Super J Cup preview and post Analysis

What is up Smarks and all?

This one is going to be one of my favorite events to cover, alongside the Cruiserweight Classic in WWE.

Seven years after Naomichi Marufuji (Pro Wrestling NoAH) defeated Prince Devitt (Finn Balor in WWE) for the last Super J Cup, the history making tournament returns on August 21st. Now whether this tournament will be spread out or if it will be a nightly tournament has not been determined, but it should be a fantastic tournament considering the potential participants that could be considered.

The Super J Cup is a single elimination tournament that will feature some of the best wrestlers from the world that aren't participating in the WWE Cruiserweight Classic. So, minus TNA, it's the best of the rest of the world . (And personally, whomever wins the Classic should totally have a match against the person who wins the Super J Cup. It would be one heck of a dream match regardless of the winning participants).

The Following Companies will be represented

New Japan Pro Wrestling (The Host): 4 (Jyushin Lyger, Ryusuke Taguchi, and KUSHIDA for NJPW, and Will Ospreay for CHAOS)
All Japan Pro Wrestling: 1 (Yuma Ayoyagi)
Pro Wrestling NoAH: 3 (Taiji Ishimori, Kenoh, Daisuke Harada)
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre(CMLL): 1(Titan)
Dragon Gate: 1(Eita)
Kaientai Dojo: 1(Kaji Tomato)
Ring of Honor: 1(Matt Sydal)
Ryukyu Dragon Pro Wrestling: 1(Gurukun Mask)
Suzuki-Gun:2 (Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
One surprise Entrant:1(BUSHI of Los Ingovernables de Japon)

Originally, Shinya Hashimoto's Pro Wrestling Zero1 was going to have a representative, but was then replaced by former wrestling juggernaut All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Here's some more information about the participants.

Gurukun Mask (Ryukyu Dragon)
Eita Kobayashi...or Eita (Dragon Gate)
Kaji Tomato (K-Dojo)
Yuma Ayoyagi (All Japan Pro Wrestling)
Taichi (Suzuki Gun/Pro Wrestling NoAH/New Japan Pro Wrestling)
Yoshinobu Kanemaru (Suzuki Gun/Pro Wrestling NoAH)

Finally, based off of the revealed brackets, here are my predictions:
ROUND 1
Lyger (NJPW) vs. EITA (Dragon Gate)
Aoyagi (AJPW) vs Taichi (Suzuki Gun)
KUSHIDA(NJPW) vs. Ishimori(NoAH)
Gurukun(Ryukyu) vs. Kenoh (NoAH)
Taguchi (NJPW) vs. Harada (NoAH)
BUSHI (LIJ) vs. Kanemaru (Suzuki Gun)
Titan (CMLL) vs. Ospreay (CHAOS)
Sydal (ROH) vs. Tomato (Kaientai)

This is Lyger's swan song, so he isn't losing in round 1. Taichi is as bad of a villain as can be for Suzuki Gun. With NJPW hosting, it's highly doubtful that their Ace will be gone in round 1, especially at the hands of the ace of their top rival company. At least one surprise needs to go through, and the Ingovernables won't be silenced. Finally, as much as I like Titan and anything that has to do with Kaientai....the foreigner English speakers will show up here.

Result from Round 1.
Lyger over Eita
Taichi over Aoyagi
KUSHIDA over Ishimori
Keno over Gurukun
Taguchi over Harada
Kanemaru over Bushi
Ospreay over Titan
Sydal over Tomato

ROUND 2
My Original Predictions
Taichi over Lyger
KUSHIDA over Gurukun
BUSHI over Harada
Ospreay Over Sydal

What better way to be more of a bad guy than to eliminate the legend?
The Ace won't go down in round 2 either.
Harada is amazing, but there's storyline to keep track of as well. Expect interference here.
Ospreay is the golden child of the top Face stable in NJPW. Plus he just came off of a victory in the BOTSJ.

Actual Upcoming Matchups:
Jyushin Lyger vs. Taichi (Got that one right!)
KUSHIDA vs. Kenoh(I got KUSHIDA correct!)
Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru(Failed that one)
Will Ospreay vs. Matt Sydal (Got that one Right!)

Originally I thought that there would only be 1 Suzuki Gun member...and I didn't do my proper research on Kanemaru. Therefore, I expect Lyger over Taichi, then KUSHIDA will beat Kenoh and set up a rematch of Lyger vs. KUSHIDA for the Semi Finals. Kanemaru should wipe the floor with Taguchi, not because Taguchi is bad but because Kanemaru is the current GHC Jr. heavyweight Champion. That would be a tough case to go against. Ospreay is the golden child of Japanese and Indy wrestling right now, so I don't expect Sydal to go over.


Semi-Final
Initial Prediction 1
KUSHIDA over Taichi
Ospreay over BUSHI

Having the two evil stables vanquished sets up another chapter of the budding rivalry between KUSHIDA and Ospreay.

Prediction 2 based off of first round and Quarter final predictions
KUSHIDA over Lyger
Ospreay over Kanemaru

Kushida over Lyger is mainly because KUSHIDA has been on a tear as of late. Same with Ospreay, but I wouldn't be surprised if the finals are KUSHIDA vs. Ospreay OR if it's IWGP vs. GHC with KUSHIDA vs. Kanemaru.

Final
OSPREAY OVER KUSHIDA

Ospreay has to win one over KUSHIDA sooner or later. If it's not going to be for the title, it should at least be for the Super J Cup. Otherwise, it's a one sided affair that does nothing for the division.