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 | El Desperado | 1 | Osaka-jo Hall | 7,254 | [citation needed] | 1 |
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. Norio Honaga injured his ribs after the fourth day, so he forfeited his remaining matches.[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 (forfeit) |
| 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 (forfeit) |
| 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 (forfeit) |
| 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 (forfeit) |
| 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 (forfeit) |
| 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 (forfeit) |
| 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 (forfeit) | Tiger (forfeit) | Kanemoto (forfeit) | Honaga (10:28) | Hamada (forfeit) | Pillman (forfeit) | Samurai (forfeit) | 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) |