List of New Japan Pro-Wrestling tournaments explained

New Japan Pro-Wrestling had held a variety of professional wrestling tournaments competed for by wrestlers that are a part of their roster.

Sporadic tournaments

Pin-Pinfall; Sub-Submission; CO-Countout; DCO-Double countout; DQ-Disqualification; DDQ-Double Disqualification Ref-Referee's decision; NC-No Contest

1974 Karl Gotch Cup

The 1974 Karl Gotch Cup was a round-robin tournament held from October 25 until December 8.[1] The tournament featured 8 participants. The tournament was held during the Toukon Series II tour. The winner of the tournament was Tatsumi Fujinami, who defeated Masashi Ozawa to win the tournament. Fujinami would later become a Japanese legend having success in both the junior heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. He would later become a six times IWGP Heavyweight Champion and also won the G1 Climax. Later he was abroad, to Mexico's Universal Wrestling Association and to Jim Crockett Promotions in the U.S.

Vacant IWGP Heavyweight Championship tournament

A tournament for the vacant IWGP Heavyweight Championship was held on April 24, 1989.

Kyushu Cup

The Kyushu Cup was a four-man tournament, which took place on June 12, 1990.[2]

Japan/US All Star Tournament

The Japan/US All Star Tournament was an interpromotional single-elimination tournament pitting NJPW wrestlers against World Championship Wrestling wrestlers. The tournament took place during the 1996 G1 Climax.[3]

G2 U-30 Climax Tournament 2003

The G2 U-30 Climax Tournament 2003 was a tournament.[4]

Yuko Six Man Tag Team Tournament

The Yuko Six Man Tag Team Tournament was a tournament.[5]

President Hoshino 10 Million Yen Offer Tag Tournament

The President Hoshino 10 Million Yen Offer Tag Tournament was a tournament.[6]

Samurai! TV Openweight Tag Team Tournament

The Samurai! TV Openweight Tag Team Tournament was a tournament.[7]

Yuke's Cup PREMIUM One Night Tag Tournament

The Yuke's Cup PREMIUM One Night Tag Tournament was a tournament.[8]

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Team Tournament 2010

The J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Team Tournament 2010 was a tournament.[9]

J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Team Tournament 2011

The J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Team Tournament 2011 was a tournament.[10]

IWGP Intercontinental Championship Tournament

On April 8, 2011, NJPW announced the participants in the tournament to crown the first IWGP Intercontinental Champion. The list of participants included former World Wrestling Entertainment performer MVP, who had signed a contract with NJPW in January 2011, Kazuchika Okada, who had been on a learning excursion to American promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) since February 2010, Hideo Saito, who had been on a similar tour of Puerto Rican World Wrestling Council since September 2010, former IWGP Tag Team and IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Tetsuya Naito and Yujiro Takahashi of No Limit, NJPW regulars Tama Tonga and Toru Yano and American independent worker Dan Maff, who made his first appearance for NJPW during the tour.[11] On May 6 it was announced that Tonga had suffered an injury, which would force him out of the tournament. He would be replaced by former TNA and Ring of Honor performer Josh Daniels.[12] On May 15, MVP defeated Yano in the final of the tournament to become the inaugural champion.

Tournament bracket

NEVER Openweight Championship Tournament

On October 5, 2012, over two years after the founding of NEVER, New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced the creation of the project's first championship, the NEVER Openweight Championship.[13] [14] [15] The title was originally created with the idea of using it to "elevate younger wrestlers". The first champion was to be determined in a sixteen-man single-elimination tournament, which was set to take place November 15 and 19, 2012. The title and the tournament were announced by New Japan president Naoki Sugabayashi and NEVER regular Tetsuya Naito,[14] [15] who was scheduled to enter the tournament, but was forced to pull out after suffering a knee injury.[16] Much like regular NEVER events, the tournament also featured wrestlers not signed to New Japan; freelancer Daisuke Sasaki, Hiro Tonai, Kengo Mashimo, Ryuichi Sekine, Shiori Asahi and Taishi Takizawa from Kaientai Dojo, and Masato Tanaka from Pro Wrestling Zero1.[17] [18] The entire first round of the tournament took place on November 15 and saw Shiori Asahi, Yoshi-Hashi, Taishi Takizawa, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomohiro Ishii, Kengo Mashimo, Karl Anderson and Masato Tanaka advance.[19] [20] The rest of the tournament took place four days later. During the second round, Kengo Mashimo defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Karl Anderson defeated Shiori Asahi, Masato Tanaka defeated Taishi Takizawa, Tomohiro Ishii defeated Yoshi-Hashi.[21] [22] The semifinals saw Anderson defeat Mashimo and Tanaka defeat Ishii.[21] [22] In the final of the tournament, Tanaka, the 39-year-old, who, despite officially being affiliated with Pro Wrestling Zero1, had worked for NJPW regularly since August 2009, defeated Anderson to become the inaugural NEVER Openweight Champion.[21] [22] [23] [24] Though the title was originally designed to be defended at NEVER events, NJPW has not held a single NEVER event since the championship tournament.[25]

Vacant NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship

On August 1, 2020, NJPW announced a tournament to crown new NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions.[26]

Inaugural KOPW Championship

NJPW announced a tournament to Crown the inaugural KOPW Champion.

Vacant IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship

On August 31, 2020, NJPW announced a league tournament to crown new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions on the New Japan Road tour.[27]

Final standings
El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru4
Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi4
Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato2
Taiji Ishimori and Gedo2
Results Ishimori and Gedo
Taguchi and Wato–Takahashi and Bushi
(18:02)[28] 		Taguchi and Wato
(13:26)[29] 		Ishimori and Gedo
(14:34)[30]
Bushi and TakahashiBushi and Takahashi
(18:02)		–Desperado and Kanemaru
(17:15) 		Bushi and Takahashi
(20:54)
Taguchi and Wato
(13:26)		Desperado and Kanemaru
(17:15) 		–Desperado and Kanemaru
(16:48)
Ishimori and GedoIshimori and Gedo
(14:34)		Bushi and Takahashi
(20:54)		Desperado and Kanemaru
(16:48) 		–

Lion's Break Crown

Lion's Break Crown was a tournament that took place between September 25, 2020 and October 9, 2020 on NJPW Strong.

Annually held tournaments

TournamentLast winner(s)Last heldTypeCreatedNotes
G1 ClimaxZack Sabre Jr.Heavyweight1974NJPW's biggest annual tournament, primarily for heavyweights but there is no official weight limit. Mostly in a round-robin format[31]
World Tag LeagueBishamon
(Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi)		Tag team1980NJPW's annual tag team round-robin tournament.[32]
New Japan CupYotu TsujiOpenweight2005Single-elimination tournament
Best of the Super JuniorsEl DesperadoJunior heavyweight1988Annual round-robin tournament featuring top junior heavyweights from all over the world.
Super J-CupEl PhantasmoJunior heavyweight1994Sporadic single-elimination tournament featuring top junior heavyweights from all over the world. The tournament has been hosted by other promotions than NJPW as well.
Super Jr. Tag LeagueCatch 22
(Francesco Akira and TJP)		Junior heavyweight tag team2010Sporadic tournament featuring junior heavyweight tag teams from all over the world.[33]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Karl Gotch Cup 1974 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308155205/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=2261 . March 8, 2023 . CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database . Kreikenbohm . Philip . March 8, 2023.
  2. Web site: Kyushu Cup . live . https://archive.today/20230308161323/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=2388 . March 8, 2023 . CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database . Kreikenbohm . Philip . June 12, 1990 . March 8, 2023.
  3. Web site: Japan/US All-Star Tournament . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230303224627/https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/misctny.html#japanus . March 3, 2023 . Pro Wrestling History . September 1996 . March 8, 2023.
  4. Web site: G2 U-30 Climax « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222125051/http://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=1278. 2015-12-22.
  5. Web site: Yuko Six Man Tag Team Tournament . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308172905/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=915 . March 8, 2023 . CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database . Kreikenbohm . Philip . March 8, 2023.
  6. Web site: President Hoshino 10 Million Yen Offer Tag Tournament . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230308173304/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=916 . March 8, 2023 . CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database . Kreikenbohm . Philip . October 24, 2004 . March 8, 2023.
  7. Web site: Samurai! TV Openweight Tag Team Tournament « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210508140835/https://www.cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=914. 2021-05-08.
  8. Web site: Yuke's Cup PREMIUM One Night Tag Tournament « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121115173503/http://cagematch.net/?id=26&nr=875. 2012-11-15.
  9. Web site: J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200401130314/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/misctag.html#open2010 . April 1, 2020 . Pro Wrestling History . June 2010 . March 8, 2023.
  10. Web site: J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200401130314/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/misctag.html#open2011 . April 1, 2020 . Pro Wrestling History . June 2011 . March 8, 2023.
  11. Web site: Indy News #2: Chikara, NJPW, Wrestling on GFL . https://web.archive.org/web/20110413054841/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1302269993 . Martin . Adam . April 13, 2011 . April 8, 2011 . May 13, 2011 . Wrestleview.
  12. Web site: ニューヨーク遠征のカードが続々決定!! 棚橋はチャーリー・ハースとIWGP戦! ジュニアタッグ防衛戦も決定!! . https://web.archive.org/web/20120404113903/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=5623 . April 4, 2012 . May 6, 2011 . May 15, 2011 . . Japanese.
  13. Web site: News items: Velvet Sky launches clothing line, Details on Nash's next int'l tour, NJPW introducing new title . Caldwell . James . October 5, 2012 . October 27, 2012 . Pro Wrestling Torch.
  14. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8296 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121008203843/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8296 . ja:あの『NEVER』がリニューアル!! "無差別級王座"も新設!! 11.15＆11.19Shibuya AXで再出発!! . October 8, 2012 . October 5, 2012 . October 27, 2012 . . Japanese.
  15. Web site: http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20121005-1028133.html . ja:新日若手興行ＮＥＶＥＲで王座決定戦開催 . October 5, 2012 . October 27, 2012 . . Japanese.
  16. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/144973/ . ja:復帰の内藤 標的はＮＥＶＥＲ王座 . May 24, 2013 . May 24, 2013 . . Japanese.
  17. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8335 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014185328/http://www.njpw.co.jp/news/detail.php?nid=8335 . ja:11月15日＆19日『NEVER』無差別級トーナメント決定！ 初日にKushidavs田中将斗！ 新人2人もデビュー!! . October 14, 2012 . October 11, 2012 . October 27, 2012 . . Japanese.
  18. Web site: http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20121011-1031175.html . ja:新日ＮＥＶＥＲトーナメント出場者発表 . October 11, 2012 . October 27, 2012 . . Japanese.
  19. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=671 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121119225917/http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=671 . ja:東京・Shibuya-Ax ～初代NEVER無差別級王座決定トーナメント 1st Round～ . November 19, 2012 . November 15, 2012 . . Japanese.
  20. Web site: http://k-dojo.co.jp/results/1211/121115.html . ja:2012年11月15日（木）NEVER～初代NEVER無差別級王座決定トーナメント1st Round～(東京・Shibuya-Ax) . December 24, 2012 . . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200201/http://k-dojo.co.jp/results/1211/121115.html . October 29, 2013 . dead .
  21. Web site: http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=672 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121122011027/http://www.njpw.co.jp/match/detail_result.php?e=672 . ja:東京・Shibuya-AX ～初代NEVER無差別級王座決定トーナメント Final～ . November 22, 2012 . November 19, 2012 . . Japanese.
  22. Web site: NJPW NEVER Openweight Championship Decision Tournament – Finals . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201128170416/http://www.profightdb.com/cards/njpw/never-openweight-championship-decision-tournament---finals-16601.html . November 28, 2020 . The Internet Wrestling Database . November 19, 2012 . March 2, 2023.
  23. Web site: http://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/p-bt-tp0-20121120-1049339.html . ja:将斗 死闘を制して初代王座／新日本 . November 20, 2012 . November 23, 2012 . . Japanese.
  24. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/56140/ . ja:ＮＥＶＥＲ初代王者・将斗１・４でＷヘッダーだ . November 23, 2012 . November 23, 2012 . . Japanese . https://web.archive.org/web/20150610195014/http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/56140/ . June 10, 2015 . dead .
  25. Web site: http://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/mens_prores/190135/ . ja:内藤「俺の使命はＮＥＶＥＲ復権」 . October 3, 2013 . October 3, 2013 . . Japanese.
  26. Web site: NJPW. New NEVER 6-Man Tag Champions to be crowned in Korakuen tournament NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING. 2020-08-01. NJPW. en.
  27. Web site: NJPW. New IWGP Jr. Tag Champions to be decided on New Japan Road tour NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING. 2020-08-31. NJPW. en.
  28. Web site: NJPW. 2020.09.06 NEW JAPAN ROAD NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING. 2020-09-06. NJPW. en.
  29. Web site: NJPW. 2020.09.05 NEW JAPAN ROAD NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING. 2020-09-05. NJPW. en.
  30. Web site: NJPW. 2020.09.09 NEW JAPAN ROAD NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING. 2020-09-09. NJPW. en.
  31. Before the G1 Climax, NJPW had had an annual single tournament since 1974 under various names: the World League (1974–77), the Madison Square Garden (MSG) League (1978–82), the International Wrestling Grand Prix (IWGP) League (1983–88) and the World Cup Tournament (1989).
  32. Before the World Tag League, NJPW had had an annual tag tournament since 1980 under various names; the Madison Square Garden (MSG) Tag League (1980–85), the Japan Cup Tag League (1986–87), the Super Grade Tag League (1991–98) and the G1 Tag League (1999–2011).
  33. NJPW has previously held similar tournaments for junior heavyweight tag teams, the first being the Junior Heavyweight Super Grade Tag League in 1996, won by Eddie Guerrero as Black Tiger II and The Great Sasuke. They also held the G1 Junior Tag League in 2001: it was won by El Samurai and Jyushin Thunder Liger. On May 8, 2010, NJPW also held a one night, single-elimination tournament, under the name Super J Tag Tournament 1st, which was won by El Samurai and Koji Kanemoto. On November 13, 2010, NJPW held the Super J Tag League, a round-robin tournament, which was won by Jado and Gedo.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of New Japan Pro-Wrestling tournaments".

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