The Super J-Cup was 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 only taken place three times (in 2004, 2009, and 2016). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super J-Cup: 1st Stage | April 16, 1994 | New Japan Pro-Wrestling | Wild Pegasus | 1 |
| Super J-Cup: 2nd Stage | December 13, 1995 | Wrestle Association R | Jushin Thunder Liger | 1 |
| Super J-Cup: 3rd Stage | April 1, 2000 April 9, 2000 |
Michinoku Pro Wrestling | 2 | |
| Super J-Cup: 4th Stage | February 21, 2004 | Osaka Pro Wrestling | Naomichi Marufuji | 1 |
| Super J-Cup: 5th Stage | December 22, 2009 December 23, 2009 |
New Japan Pro-Wrestling | 2 | |
| Super J-Cup: 6th Stage | July 20, 2016 August 21, 2016 |
KUSHIDA | 1 | |
| Super J-Cup: 7th Stage | August 22, 2019 August 24, 2019 August 25, 2019 |
El Phantasmo | 1 | |
| Super J-Cup: 8th Stage | December 12, 2020 | 2 |
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.[2]
- Results
| Round 1 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| Wild Pegasus | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Black Tiger | Pin | Black Tiger | |||||||||||||||||
| Taka Michinoku | Wild Pegasus | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Gedo | Pin | Gedo | |||||||||||||||||
| Dean Malenko | Gedo | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Shinjiro Otani | Super Delfin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Super Delfin | Pin | Wild Pegasus | Pin | ||||||||||||||||
| Ricky Fuji | Pin | The Great Sasuke | |||||||||||||||||
| Negro Casas | Ricky Fuji | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hayabusa | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | Jushin Thunder Liger | |||||||||||||||||
| Masayoshi Motegi | The Great Sasuke | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| El Samurai | Pin | El Samurai | |||||||||||||||||
| 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.[3]
- Results
| Round 1 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Damián 666 | Gran Naniwa | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gran Naniwa | Pin | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | ||||||||||||||||
| Shinjiro Otani | Sub | Último Dragón | |||||||||||||||||
| Masaaki Mochizuki | Shinjiro Otani | ||||||||||||||||||
| Shoichi Funaki | Último Dragón | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Ultimo Dragon | Pin | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | ||||||||||||||||
| Gedo | Sub | Gedo | |||||||||||||||||
| Masayoshi Motegi | Gedo | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Dos Caras | Pin | Dos Caras | |||||||||||||||||
| El Samurai | Gedo | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Lionheart | Pin | Wild Pegasus | |||||||||||||||||
| Hanzo Nakajima | Lionheart | ||||||||||||||||||
| 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.[4]
- Results
| Round 1 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| CIMA | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ricky Marvin | CIMA | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Curry Man | Onryo | ||||||||||||||||||
| Onryo | Pin | CIMA | Pin | ||||||||||||||||
| Naoki Sano | Pin | Naoki Sano | |||||||||||||||||
| Judo Suwa | Naoki Sano | K.O. | |||||||||||||||||
| The Great Sasuke | Pin | Great Sasuke | |||||||||||||||||
| Kaz Hayashi | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | CIMA | |||||||||||||||||
| Tiger Mask IV | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Katsumi Usuda | Men's Teioh | ||||||||||||||||||
| Men's Teioh | Pin | Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | ||||||||||||||||
| Gran Hamada | Sub. | Gran Hamada | |||||||||||||||||
| Shinya Makabe | Gran Hamada | Pin | |||||||||||||||||
| Sasuke the Great | Ricky Fuji | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ricky Fuji | DQ | ||||||||||||||||||
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.[5]
- Results
| Round 1 | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||
| Naomichi Marufuji | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Jun Kasai | ||||||||||||||
| Naomichi Marufuji | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Garuda | ||||||||||||||
| Garuda | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Goa | ||||||||||||||
| Naomichi Marufuji | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Takehiro Murahama | ||||||||||||||
| Wataru Inoue | Sub | |||||||||||||
| Kazuya Yuasa | ||||||||||||||
| Wataru Inoue | ||||||||||||||
| Takehiro Murahama | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Takehiro Murahama | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Taichi Ishikari | ||||||||||||||
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.[6]
- Results
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| Atsushi Aoki | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prince Devitt | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Prince Devitt | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Danshoku Dino | |||||||||||||||||||
| Danshoku Dino | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jado | |||||||||||||||||||
| Prince Devitt | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| YAMATO | |||||||||||||||||||
| Gedo | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kota Ibushi | |||||||||||||||||||
| Gedo | |||||||||||||||||||
| YAMATO | Stp | ||||||||||||||||||
| Akira | |||||||||||||||||||
| YAMATO | Sub | ||||||||||||||||||
| Prince Devitt | |||||||||||||||||||
| Naomichi Marufuji | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| GENTARO | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Sub | ||||||||||||||||||
| Koji Kanemoto | |||||||||||||||||||
| Koji Kanemoto | Sub | ||||||||||||||||||
| Fujita Hayato | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ryusuke Taguchi | |||||||||||||||||||
| Naomichi Marufuji | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Taichi | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tigers Mask | Sub | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tigers Mask | |||||||||||||||||||
| Naomichi Marufuji | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jushin Thunder Liger | |||||||||||||||||||
| Naomichi Marufuji | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
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.[7]
- Results
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||||||
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Eita | 9:12 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jushin Thunder Liger | Countout | ||||||||||||||||||
| Taichi | 3:01 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Yuma Aoyagi | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Taichi | 12:05 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Taichi | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| KUSHIDA | 9:05 | ||||||||||||||||||
| KUSHIDA | Sub | ||||||||||||||||||
| Taiji Ishimori | 16:25 | ||||||||||||||||||
| KUSHIDA | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kenoh | 10:24 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gurukun Mask | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kenoh | 11:33 | ||||||||||||||||||
| KUSHIDA | Sub | ||||||||||||||||||
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru | 19:50 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Daisuke Harada | 14:56 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ryusuke Taguchi | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru | 9:27 | ||||||||||||||||||
| BUSHI | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru | 10:25 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Yoshinobu Kanemaru | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Matt Sydal | 9:00 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Titán | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Will Ospreay | 9:14 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Will Ospreay | 12:45 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Matt Sydal | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Matt Sydal | Pin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kaji Tomato | 7:56 | ||||||||||||||||||
2019[]
The seventh Super J-Cup tournament was 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, and its the first time it was held in the United States. The first round was held on August 22 will take place at the Temple Theater in Tacoma, Washington, while the next three rounds took place on August 24 at the San Francisco State University Student Life Event Center in San Franciso, California, while the finals were held on August 25 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California.[8]
| First Round (August 22) | Quarterfinals (August 24) | Semifinals (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 will be promoted by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It was a one-night event taking place on December 12, 2020, and its the second time it was held in the United States. All rounds will be held on December 12, 2020 and took place at the Thunder Studios in Los Angeles, California.[9]
| Round 1 | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||
| Clark Connors | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Chris Bey | 9:36 | |||||||||||||
| Chris Bey | Pin | |||||||||||||
| ACH | 8:27 | |||||||||||||
| ACH | Pin | |||||||||||||
| TJP | 9:52 | |||||||||||||
| ACH | Pin | |||||||||||||
| El Phantasmo | 16:11 | |||||||||||||
| Rey Horus | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Blake Christian | 12:00 | |||||||||||||
| Blake Christian | Pin | |||||||||||||
| El Phantasmo | 7:24 | |||||||||||||
| El Phantasmo | Pin | |||||||||||||
| Lio Rush | 15:16 | |||||||||||||
Gallery[]
References[]
- ↑ Molinaro, John F.. History of the Super J-Cup . Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved on 2014-02-02.
- ↑ Super J-Cup: 1st Stage . Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved on 2018-08-22.
- ↑ Super J-Cup: 2nd Stage . Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved on 2018-08-22.
- ↑ Super J-Cup: 3rd Stage . Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved on 2018-08-22.
- ↑ Super J-Cup: 4th Stage . Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved on 2018-08-22.
- ↑ Super J-Cup: 5th Stage . Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved on 2018-08-22.
- ↑ Super J-Cup: 6th Stage . Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved on 2018-08-22.
- ↑ NJPW SUPER J-CUP TO TAKE PLACE IN UNITED STATES THIS AUGUST . Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved on 2019-06-10.
- ↑ SUPER J-CUP 2020 coming on December 12! 【NJoA】 . New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved on 2020-12-02.