Super J-Cup
Created byJushin Liger
PromotionsNJPW (1994, 2009, 2016, 2019, 2020)
WAR (1995)
MPW (2000)
OPW (2004)
NicknamesLand of Confusion (2009)
First eventSuper J-Cup: 1st Stage
Last eventSuper J-Cup: 8th Stage
Event gimmickSingle elimination tournament for junior heavyweight wrestlers

The Super J-Cup is a periodically held professional wrestling tournament featuring junior heavyweight wrestlers from all over the world promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). This tournament differs from NJPW's annual Best of the Super Juniors tournament in that it is single elimination, while Best of the Super Juniors has a round robin format.

The Super J-Cup 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 various other NJPW partner promotions would also participate.

Since the original Super J-Cup in 1994, the tournament has taken place sporadically (1995, 2000, 2004, 2009, 2016, 2019, and 2020). The original 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 Host promotion Winner Times won Date(s) Runner-up City Venue Main Event Ref.
Super J-Cup: 1st Stage New Japan Pro-Wrestling Wild Pegasus 1 April 16, 1994 The Great Sasuke Tokyo, Japan Ryōgoku Kokugikan The Great Sasuke vs. Wild Pegasus in the 1994 Super J-Cup final [2]
Super J-Cup: 2nd StageWrestle Association RJushin Liger1December 13, 1995GedoJushin Liger vs. Gedo in the 1995 Super J-Cup final[3]
Super J-Cup: 3rd StageMichinoku Pro Wrestling2April 1, 2000CimaSendai, JapanSendai City GymnasiumJushin Liger vs. Tiger Mask in the 2000 Super J-Cup first round[4]
April 9, 2000Tokyo, JapanRyōgoku KokugikanCima vs. Jushin Liger in the 2000 Super J-Cup final
Super J-Cup: 4th StageOsaka Pro WrestlingNaomichi Marufuji1February 21, 2004Takehiro MurahamaOsaka, JapanOsaka-jō HallNaomichi Marufuji vs. Takehiro Murahama in the 2004 Super J-Cup final[5]
Super J-Cup: 5th StageNew Japan Pro-Wrestling2December 22, 2009Prince DevittTokyo, JapanKorakuen HallJushin Liger vs. Naomichi Marufuji in the 2009 Super J-Cup first round[6]
December 23, 2009Naomichi Marufuji vs. Prince Devitt in the 2009 Super J-Cup final[7]
Super J-Cup: 6th StageKushida1July 20, 2016Yoshinobu KanemaruKushida vs. Taiji Ishimori in the 2016 Super J-Cup first round[8]
August 21, 2016Ariake ColiseumKushida vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru in the 2016 Super J-Cup final[9]
Super J-Cup: 7th StageEl Phantasmo1August 22, 2019Dragon LeeTacoma, WashingtonMasonic Temple Building-Temple TheaterAmazing Red vs. Will Ospreay in the 2019 Super J-Cup first round[10]
August 24, 2019San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco State University Student Life Events CenterSho vs. Will Ospreay in the 2019 Super J-Cup quarter-final round[11]
August 25, 2019Long Beach, CaliforniaWalter PyramidDragon Lee vs. El Phantasmo in the 2019 Super J-Cup final[12]
Super J-Cup: 8th Stage2December 12, 2020A. C. H.Port Hueneme, CaliforniaOceanview PavilionA. C. H. vs. El Phantasmo in the 2020 Super J-Cup final[13]

Legacy

The popularity and success of Super J-Cup has led various promotions to create J-Cup tournaments showcasing junior heavyweight wrestlers. Some of their examples include Revolution Pro Wrestling's British J-Cup,[14] Jersey Championship Wrestling's Jersey J-Cup and the J-Cup Tournament.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Molinaro, John F. "History of the Super J-Cup". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  2. ↑ "New Japan Super J Cup 4/16/94". Puroresu Central. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  3. ↑ Jake Meltcafe (June 29, 2002). "The Puro Review: Super J Cup 1995". 411Mania. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Austin Skinner (January 28, 2023). "2000 Super J-Cup Tournament: A Breakdown and Review". Wrestling Recaps. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Osaka Pro Super J Cup 4th STAGE ~ Osaka Hurricane 2004". Cagematch. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  6. ↑ "NJPW Super J Cup 5th Stage ~Land Of Confusion~ - Tag 1". Cagematch. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  7. ↑ "NJPW Super J Cup 5th STAGE ~Land Of Confusion Final~ - Tag 2". Cagematch. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  8. ↑ Kevin Pantoja (July 21, 2016). "Kevin's NJPW Super J-Cup Night One Review". 411Mania. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  9. ↑ Dave Meltzer (August 21, 2016). "Super J-Cup 2016 finals live results: Will Ospreay vs. Matt Sydal". WON / F4W. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  10. ↑ Bryan Rose (August 23, 2019). "NJPW Super J-Cup night one results: Will Ospreay vs. Amazing Red". WON / F4W. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  11. ↑ Jason Powell (August 25, 2019). "NJPW Super J-Cup Night 2 results: The second round of the tournament". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  12. ↑ Bryan Rose (August 26, 2019). "NJPW Super J-Cup night three results: Semifinals and finals". WON / F4W. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Bryan Rose (December 13, 2020). "NJPW Super J-Cup 2020 winner crowned". WON / F4W. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  14. ↑ Larry Csonka (April 24, 2017). "Various News: RevPro Running British J-Cup in July, Flex Rumblecrunch Retires". 411Mania. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
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