New Japan Pro Wrestling has crowned a brand new IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion in the wake of Hiromu Takahashi’s unfortunate injury this past July, which broke his neck and may keep him out of action for more than a year.
A small four-man tournament was announced completely made up of former champions, to ensure the title’s historic legacy is kept intact, no matter who emerged victorious. In the first round, junior heavyweight ace Kushida defeated Bushi to advance to the finals, and Marty Scurll got a measure of revenge against his career rival Will Ospreay.
In the tournament finals today at NJPW King of Pro-Wrestling, Kushida defeated The Villain to become IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion for the sixth time, tying Tiger Mask for the second most reigns in company history.
#njkopw 両国大会！第7試合 第82代IWGPジュニアヘビー級王座決定戦 @KUSHIDA_0904 VS @MartyScurll ！勝った方が新王者！
新王者となるのはどちらだ⁉︎
視聴＆登録▷https://t.co/NxJKtVK94f #njkopw #njpwworld #njpw pic.twitter.com/qciGCuHQyh
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) October 8, 2018
@KUSHIDA_0904 'Automatic Midnight'#NJPWWorld Watch now▶︎https://t.co/Tj7UBJ4PjP
10.8 #njkopw #njpw pic.twitter.com/gfenHwakCz
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) October 8, 2018