10 Things You Need To Know About NJPW Best Of Super Juniors 2017

10. How It Works

Much like the G1 Climax (NJPW’s signature heavyweight tournament), Best Of The Super Juniors starts as a block-based round robin Competition. Its 16 wrestlers are divided into two groups of 8, and will face everyone in their respective block once. Wrestlers receive two points for a win, one each for a draw, and zero for a loss, with the top wrestler from both blocks eventually meeting in the final.

The format makes BOSJ a more gruelling competition than most, and this year’s incarnation runs from May 17th to June 3rd. This makes ensures a busy schedule with 14 shows in total, and several days off to prevent burnout and injuries.

BOSJ kicks-off in Korakuen Hall - Japan’s most sacred combat sports venue - and concludes in Tokyo’s 3,202-capacity Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium. While there’ll obviously only be two participants left in the running on finals night, NJPW will pad this card with a variety of tag matches featuring tournament participants, and a number of heavyweight competitors. The tournament final will headline the show, with the winner receiving an IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title shot on June 11th’s Dominion PPV.