JUNIOR STRONG:
BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS 26 PREVIEW
By Jasmine Olan
New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Junior Heavyweight division is ready to set the wrestling world on fire once again at the annual BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS tournament this spring. In just about a week, the best juniors from around will be going head to head in this prestigious round robin tournament which will feature talent from NJPW, Ring Of Honor, and CMLL. This year the field has been expanded from 16 to 20, the same number of competitors in the annual G1 Climax. Excitement is approaching fever pitch as 5/13 draws near. This is largely due to how well the set up for BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS has been done. Established rivalries are about to boil over, and some new ones could end up being formed. Both tournament blocks are set with huge match ups that are sure to have the wrestling world buzzing for quite some time.
Among the big rivalries being talked about heading into this year, is the long standing feud between Roppongi 3K and Shingo Takagi and BUSHI of Los Ingobernables de Japon. These two teams have been going back and forth over the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships for somewhere close to a year now. Block A will see two junior powerhouses go to war when Sho takes on the Dragon, Shingo Takagi during the group stage. Meanwhile Sho’s partner, Yoh will battle the Jet Black Death Mask, BUSHI in Block B. Yoh will also have to go one on one with manager and friend, Rocky Romero in block competition. More fuel will no doubt be added to the fire of this already heated feud between CHAOS and Los Ingobernables de Japon.
Reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, Dragon Lee will have his hands full with current rival, Taiji Ishimori in block competition. The two have been at war since Lee won the title at the G1 Supercard in Madison Square Garden. That match saw him get the win by pinning Bandido and not Ishimori who was the defending champion at the time. This could easily end up being the most action packed of all the block matches. Lee is looking to keep his momentum going as he wants to be the first person to face long time friend and rival, Hiromu Takahashi upon his return from injury. It’ll be hard work, but the young Champion is ready for the challenge and will take on all comers.
BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS will also see the return of former tournament winners as well as five tournament debuts. Will Ospreay and Ryusuke Taguchi will each be looking to set the bar very high when they go one on one in Block B. International stars Jonathan Gresham, Bandido, El Phantasmo, and Titan all seek to make a big impact in their debuts as will Shingo Takagi. Marty Scurll, Flip Gordon, and Robbie Eagles will also be making big returns to the tournament along with Tiger Mask, and Suzuki gun’s El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru. These matches will all make for an amazing tournament.
With the level of talent and passion that will be on display, BEST OF THE SUPER JUNIORS is bound to deliver in spades. As the countdown to 5/13 continues, fans, performers, and critics alike are waiting on the edge of their seats. The action will be intense and exciting for sure as we all wait to find out who will earn the opportunity to challenge current junior champion, Dragon Lee at DOMINION 6.9 in Osaka jo Hall. The best of the best are ready to win and show the wrestling world at large that they are junior strong.
