Best of the Super Juniors

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Best of the Super Juniors (also known as Best of the Super Jr., and abbreviated BOSJ) is an annual professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro Wrestling, typically in May or June to determine the promotion's top junior heavyweight wrestler; the winner, assuming they don't already hold it, receives an opportunity at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in the near future. It is a round-robin style tournament, and since 1996 has involved the two-block system used in many other puroresu tournaments, in which 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 2 points, a draw is worth 1, and a loss 0; all matches have a 30-minute time limit, though in the past it was twenty minutes. It was originally called the Top of the Super Juniors upon its formation in 1988, but acquired its current title in 1994.

Contents

[edit] Results

[edit] List of winners

[edit] 1988

The 1988 Top of the Super Juniors was a 12-man tournament held from January 4 to February 7. Note that the points system at this time was drastically different from today's, though exactly how is unclear. The winner, Shiro Koshinaka, went on to win the title from Owen Hart on June 24.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Shiro Koshinaka 41
Hiroshi Hase 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
  Final
       
1  Shiro Koshinaka Pin
2  Hiroshi Hase 16:43

[edit] 1991

The 1991 Top of the Super Juniors was a 7-man tournament held from April 15 to April 30, and the first to use the modern points system. Prior to the tournament, the reigning Junior Heavyweight Champion, Jushin Liger, vacated the title so it could be decided in the TOSJ; with his victory over Liger in the final, Norio Honaga also won the championship.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Norio Honaga 8
Jushin Liger 8
Pegasus Kid 8
Negro Casas 8
Owen Hart 6
David Finlay 4
Flyin' Scorpio 0
  Semifinals Final
                 
1  Norio Honaga Pin  
3  Pegasus Kid  
    1  Norio Honaga Pin
  2  Jushin Liger 21:54
2  Jushin Liger Pin
4  Negro Casas  

[edit] 1992

The 1992 Top of the Super Juniors was a 9-man tournament, held from April 16 to April 30. The winner, Jushin Liger, became the first man to win the tournament while holding the junior heavyweight title.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
El Samurai 14
Jushin Liger 12
Norio Honaga 12
Negro Casas 10
Pegasus Kid 10
David Finlay 6
Eddie Guerrero 4
Flyin' Scorpio 2
Koji Kanemoto 2
  Semifinal     Final
                 
    1  El Samurai Pin
  2  Jushin Liger Pin     2  Jushin Liger 21:15
  3  Norio Honaga  

[edit] 1993

The 1993 Top of the Super Juniors was an 11-man tournament held from May 26 to June 14. As the result of a 4-way tie for second place (Jushin Liger was also tied, but was eliminated due to injury), the 4 men held a playoff tournament to challenge first-place Pegasus Kid 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. He also went on to challenge the champion Liger unsuccessfully on August 8.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Pegasus Kid 14
El Samurai 12
Dean Malenko 12
Flyin' Scorpio 12
Black Tiger II 12
Jushin Liger 12
David Finlay 10
Norio Honaga 10
Lightning Kid 8
Shinjiro Ohtani 4
Masao Orihara 4
  Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                           
   
   N/A  
     N/A  
 
     
    1  Pegasus Kid Pin
  2  El Samurai 18:44
  5  Black Tiger II Sub  
3  Dean Malenko  
3  Dean Malenko Pin
    2  El Samurai  
4  Flyin' Scorpio Pin
  2  El Samurai  

[edit] 1994

The 1994 Best of the Super Juniors, the first to be held under that name, was an 11-man tournament contested from May 26 to June 13. Jushin Liger once again won as the champion, and also became the first to win the BOSJ twice.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Jushin Liger 14
Super Delfin 14
El Samurai 12
Wild Pegasus 12
Black Tiger II 12
Dean Malenko 12
Shinjiro Ohtani 10
Tokimitsu Ishizawa 8
David Finlay 8
TAKA Michinoku 4
Masayoshi Motegi 2
  Final
       
1  Jushin Liger Pin
2  Super Delfin 18:29

[edit] 1995

The 1995 Best of the Super Juniors was a 10-man tournament held from June 23 to July 13. Like Liger the year prior, Wild Pegasus (formerly Pegasus Kid) won the tournament for the second time, and is to date the only gaijin to do so. Pegasus would once again fail in his championship challenge, this time against Koji Kanemoto on September 25.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Wild Pegasus 10
Shinjiro Ohtani 10
Black Tiger II 10
Koji Kanemoto 10
Dean Malenko 8
Gran Hamada 8
Brian Pillman 8
El Samurai 8
Alex Wright 8
Norio Honaga 4
  Semifinals Final
                 
1  Wild Pegasus Pin  
3  Black Tiger II 16:37  
    1  Wild Pegasus Pin
  2  Shinjiro Ohtani 19:16
2  Shinjiro Ohtani Pin
4  Koji Kanemoto 15:24  

[edit] 1996

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 7 wrestlers in each. The winner, Black Tiger, would unsuccessfully challenge The Great Sasuke for the championship on June 17. Also note that some scores for lower-ranked wrestlers in this tournament are unknown.

Final standings
Block A Block B
El Samurai 10 Black Tiger II 10
Wild Pegasus 10 Jushin Liger 8
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 8 Shinjiro Ohtani 6
Franz Schumann  ? Dean Malenko 6
Emilio Charles, Jr.  ? Norio Honaga  ?
Mr. J.L.  ? Tokimitsu Ishizawa 4
Koji Kanemoto  ? Villano IV  ?
  Semifinals Final
                 
A1  El Samurai Pin  
B2  Jushin Liger 15:11  
    B2  Jushin Liger Pin
  B1  Black Tiger II 18:44
B1  Black Tiger II Pin
A2  Wild Pegasus 20:17  

[edit] 1997

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 1 point for a win, and 0 for a loss or draw. The winner, El Samurai, went on to defeat Jushin Liger for the championship on July 6.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Koji Kanemoto 5 El Samurai 5
Jushin Liger 4 Shinjiro Ohtani 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 Dean Guerrero Kanemoto Liger Naniwa Takaiwa Wagner
Dean X Dean (16:04) Kanemoto (10:27) Dean (11:51) Naniwa (12:29) Takaiwa (11:36) Wagner (7:29)
Guerrero Dean (16:04) X Kanemoto (15:12) Liger (10:20) Guerrero (11:05) Takaiwa (12:14) Wagner (11:13)
Kanemoto Kan. (10:27) Kan. (15:12) X Kan. (16:32) Kan. (14:53) Takaiwa (18:09) Kan. (12:11)
Liger Dean (11:51) Liger (10:20) Kanemoto (16:32) X Liger (16:32) Liger (15:53) Liger (12:59)
Naniwa Naniwa (12:29) Guerrero (11:05) Kanemoto (14:53) Liger (16:32) X Naniwa (15:41) Naniwa (12:39)
Takaiwa Takaiwa (11:36) Takaiwa (12:14) Takaiwa (18:09) Liger (15:53) Naniwa (15:41) X Takaiwa (9:53)
Wagner Wagner (7:29) Wagner (11:13) Kanemoto (12:11) Liger (12:59) Naniwa (12:39) Takaiwa (9:53) X
Block B Brookside Jericho Nakajima Ohtani Samurai Scorpio Tajiri
Brookside X Brookside (13:43) Nakajima (12:23) Ohtani (15:31) Samurai (11:32) Scorpio (10:07) Tajiri (11:34)
Jericho Brookside (13:43) X Jericho (10:53) Ohtani (12:59) Jericho (15:12) Jericho (11:16) Jericho (13:36)
Nakajima Nakajima (12:23) Jericho (10:53) X Ohtani (12:26) Samurai (14:30) Nakajima (8:05) Nakajima (9:18)
Ohtani Ohtani (15:31) Ohtani (12:59) Ohtani (12:26) X Samurai (18:35) Ohtani (7:55) Tajiri (11:44)
Samurai Samurai (11:32) Jericho (15:12) Samurai (14:30) Samurai (18:35) X Samurai (9:00) Samurai (13:42)
Scorpio Scorpio (10:07) Jericho (11:16) Nakajima (8:05) Ohtani (7:55) Samurai (9:00) X Tajiri (9:16)
Tajiri Tajiri (11:34) Jericho (13:36) Nakajima (9:18) Tajiri (11:44) Samurai (13:42) Tajiri (9:16) X
  Final
       
A1  Koji Kanemoto Pin
B1  El Samurai 23:51

[edit] 1998

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 1 point for a win and 0 for a loss or draw. The winner, Koji Kanemoto, would make an unsuccessful challenge to the champion, Jushin Liger, on July 15, as well as an equally unsuccessful rematch on January 4, 1999, before beating Liger for the title on March 17.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Dr. Wagner, Jr. 4 Koji Kanemoto 4
Jushin Liger 3 Shiryu 3
El Samurai 3 Kendo Kashin 3
Shinjiro Ohtani 2 Felino 2
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 2 Nanjyo Hayato 2
Masakazu Fukuda 1 Yuji Yasuraoka 1
  Final
       
A1  Dr. Wagner, Jr. Pin
B1  Koji Kanemoto 26:17

[edit] 1999

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 finals. Kanemoto also became the first person to reach the finals three years in a row.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Koji Kanemoto 8 Kendo Kashin 8
Gran Hamada 6 Shinjiro Ohtani 7
Jushin 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 Liger Masaaki Mochizuki Super Shocker Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Gran Hamada X Kanemoto (15:46) Hamada (10:08) Hamada (10:47) Hamada (10:17) Takaiwa (12:32)
Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto (15:46) X Liger (20:29) Kanemoto (9:40) Kanemoto (10:19) Kanemoto (13:29)
Jushin Liger Hamada (10:08) Liger (20:29) X Liger (11:13) Liger (13:59) Takaiwa (17:47)
Masaaki Mochizuki Hamada (10:47) Kanemoto (9:40) Liger (11:13) X Mochizuki (10:44) Mochizuki (13:11)
Super Shocker Hamada (10:17) Kanemoto (10:19) Liger (13:59) Mochizuki (10:44) X Shocker (13:50)
Tatsuhito Takaiwa Takaiwa (12:32) Kanemoto (13:29) Takaiwa (17:47) Mochizuki (13:11) Shocker (13:50) X
Block B Kendo Kashin Masao Orihara Shinjiro Ohtani El Samurai Minoru Tanaka Dr. Wagner, Jr.
Kendo Kashin X Kashin (7:06) Ohtani (9:34) Kashin (10:00) Kashin (10:21) Kashin (8:58)
Masao Orihara Kashin (7:06) X Ohtani (9:37) Samurai (12:52) Orihara (10:52) Wagner (10:08)
Shinjiro Ohtani Ohtani (9:34) Ohtani (9:37) X Draw (30:00) Tanaka (13:57) Ohtani (11:19)
El Samurai Kashin (10:00) Samurai (12:52) Draw (30:00) X Tanaka (10:32) Samurai (11:42)
Minoru Tanaka Kashin (10:21) Orihara (10:52) Tanaka (13:57) Tanaka (10:32) X Wagner (10:09)
Dr. Wagner, Jr. Kashin (8:58) Wagner (10:08) Ohtani (11:19) Samurai (11:42) Wagner (10:09) X
  Final
       
A1  Koji Kanemoto Sub
B1  Kendo Kashin 13:15

[edit] 2000

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 Liger for the title on July 20, ending to date Liger's last reign with the championship.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 8 Shinjiro Ohtani 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 X Hamada (13:00) Hamada (8:37) Hamada (8:16) Takaiwa (6:39) Wagner (10:24)
Koji Kanemoto Hamada (13:00) X Kanemoto (10:37) Kanemoto (8:14) Kanemoto (14:04) Wagner (10:30)
Shinya Makabe Hamada (8:37) Kanemoto (10:37) X Samurai (9:52) Takaiwa (11:11) Makabe (12:38)
El Samurai Hamada (8:16) Kanemoto (8:14) Samurai (9:52) X Takaiwa (9:34) Samurai (13:51)
Tatsuhito Takaiwa Takaiwa (6:39) Kanemoto (14:04) Takaiwa (11:11) Takaiwa (9:34) X Takaiwa (13:06)
Dr. Wagner, Jr. Wagner (10:24) Wagner (10:30) Makabe (12:38) Samurai (13:51) Takaiwa (13:06) X
Block B Minoru Fujita Kendo Kashin Kid Romeo Shinjiro Ohtani Minoru Tanaka Katsumi Usuda
Minoru Fujita X Kashin (5:56) Romeo (6:06) Ohtani (9:16) Tanaka (11:20) Fujita (10:08)
Kendo Kashin Kashin (5:56) X Kashin (4:51) Ohtani (9:59) Tanaka (9:10) Kashin (8:30)
Kid Romeo Romeo (6:06) Kashin (4:51) X Ohtani (5:37) Tanaka (5:15) Usuda (6:16)
Shinjiro Ohtani Ohtani (9:16) Ohtani (9:59) Ohtani (5:37) X Ohtani (12:14) Ohtani (12:55)
Minoru Tanaka Tanaka (11:20) Tanaka (9:10) Tanaka (5:15) Ohtani (12:14) X Usuda (11:56)
Katsumi Usuda Fujita (10:08) Kashin (8:30) Usuda (6:16) Ohtani (12:55) Usuda (11:56) X
  Final
       
A1  Tatsuhito Takaiwa Pin
B1  Shinjiro Ohtani 18:35

[edit] 2001

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 Liger became both the first person to win the tournament three times, and the first to not lose a single match. For reasons that are unclear, Liger did not receive a championship shot for his win.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Jushin 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 Liger Gran Naniwa El Samurai Silver King
Chris Candido X Candido (5:10) Liger (5:48) Candido (8:01) Samurai (4:53) King (7:40)
Wataru Inoue Candido (5:10) X Liger (13:56) Naniwa (10:48) Samurai (14:29) King (8:26)
Jushin Liger Liger (5:48) Liger (13:56) X Liger (14:05) Liger (13:26) Liger (12:32)
Gran Naniwa Candido (8:01) Naniwa (10:48) Liger (14:05) X Naniwa (11:29) King (10:01)
El Samurai Samurai (4:53) Samurai (14:29) Liger (13:26) Naniwa (11:29) X Samurai (10:33)
Silver King King (7:40) King (8:26) Liger (12:32) King (10:01) Samurai (10:33) X
Block B AKIRA Shinya Makabe Katsuyori Shibata Super Shocker Minoru Tanaka Dr. Wagner, Jr.
AKIRA X Makabe (10:15) AKIRA (6:18) AKIRA (10:10) AKIRA (23:22) Wagner (11:38)
Shinya Makabe Makabe (10:15) X Makabe (6:23) Shocker (9:41) Tanaka (16:34) Wagner (9:03)
Katsuyori Shibata AKIRA (6:18) Makabe (6:23) X Shocker (9:07) Tanaka (6:24) Wagner (9:28)
Super Shocker AKIRA (10:10) Shocker (9:41) Shocker (9:07) X Tanaka (12:53) Shocker (14:23)
Minoru Tanaka AKIRA (23:22) Tanaka (16:34) Tanaka (6:24) Tanaka (12:53) X Tanaka (14:45)
Dr. Wagner, Jr. Wagner (11:38) Wagner (9:03) Wagner (9:28) Shocker (14:23) Tanaka (14:45) X
  Final
       
A1  Jushin Liger Pin
B1  Minoru Tanaka 26:12

[edit] 2002

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 1 point for a win, and 0 for a loss or draw. The 2-time winner, Koji Kanemoto, went on to defeat champion Minoru Tanaka for the title on July 19, whom he also defeated in the finals.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Koji Kanemoto 4 Minoru Tanaka 4
Jushin 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 B. Tiger Curry Jado Kakihara Kanemoto Liger Shibata
B. Tiger X Curry (8:46) Tiger (5:00) Tiger (8:20) Tiger (13:35) Liger (13:30) Shibata (8:20)
Curry Curry (8:46) X Jado (10:47) Kakihara (9:23) Kanemoto (10:50) Liger (12:58) Curry (7:14)
Jado Tiger (5:00) Jado (10:47) X Kakihara (Forf) Kanemoto (12:06) Draw (3:10) Shibata (Forf)
Kakihara Tiger (8:20) Kakihara (9:23) Kakihara (Forf) X Kakihara (12:28) Liger (14:06) Shibata (5:39)
Kanemoto Tiger (13:35) Kanemoto (10:50) Kanemoto (12:06) Kakihara (12:28) X Kanemoto (17:17) Kanemoto (6:12)
Liger Liger (13:30) Liger (12:58) Draw (3:10) Liger (14:06) Kanemoto (17:17) X Liger (9:45)
Shibata Shibata (8:20) Curry (7:14) Shibata (Forf) Shibata (5:39) Kanemoto (6:12) Liger (9:45) X
Block B AKIRA Gedo Inoue Naruse Samurai Tanaka T. Mask
AKIRA X Gedo (11:12) AKIRA (7:47) Naruse (9:37) Samurai (11:48) AKIRA (16:13) AKIRA (10:36)
Gedo Gedo (11:12) X Inoue (11:19) Gedo (10:41) Samurai (13:25) Gedo (12:51) Tiger (14:49)
Inoue AKIRA (7:47) Inoue (11:19) X Naruse (10:23) Inoue (7:21) Tanaka (8:13) Tiger (8:16)
Naruse Naruse (9:37) Gedo (10:41) Naruse (10:23) X Samurai (9:19) Tanaka (12:14) Naruse (6:54)
Samurai Samurai (11:48) Samurai (13:25) Inoue (7:21) Samurai (9:19) X Tanaka (13:01) Tiger (12:08)
Tanaka AKIRA (16:13) Gedo (12:51) Tanaka (8:13) Tanaka (12:14) Tanaka (13:01) X Tanaka (10:22)
T. Mask AKIRA (10:36) Tiger (14:49) Tiger (8:16) Naruse (6:54) Tiger (12:08) Tanaka (10:22) X
  Final
       
A1  Koji Kanemoto Pin
B1  Minoru Tanaka 14:12

[edit] 2003

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. The winner, Masahito Kakihara would unsuccessfully challenge champion Tiger Mask on July 6, despite having beaten him in the tournament.

Final standings
Block A Block B
AKIRA 10 Koji Kanemoto 8
Takashi Sugiura 8 Masahito Kakihara 8
Jushin 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 Fujita Gedo Liger Sugiura Taguchi
AKIRA X AKIRA (8:24) Fujita (12:34) AKIRA (11:49) AKIRA (16:04) AKIRA (12:10) AKIRA (8:34)
Ebessan AKIRA (8:24) X Fujita (8:24) Ebessan (9:09) Liger (10:56) Sugiura (11:52) Ebessan (7:14)
Fujita Fujita (12:34) Fujita (8:24) X Fujita (11:41) Liger (11:27) Sugiura (11:27) Fujita (10:26)
Gedo AKIRA (11:49) Ebessan (9:09) Fujita (11:41) X Liger (14:09) Gedo (12:16) Gedo (8:39)
Liger AKIRA (16:04) Liger (10:56) Liger (11:27) Liger (14:09) X Sugiura (12:06) Liger (6:53)
Sugiura AKIRA (12:10) Sugiura (11:52) Sugiura (11:27) Gedo (12:16) Sugiura (12:06) X Sugiura (9:13)
Taguchi AKIRA (8:34) Ebessan (7:14) Fujita (10:26) Gedo (8:39) Liger (6:53) Sugiura (9:13) X
Block B Jado Kakihara Kanemoto Naruse Samurai Stampede Tiger
Jado X Kakihara (6:56) Jado (5:23) Jado (7:38) Samurai (12:26) Stampede (5:13) Tiger (9:59)
Kakihara Kakihara (6:56) X Kanemoto (11:07) Naruse (9:15) Kakihara (8:13) Kakihara (7:06) Kakihara (10:31)
Kanemoto Jado (5:23) Kanemoto (11:07) X Kanemoto (10:56) Samurai (8:29) Kanemoto (8:50) Kanemoto (10:45)
Naruse Jado (7:38) Naruse (9:15) Kanemoto (10:56) X Naruse (9:07) Naruse (9:09) Tiger (10:05)
Samurai Samurai (12:26) Kakihara (8:13) Samurai (8:29) Naruse (9:07) X Stampede (9:41) Tiger (12:09)
Stampede Stampede (5:13) Kakihara (7:06) Kanemoto (8:50) Naruse (9:09) Stampede (9:41) X Tiger (7:38)
Tiger Tiger (9:59) Kakihara (10:31) Kanemoto (10:45) Tiger (10:05) Tiger (12:09) Tiger (7:38) X
  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  

[edit] 2004

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 Liger, after finishing first in Block B, 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, would unsuccessfully challenge HEAT for the title on July 19, though he would defeat him in a rematch on January 4, 2005.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Jushin Liger 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 Dragon Inoue Kakihara Kanemoto Liger MA-G-MA Samurai Taguchi
Dragon X Dra. (12:34) Dra. (9:44) Dra. (11:51) Lig. (13:10) BBM (14:35) Dra. (12:58) Draw (20:00)
Inoue Dra. (12:34) X Kak. (10:37) Ino. (11:44) Lig. (5:46) BBM (11:16) Sam. (10:39) Ino. (10:19)
Kakihara Dra. (9:44) Kak. (10:37) X Kak. (10:55) Draw (20:00) Kak. (10:33) Sam. (9:50) Kak. (7:32)
Kanemoto Dra. (11:51) Ino. (11:44) Kak. (10:55) X Kan. (16:33) Draw (20:00) Kan. (13:58) Kan. (8:50)
Liger Lig. (13:10) Lig. (5:46) Draw (20:00) Kan. (16:33) X Lig. (7:07) Lig. (14:08) Tag. (0:45)
MA-G-MA BBM (14:35) BBM (11:16) Kak. (10:33) Draw (20:00) Lig. (7:07) X Sam. (11:56) BBM (8:48)
Samurai Dra. (12:58) Sam. (10:39) Sam. (9:50) Kan. (13:58) Lig. (14:08) Sam. (11:56) X Draw (20:00)
Taguchi Draw (20:00) Ino. (10:19) Kak. (7:32) Kan. (8:50) Tag. (0:45) BBM (8:48) Draw (20:00) X
Block B Curry Dragon Garuda HEAT Nakajima Naruse Romero Tiger
Curry X Dra. (Forf) Draw (20:00) HEAT (11:19) Nak. (8:20) Nar. (Forf) Rom. (Forf) Tig. (Forf)
Dragon Dra. (Forf) X Dra. (8:46) Draw (20:00) Dra. (9:07) Nar. (11:06) Dra. (12:10) Dra. (12:01)
Garuda Draw (20:00) Dra. (8:46) X HEAT (5:11) Gar. (8:41) Nar. (11:06) Rom. (9:55) Tig. (10:42)
HEAT HEAT (11:19) Draw (20:00) HEAT (5:11) X HEAT (11:26) HEAT (15:38) Draw (20:00) Tig. (14:08)
Nakajima Nak. (8:20) Dra. (9:07) Gar. (8:41) HEAT (11:26) X Nar. (1:41) Rom. (8:39) Tig. (7:11)
Naruse Nar. (Forf) Nar. (11:06) Nar. (11:06) HEAT (15:38) Nar. (1:41) X Nar. (8:41) Tig. (3:32)
Romero Rom. (Forf) Dra. (12:10) Rom. (9:55) Draw (20:00) Rom. (8:39) Nar. (8:41) X Tig. (13:14)
Tiger Tig. (Forf) Dra. (12:01) Tig. (10:42) Tig. (14:08) Tig. (7:11) Tig. (3:32) Tig. (13:14) X
  Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                           
   
  A1  American Dragon Sub  
    A3  Koji Kanemoto 13:34  
B2  Ultimo Dragon 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  

[edit] 2005

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, became the first person in history to win the tournament in consecutive years, as well as the first since Jushin Liger in 1994 to win as champion.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Minoru 8 Gedo 10
Koji Kanemoto 8 Tiger Mask IV 8
Hirooki Goto 6 Jushin 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 Goto Jado Kakihara Kanemoto Minoru Samurai Stampede
Goto X Jado (11:31) Goto (10:16) Kan. (11:28) Minoru (11:28) Goto (10:08) Goto (7:57)
Jado Jado (11:31) X Kakihara (8:02) Kan. (10:40) Minoru (12:29) Jado (14:04) Stampede (9:59)
Kakihara Goto (10:16) Kakihara (8:02) X Kan. (10:29) Kakihara (10:04) Samurai (10:47) Kakihara (8:30)
Kanemoto Kan. (11:28) Kan. (10:40) Kan. (10:29) X Minoru (19:38) Samurai (12:15) Kan. (9:34)
Minoru Minoru (11:28) Minoru (12:29) Kakihara (10:04) Minoru (19:38) X Minoru (13:04) Stampede (11:30)
Samurai Goto (10:08) Jado (14:04) Samurai (10:47) Samurai (12:15) Minoru (13:04) X Samurai (9:31)
Stampede Goto (7:57) Stampede (9:59) Kakihara (8:30) Kan. (9:34) Stampede (11:30) Samurai (9:31) X
Block B Anzawa B. Tiger Gedo Inoue Liger Takemura T. Mask
Anzawa X B. Tiger (6:13) Gedo (10:21) Anzawa (Forf) Liger (8:36) Takemura (7:46) T. Mask (5:34)
B. Tiger B. Tiger (6:13) X Gedo (Forf) Inoue (11:01) Liger (Forf) B. Tiger (6:46) T. Mask (Forf)
Gedo Gedo (10:21) Gedo (Forf) X Inoue (15:13) Gedo (17:24) Gedo (11:29) Gedo (11:25)
Inoue Anzawa (Forf) Inoue (11:01) Inoue (15:13) X Liger (16:50) Takemura (Forf) Inoue (11:53)
Liger Liger (8:36) Liger (Forf) Gedo (17:24) Liger (16:50) X Liger (12:12) T. Mask (8:58)
Takemura Takemura (7:46) B. Tiger (6:46) Gedo (11:29) Takemura (Forf) Liger (12:12) X T. Mask (6:12)
T. Mask T. Mask (5:34) T. Mask (Forf) Gedo (11:25) Inoue (11:53) T. Mask (8:58) T. Mask (6:12) X
  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  

[edit] 2006

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. This tournament also marked the first time that neither block winner made it to the finals.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Jushin 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 Azteca Fuego Jado Liger Minoru Samurai Taguchi
Azteca X Azteca (10:28) Jado (7:41) Liger (12:12) Minoru (12:26) Samurai (11:08) Taguchi (12:50)
Fuego Azteca (10:28) X Jado (11:14) Liger (7:12) Fuego (4:40) Samurai (9:51) Taguchi (6:06)
Jado Jado (7:41) Jado (11:14) X Liger (15:19) Minoru (12:54) Draw (30:00) Draw (6:01)
Liger Liger (12:12) Liger (7:12) Liger (15:19) X Liger (21:20) Liger (12:16) Taguchi (15:30)
Minoru Minoru (12:26) Fuego (4:40) Minoru (12:54) Liger (21:20) X Minoru (13:24) Minoru (19:18)
Samurai Samurai (11:08) Samurai (9:51) Draw (30:00) Liger (12:16) Minoru (13:24) X Samurai (12:02)
Taguchi Taguchi (12:50) Taguchi (6:06) Draw (6:01) Taguchi (15:30) Minoru (19:18) Samurai (12:02) X
Block B B. Tiger Gedo GENTARO Goto Inoue Kanemoto T. Mask
B. Tiger X Gedo (10:59) B. Tiger (14:21) B. Tiger (12:04) Inoue (11:41) Kan. (16:35) T. Mask (9:36)
Gedo Gedo (10:59) X Gedo (12:32) Goto (15:21) Inoue (13:17) Draw (15:06) T. Mask (12:59)
GENTARO B. Tiger (14:21) Gedo (12:32) X Goto (8:27) GENTARO (14:31) Kan. (12:18) GENTARO (10:22)
Goto B. Tiger (12:04) Goto (15:21) Goto (8:27) X Inoue (9:57) Kan. (9:49) T. Mask (10:58)
Inoue Inoue (11:41) Inoue (13:17) GENTARO (14:31) Inoue (9:57) X Inoue (16:46) Inoue (5:57)
Kanemoto Kan. (16:35) Draw (15:06) Kan. (12:18) Kan. (9:49) Inoue (16:46) X T. Mask (12:58)
T. Mask T. Mask (9:36) T. Mask (12:59) GENTARO (10:22) T. Mask (10:58) Inoue (5:57) T. Mask (12:58) X
  Semifinals Final
                 
A1  Jushin 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  

[edit] 2007

The 2007 Best of the Super Juniors featuring 14 men is currently underway, beginning on June 1 with the finals scheduled for June 17. On June 7, it was announced that Prince Devitt would be forced out of the tournament due to an injury, forfeiting all further matches in the process.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Wataru Inoue 10 Ryusuke Taguchi 10
Milano Collection AT 8 Minoru 8
Tiger Mask IV 8 Koji Kanemoto 7
Jushin Liger 8 Gedo 5
Taichi Ishikari 4 BxB Hulk 4
Yujiro 4 El Samurai 4
Prince Devitt 0 Tetsuya Naito 4
Block A Inoue Ishikari Liger Milano Devitt Tiger Yujiro
Inoue X Inoue (13:33) Liger (15:47) Inoue (14:22) Inoue (Forf) Inoue (11:36) Inoue (10:47)
Ishikari Inoue (13:33) X Liger (12:29) Milano (11:25) Ishikari (11:40) Tiger (8:59) Ishikari (10:41)
Liger Liger (15:47) Liger (12:29) X Milano (16:41) Liger (Forf) Tiger (14:08) Liger (11:19)
Milano Inoue (14:22) Milano (11:25) Milano (16:41) X Milano (10:18) Milano (11:23) Yujiro (10:35)
Devitt Inoue (Forf) Ishikari (11:40) Liger (Forf) Milano (10:18) X Tiger (Forf) Yujiro (Forf)
Tiger Inoue (11:36) Tiger (8:59) Tiger (14:08) Milano (11:23) Tiger (Forf) X Tiger (10:34)
Yujiro Inoue (10:47) Ishikari (10:41) Liger (11:19) Yujiro (10:35) Yujiro (Forf) Tiger (10:34) X
Block B Hulk Gedo Naito Kanemoto Minoru Samurai Taguchi
Hulk X Hulk (11:03) Hulk (11:10) Kanemoto (12:05) Minoru (11:52) Samurai (8:53) Taguchi (12:30)
Gedo Hulk (11:03) X Naito (9:29) Draw (15:50) Minoru (13:26) Gedo (14:13) Gedo (11:36)
Naito Hulk (11:10) Naito (9:29) X Kanemoto (10:16) Minoru (9:01) Naito (9:27) Taguchi (9:47)
Kanemoto Kanemoto (12:05) Draw (15:50) Kanemoto (10:16) X Kanemoto (16:32) Samurai (16:19) Taguchi (12:07)
Minoru Minoru (11:52) Minoru (13:26) Minoru (9:01) Kanemoto (16:32) X Minoru (11:36) Taguchi (14:15)
Samurai Samurai (8:53) Gedo (14:13) Naito (9:27) Samurai (16:19) Minoru (11:36) X Taguchi (10:26)
Taguchi Taguchi (12:30) Gedo (11:36) Taguchi (9:47) Taguchi (12:07) Taguchi (14:15) Taguchi (10:26) X
  Semifinals Final
                 
A1  Wataru Inoue Sub  
B2  Minoru 14:45  
    A1  Wataru Inoue Pin
  A2  Milano Collection AT 19:37
B1  Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
A2  Milano Collection AT 12:47  

[edit] 2008

Currently underway, the 2008 Best of the Super Juniors features 12 participants in two blocks, and is being held from May 31 to June 15. 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, forfeiting his remaining matches.

Block structure
Block A Block B
Ryusuke Taguchi 6 Tiger Mask IV 8
Wataru Inoue 6 Koji Kanemoto 6
Minoru 4 Jimmy Rave 6
Jushin Liger 4 Tetsuya Naito 4
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 4 AKIRA 4
Yujiro 0 Prince Devitt 0
Block A Wataru Inoue Jushin Liger Minoru Ryusuke Taguchi Tatsuhito Takaiwa Yujiro
Wataru Inoue X TBD 6/13 Inoue (19:14) Taguchi (17:44) Inoue (13:24) Inoue (11:19)
Jushin Liger TBD 6/13 X Minoru (13:32) TBD 6/14 Liger (14:49) Liger (9:57)
Minoru Inoue (19:14) Minoru (13:32) X Taguchi (14:29) Minoru (11:31) TBD 6/14
Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi (17:44) TBD 6/14 Taguchi (14:29) X Takaiwa (14:39) Taguchi (13:20)
Tatsuhito Takaiwa Inoue (13:24) Liger (14:49) Minoru (11:31) Takaiwa (14:39) X Takaiwa (10:47)
Yujiro Inoue (11:19) Liger (9:57) TBD 6/14 Taguchi (13:20) Takaiwa (10:47) X
Block B AKIRA Prince Devitt Koji Kanemoto Tetsuya Naito Jimmy Rave Tiger Mask IV
AKIRA X AKIRA (Forf) AKIRA (18:14) Naito (13:56) Rave (11:25) Tiger (10:22)
Prince Devitt AKIRA (Forf) X Kanemoto (Forf) Naito (Forf) Rave (Forf) Tiger (1:40)
Koji Kanemoto AKIRA (18:14) Kanemoto (Forf) X Kanemoto (10:43) Kanemoto (13:57) Tiger (10:16)
Tetsuya Naito Naito (13:56) Naito (Forf) Kanemoto (10:43) X Rave (8:01) Tiger (11:10)
Jimmy Rave Rave (11:25) Rave (Forf) Kanemoto (13:57) Rave (8:01) X TBD 6/13
Tiger Mask IV Tiger (10:22) Tiger (1:40) Tiger (10:16) Tiger (11:10) TBD 6/13 X
  Semifinals Finals
                 
A1  TBD TBD  
B2  TBD 6/15  
     TBD TBD
   TBD 6/15
B1  TBD TBD
A2  TBD 6/15  

[edit] References

Languages