Impressive young lion Hiromu Takahashi appeared at today’s pre-Best of the Super Jr. press conference and appealed for the last spot made vacant by Black Tiger. President Sugabayashi was a little hesitant but Takahashi’s enthusiasm won him over and so the youngster enters Block B in the tournament which starts tomorrow.

The new Black Tiger, who won the junior tournament on the NEVER brand shows to win a place in the Best of the Super Jr. tournament, has become the second wrestler to exit the tournament before it even starts. Although New Japan has not printed an official reason, the man under the mask (NOSAWA Rongai) was caught trying to smuggle weed out of Mexico and into Japan the other day and was arrested.

New Japan will announce a replacement soon. Davey Richards has already been forced to pull out of the tournament due to health concerns and was replaced by Brian Kendrick, but who will replace Black Tiger?

“Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada makes his V3 defense of the IWGP Heavyweight Title on 6/16 at the same building where he won it and against the very man he won it from, ace Hiroshi Tanahashi. This super-battle could spell the end of Okada’s reign if the record-breaking previous IWGP Heavyweight Champion can avenge his February loss. Another rematch set sees Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka make their first defense of the IWGP Tag Team Title against TenKoji, with Tenzan & Kojima granted a quick rematch after dropping the belts to the CHAOS tandem in Fukuoka days ago. And still another rematch sees the ongoing feud between Togi Makabe and Minoru Suzuki continue as they collide in singles action. Also revealed for this show are the return of DDT’s former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, Kota Ibushi, the return of Shelton Benjamin, and MVP’s involvement.

Before the big Osaka show is a smaller one later this month and a title match has been announced for that too, as Hirooki Goto makes his V2 defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Title against CHAOS member Tomohiro Ishii. These had quite an entertaining feud several years ago and this should be a good match, with Goto hoping to get back on track after coming just short of winning the IWGP Heavyweight Title from Okada in Fukuoka.

Finally, block division and match schedule for the upcoming Best of the Super Jr. has been announced, with lots of enticing matches set. New Japan has warned that Davey Richards is not 100% certain to be in the tournament after his recent car accident and his involvement is pending a medical check. This tournament also marks the start of BUSHI’s one year loan from All Japan.

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NJPW “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY ~ NEW JAPAN LIVE”, 5/20/12 (J SPORTS)
Matsushita IMP Hall

1. Ryusuke Taguchi & KUSHIDA vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Takaaki Watanabe
2. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima, Jushin Thunder Liger & Tiger Mask vs. Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka, Jado & Gedo
3. Togi Makabe, Yuji Nagata & Wataru Inoue vs. Minoru Suzuki, TAKA Michinoku & Taichi
4. Tama Tonga vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
5. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tetsuya Naito & Captain New Japan vs. Kazuchika Okada, Masato Tanaka & YOSHI-HASHI
6. IWGP Intercontinental Title: Hirooki Goto (c) vs. Tomohiro Ishii

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NJPW, 5/27/12 (Asahi Newstar)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Jado vs. Daisuke Sasaki
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov vs. TAKA Michinoku
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Low Ki
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Davey Richards
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Angel de Oro vs. Taichi
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Rocky Romero
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. KUSHIDA
8. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Pac

NJPW, 5/28/12
Chiba Port Arena Sub Arena

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov vs. Black Tiger
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. Daisuke Sasaki
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: TAKA Michinoku vs. Davey Richards
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. BUSHI
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Gedo
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Taichi

NJPW, 5/30/12
Shinshu Sky Park Gymnasium

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Jado vs. Alex Kozlov
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki vs. Black Tiger
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Gedo vs. Angel de Oro
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Taichi vs. Pac
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Rocky Romero

NJPW, 5/31/12
Wel Sunpia Tsuruga

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Davey Richards vs. Black Tiger
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Jado
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. TAKA Michinoku
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Gedo
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Rocky Romero
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Angel de Oro

NJPW, 6/1/12
Iwade Municipal Citizen Gymnasium

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Jado vs. Black Tiger
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Alex Kozlov
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Daisuke Sasaki
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Pac vs. Angel de Oro
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Taichi
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. BUSHI

NJPW, 6/2/12 (J SPORTS)
Kyoto KBS Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov vs. Davey Richards
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. Black Tiger
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. TAKA Michinoku
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Pac
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Gedo
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. Rocky Romero

NJPW, 6/3/12 (Samurai! TV)
Akashi Municipal Industrial Exchange Center

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: TAKA Michinoku vs. Jado
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Daisuke Sasaki
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Low Ki
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Gedo vs. Pac
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Angel de Oro
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. KUSHIDA

NJPW, 6/5/12
Kasukabe Convention Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki vs. Davey Richards
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. Jado
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Black Tiger
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Pac vs. Rocky Romero
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Taichi vs. Gedo
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Angel de Oro

NJPW, 6/6/12 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki vs. Alex Kozlov
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Low Ki vs. Davey Richards
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. TAKA Michinoku
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Black Tiger
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Angel de Oro vs. Rocky Romero
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Taichi
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Jushin Thunder Liger vs. BUSHI
8. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince DEvitt vs. Pac

NJPW, 6/7/12
Tochigi Bunka Center Sub Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Daisuke Sasaki vs. TAKA Michinoku
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Davey Richards vs. Jado
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Alex Kozlov
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Rocky Romero vs. Gedo
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Taichi
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Angel de Oro

NJPW, 6/9/12
Nagoya International Conference Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: TAKA Michinoku vs. Black Tiger
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Alex Kozlov vs. Low Ki
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Tiger Mask vs. Jado
4. Best of the Super Jr. – Block B: Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Davey Richards
5. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Rocky Romero vs. Taichi
6. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: BUSHI vs. Pac
7. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: KUSHIDA vs. Gedo
8. Best of the Super Jr. – Block A: Prince Devitt vs. Jushin Thunder Liger

NJPW, 6/10/12 (Samurai! TV)
Tokyo Korakuen Hall

1. Best of the Super Jr. – Semi Final: Block A 1st place vs. Block B 2nd place
2. Best of the Super Jr. – Semi Final: Block B 1st place vs. Block A 2nd place
3. Best of the Super Jr. – Final:

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NJPW “DOMINION 6.16″, 6/16/12
Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium

1. IWGP Tag Team Title: Toru Yano & Takashi Iizuka (c) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima
2. Togi Makabe vs. Minoru Suzuki
3. IWGP Heavyweight Title: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi

New Japan today announced participants for “NJPW 40TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR ~ BEST OF THE SUPER JR. XIX ~THE DOOR TO THE GLORY~“, Japanese wrestling’s most famous junior tournament. The big news first is the announcement that All Japan masked man BUSHI has moved to New Japan on a one year loan deal as of May 1st, which is a new initiative by New Japan that will help train and improve other wrestlers, similar to when they go overseas. This is much like they do in football/soccer with young players and could well take off in Japan now as a way of diversifying rosters and giving young men more experiences.

PAC of DRAGON GATE UK is another BOSJ debutant, while “Russian Hooligan” Alex Koslov, who recently left his WWE developmental deal and is well known for his work in Mexico, is also in. Young CMLL talent Angel de Oro makes his New Japan debut in the tournament and will hope to make an impression. Last year’s “ROAD TO THE SUPER JR. 2DAYS TOURNAMENT” winner on the NEVER brand, Daisuke Sasaki, has also been invited back for a second time. Here is the full list, blocks will be announced in the near future…

- Prince Devitt (IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion & NWA World Historic Middleweight Champion)
- Ryusuke Taguchi
- Jushin Thunder Liger
- Tiger Mask
- KUSHIDA
- BUSHI (AJPW -> NJPW)
- Low Ki (CHAOS)
- Davey Richards (CHAOS/NRC) (IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champion)
- Rocky Romero (CHAOS/NRC) (IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champion)
- Jado (CHAOS)
- Gedo (CHAOS)
- TAKA Michinoku (K-DOJO/Suzuki Gun)
- Taichi (Suzuki Gun)
- Black Tiger (Suzuki Gun)
- PAC (DRAGON GATE UK)
- Daisuke Sasaki (free)
- Alex Kozlov (free)
- Angel de Oro (CMLL)