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[Complete Results]
The annual junior festival, the Best of the Super Jr., returned for it's 2002 installment, following up on a very successful Tokyo Dome convention. Because of the 30th anniversary theme, a junior heavyweight pioneer, Tatsumi "The Dragon" Fujinami, was honoured, and this year's event was titled "DRAGON CUP - BEST OF THE SUPER JR. IX". A total of fourteen wrestlers were divided into two blocks, with some of the best juniors on the planet involved. Additionally, on the 6/5 Osaka show, the IWGP Tag Team Title would be on the line, Chono & Tenzan defending against Gotch-ism (Nakanishi & Nishimura).
Foreign participation:
Bas Rutten: 6/5 only
Scott Norton (Team 2000): All shows
Black Tiger (CMLL/Team 2000): All shows
Curry Man (Michinoku Pro): All shows
GOKU-DO (Team 2000): All shows
Special participation:
Masahiro Chono (Team 2000): 5/18 to 5/20, 5/24, 5/25, 5/28, 6/2 & 6/5
Shiro Koshinaka: 6/2 to 6/5
Tatsumi Fujinami: 5/19, 5/28, 5/29 & 6/2
Yoshiaki Yatsu (SPWF): 5/28 only
The Bloody (Jd'): 5/28 only
Sachie Abe (Jd'): 5/28 only
Best of the Super Jr. 2002 scoring system: Win (1 point), draw (0 points), loss (0 points)
Block A:
1. Jushin Thunder Liger (10th participation, 1992, 1994 & 2001 winner)
2. Masahito Kakihara (1st participation)
3. Katsuyori Shibata (2nd participation)
4. Koji Kanemoto (7th participation, 1998 winner)
5. Black Tiger (1st participation)
6. Jado (1st participation)
7. Curry Man (1st participation)
Block B:
1. Minoru Tanaka (4th participation)
2. El Samurai (11th participation, 1997 winner)
3. Masayuki Naruse (1st participation)
4. Wataru Inoue (2nd participation)
5. AKIRA (2nd participation)
6. Gedo (1st participation)
7. Tiger Mask (1st participation)
Points of note:
(5/18) On his 24th birthday, former amaresu king, Toru Yano, made his New Japan debut. Facing Blue Wolf, who entered the dojo at the same time, Yano showed ground work and striking ability, before submitting to a crab hold.
(5/18) One of the heavy BOSJ favourites, Kanemoto, suffered an opening day loss, falling to Kakihara's Kaki Cutter.
(5/18) In another shocker, IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Tanaka, aiming as a junior triple crown, fell to his rival of the past couple of years, AKIRA.
(5/20) Both Tanaka and Kanemoto scored their much needed first wins of the BOSJ, defeating Wataru and Curry Man respectively.
(5/23) Kanemoto's see-saw tournament continued, when he lost to T2000 friend, Black Tiger.
(5/24) Tanaka avenged his IWGP Jr. Title loss to Naruse at the Sapporo Dome back on 7/20/01, defeating him in a thriller at Korakuen.
(5/24) Before the main event, Kaientai Dojo's Minoru Fujita made a surprise appearance, running into the ring. Fujita took the microphone, demanding a match in New Japan, and attacked Chono following the match. Fujita's last appearance in New Japan was in the 2000 BOSJ, where he finished last.
(5/25) Kanemoto used Jado's own crossface hold to defeat his friend today. Jado suffered spinal damage during the match, and felt numbness throughout his body. His injury would force him to forfeit all of his BOSJ bouts... except one important match.
(5/28) "SENDAI TOUKON MEMORIAL DAY". Yoshimoto Pro (Jd'), a small joshi puroresu organization, had it's offer match, with The Bloody defeating Sachie Abe.
(5/28) Before the third match, Minoru Fujita again made an abrupt run-in challenge. Yoshie introduced himself to Fujita, and a match was suggested for 6/7 at Tokyo Nippon Budokan.
(5/28) In the first of two big BOSJ matches, Tanaka defeated Tiger Mask in an even match, cradling him for the 3 count.
(5/28) The second BOSJ match was very important, and saw two old rivals clash, as Liger and Kanemoto met in singles for the first time since 10/29/00. Kanemoto scored a crucial win over the previously unbeaten Liger, forcing him to tap out to a standing heel hold.
(5/28) In a match titled "30th Anniversary Toukon Match", which also happened to be SPWF's offer match, two former amaresu kings of different eras met. Nakanishi defeated Showa star and SPWF owner, Yoshiaki Yatsu, in a very technical contest, pinning him with a German suplex hold.
(5/28) The old "Tug of War" concept was revived for New Japan vs. Team 2000, with wrestlers pulling ropes to discover their opponent. Chono, Norton, Tenzan, Goto & AKIRA defeated Nagata, Sasaki, Yasuda, Kenzo & Tanahashi by 3-1-1. The first two matches with quick, the first a massive upset when Goto backdrop suplexed a distracted Yasuda for the 3 count in 49 seconds! Then, Kensuke made even shorter work of AKIRA, lariating him for the win in 38 seconds. Kenzo vs. Tenzan lasted close to 10 minutes, with Tenzan's TTD making the difference. In a major progress match for Tanahashi, he managed to take gaijin ace, Norton, to a 15 minute draw, holding out despite being dominated. In a big main event, Chono defeated IWGP Heavyweight Champion and ace, Nagata, Yakuza kicking him after distraction from Gedo.
(5/29) Fighting Club G-EGGS reunited for one night, Nagata, Nakanishi & Yoshie defeating T2000 trio, Chono, Tenzan & AKIRA. The reason for the reunion was that in the building where the show was held, Kesennuma City Gymnasium, former G-EGGS prospect, Masakazu Fukuda, suffered the injury that would tragically end his life two years ago.
(6/2) The last day of BOSJ group stage matches saw both finalists determined. Kanemoto defeated Shibata, putting him on equal points with fellow Block A combatant, Liger, but Liger had a match with the injured Jado, and a forfeit win would give him a place in the finals. As a result, Jado took one for the team, wrestling Liger, and after much T2000 interference, going to a double countout with him, meaning Kanemoto advanced! The other finalist was Tanaka, who defeated Samurai to reach the final for the second straight year. This set up the first singles meeting between Tanaka and Kanemoto since their bitter split last year.
(6/2) In a preliminary skirmish for the 6/5 IWGP Tag Title match, Nakanishi & Nishimura scored a big win over Norton & Tenzan, Nishimura getting his first ever direct win over Norton when he stunned the American with a backslide!
(6/5) Bas Rutten made his second New Japan appearance after his impressive win over Nakanishi at the Tokyo Dome, today defeating a spirited Tanahashi.
(6/5) In an epic match of Strong Style, IWGP Tag Team Champions, Chono & Tenzan, made their V1 defense, but only after Nakanishi & Nishimura took them to a 60 minute draw. Nakanishi seemed to have the match won when he hit a German suplex hold, but the bridge collapsed when a knee buckled on him. A brave Nishimura fought alone, lasting against two vicious opponents, until Nakanishi made an amazing return, knee bandaged up. Later on, Nakanishi shattered Tenzan's nose, completely breaking it and causing mass bloodshed. The bell rang, and Osaka gave these four warriors a standing ovation for a classic match.
(6/5) "Lateness Man" Tadao Yasuda again showed up late, this time for his IWGP Heavyweight Title #1 Contender Match with Kensuke. An outraged Sasaki, ever a proud man, made short work of Yasuda, lariating him in 5 1/2 minutes for the win. He and Nagata exchanged slaps following the match, sparks breaking out before their big singles meeting.
(6/5) The 2002 Best of the Super Jr. came to an end, with arch-rivals Tanaka and Kanemoto squaring off in the last match of the tour. Both men lost their temper and had a severe fight, but Kanemoto won his first BOSJ since 1998, putting the IWGP Jr. Champion away with a Dragon suplex hold. Kanemoto received his prize from Fujinami, who the tournament was dedicated to.
Miscellaneous:
The final standings of the 2002 Best of the Super Jr. looked as follows,
Block A:
1. Koji Kanemoto [4]
2. Jushin Thunder Liger [4]
3. Katsuyori Shibata [3]
4. Black Tiger [3]
5. Masahito Kakihara [3]
6. Curry Man [2]
7. Jado [1]
Block B:
1. Minoru Tanaka [4]
2. El Samurai [3]
3. Gedo [3]
4. Masayuki Naruse [3]
5. AKIRA [3]
6. Tiger Mask [3]
7. Wataru Inoue [2]
Final: Koji Kanemoto beat Minoru Tanaka (14:12) with a Dragon suplex hold.
It was a very close event, with no real dominant wrestlers, as they all traded wins. Six of the fourteen participants were making their BOSJ debuts, meaning many fresh matches. Kanemoto's victory over Tanaka made him top contender for a shot at the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title on the next tour.
Stuart's 2002 Best of the Super Jr. Awards:
MVP: Koji Kanemoto
Best Bout: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Koji Kanemoto (5/28)
Outstanding Performance Award: Koji Kanemoto
Fighting Spirit Award: Katsuyori Shibata
Most Inspirational Award: N/A
Back to: "TOUKON MEMORIAL DAY" (5/2/02)
Forward to: "BATTLE ZONE 6-7" (6/7/02)
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