Tag: best of the super juniors

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors finals set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

NJPW is running back the 2025 Best of the Super Juniors finals with YOH hoping for a different result this time.

It will be a repeat of last year when YOH and Kosei Fujita face off in the Best of the Super Juniors finals this Sunday. Fujita won that 2025 bout to claim his first-ever BOSJ trophy. YOH, who made it to the finals in both 2021 and 2025, has never won the tournament before.

During block action this year, YOH and Fujita finished second in their blocks. They advanced to the semifinals for what ended up being matchups against their respective tag team partners. YOH defeated his ally Master Wato, the A Block winner, while Fujita was able to defeat his Ichiban Sweet Boys partner and B Block winner Robbie Eagles.

The tournament finals are being held at Ota City Gym in Tokyo on Sunday, and the show will air live on NJPW World starting at 4 a.m. Eastern time. In addition to the BOSJ trophy, an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship shot is at stake with either YOH or Fujita becoming the next challenger for DOUKI.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors finals (Sunday, June 7) —

  • Best of the Super Juniors tournament final: YOH vs. Kosei Fujita
  • Rest of card to be announced

There will be both English and Japanese commentary available for the event.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors semifinals set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A dozen names entered the last day of block action still in contention, but NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 is now down to its final four wrestlers.

Both semifinal matches are set to pit tag team partners against each other. It will be Master Wato vs. YOH and Robbie Eagles vs. Kosei Fujita this Friday (June 5). The winners advance to the finals on Sunday (June 7), with that bout determining the tournament winner and the next challenger for IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI.

Wato defeated Nick Wayne today to finish on 12 points as the A Block winner. Fujita defeated Daiki Nagai to claim second place in the block, also finishing on 12 points and beating out Francesco Akira due to a tiebreaker.

All of the B Block contenders won their matches today, but it was Eagles and YOH — with respective victories over Hyo and Daisuke Sasaki — who advanced as the top two after tiebreakers were worked out. The block ended in a five-way tie at 12 points.

Fujita is looking to repeat as the BOSJ winner after defeating YOH in last year’s finals. Wato is also looking to claim a second BOSJ trophy after winning the tournament in 2023.

Friday’s show begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time and is airing live on NJPW World with English and Japanese commentary. The rest of the card aside from Wato vs. YOH and Eagles vs. Fujita has not been announced yet.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors standings —

A Block:

  • Master Wato (6-3): 12 points (A Block winner)
  • Kosei Fujita (6-3): 12 points (A Block runner-up)
  • Francesco Akira (6-3): 12 points
  • Jun Kasai (5-4): 10 points
  • Robbie X (5-4): 10 points
  • Titan (5-4): 10 points
  • Nick Wayne (5-4): 10 points
  • Ryusuke Taguchi (4-5): 8 points
  • Valiente Jr. (3-6): 6 points
  • Daiki Nagai (0-9): 0 points

B Block:

  • Robbie Eagles (6-3): 12 points (B Block winner)
  • YOH (6-3): 12 points (B Block runner-up)
  • El Desperado (6-3): 12 points
  • SHO (6-3): 12 points
  • Taiji Ishimori (6-3): 12 points
  • Daisuke Sasaki (3-6): 6 points
  • Hyo (3-6): 6 points
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru (3-6): 6 points
  • Jakob Austin Young (3-6): 6 points
  • KUSHIDA (3-6): 6 points

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night nine results, updated standings

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Things continue to tighten up in A Block as NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 enters its final stretch.

After starting off the tournament on an unbeaten run, Titan has now lost two consecutive matches. He does still hold the A Block lead in a tiebreaker over Master Wato. They each have 10 points, with five other competitors closely behind at eight points.

Here are the quick results from Friday’s show:

  • A Block: Kosei Fujita defeated Valiente Jr.
  • A Block: Nick Wayne defeated Titan
  • A Block: Robbie X defeated Ryusuke Taguchi
  • A Block: Master Wato defeated Daiki Nagai
  • B Block: Hyo defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • El Desperado, KUSHIDA & YOH defeated Francesco Akira, Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay
  • SHO & Dick Togo defeated Taiji Ishimori & Gedo
  • Robbie Eagles, Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson defeated Daisuke Sasaki, Toru Yano & Masatora Yasuda
  • Tiger Mask defeated Tatsuya Matsumoto

There are now only three block shows remaining until the June 5 semifinals. The finals will then be held on June 7. At stake is the BOSJ trophy and a title shot against IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors standings —

A Block:

  • Titan (5-2): 10 points
  • Master Wato (5-2): 10 points
  • Francesco Akira (4-3): 8 points
  • Jun Kasai (4-3): 8 points
  • Nick Wayne (4-3): 8 points
  • Robbie X (4-3): 8 points
  • Kosei Fujita (4-3): 8 points
  • Ryusuke Taguchi (3-4): 6 points
  • Valiente Jr. (2-5): 4 points
  • Daiki Nagai (0-7): 0 points

B Block:

  • El Desperado (4-2): 8 points
  • SHO (4-2): 8 points
  • Daisuke Sasaki (3-3): 6 points
  • YOH (3-3): 6 points
  • Robbie Eagles (3-3): 6 points
  • Taiji Ishimori (3-3): 6 points
  • Hyo (3-3): 6 points
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru (3-3): 6 points
  • KUSHIDA (2-4): 4 points
  • Jakob Austin Young (2-4): 4 points

Next up is a B Block show on Saturday (May 30) consisting of five tournament matches: Ishimori vs. SHO, El Desperado vs. KUSHIDA, Eagles vs. Sasaki, YOH vs. Kanemaru, and Hyo vs. Jakob Austin Young.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night five results, updated standings

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Titan remains unbeaten in NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 following another victory on Friday.

Osaka played host to night five of the tournament, which only included matches from A Block. Titan, the lone competitor in either block who has not lost yet, improved his record to 5-0 with a win over Ryusuke Taguchi. The night also saw victories for Master Wato, Jun Kasai, Francesco Akira, and Nick Wayne.

Here are the quick results:

  • A Block: Master Wato defeated Kosei Fujita
  • A Block: Jun Kasai defeated Robbie X
  • A Block: Francesco Akira defeated Valiente Jr.
  • A Block: Titan defeated Ryusuke Taguchi
  • A Block: Nick Wayne defeated Daiki Nagai
  • El Desperado, KUSHIDA & Hyo defeated SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Dick Togo
  • Robbie Eagles, Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson defeated YOH, Toru Yano & Tiger Mask
  • Jakob Austin Young & Zane Jay defeated Daisuke Sasaki & Masatora Yasuda
  • Taiji Ishimori & Gedo defeated Tatsuya Matsumoto & Taisei Nakahara

BOSJ action continues this weekend with shows on both Saturday and Sunday. At the May 23 event, there will be five B Block matches and one from A Block. The next day is an A Block-focused card.

The updated standings for the tournament are listed below:

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 standings —

A Block:

  • Titan (5-0): 10 points
  • Jun Kasai (3-1): 6 points
  • Ryusuke Taguchi (3-2): 6 points
  • Master Wato (3-2): 6 points
  • Nick Wayne (3-2): 6 points
  • Robbie X (2-3): 4 points
  • Kosei Fujita (2-3): 4 points
  • Francesco Akira (2-3): 4 points
  • Valiente Jr. (1-3): 2 points
  • Daiki Nagai (0-5): 0 points

B Block:

  • Daisuke Sasaki (3-1): 6 points
  • YOH (3-1): 6 points
  • SHO (3-1): 6 points
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru (2-1): 4 points
  • El Desperado (2-2): 4 points
  • Taiji Ishimori (2-2): 4 points
  • Hyo (1-2): 2 points
  • Jakob Austin Young (1-3): 2 points
  • KUSHIDA (1-3): 2 points
  • Robbie Eagles (1-3): 2 points

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night four results, updated standings

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After a couple of days off, NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 was back in action with a show from Korakuen Hall on Wednesday.

Titan stayed unbeaten with a win over Valiente Jr., improving his record to 4-0 and maintaining an early lead atop A Block. Ryusuke Taguchi also entered today unbeaten but was defeated by Nick Wayne.

In B Block, no one is unbeaten anymore after Daisuke Sasaki and SHO lost their matches. Sasaki fell to Hyo, while SHO was bested by his former tag team partner YOH. The B Block lead is now a three-way tie with Sasaki, SHO, and YOH at 3-1.

Here are the quick results from night four’s card:

  • A Block: Robbie X defeated Kosei Fujita
  • B Block: YOH defeated SHO
  • A Block: Master Wato defeated Francesco Akira
  • B Block: El Desperado defeated Hyo
  • A Block: Titan defeated Valiente Jr.
  • B Block: Taiji Ishimori defeated Daisuke Sasaki
  • A Block: Nick Wayne defeated Ryusuke Taguchi
  • B Block: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Robbie Eagles
  • A Block: Jun Kasai defeated Daiki Nagai
  • B Block: Jakob Austin Young defeated KUSHIDA

BOSJ is off again tomorrow before picking up on Friday with only A Block matches. Master Wato vs. Kosei Fujita, Robbie X vs. Jun Kasai, Valiente Jr. vs. Francesco Akira, Titan vs. Ryusuke Taguchi, and Nick Wayne vs. Daiki Nagai are the matches scheduled.

The updated standings for both blocks are listed below. BOSJ runs through June 7, with the winner earning a title shot against IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 standings —

A Block:

  • Titan (4-0): 8 points
  • Ryusuke Taguchi (3-1): 6 points
  • Jun Kasai (2-1): 4 points
  • Robbie X (2-2): 4 points
  • Nick Wayne (2-2): 4 points
  • Master Wato (2-2): 4 points
  • Kosei Fujita (2-2): 4 points
  • Valiente Jr. (1-2): 2 points
  • Francesco Akira (1-3): 2 points
  • Daiki Nagai (0-4): 0 points

B Block:

  • Daisuke Sasaki (3-1): 6 points
  • YOH (3-1): 6 points
  • SHO (3-1): 6 points
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru (2-1): 4 points
  • El Desperado (2-2): 4 points
  • Taiji Ishimori (2-2): 4 points
  • Hyo (1-2): 2 points
  • Jakob Austin Young (1-3): 2 points
  • KUSHIDA (1-3): 2 points
  • Robbie Eagles (1-3): 2 points

WOR: Lesnar return, Marty, SNME and Double or Nothing, RAW report, BOSJ

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez is back with a solo show as Dave is enjoying a well-earned vacation. Tons to talk about including the return of Brock Lesnar and the idiotic storyline they came up with to explain all of this, Marty Jannetty’s foot amputation, Saturday Night’s Main Event and Double or Nothing, the RAW report from Monday night, Best of the Super Juniors and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOL: WWE needs to stop with the bait & switch tactics

Posted on by Jim Valley

It’s the Saturday Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.

Friday’s ROH SuperCard of Honor saw some great performances, a few surprises, returns and sneak attacks which included Swerve Strickland blindsiding Bandito ahead of their Owen Hart tournament match next weekend at AEW Double or Nothing.

Friday’s WWE SmackDown set up Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther at Clash in Italy. Wasn’t Gunther’s deal with Paul Heyman supposed to do that? WWE needs to stop with the bait and switch. I explain why.

Plus, the latest on the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors, Ronda Rousey returning to fighting, and more. Check it out.

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NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 night one results, initial standings

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Tournament season in NJPW got underway on Thursday with Korakuen Hall hosting night one of Best of the Super Juniors 33.

It was a good day for outsiders with Nick Wayne (AEW), Daisuke Sasaki (DDT), and Hyo (Dragon Gate) all picking up victories over NJPW wrestlers. Two other outsiders — Jun Kasai (Pro Wrestling Freedoms) and Valiente Jr. (CMLL) — were not in action today and will kick off their BOSJ campaigns on Saturday.

Here are the quick results:

  • A Block: Kosei Fujita defeated Francesco Akira
  • B Block: Daisuke Sasaki defeated El Desperado
  • A Block: Titan defeated Master Wato
  • B Block: KUSHIDA defeated Robbie Eagles
  • A Block: Nick Wayne defeated Robbie X
  • B Block: Hyo defeated YOH
  • A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Daiki Nagai
  • B Block: SHO defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • B Block: Taiji Ishimori defeated Jakob Austin Young

The tournament runs through June 7 and will determine the next challenger for IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI, who is “boycotting” BOSJ this year instead of competing for bragging rights.

Next up for the tournament are shows in Tokyo this Saturday and Sunday, taking place at Esforta Arena Hachioji and Yoyogi National Stadium second gymnasium. The cards for those events are listed below:

Saturday, May 16 —

  • B Block: El Desperado vs. Taiji Ishimori
  • A Block: Kosei Fujita vs. Nick Wayne
  • B Block: Robbie Eagles vs. SHO
  • A Block: Titan vs. Jun Kasai
  • B Block: KUSHIDA vs. Daisuke Sasaki
  • A Block: Robbie X vs. Francesco Akira
  • B Block: YOH vs. Jakob Austin Young
  • A Block: Master Wato vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
  • A Block: Valiente Jr. vs. Daiki Nagai

Sunday, May 17 —

  • B Block: El Desperado vs. Robbie Eagles
  • A Block: Kosei Fujita vs. Jun Kasai
  • B Block: YOH vs. Taiji Ishimori
  • A Block: Master Wato vs. Robbie X
  • B Block: Hyo vs. Daisuke Sasaki
  • A Block: Nick Wayne vs. Francesco Akira
  • B Block: KUSHIDA vs. SHO
  • A Block: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Valiente Jr.
  • B Block: Jakob Austin Young vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • A Block: Titan vs. Daiki Nagai

And here are the initial standings through the first night:

Best of the Super Juniors 33 standings —

A Block:

  • Kosei Fujita (1-0): 2 points
  • Titan (1-0): 2 points
  • Nick Wayne (1-0): 2 points
  • Ryusuke Taguchi (1-0): 2 points
  • Jun Kasai (0-0): 0 points
  • Valiente Jr. (0-0): 0 points
  • Daiki Nagai (0-1): 0 points
  • Robbie X (0-1): 0 points
  • Master Wato (0-1): 0 points
  • Francesco Akira (0-1): 0 points

B Block:

  • Daisuke Sasaki (1-0): 2 points
  • KUSHIDA (1-0): 2 points
  • Hyo (1-0): 2 points
  • SHO (1-0): 2 points
  • Taiji Ishimori (1-0): 2 points
  • Jakob Austin Young (0-1): 0 points
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru (0-1): 0 points
  • YOH (0-1): 0 points
  • Robbie Eagles (0-1): 0 points
  • El Desperado (0-1): 0 points

NJPW announces first three Best of the Super Juniors 33 participants

Posted on by Ian Carey

The first three wrestlers for the Best of the Super Juniors 33 tournament have been announced.

The tournament kicks off on May 14 with a show at Korakuen Hall and concludes on June 7 at Ota City General Gymnasium. NJPW has said the lineup for this year will be revealed three wrestlers at a time. The first three wrestlers were revealed on Sunday.

Kosei Fujita will take part in his fourth Best of the Super Juniors tournament this year. He defeated YOH in the finals of the 2025 tournament to win last year’s competition.

IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion DOUKI has also been announced for the tournament. This will be his seventh Best of the Super Juniors appearance and his first in two years. His career-best finish came in 2024, when he reached the semifinals.

Also confirmed is El Desperado, who won the 2024 Best of the Super Juniors. This will be his tenth appearance in the tournament. He finished tied atop his block in 2025, but YOH advanced via tie-breaker.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 confirmed participants:

  • Kosei Fujita
  • DOUKI
  • El Desperado

Daily Update: Mercedes Mone, Rocky Romero, BOSJ schedule

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered in this issue:

  • Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania updates. Update on ticket sales to both shows as well as AEW Revolution and explanations of why and current interest level in tickets.
  • Notes on the giant gates WWE drew for WrestleMania last year and John Cena’s retirement.
  • How much Mania tickets have increased in recent years
  • Odds on this week shows
  • Gina Carano vs. Ronda Rousey and a history of how women’s MMA overcame so many obstacles due to those two. We look at what each did, their background, the story behind the 2014 fight that never happened and why this fight is happening, as well as addressing very serious questions regarding the fight.
  • A look at nostalgia fights and different ways to do them and how they work or don’t work
  • A look at the life and career of the Great Mephisto, one of the most creative minds in wrestling as a wrestler and booker of the 60s and 70s, including his heyday in San Francisco and Australia and stories about his confrontations with Roy Shire, copying from and teaming with The Sheik, Booking WCW in Australia, and a life that start as a street hustler in the depression to facing Hulk Hogan in his first match ever in Northern California.
  • The most detailed look at the television ratings over the past week, with comparisons, Nielsen and Netflix flaws, Olympics and more.
  • Major change in CMLL rules and thoughts about it
  • This past week in CMLL including a hot Friday night sold out show with Mistico vs. Templario
  • Mistico talks Observer awards
  • Saya Kamitani update
  • FantasticaMania first night
  • Cain Velasquez update
  • Notes on the death of Brett Wolverton and Kerwin Silfies
  • Mick Foley television series
  • Longest lasting pro wrestling ring announcer
  • Eve sets UK record
  • Tag team holds titles in Europe & Japan at the same time
  • TNA No Surrender notes
  • More on mainstream coverage of Brody King
  • More on WBD sale
  • Report that Trump will kill current deal
  • AEW in Australia notes
  • Sean Strickland is an idiot
  • Dana White talks boxing
  • Gable Steveson fights again and update
  • Janel Grant lawsuit update
  • Another WWE European tour and PLE show
  • Bad Bunny wrestling update

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

WWE

  • Now that he’s retired and getting to spend more time at home, AJ Styles shared a photo on Instagram of his daughter doing his hair: “What are you doing now that you’re retired? Well, I’m currently getting my hair done by my daughter.”
  • D-Von Dudley hopes that Spike Dudley will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame:
    • If it wasn’t for him, I don’t know if the Dudleys would have gotten as far as we did. It was because of Spike and the crazy bumps that he took for us, and what he allowed us to do to him was why the Dudley Boyz really became the Dudley Boyz. If it’s anybody that belongs into the Hall of Fame, it’s Spike Dudley. So Triple H, I hope you’re listening. Please get my little brother in that Hall of Fame. He deserves every bit of it.
  • Mick Foley made an Instagram story post agreeing with The Undertaker about Chelsea Green being underutilized in WWE: “In total agreement with @undertaker on this. @chelseagreen is a star.”
  • Alexa Bliss tweeted out a message to NXT’s Tatum Paxley after Paxley revealed that watching Bliss is what inspired her to become a wrestler: “Thank you for the kindest words – can’t wait til we meet again in the ring @TatumPaxley”
  • ESPN continued the promotional push toward Elimination Chamber with Randy Orton, CM Punk, Je’Von Evans, Jey Uso, Tiffany Stratton, and Joe Tessitore making appearances.
  • Big E, Peter Rosenberg, and ESPN’s Joe Fortenbaugh hosted an Elimination Chamber preview show.
  • In an interview with The Takedown on SI, Trish Stratus shared what advice she would give AJ Lee ahead of Elimination Chamber. Lee is facing Becky Lynch at the PLE in what is Lee’s first singles match in more than a decade.
  • Stratus said:
    • Get your reps in, get to the place where you’re comfortable. You’re gonna think you’re not comfortable, but rely on your body. There is this aspect of it’s like riding a bike. You literally get to the point where like your body goes, I got this, as long as you can support it. And recovery-wise, make sure that you take care of all the things. I do my yoga, I do all the things to make sure I can support [the performance]. She’s gonna be great.
  • Tiffany Stratton trained with Ivy Nile for a video on Nile’s YouTube channel.
  • New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson was the guest on the latest episode of Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast.

Other Wrestling

  • Ric Flair remembered his late son Reid on what would have been Reid’s 38th birthday:
    • Not A Day Goes By Where We Don’t Think About You Big Man! We All Know You Are In A Better Place, But It Doesn’t Make The Pain Ever Go Away. Reid, We Are All Remembering You Today On Your Birthday! Love & Miss You!
  • Mercedes Mone is returning to Poland on March 29 to defend her Prime Time Wrestling Women’s Championship against a yet-to-be-announced opponent.
  • Rocky Romero spoke to Fox News Digital about the working relationship that exists between AEW, NJPW, and CMLL:
    • What’s cool about it is AEW, especially Tony Khan, has so much respect and so much love for New Japan and New Japan has always been supportive of AEW. I think it’s a partnership that really works and obviously it’s an essential partnership when you’re going against someone who has such a huge market share in WWE. So, I think it’s very strategic and now that we’ve thrown CMLL into the mix, these three big promotions really working fluidly together and working on storylines that cross all three promotions and having talent go from each company and champions.
  • Rush, who has been out of action since November due to a knee injury, tweeted today: “I feel better than ever.”
  • Shop AEW released a new “Big Hebrew” T-shirt for MJF after he applied to trademark that term this week.
  • Comic book writer Steve Orlando was the guest on AEW Unrestricted today, discussing the partnership between DC Comics and AEW.
  • NJPW announced that this year’s Best of the Super Junior tournament will take place across 14 nights from May 14 through June 7. The participants have not been revealed yet. Here is the schedule:
    • Night 1: Thursday May 14 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
    • Night 2: Saturday May 16 Tokyo Esforte Arena Hachioji 
    • Night 3: Sunday May 17 Tokyo Yoyogi National 2nd Gymnasium
    • Night 4: Wednesday May 20 Tokyo Korakuen Hall
    • Night 5: Friday May 22 Osaka Asue Arena
    • Night 6: Saturday May 23 Hyogo Acrie Himeji
    • Night 7: Sunday May 24 Kyoto KBS Hall
    • Night 8: Wednesday May 27 Shizuoka Kira Messe Numazu
    • Night 9: Friday May 29 Niigata Tsubame Citizens Gymnasium
    • Night 10: Saturday May 30 Toyama Takaoka Techno Dome
    • Night 11 & 12: Tuesday June 2 & Wednesday June 3 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 
    • Night 13: Friday June 5 Gunma G Messe
    • Night 14 (Final): Sunday June 7 Tokyo Ota City Gymnasium
  • Shayna Baszler will face off against Kristara in a Voyageur Cup quarterfinal match for Winnipeg Pro Wrestling next month. The winner of the tournament challenges Mercedes Mone for the Winnipeg Pro Women’s Championship.
  • Ronda Rousey shared new footage of her training for her upcoming MMA fight against Gina Carano.
  • Comedian Brad Williams appeared on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
  • Jeremy Peeples, a long-time writer for our website, has started a GoFundMe campaign to benefit the family of his housemate Sherry who suddenly passed away this week.

NJPW crowns Best of the Super Juniors 32 winner

Posted on by Ian Carey

The Best of the Super Juniors 32 has concluded.

At 22 years old, Kosei Fujita is now the youngest wrestler to ever win the tournament. He defeated YOH in the finals on Sunday’s show in Ota City. He picked up the victory with a Thrill Ride following a back-and-forth match filled with nearfalls and submission attempts.

The previous youngest winner of the BOSJ was Will Ospreay, who had just turned 23 when he won the tournament for the first time in 2016.

With the win, Fujita has earned the right to challenge IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion El Desperado. Originally, the winner was expected to challenge the champion at NJPW Dominion on June 15, but Fujita’s backstage comments cast doubt on this, as he said he wants to wait until after Desperado has wrestled Jun Kasai on June 24 at Korakuen Hall.

Kasai appeared on Sunday’s show after Desperado and his teammates were victorious in a multi-man tag match. He handed Desperado a red envelope, officially inviting him to the Deathpain Invitational show for what is billed as their last-ever match against one another. NJPW officially announced the match on May 20, but Desperado only received his formal invitation today. The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship will not be on the line.

Desperado was on commentary for the finals but did not enter the ring to confront Fujita after his victory, allowing him to celebrate with his TMDK teammates and later in the crowd with the fans.

A Block standings:

  • Kosei Fujita (5-4): 10 points
  • Master Wato (5-4): 10 points
  • Hiromu Takahashi (5-4): 10 points
  • Clark Connors (5-4): 10 points
  • Francesco Akira (5-4): 10 points
  • Robbie X (4-5): 8 points
  • Dragon Dia (4-5): 8 points
  • KUSHIDA (4-5): 8 points
  • Ninja Mack (4-5): 8 points
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru (4-5): 8 points

B Block standings:

  • YOH (6-3): 12 points
  • El Desperado (6-3): 12 points
  • MAO (6-3): 12 points
  • Robbie Eagles (4-5): 8 points
  • Taiji Ishimori (4-5): 8 points
  • Nick Wayne (4-5): 8 points
  • SHO (4-5): 8 points
  • Titan (4-5): 8 ponts
  • Kevin Knight (4-5): 8 points
  • Ryusuke Taguchi (3-6): 6 points

Finals set for NJPW Best of the Super Juniors

Posted on by Joseph Currier

YOH Is headed to the finals of NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 2025.

The last night of B Block matches took place on Thursday with YOH emerging as the block winner. He defeated Taiji Ishimori to end block action with 12 points. El Desperado and MAO also had the same point total, but YOH advanced on a tiebreaker due to his victories over each of them earlier in the tournament.

It will be Kosei Fujita vs. YOH this Sunday (June 1) in the finals. Neither wrestler has ever won the tournament before. YOH did make it to the finals in 2021 but lost to Hiromu Takahashi.

The tournament winner will be in line to challenge Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. If either Fujita or YOH were to dethrone Desperado, it would be the first singles title win of their NJPW career.

Ota City Gymnasium in Tokyo is hosting the tournament finals on Sunday. After that, the next major NJPW show is in two weeks with Dominion being held in Osaka on June 15.

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night eight results, updated standings

Posted on by F4W Staff

The B Block standings got a little tighter on Thursday as night eight of Best of the Super Juniors 2025 took place in Osaka.

With a loss to Taiji Ishimori, Nick Wayne was unable to build on his lead at the top of the block. He is still in first place with eight points, but the gap is tight. There are now eight wrestlers tied for second place with six points. SHO is in sole possession of last place with four points.

Here are the full results from today:

  • B Block: Yoh defeated El Desperado
  • B Block: Taiji Ishimori defeated Nick Wayne
  • B Block: Robbie Eagles defeated Titan
  • B Block: Kevin Knight defeated SHO
  • B Block: MAO defeated Ryusuke Taguchi
  • Master Wato, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Toru Yano defeated KUSHIDA, Yuya Uemura & Katsuya Murashima
  • Hiromu Takahashi & Yota Tsuji defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi
  • Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young defeated Robbie X & Gedo
  • Kosei Fujita & Hartley Jackson defeated Dragon Dia & Shoma Kato

NJPW has shows on Saturday and Sunday this weekend with both nights featuring a full slate of A and B Block matches. The tournament is now entering its last stretch with four shows left before the finals happen on June 1.

The updated standings for the tournament are listed below. Both blocks are in the same spot with one wrestler leading at eight points and then a logjam behind them:

A Block —

  • Master Wato (4-2): 8 points
  • Hiromu Takahashi (3-3): 6 points
  • Kosei Fujita (3-3): 6 points
  • Francesco Akira (3-3): 6 points
  • Dragon Dia (3-3): 6 points
  • Robbie X (3-3): 6 points
  • KUSHIDA (3-3): 6 points
  • Clark Connors (3-3): 6 points
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru (3-3): 6 points
  • Ninja Mack (2-4): 4 points

B Block —

  • Nick Wayne (4-2): 8 points
  • Ryusuke Taguchi (3-3): 6 points
  • Titan (3-3): 6 points
  • El Desperado (3-3): 6 points
  • Robbie Eagles (3-3): 6 points
  • MAO (3-3): 6 points
  • Taiji Ishimori (3-3): 6 points
  • YOH (3-3): 6 points
  • Kevin Knight (3-3): 6 points
  • SHO (2-4): 4 points

Big Audio Nightmare: OZAWA’s impact, Champion Carnival, BOSJ ups & downs

Posted on by Adam Summers

The Big Audio Nightmare is back as Adam Summers & Mike Sempervive talk about everything happening in the very busy world of Japanese wrestling.

This week’s topics include:

  • The impact of OZAWA on Pro Wrestling NOAH’s business
  • Thoughts on the current state of Kaito Kiyomiya
  • AJPW Champion Carnival and looming Saito Brothers battle
  • Saya Kamitani vs Sayaka Kurara and what it meant for Stardom’s future
  • A detailed look at the first half of the BOSJ including what is working and what isn’t

Click here to listen (sub needed)

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors night four results, updated standings

Posted on by F4W Staff

For the second straight night at Korakuen Hall, Hiromu Takahashi took a loss in the main event of NJPW Best of the Super Juniors.

Night four of the tournament was headlined by Francesco Akira defeating Takahashi to improve his record to 2-1. Takahashi is now 1-2 with losses to Akira and Kosei Fujita.

Akira used a new Ground Tarantula submission to get the win against Takahashi. With Takahashi having no faction at the moment following Tetsuya Naito and BUSHI’s NJPW departures, Akira extended an offer after the match for him to join United Empire. A frustrated Takahashi continued heading backstage despite the offer.

Here are the full results from Thursday’s show:

  • A Block: Francesco Akira defeated Hiromu Takahashi
  • B Block: Taiji Ishimori defeated El Desperado
  • A Block: Kosei Fujita defeated Master Wato
  • B Block: Titan defeated MAO
  • A Block: Robbie X defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru
  • B Block: Nick Wayne defeated Robbie Eagles
  • A Block: KUSHIDA defeated Ninja Mack
  • B Block: YOH defeated Kevin Knight
  • A Block: Dragon Dia defeated Clark Connors
  • B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi defeated SHO

The Taguchi vs. SHO match only went five seconds with Taguchi avoiding a charge from SHO and pinning him right after the bell rang.

This weekend, BOSJ continues with nights five and six taking place on Saturday and Sunday. The tournament runs through June 1.

Here are the updated standings:

A Block —

  • Kosei Fujita (3-0): 6 points
  • Dragon Dia (2-1): 4 points
  • Robbie X (2-1): 4 points
  • Francesco Akira (2-1): 4 points
  • Hiromu Takahashi (1-2): 2 points
  • KUSHIDA (1-2): 2 points
  • Ninja Mack (1-2): 2 points
  • Yoshinobu Kanemaru (1-2): 2 points
  • Clark Connors (1-2): 2 points
  • Master Wato (1-2): 2 points

B Block —

  • Nick Wayne (3-0): 6 points
  • Titan (2-1): 4 points
  • Robbie Eagles (2-1): 4 points
  • MAO (2-1): 4 points
  • Ryusuke Taguchi (2-1): 4 points
  • Taiji Ishimori (1-2): 2 points
  • El Desperado (1-2): 2 points
  • SHO (1-2): 2 points
  • YOH (1-2): 2 points
  • Kevin Knight (0-3): 0 points