Super J-Cup
Super J-Cup | |
---|---|
Created by | Jushin Liger |
Promotions | NJPW (1994, 2009, 2016, 2019, 2020) WAR (1995) MPW (2000) OPW (2004) |
Nicknames | Land of Confusion (2009) |
First event | Super J-Cup: 1st Stage |
Last event | Super J-Cup: 8th Stage |
Event gimmick | Single elimination tournament for junior heavyweight wrestlers |
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.
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 Stage | April 16, 1994 | New Japan Pro-Wrestling | Wild Pegasus | 1 | The Great Sasuke |
Super J-Cup: 2nd Stage | December 13, 1995 | Wrestle Association R | Jushin Thunder Liger | 1 | Gedo |
Super J-Cup: 3rd Stage | April 1, 2000 April 9, 2000 |
Michinoku Pro Wrestling | 2 | Cima | |
Super J-Cup: 4th Stage | February 21, 2004 | Osaka Pro Wrestling | Naomichi Marufuji | 1 | Takehiro Murahama |
Super J-Cup: 5th Stage | December 22, 2009 December 23, 2009 |
New Japan Pro-Wrestling | 2 | Prince Devitt | |
Super J-Cup: 6th Stage | July 20, 2016 August 21, 2016 |
Kushida | 1 | Yoshinobu Kanemaru | |
Super J-Cup: 7th Stage | August 22, 2019 August 24, 2019 August 25, 2019 |
El Phantasmo | 1 | Dragon Lee | |
Super J-Cup: 8th Stage | December 12, 2020[2] | 2 | ACH |
Tournament history
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
- Puroresu
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- Wrestle Association R
- Michinoku Pro Wrestling
- Osaka Pro Wrestling
- J-Cup Tournament
- Jersey J-Cup
References
- ^ Molinaro, John F. "History of the Super J-Cup". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
- ^ NJPW. "SUPER J-CUP 2020 coming on December 12! 【NJoA】 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
- ^ "Super J-Cup: 1st Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Super J-Cup: 2nd Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Super J-Cup: 3rd Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Super J-Cup: 4th Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ "Super J-Cup: 5th Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "SUPER J-CUP 5th STAGE". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "SUPER J-CUP 5th STAGE". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ "Super J-Cup: 6th Stage". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Super J-Cup 2016". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). July 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Super J-Cup 2016". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). 2016-08-21.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.