Earlier today this years Best of Super Jr and Super J-Cup line ups were announced! New Japan Pro Wrestling previously had to cancel this year’s Best of Super Jr tournament back in May due to the recent pandemic. This was very disappointing for fans who look forward to a month of high-flying, high-risk and high-energy action.
However, during the G1 Climax, the tournament was later announced to be taking place on a joint tour with World Tag League between the 15th November and 11th December.
During today’s Road to Power Struggle show (Nov 2nd), the participants for this year’s tournament were announced.
Here is the list of entrants for the Best of Super Jr 27:
- Taiji Ishimori (4th entry, 3rd consecutive. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)
- El Desperado (4th entry, first in two years, IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion)
- Yoshinobu Kanemaru (4th entry, 4th consecutive. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion)
- Hiromu Takahashi (5th entry, first in two years. 2018 BoSJ winner)
- BUSHI (8th entry, 5th consecutive)
- DOUKI (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive)
- SHO (3rd entry, 3rd consecutive)
- Robbie Eagles (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive)
- Ryusuke Taguchi (17th entry, 15th consecutive. 2012 BoSJ winner)
- Master Wato (BoSJ debut)
Although the standard of competitors, is as strong as ever, it is impossible to not notice the lack of foreign talent and the smaller field with a single block format. With the exception of Robbie Eagles, all the competitors are Japanese. Despite the G1 managing to utilise talent from other countries, this is not the case here and the reasons for that is unknown.
That should not disregard the high calibre of wrestlers in the tournament with former tournament winners and champions.
During the same show, New Japan also made an announcement regarding the Jr Heavyweights in America.
It is the return of the Super J-Cup.
After returning in 2019 for the first time in 26 years, fans will be able to witness eight competitors wrestling live for the famous gold winner’s jacket on December 12th.
Here is the list of entrants:
- El Phantasmo (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive. Super J-Cup 2019 winner)
- Clark Connors (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive)
- TJP (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive)
- ACH (1st entry)
- Blake Christian (1st entry)
- Chris Bey (1st entry)
- Rey Horus (1st entry)
- Lio Rush (1st entry)
With names from New Japan and different promotions across America, it is bound to be an exciting night of matches.
With these two tournaments announced, and the World Tag League participants still to be announced, the next few months are going to be jam-packed for New Japan fans. It is well and truly the Road to Wrestle Kingdom.
