasuraoka | Felino (forfeit) | Yasuraoka (18:07) | Kashin (forfeit) | Nanjo (forfeit) | Shiryu (forfeit) | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Dr. Wagner Jr. | Pin | ||
| B1 | Koji Kanemoto | 26:17 | ||
1999 edit
The 1999 Best of the Super Juniors was a two-block, 12-man tournament held from May 19 to June 8. The winner, Kendo Kashin, went on to defeat the champion Koji Kanemoto for the title on August 28, who he had also defeated in the BOSJ final. Kanemoto became the first person to reach the final three years in a row.[2][12]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Koji Kanemoto | 8 | Kendo Kashin | 8 |
| Gran Hamada | 6 | Shinjiro Otani | 7 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 6 | El Samurai | 5 |
| Masaaki Mochizuki | 4 | Dr. Wagner Jr. | 4 |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 4 | Minoru Tanaka | 4 |
| Super Shocker | 2 | Masao Orihara | 2 |
| Block A | Gran Hamada | Koji Kanemoto | Jushin Thunder Liger | Masaaki Mochizuki | Super Shocker | Tatsuhito Takaiwa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Hamada | — | Kanemoto (15:46) | Hamada (10:08) | Hamada (10:47) | Hamada (10:17) | Takaiwa (12:32) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Kanemoto (15:46) | — | Liger (20:29) | Kanemoto (9:40) | Kanemoto (10:19) | Kanemoto (13:29) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Hamada (10:08) | Liger (20:29) | — | Liger (11:13) | Liger (13:59) | Takaiwa (17:47) |
| Masaaki Mochizuki | Hamada (10:47) | Kanemoto (9:40) | Liger (11:13) | — | Mochizuki (10:44) | Mochizuki (13:11) |
| Super Shocker | Hamada (10:17) | Kanemoto (10:19) | Liger (13:59) | Mochizuki (10:44) | — | Shocker (13:50) |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Takaiwa (12:32) | Kanemoto (13:29) | Takaiwa (17:47) | Mochizuki (13:11) | Shocker (13:50) | — |
| Block B | Kendo Kashin | Masao Orihara | Shinjiro Otani | El Samurai | Minoru Tanaka | Dr. Wagner Jr. |
| Kendo Kashin | — | Kashin (7:06) | Otani (9:34) | Kashin (10:00) | Kashin (10:21) | Kashin (8:58) |
| Masao Orihara | Kashin (7:06) | — | Otani (9:37) | Samurai (12:52) | Orihara (10:52) | Wagner (10:08) |
| Shinjiro Otani | Otani (9:34) | Otani (9:37) | — | Draw (30:00) | Tanaka (13:57) | Otani (11:19) |
| El Samurai | Kashin (10:00) | Samurai (12:52) | Draw (30:00) | — | Tanaka (10:32) | Samurai (11:42) |
| Minoru Tanaka | Kashin (10:21) | Orihara (10:52) | Tanaka (13:57) | Tanaka (10:32) | — | Wagner (10:09) |
| Dr. Wagner Jr. | Kashin (8:58) | Wagner (10:08) | Otani (11:19) | Samurai (11:42) | Wagner (10:09) | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Koji Kanemoto | Sub | ||
| B1 | Kendo Kashin | 13:15 | ||
2000 edit
The 2000 Best of the Super Juniors was a two-block, 12-man tournament held from May 19 to June 9. The winner, Tatsuhito Takaiwa, would go on to defeat Jushin Thunder Liger for the title on July 20, 2000, ending Liger's last reign with the championship.[13]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 8 | Shinjiro Otani | 10 |
| Gran Hamada | 6 | Minoru Tanaka | 6 |
| Koji Kanemoto | 6 | Kendo Kashin | 6 |
| El Samurai | 4 | Katsumi Usuda | 4 |
| Dr. Wagner Jr. | 4 | Kid Romeo | 2 |
| Shinya Makabe | 2 | Minoru Fujita | 2 |
| Block A | Gran Hamada | Koji Kanemoto | Shinya Makabe | El Samurai | Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Dr. Wagner Jr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gran Hamada | — | Hamada (13:00) | Hamada (8:37) | Hamada (8:16) | Takaiwa (6:39) | Wagner (10:24) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Hamada (13:00) | — | Kanemoto (10:37) | Kanemoto (8:14) | Kanemoto (14:04) | Wagner (10:30) |
| Shinya Makabe | Hamada (8:37) | Kanemoto (10:37) | — | Samurai (9:52) | Takaiwa (11:11) | Makabe (12:38) |
| El Samurai | Hamada (8:16) | Kanemoto (8:14) | Samurai (9:52) | — | Takaiwa (9:34) | Samurai (13:51) |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Takaiwa (6:39) | Kanemoto (14:04) | Takaiwa (11:11) | Takaiwa (9:34) | — | Takaiwa (13:06) |
| Dr. Wagner Jr. | Wagner (10:24) | Wagner (10:30) | Makabe (12:38) | Samurai (13:51) | Takaiwa (13:06) | — |
| Block B | Minoru Fujita | Kendo Kashin | Shinjiro Otani | Kid Romeo | Minoru Tanaka | Katsumi Usuda |
| Minoru Fujita | — | Kashin (5:56) | Otani (9:16) | Romeo (6:06) | Tanaka (11:20) | Fujita (10:08) |
| Kendo Kashin | Kashin (5:56) | — | Otani (9:59) | Kashin (4:51) | Tanaka (9:10) | Kashin (8:30) |
| Kid Romeo | Romeo (6:06) | Kashin (4:51) | Otani (5:37) | — | Tanaka (5:15) | Usuda (6:16) |
| Shinjiro Otani | Otani (9:16) | Otani (9:59) | — | Otani (5:37) | Otani (12:14) | Otani (12:55) |
| Minoru Tanaka | Tanaka (11:20) | Tanaka (9:10) | Otani (12:14) | Tanaka (5:15) | — | Usuda (11:56) |
| Katsumi Usuda | Fujita (10:08) | Kashin (8:30) | Otani (12:55) | Usuda (6:16) | Usuda (11:56) | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Pin | ||
| B1 | Shinjiro Otani | 18:35 | ||
2001 edit
The 2001 Best of the Super Juniors was a two-block, 12-man tournament held from May 18 to June 4. With his victory, Jushin Thunder Liger became both the first person to win the tournament three times and the first to not lose a single match during the tournament.[14] For unclear reasons, Liger did not receive a championship match as a reward for his victory.
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 10 | Minoru Tanaka | 8 |
| El Samurai | 6 | Akira | 6 |
| Silver King | 6 | Super Shocker | 6 |
| Chris Candido | 4 | Dr. Wagner Jr. | 6 |
| Gran Naniwa | 4 | Shinya Makabe | 4 |
| Wataru Inoue | 0 | Katsuyori Shibata | 0 |
| Block A | Chris Candido | Wataru Inoue | Jushin Thunder Liger | Gran Naniwa | El Samurai | Silver King |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Candido | — | Candido (5:10) | Liger (5:48) | Candido (8:01) | Samurai (4:53) | King (7:40) |
| Wataru Inoue | Candido (5:10) | — | Liger (13:56) | Naniwa (10:48) | Samurai (14:29) | King (8:26) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (5:48) | Liger (13:56) | — | Liger (14:05) | Liger (13:26) | Liger (12:32) |
| Gran Naniwa | Candido (8:01) | Naniwa (10:48) | Liger (14:05) | — | Naniwa (11:29) | King (10:01) |
| El Samurai | Samurai (4:53) | Samurai (14:29) | Liger (13:26) | Naniwa (11:29) | — | Samurai (10:33) |
| Silver King | King (7:40) | King (8:26) | Liger (12:32) | King (10:01) | Samurai (10:33) | — |
| Block B | Akira | Shinya Makabe | Katsuyori Shibata | Super Shocker | Minoru Tanaka | Dr. Wagner Jr. |
| Akira | — | Makabe (10:15) | Akira (6:18) | Akira (10:10) | Akira (23:22) | Wagner (11:38) |
| Shinya Makabe | Makabe (10:15) | — | Makabe (6:23) | Shocker (9:41) | Tanaka (16:34) | Wagner (9:03) |
| Katsuyori Shibata | Akira (6:18) | Makabe (6:23) | — | Shocker (9:07) | Tanaka (6:24) | Wagner (9:28) |
| Super Shocker | Akira (10:10) | Shocker (9:41) | Shocker (9:07) | — | Tanaka (12:53) | Shocker (14:23) |
| Minoru Tanaka | Akira (23:22) | Tanaka (16:34) | Tanaka (6:24) | Tanaka (12:53) | — | Tanaka (14:45) |
| Dr. Wagner Jr. | Wagner (11:38) | Wagner (9:03) | Wagner (9:28) | Shocker (14:23) | Tanaka (14:45) | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | ||
| B1 | Minoru Tanaka | 26:12 | ||
2002 edit
The 2002 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14-man, two-block tournament held from May 18 to June 5. It once again used the 1997–98 system of one point for a win, and zero for a loss or draw. The two-time winner, Koji Kanemoto, went on to defeat champion Minoru Tanaka for the title on July 19, the same man he defeated in the final of the tournament. The Black Tiger who wrestled in the 2002 event was not Eddie Guerrero who had previously participated in the tournament under that name, but luchador Silver King, who had taken over the character in the preceding year.[15]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Koji Kanemoto | 4 | Minoru Tanaka | 4 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 4 | El Samurai | 4 |
| Katsuyori Shibata | 3 | Gedo | 3 |
| Black Tiger III | 3 | Masayuki Naruse | 3 |
| Masahito Kakihara | 3 | Akira | 3 |
| Curry Man | 2 | Tiger Mask IV | 3 |
| Jado | 1 | Wataru Inoue | 2 |
| Block A | Black Tiger III | Curry Man | Jado | Masahito Kakihara | Koji Kanemoto | Jushin Thunder Liger | Katsuyori Shibata |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Tiger III | — | Curry (8:46) | B. Tiger (5:00) | B. Tiger (8:20) | B. Tiger (13:35) | Liger (13:30) | Shibata (8:20) |
| Curry Man | Curry (8:46) | — | Jado (10:47) | Kakihara (9:23) | Kanemoto (10:50) | Liger (12:58) | Curry (7:14) |
| Jado | B. Tiger (5:00) | Jado (10:47) | — | Kakihara (forfeit) | Kanemoto (12:06) | Draw (3:10) | Shibata (forfeit) |
| Masahito Kakihara | B. Tiger (8:20) | Kakihara (9:23) | Kakihara (forfeit) | — | Kakihara (12:28) | Liger (14:06) | Shibata (5:39) |
| Koji Kanemoto | B. Tiger (13:35) | Kanemoto (10:50) | Kanemoto (12:06) | Kakihara (12:28) | — | Kanemoto (17:17) | Kanemoto (6:12) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (13:30) | Liger (12:58) | Draw (3:10) | Liger (14:06) | Kanemoto (17:17) | — | Liger (9:45) |
| Katsuyori Shibata | Shibata (8:20) | Curry (7:14) | Shibata (forfeit) | Shibata (5:39) | Kanemoto (6:12) | Liger (9:45) | — |
| Block B | Akira | Gedo | Wataru Inoue | Masayuki Naruse | El Samurai | Minoru Tanaka | Tiger Mask IV |
| Akira | — | Gedo (11:12) | Akira (7:47) | Naruse (9:37) | Samurai (11:48) | Akira (16:13) | Akira (10:36) |
| Gedo | Gedo (11:12) | — | Inoue (11:19) | Gedo (10:41) | Samurai (13:25) | Gedo (12:51) | T. Mask (14:49) |
| Wataru Inoue | Akira (7:47) | Inoue (11:19) | — | Naruse (10:23) | Inoue (7:21) | Tanaka (8:13) | T. Mask (8:16) |
| Masayuki Naruse | Naruse (9:37) | Gedo (10:41) | Naruse (10:23) | — | Samurai (9:19) | Tanaka (12:14) | Naruse (6:54) |
| El Samurai | Samurai (11:48) | Samurai (13:25) | Inoue (7:21) | Samurai (9:19) | — | Tanaka (13:01) | T. Mask (12:08) |
| Minoru Tanaka | Akira (16:13) | Gedo (12:51) | Tanaka (8:13) | Tanaka (12:14) | Tanaka (13:01) | — | Tanaka (10:22) |
| Tiger Mask IV | Akira (10:36) | T. Mask (14:49) | T. Mask (8:16) | Naruse (6:54) | T. Mask (12:08) | Tanaka (10:22) | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Koji Kanemoto | Pin | ||
| B1 | Minoru Tanaka | 14:12 | ||
2003 edit
The 2003 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14-man, two-block tournament held from May 23 to June 11. It introduced the modern system of each block's top two scorers advancing to the semifinals with Masahito Kakihara winning the tournament.[34] The winner, would unsuccessfully challenge champion Tiger Mask IV on July 6, despite having beaten him in the tournament.[16]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Akira | 10 | Koji Kanemoto | 8 |
| Takashi Sugiura | 8 | Masahito Kakihara | 8 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 | Tiger Mask IV | 8 |
| Minoru Fujita | 8 | Masayuki Naruse | 6 |
| Ebessan | 4 | Stampede Kid | 4 |
| Gedo | 4 | El Samurai | 4 |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | 0 | Jado | 4 |
| Block A | Akira | Ebessan | Minoru Fujita | Gedo | Jushin Thunder Liger | Takashi Sugiura | Ryusuke Taguchi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akira | — | Akira (8:24) | Fujita (12:34) | Akira (11:49) | Akira (16:04) | Akira (12:10) | Akira (8:34) |
| Ebessan | Akira (8:24) | — | Fujita (8:24) | Ebessan (9:09) | Liger (10:56) | Sugiura (11:52) | Ebessan (7:14) |
| Minoru Fujita | Fujita (12:34) | Fujita (8:24) | — | Fujita (11:41) | Liger (11:27) | Sugiura (11:27) | Fujita (10:26) |
| Gedo | Akira (11:49) | Ebessan (9:09) | Fujita (11:41) | — | Liger (14:09) | Gedo (12:16) | Gedo (8:39) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Akira (16:04) | Liger (10:56) | Liger (11:27) | Liger (14:09) | — | Sugiura (12:06) | Liger (6:53) |
| Takashi Sugiura | Akira (12:10) | Sugiura (11:52) | Sugiura (11:27) | Gedo (12:16) | Sugiura (12:06) | — | Sugiura (9:13) |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Akira (8:34) | Ebessan (7:14) | Fujita (10:26) | Gedo (8:39) | Liger (6:53) | Sugiura (9:13) | — |
| Block B | Jado | Masahito Kakihara | Koji Kanemoto | Masayuki Naruse | El Samurai | Stampede Kid | Tiger Mask IV |
| Jado | — | Kakihara (6:56) | Jado (5:23) | Jado (7:38) | Samurai (12:26) | Stampede (5:13) | Tiger (9:59) |
| Masahito Kakihara | Kakihara (6:56) | — | Kanemoto (11:07) | Naruse (9:15) | Kakihara (8:13) | Kakihara (7:06) | Kakihara (10:31) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Jado (5:23) | Kanemoto (11:07) | — | Kanemoto (10:56) | Samurai (8:29) | Kanemoto (8:50) | Kanemoto (10:45) |
| Masayuki Naruse | Jado (7:38) | Naruse (9:15) | Kanemoto (10:56) | — | Naruse (9:07) | Naruse (9:09) | Tiger (10:05) |
| El Samurai | Samurai (12:26) | Kakihara (8:13) | Samurai (8:29) | Naruse (9:07) | — | Stampede (9:41) | Tiger (12:09) |
| Stampede Kid | Stampede (5:13) | Kakihara (7:06) | Kanemoto (8:50) | Naruse (9:09) | Stampede (9:41) | — | Tiger (7:38) |
| Tiger Mask IV | Tiger (9:59) | Kakihara (10:31) | Kanemoto (10:45) | Tiger (10:05) | Tiger (12:09) | Tiger (7:38) | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Akira | Sub | |||||||
| B2 | Masahito Kakihara | 8:28 | |||||||
| B2 | Masahito Kakihara | Pin | |||||||
| B1 | Koji Kanemoto | 15:33 | |||||||
| B1 | Koji Kanemoto | Sub | |||||||
| A2 | Takashi Sugiura | 12:48 | |||||||
2004 edit
The 2004 Best of the Super Juniors was a 16-man, two-block tournament held from May 22 to June 13. It featured a unique structure from other years: the top scorer from each block would advance to the semifinals, while the second and third-place finishers in each block would start in the quarterfinals. Jushin Thunder Liger, after finishing first in Block A, was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a spinal injury, leaving American Dragon to go to the semifinals instead. The eventual winner, Tiger Mask IV, would unsuccessfully challenge Heat for the title on July 19, though he would defeat him in a rematch on January 4, 2005.[17]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jushin Thunder Liger (withdrew) | 9 | Tiger Mask IV | 12 |
| American Dragon | 9 | Último Dragón | 11 |
| Masahito Kakihara | 9 | Heat | 10 |
| Koji Kanemoto | 7 | Masayuki Naruse | 10 |
| El Samurai | 7 | Rocky Romero | 7 |
| Big Boss Ma-g-ma | 7 | Garuda | 3 |
| Wataru Inoue | 4 | Katsuhiko Nakajima | 2 |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | 4 | Curry Man | 1 |
| Block A | American Dragon | Wataru Inoue | Masahito Kakihara | Koji Kanemoto | Jushin Thunder Liger | Big Boss Ma-g-ma | El Samurai | Ryusuke Taguchi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Dragon | — | Dragon (12:34) | Dragon (9:44) | Dragon (11:51) | Liger (13:10) | Ma-g-ma (14:35) | Dragon (12:58) | Draw (20:00) |
| Wataru Inoue | Dragon (12:34) | — | Kakihara (10:37) | Inoue (11:44) | Liger (5:46) | Ma-g-ma (11:16) | Samurai (10:39) | Inoue (10:19) |
| Masahito Kakihara | Dragon (9:44) | Kakihara (10:37) | — | Kakihara (10:55) | Draw (20:00) | Kakihara (10:33) | Samurai (9:50) | Kakihara (7:32) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Dragon (11:51) | Inoue (11:44) | Kakihara (10:55) | — | Kanemoto (16:33) | Draw (20:00) | Kanemoto (13:58) | Kanemoto (8:50) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (13:10) | Liger (5:46) | Draw (20:00) | Kanemoto (16:33) | — | Liger (7:07) | Liger (14:08) | Taguchi (0:45) |
| Big Boss Ma-g-ma | Ma-g-ma (14:35) | Ma-g-ma (11:16) | Kakihara (10:33) | Draw (20:00) | Liger (7:07) | — | Samurai (11:56) | Ma-g-ma (8:48) |
| El Samurai | Dragon (12:58) | Samurai (10:39) | Samurai (9:50) | Kanemoto (13:58) | Liger (14:08) | Samurai (11:56) | — | Draw (20:00) |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Draw (20:00) | Inoue (10:19) | Kakihara (7:32) | Kanemoto (8:50) | Taguchi (0:45) | Ma-g-ma (8:48) | Draw (20:00) | — |
| Block B | Curry Man | Último Dragón | Garuda | Heat | Katsuhiko Nakajima | Masayuki Naruse | Rocky Romero | Tiger Mask IV |
| Curry Man | — | Dragón (forfeit) | Draw (20:00) | Heat (11:19) | Nakajima (8:20) | Naruse (forfeit) | Romero (forfeit) | Tiger (forfeit) |
| Último Dragón | Dragón (forfeit) | — | Dragón (8:46) | Draw (20:00) | Dragón (9:07) | Naruse (11:06) | Dragón (12:10) | Dragón (12:01) |
| Garuda | Draw (20:00) | Dragón (8:46) | — | Heat (5:11) | Garuda (8:41) | Naruse (11:06) | Romero (9:55) | Tiger (10:42) |
| Heat | Heat (11:19) | Draw (20:00) | Heat (5:11) | — | Heat (11:26) | Heat (15:38) | Draw (20:00) | Tiger (14:08) |
| Katsuhiko Nakajima | Nakajima (8:20) | Dragón (9:07) | Garuda (8:41) | Heat (11:26) | — | Naruse (1:41) | Romero (8:39) | Tiger (7:11) |
| Masayuki Naruse | Naruse (forfeit) | Naruse (11:06) | Naruse (11:06) | Heat (15:38) | Naruse (1:41) | — | Naruse (8:41) | Tiger (3:32) |
| Rocky Romero | Romero (forfeit) | Dragón (12:10) | Romero (9:55) | Draw (20:00) | Romero (8:39) | Naruse (8:41) | — | Tiger (13:14) |
| Tiger Mask IV | Tiger (forfeit) | Dragón (12:01) | Tiger (10:42) | Tiger (14:08) | Tiger (7:11) | Tiger (3:32) | Tiger (13:14) | — |
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||
| A1 | American Dragon | Sub | ||||||||||||
| A3 | Koji Kanemoto | 13:34 | ||||||||||||
| B2 | Último Dragón | Pin | ||||||||||||
| A3 | Koji Kanemoto | 5:30 | ||||||||||||
| A3 | Koji Kanemoto | Pin | ||||||||||||
| B1 | Tiger Mask IV | 11:26 | ||||||||||||
| B1 | Tiger Mask IV | Pin | ||||||||||||
| B3 | Heat | 15:14 | ||||||||||||
| A2 | Masahito Kakihara | Sub | ||||||||||||
| B3 | Heat | 12:52 | ||||||||||||
2005 edit
The 2005 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14-man, two-block tournament held from May 21 to June 19. The winner, Tiger Mask IV, became the first person to win the tournament in consecutive years until Hiromu Takahashi would share he record in 2020 and 2021. Tiger Mask was also the first since Jushin Thunder Liger in 1994 to win the tournament as champion. 2005 saw the participation of the third wrestler under the Black Tiger mask as Rocky Romero had begun working as Black Tiger IV in the preceding year.[18]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Minoru | 8 | Gedo | 10 |
| Koji Kanemoto | 8 | Tiger Mask IV | 8 |
| Hirooki Goto | 6 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 |
| El Samurai | 6 | Wataru Inoue | 6 |
| Masahito Kakihara | 6 | Black Tiger IV | 4 |
| Stampede Kid | 4 | Katsushi Takemura | 4 |
| Jado | 4 | Akiya Anzawa | 2 |
| Block A | Hirooki Goto | Jado | Masahito Kakihara | Koji Kanemoto | Minoru | El Samurai | Stampede Kid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hirooki Goto | — | Jado (11:31) | Goto (10:16) | Kanemoto (11:28) | Minoru (11:28) | Goto (10:08) | Goto (7:57) |
| Jado | Jado (11:31) | — | Kakihara (8:02) | Kanemoto (10:40) | Minoru (12:29) | Jado (14:04) | Stampede (9:59) |
| Masahito Kakihara | Goto (10:16) | Kakihara (8:02) | — | Kanemoto (10:29) | Kakihara (10:04) | Samurai (10:47) | Kakihara (8:30) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Kanemoto (11:28) | Kanemoto (10:40) | Kanemoto (10:29) | — | Minoru (19:38) | Samurai (12:15) | Kanemoto (9:34) |
| Minoru | Minoru (11:28) | Minoru (12:29) | Kakihara (10:04) | Minoru (19:38) | — | Minoru (13:04) | Stampede (11:30) |
| El Samurai | Goto (10:08) | Jado (14:04) | Samurai (10:47) | Samurai (12:15) | Minoru (13:04) | — | Samurai (9:31) |
| Stampede Kid | Goto (7:57) | Stampede (9:59) | Kakihara (8:30) | Kanemoto (9:34) | Stampede (11:30) | Samurai (9:31) | — |
| Block B | Akiya Anzawa | Black Tiger IV | Gedo | Wataru Inoue | Jushin Thunder Liger | Katsushi Takemura | Tiger Mask IV |
| Akiya Anzawa | — | B. Tiger (6:13) | Gedo (10:21) | Anzawa (forfeit) | Liger (8:36) | Takemura (7:46) | T. Mask (5:34) |
| Black Tiger IV | B. Tiger (6:13) | — | Gedo (forfeit) | Inoue (11:01) | Liger (forfeit) | B. Tiger (6:46) | T. Mask (forfeit) |
| Gedo | Gedo (10:21) | Gedo (forfeit) | — | Inoue (15:13) | Gedo (17:24) | Gedo (11:29) | Gedo (11:25) |
| Wataru Inoue | Anzawa (forfeit) | Inoue (11:01) | Inoue (15:13) | — | Liger (16:50) | Takemura (forfeit) | Inoue (11:53) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (8:36) | Liger (forfeit) | Gedo (17:24) | Liger (16:50) | — | Liger (12:12) | T. Mask (8:58) |
| Katsushi Takemura | Takemura (7:46) | B. Tiger (6:46) | Gedo (11:29) | Takemura (forfeit) | Liger (12:12) | — | T. Mask (6:12) |
| Tiger Mask IV | T. Mask (5:34) | T. Mask (forfeit) | Gedo (11:25) | Inoue (11:53) | T. Mask (8:58) | T. Mask (6:12) | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Minoru | Pin | |||||||
| B2 | Tiger Mask IV | 12:03 | |||||||
| B2 | Tiger Mask IV | Pin | |||||||
| B1 | Gedo | 16:03 | |||||||
| B1 | Gedo | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Koji Kanemoto | 10:54 | |||||||
2006 edit
The 2006 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14-man, two-block tournament held from May 27 to June 18. The winner, Minoru, went on to defeat Koji Kanemoto for the title in December 2006. This tournament marked the first time that neither block winner made it to the final.[19]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 10 | Wataru Inoue | 10 |
| Minoru | 8 | Tiger Mask IV | 8 |
| El Samurai | 7 | Koji Kanemoto | 7 |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | 7 | Gedo | 5 |
| Jado | 6 | Black Tiger IV | 4 |
| Sangre Azteca | 2 | Hirooki Goto | 4 |
| Fuego | 2 | Gentaro | 4 |
| Block A | Sangre Azteca | Fuego | Jado | Jushin Thunder Liger | Minoru | El Samurai | Ryusuke Taguchi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sangre Azteca | — | Azteca (10:28) | Jado (7:41) | Liger (12:12) | Minoru (12:26) | Samurai (11:08) | Taguchi (12:50) |
| Fuego | Azteca (10:28) | — | Jado (11:14) | Liger (7:12) | Fuego (4:40) | Samurai (9:51) | Taguchi (6:06) |
| Jado | Jado (7:41) | Jado (11:14) | — | Liger (15:19) | Minoru (12:54) | Draw (30:00) | Draw (6:01) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (12:12) | Liger (7:12) | Liger (15:19) | — | Liger (21:20) | Liger (12:16) | Taguchi (15:30) |
| Minoru | Minoru (12:26) | Fuego (4:40) | Minoru (12:54) | Liger (21:20) | — | Minoru (13:24) | Minoru (19:18) |
| El Samurai | Samurai (11:08) | Samurai (9:51) | Draw (30:00) | Liger (12:16) | Minoru (13:24) | — | Samurai (12:02) |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Taguchi (12:50) | Taguchi (6:06) | Draw (6:01) | Taguchi (15:30) | Minoru (19:18) | Samurai (12:02) | — |
| Block B | Black Tiger IV | Gedo | Gentaro | Hirooki Goto | Wataru Inoue | Koji Kanemoto | Tiger Mask IV |
| Black Tiger IV | — | Gedo (10:59) | B. Tiger (14:21) | B. Tiger (12:04) | Inoue (11:41) | Kanemoto (16:35) | T. Mask (9:36) |
| Gedo | Gedo (10:59) | — | Gedo (12:32) | Goto (15:21) | Inoue (13:17) | Draw (15:06) | T. Mask (12:59) |
| Gentaro | B. Tiger (14:21) | Gedo (12:32) | — | Goto (8:27) | Gentaro (14:31) | Kanemoto (12:18) | Gentaro (10:22) |
| Hirooki Goto | B. Tiger (12:04) | Goto (15:21) | Goto (8:27) | — | Inoue (9:57) | Kanemoto (9:49) | T. Mask (10:58) |
| Wataru Inoue | Inoue (11:41) | Inoue (13:17) | Gentaro (14:31) | Inoue (9:57) | — | Inoue (16:46) | Inoue (5:57) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Kanemoto (16:35) | Draw (15:06) | Kanemoto (12:18) | Kanemoto (9:49) | Inoue (16:46) | — | T. Mask (12:58) |
| Tiger Mask IV | T. Mask (9:36) | T. Mask (12:59) | Gentaro (10:22) | T. Mask (10:58) | Inoue (5:57) | T. Mask (12:58) | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | |||||||
| B2 | Tiger Mask IV | 10:27 | |||||||
| B2 | Tiger Mask IV | Sub | |||||||
| A2 | Minoru | 22:52 | |||||||
| B1 | Wataru Inoue | Sub | |||||||
| A2 | Minoru | 18:42 | |||||||
2007 edit
The 2007 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14-man, two-block tournament held from June 1 to June 17. On June 7, it was announced that Prince Devitt would be forced to withdraw from the tournament due to an injury, forfeiting all scheduled matches in the process.[20] Milano Collection A.T. became the first wrestler since Shiro Koshinaka to win the tournament on his first try, but would fail to capture the Junior Heavyweight championship.
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Wataru Inoue | 10 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 10 |
| Milano Collection A.T. | 8 | Minoru | 8 |
| Tiger Mask IV | 8 | Koji Kanemoto | 7 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 | Gedo | 5 |
| Taichi Ishikari | 4 | BxB Hulk | 4 |
| Yujiro | 4 | El Samurai | 4 |
| Prince Devitt (withdrew) | 0 | Tetsuya Naito | 4 |
| Block A | Wataru Inoue | Taichi Ishikari | Jushin Thunder Liger | Milano Collection A.T. | Prince Devitt | Tiger Mask IV | Yujiro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wataru Inoue | — | Inoue (13:33) | Liger (15:47) | Inoue (14:22) | Inoue (forfeit) | Inoue (11:36) | Inoue (10:47) |
| Taichi Ishikari | Inoue (13:33) | — | Liger (12:29) | Milano (11:25) | Ishikari (11:40) | Tiger (8:59) | Ishikari (10:41) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (15:47) | Liger (12:29) | — | Milano (16:41) | Liger (forfeit) | Tiger (14:08) | Liger (11:19) |
| Milano Collection A.T. | Inoue (14:22) | Milano (11:25) | Milano (16:41) | — | Milano (10:18) | Milano (11:23) | Yujiro (10:35) |
| Prince Devitt | Inoue (forfeit) | Ishikari (11:40) | Liger (forfeit) | Milano (10:18) | — | Tiger (forfeit) | Yujiro (forfeit) |
| Tiger Mask IV | Inoue (11:36) | Tiger (8:59) | Tiger (14:08) | Milano (11:23) | Tiger (forfeit) | — | Tiger (10:34) |
| Yujiro | Inoue (10:47) | Ishikari (10:41) | Liger (11:19) | Yujiro (10:35) | Yujiro (forfeit) | Tiger (10:34) | — |
| Block B | BxB Hulk | Gedo | Tetsuya Naito | Koji Kanemoto | Minoru | El Samurai | Ryusuke Taguchi |
| BxB Hulk | — | Hulk (11:03) | Hulk (11:10) | Kanemoto (12:05) | Minoru (11:52) | Samurai (8:53) | Taguchi (12:30) |
| Gedo | Hulk (11:03) | — | Naito (9:29) | Draw (15:50) | Minoru (13:26) | Gedo (14:13) | Gedo (11:36) |
| Tetsuya Naito | Hulk (11:10) | Naito (9:29) | — | Kanemoto (10:16) | Minoru (9:01) | Naito (9:27) | Taguchi (9:47) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Kanemoto (12:05) | Draw (15:50) | Kanemoto (10:16) | — | Kanemoto (16:32) | Samurai (16:19) | Taguchi (12:07) |
| Minoru | Minoru (11:52) | Minoru (13:26) | Minoru (9:01) | Kanemoto (16:32) | — | Minoru (11:36) | Taguchi (14:15) |
| El Samurai | Samurai (8:53) | Gedo (14:13) | Naito (9:27) | Samurai (16:19) | Minoru (11:36) | — | Taguchi (10:26) |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Taguchi (12:30) | Gedo (11:36) | Taguchi (9:47) | Taguchi (12:07) | Taguchi (14:15) | Taguchi (10:26) | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Wataru Inoue | Sub | |||||||
| B2 | Minoru | 14:45 | |||||||
| A1 | Wataru Inoue | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Milano Collection A.T. | 19:37 | |||||||
| B1 | Ryusuke Taguchi | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Milano Collection A.T. | 12:47 | |||||||
2008 edit
The 2008 Best of the Super Juniors featured 12 participants in two blocks and was held from May 31 to June 15.[21] Outside entrants include Tatsuhito Takaiwa from Pro Wrestling Zero1 and Jimmy Rave from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Prince Devitt was again forced out due to injury following his match with Tiger Mask IV, forfeiting his remaining matches. Immediately after the tournament, winner Wataru Inoue, who also joined Liger and Tiger in winning the tournament as champion, graduated to the heavyweight division, vacating the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in the process.
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryusuke Taguchi | 8 | Tiger Mask IV | 10 |
| Wataru Inoue | 8 | Koji Kanemoto | 6 |
| Minoru | 4 | Jimmy Rave | 6 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 4 | Tetsuya Naito | 4 |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | 4 | Akira | 4 |
| Yujiro | 2 | Prince Devitt (withdrew) | 0 |
| Block A | Wataru Inoue | Jushin Thunder Liger | Minoru | Ryusuke Taguchi | Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Yujiro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wataru Inoue | — | Inoue (17:13) | Inoue (19:14) | Taguchi (17:44) | Inoue (13:24) | Inoue (11:19) |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Inoue (17:13) | — | Minoru (13:32) | Taguchi (14:31) | Liger (14:49) | Liger (9:57) |
| Minoru | Inoue (19:14) | Minoru (13:32) | — | Taguchi (14:29) | Minoru (11:31) | Yujiro (11:58) |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Taguchi (17:44) | Taguchi (14:31) | Taguchi (14:29) | — | Takaiwa (14:39) | Taguchi (13:20) |
| Tatsuhito Takaiwa | Inoue (13:24) | Liger (14:49) | Minoru (11:31) | Takaiwa (14:39) | — | Takaiwa (10:47) |
| Yujiro | Inoue (11:19) | Liger (9:57) | Yujiro (11:58) | Taguchi (13:20) | Takaiwa (10:47) | — |
| Block B | Akira | Prince Devitt | Koji Kanemoto | Tetsuya Naito | Jimmy Rave | Tiger Mask IV |
| Akira | — | Akira (forfeit) | Akira (18:14) | Naito (13:56) | Rave (11:25) | Tiger (10:22) |
| Prince Devitt | Akira (forfeit) | — | Kanemoto (forfeit) | Naito (forfeit) | Rave (forfeit) | Tiger (1:40) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Akira (18:14) | Kanemoto (forfeit) | — | Kanemoto (10:43) | Kanemoto (13:57) | Tiger (10:16) |
| Tetsuya Naito | Naito (13:56) | Naito (forfeit) | Kanemoto (10:43) | — | Rave (8:01) | Tiger (11:10) |
| Jimmy Rave | Rave (11:25) | Rave (forfeit) | Kanemoto (13:57) | Rave (8:01) | — | Tiger (14:03) |
| Tiger Mask IV | Tiger (10:22) | Tiger (1:40) | Tiger (10:16) | Tiger (11:10) | Tiger (14:03) | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Ryusuke Taguchi | Sub | |||||||
| B2 | Koji Kanemoto | 9:22 | |||||||
| B2 | Koji Kanemoto | Sub | |||||||
| A2 | Wataru Inoue | 27:50 | |||||||
| B1 | Tiger Mask IV | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Wataru Inoue | 9:03 | |||||||
2009 edit
The 2009 Best of the Super Juniors featured 14 participants in two blocks and was held from May 30 to June 14. With his victory Koji Kanemoto became only the second wrestler to win the tournament three times in total.[22] He lost a title match on July 20 against the defending champion Tiger Mask IV.
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Devitt | 8 | Koji Kanemoto | 8 |
| Atsushi Aoki | 8 | Kota Ibushi | 8 |
| Akira | 6 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 6 |
| Jado | 6 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 6 |
| Milano Collection A.T. | 6 | Tsuyoshi Kikuchi | 6 |
| Tiger Mask IV | 6 | Taichi | 4 |
| Black Tiger V | 2 | Yamato | 4 |
| Block A | Akira | Atsushi Aoki | Black Tiger V | Jado | Milano Collection A.T. | Prince Devitt | Tiger Mask IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akira | — | Aoki (15:00) | Akira (12:52) | Jado (14:58) | Akira (11:17) | Devitt (9:53) | Akira (10:05) |
| Atsushi Aoki | Aoki (15:00) | — | Aoki (9:36) | Aoki (10:00) | Aoki (11:12) | Devitt (11:16) | T. Mask (10:27) |
| Black Tiger V | Akira (12:52) | Aoki (9:36) | — | Jado (11:26) | Milano (10:29) | Devitt (7:20) | B. Tiger (3:51) |
| Jado | Jado (14:58) | Aoki (10:00) | Jado (11:26) | — | Milano (16:22) | Devitt (12:54) | Jado (10:48) |
| Milano Collection A.T. | Akira (11:17) | Aoki (11:12) | Milano (10:29) | Milano (16:22) | — | Milano (15:22) | T. Mask (16:12) |
| Prince Devitt | Devitt (9:53) | Devitt (11:16) | Devitt (7:20) | Devitt (12:54) | Milano (15:22) | — | T. Mask (11:19) |
| Tiger Mask IV | Akira (10:05) | T. Mask (10:27) | B. Tiger (3:51) | Jado (10:48) | T. Mask (16:12) | T.Mask (11:19) | — |
| Block B | Jushin Thunder Liger | Koji Kanemoto | Kota Ibushi | Ryusuke Taguchi | Taichi | Tsuyoshi Kikuchi | Yamato |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | — | Kanemoto (17:27) | Ibushi (16:35) | Liger (10:08) | Liger (11:11) | Liger (8:30) | Yamato (3:38) |
| Koji Kanemoto | Kanemoto (17:27) | — | Kanemoto (14:18) | Kanemoto (17:11) | Kanemoto (12:05) | Kikuchi (9:18) | Yamato (9:40) |
| Kota Ibushi | Ibushi (16:35) | Kanemoto (14:18) | — | Taguchi (10:13) | Ibushi (11:59) | Ibushi (9:56) | Ibushi (10:13) |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Liger (10:08) | Kanemoto (17:11) | Taguchi (10:13) | — | Taichi (10:01) | Taguchi (11:31) | Taguchi (13:17) |
| Taichi | Liger (11:11) | Kanemoto (12:05) | Ibushi (11:59) | Taichi (10:01) | — | Kikuchi (9:24) | Taichi (9:31) |
| Tsuyoshi Kikuchi | Liger (8:30) | Kikuchi (9:18) | Ibushi (9:56) | Taguchi (11:31) | Kikuchi (9:24) | — | Kikuchi (10:54) |
| Yamato | Yamato (3:38) | Yamato (9:40) | Ibushi (10:13) | Taguchi (13:17) | Taichi (9:31) | Kikuchi (10:54) | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Prince Devitt | Pin | |||||||
| B2 | Kota Ibushi | 8:14 | |||||||
| A1 | Prince Devitt | Sub | |||||||
| B1 | Koji Kanemoto | 19:55 | |||||||
| B1 | Koji Kanemoto | Stop | |||||||
| A2 | Atsushi Aoki | 6:27 | |||||||
2010 edit
The 2010 Best of the Super Juniors featured 16 participants in two blocks, and was held from May 30 to June 13. Outside entrants included Fujita "Jr." Hayato (Michinoku Pro), Kota Ibushi (DDT Pro-Wrestling), Kenny Omega (DDT/Ring of Honor/Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, United States), Kushida (Smash), La Sombra (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, Mexico), Davey Richards (ROH/PWG, United States), and Taiji Ishimori (Pro Wrestling Noah).[35] On May 31, 2010 it was announced that Tiger Mask IV had suffered a vertebra injury during his match against La Sombra and was forced out of action for two months. As a result of his injury Tiger Mask IV withdrew from the competition, forfeiting the rest of his matches, automatically giving all of his opponents two points.[36] On June 6, 2010 Fujita Hayato had to forfeit his match against Akira due to an injury and also forfeit the rest of the tournament.[37] The winner of the tournament, Prince Devitt, went on to defeat Naomichi Marufuji on June 19, 2010, at Dominion 6.19 to become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.[38]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Kota Ibushi | 12 | Taiji Ishimori | 10 |
| Prince Devitt | 10 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 10 |
| Davey Richards | 10 | Akira | 8 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 | Kenny Omega | 8 |
| Kushida | 8 | Koji Kanemoto | 8 |
| La Sombra | 6 | Fujita Hayato (withdrew) | 6 |
| Gedo | 2 | Tama Tonga | 4 |
| Tiger Mask IV (withdrew) | 0 | Nobuo Yoshihashi | 2 |
| Block A | Davey Richards | Gedo | Jushin Thunder Liger | Kota Ibushi | Kushida | La Sombra | Prince Devitt | Tiger Mask IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davey Richards | — | Richards (11:13)[39] | Richards (09:14)[40] | Ibushi (11:27)[41] | Richards (11:13)[37] | Richards (12:06)[42] | Devitt (16:26)[43] | Richards (forfeit)[36] |
| Gedo | Richards (11:13)[39] | — | Liger (11:27)[44] | Ibushi (09:42)[45] | Kushida (10:09)[46] | Sombra (11:25)[47] | Devitt (12:13)[37] | Gedo (forfeit)[36] |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Richards (09:14)[40] | Liger (11:27)[44] | — | Liger (13:35)[37] | Liger (12:44)[43] | Sombra (04:31)[41] | Devitt (10:18)[42] | Liger (forfeit)[36] |
| Kota Ibushi | Ibushi (11:27)[41] | Ibushi (09:42)[45] | Liger (13:35)[37] | — | Ibushi (12:03)[47] | Ibushi (11:49)[44] | Ibushi (10:59)[46] | Ibushi (forfeit)[36] |
| Kushida | Richards (11:13)[37] | Kushida (10:09)[46] | Liger (12:44)[43] | Ibushi (12:03)[47] | — | Kushida (08:17)[45] | Kushida (07:15)[44] | Kushida (forfeit)[36] |
| La Sombra | Richards (12:06)[42] | Sombra (11:25)[47] | Sombra (04:31)[41] | Ibushi (11:49)[44] | Kushida (08:17)[45] | — | Devitt (07:29)[40] | La Sombra (10:33)[43] |
| Prince Devitt | Devitt (16:26)[43] | Devitt (12:13)[37] | Devitt (10:18)[42] | Ibushi (10:59)[46] | Kushida (07:15)[44] | Devitt (07:29)[40] | — | Devitt (forfeit)[36] |
| Tiger Mask IV | Richards (forfeit)[36] | Gedo (forfeit)[36] | Liger (forfeit)[36] | Ibushi (forfeit)[36] | Kushida (forfeit)[36] | La Sombra (10:33)[43] | Devitt (forfeit)[36] | — |
| Block B | Akira | Fujita Hayato | Kenny Omega | Koji Kanemoto | Nobuo Yoshihashi | Ryusuke Taguchi | Taiji Ishimori | Tama Tonga |
| Akira | — | Akira (forfeit)[37] | Akira (11:26)[41] | Akira (11:27)[39] | Yoshihashi (12:45)[43] | Taguchi (12:45)[40] | Akira (09:17)[47] | Tonga (10:22)[42] |
| Fujita Hayato | Akira (forfeit)[37] | — | Hayato (12:14)[39] | Kanemoto (15:38)[43] | Hayato (09:00)[44] | Taguchi (forfeit)[46] | Ishimori (forfeit)[37] | Hayato (09:12)[47] |
| Kenny Omega | Akira (11:26)[41] | Hayato (12:14)[39] | — | Omega (11:29)[44] | Omega (14:30)[46] | Omega (14:12)[47] | Ishimori (09:54)[45] | Omega (10:15)[37] |
| Koji Kanemoto | Akira (11:27)[39] | Kanemoto (15:38)[43] | Omega (11:29)[44] | — | Kanemoto (13:01)[37] | Taguchi (12:57)[41] | Kanemoto (13:13)[46] | Kanemoto (09:21)[45] |
| Nobuo Yoshihashi | Yoshihashi (12:45)[43] | Hayato (09:00)[44] | Omega (14:30)[46] | Kanemoto (13:01)[37] | — | Taguchi (10:45)[45] | Ishimori (09:03)[42] | Tonga (06:19)[39] |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Taguchi (12:45) | Taguchi (forfeit)[46] | Omega (14:12)[47] | Taguchi (12:57)[41] | Taguchi (10:45)[45] | — | Ishimori (11:40)[43] | Taguchi (07:41)[44] |
| Taiji Ishimori | Akira (09:17)[47] | Ishimori (forfeit)[37] | Ishimori (09:54)[45] | Kanemoto (13:13)[46] | Ishimori (09:03)[42] | Ishimori (11:40)[43] | — | Ishimori (07:55)[40] |
| Tama Tonga | Tonga (10:22)[42] | Hayato (09:12)[47] | Omega (10:15)[37] | Kanemoto (09:21)[45] | Tonga (06:19)[39] | Taguchi (07:41)[44] | Ishimori (07:55)[40] | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Kota Ibushi | Pin | |||||||
| B2 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 10:14[23] | |||||||
| A1 | Kota Ibushi | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Prince Devitt | 14:34[23] | |||||||
| B1 | Taiji Ishimori | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Prince Devitt | 6:56[23] | |||||||
2011 edit
The 2011 Best of the Super Juniors featured 18 participants in two blocks, and was held from May 26 to June 10. This marked the largest number of entrants in the history of the tournament. Outside entrants included Daisuke Sasaki (freelancer), Fujita "Jr." Hayato (Michinoku Pro), Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro), Kenny Omega (DDT Pro-Wrestling, United States), Kota Ibushi (DDT), Máscara Dorada (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, Mexico), and TJP (freelancer, United States).[48] Sasaki and Taichi earned their spots in the tournament by winning Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournaments on April 8, 2011.[49] Kota Ibushi became the first wrestler not affiliated with New Japan Pro-Wrestling to win the tournament.[24] He went on to defeat Prince Devitt for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on June 18, 2011.[50]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Devitt | 14 | Kota Ibushi | 12 |
| Davey Richards | 12 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 10 |
| Kenny Omega | 10 | Great Sasuke | 10 |
| Koji Kanemoto | 8 | Kushida | 10 |
| Tiger Mask IV | 8 | Taka Michinoku | 8 |
| Fujita Hayato | 6 | Máscara Dorada | 8 |
| TJP | 6 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 |
| Taichi | 4 | Gedo | 4 |
| Jado | 4 | Daisuke Sasaki | 2 |
| Block A | Davey Richards | Fujita Hayato | Jado | Kenny Omega | Koji Kanemoto | Prince Devitt | Taichi | Tiger Mask IV | TJP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davey Richards | — | Richards (10:03)[51] | Richards (13:01)[52] | Richards (9:55)[53] | Richards (12:06)[54] | Richards (13:18)[55] | Richards (10:06)[56] | Tiger (9:56)[57] | TJP (9:51)[58] |
| Fujita Hayato | Richards (10:03)[51] | — | Jado (7:11)[53] | Omega (10:43)[59] | Hayato (10:18)[55] | Devitt (8:09)[57] | Hayato (8:34)[52] | Tiger (9:00)[56] | Hayato (7:44)[54] |
| Jado | Richards (13:01)[52] | Jado (7:11)[53] | — | Jado (9:42)[54] | Kanemoto (9:15)[56] | Devitt (12:14)[51] | Taichi (10:04)[58] | Tiger (8:27)[59] | TJP (12:07)[57] |
| Kenny Omega | Richards (9:55)[53] | Omega (10:43)[59] | Jado (9:42)[54] | — | Omega (11:43)[52] | Devitt (12:08)[58] | Omega (8:59)[55] | Omega (9:05)[51] | Omega (8:20)[56] |
| Koji Kanemoto | Richards (12:06)[54] | Hayato (10:18)[55] | Kanemoto (9:15)[56] | Omega (11:43)[52] | — | Devitt (7:22)[53] | Kanemoto (10:37)[57] | Kanemoto (9:59)[58] | Kanemoto (8:11)[59] |
| Prince Devitt | Richards (13:18)[55] | Devitt (8:09)[57] | Devitt (12:14)[51] | Devitt (12:08)[58] | Devitt (7:22)[53] | — | Devitt (9:45)[59] | Devitt (6:54)[54] | Devitt (8:51)[52] |
| Taichi | Richards (10:06)[56] | Hayato (8:34)[52] | Taichi (10:04)[58] | Omega (8:59)[55] | Kanemoto (10:37)[57] | Devitt (9:45)[59] | — | Taichi (7:04)[53] | TJP (8:29)[51] |
| Tiger Mask IV | Tiger (9:56)[57] | Tiger (9:00)[56] | Tiger (8:27)[59] | Omega (9:05)[51] | Kanemoto (9:59)[58] | Devitt (6:54)[54] | Taichi (7:04)[53] | — | Tiger (8:06)[55] |
| TJP | TJP (9:51)[58] | Hayato (7:44)[54] | TJP (12:07)[57] | Omega (8:20)[56] | Kanemoto (8:11)[59] | Devitt (8:51)[52] | TJP (8:29)[51] | Tiger (8:06)[55] | — |
| Block B | Daisuke Sasaki | Gedo | Great Sasuke | Jushin Thunder Liger | Kota Ibushi | Kushida | Máscara Dorada | Ryusuke Taguchi | Taka Michinoku |
| Daisuke Sasaki | — | Sasaki (11:10)[57] | Sasuke (4:05)[56] | Liger (8:06)[59] | Ibushi (10:39)[51] | Kushida (6:53)[55] | Dorada (8:02)[58] | Taguchi (7:18)[52] | Michinoku (7:19)[54] |
| Gedo | Sasaki (11:10)[57] | — | Gedo (9:09)[53] | Liger (7:27)[56] | Ibushi (10:10)[58] | Kushida (8:02)[51] | Dorada (7:37)[54] | Gedo (11:29)[59] | Michinoku (10:01)[52] |
| Great Sasuke | Sasuke (4:05)[56] | Gedo (9:09)[53] | — | Sasuke (17:35)[52] | Ibushi (11:46)[54] | Sasuke (2:47)[59] | Sasuke (4:28)[51] | Taguchi (15:39)[57] | Sasuke (9:57)[55] |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (8:06)[59] | Liger (7:27)[56] | Sasuke (17:35)[52] | — | Ibushi (8:47)[53] | Liger (10:45)[57] | Dorada (3:18)[55] | Liger (9:20)[58] | Michinoku (8:57)[51] |
| Kota Ibushi | Ibushi (10:39)[51] | Ibushi (10:10)[58] | Ibushi (11:46)[54] | Ibushi (8:47)[53] | — | Kushida (12:46)[52] | Ibushi (7:28)[59] | Taguchi (13:21)[55] | Ibushi (9:40)[56] |
| Kushida | Kushida (6:53)[55] | Kushida (8:02)[51] | Sasuke (2:47)[59] | Liger (10:45)[57] | Kushida (12:46)[52] | — | Kushida (6:25)[53] | Taguchi (10:14)[54] | Kushida (9:29)[58] |
| Máscara Dorada | Dorada (8:02)[58] | Dorada (7:37)[54] | Sasuke (4:28)[51] | Dorada (3:18)[55] | Ibushi (7:28)[59] | Kushida (6:25)[53] | — | Dorada (7:02)[56] | Michinoku (9:45)[57] |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Taguchi (7:18)[52] | Gedo (11:29)[59] | Taguchi (15:39)[57] | Liger (9:20)[58] | Taguchi (13:21)[55] | Taguchi (10:14)[54] | Dorada (7:02)[56] | — | Taguchi (9:26)[53] |
| Taka Michinoku | Michinoku (7:19)[54] | Michinoku (10:01)[52] | Sasuke (9:57)[55] | Michinoku (8:57)[51] | Ibushi (9:40)[56] | Kushida (9:29)[58] | Michinoku (9:45)[57] | Taguchi (9:26)[53] | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Prince Devitt | Pin | |||||||
| B2 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 8:29[24] | |||||||
| B2 | Ryusuke Taguchi | Pin | |||||||
| B1 | Kota Ibushi | 20:22[24] | |||||||
| B1 | Kota Ibushi | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Davey Richards | 11:17[24] | |||||||
2012 edit
The 2012 Best of the Super Juniors featured 18 participants and took place from May 27 to June 10.[60][61] Outside entrants included Alex Koslov (American independents), Ángel de Oro (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre), Brian Kendrick (American independents), Daisuke Sasaki (freelancer), and Pac (Dragon Gate).[62] Black Tiger earned his spot in the tournament by winning the Road to the Super Jr. 2Days Tournament on April 15, 2012.[63] On May 9, New Japan announced that Davey Richards had to pull out of the tournament, following his doctor's orders after a car accident.[64] He was replaced by Brian Kendrick.[65] On May 25, New Japan announced that Black Tiger had been pulled from the tournament, two days after the character's performer Nosawa Rongai had been arrested for smuggling marijuana.[66] He was replaced by Hiromu Takahashi.[67] The tagline of the event was "The door to the glory".[68] For the fifth year in a row, the previous year's runner-up, this time Ryusuke Taguchi, came back to win the tournament.[25] Taguchi went on to unsuccessfully challenge Low Ki for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on June 16 at Dominion 6.16.[69]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pac | 10 | Low Ki | 16 |
| Prince Devitt | 10 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 10 |
| Ángel de Oro | 8 | Brian Kendrick | 10 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 | Alex Koslov | 10 |
| Rocky Romero | 8 | Tiger Mask IV | 8 |
| Taichi | 8 | Taka Michinoku | 8 |
| Kushida | 8 | Daisuke Sasaki | 4 |
| Bushi | 6 | Jado | 4 |
| Gedo | 6 | Hiromu Takahashi | 2 |
| Block A | Ángel de Oro | Bushi | Gedo | Jushin Thunder Liger | Kushida | Pac | Prince Devitt | Rocky Romero | Taichi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ángel de Oro | — | Bushi (9:50)[70] | Oro (8:15)[71] | Oro (8:21)[72] | Kushida (8:22)[73] | Oro (9:46)[74] | Devitt (8:10)[75] | Romero (10:38)[76] | Oro (9:28)[68] |
| Bushi | Bushi (9:50)[70] | — | Bushi (8:16)[72] | Liger (7:10)[76] | Kushida (10:51)[77] | Pac (8:35)[78] | Devitt (8:03)[74] | Bushi (5:23)[68] | Taichi (9:33)[73] |
| Gedo | Oro (8:15)[71] | Bushi (8:16)[72] | — | Gedo (7:43)[77] | Gedo (10:32)[78] | Pac (14:36)[75] | Devitt (11:14)[79] | Romero (8:41)[73] | Gedo (9:49)[70] |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Oro (8:21)[72] | Liger (7:10)[76] | Gedo (7:43)[77] | — | Liger (8:18)[75] | Pac (10:20)[68] | Devitt (12:13)[78] | Liger (7:53)[79] | Liger (7:35)[74] |
| Kushida | Kushida (8:22)[73] | Kushida (10:51)[77] | Gedo (10:32)[78] | Liger (8:18)[75] | — | Kushida (9:33)[79] | Kushida (12:56)[68] | Romero (12:15)[72] | Taichi (2:33)[76] |
| Pac | Oro (9:46)[74] | Pac (8:35)[78] | Pac (14:36)[75] | Pac (10:20)[68] | Kushida (9:33)[79] | — | Pac (17:24)[76] | Romero (10:14)[70] | Pac (10:43)[71] |
| Prince Devitt | Devitt (8:10)[75] | Devitt (8:03)[74] | Devitt (11:14)[79] | Devitt (12:13)[78] | Kushida (12:56)[68] | Pac (17:24)[76] | — | Devitt (11:15)[71] | Taichi (10:59)[77] |
| Rocky Romero | Romero (10:38)[76] | Bushi (5:23)[68] | Romero (8:41)[73] | Liger (7:53)[79] | Romero (12:15)[72] | Romero (10:14)[70] | Devitt (11:15)[71] | — | Taichi (9:58)[78] |
| Taichi | Oro (9:28)[68] | Taichi (9:33)[73] | Gedo (9:49)[70] | Liger (7:35)[74] | Taichi (2:33)[76] | Pac (10:43)[71] | Taichi (10:59)[77] | Taichi (9:58)[78] | — |
| Block B | Alex Koslov | Brian Kendrick | Daisuke Sasaki | Hiromu Takahashi | Jado | Low Ki | Ryusuke Taguchi | Taka Michinoku | Tiger Mask IV |
| Alex Koslov | — | Kendrick (6:31)[79] | Koslov (10:05)[76] | Koslov (6:43)[77] | Koslov (9:57)[71] | Low Ki (10:14)[78] | Taguchi (14:54)[74] | Koslov (8:22)[68] | Koslov (10:30)[73] |
| Brian Kendrick | Kendrick (6:31)[79] | — | Kendrick (10:21)[70] | Kendrick (5:50)[72] | Kendrick (8:31)[73] | Low Ki (10:37)[76] | Taguchi (9:59)[78] | Michinoku (10:51)[77] | Kendrick (6:34)[68] |
| Daisuke Sasaki | Koslov (10:05)[76] | Kendrick (10:21)[70] | — | Sasaki (5:02)[71] | Sasaki (8:57)[68] | Low Ki (8:03)[77] | Taguchi (6:55)[75] | Michinoku (6:22)[73] | Tiger (7:14)[74] |
| Hiromu Takahashi | Koslov (6:43)[77] | Kendrick (5:50)[72] | Sasaki (5:02)[71] | — | Jado (5:55)[74] | Low Ki (7:43)[79] | Taguchi (6:12)[70] | Takahashi (3:30)[78] | Tiger (6:50)[76] |
| Jado | Koslov (9:57)[71] | Kendrick (8:31)[73] | Sasaki (8:57)[68] | Jado (5:55)[74] | — | Low Ki (10:14)[70] | Taguchi (9:43)[72] | Michinoku (8:31)[75] | Jado (7:26)[78] |
| Low Ki | Low Ki (10:14)[78] | Low Ki (10:37)[76] | Low Ki (8:03)[77] | Low Ki (7:43)[79] | Low Ki (10:14)[70] | — | Low Ki (14:10)[68] | Low Ki (10:24)[72] | Low Ki (11:14)[75] |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Taguchi (14:54)[74] | Taguchi (9:59)[78] | Taguchi (6:55)[75] | Taguchi (6:12)[70] | Taguchi (9:43)[72] | Low Ki (14:10)[68] | — | Michinoku (11:11)[76] | Tiger (9:41)[71] |
| Taka Michinoku | Koslov (8:22)[68] | Michinoku (10:51)[77] | Michinoku (6:22)[73] | Takahashi (3:30)[78] | Michinoku (8:31)[75] | Low Ki (10:24)[72] | Michinoku (11:11)[76] | — | Tiger (6:40)[79] |
| Tiger Mask IV | Koslov (10:30)[73] | Kendrick (6:34)[68] | Tiger (7:14)[74] | Tiger (6:50)[76] | Jado (7:26)[78] | Low Ki (11:14)[75] | Tiger (9:41)[71] | Tiger (6:40)[79] | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Pac | Pin | |||||||
| B2 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 10:38[25] | |||||||
| B2 | Ryusuke Taguchi | Pin | |||||||
| B1 | Low Ki | 17:01[25] | |||||||
| B1 | Low Ki | Sub | |||||||
| A2 | Prince Devitt | 8:50[25] | |||||||
2013 edit
The twentieth Best of the Super Juniors tournament was officially announced on March 28, 2013, and took place over ten shows between May 24 and June 9.[80][81] The participants were announced on May 3; outside entrants included Beretta (American independents), Brian Kendrick (American independents), Kenny Omega (DDT), Ricochet (Dragon Gate), and Titán (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre).[82][83] Ryusuke Taguchi, who originally won Block B, was sidelined with a hip injury following June 6 and was replaced in his semifinal match by Taka Michinoku, who had finished third in the block.[84] The winner, Prince Devitt, became only the third wrestler to win all of his matches in the tournament. When Jushin Thunder Liger achieved the feat in 2001, his tournament comprised only six matches, while Devitt's comprised ten.[85][86]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Devitt | 16 | Ryusuke Taguchi (withdrew) | 10 |
| Alex Shelley | 10 | Kenny Omega | 10 |
| Ricochet | 10 | Taka Michinoku | 8 |
| Taichi | 8 | Kushida | 8 |
| Rocky Romero | 8 | Alex Koslov | 8 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 | Brian Kendrick | 8 |
| Beretta | 6 | Tiger Mask IV | 8 |
| Titán | 6 | Bushi | 6 |
| Hiromu Takahashi | 0 | Jado | 6 |
| Block A | Alex Shelley | Beretta | Hiromu Takahashi | Jushin Thunder Liger | Prince Devitt | Ricochet | Rocky Romero | Taichi | Titán |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Shelley | — | Shelley (9:38)[87] | Shelley (6:17)[88] | Liger (9:23)[89] | Devitt (12:44)[90] | Shelley (16:33)[91] | Shelley (14:03)[92] | Taichi (8:58)[93] | Shelley (3:36)[94] |
| Beretta | Shelley (9:38)[87] | — | Beretta (7:14)[89] | Liger (6:46)[94] | Devitt (10:12)[95] | Ricochet (11:56)[90] | Romero (8:00)[88] | Beretta (9:23)[91] | Beretta (7:56)[93] |
| Hiromu Takahashi | Shelley (6:17)[88] | Beretta (7:14)[89] | — | Liger (7:49)[90] | Devitt (6:20)[93] | Ricochet (6:39)[87] | Romero (6:10)[94] | Taichi (7:08)[92] | Titán (5:26)[95] |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (9:23)[89] | Liger (6:46)[94] | Liger (7:49)[90] | — | Devitt (6:27)[91] | Ricochet (7:26)[88] | Romero (8:15)[93] | Taichi (7:50)[95] | Liger (8:27)[92] |
| Prince Devitt | Devitt (12:44)[90] | Devitt (10:12)[95] | Devitt (6:20)[93] | Devitt (6:27)[91] | — | Devitt (13:27)[92] | Devitt (9:39)[87] | Devitt (7:07)[89] | Devitt (5:24)[88] |
| Ricochet | Shelley (16:33)[91] | Ricochet (11:56)[90] | Ricochet (6:39)[87] | Ricochet (7:26)[88] | Devitt (13:27)[92] | — | Romero (10:58)[95] | Ricochet (7:42)[94] | Ricochet (7:23)[89] |
| Rocky Romero | Shelley (14:03)[92] | Romero (8:00)[88] | Romero (6:10)[94] | Romero (8:15)[93] | Devitt (9:39)[87] | Romero (10:58)[95] | — | Taichi (8:30)[90] | Titán (7:14)[91] |
| Taichi | Taichi (8:58)[93] | Beretta (9:23)[91] | Taichi (7:08)[92] | Taichi (7:50)[95] | Devitt (7:07)[89] | Ricochet (7:42)[94] | Taichi (8:30)[90] | — | Titán (8:17)[87] |
| Titán | Shelley (3:36)[94] | Beretta (7:56)[93] | Titán (5:26)[95] | Liger (8:27)[92] | Devitt (5:24)[88] | Ricochet (7:23)[89] | Titán (7:14)[91] | Titán (8:17)[87] | — |
| Block B | Alex Koslov | Brian Kendrick | Bushi | Jado | Kenny Omega | Kushida | Ryusuke Taguchi | Taka Michinoku | Tiger Mask IV |
| Alex Koslov | — | Kendrick (9:47)[91] | Koslov (5:07)[94] | Koslov (8:48)[89] | Omega (9:57)[87] | Kushida (10:45)[92] | Koslov (12:25)[90] | Michinoku (9:12)[88] | Koslov (8:14)[93] |
| Brian Kendrick | Kendrick (9:47)[91] | — | Kendrick (5:56)[89] | Kendrick (8:24)[87] | Omega (9:40)[94] | Kushida (9:13)[95] | Kendrick (3:38)[93] | Michinoku (7:39)[92] | Tiger (6:44)[88] |
| Bushi | Koslov (5:07)[94] | Kendrick (5:56)[89] | — | Bushi (9:17)[93] | Omega (8:35)[88] | Bushi (9:25)[90] | Taguchi (11:05)[87] | Bushi (5:47)[95] | Tiger (7:19)[92] |
| Jado | Koslov (8:48)[89] | Kendrick (8:24)[87] | Bushi (9:17)[93] | — | Jado (9:37)[90] | Kushida (10:03)[88] | Jado (10:31)[95] | Jado (7:27)[91] | Tiger (8:01)[94] |
| Kenny Omega | Omega (9:57)[87] | Omega (9:40)[94] | Omega (8:35)[88] | Jado (9:37)[90] | — | Omega (16:10)[91] | Taguchi (13:23)[92] | Omega (10:12)[89] | Tiger (8:14)[95] |
| Kushida | Kushida (10:45)[92] | Kushida (9:13)[95] | Bushi (9:25)[90] | Kushida (10:03)[88] | Omega (16:10)[91] | — | Taguchi (11:27)[89] | Michinoku (12:11)[93] | Kushida (9:17)[87] |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Koslov (12:25)[90] | Kendrick (3:38)[93] | Taguchi (11:05)[87] | Jado (10:31)[95] | Taguchi (13:23)[92] | Taguchi (11:27)[89] | — | Taguchi (7:31)[94] | Taguchi (7:14)[91] |
| Taka Michinoku | Michinoku (9:12)[88] | Michinoku (7:39)[92] | Bushi (5:47)[95] | Jado (7:27)[91] | Omega (10:12)[89] | Michinoku (12:11)[93] | Taguchi (7:31)[94] | — | Michinoku (4:00)[90] |
| Tiger Mask IV | Koslov (8:14)[93] | Tiger (6:44)[88] | Tiger (7:19)[92] | Tiger (8:01)[94] | Tiger (8:14)[95] | Kushida (9:17)[87] | Taguchi (7:14)[91] | Michinoku (4:00)[90] | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Prince Devitt | Pin | |||||||
| B2 | Kenny Omega | 9:09[26] | |||||||
| A1 | Prince Devitt | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Alex Shelley | 18:25[26] | |||||||
| B3 | Taka Michinoku | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Alex Shelley | 10:14[26] | |||||||
2014 edit
The twenty-first Best of the Super Juniors tournament was officially announced on March 14, 2014, and took place between May 30 and June 8.[96] The participants were announced on May 4; outside entrants included Kenny Omega (DDT), Máscara Dorada (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre) and Ricochet (Dragon Gate).[97] For the first time in four years, the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion did not take part in the tournament as Kota Ibushi was concentrating on chasing the NEVER Openweight Championship.[97] Alex Koslov dislocated his left shoulder in his first match against Ricochet on May 30 and was forced to pull out of the tournament, forfeiting all of his matches.[98] Alex Shelley won block B of the tournament, but was forced to pull out of the semifinals after suffering a shoulder injury in his final round-robin match. As a result, Taichi, who had finished third in the block, advanced to the semifinals.[99]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Kushida | 10 | Alex Shelley (withdrew) | 8 |
| Ricochet | 10 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 8 |
| Taka Michinoku | 8 | Taichi | 8 |
| Matt Jackson | 8 | Nick Jackson | 8 |
| Bushi | 8 | Tiger Mask IV | 6 |
| Máscara Dorada | 6 | El Desperado | 6 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 6 | Rocky Romero | 6 |
| Alex Koslov (withdrew) | 0 | Kenny Omega | 6 |
| Block A | Alex Koslov | Bushi | Jushin Thunder Liger | Kushida | Máscara Dorada | Matt Jackson | Ricochet | Taka Michinoku |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Koslov | — | Bushi (forfeit) | Liger (forfeit) | Kushida (forfeit) | Dorada (forfeit) | Jackson (forfeit) | Ricochet (14:29)[100] | Michinoku (forfeit) |
| Bushi | Bushi (forfeit) | — | Bushi (8:51)[100] | Bushi (9:58)[101] | Bushi (5:32)[102] | Jackson (8:51)[103] | Ricochet (7:31)[104] | Michinoku (7:55)[105] |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (forfeit) | Bushi (8:51)[100] | — | Kushida (14:15)[104] | Dorada (7:06)[105] | Jackson (6:52)[106] | Liger (10:39)[101] | Liger (10:54)[102] |
| Kushida | Kushida (forfeit) | Bushi (9:58)[101] | Kushida (14:15)[104] | — | Dorada (7:57)[106] | Kushida (11:44)[100] | Kushida (12:10)[105] | Kushida (10:29)[103] |
| Máscara Dorada | Dorada (forfeit) | Bushi (5:32)[102] | Dorada (7:06)[105] | Dorada (7:57)[106] | — | Jackson (8:04)[104] | Ricochet (8:59)[103] | Michinoku (5:31)[100] |
| Matt Jackson | Jackson (forfeit) | Jackson (8:51)[103] | Jackson (6:52)[106] | Kushida (11:44)[100] | Jackson (8:04)[104] | — | Ricochet (11:09)[102] | Michinoku (5:25)[101] |
| Ricochet | Ricochet (14:29)[100] | Ricochet (7:31)[104] | Liger (10:39)[101] | Kushida (12:10)[105] | Ricochet (8:59)[103] | Ricochet (11:09)[102] | — | Ricochet (8:51)[106] |
| Taka Michinoku | Michinoku (forfeit) | Michinoku (7:55)[105] | Liger (10:54)[102] | Kushida (10:29)[103] | Michinoku (5:31)[100] | Michinoku (5:25)[101] | Ricochet (8:51)[106] | — |
| Block B | Alex Shelley | El Desperado | Kenny Omega | Nick Jackson | Rocky Romero | Ryusuke Taguchi | Taichi | Tiger Mask IV |
| Alex Shelley | — | Desperado (9:57)[106] | Omega (11:30)[105] | Shelley (10:38)[100] | Romero (11:03)[103] | Shelley (14:09)[101] | Shelley (4:28)[102] | Shelley (3:13)[104] |
| El Desperado | Desperado (9:57)[106] | — | Desperado (14:12)[101] | Jackson (9:07)[103] | Desperado (9:30)[102] | Taguchi (10:43)[104] | Taichi (5:33)[100] | Tiger (8:33)[105] |
| Kenny Omega | Omega (11:30)[105] | Desperado (14:12)[101] | — | Jackson (9:09)[102] | Romero (11:36)[106] | Omega (16:19)[100] | Taichi (8:22)[104] | Omega (10:50)[103] |
| Nick Jackson | Shelley (10:38)[100] | Jackson (9:07)[103] | Jackson (9:09)[102] | — | Jackson (8:17)[104] | Taguchi (9:01)[106] | Taichi (6:17)[105] | Jackson (8:07)[101] |
| Rocky Romero | Romero (11:03)[103] | Desperado (9:30)[102] | Romero (11:36)[106] | Jackson (8:17)[104] | — | Taguchi (11:42)[105] | Romero (7:14)[101] | Tiger (8:45)[100] |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Shelley (14:09)[101] | Taguchi (10:43)[104] | Omega (16:19)[100] | Taguchi (9:01)[106] | Taguchi (11:42)[105] | — | Taguchi (9:32)[103] | Tiger (11:29)[102] |
| Taichi | Shelley (4:28)[102] | Taichi (5:33)[100] | Taichi (8:22)[104] | Taichi (6:17)[105] | Romero (7:14)[101] | Taguchi (9:32)[103] | — | Taichi (6:36)[106] |
| Tiger Mask IV | Shelley (3:13)[104] | Tiger (8:33)[105] | Omega (10:50)[103] | Jackson (8:07)[101] | Tiger (8:45)[100] | Tiger (11:29)[102] | Taichi (6:36)[106] | — |
| Semifinals | Final | ||||||||
| A1 | Kushida | Sub | |||||||
| B3 | Taichi | 7:29[27] | |||||||
| A1 | Kushida | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Ricochet | 23:06[27] | |||||||
| B2 | Ryusuke Taguchi | Pin | |||||||
| A2 | Ricochet | 5:49[27] | |||||||
2015 edit
The twenty-second Best of the Super Juniors tournament was officially announced on March 4, 2015, and took place between May 22 and June 7.[107] The participants were announced on May 7; outside entrants included Bárbaro Cavernario (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre), Bobby Fish (Ring of Honor), Chase Owens (National Wrestling Alliance), Kyle O'Reilly (ROH) and the debuting David Finlay Jr., the son of Dave Finlay.[108] For the second year in a row, the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Kenny Omega, did not enter the tournament. Instead, the winner of the tournament would challenge for his title at Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall.[109] Alex Shelley was forced to pull out of the tournament after his opening match with a foot injury, forcing him to forfeit the rest of his matches.[110]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle O'Reilly | 12 | Kushida | 12 |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | 10 | Bobby Fish | 10 |
| Beretta | 8 | Máscara Dorada | 10 |
| Chase Owens | 8 | Rocky Romero | 8 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 8 | Tiger Mask IV | 8 |
| Bárbaro Cavernario | 6 | Nick Jackson | 6 |
| Gedo | 4 | Alex Shelley (withdrew) | 2 |
| Yohei Komatsu | 0 | David Finlay Jr. | 0 |
| Block A | Bárbaro Cavernario | Beretta | Chase Owens | Gedo | Jushin Thunder Liger | Kyle O'Reilly | Ryusuke Taguchi | Yohei Komatsu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bárbaro Cavernario | — | Beretta (13:46)[111] | Cavernario (7:15)[112] | Cavernario (10:53)[113] | Liger (6:11)[114] | O'Reilly (7:50)[115] | Taguchi (8:43)[116] | Cavernario (8:32)[117] |
| Beretta | Beretta (13:46)[111] | — | Beretta (10:19)[118] | Beretta (8:07)[119] | Liger (7:55)[120] | O'Reilly (13:04)[112] | Taguchi (10:58)[113] | Beretta (10:20)[114] |
| Chase Owens | Cavernario (7:15)[112] | Beretta (10:19)[118] | — | Owens (7:57)[120] | Owens (8:07)[121] | O'Reilly (11:54)[117] | Owens (18:27)[114] | Owens (7:42)[111] |
| Gedo | Cavernario (10:53)[113] | Beretta (8:07)[119] | Owens (7:57)[120] | — | Liger (12:36)[122] | O'Reilly (14:15)[114] | Gedo (14:00)[112] | Gedo (10:01)[116] |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Liger (6:11)[114] | Liger (7:55)[120] | Owens (8:07)[121] | Liger (12:36)[122] | — | O'Reilly (8:52)[118] | Taguchi (8:34)[119] | Liger (8:36)[112] |
| Kyle O'Reilly | O'Reilly (7:50)[115] | O'Reilly (13:04)[112] | O'Reilly (11:54)[117] | O'Reilly (14:15)[114] | O'Reilly (8:52)[118] | — | Taguchi (13:15)[122] | O'Reilly (10:14)[121] |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Taguchi (8:43)[116] | Taguchi (10:58)[113] | Owens (18:27)[114] | Gedo (14:00)[112] | Taguchi (8:34)[119] | Taguchi (13:15)[122] | — | Taguchi (11:33)[115] |
| Yohei Komatsu | Cavernario (8:32)[117] | Beretta (10:20)[114] | Owens (7:42)[111] | Gedo (10:01)[116] | Liger (8:36)[112] | O'Reilly (10:14)[121] | Taguchi (11:33)[115] | — |
| Block B | Alex Shelley | Bobby Fish | David Finlay Jr. | Kushida | Máscara Dorada | Nick Jackson | Rocky Romero | Tiger Mask IV |
| Alex Shelley | — | Fish (forfeit) | Shelley (5:32)[112] | Kushida (forfeit) | Dorada (forfeit) | Jackson (forfeit) | Romero (forfeit) | Tiger (forfeit) |
| Bobby Fish | Fish (forfeit) | — | Fish (8:18)[117] | Kushida (16:29)[122] | Fish (10:43)[115] | Fish (11:31)[114] | Fish (13:06)[112] | Tiger (9:22)[118] |
| David Finlay Jr. | Shelley (5:32)[112] | Fish (8:18)[117] | — | Kushida (9:40)[113] | Dorada (7:46)[118] | Jackson (9:39)[111] | Romero (10:50)[115] | Tiger (7:21)[114] |
| Kushida | Kushida (forfeit) | Kushida (16:29)[122] | Kushida (9:40)[113] | — | Kushida (8:53)[112] | Jackson (9:08)[116] | Kushida (15:53)[119] | Kushida (11:44)[120] |
| Máscara Dorada | Dorada (forfeit) | Fish (10:43)[115] | Dorada (7:46)[118] | Kushida (8:53)[112] | — | Dorada (9:44)[117] | Dorada (10:19)[114] | Dorada (10:05)[121] |
| Nick Jackson | Jackson (forfeit) | Fish (11:31)[114] | Jackson (9:39)[111] | Jackson (9:08)[116] | Dorada (9:44)[117] | — | Romero (13:05)[113] | Tiger (8:03)[112] |
| Rocky Romero | Romero (forfeit) | Fish (13:06) | Romero (10:50)[115] | Kushida (15:53)[119] | Dorada (10:19)[114] | Romero (13:05)[113] | — | Romero (11:01)[111] |
| Tiger Mask IV | Tiger (forfeit) | Tiger (9:22)[118] | Tiger (7:21)[114] | Kushida (11:44)[120] | Dorada (10:05)[121] | Tiger (8:03)[112] | Romero (11:01)[111] | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Kyle O'Reilly | Sub | ||
| B1 | Kushida | 30:45[28] | ||
2016 edit
The twenty-third Best of the Super Juniors tournament took place between May 21 and June 7, 2016.[123] The participants were announced on May 3. Outside entrants included Volador Jr. (Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre), Bobby Fish, Kyle O'Reilly, Matt Sydal, Barreta (Ring of Honor), Chase Owens (National Wrestling Alliance), Will Ospreay (Revolution Pro Wrestling) and Ricochet (Dragon Gate, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla).[124] Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson were originally announced for the tournament, but both were forced to pull out with injuries before the opening day.[125] On May 19, Matt was replaced with David Finlay Jr. and Nick with Chase Owens.[126] With his win, Will Ospreay, the first English winner of the tournament, also became the youngest Best of the Super Juniors winner in history.[127] Ospreay went on to unsuccessfully challenge Kushida for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on June 19 at Dominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall.[128] The tournament became known for a controversial match between Ospreay and Ricochet on May 27, which received widespread attention in the professional wrestling world with some, like William Regal, praising the two and others, like Vader, comparing the match to a "gymnastics routine".[129][130][131]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryusuke Taguchi | 10 | Will Ospreay | 8 |
| Matt Sydal | 10 | Bobby Fish | 8 |
| Bushi | 8 | Ricochet | 8 |
| Kyle O'Reilly | 8 | Volador Jr. | 8 |
| Rocky Romero | 8 | Jushin Thunder Liger | 6 |
| Kushida | 8 | Tiger Mask IV | 6 |
| David Finlay Jr. | 2 | Chase Owens | 6 |
| Gedo | 2 | Beretta | 6 |
| Block A | Bushi | David Finlay Jr. | Gedo | Kushida | Kyle O'Reilly | Matt Sydal | Rocky Romero | Ryusuke Taguchi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bushi | — | Bushi (7:18)[132] | Gedo (11:34)[133] | Bushi (13:17)[134] | O'Reilly (10:58)[135] | Sydal (9:20)[136] | Bushi (11:08)[137] | Bushi (10:19)[138] |
| David Finlay Jr. | Bushi (7:18)[132] | — | Finlay (10:40)[137] | Kushida (10:31)[135] | O'Reilly (9:58)[138] | Sydal (8:59)[134] | Romero (11:00)[133] | Taguchi (9:18)[136] |
| Gedo | Gedo (11:34)[133] | Finlay (10:40)[137] | — | Kushida (13:34)[132] | O'Reilly (11:24)[136] | Sydal (6:21)[135] | Romero (8:33)[138] | Taguchi (9:46)[134] |
| Kushida | Bushi (13:17)[134] | Kushida (10:31)[135] | Kushida (13:34)[132] | — | O'Reilly (20:06)[133] | Kushida (15:59)[138] | Romero (15:03)[136] | Kushida (16:09)[137] |
| Kyle O'Reilly | O'Reilly (10:58)[135] | O'Reilly (9:58)[138] | O'Reilly (11:24)[136] | O'Reilly (20:06)[133] | — | Sydal (14:11)[137] | Romero (16:50)[134] | Taguchi (11:46)[132] |
| Matt Sydal | Sydal (9:20)[136] | Sydal (8:59)[134] | Sydal (6:21)[135] | Kushida (15:59)[138] | Sydal (14:11)[137] | — | Sydal (13:37)[132] | Taguchi (10:20)[133] |
| Rocky Romero | Bushi (11:08)[137] | Romero (11:00)[133] | Romero (8:33)[138] | Romero (15:03)[136] | Romero (16:50)[134] | Sydal (13:37)[132] | — | Taguchi (12:02)[135] |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Bushi (10:19)[138] | Taguchi (9:18)[136] | Taguchi (9:46)[134] | Kushida (16:09)[137] | Taguchi (11:46)[132] | Taguchi (10:20)[133] | Taguchi (12:02)[135] | — |
| Block B | Beretta | Bobby Fish | Chase Owens | Jushin Thunder Liger | Ricochet | Tiger Mask IV | Volador Jr. | Will Ospreay |
| Beretta | — | Fish (11:01)[139] | Owens (9:53)[140] | Beretta (5:18)[134] | Ricochet (13:13)[141] | Tiger (12:17)[142] | Beretta (12:04)[143] | Beretta (11:55)[144] |
| Bobby Fish | Fish (11:01)[139] | — | Fish (10:36)[142] | Liger (11:30)[143] | Ricochet (12:30)[144] | Fish (6:42)[134] | Fish (8:48)[140] | Ospreay (14:22)[141] |
| Chase Owens | Owens (9:53)[140] | Fish (10:36)[142] | — | Liger (7:12)[144] | Owens (10:21)[134] | Tiger (6:46)[139] | Volador (10:28)[141] | Owens (9:58)[143] |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Beretta (5:18)[134] | Liger (11:30)[143] | Liger (7:12)[144] | — | Ricochet (11:30)[140] | Liger (1:11)[141] | Volador (9:02)[139] | Ospreay (8:20)[142] |
| Ricochet | Ricochet (13:13)[141] | Ricochet (12:30)[144] | Owens (10:21)[134] | Ricochet (11:30)[140] | — | Ricochet (9:53)[143] | Volador (12:03)[142] | Ospreay (16:47)[139] |
| Tiger Mask IV | Tiger (12:17)[142] | Fish (6:42)[134] | Tiger (6:46)[139] | Liger (1:11)[141] | Ricochet (9:53)[143] | — | Volador (9:47)[144] | Tiger (7:41)[140] |
| Volador Jr. | Beretta (12:04)[143] | Fish (8:48)[140] | Volador (10:28)[141] | Volador (9:02)[139] | Volador (12:03)[142] | Volador (9:47)[144] | — | Ospreay (8:58)[134] |
| Will Ospreay | Beretta (11:55)[144] | Ospreay (14:22)[141] | Owens (9:58)[143] | Ospreay (8:20)[142] | Ospreay (16:47)[139] | Tiger (7:41)[140] | Ospreay (8:58)[134] | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Ryusuke Taguchi | Pin | ||
| B1 | Will Ospreay | 22:05[29] | ||
2017 edit
The twenty-fourth Best of the Super Juniors tournament took place between May 17 and June 3, 2017.[145] The participants were revealed on May 3. In addition to NJPW regulars, the tournament also featured Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) wrestlers Dragon Lee and Volador Jr., Ring of Honor (ROH) wrestler Marty Scurll and independent wrestler A. C. H.[146] Veteran wrestler Jushin Thunder Liger, who took part in his 17th Best of the Super Juniors tournament in a row, stated that the 2017 tournament would be his last.[147]
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Will Ospreay | 10 | Kushida | 8 |
| Dragon Lee | 8 | Bushi | 8 |
| Ricochet | 8 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 8 |
| Hiromu Takahashi | 8 | Yoshinobu Kanemaru | 8 |
| Taichi | 8 | Volador Jr. | 6 |
| Marty Scurll | 8 | Tiger Mask IV | 6 |
| Taka Michinoku | 4 | A. C. H. | 6 |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | 2 | El Desperado | 6 |
| Block A | Dragon Lee | Hiromu Takahashi | Jushin Thunder Liger | Marty Scurll | Ricochet | Taichi | Taka Michinoku | Will Ospreay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Lee | — | Lee (18:56)[148] | Lee (7:54)[149] | Lee (13:09)[150] | Lee (13:07)[151] | Taichi (9:04)[152] | Michinoku (9:20)[153] | Ospreay (10:05)[154] |
| Hiromu Takahashi | Lee (18:56)[148] | — | Takahashi (8:05)[150] | Takahashi (13:07)[149] | Ricochet (12:15)[152] | Takahashi (14:13)[151] | Takahashi (9:25)[154] | Ospreay (15:19)[153] |
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Lee (7:54)[149] | Takahashi (8:05)[150] | — | Scurll (12:16)[152] | Ricochet (9:04)[154] | Liger (10:02)[153] | Michinoku (8:33)[148] | Ospreay (10:10)[151] |
| Marty Scurll | Lee (13:09)[150] | Takahashi (13:07)[149] | Scurll (12:16)[152] | — | Scurll (13:31)[153] | Taichi (9:25)[154] | Scurll (8:51)[151] | Scurll (12:11)[148] |
| Ricochet | Lee (13:07)[151] | Ricochet (12:15)[152] | Ricochet (9:04)[154] | Scurll (13:31)[153] | — | Ricochet (8:56)[148] | Ricochet (7:41)[149] | Ospreay (27:27)[150] |
| Taichi | Taichi (9:04)[152] | Takahashi (14:13)[151] | Liger (10:02)[153] | Taichi (9:25)[154] | Ricochet (8:56)[148] | — | Taichi (9:30)[150] | Taichi (10:08)[149] |
| Taka Michinoku | Michinoku (9:20)[153] | Takahashi (9:25)[154] | Michinoku (8:33)[148] | Scurll (8:51)[151] | Ricochet (7:41)[149] | Taichi (9:30)[150] | — | Ospreay (8:46)[152] |
| Will Ospreay | Ospreay (10:05)[154] | Ospreay (15:19)[153] | Ospreay (10:10)[151] | Scurll (12:11)[148] | Ospreay (27:27)[150] | Taichi (10:08)[149] | Ospreay (8:46)[152] | — |
| Block B | A. C. H. | Bushi | El Desperado | Kushida | Ryusuke Taguchi | Tiger Mask IV | Volador Jr. | Yoshinobu Kanemaru |
| A. C. H. | — | ACH (10:47)[148] | ACH (9:56)[155] | ACH (14:44)[156] | Taguchi (13:41)[157] | Tiger (11:40)[158] | Volador (12:02)[159] | Kanemaru (10:26)[160] |
| Bushi | ACH (10:47)[148] | — | Desperado (9:47)[160] | Kushida (15:51)[158] | Bushi (9:25)[156] | Bushi (12:08)[157] | Bushi (10:53)[155] | Bushi (9:27)[159] |
| El Desperado | ACH (9:56)[155] | Desperado (9:47)[160] | — | Desperado (11:43)[148] | Desperado (12:38)[158] | Tiger (10:20)[159] | Volador (8:03)[156] | Kanemaru (9:39)[157] |
| Kushida | ACH (14:44)[156] | Kushida (15:51)[158] | Desperado (11:43)[148] | — | Kushida (22:53)[159] | Tiger (10:41)[160] | Kushida (15:44)[157] | Kushida (13:16)[155] |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Taguchi (13:41)[157] | Bushi (9:25)[156] | Desperado (12:38)[158] | Kushida (22:53)[159] | — | Taguchi (9:29)[155] | Taguchi (9:58)[160] | Taguchi (11:27)[148] |
| Tiger Mask IV | Tiger (11:40)[158] | Bushi (12:08)[157] | Tiger (10:20)[159] | Tiger (10:41)[160] | Taguchi (9:29)[155] | — | Volador (9:48)[148] | Kanemaru (8:42)[156] |
| Volador Jr. | Volador (12:02)[159] | Bushi (10:53)[155] | Volador (8:03)[156] | Kushida (15:44)[157] | Taguchi (9:58)[160] | Volador (9:48)[148] | — | Kanemaru (9:41)[158] |
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru | Kanemaru (10:26)[160] | Bushi (9:27)[159] | Kanemaru (9:39)[157] | Kushida (13:16)[155] | Taguchi (11:27)[148] | Kanemaru (8:42)[156] | Kanemaru (9:41)[158] | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Will Ospreay | Pin | ||
| B1 | Kushida | 27:59[30] | ||
2018 edit
The twenty-fifth Best of the Super Juniors started on May 18 and ended on June 4, 2018. The participants were revealed on May 7. In addition to NJPW regulars, the tournament also features Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) wrestler Dragon Lee, Ring of Honor (ROH) wrestlers Marty Scurll, Flip Gordon and Chris Sabin, and independent wrestler A. C. H. The final match between Taiji Ishimori and Hiromu Takahashi became the longest match in BOSJ history breaking the previous record from 2015. It was also the first time since 2011 that the final did not feature a gaijin wrestler. The final match was given a 51⁄2 star rating by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Taiji Ishimori | 10 | Hiromu Takahashi | 10 |
| Will Ospreay | 10 | Kushida | 8 |
| Bushi | 6 | Marty Scurll | 8 |
| A. C. H. | 6 | Chris Sabin | 6 |
| Flip Gordon | 6 | Dragon Lee | 6 |
| Tiger Mask IV | 6 | El Desperado | 6 |
| Yoh | 6 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 6 |
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru | 6 | Sho | 6 |
| Block A | A. C. H. | Bushi | Flip Gordon | Taiji Ishimori | Tiger Mask IV | Will Ospreay | Yoh | Yoshinobu Kanemaru |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. H. | — | Bushi (11:57)[161] | ACH (15:26)[162] | Ishimori (11:57)[163] | ACH (8:27)[164] | Ospreay (16:50)[165] | ACH (12:04)[166] | Kanemaru (14:04)[167] |
| Bushi | Bushi (11:57)[161] | — | Bushi (11:58)[163] | Ishimori (12:02)[165] | Tiger (11:16)[167] | Bushi (14:47)[166] | Yoh (15:18)[162] | Kanemaru (9:24)[164] |
| Flip Gordon | ACH (15:26)[162] | Bushi (11:58)[163] | — | Gordon (9:27)[167] | Gordon (11:15)[166] | Ospreay (19:36)[164] | Yoh (11:06)[161] | Gordon (10:03)[165] |
| Taiji Ishimori | Ishimori (11:57)[163] | Ishimori (12:02)[165] | Gordon (9:27)[167] | — | Ishimori (11:18)[161] | Ishimori (13:47)[162] | Ishimori (14:55)[164] | Kanemaru (14:55)[166] |
| Tiger Mask IV | ACH (8:27)[164] | Tiger (11:16)[167] | Gordon (11:15)[166] | Ishimori (11:18)[161] | — | Ospreay (12:05)[163] | Tiger (13:33)[165] | Tiger (10:27)[162] |
| Will Ospreay | Ospreay (16:50)[165] | Bushi (14:47)[166] | Ospreay (19:36)[164] | Ishimori (13:47)[162] | Ospreay (12:05)[163] | — | Ospreay (16:28)[167] | Ospreay (14:03)[161] |
| Yoh | ACH (12:04)[166] | Yoh (15:18)[162] | Yoh (11:06)[161] | Ishimori (14:55)[164] | Tiger (13:33)[165] | Ospreay (16:28)[167] | — | Yoh (16:37)[163] |
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru | Kanemaru (14:04)[167] | Kanemaru (9:24)[164] | Gordon (10:03)[165] | Kanemaru (14:55)[166] | Tiger (10:27)[162] | Ospreay (14:03)[161] | Yoh (16:37)[163] | — |
| Block B | Chris Sabin | Dragon Lee | El Desperado | Hiromu Takahashi | Kushida | Marty Scurll | Ryusuke Taguchi | Sho |
| Chris Sabin | — | Sabin (13:39)[168] | Sabin (12:14)[169] | Takahashi (13:35)[170] | Sabin (13:47)[171] | Scurll (13:58)[172] | Taguchi (10:56)[164] | Sho (15:09)[173] |
| Dragon Lee | Sabin (13:39)[168] | — | Desperado (12:18)[164] | Lee (20:48)[172] | Kushida (18:17)[169] | Scurll (16:01)[170] | Lee (11:14)[173] | Lee (17:31)[171] |
| El Desperado | Sabin (12:14)[169] | Desperado (12:18)[164] | — | Desperado (22:48)[173] | Kushida (18:33)[170] | Scurll (14:40)[168] | Desperado (13:17)[171] | Sho (12:48)[172] |
| Hiromu Takahashi | Takahashi (13:35)[170] | Lee (20:48)[172] | Desperado (22:48)[173] | — | Takahashi (24:15)[164] | Takahashi (20:47)[171] | Takahashi (14:49)[168] | Takahashi (16:19)[169] |
| Kushida | Sabin (13:47)[171] | Kushida (18:17)[169] | Kushida (18:33)[170] | Takahashi (24:15)[164] | — | Kushida (19:22)[173] | Taguchi (1:34)[172] | Kushida (19:24)[168] |
| Marty Scurll | Scurll (13:58)[172] | Scurll (16:01)[170] | Scurll (14:40)[168] | Takahashi (20:47)[171] | Kushida (19:22)[173] | — | Scurll (15:42)[169] | Sho (20:39)[164] |
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Taguchi (10:56)[164] | Lee (11:14)[173] | Desperado (13:17)[171] | Takahashi (14:49)[168] | Taguchi (1:34)[172] | Scurll (15:42)[169] | — | Taguchi (13:08)[170] |
| Sho | Sho (15:09)[172] | Lee (17:31)[171] | Sho (12:48)[171] | Takahashi (16:19)[169] | Kushida (19:24)[168] | Sho (20:39)[164] | Taguchi (13:08)[170] | — |
| Final | ||||
| A1 | Taiji Ishimori | Pin | ||
| B1 | Hiromu Takahashi | 34:09[31] | ||
2019 edit
The twenty-sixth Best of the Super Juniors started on May 13, 2019, and ended on June 5, 2019.[174] The final took place at Ryōgoku Kokugikan. The participants were all revealed bar one on April 23. In addition to NJPW regulars, the tournament will also feature Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) wrestlers Dragon Lee and Titán and Ring of Honor (ROH) wrestlers Marty Scurll, Jonathan Gresham and Bandido. This is the first edition to have twenty wrestlers entering the tournament. Before the tournament, El Desperado had to pull out due to injury and was replaced by Douki. Flip Gordon also had to pull out due to visa issues, being replaced by young lion Ren Narita. Taka Michinoku forfeited his final three matches due to a leg injury.
The 2019 edition included a record twenty participants; Shingo Takagi won all his matches in Block A, therefore becoming the first person to win nine matches within the same block, and setting a new record for most points scored at the tournament with 18 (apart from the inaugural 1988 edition, which used a different points system); the previous record for the current format was held by Prince Devitt, who won all eight of his matches in 2013 and scored 16.
| Block A | Block B | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Shingo Takagi | 18 | Will Ospreay | 14 |
| Taiji Ishimori | 14 | Ryusuke Taguchi | 12 |
| Dragon Lee | 14 | Bushi | 12 |
| Sho | 10 | Yoh | 12 |
| Marty Scurll | 10 | El Phantasmo | 12 |
| Jonathan Gresham | 8 | Bandido | 10 |
| Titán | 6 | Robbie Eagles | 10 |
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru | 6 | Rocky Romero | 6 |
| Tiger Mask IV | 4 | Douki | 2 |
| Taka Michinoku (withdrew) | 0 | Ren Narita | 0 |
| Block A | Dragon Lee | Jonathan Gresham | Marty Scurll | Shingo Takagi | Sho | Taiji Ishimori | Taka Michinoku | Tiger Mask IV | Titán | Yoshinobu Kanemaru |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Lee | — | Lee (9:42)[175] | Lee (16:12)[176] | Takagi (17:20)[177] | Lee (27:10)[178] | Ishimori (18:32)[179] | Lee (forfeit) | Lee (8:59)[180] | Lee (14:01)[181] | Lee (14:02)[182] |
| Jonathan Gresham | Lee (9:42)[175] | — | Scurll (12:22)[179] | Takagi (11:11)[182] | Sho (10:27)[176] | Ishimori (6:50)[181] | Gresham (9:28)[178] | Gresham (9:21)[177] | Gresham (10:55)[180] | Gresham (7:45)[183] |
| Marty Scurll | Lee (16:12)[176] | Scurll (12:22)[179] | — | Takagi (14:07)[180] | Sho (13:18)[177] | Ishimori (22:21)[178] | Scurll (forfeit) [184] | Scurll (13:01)[175] | Scurll (10:29)[183] | Scurll (5:02)[181] |
| Shingo Takagi | Takagi (17:20)[177] | Takagi (11:11)[182] | Takagi (14:07)[180] | — | Takagi (25:07)[179] | Takagi (20:58)[176] | Takagi (7:23)[181] | Takagi (9:22)[183] | Takagi (10:26)[178] | Takagi (15:24)[175] |
| Sho | Lee (27:10)[178] | Sho (10:27)[176] | Sho (13:18)[177] | Takagi (25:07)[179] | — | Ishimori (20:27)[183] | Sho (10:02)[175] | Sho (8:14)[181] | Sho (11:05)[182] | Kanemaru (4:01)[180] |
| Taiji Ishimori | Ishimori (18:32)[179] | Ishimori (6:50)[181] | Ishimori (22:21)[178] | Takagi (20:58)[176] | Ishimori (20:27)[183] | — | Ishimori (4:56)[180] | Ishimori (4:34)[182] | Ishimori (11:42)[175] | Kanemaru (3:51)[177] |
| Taka Michinoku | Lee (forfeit) | Gresham (9:28)[178] | Scurll (forfeit)[184] | Takagi (7:23)[181] | Sho (10:02)[175] | Ishimori (4:56)[180] | — | Tiger (10:58)[179] | Titán (8:09)[177] | Kanemaru (forfeit) [184] |
| Tiger Mask IV | Lee (8:59)[180] | Gresham (9:21)[177] | Scurll (13:01)[175] | Takagi (9:22)[183] | Sho (8:14)[181] | Ishimori (4:34)[182] | Tiger (10:58)[179] | — | Titán (8:10)[176] | Tiger (11:14) best, super, juniors, this, article, about, professional, wrestling, tournament, south, korean, band, super, junior, irish, political, term, super, junior, minister, stylized, best, super, often, abbreviated, bosj, annual, professional, wrestling, tournament, . This article is about the professional wrestling tournament For the South Korean boy band see Super Junior For the Irish political term see Super junior minister The Best of the Super Juniors stylized as the Best of the Super Jr and often abbreviated BOSJ is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW typically in May or June Originally known as Top of the Super Juniors the first tournament was held in 1988 with annual tournaments taking place since 1991 The wrestlers in the tournament are typically junior heavyweight wrestlers from promotions all over the world 1 NJPW has held 29 Super Juniors tournaments Hiromu Takahashi holds the record for most tournament wins with four while Jushin Thunder Liger and Koji Kanemoto have won three each Takahashi is also the only wrestler to have won three consecutive tournaments Kanemoto holds the record for the most final appearances having wrestled eight finals between 1997 and 2009 Liger has participated in the most tournaments competing in all tournaments except 1995 and 2000 until his 26th and final Super Junior tournament in 2017 Best of the Super Juniors trophy Contents 1 History and format 2 Top of the Super Juniors 1988 1993 2 1 1988 2 2 1991 2 3 1992 2 4 1993 3 Best of the Super Juniors 1994 present 3 1 1994 3 2 1995 3 3 1996 3 4 1997 3 5 1998 3 6 1999 3 7 2000 3 8 2001 3 9 2002 3 10 2003 3 11 2004 3 12 2005 3 13 2006 3 14 2007 3 15 2008 3 16 2009 3 17 2010 3 18 2011 3 19 2012 3 20 2013 3 21 2014 3 22 2015 3 23 2016 3 24 2017 3 25 2018 3 26 2019 3 27 2020 3 28 2021 3 29 2022 3 30 2023 4 References 5 External linksHistory and format editThe tournament was formed in 1988 by NJPW It was originally called the Top of the Super Juniors 1 The tournament is a round robin style tournament where a wrestler scores points 1 The winner assuming they are not already the champion receives an opportunity to wrestle for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship not long after the tournament is over Since 2010 the title match has taken place at June July s Dominion event In 1994 the tournament was renamed the Best of the Super Juniors Since 1996 the tournament has been divided into a two block system used in many other puroresu tournaments In this format the top two scorers in each block advance to the semifinals at which point single elimination rules take effect During the round robin portion a win is worth two points a time limit draw is worth one and any other result zero all matches have a 30 minute time limit though in the past it has been twenty minutes Top of the Super Juniors 1988 1993 editTournament Year Winner TOSJ won Final Venue Attendance Reference TOSJ 1988 1988 Shiro Koshinaka 1 Nakajima Sports Center 6 150 2 3 TOSJ 1991 1991 Norio Honaga 1 Ryōgoku Kokugikan 11 500 2 4 TOSJ 1992 1992 Jushin Thunder Liger 1 Ryōgoku Kokugikan 11 500 2 5 TOSJ 1993 1993 Pegasus Kid 1 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium 6 580 2 6 1988 edit The 1988 Top of the Super Juniors was a 12 man tournament held from January 4 to February 7 The points system at this time was different from today s though exactly how is unclear The two wrestlers with the most points at the end of the tournament Shiro Koshinaka and Hiroshi Hase faced off in a singles match to determine the winner The winner Koshinaka went on to win the Junior Heavyweight Championship from Owen Hart on June 24 1988 after failing to win the title from Hiroshi Hase twice on March 19 and May 8 2 3 Final standings Wrestler Score Hiroshi Hase 41 Shiro Koshinaka 41 Nobuhiko Takada 40 Owen Hart 39 Kazuo Yamazaki 38 Keiichi Yamada 31 Kuniaki Kobayashi 24 Hiro Saito 24 Tony St Clair 14 Tatsutoshi Goto 9 Masakatsu Funaki 8 Norio Honaga 0 Results Hiro Saito Hiroshi Hase Kazuo Yamazaki Keiichi Yamada Kuniaki Kobayashi Masakatsu Funaki Nobuhiko Takada Norio Honaga Owen Hart Shiro Koshinaka Tatsutoshi Goto Tony St Clair Hiro Saito Hase 13 27 Yamazaki 13 22 Saito 11 11 Kobayashi 12 36 Saito 7 32 Takada 12 28 Saito forfeit Hart 11 49 Koshinaka 12 03 Saito 12 28 Saito 12 29 Hiroshi Hase Hase 13 27 Yamazaki 11 26 Hase 12 38 Kobayashi 10 51 Hase 10 09 Double Countout 13 31 Hase forfeit Hase 13 09 Hase 12 04 Hase 13 49 Hase 12 13 Kazuo Yamazaki Yamazaki 13 22 Yamazaki 11 26 Yamada 10 07 Yamazaki 15 06 Yamazaki 13 28 Yamazaki 14 08 Yamazaki forfeit Hart 12 56 Koshinaka 12 58 Yamazaki 11 55 Yamazaki 8 55 Keiichi Yamada Saito 11 11 Hase 12 38 Yamada 10 07 Kobayashi 16 12 Yamada 9 24 Double Countout 12 28 Yamada forfeit Yamada 10 54 Koshinaka 18 14 Yamada 13 18 Yamada 10 01 Kuniaki Kobayashi Kobayashi 12 36 Kobayashi 10 51 Yamazaki 15 06 Kobayashi 16 12 Funaki 9 10 Takada 10 18 Kobayashi forfeit Hart 10 34 Koshinaka 13 49 Kobayashi 11 12 Kobayashi 11 09 Masakatsu Funaki Saito 7 32 Hase 10 09 Yamazaki 13 28 Yamada 9 24 Funaki 9 10 Takada 20 05 Funaki forfeit Hart 10 55 Koshinaka 12 04 Goto 10 28 St Clair 7 32 Nobuhiko Takada Takada 12 28 Double Countout 13 31 Yamazaki 14 08 Double Countout 12 28 Takada 10 18 Takada 20 05 Takada forfeit Takada 13 43 Double KO 20 34 Takada 19 34 Takada 11 29 Norio Honaga Saito forfeit Hase forfeit Yamazaki forfeit Yamada forfeit Kobayashi forfeit Funaki forfeit Takada forfeit Hart forfeit Koshinaka forfeit Goto forfeit St Clair forfeit Owen Hart Hart 11 49 Hase 13 09 Hart 12 56 Yamada 10 54 Hart 10 34 Hart 10 55 Takada 13 43 Hart forfeit Hart 15 00 Hart 7 57 Hart 11 28 Shiro Koshinaka Koshinaka 12 03 Hase 12 04 Koshinaka 12 58 Koshinaka 18 14 Koshinaka 13 49 Koshinaka 12 04 Double KO 20 34 Koshinaka forfeit Hart 15 00 Koshinaka 8 12 Koshinaka 9 50 Tatsutoshi Goto Saito 12 28 Hase 13 49 Yamazaki 11 55 Yamada 13 18 Kobayashi 11 12 Goto 10 28 Takada 19 34 Goto forfeit Hart 7 57 Koshinaka 8 12 St Clair 7 47 Tony St Clair Saito 12 29 Hase 12 13 Yamazaki 8 55 Yamada 10 01 Kobayashi 11 09 St Clair 7 32 Takada 11 29 St Clair forfeit Hart 11 28 Koshinaka 9 50 St Clair 7 47 Final 1Hiroshi HasePin2Shiro Koshinaka16 43 1991 edit The 1991 Top of the Super Juniors was a seven man tournament held from April 15 to April 30 and the first to use the modern points system Before the tournament the reigning Junior Heavyweight Champion Jushin Thunder Liger vacated the title so the winner of the 1991 Top of the Super Juniors also became the champion with his victory over Liger in the final Norio Honaga also won the championship 2 4 Final standings Wrestler Score Norio Honaga 8 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Pegasus Kid 8 Negro Casas 8 Owen Hart 6 David Finlay 4 Flyin Scorpio 0 Results Negro Casas Dave Finlay Owen Hart Norio Honaga Pegasus Kid Jushin Thunder Liger Flyin Scorpio Negro Casas Casas 5 33 Casas 6 45 Honaga 6 35 Kid 11 52 Casas 6 51 Casas 6 31 Dave Finlay Casas 5 33 Hart 8 35 Honaga 6 25 Finlay 7 04 Liger 11 38 Finlay 7 56 Owen Hart Casas 6 45 Hart 8 35 Honaga 7 23 Hart 11 04 Liger 14 58 Hart 7 55 Norio Honaga Honaga 6 35 Honaga 6 25 Honaga 7 23 Kid 9 22 Liger 9 44 Honaga 7 51 Pegasus Kid Kid 11 52 Finlay 7 04 Hart 11 04 Kid 9 22 Kid 14 01 Kid Jushin Thunder Liger Casas 6 51 Liger 11 38 Liger 14 58 Liger 9 44 Kid 14 01 Liger 8 46 Flyin Scorpio Casas 6 31 Finlay 7 56 Hart 7 55 Honaga 7 51 Kid Liger 8 46 SemifinalsFinal 1Norio HonagaPin3Pegasus Kid9 211Norio HonagaPin2Jushin Thunder Liger21 542Jushin Thunder LigerPin4Negro Casas11 14 1992 edit The 1992 Top of the Super Juniors was a nine man tournament held from April 16 to April 30 The winner Jushin Thunder Liger became the first man to win the tournament while holding the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship 2 5 Final standings Wrestler Score El Samurai 14 Jushin Thunder Liger 12 Norio Honaga 12 Negro Casas 10 Pegasus Kid 10 David Finlay 6 Eddie Guerrero 4 Flyin Scorpio 2 Koji Kanemoto 2 Results David Finlay Eddie Guerrero El Samurai Flyin Scorpio Jushin Thunder Liger Koji Kanemoto Negro Casas Norio Honaga Pegasus Kid David Finlay Finlay 12 16 Samurai 11 08 Finlay 10 58 Liger 11 52 Finlay 10 43 Casas 9 37 Honaga 9 26 Kid 9 29 Eddie Guerrero Finlay 12 16 Samurai 10 10 Guerrero 13 48 Liger 12 13 Guerrero 11 05 Casas 7 28 Honaga 9 34 Kid 12 06 El Samurai Samurai 11 08 Samurai 10 10 Samurai 10 51 Samurai 15 34 Samurai 11 29 Samurai 5 44 Honaga 10 00 Samurai 9 36 Flyin Scorpio Finlay 10 58 Guerrero 13 48 Samurai 10 51 Liger 11 23 Scorpio 12 52 Casas 10 05 Honaga 7 07 Kid 9 55 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 11 52 Liger 12 13 Samurai 15 34 Liger 11 23 Liger 10 08 Liger 7 24 Liger 12 14 Kid 12 42 Koji Kanemoto Finlay 10 43 Guerrero 11 05 Samurai 11 29 Scorpio 12 52 Liger 10 08 Kanemoto 9 14 Honaga 5 15 Kid 10 53 Negro Casas Casas 9 37 Casas 7 28 Samurai 5 44 Casas 10 05 Liger 7 24 Kanemoto 9 14 Casas 8 56 Casas 11 38 Norio Honaga Honaga 9 26 Honaga 9 34 Honaga 10 00 Honaga 7 07 Liger 12 14 Honaga 5 15 Casas 8 56 Honaga 8 00 Pegasus Kid Kid 9 29 Kid 12 06 Samurai 9 36 Kid 9 55 Kid 12 42 Kid 10 53 Casas 11 38 Honaga 8 00 SemifinalFinal1El SamuraiPin2Jushin Thunder LigerPin2Jushin Thunder Liger21 153Norio Honaga14 26 1993 edit The 1993 Top of the Super Juniors was an 11 man tournament held from May 26 to June 14 As the result of a four way tie for second place Jushin Thunder Liger was also tied but was eliminated due to injury the four men held a playoff tournament to challenge first place Pegasus Kid better known as Chris Benoit in the final this ended up being El Samurai who would nonetheless fall against Pegasus Kid Pegasus became the first foreign wrestler to win the tournament as a result 6 He also went on to challenge the champion Liger unsuccessfully on August 8 Eddie Guerrero participated in the 1992 tournament under his real name but wrestled in the 1993 tournament as Black Tiger 2 5 Final standings Wrestler Score Pegasus Kid 14 Black Tiger II 12 El Samurai 12 Dean Malenko 12 Flyin Scorpio 12 Jushin Thunder Liger 12 David Finlay 10 Norio Honaga 10 Lightning Kid 8 Shinjiro Otani 4 Masao Orihara 4 Results Black Tiger II David Finlay Dean Malenko El Samurai Flyin Scorpio Jushin Thunder Liger Lightning Kid Masao Orihara Norio Honaga Pegasus Kid Shinjiro Otani Black Tiger II Finlay 9 57 Tiger 12 45 Tiger 11 25 Tiger 7 25 Tiger 14 39 Lightning 11 30 Tiger forfeit Tiger 11 25 Pegasus 13 00 Otani 13 28 David Finlay Finlay 9 57 Finlay 11 51 Samurai 15 05 Finlay 10 21 Liger 11 24 Lightning 6 29 Orihara 9 26 Finlay 7 03 Pegasus 8 02 Finlay 9 17 Dean Malenko Tiger 12 45 Finlay 11 51 Samurai 12 13 Malenko 13 29 Malenko 17 23 Malenko 11 15 Malenko forfeit Malenko 11 05 Pegasus 9 41 Malenko 10 51 El Samurai Tiger 11 25 Samurai 15 05 Samurai 12 13 Samurai 10 25 Liger 13 27 Samurai 11 09 Orihara 11 39 Samurai 9 06 Pegasus 10 52 Samurai 12 05 Flyin Scorpio Tiger 7 25 Finlay 10 21 Malenko 13 29 Samurai 10 25 Scorpio 3 30 Scorpio 8 54 Scorpio forfeit Scorpio 7 37 Scorpio 11 00 Scorpio 8 52 Jushin Thunder Liger Tiger 14 39 Liger 11 24 Malenko 17 23 Liger 13 27 Scorpio 3 30 Liger 10 50 Liger forfeit Honaga 12 51 Liger 15 05 Liger 11 57 Lightning Kid Lightning 11 30 Lightning 6 29 Malenko 11 15 Samurai 11 09 Scorpio 8 54 Liger 10 50 Lightning forfeit Honaga 4 42 Pegasus 12 13 Lightning 12 46 Masao Orihara Tiger forfeit Orihara 9 26 Malenko forfeit Orihara 11 39 Scorpio forfeit Liger forfeit Lightning forfeit Honaga forfeit Pegasus 9 18 Otani forfeit Norio Honaga Tiger 11 25 Finlay 7 03 Malenko 11 05 Samurai 9 06 Scorpio 7 37 Honaga 12 51 Honaga 4 42 Honaga forfeit Honaga 7 06 Honaga 8 39 Pegasus Kid Pegasus 13 00 Pegasus 8 02 Pegasus 9 41 Pegasus 10 52 Scorpio 11 00 Liger 15 05 Pegasus 12 13 Pegasus 9 18 Honaga 7 06 Pegasus Shinjiro Otani Otani 13 28 Finlay 9 17 Malenko 10 51 Samurai 12 05 Scorpio 8 52 Liger 11 57 Lightning 12 46 Otani forfeit Honaga 8 39 Pegasus QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal2Black Tiger IISub1Pegasus KidPin4Dean Malenko13 514Dean MalenkoPin3El Samurai18 443El Samurai12 203El SamuraiPin5Flyin Scorpio10 16Best of the Super Juniors 1994 present editTournament Year Winner BOSJ won Final venue Attendance Reference Total won BOSJ I 1994 Jushin Thunder Liger 1 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium 6 580 2 7 2 BOSJ II 1995 Wild Pegasus 1 Sapporo Nakajima Sports Center 6 500 2 8 2 BOSJ III 1996 Black Tiger II 1 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium 6 650 2 9 1 BOSJ IV 1997 El Samurai 1 Nippon Budokan 14 000 2 10 1 BOSJ V 1998 Koji Kanemoto 1 Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium 8 000 2 11 1 BOSJ VI 1999 Kendo Kashin 1 Nippon Budokan 13 600 2 12 1 BOSJ VII 2000 Tatsuhito Takaiwa 1 Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium 6 200 13 1 BOSJ VIII 2001 Jushin Thunder Liger 2 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium 5 700 14 3 BOSJ IX 2002 Koji Kanemoto 2 Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium 5 200 15 2 BOSJ X 2003 Masahito Kakihara 1 Kyoto City Gymnasium 4 500 16 1 BOSJ XI 2004 Tiger Mask IV 1 Korakuen Hall 1 861 17 1 BOSJ XII 2005 Tiger Mask IV 2 Korakuen Hall 2 005 18 2 BOSJ XIII 2006 Minoru 1 Korakuen Hall 1 646 19 1 BOSJ XIV 2007 Milano Collection A T 1 Korakuen Hall 2 005 20 1 BOSJ XV 2008 Wataru Inoue 1 Korakuen Hall 2 010 21 1 BOSJ XVI 2009 Koji Kanemoto 3 Korakuen Hall 2 005 22 3 BOSJ XVII 2010 Prince Devitt 1 Korakuen Hall 2 005 23 1 BOSJ XVIII 2011 Kota Ibushi 1 Korakuen Hall 2 005 24 1 BOSJ XIX 2012 Ryusuke Taguchi 1 Korakuen Hall 2 050 25 1 BOSJ XX 2013 Prince Devitt 2 Korakuen Hall 2 015 26 2 BOSJ XXI 2014 Ricochet 1 Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium 3 014 27 1 BOSJ XXII 2015 Kushida 1 Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium 3 250 28 1 BOSJ XXIII 2016 Will Ospreay 1 Sendai Sun Plaza Hall 2 167 29 1 BOSJ 24 2017 Kushida 2 Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium 3 454 30 2 BOSJ 25 2018 Hiromu Takahashi 1 Korakuen Hall 1 740 31 1 BOSJ 26 2019 Will Ospreay 2 Ryōgoku Kokugikan 7 650 32 2 BOSJ 27 2020 Hiromu Takahashi 2 Nippon Budokan 3 564 citation needed 2 BOSJ 28 2021 Hiromu Takahashi 3 Ryōgoku Kokugikan 3 215 citation needed 3 BOSJ 29 2022 Hiromu Takahashi 4 Nippon Budokan 3 250 citation needed 4 BOSJ 30 2023 Master Wato 1 Ota City General Gymnasium 3 132 citation needed 1 BOSJ 31 2024 TBD Osaka jo Hall TBD citation needed 1994 edit The 1994 Best of the Super Juniors the first tournament to be held under that name was an 11 man tournament contested from May 26 to June 13 Jushin Thunder Liger once again won while also the reigning Junior Heavyweight champion and also became the first wrestler to win the tournament twice Guest natives included Super Delfin and Taka Michinoku from Michinoku Pro Wrestling and Masayoshi Motegi from Wrestle Dream Factory 2 7 Final standings Wrestler Score Jushin Thunder Liger 14 Super Delfin 14 El Samurai 12 Wild Pegasus 12 Black Tiger II 12 Dean Malenko 12 Shinjiro Otani 10 Tokimitsu Ishizawa 8 David Finlay 8 Taka Michinoku 4 Masayoshi Motegi 2 Final 1Jushin Thunder LigerPin2Super Delfin18 29 1995 edit The 1995 Best of the Super Juniors was a 10 man tournament held from June 23 to July 13 Like Jushin Thunder Liger the year prior Wild Pegasus formerly Pegasus Kid won the tournament for the second time and was the only non Japanese to do so until Prince Devitt won the tournament in 2010 2 8 Like in 1993 Pegasus failed in his championship challenge this time against Koji Kanemoto on September 25 1995 Gran Hamada from Michinoku Pro Wrestling was the guest native Final standings Wrestler Score Wild Pegasus 10 Shinjiro Otani 10 Black Tiger II 10 Koji Kanemoto 10 Dean Malenko 9 Gran Hamada 9 El Samurai 9 Brian Pillman 8 Alex Wright 8 Norio Honaga 4 Results Wild Pegasus Shinjiro Otani Black Tiger II Koji Kanemoto Dean Malenko Gran Hamada Brian Pillman El Samurai Alex Wright Norio Honaga Wild Pegasus Pegasus 14 28 Tiger 20 20 Pegasus 16 30 Pegasus 16 34 Pegasus 12 22 Pillman 11 11 Draw 30 00 Pegasus 13 30 Honaga 9 39 Shinjiro Otani Pegasus 14 28 Otani 16 37 Draw 30 00 Malenko 14 00 Otani 12 52 Otani 11 38 Samurai 13 47 Otani 14 53 Otani Unknown Black Tiger II Tiger 20 20 Otani 16 37 Tiger 17 45 Malenko 17 39 Hamada 13 02 Pillman 13 32 Tiger 12 03 Tiger 11 30 Tiger Unknown Koji Kanemoto Pegasus 16 30 Draw 30 00 Tiger 17 45 Kanemoto 15 27 Hamada 11 08 Kanemoto 11 15 Kanemoto 14 58 Kanemoto 15 13 Kanemoto Unknown Dean Malenko Pegasus 16 34 Malenko 14 00 Malenko 17 39 Kanemoto 15 27 Draw 30 00 Malenko 9 56 Samurai 12 10 Malenko 13 37 Honaga 10 28 Gran Hamada Pegasus 12 22 Otani 12 52 Hamada 13 02 Hamada 11 08 Draw 30 00 Hamada 12 36 Samurai 12 21 Wright 11 47 Hamada Unknown Brian Pillman Pillman 11 11 Otani 11 38 Pillman 13 32 Kanemoto 11 15 Malenko 9 56 Hamada 12 36 Pillman 11 43 Wright 11 17 Pillman Unknown El Samurai Draw 30 00 Samurai 13 47 Tiger 12 03 Kanemoto 14 58 Samurai 12 10 Samurai 12 21 Pillman 11 43 Wright 10 41 Samurai Unknown Alex Wright Pegasus 13 30 Otani 14 53 Malenko 11 05 Kanemoto 15 13 Malenko 13 37 Wright 11 47 Wright 11 17 Wright 10 41 Wright 8 36 Norio Honaga Honaga 9 39 Otani Unknown Tiger Unknown Kanemoto Unknown Honaga 10 28 Hamada Unknown Pillman Unknown Samurai Unknown Wright 8 36 SemifinalsFinal 1Wild PegasusPin3Black Tiger II16 371Wild PegasusPin2Shinjiro Otani19 162Shinjiro OtaniPin4Koji Kanemoto15 24 1996 edit The 1996 Best of the Super Juniors was held from May 24 to June 12 and was the first to use the two block format featuring seven wrestlers in each block The winner Black Tiger would unsuccessfully challenge The Great Sasuke for the championship on June 17 1996 2 9 Final standings Block A Block B El Samurai 10 Black Tiger II 10 Wild Pegasus 10 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Tatsuhito Takaiwa 8 Shinjiro Otani 6 Franz Schumann 2 Dean Malenko 6 Emilio Charles Jr 2 Norio Honaga 4 Mr J L 2 Tokimitsu Ishizawa 4 Koji Kanemoto 2 Villano IV 2 SemifinalsFinal A1El SamuraiPinB2Jushin Thunder Liger15 11B2Jushin Thunder LigerPinB1Black Tiger II18 44B1Black Tiger IIPinA2Wild Pegasus20 17 1997 edit The 1997 Best of the Super Juniors was a two block 14 man tournament held from May 16 to June 5 This and the following tournament in 1998 would utilize a points system that involved simply one point for a win and zero for a loss or draw The winner El Samurai went on to defeat Jushin Thunder Liger for the championship on July 6 Guest natives included Gran Naniwa and Hanzo Nakajima from Michinoku Pro Wrestling and Yoshihiro Tajiri from Big Japan Pro Wrestling 2 10 The final pitting Kanemoto against Samurai was awarded five stars by Dave Meltzer 33 Final standings Block A Block B Koji Kanemoto 5 El Samurai 5 Jushin Thunder Liger 4 Shinjiro Otani 4 Tatsuhito Takaiwa 4 Chris Jericho 4 Gran Naniwa 3 Hanzo Nakajima 3 Dr Wagner Jr 2 Yoshihiro Tajiri 3 Doc Dean 2 Scorpio Jr 1 Chavo Guerrero Jr 1 Robbie Brookside 1 Block A Doc Dean Chavo Guerrero Jr Koji Kanemoto Jushin Thunder Liger Gran Naniwa Tatsuhito Takaiwa Dr Wagner Jr Doc Dean Dean 16 04 Kanemoto 10 27 Dean 11 51 Naniwa 12 29 Takaiwa 11 36 Wagner 7 29 Chavo Guerrero Jr Dean 16 04 Kanemoto 15 12 Liger 10 20 Guerrero 11 05 Takaiwa 12 14 Wagner 11 13 Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto 10 27 Kanemoto 15 12 Kanemoto 16 32 Kanemoto 14 53 Takaiwa 18 09 Kanemoto 12 11 Jushin Thunder Liger Dean 11 51 Liger 10 20 Kanemoto 16 32 Liger 16 32 Liger 15 53 Liger 12 59 Gran Naniwa Naniwa 12 29 Guerrero 11 05 Kanemoto 14 53 Liger 16 32 Naniwa 15 41 Naniwa 12 39 Tatsuhito Takaiwa Takaiwa 11 36 Takaiwa 12 14 Takaiwa 18 09 Liger 15 53 Naniwa 15 41 Takaiwa 9 53 Dr Wagner Jr Wagner 7 29 Wagner 11 13 Kanemoto 12 11 Liger 12 59 Naniwa 12 39 Takaiwa 9 53 Block B Robbie Brookside Chris Jericho Hanzo Nakajima Shinjiro Otani El Samurai Scorpio Jr Yoshihiro Tajiri Robbie Brookside Brookside 13 43 Nakajima 12 23 Otani 15 31 Samurai 11 32 Scorpio 10 07 Tajiri 11 34 Chris Jericho Brookside 13 43 Jericho 10 53 Otani 12 59 Jericho 15 12 Jericho 11 16 Jericho 13 36 Hanzo Nakajima Nakajima 12 23 Jericho 10 53 Otani 12 26 Samurai 14 30 Nakajima 8 05 Nakajima 9 18 Shinjiro Otani Otani 15 31 Otani 12 59 Otani 12 26 Samurai 18 35 Otani 7 55 Tajiri 11 44 El Samurai Samurai 11 32 Jericho 15 12 Samurai 14 30 Samurai 18 35 Samurai 9 00 Samurai 13 42 Scorpio Jr Scorpio 10 07 Jericho 11 16 Nakajima 8 05 Otani 7 55 Samurai 9 00 Tajiri 9 16 Yoshihiro Tajiri Tajiri 11 34 Jericho 13 36 Nakajima 9 18 Tajiri 11 44 Samurai 13 42 Tajiri 9 16 Final A1Koji KanemotoPinB1El Samurai23 51 1998 edit The 1998 Best of the Super Juniors was a two block 12 man tournament held from May 16 to June 3 Like the previous year it used a simpler points system including one point for a win and zero for a loss or draw The winner Koji Kanemoto would make an unsuccessful challenge to the champion Jushin Thunder Liger on July 15 as well as an equally unsuccessful rematch on January 4 1999 before beating Liger for the title on March 17 1999 2 11 Final standings Block A Block B Dr Wagner Jr 4 Koji Kanemoto 4 El Samurai 3 Shiryu 3 Jushin Thunder Liger 3 Kendo Kashin 3 Tatsuhito Takaiwa 2 El Felino 2 Shinjiro Otani 2 Hayato Nanjo 2 Masakazu Fukuda 1 Yuji Yasuraoka 1 Block A Masakazu Fukuda Jushin Thunder Liger Shinjiro Otani El Samurai Tatsuhito Takaiwa Dr Wagner Jr Masakazu Fukuda Liger 15 54 Otani 14 38 Samurai 13 52 Fukuda 14 18 Wagner 13 48 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 15 54 Liger 20 37 Samurai 18 19 Takaiwa 15 03 Liger 11 27 Shinjiro Otani Otani 14 38 Liger 20 37 Otani 14 55 Takaiwa 17 46 Wagner 12 44 El Samurai Samurai 13 52 Samurai 18 19 Otani 14 55 Samurai 14 20 Wagner 14 16 Tatsuhito Takaiwa Fukuda 14 18 Takaiwa 15 03 Takaiwa 17 46 Samurai 14 20 Wagner 12 37 Dr Wagner Jr Wagner 13 48 Liger 11 27 Wagner 12 44 Wagner 14 16 Wagner 12 37 Block B El Felino Koji Kanemoto Kendo Kashin Hayato Nanjo Shiryu Yuji Yasuraoka El Felino Kanemoto 12 34 Kashin 6 14 Felino 10 52 Shiryu 10 19 Felino forfeit Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto 12 34 Kanemoto 15 52 Kanemoto 7 18 Kanemoto 16 52 Yasuraoka 18 07 Kendo Kashin Kashin 6 14 Kanemoto 15 52 Kashin 8 58 Shiryu 10 07 Kashin forfeit Hayato Nanjo Felino 10 52 Kanemoto 7 18 Kashin 8 58 Nanjo 11 22 Nanjo forfeit Shiryu Shiryu 10 19 Kanemoto 16 52 Shiryu 10 07 Nanjo 11 22 Shiryu forfeit Yuji Yasuraoka Felino forfeit Yasuraoka 18 07 Kashin forfeit Nanjo forfeit Shiryu forfeit Final A1Dr Wagner Jr PinB1Koji Kanemoto26 17 1999 edit The 1999 Best of the Super Juniors was a two block 12 man tournament held from May 19 to June 8 The winner Kendo Kashin went on to defeat the champion Koji Kanemoto for the title on August 28 who he had also defeated in the BOSJ final Kanemoto became the first person to reach the final three years in a row 2 12 Final standings Block A Block B Koji Kanemoto 8 Kendo Kashin 8 Gran Hamada 6 Shinjiro Otani 7 Jushin Thunder Liger 6 El Samurai 5 Masaaki Mochizuki 4 Dr Wagner Jr 4 Tatsuhito Takaiwa 4 Minoru Tanaka 4 Super Shocker 2 Masao Orihara 2 Block A Gran Hamada Koji Kanemoto Jushin Thunder Liger Masaaki Mochizuki Super Shocker Tatsuhito Takaiwa Gran Hamada Kanemoto 15 46 Hamada 10 08 Hamada 10 47 Hamada 10 17 Takaiwa 12 32 Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto 15 46 Liger 20 29 Kanemoto 9 40 Kanemoto 10 19 Kanemoto 13 29 Jushin Thunder Liger Hamada 10 08 Liger 20 29 Liger 11 13 Liger 13 59 Takaiwa 17 47 Masaaki Mochizuki Hamada 10 47 Kanemoto 9 40 Liger 11 13 Mochizuki 10 44 Mochizuki 13 11 Super Shocker Hamada 10 17 Kanemoto 10 19 Liger 13 59 Mochizuki 10 44 Shocker 13 50 Tatsuhito Takaiwa Takaiwa 12 32 Kanemoto 13 29 Takaiwa 17 47 Mochizuki 13 11 Shocker 13 50 Block B Kendo Kashin Masao Orihara Shinjiro Otani El Samurai Minoru Tanaka Dr Wagner Jr Kendo Kashin Kashin 7 06 Otani 9 34 Kashin 10 00 Kashin 10 21 Kashin 8 58 Masao Orihara Kashin 7 06 Otani 9 37 Samurai 12 52 Orihara 10 52 Wagner 10 08 Shinjiro Otani Otani 9 34 Otani 9 37 Draw 30 00 Tanaka 13 57 Otani 11 19 El Samurai Kashin 10 00 Samurai 12 52 Draw 30 00 Tanaka 10 32 Samurai 11 42 Minoru Tanaka Kashin 10 21 Orihara 10 52 Tanaka 13 57 Tanaka 10 32 Wagner 10 09 Dr Wagner Jr Kashin 8 58 Wagner 10 08 Otani 11 19 Samurai 11 42 Wagner 10 09 Final A1Koji KanemotoSubB1Kendo Kashin13 15 2000 edit The 2000 Best of the Super Juniors was a two block 12 man tournament held from May 19 to June 9 The winner Tatsuhito Takaiwa would go on to defeat Jushin Thunder Liger for the title on July 20 2000 ending Liger s last reign with the championship 13 Final standings Block A Block B Tatsuhito Takaiwa 8 Shinjiro Otani 10 Gran Hamada 6 Minoru Tanaka 6 Koji Kanemoto 6 Kendo Kashin 6 El Samurai 4 Katsumi Usuda 4 Dr Wagner Jr 4 Kid Romeo 2 Shinya Makabe 2 Minoru Fujita 2 Block A Gran Hamada Koji Kanemoto Shinya Makabe El Samurai Tatsuhito Takaiwa Dr Wagner Jr Gran Hamada Hamada 13 00 Hamada 8 37 Hamada 8 16 Takaiwa 6 39 Wagner 10 24 Koji Kanemoto Hamada 13 00 Kanemoto 10 37 Kanemoto 8 14 Kanemoto 14 04 Wagner 10 30 Shinya Makabe Hamada 8 37 Kanemoto 10 37 Samurai 9 52 Takaiwa 11 11 Makabe 12 38 El Samurai Hamada 8 16 Kanemoto 8 14 Samurai 9 52 Takaiwa 9 34 Samurai 13 51 Tatsuhito Takaiwa Takaiwa 6 39 Kanemoto 14 04 Takaiwa 11 11 Takaiwa 9 34 Takaiwa 13 06 Dr Wagner Jr Wagner 10 24 Wagner 10 30 Makabe 12 38 Samurai 13 51 Takaiwa 13 06 Block B Minoru Fujita Kendo Kashin Shinjiro Otani Kid Romeo Minoru Tanaka Katsumi Usuda Minoru Fujita Kashin 5 56 Otani 9 16 Romeo 6 06 Tanaka 11 20 Fujita 10 08 Kendo Kashin Kashin 5 56 Otani 9 59 Kashin 4 51 Tanaka 9 10 Kashin 8 30 Kid Romeo Romeo 6 06 Kashin 4 51 Otani 5 37 Tanaka 5 15 Usuda 6 16 Shinjiro Otani Otani 9 16 Otani 9 59 Otani 5 37 Otani 12 14 Otani 12 55 Minoru Tanaka Tanaka 11 20 Tanaka 9 10 Otani 12 14 Tanaka 5 15 Usuda 11 56 Katsumi Usuda Fujita 10 08 Kashin 8 30 Otani 12 55 Usuda 6 16 Usuda 11 56 Final A1Tatsuhito TakaiwaPinB1Shinjiro Otani18 35 2001 edit The 2001 Best of the Super Juniors was a two block 12 man tournament held from May 18 to June 4 With his victory Jushin Thunder Liger became both the first person to win the tournament three times and the first to not lose a single match during the tournament 14 For unclear reasons Liger did not receive a championship match as a reward for his victory Final standings Block A Block B Jushin Thunder Liger 10 Minoru Tanaka 8 El Samurai 6 Akira 6 Silver King 6 Super Shocker 6 Chris Candido 4 Dr Wagner Jr 6 Gran Naniwa 4 Shinya Makabe 4 Wataru Inoue 0 Katsuyori Shibata 0 Block A Chris Candido Wataru Inoue Jushin Thunder Liger Gran Naniwa El Samurai Silver King Chris Candido Candido 5 10 Liger 5 48 Candido 8 01 Samurai 4 53 King 7 40 Wataru Inoue Candido 5 10 Liger 13 56 Naniwa 10 48 Samurai 14 29 King 8 26 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 5 48 Liger 13 56 Liger 14 05 Liger 13 26 Liger 12 32 Gran Naniwa Candido 8 01 Naniwa 10 48 Liger 14 05 Naniwa 11 29 King 10 01 El Samurai Samurai 4 53 Samurai 14 29 Liger 13 26 Naniwa 11 29 Samurai 10 33 Silver King King 7 40 King 8 26 Liger 12 32 King 10 01 Samurai 10 33 Block B Akira Shinya Makabe Katsuyori Shibata Super Shocker Minoru Tanaka Dr Wagner Jr Akira Makabe 10 15 Akira 6 18 Akira 10 10 Akira 23 22 Wagner 11 38 Shinya Makabe Makabe 10 15 Makabe 6 23 Shocker 9 41 Tanaka 16 34 Wagner 9 03 Katsuyori Shibata Akira 6 18 Makabe 6 23 Shocker 9 07 Tanaka 6 24 Wagner 9 28 Super Shocker Akira 10 10 Shocker 9 41 Shocker 9 07 Tanaka 12 53 Shocker 14 23 Minoru Tanaka Akira 23 22 Tanaka 16 34 Tanaka 6 24 Tanaka 12 53 Tanaka 14 45 Dr Wagner Jr Wagner 11 38 Wagner 9 03 Wagner 9 28 Shocker 14 23 Tanaka 14 45 Final A1Jushin Thunder LigerPinB1Minoru Tanaka26 12 2002 edit The 2002 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14 man two block tournament held from May 18 to June 5 It once again used the 1997 98 system of one point for a win and zero for a loss or draw The two time winner Koji Kanemoto went on to defeat champion Minoru Tanaka for the title on July 19 the same man he defeated in the final of the tournament The Black Tiger who wrestled in the 2002 event was not Eddie Guerrero who had previously participated in the tournament under that name but luchador Silver King who had taken over the character in the preceding year 15 Final standings Block A Block B Koji Kanemoto 4 Minoru Tanaka 4 Jushin Thunder Liger 4 El Samurai 4 Katsuyori Shibata 3 Gedo 3 Black Tiger III 3 Masayuki Naruse 3 Masahito Kakihara 3 Akira 3 Curry Man 2 Tiger Mask IV 3 Jado 1 Wataru Inoue 2 Block A Black Tiger III Curry Man Jado Masahito Kakihara Koji Kanemoto Jushin Thunder Liger Katsuyori Shibata Black Tiger III Curry 8 46 B Tiger 5 00 B Tiger 8 20 B Tiger 13 35 Liger 13 30 Shibata 8 20 Curry Man Curry 8 46 Jado 10 47 Kakihara 9 23 Kanemoto 10 50 Liger 12 58 Curry 7 14 Jado B Tiger 5 00 Jado 10 47 Kakihara forfeit Kanemoto 12 06 Draw 3 10 Shibata forfeit Masahito Kakihara B Tiger 8 20 Kakihara 9 23 Kakihara forfeit Kakihara 12 28 Liger 14 06 Shibata 5 39 Koji Kanemoto B Tiger 13 35 Kanemoto 10 50 Kanemoto 12 06 Kakihara 12 28 Kanemoto 17 17 Kanemoto 6 12 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 13 30 Liger 12 58 Draw 3 10 Liger 14 06 Kanemoto 17 17 Liger 9 45 Katsuyori Shibata Shibata 8 20 Curry 7 14 Shibata forfeit Shibata 5 39 Kanemoto 6 12 Liger 9 45 Block B Akira Gedo Wataru Inoue Masayuki Naruse El Samurai Minoru Tanaka Tiger Mask IV Akira Gedo 11 12 Akira 7 47 Naruse 9 37 Samurai 11 48 Akira 16 13 Akira 10 36 Gedo Gedo 11 12 Inoue 11 19 Gedo 10 41 Samurai 13 25 Gedo 12 51 T Mask 14 49 Wataru Inoue Akira 7 47 Inoue 11 19 Naruse 10 23 Inoue 7 21 Tanaka 8 13 T Mask 8 16 Masayuki Naruse Naruse 9 37 Gedo 10 41 Naruse 10 23 Samurai 9 19 Tanaka 12 14 Naruse 6 54 El Samurai Samurai 11 48 Samurai 13 25 Inoue 7 21 Samurai 9 19 Tanaka 13 01 T Mask 12 08 Minoru Tanaka Akira 16 13 Gedo 12 51 Tanaka 8 13 Tanaka 12 14 Tanaka 13 01 Tanaka 10 22 Tiger Mask IV Akira 10 36 T Mask 14 49 T Mask 8 16 Naruse 6 54 T Mask 12 08 Tanaka 10 22 Final A1Koji KanemotoPinB1Minoru Tanaka14 12 2003 edit The 2003 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14 man two block tournament held from May 23 to June 11 It introduced the modern system of each block s top two scorers advancing to the semifinals with Masahito Kakihara winning the tournament 34 The winner would unsuccessfully challenge champion Tiger Mask IV on July 6 despite having beaten him in the tournament 16 Final standings Block A Block B Akira 10 Koji Kanemoto 8 Takashi Sugiura 8 Masahito Kakihara 8 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Tiger Mask IV 8 Minoru Fujita 8 Masayuki Naruse 6 Ebessan 4 Stampede Kid 4 Gedo 4 El Samurai 4 Ryusuke Taguchi 0 Jado 4 Block A Akira Ebessan Minoru Fujita Gedo Jushin Thunder Liger Takashi Sugiura Ryusuke Taguchi Akira Akira 8 24 Fujita 12 34 Akira 11 49 Akira 16 04 Akira 12 10 Akira 8 34 Ebessan Akira 8 24 Fujita 8 24 Ebessan 9 09 Liger 10 56 Sugiura 11 52 Ebessan 7 14 Minoru Fujita Fujita 12 34 Fujita 8 24 Fujita 11 41 Liger 11 27 Sugiura 11 27 Fujita 10 26 Gedo Akira 11 49 Ebessan 9 09 Fujita 11 41 Liger 14 09 Gedo 12 16 Gedo 8 39 Jushin Thunder Liger Akira 16 04 Liger 10 56 Liger 11 27 Liger 14 09 Sugiura 12 06 Liger 6 53 Takashi Sugiura Akira 12 10 Sugiura 11 52 Sugiura 11 27 Gedo 12 16 Sugiura 12 06 Sugiura 9 13 Ryusuke Taguchi Akira 8 34 Ebessan 7 14 Fujita 10 26 Gedo 8 39 Liger 6 53 Sugiura 9 13 Block B Jado Masahito Kakihara Koji Kanemoto Masayuki Naruse El Samurai Stampede Kid Tiger Mask IV Jado Kakihara 6 56 Jado 5 23 Jado 7 38 Samurai 12 26 Stampede 5 13 Tiger 9 59 Masahito Kakihara Kakihara 6 56 Kanemoto 11 07 Naruse 9 15 Kakihara 8 13 Kakihara 7 06 Kakihara 10 31 Koji Kanemoto Jado 5 23 Kanemoto 11 07 Kanemoto 10 56 Samurai 8 29 Kanemoto 8 50 Kanemoto 10 45 Masayuki Naruse Jado 7 38 Naruse 9 15 Kanemoto 10 56 Naruse 9 07 Naruse 9 09 Tiger 10 05 El Samurai Samurai 12 26 Kakihara 8 13 Samurai 8 29 Naruse 9 07 Stampede 9 41 Tiger 12 09 Stampede Kid Stampede 5 13 Kakihara 7 06 Kanemoto 8 50 Naruse 9 09 Stampede 9 41 Tiger 7 38 Tiger Mask IV Tiger 9 59 Kakihara 10 31 Kanemoto 10 45 Tiger 10 05 Tiger 12 09 Tiger 7 38 SemifinalsFinal A1AkiraSubB2Masahito Kakihara8 28B2Masahito KakiharaPinB1Koji Kanemoto15 33B1Koji KanemotoSubA2Takashi Sugiura12 48 2004 edit The 2004 Best of the Super Juniors was a 16 man two block tournament held from May 22 to June 13 It featured a unique structure from other years the top scorer from each block would advance to the semifinals while the second and third place finishers in each block would start in the quarterfinals Jushin Thunder Liger after finishing first in Block A was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a spinal injury leaving American Dragon to go to the semifinals instead The eventual winner Tiger Mask IV would unsuccessfully challenge Heat for the title on July 19 though he would defeat him in a rematch on January 4 2005 17 Final standings Block A Block B Jushin Thunder Liger withdrew 9 Tiger Mask IV 12 American Dragon 9 Ultimo Dragon 11 Masahito Kakihara 9 Heat 10 Koji Kanemoto 7 Masayuki Naruse 10 El Samurai 7 Rocky Romero 7 Big Boss Ma g ma 7 Garuda 3 Wataru Inoue 4 Katsuhiko Nakajima 2 Ryusuke Taguchi 4 Curry Man 1 Block A American Dragon Wataru Inoue Masahito Kakihara Koji Kanemoto Jushin Thunder Liger Big Boss Ma g ma El Samurai Ryusuke Taguchi American Dragon Dragon 12 34 Dragon 9 44 Dragon 11 51 Liger 13 10 Ma g ma 14 35 Dragon 12 58 Draw 20 00 Wataru Inoue Dragon 12 34 Kakihara 10 37 Inoue 11 44 Liger 5 46 Ma g ma 11 16 Samurai 10 39 Inoue 10 19 Masahito Kakihara Dragon 9 44 Kakihara 10 37 Kakihara 10 55 Draw 20 00 Kakihara 10 33 Samurai 9 50 Kakihara 7 32 Koji Kanemoto Dragon 11 51 Inoue 11 44 Kakihara 10 55 Kanemoto 16 33 Draw 20 00 Kanemoto 13 58 Kanemoto 8 50 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 13 10 Liger 5 46 Draw 20 00 Kanemoto 16 33 Liger 7 07 Liger 14 08 Taguchi 0 45 Big Boss Ma g ma Ma g ma 14 35 Ma g ma 11 16 Kakihara 10 33 Draw 20 00 Liger 7 07 Samurai 11 56 Ma g ma 8 48 El Samurai Dragon 12 58 Samurai 10 39 Samurai 9 50 Kanemoto 13 58 Liger 14 08 Samurai 11 56 Draw 20 00 Ryusuke Taguchi Draw 20 00 Inoue 10 19 Kakihara 7 32 Kanemoto 8 50 Taguchi 0 45 Ma g ma 8 48 Draw 20 00 Block B Curry Man Ultimo Dragon Garuda Heat Katsuhiko Nakajima Masayuki Naruse Rocky Romero Tiger Mask IV Curry Man Dragon forfeit Draw 20 00 Heat 11 19 Nakajima 8 20 Naruse forfeit Romero forfeit Tiger forfeit Ultimo Dragon Dragon forfeit Dragon 8 46 Draw 20 00 Dragon 9 07 Naruse 11 06 Dragon 12 10 Dragon 12 01 Garuda Draw 20 00 Dragon 8 46 Heat 5 11 Garuda 8 41 Naruse 11 06 Romero 9 55 Tiger 10 42 Heat Heat 11 19 Draw 20 00 Heat 5 11 Heat 11 26 Heat 15 38 Draw 20 00 Tiger 14 08 Katsuhiko Nakajima Nakajima 8 20 Dragon 9 07 Garuda 8 41 Heat 11 26 Naruse 1 41 Romero 8 39 Tiger 7 11 Masayuki Naruse Naruse forfeit Naruse 11 06 Naruse 11 06 Heat 15 38 Naruse 1 41 Naruse 8 41 Tiger 3 32 Rocky Romero Romero forfeit Dragon 12 10 Romero 9 55 Draw 20 00 Romero 8 39 Naruse 8 41 Tiger 13 14 Tiger Mask IV Tiger forfeit Dragon 12 01 Tiger 10 42 Tiger 14 08 Tiger 7 11 Tiger 3 32 Tiger 13 14 QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal A1American DragonSubA3Koji Kanemoto13 34B2Ultimo DragonPinA3Koji Kanemoto5 30A3Koji KanemotoPinB1Tiger Mask IV11 26B1Tiger Mask IVPinB3Heat15 14A2Masahito KakiharaSubB3Heat12 52 2005 edit The 2005 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14 man two block tournament held from May 21 to June 19 The winner Tiger Mask IV became the first person to win the tournament in consecutive years until Hiromu Takahashi would share he record in 2020 and 2021 Tiger Mask was also the first since Jushin Thunder Liger in 1994 to win the tournament as champion 2005 saw the participation of the third wrestler under the Black Tiger mask as Rocky Romero had begun working as Black Tiger IV in the preceding year 18 Final standings Block A Block B Minoru 8 Gedo 10 Koji Kanemoto 8 Tiger Mask IV 8 Hirooki Goto 6 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 El Samurai 6 Wataru Inoue 6 Masahito Kakihara 6 Black Tiger IV 4 Stampede Kid 4 Katsushi Takemura 4 Jado 4 Akiya Anzawa 2 Block A Hirooki Goto Jado Masahito Kakihara Koji Kanemoto Minoru El Samurai Stampede Kid Hirooki Goto Jado 11 31 Goto 10 16 Kanemoto 11 28 Minoru 11 28 Goto 10 08 Goto 7 57 Jado Jado 11 31 Kakihara 8 02 Kanemoto 10 40 Minoru 12 29 Jado 14 04 Stampede 9 59 Masahito Kakihara Goto 10 16 Kakihara 8 02 Kanemoto 10 29 Kakihara 10 04 Samurai 10 47 Kakihara 8 30 Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto 11 28 Kanemoto 10 40 Kanemoto 10 29 Minoru 19 38 Samurai 12 15 Kanemoto 9 34 Minoru Minoru 11 28 Minoru 12 29 Kakihara 10 04 Minoru 19 38 Minoru 13 04 Stampede 11 30 El Samurai Goto 10 08 Jado 14 04 Samurai 10 47 Samurai 12 15 Minoru 13 04 Samurai 9 31 Stampede Kid Goto 7 57 Stampede 9 59 Kakihara 8 30 Kanemoto 9 34 Stampede 11 30 Samurai 9 31 Block B Akiya Anzawa Black Tiger IV Gedo Wataru Inoue Jushin Thunder Liger Katsushi Takemura Tiger Mask IV Akiya Anzawa B Tiger 6 13 Gedo 10 21 Anzawa forfeit Liger 8 36 Takemura 7 46 T Mask 5 34 Black Tiger IV B Tiger 6 13 Gedo forfeit Inoue 11 01 Liger forfeit B Tiger 6 46 T Mask forfeit Gedo Gedo 10 21 Gedo forfeit Inoue 15 13 Gedo 17 24 Gedo 11 29 Gedo 11 25 Wataru Inoue Anzawa forfeit Inoue 11 01 Inoue 15 13 Liger 16 50 Takemura forfeit Inoue 11 53 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 8 36 Liger forfeit Gedo 17 24 Liger 16 50 Liger 12 12 T Mask 8 58 Katsushi Takemura Takemura 7 46 B Tiger 6 46 Gedo 11 29 Takemura forfeit Liger 12 12 T Mask 6 12 Tiger Mask IV T Mask 5 34 T Mask forfeit Gedo 11 25 Inoue 11 53 T Mask 8 58 T Mask 6 12 SemifinalsFinal A1MinoruPinB2Tiger Mask IV12 03B2Tiger Mask IVPinB1Gedo16 03B1GedoPinA2Koji Kanemoto10 54 2006 edit The 2006 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14 man two block tournament held from May 27 to June 18 The winner Minoru went on to defeat Koji Kanemoto for the title in December 2006 This tournament marked the first time that neither block winner made it to the final 19 Final standings Block A Block B Jushin Thunder Liger 10 Wataru Inoue 10 Minoru 8 Tiger Mask IV 8 El Samurai 7 Koji Kanemoto 7 Ryusuke Taguchi 7 Gedo 5 Jado 6 Black Tiger IV 4 Sangre Azteca 2 Hirooki Goto 4 Fuego 2 Gentaro 4 Block A Sangre Azteca Fuego Jado Jushin Thunder Liger Minoru El Samurai Ryusuke Taguchi Sangre Azteca Azteca 10 28 Jado 7 41 Liger 12 12 Minoru 12 26 Samurai 11 08 Taguchi 12 50 Fuego Azteca 10 28 Jado 11 14 Liger 7 12 Fuego 4 40 Samurai 9 51 Taguchi 6 06 Jado Jado 7 41 Jado 11 14 Liger 15 19 Minoru 12 54 Draw 30 00 Draw 6 01 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 12 12 Liger 7 12 Liger 15 19 Liger 21 20 Liger 12 16 Taguchi 15 30 Minoru Minoru 12 26 Fuego 4 40 Minoru 12 54 Liger 21 20 Minoru 13 24 Minoru 19 18 El Samurai Samurai 11 08 Samurai 9 51 Draw 30 00 Liger 12 16 Minoru 13 24 Samurai 12 02 Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi 12 50 Taguchi 6 06 Draw 6 01 Taguchi 15 30 Minoru 19 18 Samurai 12 02 Block B Black Tiger IV Gedo Gentaro Hirooki Goto Wataru Inoue Koji Kanemoto Tiger Mask IV Black Tiger IV Gedo 10 59 B Tiger 14 21 B Tiger 12 04 Inoue 11 41 Kanemoto 16 35 T Mask 9 36 Gedo Gedo 10 59 Gedo 12 32 Goto 15 21 Inoue 13 17 Draw 15 06 T Mask 12 59 Gentaro B Tiger 14 21 Gedo 12 32 Goto 8 27 Gentaro 14 31 Kanemoto 12 18 Gentaro 10 22 Hirooki Goto B Tiger 12 04 Goto 15 21 Goto 8 27 Inoue 9 57 Kanemoto 9 49 T Mask 10 58 Wataru Inoue Inoue 11 41 Inoue 13 17 Gentaro 14 31 Inoue 9 57 Inoue 16 46 Inoue 5 57 Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto 16 35 Draw 15 06 Kanemoto 12 18 Kanemoto 9 49 Inoue 16 46 T Mask 12 58 Tiger Mask IV T Mask 9 36 T Mask 12 59 Gentaro 10 22 T Mask 10 58 Inoue 5 57 T Mask 12 58 SemifinalsFinal A1Jushin Thunder LigerPinB2Tiger Mask IV10 27B2Tiger Mask IVSubA2Minoru22 52B1Wataru InoueSubA2Minoru18 42 2007 edit The 2007 Best of the Super Juniors was a 14 man two block tournament held from June 1 to June 17 On June 7 it was announced that Prince Devitt would be forced to withdraw from the tournament due to an injury forfeiting all scheduled matches in the process 20 Milano Collection A T became the first wrestler since Shiro Koshinaka to win the tournament on his first try but would fail to capture the Junior Heavyweight championship Final standings Block A Block B Wataru Inoue 10 Ryusuke Taguchi 10 Milano Collection A T 8 Minoru 8 Tiger Mask IV 8 Koji Kanemoto 7 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Gedo 5 Taichi Ishikari 4 BxB Hulk 4 Yujiro 4 El Samurai 4 Prince Devitt withdrew 0 Tetsuya Naito 4 Block A Wataru Inoue Taichi Ishikari Jushin Thunder Liger Milano Collection A T Prince Devitt Tiger Mask IV Yujiro Wataru Inoue Inoue 13 33 Liger 15 47 Inoue 14 22 Inoue forfeit Inoue 11 36 Inoue 10 47 Taichi Ishikari Inoue 13 33 Liger 12 29 Milano 11 25 Ishikari 11 40 Tiger 8 59 Ishikari 10 41 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 15 47 Liger 12 29 Milano 16 41 Liger forfeit Tiger 14 08 Liger 11 19 Milano Collection A T Inoue 14 22 Milano 11 25 Milano 16 41 Milano 10 18 Milano 11 23 Yujiro 10 35 Prince Devitt Inoue forfeit Ishikari 11 40 Liger forfeit Milano 10 18 Tiger forfeit Yujiro forfeit Tiger Mask IV Inoue 11 36 Tiger 8 59 Tiger 14 08 Milano 11 23 Tiger forfeit Tiger 10 34 Yujiro Inoue 10 47 Ishikari 10 41 Liger 11 19 Yujiro 10 35 Yujiro forfeit Tiger 10 34 Block B BxB Hulk Gedo Tetsuya Naito Koji Kanemoto Minoru El Samurai Ryusuke Taguchi BxB Hulk Hulk 11 03 Hulk 11 10 Kanemoto 12 05 Minoru 11 52 Samurai 8 53 Taguchi 12 30 Gedo Hulk 11 03 Naito 9 29 Draw 15 50 Minoru 13 26 Gedo 14 13 Gedo 11 36 Tetsuya Naito Hulk 11 10 Naito 9 29 Kanemoto 10 16 Minoru 9 01 Naito 9 27 Taguchi 9 47 Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto 12 05 Draw 15 50 Kanemoto 10 16 Kanemoto 16 32 Samurai 16 19 Taguchi 12 07 Minoru Minoru 11 52 Minoru 13 26 Minoru 9 01 Kanemoto 16 32 Minoru 11 36 Taguchi 14 15 El Samurai Samurai 8 53 Gedo 14 13 Naito 9 27 Samurai 16 19 Minoru 11 36 Taguchi 10 26 Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi 12 30 Gedo 11 36 Taguchi 9 47 Taguchi 12 07 Taguchi 14 15 Taguchi 10 26 SemifinalsFinal A1Wataru InoueSubB2Minoru14 45A1Wataru InouePinA2Milano Collection A T 19 37B1Ryusuke TaguchiPinA2Milano Collection A T 12 47 2008 edit The 2008 Best of the Super Juniors featured 12 participants in two blocks and was held from May 31 to June 15 21 Outside entrants include Tatsuhito Takaiwa from Pro Wrestling Zero1 and Jimmy Rave from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Prince Devitt was again forced out due to injury following his match with Tiger Mask IV forfeiting his remaining matches Immediately after the tournament winner Wataru Inoue who also joined Liger and Tiger in winning the tournament as champion graduated to the heavyweight division vacating the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in the process Block structure Block A Block B Ryusuke Taguchi 8 Tiger Mask IV 10 Wataru Inoue 8 Koji Kanemoto 6 Minoru 4 Jimmy Rave 6 Jushin Thunder Liger 4 Tetsuya Naito 4 Tatsuhito Takaiwa 4 Akira 4 Yujiro 2 Prince Devitt withdrew 0 Block A Wataru Inoue Jushin Thunder Liger Minoru Ryusuke Taguchi Tatsuhito Takaiwa Yujiro Wataru Inoue Inoue 17 13 Inoue 19 14 Taguchi 17 44 Inoue 13 24 Inoue 11 19 Jushin Thunder Liger Inoue 17 13 Minoru 13 32 Taguchi 14 31 Liger 14 49 Liger 9 57 Minoru Inoue 19 14 Minoru 13 32 Taguchi 14 29 Minoru 11 31 Yujiro 11 58 Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi 17 44 Taguchi 14 31 Taguchi 14 29 Takaiwa 14 39 Taguchi 13 20 Tatsuhito Takaiwa Inoue 13 24 Liger 14 49 Minoru 11 31 Takaiwa 14 39 Takaiwa 10 47 Yujiro Inoue 11 19 Liger 9 57 Yujiro 11 58 Taguchi 13 20 Takaiwa 10 47 Block B Akira Prince Devitt Koji Kanemoto Tetsuya Naito Jimmy Rave Tiger Mask IV Akira Akira forfeit Akira 18 14 Naito 13 56 Rave 11 25 Tiger 10 22 Prince Devitt Akira forfeit Kanemoto forfeit Naito forfeit Rave forfeit Tiger 1 40 Koji Kanemoto Akira 18 14 Kanemoto forfeit Kanemoto 10 43 Kanemoto 13 57 Tiger 10 16 Tetsuya Naito Naito 13 56 Naito forfeit Kanemoto 10 43 Rave 8 01 Tiger 11 10 Jimmy Rave Rave 11 25 Rave forfeit Kanemoto 13 57 Rave 8 01 Tiger 14 03 Tiger Mask IV Tiger 10 22 Tiger 1 40 Tiger 10 16 Tiger 11 10 Tiger 14 03 SemifinalsFinal A1Ryusuke TaguchiSubB2Koji Kanemoto9 22B2Koji KanemotoSubA2Wataru Inoue27 50B1Tiger Mask IVPinA2Wataru Inoue9 03 2009 edit The 2009 Best of the Super Juniors featured 14 participants in two blocks and was held from May 30 to June 14 With his victory Koji Kanemoto became only the second wrestler to win the tournament three times in total 22 He lost a title match on July 20 against the defending champion Tiger Mask IV Block structure Block A Block B Prince Devitt 8 Koji Kanemoto 8 Atsushi Aoki 8 Kota Ibushi 8 Akira 6 Jushin Thunder Liger 6 Jado 6 Ryusuke Taguchi 6 Milano Collection A T 6 Tsuyoshi Kikuchi 6 Tiger Mask IV 6 Taichi 4 Black Tiger V 2 Yamato 4 Block A Akira Atsushi Aoki Black Tiger V Jado Milano Collection A T Prince Devitt Tiger Mask IV Akira Aoki 15 00 Akira 12 52 Jado 14 58 Akira 11 17 Devitt 9 53 Akira 10 05 Atsushi Aoki Aoki 15 00 Aoki 9 36 Aoki 10 00 Aoki 11 12 Devitt 11 16 T Mask 10 27 Black Tiger V Akira 12 52 Aoki 9 36 Jado 11 26 Milano 10 29 Devitt 7 20 B Tiger 3 51 Jado Jado 14 58 Aoki 10 00 Jado 11 26 Milano 16 22 Devitt 12 54 Jado 10 48 Milano Collection A T Akira 11 17 Aoki 11 12 Milano 10 29 Milano 16 22 Milano 15 22 T Mask 16 12 Prince Devitt Devitt 9 53 Devitt 11 16 Devitt 7 20 Devitt 12 54 Milano 15 22 T Mask 11 19 Tiger Mask IV Akira 10 05 T Mask 10 27 B Tiger 3 51 Jado 10 48 T Mask 16 12 T Mask 11 19 Block B Jushin Thunder Liger Koji Kanemoto Kota Ibushi Ryusuke Taguchi Taichi Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Yamato Jushin Thunder Liger Kanemoto 17 27 Ibushi 16 35 Liger 10 08 Liger 11 11 Liger 8 30 Yamato 3 38 Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto 17 27 Kanemoto 14 18 Kanemoto 17 11 Kanemoto 12 05 Kikuchi 9 18 Yamato 9 40 Kota Ibushi Ibushi 16 35 Kanemoto 14 18 Taguchi 10 13 Ibushi 11 59 Ibushi 9 56 Ibushi 10 13 Ryusuke Taguchi Liger 10 08 Kanemoto 17 11 Taguchi 10 13 Taichi 10 01 Taguchi 11 31 Taguchi 13 17 Taichi Liger 11 11 Kanemoto 12 05 Ibushi 11 59 Taichi 10 01 Kikuchi 9 24 Taichi 9 31 Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Liger 8 30 Kikuchi 9 18 Ibushi 9 56 Taguchi 11 31 Kikuchi 9 24 Kikuchi 10 54 Yamato Yamato 3 38 Yamato 9 40 Ibushi 10 13 Taguchi 13 17 Taichi 9 31 Kikuchi 10 54 SemifinalsFinal A1Prince DevittPinB2Kota Ibushi8 14A1Prince DevittSubB1Koji Kanemoto19 55B1Koji KanemotoStopA2Atsushi Aoki6 27 2010 edit The 2010 Best of the Super Juniors featured 16 participants in two blocks and was held from May 30 to June 13 Outside entrants included Fujita Jr Hayato Michinoku Pro Kota Ibushi DDT Pro Wrestling Kenny Omega DDT Ring of Honor Pro Wrestling Guerrilla United States Kushida Smash La Sombra Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Mexico Davey Richards ROH PWG United States and Taiji Ishimori Pro Wrestling Noah 35 On May 31 2010 it was announced that Tiger Mask IV had suffered a vertebra injury during his match against La Sombra and was forced out of action for two months As a result of his injury Tiger Mask IV withdrew from the competition forfeiting the rest of his matches automatically giving all of his opponents two points 36 On June 6 2010 Fujita Hayato had to forfeit his match against Akira due to an injury and also forfeit the rest of the tournament 37 The winner of the tournament Prince Devitt went on to defeat Naomichi Marufuji on June 19 2010 at Dominion 6 19 to become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion 38 Final standings Block A Block B Kota Ibushi 12 Taiji Ishimori 10 Prince Devitt 10 Ryusuke Taguchi 10 Davey Richards 10 Akira 8 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Kenny Omega 8 Kushida 8 Koji Kanemoto 8 La Sombra 6 Fujita Hayato withdrew 6 Gedo 2 Tama Tonga 4 Tiger Mask IV withdrew 0 Nobuo Yoshihashi 2 Block A Davey Richards Gedo Jushin Thunder Liger Kota Ibushi Kushida La Sombra Prince Devitt Tiger Mask IV Davey Richards Richards 11 13 39 Richards 09 14 40 Ibushi 11 27 41 Richards 11 13 37 Richards 12 06 42 Devitt 16 26 43 Richards forfeit 36 Gedo Richards 11 13 39 Liger 11 27 44 Ibushi 09 42 45 Kushida 10 09 46 Sombra 11 25 47 Devitt 12 13 37 Gedo forfeit 36 Jushin Thunder Liger Richards 09 14 40 Liger 11 27 44 Liger 13 35 37 Liger 12 44 43 Sombra 04 31 41 Devitt 10 18 42 Liger forfeit 36 Kota Ibushi Ibushi 11 27 41 Ibushi 09 42 45 Liger 13 35 37 Ibushi 12 03 47 Ibushi 11 49 44 Ibushi 10 59 46 Ibushi forfeit 36 Kushida Richards 11 13 37 Kushida 10 09 46 Liger 12 44 43 Ibushi 12 03 47 Kushida 08 17 45 Kushida 07 15 44 Kushida forfeit 36 La Sombra Richards 12 06 42 Sombra 11 25 47 Sombra 04 31 41 Ibushi 11 49 44 Kushida 08 17 45 Devitt 07 29 40 La Sombra 10 33 43 Prince Devitt Devitt 16 26 43 Devitt 12 13 37 Devitt 10 18 42 Ibushi 10 59 46 Kushida 07 15 44 Devitt 07 29 40 Devitt forfeit 36 Tiger Mask IV Richards forfeit 36 Gedo forfeit 36 Liger forfeit 36 Ibushi forfeit 36 Kushida forfeit 36 La Sombra 10 33 43 Devitt forfeit 36 Block B Akira Fujita Hayato Kenny Omega Koji Kanemoto Nobuo Yoshihashi Ryusuke Taguchi Taiji Ishimori Tama Tonga Akira Akira forfeit 37 Akira 11 26 41 Akira 11 27 39 Yoshihashi 12 45 43 Taguchi 12 45 40 Akira 09 17 47 Tonga 10 22 42 Fujita Hayato Akira forfeit 37 Hayato 12 14 39 Kanemoto 15 38 43 Hayato 09 00 44 Taguchi forfeit 46 Ishimori forfeit 37 Hayato 09 12 47 Kenny Omega Akira 11 26 41 Hayato 12 14 39 Omega 11 29 44 Omega 14 30 46 Omega 14 12 47 Ishimori 09 54 45 Omega 10 15 37 Koji Kanemoto Akira 11 27 39 Kanemoto 15 38 43 Omega 11 29 44 Kanemoto 13 01 37 Taguchi 12 57 41 Kanemoto 13 13 46 Kanemoto 09 21 45 Nobuo Yoshihashi Yoshihashi 12 45 43 Hayato 09 00 44 Omega 14 30 46 Kanemoto 13 01 37 Taguchi 10 45 45 Ishimori 09 03 42 Tonga 06 19 39 Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi 12 45 Taguchi forfeit 46 Omega 14 12 47 Taguchi 12 57 41 Taguchi 10 45 45 Ishimori 11 40 43 Taguchi 07 41 44 Taiji Ishimori Akira 09 17 47 Ishimori forfeit 37 Ishimori 09 54 45 Kanemoto 13 13 46 Ishimori 09 03 42 Ishimori 11 40 43 Ishimori 07 55 40 Tama Tonga Tonga 10 22 42 Hayato 09 12 47 Omega 10 15 37 Kanemoto 09 21 45 Tonga 06 19 39 Taguchi 07 41 44 Ishimori 07 55 40 SemifinalsFinal A1Kota IbushiPinB2Ryusuke Taguchi10 14 23 A1Kota IbushiPinA2Prince Devitt14 34 23 B1Taiji IshimoriPinA2Prince Devitt6 56 23 2011 edit The 2011 Best of the Super Juniors featured 18 participants in two blocks and was held from May 26 to June 10 This marked the largest number of entrants in the history of the tournament Outside entrants included Daisuke Sasaki freelancer Fujita Jr Hayato Michinoku Pro Great Sasuke Michinoku Pro Kenny Omega DDT Pro Wrestling United States Kota Ibushi DDT Mascara Dorada Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Mexico and TJP freelancer United States 48 Sasaki and Taichi earned their spots in the tournament by winning Road to the Super Jr 2Days Tournaments on April 8 2011 49 Kota Ibushi became the first wrestler not affiliated with New Japan Pro Wrestling to win the tournament 24 He went on to defeat Prince Devitt for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on June 18 2011 50 Final standings Block A Block B Prince Devitt 14 Kota Ibushi 12 Davey Richards 12 Ryusuke Taguchi 10 Kenny Omega 10 Great Sasuke 10 Koji Kanemoto 8 Kushida 10 Tiger Mask IV 8 Taka Michinoku 8 Fujita Hayato 6 Mascara Dorada 8 TJP 6 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Taichi 4 Gedo 4 Jado 4 Daisuke Sasaki 2 Block A Davey Richards Fujita Hayato Jado Kenny Omega Koji Kanemoto Prince Devitt Taichi Tiger Mask IV TJP Davey Richards Richards 10 03 51 Richards 13 01 52 Richards 9 55 53 Richards 12 06 54 Richards 13 18 55 Richards 10 06 56 Tiger 9 56 57 TJP 9 51 58 Fujita Hayato Richards 10 03 51 Jado 7 11 53 Omega 10 43 59 Hayato 10 18 55 Devitt 8 09 57 Hayato 8 34 52 Tiger 9 00 56 Hayato 7 44 54 Jado Richards 13 01 52 Jado 7 11 53 Jado 9 42 54 Kanemoto 9 15 56 Devitt 12 14 51 Taichi 10 04 58 Tiger 8 27 59 TJP 12 07 57 Kenny Omega Richards 9 55 53 Omega 10 43 59 Jado 9 42 54 Omega 11 43 52 Devitt 12 08 58 Omega 8 59 55 Omega 9 05 51 Omega 8 20 56 Koji Kanemoto Richards 12 06 54 Hayato 10 18 55 Kanemoto 9 15 56 Omega 11 43 52 Devitt 7 22 53 Kanemoto 10 37 57 Kanemoto 9 59 58 Kanemoto 8 11 59 Prince Devitt Richards 13 18 55 Devitt 8 09 57 Devitt 12 14 51 Devitt 12 08 58 Devitt 7 22 53 Devitt 9 45 59 Devitt 6 54 54 Devitt 8 51 52 Taichi Richards 10 06 56 Hayato 8 34 52 Taichi 10 04 58 Omega 8 59 55 Kanemoto 10 37 57 Devitt 9 45 59 Taichi 7 04 53 TJP 8 29 51 Tiger Mask IV Tiger 9 56 57 Tiger 9 00 56 Tiger 8 27 59 Omega 9 05 51 Kanemoto 9 59 58 Devitt 6 54 54 Taichi 7 04 53 Tiger 8 06 55 TJP TJP 9 51 58 Hayato 7 44 54 TJP 12 07 57 Omega 8 20 56 Kanemoto 8 11 59 Devitt 8 51 52 TJP 8 29 51 Tiger 8 06 55 Block B Daisuke Sasaki Gedo Great Sasuke Jushin Thunder Liger Kota Ibushi Kushida Mascara Dorada Ryusuke Taguchi Taka Michinoku Daisuke Sasaki Sasaki 11 10 57 Sasuke 4 05 56 Liger 8 06 59 Ibushi 10 39 51 Kushida 6 53 55 Dorada 8 02 58 Taguchi 7 18 52 Michinoku 7 19 54 Gedo Sasaki 11 10 57 Gedo 9 09 53 Liger 7 27 56 Ibushi 10 10 58 Kushida 8 02 51 Dorada 7 37 54 Gedo 11 29 59 Michinoku 10 01 52 Great Sasuke Sasuke 4 05 56 Gedo 9 09 53 Sasuke 17 35 52 Ibushi 11 46 54 Sasuke 2 47 59 Sasuke 4 28 51 Taguchi 15 39 57 Sasuke 9 57 55 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 8 06 59 Liger 7 27 56 Sasuke 17 35 52 Ibushi 8 47 53 Liger 10 45 57 Dorada 3 18 55 Liger 9 20 58 Michinoku 8 57 51 Kota Ibushi Ibushi 10 39 51 Ibushi 10 10 58 Ibushi 11 46 54 Ibushi 8 47 53 Kushida 12 46 52 Ibushi 7 28 59 Taguchi 13 21 55 Ibushi 9 40 56 Kushida Kushida 6 53 55 Kushida 8 02 51 Sasuke 2 47 59 Liger 10 45 57 Kushida 12 46 52 Kushida 6 25 53 Taguchi 10 14 54 Kushida 9 29 58 Mascara Dorada Dorada 8 02 58 Dorada 7 37 54 Sasuke 4 28 51 Dorada 3 18 55 Ibushi 7 28 59 Kushida 6 25 53 Dorada 7 02 56 Michinoku 9 45 57 Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi 7 18 52 Gedo 11 29 59 Taguchi 15 39 57 Liger 9 20 58 Taguchi 13 21 55 Taguchi 10 14 54 Dorada 7 02 56 Taguchi 9 26 53 Taka Michinoku Michinoku 7 19 54 Michinoku 10 01 52 Sasuke 9 57 55 Michinoku 8 57 51 Ibushi 9 40 56 Kushida 9 29 58 Michinoku 9 45 57 Taguchi 9 26 53 SemifinalsFinal A1Prince DevittPinB2Ryusuke Taguchi8 29 24 B2Ryusuke TaguchiPinB1Kota Ibushi20 22 24 B1Kota IbushiPinA2Davey Richards11 17 24 2012 edit The 2012 Best of the Super Juniors featured 18 participants and took place from May 27 to June 10 60 61 Outside entrants included Alex Koslov American independents Angel de Oro Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Brian Kendrick American independents Daisuke Sasaki freelancer and Pac Dragon Gate 62 Black Tiger earned his spot in the tournament by winning the Road to the Super Jr 2Days Tournament on April 15 2012 63 On May 9 New Japan announced that Davey Richards had to pull out of the tournament following his doctor s orders after a car accident 64 He was replaced by Brian Kendrick 65 On May 25 New Japan announced that Black Tiger had been pulled from the tournament two days after the character s performer Nosawa Rongai had been arrested for smuggling marijuana 66 He was replaced by Hiromu Takahashi 67 The tagline of the event was The door to the glory 68 For the fifth year in a row the previous year s runner up this time Ryusuke Taguchi came back to win the tournament 25 Taguchi went on to unsuccessfully challenge Low Ki for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on June 16 at Dominion 6 16 69 Final standings Block A Block B Pac 10 Low Ki 16 Prince Devitt 10 Ryusuke Taguchi 10 Angel de Oro 8 Brian Kendrick 10 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Alex Koslov 10 Rocky Romero 8 Tiger Mask IV 8 Taichi 8 Taka Michinoku 8 Kushida 8 Daisuke Sasaki 4 Bushi 6 Jado 4 Gedo 6 Hiromu Takahashi 2 Block A Angel de Oro Bushi Gedo Jushin Thunder Liger Kushida Pac Prince Devitt Rocky Romero Taichi Angel de Oro Bushi 9 50 70 Oro 8 15 71 Oro 8 21 72 Kushida 8 22 73 Oro 9 46 74 Devitt 8 10 75 Romero 10 38 76 Oro 9 28 68 Bushi Bushi 9 50 70 Bushi 8 16 72 Liger 7 10 76 Kushida 10 51 77 Pac 8 35 78 Devitt 8 03 74 Bushi 5 23 68 Taichi 9 33 73 Gedo Oro 8 15 71 Bushi 8 16 72 Gedo 7 43 77 Gedo 10 32 78 Pac 14 36 75 Devitt 11 14 79 Romero 8 41 73 Gedo 9 49 70 Jushin Thunder Liger Oro 8 21 72 Liger 7 10 76 Gedo 7 43 77 Liger 8 18 75 Pac 10 20 68 Devitt 12 13 78 Liger 7 53 79 Liger 7 35 74 Kushida Kushida 8 22 73 Kushida 10 51 77 Gedo 10 32 78 Liger 8 18 75 Kushida 9 33 79 Kushida 12 56 68 Romero 12 15 72 Taichi 2 33 76 Pac Oro 9 46 74 Pac 8 35 78 Pac 14 36 75 Pac 10 20 68 Kushida 9 33 79 Pac 17 24 76 Romero 10 14 70 Pac 10 43 71 Prince Devitt Devitt 8 10 75 Devitt 8 03 74 Devitt 11 14 79 Devitt 12 13 78 Kushida 12 56 68 Pac 17 24 76 Devitt 11 15 71 Taichi 10 59 77 Rocky Romero Romero 10 38 76 Bushi 5 23 68 Romero 8 41 73 Liger 7 53 79 Romero 12 15 72 Romero 10 14 70 Devitt 11 15 71 Taichi 9 58 78 Taichi Oro 9 28 68 Taichi 9 33 73 Gedo 9 49 70 Liger 7 35 74 Taichi 2 33 76 Pac 10 43 71 Taichi 10 59 77 Taichi 9 58 78 Block B Alex Koslov Brian Kendrick Daisuke Sasaki Hiromu Takahashi Jado Low Ki Ryusuke Taguchi Taka Michinoku Tiger Mask IV Alex Koslov Kendrick 6 31 79 Koslov 10 05 76 Koslov 6 43 77 Koslov 9 57 71 Low Ki 10 14 78 Taguchi 14 54 74 Koslov 8 22 68 Koslov 10 30 73 Brian Kendrick Kendrick 6 31 79 Kendrick 10 21 70 Kendrick 5 50 72 Kendrick 8 31 73 Low Ki 10 37 76 Taguchi 9 59 78 Michinoku 10 51 77 Kendrick 6 34 68 Daisuke Sasaki Koslov 10 05 76 Kendrick 10 21 70 Sasaki 5 02 71 Sasaki 8 57 68 Low Ki 8 03 77 Taguchi 6 55 75 Michinoku 6 22 73 Tiger 7 14 74 Hiromu Takahashi Koslov 6 43 77 Kendrick 5 50 72 Sasaki 5 02 71 Jado 5 55 74 Low Ki 7 43 79 Taguchi 6 12 70 Takahashi 3 30 78 Tiger 6 50 76 Jado Koslov 9 57 71 Kendrick 8 31 73 Sasaki 8 57 68 Jado 5 55 74 Low Ki 10 14 70 Taguchi 9 43 72 Michinoku 8 31 75 Jado 7 26 78 Low Ki Low Ki 10 14 78 Low Ki 10 37 76 Low Ki 8 03 77 Low Ki 7 43 79 Low Ki 10 14 70 Low Ki 14 10 68 Low Ki 10 24 72 Low Ki 11 14 75 Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi 14 54 74 Taguchi 9 59 78 Taguchi 6 55 75 Taguchi 6 12 70 Taguchi 9 43 72 Low Ki 14 10 68 Michinoku 11 11 76 Tiger 9 41 71 Taka Michinoku Koslov 8 22 68 Michinoku 10 51 77 Michinoku 6 22 73 Takahashi 3 30 78 Michinoku 8 31 75 Low Ki 10 24 72 Michinoku 11 11 76 Tiger 6 40 79 Tiger Mask IV Koslov 10 30 73 Kendrick 6 34 68 Tiger 7 14 74 Tiger 6 50 76 Jado 7 26 78 Low Ki 11 14 75 Tiger 9 41 71 Tiger 6 40 79 SemifinalsFinal A1PacPinB2Ryusuke Taguchi10 38 25 B2Ryusuke TaguchiPinB1Low Ki17 01 25 B1Low KiSubA2Prince Devitt8 50 25 2013 edit The twentieth Best of the Super Juniors tournament was officially announced on March 28 2013 and took place over ten shows between May 24 and June 9 80 81 The participants were announced on May 3 outside entrants included Beretta American independents Brian Kendrick American independents Kenny Omega DDT Ricochet Dragon Gate and Titan Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre 82 83 Ryusuke Taguchi who originally won Block B was sidelined with a hip injury following June 6 and was replaced in his semifinal match by Taka Michinoku who had finished third in the block 84 The winner Prince Devitt became only the third wrestler to win all of his matches in the tournament When Jushin Thunder Liger achieved the feat in 2001 his tournament comprised only six matches while Devitt s comprised ten 85 86 Final standings Block A Block B Prince Devitt 16 Ryusuke Taguchi withdrew 10 Alex Shelley 10 Kenny Omega 10 Ricochet 10 Taka Michinoku 8 Taichi 8 Kushida 8 Rocky Romero 8 Alex Koslov 8 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Brian Kendrick 8 Beretta 6 Tiger Mask IV 8 Titan 6 Bushi 6 Hiromu Takahashi 0 Jado 6 Block A Alex Shelley Beretta Hiromu Takahashi Jushin Thunder Liger Prince Devitt Ricochet Rocky Romero Taichi Titan Alex Shelley Shelley 9 38 87 Shelley 6 17 88 Liger 9 23 89 Devitt 12 44 90 Shelley 16 33 91 Shelley 14 03 92 Taichi 8 58 93 Shelley 3 36 94 Beretta Shelley 9 38 87 Beretta 7 14 89 Liger 6 46 94 Devitt 10 12 95 Ricochet 11 56 90 Romero 8 00 88 Beretta 9 23 91 Beretta 7 56 93 Hiromu Takahashi Shelley 6 17 88 Beretta 7 14 89 Liger 7 49 90 Devitt 6 20 93 Ricochet 6 39 87 Romero 6 10 94 Taichi 7 08 92 Titan 5 26 95 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 9 23 89 Liger 6 46 94 Liger 7 49 90 Devitt 6 27 91 Ricochet 7 26 88 Romero 8 15 93 Taichi 7 50 95 Liger 8 27 92 Prince Devitt Devitt 12 44 90 Devitt 10 12 95 Devitt 6 20 93 Devitt 6 27 91 Devitt 13 27 92 Devitt 9 39 87 Devitt 7 07 89 Devitt 5 24 88 Ricochet Shelley 16 33 91 Ricochet 11 56 90 Ricochet 6 39 87 Ricochet 7 26 88 Devitt 13 27 92 Romero 10 58 95 Ricochet 7 42 94 Ricochet 7 23 89 Rocky Romero Shelley 14 03 92 Romero 8 00 88 Romero 6 10 94 Romero 8 15 93 Devitt 9 39 87 Romero 10 58 95 Taichi 8 30 90 Titan 7 14 91 Taichi Taichi 8 58 93 Beretta 9 23 91 Taichi 7 08 92 Taichi 7 50 95 Devitt 7 07 89 Ricochet 7 42 94 Taichi 8 30 90 Titan 8 17 87 Titan Shelley 3 36 94 Beretta 7 56 93 Titan 5 26 95 Liger 8 27 92 Devitt 5 24 88 Ricochet 7 23 89 Titan 7 14 91 Titan 8 17 87 Block B Alex Koslov Brian Kendrick Bushi Jado Kenny Omega Kushida Ryusuke Taguchi Taka Michinoku Tiger Mask IV Alex Koslov Kendrick 9 47 91 Koslov 5 07 94 Koslov 8 48 89 Omega 9 57 87 Kushida 10 45 92 Koslov 12 25 90 Michinoku 9 12 88 Koslov 8 14 93 Brian Kendrick Kendrick 9 47 91 Kendrick 5 56 89 Kendrick 8 24 87 Omega 9 40 94 Kushida 9 13 95 Kendrick 3 38 93 Michinoku 7 39 92 Tiger 6 44 88 Bushi Koslov 5 07 94 Kendrick 5 56 89 Bushi 9 17 93 Omega 8 35 88 Bushi 9 25 90 Taguchi 11 05 87 Bushi 5 47 95 Tiger 7 19 92 Jado Koslov 8 48 89 Kendrick 8 24 87 Bushi 9 17 93 Jado 9 37 90 Kushida 10 03 88 Jado 10 31 95 Jado 7 27 91 Tiger 8 01 94 Kenny Omega Omega 9 57 87 Omega 9 40 94 Omega 8 35 88 Jado 9 37 90 Omega 16 10 91 Taguchi 13 23 92 Omega 10 12 89 Tiger 8 14 95 Kushida Kushida 10 45 92 Kushida 9 13 95 Bushi 9 25 90 Kushida 10 03 88 Omega 16 10 91 Taguchi 11 27 89 Michinoku 12 11 93 Kushida 9 17 87 Ryusuke Taguchi Koslov 12 25 90 Kendrick 3 38 93 Taguchi 11 05 87 Jado 10 31 95 Taguchi 13 23 92 Taguchi 11 27 89 Taguchi 7 31 94 Taguchi 7 14 91 Taka Michinoku Michinoku 9 12 88 Michinoku 7 39 92 Bushi 5 47 95 Jado 7 27 91 Omega 10 12 89 Michinoku 12 11 93 Taguchi 7 31 94 Michinoku 4 00 90 Tiger Mask IV Koslov 8 14 93 Tiger 6 44 88 Tiger 7 19 92 Tiger 8 01 94 Tiger 8 14 95 Kushida 9 17 87 Taguchi 7 14 91 Michinoku 4 00 90 SemifinalsFinal A1Prince DevittPinB2Kenny Omega9 09 26 A1Prince DevittPinA2Alex Shelley18 25 26 B3Taka MichinokuPinA2Alex Shelley10 14 26 2014 edit The twenty first Best of the Super Juniors tournament was officially announced on March 14 2014 and took place between May 30 and June 8 96 The participants were announced on May 4 outside entrants included Kenny Omega DDT Mascara Dorada Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and Ricochet Dragon Gate 97 For the first time in four years the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion did not take part in the tournament as Kota Ibushi was concentrating on chasing the NEVER Openweight Championship 97 Alex Koslov dislocated his left shoulder in his first match against Ricochet on May 30 and was forced to pull out of the tournament forfeiting all of his matches 98 Alex Shelley won block B of the tournament but was forced to pull out of the semifinals after suffering a shoulder injury in his final round robin match As a result Taichi who had finished third in the block advanced to the semifinals 99 Final standings Block A Block B Kushida 10 Alex Shelley withdrew 8 Ricochet 10 Ryusuke Taguchi 8 Taka Michinoku 8 Taichi 8 Matt Jackson 8 Nick Jackson 8 Bushi 8 Tiger Mask IV 6 Mascara Dorada 6 El Desperado 6 Jushin Thunder Liger 6 Rocky Romero 6 Alex Koslov withdrew 0 Kenny Omega 6 Block A Alex Koslov Bushi Jushin Thunder Liger Kushida Mascara Dorada Matt Jackson Ricochet Taka Michinoku Alex Koslov Bushi forfeit Liger forfeit Kushida forfeit Dorada forfeit Jackson forfeit Ricochet 14 29 100 Michinoku forfeit Bushi Bushi forfeit Bushi 8 51 100 Bushi 9 58 101 Bushi 5 32 102 Jackson 8 51 103 Ricochet 7 31 104 Michinoku 7 55 105 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger forfeit Bushi 8 51 100 Kushida 14 15 104 Dorada 7 06 105 Jackson 6 52 106 Liger 10 39 101 Liger 10 54 102 Kushida Kushida forfeit Bushi 9 58 101 Kushida 14 15 104 Dorada 7 57 106 Kushida 11 44 100 Kushida 12 10 105 Kushida 10 29 103 Mascara Dorada Dorada forfeit Bushi 5 32 102 Dorada 7 06 105 Dorada 7 57 106 Jackson 8 04 104 Ricochet 8 59 103 Michinoku 5 31 100 Matt Jackson Jackson forfeit Jackson 8 51 103 Jackson 6 52 106 Kushida 11 44 100 Jackson 8 04 104 Ricochet 11 09 102 Michinoku 5 25 101 Ricochet Ricochet 14 29 100 Ricochet 7 31 104 Liger 10 39 101 Kushida 12 10 105 Ricochet 8 59 103 Ricochet 11 09 102 Ricochet 8 51 106 Taka Michinoku Michinoku forfeit Michinoku 7 55 105 Liger 10 54 102 Kushida 10 29 103 Michinoku 5 31 100 Michinoku 5 25 101 Ricochet 8 51 106 Block B Alex Shelley El Desperado Kenny Omega Nick Jackson Rocky Romero Ryusuke Taguchi Taichi Tiger Mask IV Alex Shelley Desperado 9 57 106 Omega 11 30 105 Shelley 10 38 100 Romero 11 03 103 Shelley 14 09 101 Shelley 4 28 102 Shelley 3 13 104 El Desperado Desperado 9 57 106 Desperado 14 12 101 Jackson 9 07 103 Desperado 9 30 102 Taguchi 10 43 104 Taichi 5 33 100 Tiger 8 33 105 Kenny Omega Omega 11 30 105 Desperado 14 12 101 Jackson 9 09 102 Romero 11 36 106 Omega 16 19 100 Taichi 8 22 104 Omega 10 50 103 Nick Jackson Shelley 10 38 100 Jackson 9 07 103 Jackson 9 09 102 Jackson 8 17 104 Taguchi 9 01 106 Taichi 6 17 105 Jackson 8 07 101 Rocky Romero Romero 11 03 103 Desperado 9 30 102 Romero 11 36 106 Jackson 8 17 104 Taguchi 11 42 105 Romero 7 14 101 Tiger 8 45 100 Ryusuke Taguchi Shelley 14 09 101 Taguchi 10 43 104 Omega 16 19 100 Taguchi 9 01 106 Taguchi 11 42 105 Taguchi 9 32 103 Tiger 11 29 102 Taichi Shelley 4 28 102 Taichi 5 33 100 Taichi 8 22 104 Taichi 6 17 105 Romero 7 14 101 Taguchi 9 32 103 Taichi 6 36 106 Tiger Mask IV Shelley 3 13 104 Tiger 8 33 105 Omega 10 50 103 Jackson 8 07 101 Tiger 8 45 100 Tiger 11 29 102 Taichi 6 36 106 SemifinalsFinal A1KushidaSubB3Taichi7 29 27 A1KushidaPinA2Ricochet23 06 27 B2Ryusuke TaguchiPinA2Ricochet5 49 27 2015 edit The twenty second Best of the Super Juniors tournament was officially announced on March 4 2015 and took place between May 22 and June 7 107 The participants were announced on May 7 outside entrants included Barbaro Cavernario Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Bobby Fish Ring of Honor Chase Owens National Wrestling Alliance Kyle O Reilly ROH and the debuting David Finlay Jr the son of Dave Finlay 108 For the second year in a row the reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Kenny Omega did not enter the tournament Instead the winner of the tournament would challenge for his title at Dominion 7 5 in Osaka jo Hall 109 Alex Shelley was forced to pull out of the tournament after his opening match with a foot injury forcing him to forfeit the rest of his matches 110 Final standings Block A Block B Kyle O Reilly 12 Kushida 12 Ryusuke Taguchi 10 Bobby Fish 10 Beretta 8 Mascara Dorada 10 Chase Owens 8 Rocky Romero 8 Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Tiger Mask IV 8 Barbaro Cavernario 6 Nick Jackson 6 Gedo 4 Alex Shelley withdrew 2 Yohei Komatsu 0 David Finlay Jr 0 Block A Barbaro Cavernario Beretta Chase Owens Gedo Jushin Thunder Liger Kyle O Reilly Ryusuke Taguchi Yohei Komatsu Barbaro Cavernario Beretta 13 46 111 Cavernario 7 15 112 Cavernario 10 53 113 Liger 6 11 114 O Reilly 7 50 115 Taguchi 8 43 116 Cavernario 8 32 117 Beretta Beretta 13 46 111 Beretta 10 19 118 Beretta 8 07 119 Liger 7 55 120 O Reilly 13 04 112 Taguchi 10 58 113 Beretta 10 20 114 Chase Owens Cavernario 7 15 112 Beretta 10 19 118 Owens 7 57 120 Owens 8 07 121 O Reilly 11 54 117 Owens 18 27 114 Owens 7 42 111 Gedo Cavernario 10 53 113 Beretta 8 07 119 Owens 7 57 120 Liger 12 36 122 O Reilly 14 15 114 Gedo 14 00 112 Gedo 10 01 116 Jushin Thunder Liger Liger 6 11 114 Liger 7 55 120 Owens 8 07 121 Liger 12 36 122 O Reilly 8 52 118 Taguchi 8 34 119 Liger 8 36 112 Kyle O Reilly O Reilly 7 50 115 O Reilly 13 04 112 O Reilly 11 54 117 O Reilly 14 15 114 O Reilly 8 52 118 Taguchi 13 15 122 O Reilly 10 14 121 Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi 8 43 116 Taguchi 10 58 113 Owens 18 27 114 Gedo 14 00 112 Taguchi 8 34 119 Taguchi 13 15 122 Taguchi 11 33 115 Yohei Komatsu Cavernario 8 32 117 Beretta 10 20 114 Owens 7 42 111 Gedo 10 01 116 Liger 8 36 112 O Reilly 10 14 121 Taguchi 11 33 115 Block B Alex Shelley Bobby Fish David Finlay Jr Kushida Mascara Dorada Nick Jackson Rocky Romero Tiger Mask IV Alex Shelley Fish forfeit Shelley 5 32 112 Kushida forfeit Dorada forfeit Jackson forfeit Romero forfeit Tiger forfeit Bobby Fish Fish forfeit Fish 8 18 117 Kushida 16 29 122 Fish 10 43 115 Fish 11 31 114 Fish 13 06 112 Tiger 9 22 118 David Finlay Jr Shelley 5 32 112 Fish 8 18 117 Kushida 9 40 113 Dorada 7 46 118 Jackson 9 39 111 Romero 10 50 115 Tiger 7 21 114 Kushida Kushida forfeit Kushida 16 29 122 Kushida 9 40 113 Kushida 8 53 112 Jackson 9 08 116 Kushida 15 53 119 Kushida 11 44 120 Mascara Dorada Dorada forfeit Fish 10 43 115 Dorada 7 46 118 Kushida 8 53 112 Dorada 9 44 117 Dorada 10 19 114 Dorada 10 05 121 Nick Jackson Jackson forfeit Fish 11 31 114 Jackson 9 39 111 Jackson 9 08 116 Dorada 9 44 117 Romero 13 05 113 Tiger 8 03 112 Rocky Romero Romero forfeit Fish 13 06 Romero 10 50 115 Kushida 15 53 119 Dorada 10 19 114 Romero 13 05 113 Romero 11 01 111 Tiger Mask IV Tiger forfeit Tiger 9 22 118 Tiger 7 21 114 Kushida 11 44 120 Dorada 10 05 121 Tiger 8 03 112 Romero 11 01 111 Final A1Kyle O ReillySubB1Kushida30 45 28 2016 edit The twenty third Best of the Super Juniors tournament took place between May 21 and June 7 2016 123 The participants were announced on May 3 Outside entrants included Volador Jr Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre Bobby Fish Kyle O Reilly Matt Sydal Barreta Ring of Honor Chase Owens National Wrestling Alliance Will Ospreay Revolution Pro Wrestling and Ricochet Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling Guerrilla 124 Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson were originally announced for the tournament but both were forced to pull out with injuries before the opening day 125 On May 19 Matt was replaced with David Finlay Jr and Nick with Chase Owens 126 With his win Will Ospreay the first English winner of the tournament also became the youngest Best of the Super Juniors winner in history 127 Ospreay went on to unsuccessfully challenge Kushida for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on June 19 at Dominion 6 19 in Osaka jo Hall 128 The tournament became known for a controversial match between Ospreay and Ricochet on May 27 which received widespread attention in the professional wrestling world with some like William Regal praising the two and others like Vader comparing the match to a gymnastics routine 129 130 131 Final standings Block A Block B Ryusuke Taguchi 10 Will Ospreay 8 Matt Sydal 10 Bobby Fish 8 Bushi 8 Ricochet 8 Kyle O Reilly 8 Volador Jr 8 Rocky Romero 8 Jushin Thunder Liger 6 Kushida 8 Tiger Mask IV 6 David Finlay Jr 2 Chase Owens 6 Gedo 2 Beretta 6 Block A Bushi David Finlay Jr Gedo Kushida Kyle O Reilly Matt Sydal Rocky Romero Ryusuke Taguchi Bushi Bushi 7 18 132 Gedo 11 34 133 Bushi 13 17 134 O Reilly 10 58 135 Sydal 9 20 136 Bushi 11 08 137 Bushi 10 19 138 David Finlay Jr Bushi 7 18 132 Finlay 10 40 137 Kushida 10 31 135 O Reilly 9 58 138 Sydal 8 59 134 Romero 11 00 133 Taguchi 9 18 136 Gedo Gedo 11 34 133 Finlay 10 40 137 Kushida 13 34 132 O Reilly 11 24 136 Sydal 6 21 135 Romero 8 33 138 Taguchi 9 46 134 Kushida Bushi 13 17 134 Kushida 10 31 135 Kushida 13 34 132 O Reilly 20 06 133 Kushida 15 59 138 Romero 15 03 136 Kushida 16 09 137 Kyle O Reilly O Reilly 10 58 135 O Reilly 9 58 138 O Reilly 11 24 136 O Reilly 20 06 133 Sydal 14 11 137 Romero 16 50 134 Taguchi 11 46 132 Matt Sydal Sydal 9 20 136 Sydal 8 59 134 Sydal 6 21 135 Kushida 15 59 138 Sydal 14 11 137 Sydal 13 37 132 Taguchi 10 20 133 Rocky Romero Bushi 11 08 137 Romero 11 00 133 Romero 8 33 138 Romero 15 03 136 Romero 16 50 134 Sydal 13 37 132 Taguchi 12 02 135 Ryusuke Taguchi Bushi 10 19 138 Taguchi 9 18 136 Taguchi 9 46 134 Kushida 16 09 137 Taguchi 11 46 132 Taguchi 10 20 133 Taguchi 12 02 135 Block B Beretta Bobby Fish Chase Owens Jushin Thunder Liger Ricochet Tiger Mask IV Volador Jr Will Ospreay Beretta Fish 11 01 139 Owens 9 53 140 Beretta 5 18 134 Ricochet 13 13 141 Tiger 12 17 142 Beretta 12 04 143 Beretta 11 55 144 Bobby Fish Fish 11 01 139 Fish 10 36 142 Liger 11 30 143 Ricochet 12 30 144 Fish 6 42 134 Fish 8 48 140 Ospreay 14 22 141 Chase Owens Owens 9 53 140 Fish 10 36 142 Liger 7 12 144 Owens 10 21 134 Tiger 6 46 139 Volador 10 28 141 Owens 9 58 143 Jushin Thunder Liger Beretta 5 18 134 Liger 11 30 143 Liger 7 12 144 Ricochet 11 30 140 Liger 1 11 141 Volador 9 02 139 Ospreay 8 20 142 Ricochet Ricochet 13 13 141 Ricochet 12 30 144 Owens 10 21 134 Ricochet 11 30 140 Ricochet 9 53 143 Volador 12 03 142 Ospreay 16 47 139 Tiger Mask IV Tiger 12 17 142 Fish 6 42 134 Tiger 6 46 139 Liger 1 11 141 Ricochet 9 53 143 Volador 9 47 144 Tiger 7 41 140 Volador Jr Beretta 12 04 143 Fish 8 48 140 Volador 10 28 141 Volador 9 02 139 Volador 12 03 142 Volador 9 47 144 Ospreay 8 58 134 Will Ospreay Beretta 11 55 144 Ospreay 14 22 141 Owens 9 58 143 Ospreay 8 20 142 Ospreay 16 47 139 Tiger 7 41 140 Ospreay 8 58 134 Final A1Ryusuke TaguchiPinB1Will Ospreay22 05 29 2017 edit The twenty fourth Best of the Super Juniors tournament took place between May 17 and June 3 2017 145 The participants were revealed on May 3 In addition to NJPW regulars the tournament also featured Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL wrestlers Dragon Lee and Volador Jr Ring of Honor ROH wrestler Marty Scurll and independent wrestler A C H 146 Veteran wrestler Jushin Thunder Liger who took part in his 17th Best of the Super Juniors tournament in a row stated that the 2017 tournament would be his last 147 Final standings Block A Block B Will Ospreay 10 Kushida 8 Dragon Lee 8 Bushi 8 Ricochet 8 Ryusuke Taguchi 8 Hiromu Takahashi 8 Yoshinobu Kanemaru 8 Taichi 8 Volador Jr 6 Marty Scurll 8 Tiger Mask IV 6 Taka Michinoku 4 A C H 6 Jushin Thunder Liger 2 El Desperado 6 Block A Dragon Lee Hiromu Takahashi Jushin Thunder Liger Marty Scurll Ricochet Taichi Taka Michinoku Will Ospreay Dragon Lee Lee 18 56 148 Lee 7 54 149 Lee 13 09 150 Lee 13 07 151 Taichi 9 04 152 Michinoku 9 20 153 Ospreay 10 05 154 Hiromu Takahashi Lee 18 56 148 Takahashi 8 05 150 Takahashi 13 07 149 Ricochet 12 15 152 Takahashi 14 13 151 Takahashi 9 25 154 Ospreay 15 19 153 Jushin Thunder Liger Lee 7 54 149 Takahashi 8 05 150 Scurll 12 16 152 Ricochet 9 04 154 Liger 10 02 153 Michinoku 8 33 148 Ospreay 10 10 151 Marty Scurll Lee 13 09 150 Takahashi 13 07 149 Scurll 12 16 152 Scurll 13 31 153 Taichi 9 25 154 Scurll 8 51 151 Scurll 12 11 148 Ricochet Lee 13 07 151 Ricochet 12 15 152 Ricochet 9 04 154 Scurll 13 31 153 Ricochet 8 56 148 Ricochet 7 41 149 Ospreay 27 27 150 Taichi Taichi 9 04 152 Takahashi 14 13 151 Liger 10 02 153 Taichi 9 25 154 Ricochet 8 56 148 Taichi 9 30 150 Taichi 10 08 149 Taka Michinoku Michinoku 9 20 153 Takahashi 9 25 154 Michinoku 8 33 148 Scurll 8 51 151 Ricochet 7 41 149 Taichi 9 30 150 Ospreay 8 46 152 Will Ospreay Ospreay 10 05 154 Ospreay 15 19 153 Ospreay 10 10 151 Scurll 12 11 148 Ospreay 27 27 150 Taichi 10 08 149 Ospreay 8 46 152 Block B A C H Bushi El Desperado Kushida Ryusuke Taguchi Tiger Mask IV Volador Jr Yoshinobu Kanemaru A C H ACH 10 47 148 ACH 9 56 155 ACH 14 44 156 Taguchi 13 41 157 Tiger 11 40 158 Volador 12 02 159 Kanemaru 10 26 160 Bushi ACH 10 47 148 Desperado 9 47 160 Kushida 15 51 158 Bushi 9 25 156 Bushi 12 08 157 Bushi 10 53 155 Bushi 9 27 159 El Desperado ACH 9 56 155 Desperado 9 47 160 Desperado 11 43 148 Desperado 12 38 158 Tiger 10 20 159 Volador 8 03 156 Kanemaru 9 39 157 Kushida ACH 14 44 156 Kushida 15 51 158 Desperado 11 43 148 Kushida 22 53 159 Tiger 10 41 160 Kushida 15 44 157 Kushida 13 16 155 Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi 13 41 157 Bushi 9 25 156 Desperado 12 38 158 Kushida 22 53 159 Taguchi 9 29 155 Taguchi 9 58 160 Taguchi 11 27 148 Tiger Mask IV Tiger 11 40 158 Bushi 12 08 157 Tiger 10 20 159 Tiger 10 41 160 Taguchi 9 29 155 Volador 9 48 148 Kanemaru 8 42 156 Volador Jr Volador 12 02 159 Bushi 10 53 155 Volador 8 03 156 Kushida 15 44 157 Taguchi 9 58 160 Volador 9 48 148 Kanemaru 9 41 158 Yoshinobu Kanemaru Kanemaru 10 26 160 Bushi 9 27 159 Kanemaru 9 39 157 Kushida 13 16 155 Taguchi 11 27 148 Kanemaru 8 42 156 Kanemaru 9 41 158 Final A1Will OspreayPinB1Kushida27 59 30 2018 edit The twenty fifth Best of the Super Juniors started on May 18 and ended on June 4 2018 The participants were revealed on May 7 In addition to NJPW regulars the tournament also features Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL wrestler Dragon Lee Ring of Honor ROH wrestlers Marty Scurll Flip Gordon and Chris Sabin and independent wrestler A C H The final match between Taiji Ishimori and Hiromu Takahashi became the longest match in BOSJ history breaking the previous record from 2015 It was also the first time since 2011 that the final did not feature a gaijin wrestler The final match was given a 51 2 star rating by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Final standings Block A Block B Taiji Ishimori 10 Hiromu Takahashi 10 Will Ospreay 10 Kushida 8 Bushi 6 Marty Scurll 8 A C H 6 Chris Sabin 6 Flip Gordon 6 Dragon Lee 6 Tiger Mask IV 6 El Desperado 6 Yoh 6 Ryusuke Taguchi 6 Yoshinobu Kanemaru 6 Sho 6 Block A A C H Bushi Flip Gordon Taiji Ishimori Tiger Mask IV Will Ospreay Yoh Yoshinobu Kanemaru A C H Bushi 11 57 161 ACH 15 26 162 Ishimori 11 57 163 ACH 8 27 164 Ospreay 16 50 165 ACH 12 04 166 Kanemaru 14 04 167 Bushi Bushi 11 57 161 Bushi 11 58 163 Ishimori 12 02 165 Tiger 11 16 167 Bushi 14 47 166 Yoh 15 18 162 Kanemaru 9 24 164 Flip Gordon ACH 15 26 162 Bushi 11 58 163 Gordon 9 27 167 Gordon 11 15 166 Ospreay 19 36 164 Yoh 11 06 161 Gordon 10 03 165 Taiji Ishimori Ishimori 11 57 163 Ishimori 12 02 165 Gordon 9 27 167 Ishimori 11 18 161 Ishimori 13 47 162 Ishimori 14 55 164 Kanemaru 14 55 166 Tiger Mask IV ACH 8 27 164 Tiger 11 16 167 Gordon 11 15 166 Ishimori 11 18 161 Ospreay 12 05 163 Tiger 13 33 165 Tiger 10 27 162 Will Ospreay Ospreay 16 50 165 Bushi 14 47 166 Ospreay 19 36 164 Ishimori 13 47 162 Ospreay 12 05 163 Ospreay 16 28 167 Ospreay 14 03 161 Yoh ACH 12 04 166 Yoh 15 18 162 Yoh 11 06 161 Ishimori 14 55 164 Tiger 13 33 165 Ospreay 16 28 167 Yoh 16 37 163 Yoshinobu Kanemaru Kanemaru 14 04 167 Kanemaru 9 24 164 Gordon 10 03 165 Kanemaru 14 55 166 Tiger 10 27 162 Ospreay 14 03 161 Yoh 16 37 163 Block B Chris Sabin Dragon Lee El Desperado Hiromu Takahashi Kushida Marty Scurll Ryusuke Taguchi Sho Chris Sabin Sabin 13 39 168 Sabin 12 14 169 Takahashi 13 35 170 Sabin 13 47 171 Scurll 13 58 172 Taguchi 10 56 164 Sho 15 09 173 Dragon Lee Sabin 13 39 168 Desperado 12 18 164 Lee 20 48 172 Kushida 18 17 169 Scurll 16 01 170 Lee 11 14 173 Lee 17 31 171 El Desperado Sabin 12 14 169 Desperado 12 18 164 Desperado 22 48 173 Kushida 18 33 170 Scurll 14 40 168 Desperado 13 17 171 Sho 12 48 172 Hiromu Takahashi Takahashi 13 35 170 Lee 20 48 172 Desperado 22 48 173 Takahashi 24 15 164 Takahashi 20 47 171 Takahashi 14 49 168 Takahashi 16 19 169 Kushida Sabin 13 47 171 Kushida 18 17 169 Kushida 18 33 170 Takahashi 24 15 164 Kushida 19 22 173 Taguchi 1 34 172 Kushida 19 24 168 Marty Scurll Scurll 13 58 172 Scurll 16 01 170 Scurll 14 40 168 Takahashi 20 47 171 Kushida 19 22 173 Scurll 15 42 169 Sho 20 39 164 Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi 10 56 164 Lee 11 14 173 Desperado 13 17 171 Takahashi 14 49 168 Taguchi 1 34 172 Scurll 15 42 169 Taguchi 13 08 170 Sho Sho 15 09 172 Lee 17 31 171 Sho 12 48 171 Takahashi 16 19 169 Kushida 19 24 168 Sho 20 39 164 Taguchi 13 08 170 Final A1Taiji IshimoriPinB1Hiromu Takahashi34 09 31 2019 edit The twenty sixth Best of the Super Juniors started on May 13 2019 and ended on June 5 2019 174 The final took place at Ryōgoku Kokugikan The participants were all revealed bar one on April 23 In addition to NJPW regulars the tournament will also feature Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CMLL wrestlers Dragon Lee and Titan and Ring of Honor ROH wrestlers Marty Scurll Jonathan Gresham and Bandido This is the first edition to have twenty wrestlers entering the tournament Before the tournament El Desperado had to pull out due to injury and was replaced by Douki Flip Gordon also had to pull out due to visa issues being replaced by young lion Ren Narita Taka Michinoku forfeited his final three matches due to a leg injury The 2019 edition included a record twenty participants Shingo Takagi won all his matches in Block A therefore becoming the first person to win nine matches within the same block and setting a new record for most points scored at the tournament with 18 apart from the inaugural 1988 edition which used a different points system the previous record for the current format was held by Prince Devitt who won all eight of his matches in 2013 and scored 16 Final standings Block A Block B Shingo Takagi 18 Will Ospreay 14 Taiji Ishimori 14 Ryusuke Taguchi 12 Dragon Lee 14 Bushi 12 Sho 10 Yoh 12 Marty Scurll 10 El Phantasmo 12 Jonathan Gresham 8 Bandido 10 Titan 6 Robbie Eagles 10 Yoshinobu Kanemaru 6 Rocky Romero 6 Tiger Mask IV 4 Douki 2 Taka Michinoku withdrew 0 Ren Narita 0 Block A Dragon Lee Jonathan Gresham Marty Scurll Shingo Takagi Sho Taiji Ishimori Taka Michinoku Tiger Mask IV Titan Yoshinobu Kanemaru Dragon Lee Lee 9 42 175 Lee 16 12 176 Takagi 17 20 177 Lee 27 10 178 Ishimori 18 32 179 Lee forfeit Lee 8 59 180 Lee 14 01 181 Lee 14 02 182 Jonathan Gresham Lee 9 42 175 Scurll 12 22 179 Takagi 11 11 182 Sho 10 27 176 Ishimori 6 50 181 Gresham 9 28 178 Gresham 9 21 177 Gresham 10 55 180 Gresham 7 45 183 Marty Scurll Lee 16 12 176 Scurll 12 22 179 Takagi 14 07 180 Sho 13 18 177 Ishimori 22 21 178 Scurll forfeit 184 Scurll 13 01 175 Scurll 10 29 183 Scurll 5 02 181 Shingo Takagi Takagi 17 20 177 Takagi 11 11 182 Takagi 14 07 180 Takagi 25 07 179 Takagi 20 58 176 Takagi 7 23 181 Takagi 9 22 183 Takagi 10 26 178 Takagi 15 24 175 Sho Lee 27 10 178 Sho 10 27 176 Sho 13 18 177 Takagi 25 07 179 Ishimori 20 27 183 Sho 10 02 175 Sho 8 14 181 Sho 11 05 182 Kanemaru 4 01 180 Taiji Ishimori Ishimori 18 32 179 Ishimori 6 50 181 Ishimori 22 21 178 Takagi 20 58 176 Ishimori 20 27 183 Ishimori 4 56 180 Ishimori 4 34 182 Ishimori 11 42 175 Kanemaru 3 51 177 Taka Michinoku Lee forfeit Gresham 9 28 178 Scurll forfeit 184 Takagi 7 23 181 Sho 10 02 175 Ishimori 4 56 180 Tiger 10 58 179 Titan 8 09 177 Kanemaru forfeit 184 Tiger Mask IV Lee 8 59 180 Gresham 9 21 177 Scurll 13 01 175 Takagi 9 22 183 Sho 8 14 181 Ishimori 4 34 182 Tiger 10 58 179 Titan 8 10 176 Tiger 11 14 sup, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library, article, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games. |