Super J-Cup

The Super J-Cup is a professional wrestling tournament featuring junior heavyweight wrestlers from all over the world. The tournament was originally conceived by Japanese wrestler Jushin Thunder Liger as a showcase for promotions from Asia and North America, including Liger's home promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (who hosted the first tournament in 1994), Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling, Wrestle Association R, Michinoku Pro Wrestling, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, and the Social Progress Wrestling Federation.

Super J-Cup
The official logo of the 2020 edition
Nickname(s)Land of Confusion (2009)
Created byJushin Liger
Promotion(s)NJPW (1994, 2009, 2016, 2019, 2020)
WAR (1995)
MPW (2000)
OPW (2004)
First eventSuper J-Cup: 1st Stage
Last eventSuper J-Cup: 8th Stage
Event gimmickSingle elimination tournament for junior heavyweight wrestlers

In the following years, wrestlers representing Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) would also participate in the tournament. After 1995, the tournament took a five-year hiatus before returning in 2000 (this time hosted by Michinoku Pro Wrestling).

Since that time, the tournament has taken place sporadically (2004, 2009, 2016, 2019, and 2020). The original Super J-Cup, held in 1994, is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestling shows of all time. Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, called the 1994 Super J-Cup "the most incredible single night of wrestling ever".[1]

Dates, venues and winners
Event Date(s) Host promotion Winner Total won Runner-Up
Super J-Cup: 1st StageApril 16, 1994New Japan Pro-WrestlingWild Pegasus1 The Great Sasuke
Super J-Cup: 2nd StageDecember 13, 1995Wrestle Association RJushin Thunder Liger1 Gedo
Super J-Cup: 3rd StageApril 1, 2000
April 9, 2000		Michinoku Pro Wrestling2 Cima
Super J-Cup: 4th StageFebruary 21, 2004Osaka Pro WrestlingNaomichi Marufuji1 Takehiro Murahama
Super J-Cup: 5th StageDecember 22, 2009
December 23, 2009		New Japan Pro-Wrestling2 Prince Devitt
Super J-Cup: 6th StageJuly 20, 2016
August 21, 2016		Kushida1 Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Super J-Cup: 7th StageAugust 22, 2019
August 24, 2019
August 25, 2019		El Phantasmo1 Dragon Lee
Super J-Cup: 8th StageDecember 12, 2020[2]2 ACH

Tournament history

1994
Main article: Super J-Cup (1994)

The inaugural Super J-Cup tournament was hosted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The event took place on April 16, 1994, at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[3]

  Round 1 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
       
  Wild Pegasus Pin  
    Black Tiger 10:23  
Black Tiger Pin
Taka Michinoku 6:47  
  Wild Pegasus Pin  
  Gedo 6:18  
Gedo Pin  
Dean Malenko 8:04  
  Gedo Pin
    Super Delfin 8:20  
Shinjiro Otani 8:06
Super Delfin Pin  
  Wild Pegasus Pin
  The Great Sasuke 18:46
Ricky Fuji Pin  
Negro Casas 5:53  
  Ricky Fuji 7:50
    Jushin Thunder Liger Pin  
Hayabusa 10:23
Jushin Thunder Liger Pin  
  Jushin Thunder Liger 18:09
  The Great Sasuke Pin  
Masayoshi Motegi 7:40  
El Samurai Pin  
  El Samurai 11:40
    The Great Sasuke Pin  

1995
Main article: Super J-Cup (1995)

The second Super J-Cup was hosted by Wrestle Association R taking place on December 13, 1995, at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[4]

  Round 1 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
 
  Jushin Thunder Liger Pin  
    Gran Naniwa 9:13  
Damián 666 6:36
Gran Naniwa Pin  
  Jushin Thunder Liger Pin  
  Último Dragón 17:19  
Shinjiro Otani Sub  
Masaaki Mochizuki 4:02  
  Shinjiro Otani 13:30
    Último Dragón Pin  
Shoichi Funaki 6:52
Último Dragón Pin  
  Jushin Thunder Liger Pin
  Gedo 15:47
Gedo Sub  
Masayoshi Motegi 6:56  
  Gedo Pin
    Dos Caras 8:54  
Dos Caras Pin
El Samurai 7:00  
  Gedo Pin
  Wild Pegasus 9:20  
Lionheart Pin  
Hanzo Nakajima 6:48  
  Lionheart 13:43
    Wild Pegasus Pin  

2000
Main article: Super J-Cup (2000)

The third Super J-Cup tournament was a two-night event hosted by Michinoku Pro Wrestling. The first round was held on April 1, 2000 at Sendai City Gymnasium in Sendai, Japan and the final three rounds were held on April 9, 2000 at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[5]

  Round 1 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                                     
  Cima Pin  
  Ricky Marvin 5:41  
    Cima Pin  
      Onryo 4:22  
  Curry Man Pin
  Onryo 5:57  
    Cima Pin  
    Naoki Sano 12:52  
  Naoki Sano Pin  
  Judo Suwa 7:28  
    Naoki Sano KO
      The Great Sasuke 10:36  
  The Great Sasuke Pin
  Kaz Hayashi 9:39  
    Jushin Thunder Liger Pin
    Cima 12:28
  Jushin Thunder Liger Pin  
  Tiger Mask IV 12:13  
    Jushin Thunder Liger Pin
      Men's Teioh 7:32  
  Katsumi Usuda Pin
  Men's Teioh 9:36  
    Jushin Thunder Liger Pin
    Gran Hamada 10:02  
  Gran Hamada Sub  
  Shinya Makabe 10:34  
    Gran Hamada Pin
      Ricky Fuji 7:34  
  Sasuke the Great DQ
  Ricky Fuji 4:48  

2004
Main article: Super J-Cup (2004)

The fourth Super J-Cup was promoted by Osaka Pro Wrestling and was held on February 21, 2004, at Osaka-jō Hall in Osaka, Japan.[6]

Round 1 Semifinals Final
         
Naomichi Marufuji Pin
Jun Kasai 8:16
Naomichi Marufuji Pin
Garuda 10:22
Garuda Pin
Goa 7:01
Naomichi Marufuji Pin
Takehiro Murahama 14:05
Wataru Inoue Sub
Kazuya Yuasa 9:25
Wataru Inoue Pin
Takehiro Murahama 9:30
Takehiro Murahama Pin
Taichi Ishikari 5:03

2009
Main article: Super J-Cup (2009)

The fifth Super J-Cup tournament was produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It was a two-night event taking place on December 22 and December 23, 2009 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[7]

Round 1 Round 2 Semifinals Final
            
Prince Devitt Pin
Atsushi Aoki 10:51[8]
Prince Devitt Pin
Danshoku Dino 5:49[9]
Jado Pin
Danshoku Dino 10:14[8]
Prince Devitt Pin
Yamato 8:41[9]
Gedo Pin
Kota Ibushi 14:15[8]
Gedo Stp
Yamato 8:36[9]
Akira Sub
Yamato 8:13[8]
Prince Devitt Pin
Naomichi Marufuji 18:06[9]
Jushin Thunder Liger Pin
Naomichi Marufuji 16:21[8]
Naomichi Marufuji Pin
Tigers Mask 6:36[9]
Taichi Sub
Tigers Mask 6:41[8]
Naomichi Marufuji Pin
Ryusuke Taguchi 10:57[9]
Koji Kanemoto Sub
Hayato Fujita 13:45[8]
Koji Kanemoto Sub
Ryusuke Taguchi 10:14[9]
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
Gentaro 10:39[8]

2016
Main article: Super J-Cup (2016)

The sixth Super J-Cup tournament was promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It was a two-night event taking place on July 20, 2016 and August 21, 2016. The first round held on July 20 took place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, while the next three rounds took place on August 21 at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan.[10]

Round 1 Round 2 Semifinals Final
            
Jushin Thunder Liger Pin
Eita 9:12[11]
Jushin Thunder Liger Countout
Taichi 3:01[12]
Yuma Aoyagi Pin
Taichi 12:05[11]
Taichi Pin
Kushida 9:52[12]
Kushida Sub
Taiji Ishimori 16:25[11]
Kushida Pin
Kenoh 10:24[12]
Gurukun Mask Pin
Kenoh 11:33[11]
Kushida Sub
Yoshinobu Kanemaru 19:50[12]
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
Daisuke Harada 14:56[11]
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
Yoshinobu Kanemaru 9:27[12]
Bushi Pin
Yoshinobu Kanemaru 10:25[11]
Yoshinobu Kanemaru Pin
Matt Sydal 9:00[12]
Titán Pin
Will Ospreay 9:14[11]
Will Ospreay Pin
Matt Sydal 12:45[12]
Matt Sydal Pin
Kaji Tomato 7:56[11]

2019

The seventh Super J-Cup tournament is promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It was a three-night event taking place on August 22, 2019, August 24, 2019, and August 25, 2019. The first round took place on August 22 at the Masonic Temple Building-Temple Theater in Tacoma, Washington. The second round took place on August 24 at San Francisco State University's Student Life Events Center in San Francisco, California. The semi-finals and final took place on August 25 at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California.[13][14]

Round 1
(August 22) 		Round 2
(August 24) 		Semi-Finals
(August 25) 		Final
(August 25)
            
Will Ospreay Pin
Amazing Red 28:19
Will Ospreay Pin
Sho 30:32
Sho Pin
Taiji Ishimori 17:06
Will Ospreay Pin
El Phantasmo 11:25
Clark Connors Sub
TJP 11:56
TJP Pin
El Phantasmo 14:49
Robbie Eagles Pin
El Phantasmo 12:17
El Phantasmo Pin
Dragon Lee 25:33
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
Jonathan Gresham 12:59
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
Dragon Lee 11:37
Yoh Pin
Dragon Lee 18:51
Dragon Lee Pin
Carístico 11:10
Carístico Pin
Bushi 10:08
Carístico Pin
Soberano Jr. 8:30
Rocky Romero Pin
Soberano Jr. 11:04

2020
Main article: Super J-Cup (2020)

The eighth Super J-Cup tournament is promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. During the Road to Power Struggle Show on November 2, it was announced that on December 12 a new edition of the Super J-Cup will take place in the United States, with 8 participants announced. They are El Phantasmo, Clark Connors, Blake Christian, Chris Bey, TJP, ACH, Rey Horus and Lio Rush.

Round 1 Semifinals Final
         
Clark Connors 9:36
Chris Bey Pin
Chris Bey 8:26
ACH Pin
ACH Pin
TJP 9:52
ACH 16:11
El Phantasmo Pin
Rey Horus 12:00
Blake Christian Pin
Blake Christian 7:24
El Phantasmo Pin
El Phantasmo Pin
Lio Rush 15:36

See also

References
  1. Molinaro, John F. "History of the Super J-Cup". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  2. NJPW. "SUPER J-CUP 2020 coming on December 12! 【NJoA】 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  3. "Super J-Cup: 1st Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  4. "Super J-Cup: 2nd Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  5. "Super J-Cup: 3rd Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  6. "Super J-Cup: 4th Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  7. "Super J-Cup: 5th Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  8. "SUPER J-CUP 5th STAGE". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  9. "SUPER J-CUP 5th STAGE". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  10. "Super J-Cup: 6th Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  11. "Super J-Cup 2016". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). July 20, 2016.
  12. "Super J-Cup 2016". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). 2016-08-21.
  13. "SUPER J-CUP 2019 Coming to Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles in August!". YouTube.com. 新日本プロレスリング株式会社. June 9, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  14. Thompson, Andrew (June 10, 2019). "NJPW Announces Return Of Super J-Cup Tournament; Tourney Will Be Held In The U.S., Cities Confirmed". Fightful.com. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.