PRIDE OF THE SUPER JUNIORS
THE ROAD TO BOSJ 25
by Jasmine OlanNew Japan Pro Wrestling boasts one of the strongest junior heavyweight divisions in professional wrestling today. Over the past twenty-five years, the promotion has showcased many of the industry’s greatest juniors from around the world in the premier tournament for that weight class, Best Of The Super Juniors. From legends like Jyushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask to current mega talents like the time splitter, Kushida and current IWGP junior heavyweight champion the aerial assassin, Will Ospreay, this tournament has made top stars of many of its competitors and produced amazing matches. The time is now fast approaching for this year’s Best Of The Super Juniors, and sixteen of the most talented junior heavyweight wrestlers in the world will once again do battle to prove who truly is the best of the best in their weight class.
In last year’s finals, NJPW continued to explore the on going rivalry between Will Ospreay and Kushida in a match that had fans completely gripped from beginning to end. After hitting the aerial assassin twice with his new finisher, “Back To The Future”, the time splitter captured his second BOSJ tournament win in three years and went on to win the IWGP junior heavyweight title for the fifth time justeight days later at Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall. That win was part of a long road to redemption for Kushida who had just been through a very difficult time during his previous feud with the ticking time bomb, Hiromu Takahashi where he faced some devastating losses. Kushida was out to prove exactly why he is called the ace of the junior division in NJPW. Will he be able to go back to back and win this year as well? That remains to be seen.
The overall landscape of the tournament is being shaken up this year with the additions of Taiji Ishimori, Flip Gordon, and Chris Sabin. Who will win in the end is anybody’s ball game. Each competitor has their eye on the prize and is going in ready to win. The quality of the matches is sure to be unreal. It’ll be interesting to see how these new additions will affect the outcome as well as the NJPW junior division as a whole. Some will seek to continue to cement their legacies. Some will seek to prove themselves for the first time, and emotions will run high for all involved.
With this year’s Best Of The Super Juniors, fans can expect New Japan to continue excelling at telling compelling human stories. With the caliber of talent and level of passion that will be on display, this sixteen man fight to survive will not disappoint. With block competition soon to begin, pro wrestling fans will be waiting with bated breath to find out who will make it to finals and do battle one more time and take their place as the best of the best. Everyone will have their picks. Now it’s time to wait and see. Win or lose, each of these sixteen men truly are the pride of the super juniors.
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