12 Ups & 6 Downs From NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors 2019

Downs...

6. Sold Short

YOH Will Ospreay
NJPW

This year's BOSJ field was expanded to 20 wrestlers across two blocks, rather than the traditional 16 participants. This meant 31 more individual matches after TAKA Michinoku's mid-tournament withdrawal. They were all spread over the same number of shows as 2018, meaning we got several nights that featured nothing but Super Juniors battle, rather than the usual blend of preliminary tags and tournament action.

While the new format wasn't without its benefits, it meant less average ring time per bout, giving the wrestlers less scope to build great matches and tell compelling in-ring stories.

2018's average pre-finals match time was 14:20. In 2019, that number fell to 12:47.

Not a huge drop, but dozens of BOSJ clashes felt like they were being rushed this time around. Potential bangers were regularly reduced to mid-paced bouts with a house show feel. That's a shame, and while the high-end stuff still delivered, the cards weren't as fulfilling from top to bottom.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.