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.

Final standings
Masashi Ozawa7
Tatsumi Fujinami7
Takashi Kimura6
Yoshiaki Fujiwara5
Makoto Arakawa3.5
Masanobu Kurisu3.5
Little Hamada3
Donald Takeshi1
Daigoro Oshiro0
Final
   
1 Masashi Ozawa 10:37
2 Tatsumi Fujinami Pin

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]

Semifinals Final
      
Shinya Hashimoto
Kensuke Sasaki
Shinya Hashimoto
Keiji Mutoh
Keiji Mutoh
Masahiro Chono

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]

First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
        
Shinya Hashimoto
Marcus Alexander Bagwell
Shinya Hashimoto
Lord Steven Regal
Satoshi Kojima
Lord Steven Regal
Shinya Hashimoto
Shiro Koshinaka
Shiro Koshinaka
Hugh Morrus
Shiro Koshinaka
Sting
Masahiro Chono
Sting
Shiro Koshinaka
Kensuke Sasaki
Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Arn Anderson
Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Scott Norton
Riki Choshu
Scott Norton
Scott Norton
Kensuke Sasaki
Ric Flair
Tatsumi Fujinami
Ric Flair
Kensuke Sasaki
Kensuke Sasaki
Lex Luger

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.[13]

Tournament bracket
Round One
(May 13) 		Semifinals
(May 14) 		Final
(May 15)
         
MVP Sub
Kazuchika Okada 12:45[14]
MVP Sub
Tetsuya Naito 10:57[15]
Josh Daniels Pin
Tetsuya Naito 12:28[14]
MVP Sub
Toru Yano 09:27[13]
Dan Maff Pin
Toru Yano 10:38[14]
Toru Yano Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 07:47[15]
Hideo Saito Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 08:28[14]

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.[16][17][18] The title was originally created with the idea of using it to "elevate younger wrestlers".[19] 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.[20][21] The title and the tournament were announced by New Japan president Naoki Sugabayashi and NEVER regular Tetsuya Naito,[17][18] who was scheduled to enter the tournament, but was forced to pull out after suffering a knee injury.[22] 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.[20][21] 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.[23][24] 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.[25][26] The semifinals saw Anderson defeat Mashimo and Tanaka defeat Ishii.[25][26] 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.[25][26][27][28] Though the title was originally designed to be defended at NEVER events, NJPW has not held a single NEVER event since the championship tournament.[19]

First round
(November 15) 		Second round
(November 19) 		Semifinals
(November 19) 		Final
(November 19)
        
Karl Anderson Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 11:12[23]
Karl Anderson Pin
Shiori Asahi 03:59[25]
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Shiori Asahi 06:14[23]
Karl Anderson Pin
Kengo Mashimo 06:14[25]
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
Hiro Tonai 08:19[23]
Ryusuke Taguchi Sub
Kengo Mashimo 07:54[25]
Bushi Pin
Kengo Mashimo 08:02[23]
Karl Anderson Pin
Masato Tanaka 15:12[25]
Kushida Pin
Masato Tanaka 13:02[23]
Masato Tanaka Pin
Taishi Takizawa 04:28[25]
Captain New Japan Pin
Taishi Takizawa 07:22[23]
Masato Tanaka Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 10:47[25]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Daisuke Sasaki 08:39[23]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 06:57[25]
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Ryuichi Sekine 07:14[23]

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.[29]

1st Round
(August 6, 7) 		Semifinals
(August 8) 		Final
(August 9)
         
Chaos
(Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, & Sho) 		Sub
Bullet Club
(Gedo, Jado, & Yujiro Takahashi) 		12:03
Chaos
(Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, & Sho) 		Pin
Los Ingobernables de Japón
(Shingo Takagi, Bushi, & Sanada) 		13:07
Los Ingobernables de Japón
(Shingo Takagi, Bushi, & Sanada) 		Pin
Suzuki-gun
(Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, & Douki) 		13:37
Chaos
(Kazuchika Okada, Toru Yano, & Sho) 		24:18
Chaos
(Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, & Yoshi-Hashi) 		Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, & Master Wato Pin
Suzuki-gun
(Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) 		16:53
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, & Master Wato 17:11
Chaos
(Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, & Yoshi-Hashi) 		Pin
Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, & Ryusuke Taguchi 11:53
Chaos
(Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii, & Yoshi-Hashi) 		Sub

Inaugural KOPW Championship

NJPW announced a tournament to Crown the inaugural KOPW Champion.

No.ResultsStipulationsTimes
1El Desperado defeated Satoshi Kojima by disqualificationNo finisher match14:13
2Toru Yano defeated BushiTwo-count Pinfalls match4:44
3Sanada defeated Sho by submissionSubmission match19:37
4Kazuchika Okada defeated Bullet Club (Yujiro Takahashi, Jado, & Gedo) by submission1 vs 3 handicap match15:26

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.[30]

Final standings
El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru 4
Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi 4
Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato 2
Taiji Ishimori and Gedo 2
ResultsTaguchi and WatoBushi and TakahashiDesperado and KanemaruIshimori and Gedo
Taguchi and Wato – Takahashi and Bushi
(18:02)[31]		 Taguchi and Wato
(13:26)[32]		 Ishimori and Gedo
(14:34)[33]
Bushi and Takahashi Bushi and Takahashi
(18:02)[31]		 – Desperado and Kanemaru
(17:15)[33]		 Bushi and Takahashi
(20:54)[32]
Desperado and Kanemaru Taguchi and Wato
(13:26)[32]		 Desperado and Kanemaru
(17:15)[33]		 – Desperado and Kanemaru
(16:48)[31]
Ishimori and Gedo Ishimori and Gedo
(14:34)[33]		 Bushi and Takahashi
(20:54)[32]		 Desperado and Kanemaru
(16:48)[31]		 –
Final
   
1 Suzuki-gun
(El Desperado and Yoshinobu Kanemaru) 		Pin
2 Los Ingobernables de Japón
(Bushi and Hiromu Takahashi) 		17:12[34]

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.

Round 1
(September 25) 		Semifinals
(October 2) 		Final
(October 9)
         
Logan Riegel Pin
The DKC 6:31
Logan Riegel 7:51
Clark Connors Sub
Clark Connors Sub
Jordan Clearwater 6:11
Clark Connors Sub
Danny Limelight 12:36
Danny Limelight Pin
Barrett Brown 9:31
Danny Limelight Pin
Blake Christian 7:54
Adrian Quest 6:49
Blake Christian Pin

Annually held tournaments

Tournament Last winner(s) Last held Type Created Notes
G1 Climax Tetsuya Naito August 13, 2023 Heavyweight 1974 NJPW's biggest annual tournament, primarily for heavyweights but there is no official weight limit. Mostly in a round-robin format[Note 1]
World Tag League Bishamon
(Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi)		 December 14, 2022 Tag team 1980 NJPW's annual tag team round-robin tournament.[Note 2]
New Japan Cup Sanada March 21, 2023 Openweight 2005 Single-elimination tournament
Best of the Super Juniors Hiromu Takahashi June 3, 2022 Junior heavyweight 1988 Annual round-robin tournament featuring top junior heavyweights from all over the world.
Super J-Cup El Phantasmo December 12, 2020 Junior heavyweight 1994 Sporadic 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 League LiYoh
(Lio Rush and Yoh)		 December 14, 2022 Junior heavyweight tag team 1994 Sporadic tournament featuring junior heavyweight tag teams from all over the world.[Note 3]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 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).
  2. ↑ 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).
  3. ↑ 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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Karl Gotch Cup 1974". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  2. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (June 12, 1990). "Kyushu Cup". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Japan/US All-Star Tournament". Pro Wrestling History. September 1996. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  4. ↑ "G2 U-30 Climax « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22.
  5. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Yuko Six Man Tag Team Tournament". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  6. ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 24, 2004). "President Hoshino 10 Million Yen Offer Tag Tournament". CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database. Archived from the original on March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Samurai! TV Openweight Tag Team Tournament « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". Archived from the original on 2021-05-08.
  8. ↑ "Yuke's Cup PREMIUM One Night Tag Tournament « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH". Archived from the original on 2012-11-15.
  9. ↑ "J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament 2010". Pro Wrestling History. June 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  10. ↑ "J Sports Crown Openweight Six Man Tag Tournament 2011". Pro Wrestling History. June 2011. Archived from the original on April 1, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  11. ↑ Martin, Adam (April 8, 2011). "Indy News #2: Chikara, NJPW, Wrestling on GFL". Wrestleview. Archived from the original on April 13, 2011. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  12. ↑ "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!!". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 6, 2011. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  13. 1 2 "NY遠征最終日、真壁がライノ撃破! 初代インターコンチ王者はMVP！ ライガーまさかの王座陥落!!（結果速報）". New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 16, 2011. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 16, 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 4 初日から大熱狂も、真壁がライノに敗戦! 新設ベルト争奪戦は？ 5.13ニュージャージー大会詳細アップ!!. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 14, 2011. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. 1 2 夜の摩天楼で奏でる渾身のエアギター！棚橋がＣ・ハースをハイフライ葬！ 大熱狂のニューヨーク大会2日目詳報！. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). May 15, 2011. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  16. ↑ Caldwell, James (October 5, 2012). "News items: Velvet Sky launches clothing line, Details on Nash's next int'l tour, NJPW introducing new title". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  17. 1 2 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!!. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 5, 2012. Archived from the original on October 8, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  18. 1 2 新日若手興行ＮＥＶＥＲで王座決定戦開催. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 5, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  19. 1 2 内藤「俺の使命はＮＥＶＥＲ復権」. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). October 3, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  20. 1 2 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!!. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). October 11, 2012. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  21. 1 2 新日ＮＥＶＥＲトーナメント出場者発表. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  22. ↑ 復帰の内藤 標的はＮＥＶＥＲ王座. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). May 24, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 東京・Shibuya-Ax ～初代NEVER無差別級王座決定トーナメント 1st Round～. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  24. ↑ 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). Kaientai Dojo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2012.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 東京・Shibuya-AX ～初代NEVER無差別級王座決定トーナメント Final～. New Japan Pro-Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 22, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  26. 1 2 3 "NJPW NEVER Openweight Championship Decision Tournament – Finals". The Internet Wrestling Database. November 19, 2012. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  27. ↑ 将斗 死闘を制して初代王座／新日本. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 20, 2012. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  28. ↑ ＮＥＶＥＲ初代王者・将斗１・４でＷヘッダーだ. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). November 23, 2012. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
  29. ↑ NJPW. "New NEVER 6-Man Tag Champions to be crowned in Korakuen tournament | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  30. ↑ NJPW. "New IWGP Jr. Tag Champions to be decided on New Japan Road tour | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  31. 1 2 3 4 NJPW. "2020.09.06 NEW JAPAN ROAD | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  32. 1 2 3 4 NJPW. "2020.09.05 NEW JAPAN ROAD | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  33. 1 2 3 4 NJPW. "2020.09.09 NEW JAPAN ROAD | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  34. ↑ NJPW. "2020.09.11 NEW JAPAN ROAD | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.