The annual Best of the Super Juniors tournament kicks off Thursday and will run through early June to crown this year’s winner.
The BOSJ, which evolved from the Top of the Super Juniors tournament beginning in 1988, has been an annual tradition on the New Japan calendar for over thirty years.
After three consecutive tournament victories for Hiromu Takahashi, the last incarnations have seen first-time winners Master Wato, El Desperado, and Kosei Fujita.
This year has multiple storylines, including the removal of the current IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, DOUKI. The champion has “boycotted” the tournament and has been replaced by Daiki Nagai. The Unbound Company representative joins Hyo, Jakob Austin Young, Valiente Jr., and Jun Kasai as debutants in the Best of the Super Juniors.
Kasai is the most intriguing name in this year’s field, drawing an audible gasp when announced at Sakura Genesis last month. The death match icon will be placed in a unique setting against the likes of AEW’s Nick Wayne, CMLL’s Titán, high-flyer Robbie X, and comedy figure Ryusuke Taguchi during the round-robin portion.
Wayne returns for his second consecutive appearance with AEW, providing a promotional video package on this past weekend’s Fairway to Hell edition of Collision, promoting his appearance.
The B Block stands out with past winners El Desperado and KUSHIDA, as well as outsiders Hyo & Daisuke Sasaki, and former teammates SHO & YOH.
The tour will consist of fourteen shows, including the final on June 7 at Ota City Gymnasium. The first four nights will feature both blocks being represented as it kicks off Thursday at Korakuen Hall and resumes Saturday & Sunday in Tokyo, streaming on New Japan World.
Thursday, May 14 – 5:30 a.m. ET:
- A BLOCK: Kosei Fujita vs. Francesco Akira
- B BLOCK: El Desperado vs. Daisuke Sasaki
- A BLOCK: Titán vs. Master Wato
- B BLOCK: KUSHIDA vs. Robbie Eagles
- A BLOCK: Nick Wayne vs. Robbie X
- B BLOCK: YOH vs. Hyo
- A BLOCK: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Daiki Nagai
- B BLOCK: SHO vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
- B BLOCK: Taiji Ishimori vs. Jakob Austin Young
