10 Things You Need To Know About NJPW Best Of Super Juniors 2017
4. The Villain's NJPW Debut
One of independent wrestling’s biggest stars will make his NJPW debut in this year’s BOSJ. Marty Scurll is a world-renowned talent, and whether he’s competing in Britain, America, or further afield, few can match his superstar aura. As ‘The Villain,’ Scurll is just as well known for his grasp of his character as his tremendous in-ring skills, and while BOSJ will bring his first NJPW matches, they probably won’t be the last.
Scurll is Ring Of Honor’s current Television Champion, and NJPW’s positive relationship with ROH likely facilitated his inclusion. Competing in BOSJ is a great opportunity for him to debut with aplomb, as fans will be treated to at least seven tournament bouts from ‘The Villain,’ giving him plenty of opportunities to win his new audience over.
A tough block means that while Scurll shouldn’t be completely ruled-out as a potential winner, he’s not an outright favourite. Victory would cement Marty as an immediate top guy in New Japan, and he’s certainly cut-out for the role. At the very minimum, expect knockdown matches with the likes of Ospreay, Liger, and Takahashi, whom he faced in a thrilling Revolution Pro Wrestling encounter last month.