BEST OF THE SUPER Jrs X Info

[Haiku Warrior]

By Stuart @ SSS
Finally, participants for the tenth annual Best of the Super Jr. tournament were announced. Fourteen wrestlers will enter the prestigious tournament, and their blocks will be determined soon. Ten will be New Japan contracted competitors, and four will be outsiders. Surprisingly, even though he was slated to work the tournament, American Dragon isn't listed. Curry Man and Super Crazy are two other notable absentees. Wataru Inoue's injury is clearly more serious than though, as he still won't be back in time for the tournament. Naruse returns from injury for the tournament, and all of the healthy regulars are in there. The big surprise is the involvement of Osaka Pro comedy king, Ebessan, who will add a lighthearted touch to the BOSJ. Unfortunately, no luchadores this year, not even a member of the currently touring GDI, which is disappointing. Here are this year's participants:

- Jushin Thunder Liger
- Tiger Mask 4
- Koji Kanemoto
- AKIRA
- El Samurai
- Heat
- Jado
- Gedo
- Masahito Kakihara
- Masayuki Naruse
- Takashi Sugiura (NOAH)
- Minoru Fujita (freelance)
- Ebessan (Osaka Pro)
- Stampede Kid

[El Fiasco]

I'd like to see AKIRA win this year...or maybe Kanemoto...

[JUJIGATAMAMEMBABE]

i would love to see tanaka (Heat) win the tournament

will this thing be released quickly on DVD?

[Luds]

Well NJ seems to like to give the tourney to someone other than the champ to set up a match.

Don't count on Tiger to win...

I'd like to see AKIRA or Samurai to win...

OR EBESSAN

[Tradewynd]

Personally, I'm pulling for Ebessan, but I'm kinda cooky like that

[edgehead1984]

Go Ebessan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Paiyaso]

Is there any website in English that shows pictures of each wrestler in the tournament.

[Haiku Warrior]

Strong Style Spirit should have all of them except Ebessan.

[edgehead1984]

They have Ebessan in their History section for Osaka Pro, look through the Battle Royal section.

[Haiku Warrior]

New Japan announced the blocks of the BOSJ today.

Block A:
1. Jushin Thunder Liger
2. AKIRA
3. Gedo
4. Ryusuke Taguchi
5. Takashi Sugiura (NOAH)
6. Minoru Fujita
7. Ebessan (Osaka Pro)

Block B:
1. Koji Kanemoto
2. Tiger Mask 4
3. El Samurai
4. Masahito Kakihara
5. Masayuki Naruse
6. Jado
7. Stampede Kid

[Luds]

My Picks:

Block A:
1. Jushin Thunder Liger
2. AKIRA
3. Takashi Sugiura (NOAH)
4. Gedo
5. Minoru Fujita
6. Ebessan (Osaka Pro)
7. Ryusuke Taguchi

Block B:
1. Koji Kanemoto
2. Tiger Mask 4
3. El Samurai
4. Masayuki Naruse
5. Jado
6. Masahito Kakihara
7. Stampede Kid

Tiger Mask 4 > Liger
Koji Kanemoto > AKIRA

Koji > Tiger in the final

[edgehead1984]

I agree with you, Luds

[delfinkid]

I think this is the most interesting "Best Of The Super Juniors" tournament since Best Of The Super Juniors III in 1996.


Here are my predictions:

Block A:

1. Jushin Liger
2. Akira Nogami
3. Ebessan
4. Gedo
5. Takashi Sugiura
6. Minoru Fujita
7. Ryusuke Taguchi

Block B:
1. Koji Kanemoto
2. Tiger Mask IV
3. Masayuki Naruse
4. El Samurai
5. Masahito Kakihara
6. Jado
7. Stampede Kid

Semi-Final: Tiger Mask IV over Jushin Liger
Semi-Final: Koji Kanemoto over Akira Nogami

Final: Koji Kanemoto over Tiger Mask IV

If this will happen, Kanemoto will be the first ever back-to-back winner of the tournament.


Top Of The Super Juniors/Best Of The Super Juniors History:

1988 - Shiro Koshinaka (vs. Hiroshi Hase)
1991 - Norio Honaga (vs. Jushin Liger)
1992 - Jushin Liger (vs. El Samurai)
1993 - Chris Benoit (vs. El Samurai)
1994 - Jushin Liger (vs. Super Delfin)
1995 - Chris Benoit (vs. Shinjiro Otani)
1996 - Eddy Guerrero (vs. Jushin Liger)
1997 - El Samurai (vs. Koji Kanemoto)
1998 - Koji Kanemoto (vs. Dr. Wagner Jr.)
1999 - Kendo Ka Shin (vs. Koji Kanemoto)
2000 - Tatsuhito Takaiwa (vs. Shinjiro Otani)
2001 - Jushin Liger (vs. Minoru Tanaka)
2002 - Koji Kanemoto (vs. Minoru Tanaka)

[delfinkid]

Best Of The Super Juniors X will start on 05/23/03. The opening show of the tournament will have Jushin Liger vs. Ebbesan!

The semi-finals and the final will be on 06/11/03.

[Puroresu_Freak85]

I'm also betting on a Koji Kanemoto Vs Tiger Mask match in the finals, with Kanemoto taking the win.

Go Kanemoto go!