Best of the Super Juniors

This article is about the professional wrestling tournament. For the South Korean boy band, see Super Junior. For the Irish political term, see Super junior minister.
Best of the Super Juniors trophy

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]

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Hiroshi Hase 41
Shiro Koshinaka 41
Nobuhiko Takada 40
Owen Hart 39
Kazuo Yamazaki 38
Keiichi Yamada 31
Kuniaki Kobayashi 24
Hiro Saito 24
Tony St. Clair 14
Tatsutoshi Goto 9
Masakatsu Funaki 8
Norio Honaga 0
Results Hiro Saito Hiroshi Hase Kazuo Yamazaki Keiichi Yamada Kuniaki Kobayashi Masakatsu Funaki Nobuhiko Takada Norio Honaga Owen Hart Shiro Koshinaka Tatsutoshi Goto Tony St. Clair
Hiro Saito — Hase
(13:27)		 Yamazaki
(13:22)		 Saito
(11:11)		 Kobayashi
(12:36)		 Saito
(7:32)		 Takada
(12:28)		 Saito
(forfeit)		 Hart
(11:49)		 Koshinaka
(12:03)		 Saito
(12:28)		 Saito
(12:29)
Hiroshi Hase Hase
(13:27)		 — Yamazaki
(11:26)		 Hase
(12:38)		 Kobayashi
(10:51)		 Hase
(10:09)		 Double Countout
(13:31)		 Hase
(forfeit)		 Hase
(13:09)		 Hase
(12:04)		 Hase
(13:49)		 Hase
(12:13)
Kazuo Yamazaki Yamazaki
(13:22)		 Yamazaki
(11:26)		 — Yamada
(10:07)		 Yamazaki
(15:06)		 Yamazaki
(13:28)		 Yamazaki
(14:08)		 Yamazaki
(forfeit)		 Hart
(12:56)		 Koshinaka
(12:58)		 Yamazaki
(11:55)		 Yamazaki
(8:55)
Keiichi Yamada Saito
(11:11)		 Hase
(12:38)		 Yamada
(10:07)		 — Kobayashi
(16:12)		 Yamada
(9:24)		 Double Countout
(12:28)		 Yamada
(forfeit)		 Yamada
(10:54)		 Koshinaka
(18:14)		 Yamada
(13:18)		 Yamada
(10:01)
Kuniaki Kobayashi Kobayashi
(12:36)		 Kobayashi
(10:51)		 Yamazaki
(15:06)		 Kobayashi
(16:12)		 — Funaki
(9:10)		 Takada
(10:18)		 Kobayashi
(forfeit)		 Hart
(10:34)		 Koshinaka
(13:49)		 Kobayashi
(11:12)		 Kobayashi
(11:09)
Masakatsu Funaki Saito
(7:32)		 Hase
(10:09)		 Yamazaki
(13:28)		 Yamada
(9:24)		 Funaki
(9:10)		 — Takada
(20:05)		 Funaki
(forfeit)		 Hart
(10:55)		 Koshinaka
(12:04)		 Goto
(10:28)		 St. Clair
(7:32)
Nobuhiko Takada Takada
(12:28)		 Double Countout
(13:31)		 Yamazaki
(14:08)		 Double Countout
(12:28)		 Takada
(10:18)		 Takada
(20:05)		 — Takada
(forfeit)		 Takada
(13:43)		 Double KO
(20:34)		 Takada
(19:34)		 Takada
(11:29)
Norio Honaga Saito
(forfeit)		 Hase
(forfeit)		 Yamazaki
(forfeit)		 Yamada
(forfeit)		 Kobayashi
(forfeit)		 Funaki
(forfeit)		 Takada
(forfeit)		 — Hart
(forfeit)		 Koshinaka
(forfeit)		 Goto
(forfeit)		 St. Clair
(forfeit)
Owen Hart Hart
(11:49)		 Hase
(13:09)		 Hart
(12:56)		 Yamada
(10:54)		 Hart
(10:34)		 Hart
(10:55)		 Takada
(13:43)		 Hart
(forfeit)		 — Hart
(15:00)		 Hart
(7:57)		 Hart
(11:28)
Shiro Koshinaka Koshinaka
(12:03)		 Hase
(12:04)		 Koshinaka
(12:58)		 Koshinaka
(18:14)		 Koshinaka
(13:49)		 Koshinaka
(12:04)		 Double KO
(20:34)		 Koshinaka
(forfeit)		 Hart
(15:00)		 — Koshinaka
(8:12)		 Koshinaka
(9:50)
Tatsutoshi Goto Saito
(12:28)		 Hase
(13:49)		 Yamazaki
(11:55)		 Yamada
(13:18)		 Kobayashi
(11:12)		 Goto
(10:28)		 Takada
(19:34)		 Goto
(forfeit)		 Hart
(7:57)		 Koshinaka
(8:12)		 — St. Clair
(7:47)
Tony St. Clair Saito
(12:29)		 Hase
(12:13)		 Yamazaki
(8:55)		 Yamada
(10:01)		 Kobayashi
(11:09)		 St. Clair
(7:32)		 Takada
(11:29)		 St. Clair
(forfeit)		 Hart
(11:28)		 Koshinaka
(9:50)		 St. Clair
(7:47)		 —


Final
   
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]

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Norio Honaga 8
Jushin Thunder Liger 8
Pegasus Kid 8
Negro Casas 8
Owen Hart 6
David Finlay 4
Flyin' Scorpio 0
Results Negro Casas Dave Finlay Owen Hart Norio Honaga Pegasus Kid Jushin Thunder Liger Flyin' Scorpio
Negro Casas — Casas
(5:33)		 Casas
(6:45)		 Honaga
(6:35)		 Kid
(11:52)		 Casas
(6:51)		 Casas
(6:31)
Dave Finlay Casas
(5:33)		 — Hart
(8:35)		 Honaga
(6:25)		 Finlay
(7:04)		 Liger
(11:38)		 Finlay
(7:56)
Owen Hart Casas
(6:45)		 Hart
(8:35)		 — Honaga
(7:23)		 Hart
(11:04)		 Liger
(14:58)		 Hart
(7:55)
Norio Honaga Honaga
(6:35)		 Honaga
(6:25)		 Honaga
(7:23)		 — Kid
(9:22)		 Liger
(9:44)		 Honaga
(7:51)
Pegasus Kid Kid
(11:52)		 Finlay
(7:04)		 Hart
(11:04)		 Kid
(9:22)		 — Kid
(14:01)		 Kid
Jushin Thunder Liger Casas
(6:51)		 Liger
(11:38)		 Liger
(14:58)		 Liger
(9:44)		 Kid
(14:01)		 — Liger
(8:46)
Flyin' Scorpio Casas
(6:31)		 Finlay
(7:56)		 Hart
(7:55)		 Honaga
(7:51)		 Kid
 Liger
(8:46)		 —
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]

Final standings
Wrestler Score
El Samurai 14
Jushin Thunder Liger 12
Norio Honaga 12
Negro Casas 10
Pegasus Kid 10
David Finlay 6
Eddie Guerrero 4
Flyin' Scorpio 2
Koji Kanemoto 2
Results David Finlay Eddie Guerrero El Samurai Flyin' Scorpio Jushin Thunder Liger Koji Kanemoto Negro Casas Norio Honaga Pegasus Kid
David Finlay — Finlay
(12:16)		 Samurai
(11:08)		 Finlay
(10:58)		 Liger
(11:52)		 Finlay
(10:43)		 Casas
(9:37)		 Honaga
(9:26)		 Kid
(9:29)
Eddie Guerrero Finlay
(12:16)		 — Samurai
(10:10)		 Guerrero
(13:48)		 Liger
(12:13)		 Guerrero
(11:05)		 Casas
(7:28)		 Honaga
(9:34)		 Kid
(12:06)
El Samurai Samurai
(11:08)		 Samurai
(10:10)		 — Samurai
(10:51)		 Samurai
(15:34)		 Samurai
(11:29)		 Samurai
(5:44)		 Honaga
(10:00)		 Samurai
(9:36)
Flyin' Scorpio Finlay
(10:58)		 Guerrero
(13:48)		 Samurai
(10:51)		 — Liger
(11:23)		 Scorpio
(12:52)		 Casas
(10:05)		 Honaga
(7:07)		 Kid
(9:55)
Jushin Thunder Liger Liger
(11:52)		 Liger
(12:13)		 Samurai
(15:34)		 Liger
(11:23)		 — Liger
(10:08)		 Liger
(7:24)		 Liger
(12:14)		 Kid
(12:42)
Koji Kanemoto Finlay
(10:43)		 Guerrero
(11:05)		 Samurai
(11:29)		 Scorpio
(12:52)		 Liger
(10:08)		 — Kanemoto
(9:14)		 Honaga
(5:15)		 Kid
(10:53)
Negro Casas Casas
(9:37)		 Casas
(7:28)		 Samurai
(5:44)		 Casas
(10:05)		 Liger
(7:24)		 Kanemoto
(9:14)		 — Casas
(8:56)		 Casas
(11:38)
Norio Honaga Honaga
(9:26)		 Honaga
(9:34)		 Honaga
(10:00)		 Honaga
(7:07)		 Liger
(12:14)		 Honaga
(5:15)		 Casas
(8:56)		 — Honaga
(8:00)
Pegasus Kid Kid
(9:29)		 Kid
(12:06)		 Samurai
(9:36)		 Kid
(9:55)		 Kid
(12:42)		 Kid
(10:53)		 Casas
(11:38)		 Honaga
(8:00)		 —
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]

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Pegasus Kid 14
Black Tiger II 12
El Samurai 12
Dean Malenko 12
Flyin' Scorpio 12
Jushin Thunder Liger 12
David Finlay 10
Norio Honaga 10
Lightning Kid 8
Shinjiro Otani 4
Masao Orihara 4
Results Black Tiger II David Finlay Dean Malenko El Samurai Flyin' Scorpio Jushin Thunder Liger Lightning Kid Masao Orihara Norio Honaga Pegasus Kid Shinjiro Otani
Black Tiger II — Finlay
(9:57)		 Tiger
(12:45)		 Tiger
(11:25)		 Tiger
(7:25)		 Tiger
(14:39)		 Lightning
(11:30)		 Tiger
(forfeit)		 Tiger
(11:25)		 Pegasus
(13:00)		 Otani
(13:28)
David Finlay Finlay
(9:57)		 — Finlay
(11:51)		 Samurai
(15:05)		 Finlay
(10:21)		 Liger
(11:24)		 Lightning
(6:29)		 Orihara
(9:26)		 Finlay
(7:03)		 Pegasus
(8:02)		 Finlay
(9:17)
Dean Malenko Tiger
(12:45)		 Finlay
(11:51)		 — Samurai
(12:13)		 Malenko
(13:29)		 Malenko
(17:23)		 Malenko
(11:15)		 Malenko
(forfeit)		 Malenko
(11:05)		 Pegasus
(9:41)		 Malenko
(10:51)
El Samurai Tiger
(11:25)		 Samurai
(15:05)		 Samurai
(12:13)		 — Samurai
(10:25)		 Liger
(13:27)		 Samurai
(11:09)		 Orihara
(11:39)		 Samurai
(9:06)		 Pegasus
(10:52)		 Samurai
(12:05)
Flyin' Scorpio Tiger
(7:25)		 Finlay
(10:21)		 Malenko
(13:29)		 Samurai
(10:25)		 — Scorpio
(3:30)		 Scorpio
(8:54)		 Scorpio
(forfeit)		 Scorpio
(7:37)		 Scorpio
(11:00)		 Scorpio
(8:52)
Jushin Thunder Liger Tiger
(14:39)		 Liger
(11:24)		 Malenko
(17:23)		 Liger
(13:27)		 Scorpio
(3:30)		 — Liger
(10:50)		 Liger
(forfeit)		 Honaga
(12:51)		 Liger
(15:05)		 Liger
(11:57)
Lightning Kid Lightning
(11:30)		 Lightning
(6:29)		 Malenko
(11:15)		 Samurai
(11:09)		 Scorpio
(8:54)		 Liger
(10:50)		 — Lightning
(forfeit)		 Honaga
(4:42)		 Pegasus
(12:13)		 Lightning
(12:46)
Masao Orihara Tiger
(forfeit)		 Orihara
(9:26)		 Malenko
(forfeit)		 Orihara
(11:39)		 Scorpio
(forfeit)		 Liger
(forfeit)		 Lightning
(forfeit)		 — Honaga
(forfeit)		 Pegasus
(9:18)		 Otani
(forfeit)
Norio Honaga Tiger
(11:25)		 Finlay
(7:03)		 Malenko
(11:05)		 Samurai
(9:06)		 Scorpio
(7:37)		 Honaga
(12:51)		 Honaga
(4:42)		 Honaga
(forfeit)		 — Honaga
(7:06)		 Honaga
(8:39)
Pegasus Kid Pegasus
(13:00)		 Pegasus
(8:02)		 Pegasus
(9:41)		 Pegasus
(10:52)		 Scorpio
(11:00)		 Liger
(15:05)		 Pegasus
(12:13)		 Pegasus
(9:18)		 Honaga
(7:06)		 — Pegasus
Shinjiro Otani Otani
(13:28)		 Finlay
(9:17)		 Malenko
(10:51)		 Samurai
(12:05)		 Scorpio
(8:52)		 Liger
(11:57)		 Lightning
(12:46)		 Otani
(forfeit)		 Honaga
(8:39)		 Pegasus —
QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
2Black Tiger IISub
1Pegasus KidPin
4Dean Malenko13:51
4Dean MalenkoPin3El Samurai18:44
3El Samurai12:20
3El SamuraiPin
5Flyin' Scorpio10:16

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]

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Jushin Thunder Liger 14
Super Delfin 14
El Samurai 12
Wild Pegasus 12
Black Tiger II 12
Dean Malenko 12
Shinjiro Otani 10
Tokimitsu Ishizawa 8
David Finlay 8
Taka Michinoku 4
Masayoshi Motegi 2
Final
   
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.

Final standings
Wrestler Score
Wild Pegasus 10
Shinjiro Otani 10
Black Tiger II 10
Koji Kanemoto 10
Dean Malenko 9
Gran Hamada 9
El Samurai 9
Brian Pillman 8
Alex Wright 8
Norio Honaga 4
Results Wild Pegasus Shinjiro Otani Black Tiger II Koji Kanemoto Dean Malenko Gran Hamada Brian Pillman El Samurai Alex Wright Norio Honaga
Wild Pegasus — Pegasus
(14:28)		 Tiger
(20:20)		 Pegasus
(16:30)		 Pegasus
(16:34)		 Pegasus
(12:22)		 Pillman
(11:11)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Pegasus
(13:30)		 Honaga
(9:39)
Shinjiro Otani Pegasus
(14:28)		 — Otani
(16:37)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Malenko
(14:00)		 Otani
(12:52)		 Otani
(11:38)		 Samurai
(13:47)		 Otani
(14:53)		 Otani
(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)		 Tiger
(11:30)		 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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
El Samurai 10 Black Tiger II 10
Wild Pegasus 10 Jushin Thunder Liger 8
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 8 Shinjiro Otani 6
Franz Schumann 2 Dean Malenko 6
Emilio Charles Jr. 2 Norio Honaga 4
Mr. J.L. 2 Tokimitsu Ishizawa 4
Koji Kanemoto 2 Villano IV 2
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Koji Kanemoto 5 El Samurai 5
Jushin Thunder Liger 4 Shinjiro Otani 4
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 4 Chris Jericho 4
Gran Naniwa 3 Hanzo Nakajima 3
Dr. Wagner Jr. 2 Yoshihiro Tajiri 3
Doc Dean 2 Scorpio Jr. 1
Chavo Guerrero Jr. 1 Robbie Brookside 1
Block A Doc Dean Chavo Guerrero Jr. Koji Kanemoto Jushin Thunder Liger Gran Naniwa Tatsuhito Takaiwa Dr. Wagner Jr.
Doc Dean — Dean
(16:04)		 Kanemoto
(10:27)		 Dean
(11:51)		 Naniwa
(12:29)		 Takaiwa
(11:36)		 Wagner
(7:29)
Chavo Guerrero Jr. Dean
(16:04)		 — Kanemoto
(15:12)		 Liger
(10:20)		 Guerrero
(11:05)		 Takaiwa
(12:14)		 Wagner
(11:13)
Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto
(10:27)		 Kanemoto
(15:12)		 — Kanemoto
(16:32)		 Kanemoto
(14:53)		 Takaiwa
(18:09)		 Kanemoto
(12:11)
Jushin Thunder Liger Dean
(11:51)		 Liger
(10:20)		 Kanemoto
(16:32)		 — Liger
(16:32)		 Liger
(15:53)		 Liger
(12:59)
Gran Naniwa Naniwa
(12:29)		 Guerrero
(11:05)		 Kanemoto
(14:53)		 Liger
(16:32)		 — Naniwa
(15:41)		 Naniwa
(12:39)
Tatsuhito Takaiwa Takaiwa
(11:36)		 Takaiwa
(12:14)		 Takaiwa
(18:09)		 Liger
(15:53)		 Naniwa
(15:41)		 — Takaiwa
(9:53)
Dr. Wagner Jr. Wagner
(7:29)		 Wagner
(11:13)		 Kanemoto
(12:11)		 Liger
(12:59)		 Naniwa
(12:39)		 Takaiwa
(9:53)		 —
Block B Robbie Brookside Chris Jericho Hanzo Nakajima Shinjiro Otani El Samurai Scorpio Jr. Yoshihiro Tajiri
Robbie Brookside — Brookside
(13:43)		 Nakajima
(12:23)		 Otani
(15:31)		 Samurai
(11:32)		 Scorpio
(10:07)		 Tajiri
(11:34)
Chris Jericho Brookside
(13:43)		 — Jericho
(10:53)		 Otani
(12:59)		 Jericho
(15:12)		 Jericho
(11:16)		 Jericho
(13:36)
Hanzo Nakajima Nakajima
(12:23)		 Jericho
(10:53)		 — Otani
(12:26)		 Samurai
(14:30)		 Nakajima
(8:05)		 Nakajima
(9:18)
Shinjiro Otani Otani
(15:31)		 Otani
(12:59)		 Otani
(12:26)		 — Samurai
(18:35)		 Otani
(7:55)		 Tajiri
(11:44)
El Samurai Samurai
(11:32)		 Jericho
(15:12)		 Samurai
(14:30)		 Samurai
(18:35)		 — Samurai
(9:00)		 Samurai
(13:42)
Scorpio Jr. Scorpio
(10:07)		 Jericho
(11:16)		 Nakajima
(8:05)		 Otani
(7:55)		 Samurai
(9:00)		 — Tajiri
(9:16)
Yoshihiro Tajiri Tajiri
(11:34)		 Jericho
(13:36)		 Nakajima
(9:18)		 Tajiri
(11:44)		 Samurai
(13:42)		 Tajiri
(9:16)		 —
Final
   
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Dr. Wagner Jr. 4 Koji Kanemoto 4
El Samurai 3 Shiryu 3
Jushin Thunder Liger 3 Kendo Kashin 3
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 2 El Felino 2
Shinjiro Otani 2 Hayato Nanjo 2
Masakazu Fukuda 1 Yuji Yasuraoka 1
Block A Masakazu Fukuda Jushin Thunder Liger Shinjiro Otani El Samurai Tatsuhito Takaiwa Dr. Wagner Jr.
Masakazu Fukuda — Liger
(15:54)		 Otani
(14:38)		 Samurai
(13:52)		 Fukuda
(14:18)		 Wagner
(13:48)
Jushin Thunder Liger Liger
(15:54)		 — Liger
(20:37)		 Samurai
(18:19)		 Takaiwa
(15:03)		 Liger
(11:27)
Shinjiro Otani Otani
(14:38)		 Liger
(20:37)		 — Otani
(14:55)		 Takaiwa
(17:46)		 Wagner
(12:44)
El Samurai Samurai
(13:52)		 Samurai
(18:19)		 Otani
(14:55)		 — Samurai
(14:20)		 Wagner
(14:16)
Tatsuhito Takaiwa Fukuda
(14:18)		 Takaiwa
(15:03)		 Takaiwa
(17:46)		 Samurai
(14:20)		 — Wagner
(12:37)
Dr. Wagner Jr. Wagner
(13:48)		 Liger
(11:27)		 Wagner
(12:44)		 Wagner
(14:16)		 Wagner
(12:37)		 —
Block B El Felino Koji Kanemoto Kendo Kashin Hayato Nanjo Shiryu Yuji Yasuraoka
El Felino — Kanemoto
(12:34)		 Kashin
(6:14)		 Felino
(10:52)		 Shiryu
(10:19)		 Felino
(forfeit)
Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto
(12:34)		 — Kanemoto
(15:52)		 Kanemoto
(7:18)		 Kanemoto
(16:52)		 Yasuraoka
(18:07)
Kendo Kashin Kashin
(6:14)		 Kanemoto
(15:52)		 — Kashin
(8:58)		 Shiryu
(10:07)		 Kashin
(forfeit)
Hayato Nanjo Felino
(10:52)		 Kanemoto
(7:18)		 Kashin
(8:58)		 — Nanjo
(11:22)		 Nanjo
(forfeit)
Shiryu Shiryu
(10:19)		 Kanemoto
(16:52)		 Shiryu
(10:07)		 Nanjo
(11:22)		 — Shiryu
(forfeit)
Yuji Yasuraoka Felino
(forfeit)		 Yasuraoka
(18:07)		 Kashin
(forfeit)		 Nanjo
(forfeit)		 Shiryu
(forfeit)		 —
Final
   
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Koji Kanemoto 8 Kendo Kashin 8
Gran Hamada 6 Shinjiro Otani 7
Jushin Thunder Liger 6 El Samurai 5
Masaaki Mochizuki 4 Dr. Wagner Jr. 4
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 4 Minoru Tanaka 4
Super Shocker 2 Masao Orihara 2
Block A Gran Hamada Koji Kanemoto Jushin Thunder Liger Masaaki Mochizuki Super Shocker Tatsuhito Takaiwa
Gran Hamada — Kanemoto
(15:46)		 Hamada
(10:08)		 Hamada
(10:47)		 Hamada
(10:17)		 Takaiwa
(12:32)
Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto
(15:46)		 — Liger
(20:29)		 Kanemoto
(9:40)		 Kanemoto
(10:19)		 Kanemoto
(13:29)
Jushin Thunder Liger Hamada
(10:08)		 Liger
(20:29)		 — Liger
(11:13)		 Liger
(13:59)		 Takaiwa
(17:47)
Masaaki Mochizuki Hamada
(10:47)		 Kanemoto
(9:40)		 Liger
(11:13)		 — Mochizuki
(10:44)		 Mochizuki
(13:11)
Super Shocker Hamada
(10:17)		 Kanemoto
(10:19)		 Liger
(13:59)		 Mochizuki
(10:44)		 — Shocker
(13:50)
Tatsuhito Takaiwa Takaiwa
(12:32)		 Kanemoto
(13:29)		 Takaiwa
(17:47)		 Mochizuki
(13:11)		 Shocker
(13:50)		 —
Block B Kendo Kashin Masao Orihara Shinjiro Otani El Samurai Minoru Tanaka Dr. Wagner Jr.
Kendo Kashin — Kashin
(7:06)		 Otani
(9:34)		 Kashin
(10:00)		 Kashin
(10:21)		 Kashin
(8:58)
Masao Orihara Kashin
(7:06)		 — Otani
(9:37)		 Samurai
(12:52)		 Orihara
(10:52)		 Wagner
(10:08)
Shinjiro Otani Otani
(9:34)		 Otani
(9:37)		 — Draw
(30:00)		 Tanaka
(13:57)		 Otani
(11:19)
El Samurai Kashin
(10:00)		 Samurai
(12:52)		 Draw
(30:00)		 — Tanaka
(10:32)		 Samurai
(11:42)
Minoru Tanaka Kashin
(10:21)		 Orihara
(10:52)		 Tanaka
(13:57)		 Tanaka
(10:32)		 — Wagner
(10:09)
Dr. Wagner Jr. Kashin
(8:58)		 Wagner
(10:08)		 Otani
(11:19)		 Samurai
(11:42)		 Wagner
(10:09)		 —
Final
   
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 8 Shinjiro Otani 10
Gran Hamada 6 Minoru Tanaka 6
Koji Kanemoto 6 Kendo Kashin 6
El Samurai 4 Katsumi Usuda 4
Dr. Wagner Jr. 4 Kid Romeo 2
Shinya Makabe 2 Minoru Fujita 2
Block A Gran Hamada Koji Kanemoto Shinya Makabe El Samurai Tatsuhito Takaiwa Dr. Wagner Jr.
Gran Hamada — Hamada
(13:00)		 Hamada
(8:37)		 Hamada
(8:16)		 Takaiwa
(6:39)		 Wagner
(10:24)
Koji Kanemoto Hamada
(13:00)		 — Kanemoto
(10:37)		 Kanemoto
(8:14)		 Kanemoto
(14:04)		 Wagner
(10:30)
Shinya Makabe Hamada
(8:37)		 Kanemoto
(10:37)		 — Samurai
(9:52)		 Takaiwa
(11:11)		 Makabe
(12:38)
El Samurai Hamada
(8:16)		 Kanemoto
(8:14)		 Samurai
(9:52)		 — Takaiwa
(9:34)		 Samurai
(13:51)
Tatsuhito Takaiwa Takaiwa
(6:39)		 Kanemoto
(14:04)		 Takaiwa
(11:11)		 Takaiwa
(9:34)		 — Takaiwa
(13:06)
Dr. Wagner Jr. Wagner
(10:24)		 Wagner
(10:30)		 Makabe
(12:38)		 Samurai
(13:51)		 Takaiwa
(13:06)		 —
Block B Minoru Fujita Kendo Kashin Shinjiro Otani Kid Romeo Minoru Tanaka Katsumi Usuda
Minoru Fujita — Kashin
(5:56)		 Otani
(9:16)		 Romeo
(6:06)		 Tanaka
(11:20)		 Fujita
(10:08)
Kendo Kashin Kashin
(5:56)		 — Otani
(9:59)		 Kashin
(4:51)		 Tanaka
(9:10)		 Kashin
(8:30)
Kid Romeo Romeo
(6:06)		 Kashin
(4:51)		 Otani
(5:37)		 — Tanaka
(5:15)		 Usuda
(6:16)
Shinjiro Otani Otani
(9:16)		 Otani
(9:59)		 — Otani
(5:37)		 Otani
(12:14)		 Otani
(12:55)
Minoru Tanaka Tanaka
(11:20)		 Tanaka
(9:10)		 Otani
(12:14)		 Tanaka
(5:15)		 — Usuda
(11:56)
Katsumi Usuda Fujita
(10:08)		 Kashin
(8:30)		 Otani
(12:55)		 Usuda
(6:16)		 Usuda
(11:56)		 —
Final
   
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.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Jushin Thunder Liger 10 Minoru Tanaka 8
El Samurai 6 Akira 6
Silver King 6 Super Shocker 6
Chris Candido 4 Dr. Wagner Jr. 6
Gran Naniwa 4 Shinya Makabe 4
Wataru Inoue 0 Katsuyori Shibata 0
Block A Chris Candido Wataru Inoue Jushin Thunder Liger Gran Naniwa El Samurai Silver King
Chris Candido — Candido
(5:10)		 Liger
(5:48)		 Candido
(8:01)		 Samurai
(4:53)		 King
(7:40)
Wataru Inoue Candido
(5:10)		 — Liger
(13:56)		 Naniwa
(10:48)		 Samurai
(14:29)		 King
(8:26)
Jushin Thunder Liger Liger
(5:48)		 Liger
(13:56)		 — Liger
(14:05)		 Liger
(13:26)		 Liger
(12:32)
Gran Naniwa Candido
(8:01)		 Naniwa
(10:48)		 Liger
(14:05)		 — Naniwa
(11:29)		 King
(10:01)
El Samurai Samurai
(4:53)		 Samurai
(14:29)		 Liger
(13:26)		 Naniwa
(11:29)		 — Samurai
(10:33)
Silver King King
(7:40)		 King
(8:26)		 Liger
(12:32)		 King
(10:01)		 Samurai
(10:33)		 —
Block B Akira Shinya Makabe Katsuyori Shibata Super Shocker Minoru Tanaka Dr. Wagner Jr.
Akira — Makabe
(10:15)		 Akira
(6:18)		 Akira
(10:10)		 Akira
(23:22)		 Wagner
(11:38)
Shinya Makabe Makabe
(10:15)		 — Makabe
(6:23)		 Shocker
(9:41)		 Tanaka
(16:34)		 Wagner
(9:03)
Katsuyori Shibata Akira
(6:18)		 Makabe
(6:23)		 — Shocker
(9:07)		 Tanaka
(6:24)		 Wagner
(9:28)
Super Shocker Akira
(10:10)		 Shocker
(9:41)		 Shocker
(9:07)		 — Tanaka
(12:53)		 Shocker
(14:23)
Minoru Tanaka Akira
(23:22)		 Tanaka
(16:34)		 Tanaka
(6:24)		 Tanaka
(12:53)		 — Tanaka
(14:45)
Dr. Wagner Jr. Wagner
(11:38)		 Wagner
(9:03)		 Wagner
(9:28)		 Shocker
(14:23)		 Tanaka
(14:45)		 —
Final
   
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Koji Kanemoto 4 Minoru Tanaka 4
Jushin Thunder Liger 4 El Samurai 4
Katsuyori Shibata 3 Gedo 3
Black Tiger III 3 Masayuki Naruse 3
Masahito Kakihara 3 Akira 3
Curry Man 2 Tiger Mask IV 3
Jado 1 Wataru Inoue 2
Block A Black Tiger III Curry Man Jado Masahito Kakihara Koji Kanemoto Jushin Thunder Liger Katsuyori Shibata
Black Tiger III — Curry
(8:46)		 B. Tiger
(5:00)		 B. Tiger
(8:20)		 B. Tiger
(13:35)		 Liger
(13:30)		 Shibata
(8:20)
Curry Man Curry
(8:46)		 — Jado
(10:47)		 Kakihara
(9:23)		 Kanemoto
(10:50)		 Liger
(12:58)		 Curry
(7:14)
Jado B. Tiger
(5:00)		 Jado
(10:47)		 — Kakihara
(forfeit)		 Kanemoto
(12:06)		 Draw
(3:10)		 Shibata
(forfeit)
Masahito Kakihara B. Tiger
(8:20)		 Kakihara
(9:23)		 Kakihara
(forfeit)		 — Kakihara
(12:28)		 Liger
(14:06)		 Shibata
(5:39)
Koji Kanemoto B. Tiger
(13:35)		 Kanemoto
(10:50)		 Kanemoto
(12:06)		 Kakihara
(12:28)		 — Kanemoto
(17:17)		 Kanemoto
(6:12)
Jushin Thunder Liger Liger
(13:30)		 Liger
(12:58)		 Draw
(3:10)		 Liger
(14:06)		 Kanemoto
(17:17)		 — Liger
(9:45)
Katsuyori Shibata Shibata
(8:20)		 Curry
(7:14)		 Shibata
(forfeit)		 Shibata
(5:39)		 Kanemoto
(6:12)		 Liger
(9:45)		 —
Block B Akira Gedo Wataru Inoue Masayuki Naruse El Samurai Minoru Tanaka Tiger Mask IV
Akira — Gedo
(11:12)		 Akira
(7:47)		 Naruse
(9:37)		 Samurai
(11:48)		 Akira
(16:13)		 Akira
(10:36)
Gedo Gedo
(11:12)		 — Inoue
(11:19)		 Gedo
(10:41)		 Samurai
(13:25)		 Gedo
(12:51)		 T. Mask
(14:49)
Wataru Inoue Akira
(7:47)		 Inoue
(11:19)		 — Naruse
(10:23)		 Inoue
(7:21)		 Tanaka
(8:13)		 T. Mask
(8:16)
Masayuki Naruse Naruse
(9:37)		 Gedo
(10:41)		 Naruse
(10:23)		 — Samurai
(9:19)		 Tanaka
(12:14)		 Naruse
(6:54)
El Samurai Samurai
(11:48)		 Samurai
(13:25)		 Inoue
(7:21)		 Samurai
(9:19)		 — Tanaka
(13:01)		 T. Mask
(12:08)
Minoru Tanaka Akira
(16:13)		 Gedo
(12:51)		 Tanaka
(8:13)		 Tanaka
(12:14)		 Tanaka
(13:01)		 — Tanaka
(10:22)
Tiger Mask IV Akira
(10:36)		 T. Mask
(14:49)		 T. Mask
(8:16)		 Naruse
(6:54)		 T. Mask
(12:08)		 Tanaka
(10:22)		 —
Final
   
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Akira 10 Koji Kanemoto 8
Takashi Sugiura 8 Masahito Kakihara 8
Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Tiger Mask IV 8
Minoru Fujita 8 Masayuki Naruse 6
Ebessan 4 Stampede Kid 4
Gedo 4 El Samurai 4
Ryusuke Taguchi 0 Jado 4
Block A Akira Ebessan Minoru Fujita Gedo Jushin Thunder Liger Takashi Sugiura Ryusuke Taguchi
Akira — Akira
(8:24)		 Fujita
(12:34)		 Akira
(11:49)		 Akira
(16:04)		 Akira
(12:10)		 Akira
(8:34)
Ebessan Akira
(8:24)		 — Fujita
(8:24)		 Ebessan
(9:09)		 Liger
(10:56)		 Sugiura
(11:52)		 Ebessan
(7:14)
Minoru Fujita Fujita
(12:34)		 Fujita
(8:24)		 — Fujita
(11:41)		 Liger
(11:27)		 Sugiura
(11:27)		 Fujita
(10:26)
Gedo Akira
(11:49)		 Ebessan
(9:09)		 Fujita
(11:41)		 — Liger
(14:09)		 Gedo
(12:16)		 Gedo
(8:39)
Jushin Thunder Liger Akira
(16:04)		 Liger
(10:56)		 Liger
(11:27)		 Liger
(14:09)		 — Sugiura
(12:06)		 Liger
(6:53)
Takashi Sugiura Akira
(12:10)		 Sugiura
(11:52)		 Sugiura
(11:27)		 Gedo
(12:16)		 Sugiura
(12:06)		 — Sugiura
(9:13)
Ryusuke Taguchi Akira
(8:34)		 Ebessan
(7:14)		 Fujita
(10:26)		 Gedo
(8:39)		 Liger
(6:53)		 Sugiura
(9:13)		 —
Block B Jado Masahito Kakihara Koji Kanemoto Masayuki Naruse El Samurai Stampede Kid Tiger Mask IV
Jado — Kakihara
(6:56)		 Jado
(5:23)		 Jado
(7:38)		 Samurai
(12:26)		 Stampede
(5:13)		 Tiger
(9:59)
Masahito Kakihara Kakihara
(6:56)		 — Kanemoto
(11:07)		 Naruse
(9:15)		 Kakihara
(8:13)		 Kakihara
(7:06)		 Kakihara
(10:31)
Koji Kanemoto Jado
(5:23)		 Kanemoto
(11:07)		 — Kanemoto
(10:56)		 Samurai
(8:29)		 Kanemoto
(8:50)		 Kanemoto
(10:45)
Masayuki Naruse Jado
(7:38)		 Naruse
(9:15)		 Kanemoto
(10:56)		 — Naruse
(9:07)		 Naruse
(9:09)		 Tiger
(10:05)
El Samurai Samurai
(12:26)		 Kakihara
(8:13)		 Samurai
(8:29)		 Naruse
(9:07)		 — Stampede
(9:41)		 Tiger
(12:09)
Stampede Kid Stampede
(5:13)		 Kakihara
(7:06)		 Kanemoto
(8:50)		 Naruse
(9:09)		 Stampede
(9:41)		 — Tiger
(7:38)
Tiger Mask IV Tiger
(9:59)		 Kakihara
(10:31)		 Kanemoto
(10:45)		 Tiger
(10:05)		 Tiger
(12:09)		 Tiger
(7:38)		 —
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]

Final standings
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Minoru 8 Gedo 10
Koji Kanemoto 8 Tiger Mask IV 8
Hirooki Goto 6 Jushin Thunder Liger 8
El Samurai 6 Wataru Inoue 6
Masahito Kakihara 6 Black Tiger IV 4
Stampede Kid 4 Katsushi Takemura 4
Jado 4 Akiya Anzawa 2
Block A Hirooki Goto Jado Masahito Kakihara Koji Kanemoto Minoru El Samurai Stampede Kid
Hirooki Goto — Jado
(11:31)		 Goto
(10:16)		 Kanemoto
(11:28)		 Minoru
(11:28)		 Goto
(10:08)		 Goto
(7:57)
Jado Jado
(11:31)		 — Kakihara
(8:02)		 Kanemoto
(10:40)		 Minoru
(12:29)		 Jado
(14:04)		 Stampede
(9:59)
Masahito Kakihara Goto
(10:16)		 Kakihara
(8:02)		 — Kanemoto
(10:29)		 Kakihara
(10:04)		 Samurai
(10:47)		 Kakihara
(8:30)
Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto
(11:28)		 Kanemoto
(10:40)		 Kanemoto
(10:29)		 — Minoru
(19:38)		 Samurai
(12:15)		 Kanemoto
(9:34)
Minoru Minoru
(11:28)		 Minoru
(12:29)		 Kakihara
(10:04)		 Minoru
(19:38)		 — Minoru
(13:04)		 Stampede
(11:30)
El Samurai Goto
(10:08)		 Jado
(14:04)		 Samurai
(10:47)		 Samurai
(12:15)		 Minoru
(13:04)		 — Samurai
(9:31)
Stampede Kid Goto
(7:57)		 Stampede
(9:59)		 Kakihara
(8:30)		 Kanemoto
(9:34)		 Stampede
(11:30)		 Samurai
(9:31)		 —
Block B Akiya Anzawa Black Tiger IV Gedo Wataru Inoue Jushin Thunder Liger Katsushi Takemura Tiger Mask IV
Akiya Anzawa — B. Tiger
(6:13)		 Gedo
(10:21)		 Anzawa
(forfeit)		 Liger
(8:36)		 Takemura
(7:46)		 T. Mask
(5:34)
Black Tiger IV B. Tiger
(6:13)		 — Gedo
(forfeit)		 Inoue
(11:01)		 Liger
(forfeit)		 B. Tiger
(6:46)		 T. Mask
(forfeit)
Gedo Gedo
(10:21)		 Gedo
(forfeit)		 — Inoue
(15:13)		 Gedo
(17:24)		 Gedo
(11:29)		 Gedo
(11:25)
Wataru Inoue Anzawa
(forfeit)		 Inoue
(11:01)		 Inoue
(15:13)		 — Liger
(16:50)		 Takemura
(forfeit)		 Inoue
(11:53)
Jushin Thunder Liger Liger
(8:36)		 Liger
(forfeit)		 Gedo
(17:24)		 Liger
(16:50)		 — Liger
(12:12)		 T. Mask
(8:58)
Katsushi Takemura Takemura
(7:46)		 B. Tiger
(6:46)		 Gedo
(11:29)		 Takemura
(forfeit)		 Liger
(12:12)		 — T. Mask
(6:12)
Tiger Mask IV T. Mask
(5:34)		 T. Mask
(forfeit)		 Gedo
(11:25)		 Inoue
(11:53)		 T. Mask
(8:58)		 T. Mask
(6:12)		 —
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Jushin Thunder Liger 10 Wataru Inoue 10
Minoru 8 Tiger Mask IV 8
El Samurai 7 Koji Kanemoto 7
Ryusuke Taguchi 7 Gedo 5
Jado 6 Black Tiger IV 4
Sangre Azteca 2 Hirooki Goto 4
Fuego 2 Gentaro 4
Block A Sangre Azteca Fuego Jado Jushin Thunder Liger Minoru El Samurai Ryusuke Taguchi
Sangre Azteca — Azteca
(10:28)		 Jado
(7:41)		 Liger
(12:12)		 Minoru
(12:26)		 Samurai
(11:08)		 Taguchi
(12:50)
Fuego Azteca
(10:28)		 — Jado
(11:14)		 Liger
(7:12)		 Fuego
(4:40)		 Samurai
(9:51)		 Taguchi
(6:06)
Jado Jado
(7:41)		 Jado
(11:14)		 — Liger
(15:19)		 Minoru
(12:54)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Draw
(6:01)
Jushin Thunder Liger Liger
(12:12)		 Liger
(7:12)		 Liger
(15:19)		 — Liger
(21:20)		 Liger
(12:16)		 Taguchi
(15:30)
Minoru Minoru
(12:26)		 Fuego
(4:40)		 Minoru
(12:54)		 Liger
(21:20)		 — Minoru
(13:24)		 Minoru
(19:18)
El Samurai Samurai
(11:08)		 Samurai
(9:51)		 Draw
(30:00)		 Liger
(12:16)		 Minoru
(13:24)		 — Samurai
(12:02)
Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi
(12:50)		 Taguchi
(6:06)		 Draw
(6:01)		 Taguchi
(15:30)		 Minoru
(19:18)		 Samurai
(12:02)		 —
Block B Black Tiger IV Gedo Gentaro Hirooki Goto Wataru Inoue Koji Kanemoto Tiger Mask IV
Black Tiger IV — Gedo
(10:59)		 B. Tiger
(14:21)		 B. Tiger
(12:04)		 Inoue
(11:41)		 Kanemoto
(16:35)		 T. Mask
(9:36)
Gedo Gedo
(10:59)		 — Gedo
(12:32)		 Goto
(15:21)		 Inoue
(13:17)		 Draw
(15:06)		 T. Mask
(12:59)
Gentaro B. Tiger
(14:21)		 Gedo
(12:32)		 — Goto
(8:27)		 Gentaro
(14:31)		 Kanemoto
(12:18)		 Gentaro
(10:22)
Hirooki Goto B. Tiger
(12:04)		 Goto
(15:21)		 Goto
(8:27)		 — Inoue
(9:57)		 Kanemoto
(9:49)		 T. Mask
(10:58)
Wataru Inoue Inoue
(11:41)		 Inoue
(13:17)		 Gentaro
(14:31)		 Inoue
(9:57)		 — Inoue
(16:46)		 Inoue
(5:57)
Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto
(16:35)		 Draw
(15:06)		 Kanemoto
(12:18)		 Kanemoto
(9:49)		 Inoue
(16:46)		 — T. Mask
(12:58)
Tiger Mask IV T. Mask
(9:36)		 T. Mask
(12:59)		 Gentaro
(10:22)		 T. Mask
(10:58)		 Inoue
(5:57)		 T. Mask
(12:58)		 —
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.

Final standings
Block A Block B
Wataru Inoue 10 Ryusuke Taguchi 10
Milano Collection A.T. 8 Minoru 8
Tiger Mask IV 8 Koji Kanemoto 7
Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Gedo 5
Taichi Ishikari 4 BxB Hulk 4
Yujiro 4 El Samurai 4
Prince Devitt
(withdrew) 		0 Tetsuya Naito 4
Block A Wataru Inoue Taichi Ishikari Jushin Thunder Liger Milano Collection A.T. Prince Devitt Tiger Mask IV Yujiro
Wataru Inoue — Inoue
(13:33)		 Liger
(15:47)		 Inoue
(14:22)		 Inoue
(forfeit)		 Inoue
(11:36)		 Inoue
(10:47)
Taichi Ishikari Inoue
(13:33)		 — Liger
(12:29)		 Milano
(11:25)		 Ishikari
(11:40)		 Tiger
(8:59)		 Ishikari
(10:41)
Jushin Thunder Liger Liger
(15:47)		 Liger
(12:29)		 — Milano
(16:41)		 Liger
(forfeit)		 Tiger
(14:08)		 Liger
(11:19)
Milano Collection A.T. Inoue
(14:22)		 Milano
(11:25)		 Milano
(16:41)		 — Milano
(10:18)		 Milano
(11:23)		 Yujiro
(10:35)
Prince Devitt Inoue
(forfeit)		 Ishikari
(11:40)		 Liger
(forfeit)		 Milano
(10:18)		 — Tiger
(forfeit)		 Yujiro
(forfeit)
Tiger Mask IV Inoue
(11:36)		 Tiger
(8:59)		 Tiger
(14:08)		 Milano
(11:23)		 Tiger
(forfeit)		 — Tiger
(10:34)
Yujiro Inoue
(10:47)		 Ishikari
(10:41)		 Liger
(11:19)		 Yujiro
(10:35)		 Yujiro
(forfeit)		 Tiger
(10:34)		 —
Block B BxB Hulk Gedo Tetsuya Naito Koji Kanemoto Minoru El Samurai Ryusuke Taguchi
BxB Hulk — Hulk
(11:03)		 Hulk
(11:10)		 Kanemoto
(12:05)		 Minoru
(11:52)		 Samurai
(8:53)		 Taguchi
(12:30)
Gedo Hulk
(11:03)		 — Naito
(9:29)		 Draw
(15:50)		 Minoru
(13:26)		 Gedo
(14:13)		 Gedo
(11:36)
Tetsuya Naito Hulk
(11:10)		 Naito
(9:29)		 — Kanemoto
(10:16)		 Minoru
(9:01)		 Naito
(9:27)		 Taguchi
(9:47)
Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto
(12:05)		 Draw
(15:50)		 Kanemoto
(10:16)		 — Kanemoto
(16:32)		 Samurai
(16:19)		 Taguchi
(12:07)
Minoru Minoru
(11:52)		 Minoru
(13:26)		 Minoru
(9:01)		 Kanemoto
(16:32)		 — Minoru
(11:36)		 Taguchi
(14:15)
El Samurai Samurai
(8:53)		 Gedo
(14:13)		 Naito
(9:27)		 Samurai
(16:19)		 Minoru
(11:36)		 — Taguchi
(10:26)
Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi
(12:30)		 Gedo
(11:36)		 Taguchi
(9:47)		 Taguchi
(12:07)		 Taguchi
(14:15)		 Taguchi
(10:26)		 —
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 structure
Block A Block B
Ryusuke Taguchi 8 Tiger Mask IV 10
Wataru Inoue 8 Koji Kanemoto 6
Minoru 4 Jimmy Rave 6
Jushin Thunder Liger 4 Tetsuya Naito 4
Tatsuhito Takaiwa 4 Akira 4
Yujiro 2 Prince Devitt
(withdrew) 		0
Block A Wataru Inoue Jushin Thunder Liger Minoru Ryusuke Taguchi Tatsuhito Takaiwa Yujiro
Wataru Inoue — Inoue
(17:13)		 Inoue
(19:14)		 Taguchi
(17:44)		 Inoue
(13:24)		 Inoue
(11:19)
Jushin Thunder Liger Inoue
(17:13)		 — Minoru
(13:32)		 Taguchi
(14:31)		 Liger
(14:49)		 Liger
(9:57)
Minoru Inoue
(19:14)		 Minoru
(13:32)		 — Taguchi
(14:29)		 Minoru
(11:31)		 Yujiro
(11:58)
Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi
(17:44)		 Taguchi
(14:31)		 Taguchi
(14:29)		 — Takaiwa
(14:39)		 Taguchi
(13:20)
Tatsuhito Takaiwa Inoue
(13:24)		 Liger
(14:49)		 Minoru
(11:31)		 Takaiwa
(14:39)		 — Takaiwa
(10:47)
Yujiro Inoue
(11:19)		 Liger
(9:57)		 Yujiro
(11:58)		 Taguchi
(13:20)		 Takaiwa
(10:47)		 —
Block B Akira Prince Devitt Koji Kanemoto Tetsuya Naito Jimmy Rave Tiger Mask IV
Akira — Akira
(forfeit)		 Akira
(18:14)		 Naito
(13:56)		 Rave
(11:25)		 Tiger
(10:22)
Prince Devitt Akira
(forfeit)		 — Kanemoto
(forfeit)		 Naito
(forfeit)		 Rave
(forfeit)		 Tiger
(1:40)
Koji Kanemoto Akira
(18:14)		 Kanemoto
(forfeit)		 — Kanemoto
(10:43)		 Kanemoto
(13:57)		 Tiger
(10:16)
Tetsuya Naito Naito
(13:56)		 Naito
(forfeit)		 Kanemoto
(10:43)		 — Rave
(8:01)		 Tiger
(11:10)
Jimmy Rave Rave
(11:25)		 Rave
(forfeit)		 Kanemoto
(13:57)		 Rave
(8:01)		 — Tiger
(14:03)
Tiger Mask IV Tiger
(10:22)		 Tiger
(1:40)		 Tiger
(10:16)		 Tiger
(11:10)		 Tiger
(14:03)		 —
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 structure
Block A Block B
Prince Devitt 8 Koji Kanemoto 8
Atsushi Aoki 8 Kota Ibushi 8
Akira 6 Jushin Thunder Liger 6
Jado 6 Ryusuke Taguchi 6
Milano Collection A.T. 6 Tsuyoshi Kikuchi 6
Tiger Mask IV 6 Taichi 4
Black Tiger V 2 Yamato 4
Block A Akira Atsushi Aoki Black Tiger V Jado Milano Collection A.T. Prince Devitt Tiger Mask IV
Akira — Aoki
(15:00)		 Akira
(12:52)		 Jado
(14:58)		 Akira
(11:17)		 Devitt
(9:53)		 Akira
(10:05)
Atsushi Aoki Aoki
(15:00)		 — Aoki
(9:36)		 Aoki
(10:00)		 Aoki
(11:12)		 Devitt
(11:16)		 T. Mask
(10:27)
Black Tiger V Akira
(12:52)		 Aoki
(9:36)		 — Jado
(11:26)		 Milano
(10:29)		 Devitt
(7:20)		 B. Tiger
(3:51)
Jado Jado
(14:58)		 Aoki
(10:00)		 Jado
(11:26)		 — Milano
(16:22)		 Devitt
(12:54)		 Jado
(10:48)
Milano Collection A.T. Akira
(11:17)		 Aoki
(11:12)		 Milano
(10:29)		 Milano
(16:22)		 — Milano
(15:22)		 T. Mask
(16:12)
Prince Devitt Devitt
(9:53)		 Devitt
(11:16)		 Devitt
(7:20)		 Devitt
(12:54)		 Milano
(15:22)		 — T. Mask
(11:19)
Tiger Mask IV Akira
(10:05)		 T. Mask
(10:27)		 B. Tiger
(3:51)		 Jado
(10:48)		 T. Mask
(16:12)		 T.Mask
(11:19)		 —
Block B Jushin Thunder Liger Koji Kanemoto Kota Ibushi Ryusuke Taguchi Taichi Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Yamato
Jushin Thunder Liger — Kanemoto
(17:27)		 Ibushi
(16:35)		 Liger
(10:08)		 Liger
(11:11)		 Liger
(8:30)		 Yamato
(3:38)
Koji Kanemoto Kanemoto
(17:27)		 — Kanemoto
(14:18)		 Kanemoto
(17:11)		 Kanemoto
(12:05)		 Kikuchi
(9:18)		 Yamato
(9:40)
Kota Ibushi Ibushi
(16:35)		 Kanemoto
(14:18)		 — Taguchi
(10:13)		 Ibushi
(11:59)		 Ibushi
(9:56)		 Ibushi
(10:13)
Ryusuke Taguchi Liger
(10:08)		 Kanemoto
(17:11)		 Taguchi
(10:13)		 — Taichi
(10:01)		 Taguchi
(11:31)		 Taguchi
(13:17)
Taichi Liger
(11:11)		 Kanemoto
(12:05)		 Ibushi
(11:59)		 Taichi
(10:01)		 — Kikuchi
(9:24)		 Taichi
(9:31)
Tsuyoshi Kikuchi Liger
(8:30)		 Kikuchi
(9:18)		 Ibushi
(9:56)		 Taguchi
(11:31)		 Kikuchi
(9:24)		 — Kikuchi
(10:54)
Yamato Yamato
(3:38)		 Yamato
(9:40)		 Ibushi
(10:13)		 Taguchi
(13:17)		 Taichi
(9:31)		 Kikuchi
(10:54)		 —
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Kota Ibushi 12 Taiji Ishimori 10
Prince Devitt 10 Ryusuke Taguchi 10
Davey Richards 10 Akira 8
Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Kenny Omega 8
Kushida 8 Koji Kanemoto 8
La Sombra 6 Fujita Hayato
(withdrew) 		6
Gedo 2 Tama Tonga 4
Tiger Mask IV
(withdrew) 		0 Nobuo Yoshihashi 2
Block A Davey Richards Gedo Jushin Thunder Liger Kota Ibushi Kushida La Sombra Prince Devitt Tiger Mask IV
Davey Richards — Richards
(11:13)[39]		 Richards
(09:14)[40]		 Ibushi
(11:27)[41]		 Richards
(11:13)[37]		 Richards
(12:06)[42]		 Devitt
(16:26)[43]		 Richards
(forfeit)[36]
Gedo Richards
(11:13)[39]		 — Liger
(11:27)[44]		 Ibushi
(09:42)[45]		 Kushida
(10:09)[46]		 Sombra
(11:25)[47]		 Devitt
(12:13)[37]		 Gedo
(forfeit)[36]
Jushin Thunder Liger Richards
(09:14)[40]		 Liger
(11:27)[44]		 — Liger
(13:35)[37]		 Liger
(12:44)[43]		 Sombra
(04:31)[41]		 Devitt
(10:18)[42]		 Liger
(forfeit)[36]
Kota Ibushi Ibushi
(11:27)[41]		 Ibushi
(09:42)[45]		 Liger
(13:35)[37]		 — Ibushi
(12:03)[47]		 Ibushi
(11:49)[44]		 Ibushi
(10:59)[46]		 Ibushi
(forfeit)[36]
Kushida Richards
(11:13)[37]		 Kushida
(10:09)[46]		 Liger
(12:44)[43]		 Ibushi
(12:03)[47]		 — Kushida
(08:17)[45]		 Kushida
(07:15)[44]		 Kushida
(forfeit)[36]
La Sombra Richards
(12:06)[42]		 Sombra
(11:25)[47]		 Sombra
(04:31)[41]		 Ibushi
(11:49)[44]		 Kushida
(08:17)[45]		 — Devitt
(07:29)[40]		 La Sombra
(10:33)[43]
Prince Devitt Devitt
(16:26)[43]		 Devitt
(12:13)[37]		 Devitt
(10:18)[42]		 Ibushi
(10:59)[46]		 Kushida
(07:15)[44]		 Devitt
(07:29)[40]		 — Devitt
(forfeit)[36]
Tiger Mask IV Richards
(forfeit)[36]		 Gedo
(forfeit)[36]		 Liger
(forfeit)[36]		 Ibushi
(forfeit)[36]		 Kushida
(forfeit)[36]		 La Sombra
(10:33)[43]		 Devitt
(forfeit)[36]		 —
Block B Akira Fujita Hayato Kenny Omega Koji Kanemoto Nobuo Yoshihashi Ryusuke Taguchi Taiji Ishimori Tama Tonga
Akira — Akira
(forfeit)[37]		 Akira
(11:26)[41]		 Akira
(11:27)[39]		 Yoshihashi
(12:45)[43]		 Taguchi
(12:45)[40]		 Akira
(09:17)[47]		 Tonga
(10:22)[42]
Fujita Hayato Akira
(forfeit)[37]		 — Hayato
(12:14)[39]		 Kanemoto
(15:38)[43]		 Hayato
(09:00)[44]		 Taguchi
(forfeit)[46]		 Ishimori
(forfeit)[37]		 Hayato
(09:12)[47]
Kenny Omega Akira
(11:26)[41]		 Hayato
(12:14)[39]		 — Omega
(11:29)[44]		 Omega
(14:30)[46]		 Omega
(14:12)[47]		 Ishimori
(09:54)[45]		 Omega
(10:15)[37]
Koji Kanemoto Akira
(11:27)[39]		 Kanemoto
(15:38)[43]		 Omega
(11:29)[44]		 — Kanemoto
(13:01)[37]		 Taguchi
(12:57)[41]		 Kanemoto
(13:13)[46]		 Kanemoto
(09:21)[45]
Nobuo Yoshihashi Yoshihashi
(12:45)[43]		 Hayato
(09:00)[44]		 Omega
(14:30)[46]		 Kanemoto
(13:01)[37]		 — Taguchi
(10:45)[45]		 Ishimori
(09:03)[42]		 Tonga
(06:19)[39]
Ryusuke Taguchi Taguchi
(12:45)		 Taguchi
(forfeit)[46]		 Omega
(14:12)[47]		 Taguchi
(12:57)[41]		 Taguchi
(10:45)[45]		 — Ishimori
(11:40)[43]		 Taguchi
(07:41)[44]
Taiji Ishimori Akira
(09:17)[47]		 Ishimori
(forfeit)[37]		 Ishimori
(09:54)[45]		 Kanemoto
(13:13)[46]		 Ishimori
(09:03)[42]		 Ishimori
(11:40)[43]		 — Ishimori
(07:55)[40]
Tama Tonga Tonga
(10:22)[42]		 Hayato
(09:12)[47]		 Omega
(10:15)[37]		 Kanemoto
(09:21)[45]		 Tonga
(06:19)[39]		 Taguchi
(07:41)[44]		 Ishimori
(07:55)[40]		 —
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Prince Devitt 14 Kota Ibushi 12
Davey Richards 12 Ryusuke Taguchi 10
Kenny Omega 10 Great Sasuke 10
Koji Kanemoto 8 Kushida 10
Tiger Mask IV 8 Taka Michinoku 8
Fujita Hayato 6 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]

Final standings
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Prince Devitt 16 Ryusuke Taguchi
(withdrew) 		10
Alex Shelley 10 Kenny Omega 10
Ricochet 10 Taka Michinoku 8
Taichi 8 Kushida 8
Rocky Romero 8 Alex Koslov 8
Jushin Thunder Liger 8 Brian Kendrick 8
Beretta 6 Tiger Mask IV 8
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]

Final standings
Block A Block B
Kushida 10 Alex Shelley
(withdrew) 		8
Ricochet 10 Ryusuke Taguchi 8
Taka Michinoku 8 Taichi 8
Matt Jackson 8 Nick Jackson 8
Bushi 8 Tiger Mask IV 6
Máscara Dorada 6 El Desperado 6
Jushin Thunder Liger 6 Rocky Romero 6
Alex Koslov
(withdrew) 		0 Kenny Omega 6
Block A Alex Koslov Bushi Jushin Thunder Liger Kushida Máscara Dorada Matt Jackson Ricochet Taka Michinoku
Alex Koslov — Bushi
(forfeit)		 Liger
(forfeit)		 Kushida
(forfeit)		 Dorada
(forfeit)		 Jackson
(forfeit)		 Ricochet
(14:29)[100]		 Michinoku
(forfeit)
Bushi Bushi
(forfeit)		 — Bushi
(8:51)[100]		 Bushi
(9:58)[101]		 Bushi
(5:32)[102]		 Jackson
(8:51)[103]		 Ricochet
(7:31)[104]		 Michinoku
(7:55)[105]
Jushin Thunder Liger Liger
(forfeit)		 Bushi
(8:51)[100]		 — Kushida
(14:15)[104]		 Dorada
(7:06)[105]		 Jackson
(6:52)[106]		 Liger
(10:39)[101]		 Liger
(10:54)[102]
Kushida Kushida
(forfeit)		 Bushi
(9:58)[101]		 Kushida
(14:15)[104]		 — Dorada
(7:57)[106]		 Kushida
(11:44)[100]		 Kushida
(12:10)[105]		 Kushida
(10:29)[103]
Máscara Dorada Dorada
(forfeit)		 Bushi
(5:32)[102]		 Dorada
(7:06)[105]		 Dorada
(7:57)[106]		 — Jackson
(8:04)[104]		 Ricochet
(8:59)[103]		 Michinoku
(5:31)[100]
Matt Jackson Jackson
(forfeit)		 Jackson
(8:51)[103]		 Jackson
(6:52)[106]		 Kushida
(11:44)[100]		 Jackson
(8:04)[104]		 — Ricochet
(11:09)[102]		 Michinoku
(5:25)[101]
Ricochet Ricochet
(14:29)[100]		 Ricochet
(7:31)[104]		 Liger
(10:39)[101]		 Kushida
(12:10)[105]		 Ricochet
(8:59)[103]		 Ricochet
(11:09)[102]		 — Ricochet
(8:51)[106]
Taka Michinoku Michinoku
(forfeit)		 Michinoku
(7:55)[105]		 Liger
(10:54)[102]		 Kushida
(10:29)[103]		 Michinoku
(5:31)[100]		 Michinoku
(5:25)[101]		 Ricochet
(8:51)[106]		 —
Block B Alex Shelley El Desperado Kenny Omega Nick Jackson Rocky Romero Ryusuke Taguchi Taichi Tiger Mask IV
Alex Shelley — Desperado
(9:57)[106]		 Omega
(11:30)[105]		 Shelley
(10:38)[100]		 Romero
(11:03)[103]		 Shelley
(14:09)[101]		 Shelley
(4:28)[102]		 Shelley
(3:13)[104]
El Desperado Desperado
(9:57)[106]		 — Desperado
(14:12)[101]		 Jackson
(9:07)[103]		 Desperado
(9:30)[102]		 Taguchi
(10:43)[104]		 Taichi
(5:33)[100]		 Tiger
(8:33)[105]
Kenny Omega Omega
(11:30)[105]		 Desperado
(14:12)[101]		 — Jackson
(9:09)[102]		 Romero
(11:36)[106]		 Omega
(16:19)[100]		 Taichi
(8:22)[104]		 Omega
(10:50)[103]
Nick Jackson Shelley
(10:38)[100]		 Jackson
(9:07)[103]		 Jackson
(9:09)[102]		 — Jackson
(8:17)[104]		 Taguchi
(9:01)[106]		 Taichi
(6:17)[105]		 Jackson
(8:07)[101]
Rocky Romero Romero
(11:03)[103]		 Desperado
(9:30)[102]		 Romero
(11:36)[106]		 Jackson
(8:17)[104]		 — Taguchi
(11:42)[105]		 Romero
(7:14)[101]		 Tiger
(8:45)[100