Global Junior Heavyweight League

Japanese professional wrestling tournament From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Global Junior Heavyweight League is a professional wrestling round-robin tournament held by Pro Wrestling Noah. The purpose of the tournament is to determine the promotion's top junior heavyweight wrestler. It was originally designed to be an annual event starting in 2009, but the second tournament did not take place until 2015. The tournament is a two-block round-robin tournament, much like New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Best of the Super Juniors tournament, in which each block's two highest scorers face off in the semifinals. A victory is worth two points, a draw was worth one, and a loss zero; each match has a thirty-minute time limit. Being a professional wrestling tournament, the outcome of the matches and the tournament itself are not determined through pure athletic competition but through pre-determined outcomes to matches.[1]

Other names
  • Global Junior Heavyweight League (2009–2020)
  • Junior Rumble (2020–2022)
  • N Innovation (2024)
  • Jr. Grand Prix (2025)
First event2009
Quick facts Jr. Grand Prix, Promotions ...
Jr. Grand Prix
PromotionsPro Wrestling Noah
Other names
  • Global Junior Heavyweight League (2009–2020)
  • Junior Rumble (2020–2022)
  • N Innovation (2024)
  • Jr. Grand Prix (2025)
First event2009
Signature matchesSingles matches
Close

List of winners

Global Junior Heavyweight League

Jr. Rumble

N Innovation

Jr. Grand Prix

2009

The first tournament, named simply Junior Heavyweight League, was held from October 15 to October 31 over nine shows, and featured two blocks of five. Foreign participation included Delirious from Ring of Honor and Jyushin Thunder Liger from New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The winner, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, also won the vacant GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. Delirious was awarded place in the semifinal because original block A runner-up Kotaro Suzuki had to withdraw with a flu.

More information Block A, Delirious ...
Block ADeliriousKatsuhiko NakajimaKentaKotaro SuzukiRicky Marvin
Delirious N/aNakajima (15:05)Delirious (18:54)Suzuki (13:52)Delirious (14:20)
Katsuhiko Nakajima Nakajima (15:05)N/aDraw (30:00)Draw (30:00)Nakajima (12:07)
Kenta Delirious (18:54)Draw (30:00)N/aSuzuki (17:28)Kenta (1:59)
Kotaro Suzuki Suzuki (13:52)Draw (30:00)Suzuki (17:28)N/aMarvin (9:04)
Ricky Marvin Delirious (14:20)Nakajima(12:07)Kenta (1:59)Marvin (9:04)N/a
Block BAtsushi AokiGenba HirayanagiJyushin Thunder LigerTaiji IshimoriYoshinobu Kanemaru
Atsushi Aoki N/aAoki (13:11)Draw (30:00)Ishimori (13:54)Kanemaru (17:32)
Genba Hirayanagi Aoki (13:11)N/aDouble countout (9:19)Double countout (7:09)Double countout (7:45)
Jyushin Thunder Liger Draw (30:00)Double countout (9:19)N/aLiger (13:08)Liger (14:45)
Taiji Ishimori Ishimori (13:54)Double countout (7:09)Liger (13:08)N/aKanemaru (15:56)
Yoshinobu Kanemaru Kanemaru (17:32)Double countout (7:45)Liger (14:45)Kanemaru (15:56)N/a
Close
Semifinals Finals
      
A1 Katsuhiko Nakajima Pin
B2 Yoshinobu Kanemaru 10:17
B2 Yoshinobu Kanemaru Pin
B1 Jyushin Thunder Liger 18:53
B1 Jyushin Thunder Liger Pin
A2 Delirious 10:45

2015

The second tournament, now named Global Junior Heavyweight League, took place from July 18 to August 5, 2015.[1]

More information Block A, Daisuke Harada ...
Block ADaisuke HaradaEl DesperadoHitoshi KumanoKenohSho TanakaYoshinari OgawaZack Sabre Jr.
Daisuke Harada N/aHarada (5:23)Harada (10:06)Harada (13:29)Harada (8:33)Harada (11:58)Sabre (12:12)
El Desperado Harada (5:23)N/aDesperado (7:53)Desperado (13:31)Desperado (10:19)Ogawa (1:05)Desperado (11:06)
Hitoshi Kumano Harada (10:06)Desperado (7:53)N/aKenoh (9:03)Tanaka (9:01)Ogawa (8:41)Sabre (9:47)
Kenoh Harada (13:29)Desperado (13:31)Kenoh (9:03)N/aKenoh (13:50)Kenoh (13:28)Kenoh (7:33)
Sho Tanaka Harada (8:33)Desperado (10:19)Tanaka (9:01)Kenoh (13:50)N/aOgawa (3:32)Sabre (10:07)
Yoshinari Ogawa Harada (11:58)Ogawa (1:05)Ogawa (8:41)Kenoh (13:28)Ogawa (3:32)N/aSabre (11:46)
Zack Sabre Jr. Sabre (12:12)Desperado (11:06)Sabre (9:47)Kenoh (7:33)Sabre (10:07)Sabre (11:46)N/a
Block BAtsushi KotogeBengalaGenba HirayanagiHajime OharaSuper CrazyTaiji IshimoriTaka Michinoku
Atsushi Kotoge N/aKotoge (8:49)Kotoge (8:36)Ohara (12:41)Crazy (11:05)Kotoge (14:58)Kotoge (10:44)
Bengala Kotoge (8:49)N/aHirayanagi (6:22)Bengala (6:15)Bengala (3:24)Ishimori (10:48)Bengala (7:40)
Genba Hirayanagi Kotoge (8:36)Hirayanagi (6:22)N/aOhara (8:29)Crazy (5:29)Ishimori (7:44)Michinoku (7:33)
Hajime Ohara Ohara (12:41)Bengala (6:15)Ohara (8:29)N/aCrazy (10:16)Ishimori (7:15)Ohara (11:31)
Super Crazy Crazy (11:05)Bengala (3:24)Crazy (5:29)Crazy (10:16)N/aIshimori (12:27)Michinoku (8:26)
Taiji Ishimori Kotoge (14:58)Ishimori (10:48)Ishimori (7:44)Ishimori (7:15)Ishimori (12:27)N/aMichinoku (9:07)
Taka Michinoku Kotoge (10:44)Bengala (7:40)Michinoku (7:33)Ohara (11:31)Michinoku (8:26)Michinoku (9:07)N/a
Close
Final
   
A1 Daisuke Harada Pin
B1 Atsushi Kotoge 16:35

2018

The third tournament took place from September 8 to October 4, 2018.[2]

More information Block A, Block B ...
Close
More information Block A, Daisuke Harada ...
Block ADaisuke HaradaHajime OharaHitoshi KumanoKotaro SuzukiSeiya MorohashiTadasuke
Daisuke Harada N/aHarada (19:04)Harada (12:06)Suzuki (16:31)Harada (8:47)Tadasuke (15:31)
Hajime Ohara Harada (19:04)N/aKumano (12:24)Ohara (10:11)Morohashi (10:05)Tadasuke (6:54)
Hitoshi Kumano Harada (12:06)Kumano (12:24)N/aSuzuki (14:33)Kumano (11:52)Kumano (9:59)
Kotaro Suzuki Suzuki (16:31)Ohara (10:11)Suzuki (14:33)N/aSuzuki (9:19)Suzuki (10:18)
Seiya Morohashi Harada (8:47)Morohashi (10:05)Kumano (11:52)Suzuki (9:19)N/aTadasuke (9:53)
Tadasuke Tadasuke (15:31)Tadasuke (6:54)Kumano (9:59)Suzuki (10:18)Tadasuke (9:53)N/a
Block BHayataHi69Ikuto HidakaJunta MiyawakiMinoru TanakaYo-Hey
Hayata N/aHi69 (9:35)Hidaka (11:11)Hayata (4:45)Tanaka (11:33)Draw (12:36)
Hi69 Hi69 (9:35)N/aHidaka (14:47)Hi69 (2:49)Hi69 (19:41)Yo-Hey (13:11)
Ikuto Hidaka Hidaka (11:11)Hidaka (14:47)N/aHidaka (8:03)Tanaka (12:38)Draw (30:00)
Junta Miyawaki Hayata (4:45)Hi69 (2:49)Hidaka (8:03)N/aTanaka (5:55)Yo-Hey (8:02)
Minoru Tanaka Tanaka (11:33)Hi69 (19:41)Tanaka (12:38)Tanaka (5:55)N/aYo-Hey (14:57)
Yo-Hey Draw (12:36)Yo-Hey (13:11)Draw (30:00)Yo-Hey (8:02)Yo-Hey (14:57)N/a
Close
Final
   
A1 Kotaro Suzuki Pin
B1 Yo-Hey 17:00

2019

The fourth Global Junior Heavyweight League took place from June 27 to July 27, 2019.[3]

More information Block A, Block B ...
Close
More information Block A, Daisuke Harada ...
Block ADaisuke HaradaJunta MiyawakiMinoru TanakaTadasukeYo-HeyYoshinari Ogawa
Daisuke Harada N/aHarada (6:52)Draw (30:00)Tadasuke (15:01)Harada (15:20)Ogawa (9:47)
Junta Miyawaki Harada (6:52)N/aTanaka (8:43)Tadasuke (8:57)Yo-Hey (8:57)Ogawa (9:54)
Minoru Tanaka Draw (30:00)Tanaka (8:43)N/aTadasuke (10:14)Yo-Hey (12:40)Tanaka (11:33)
Tadasuke Tadasuke (15:01)Tadasuke (8:57)Tadasuke (10:14)N/aTadasuke (10:41)Ogawa (13:19)
Yo-Hey Harada (15:20)Yo-Hey (8:57)Yo-Hey (12:40)Tadasuke (10:41)N/aYo-Hey (14:14)
Yoshinari Ogawa Ogawa (9:47)Ogawa (9:54)Tanaka (11:33)Ogawa (13:19)Yo-Hey (14:14)N/a
Block BChris RidgewayHajime OharaHayataHi69Hitoshi KumanoKotaro Suzuki
Chris Ridgeway N/aOhara (9:20)Hayata (14:30)Ridgeway (13:08)Ridgeway (10:01)Ridgeway (8:38)
Hajime Ohara Ohara (9:20)N/aHayata (15:59)Ohara (10:20)Kumano (13:35)Suzuki (10:09)
Hayata Hayata (14:30)Hayata (15:59)N/aHi69 (11:27)Hayata (11:01)Draw (30:00)
Hi69 Ridgeway (13:08)Ohara (10:20)Hi69 (11:27)N/aHi69 (9:39)Suzuki (8:59)
Hitoshi Kumano Ridgeway (10:01)Kumano (13:35)Hayata (11:01)Hi69 (9:39)N/aSuzuki (10:32)
Kotaro Suzuki Ridgeway (8:38)Suzuki (10:09)Draw (30:00)Suzuki (8:59)Suzuki (10:32)N/a
Close
Block B Decision Final
A1 Tadasuke Pin
B1 Hayata Pin B1 Hayata 19:12
B2 Kotaro Suzuki 3:13

2020

The 2020 Global Junior Heavyweight League, featuring 4 blocks took place between January 10 and January 30.[4]

More information Block A, Hayata ...
Block AHayataYoshinari
Ogawa
Nosawa
Rongai
Junta
Miyawaki
Hayata N/aOgawa
(18:33)
Double
Countout
(6:43)
Hayata
(9:48)
Yoshinari
Ogawa
Ogawa
(18:33)
N/aDouble
Countout
(10:29)
Ogawa
(8:08)
Nosawa
Rongai
Double
Countout
(6:43)
Double
Countout
(10:29)
N/aNosawa
(9:23)
Junta
Miyawaki
Hayata
(9:48)
Ogawa
(8:08)
Nosawa
(9:23)
N/a
Block BKotaro
Suzuki
TadasukeHaoDick
Togo
Kotaro
Suzuki
N/aSuzuki
(7:39)
Suzuki
(9:20)
Togo
(15:09)
Tadasuke Suzuki
(7:39)
N/aTadasuke
(7:49)
Tadasuke
(12:46)
Hao Suzuki
(9:20)
Tadasuke
(7:49)
N/aTogo
(9:21)
Dick
Togo
Togo
(15:09)
Tadasuke
(12:46)
Togo
(9:21)
N/a
Block CAtsushi
Kotoge
Yo-HeyHajime
Ohara
Hitoshi
Kumano
Atsushi
Kotoge
N/aKotoge
(15:41)
Ohara
(14:20)
Kotoge
(10:56)
Yo-Hey Kotoge
(15:41)
N/aOhara
(13:49)
Yo-Hey
(13:53)
Hajime
Ohara
Ohara
(14:20)
Ohara
(13:49)
N/aKumano
(13:39)
Hitoshi
Kumano
Kotoge
(10:56)
Yo-Hey
(13:53)
Kumano
(13:39)
N/a
Block DDaisuke
Harada
Chris
Ridgeway
Minoru
Tanaka
Nio
Daisuke
Harada
N/aHarada
(10:56)
Draw
(30:00)
Draw
(30:00)
Chris
Ridgeway
Harada
(10:56)
N/aTanaka
(11:34)
Ridgeway
(13:39)
Minoru
Tanaka
Draw
(30:00)
Tanaka
(11:34)
N/aNio
(14:24)
Nio Draw
(30:00)
Ridgeway
(13:39)
Nio
(14:24)
N/a
Close
Semifinals Finals
      
A1 Yoshinari Ogawa Sub
B1 Dick Togo 8:31
B1 Dick Togo Pin
D1 Daisuke Harada 19:43
C1 Hajime Ohara Pin
D1 Daisuke Harada 15:45

2020 (Rumble)

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the Junior Heavyweight League was replaced with an annual Junior Rumble. The first edition was on 4 October as part of an N-1 Victory 2020 show at Korakuen Hall in Bunkyō, Tokyo and contained 14 participants. They entered strictly every 30 seconds. The winner of this rumble did not receive a GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship shot and the reigning champion, Kotaro Suzuki, participated.[5]

More information Entry, Wrestler ...
Entry Wrestler Unit Order Eliminated by Method Time of
elimination
1 Daisuke Harada Momo no Seishun 11/12 Hayata Over The Top Rope 22:00
2 Yo-Hey Full Throttle 11/12 Hayata Over The Top Rope 22:00
3 Tadasuke Kongo 7 Nioh Over The Top Rope 16:22
4 Hayata Stinger 13 Atsushi Kotoge Pinfall 24:32
5 Nosawa Rongai Sugiura-gun 5 Atsushi Kotoge Pinfall 14:59
6 Junta Miyawaki Momo no Seishun 6 Tadasuke Pinfall 15:33
7 Yoshinari Ogawa Stinger 1 Himself Abandoned the match. 5:49
8 Seiki Yoshioka Full Throttle 4 Nosawa Rongai Pinfall 12:59
9 Kaz Hayashi Sugiura-gun 3 Seiki Yoshioka Over The Top Rope 12:35
10 Haoh Kongo 9 Hayata Pinfall 18:18
11 Nioh Kongo 10 Daisuke Harada Pinfall 19:47
12 Hajime Ohara Full Throttle 2 Kaz Hayashi Pinfall 12:14
13 Kotaro Suzuki Stinger 8 Haoh Pinfall 17:29
14 Atsushi Kotoge Momo no Seishun - WINNER - -
Winner: Atsushi Kotoge
Close

2021

The 2021 Noah Junior Rumble was held in an empty Club Citta, Kawasaki, Kanagawa on 26 June, one month before the Noah Jr. Team Game 2021.[6] It was part of Noah Cage War 2021. The Rumble had 15 participants, 1 more than the previous year. The winner, Hayata, successfully defeated Atsushi Kotoge for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship the next night.

Haoh, Tadasuke and Nioh all entered at the same time. Hayata & Yoshinari Ogawa entered unofficially and were allowed entry by the referee.

More information Entry, Wrestler ...
Entry Wrestler Unit Order Eliminated by Method Time of
elimination
1 Daisuke Harada Seiki gun / Momo no Seishun 2 Hayata Over The Top Rope 17:26
2 Nosawa Rongai Los Perros del Mal de Japón 1 Yoshinari Ogawa Over The Top Rope 17:26
3 Eita Los Perros del Mal de Japón 8 Yoshinari Ogawa Over The Top Rope 23:55
4 Seiki Yoshioka Stinger 11 Yo-Hey Over The Top Rope 25:25
5 Junta Miyawaki Seiki-gun 7 Eita Pinfall 23:13
6 Yo-Hey Los Perros del Mal de Japón 14 Hayata Pinfall 35:00
7-9 Haoh Kongo 4 Junta Miyawaki Pinfall 21:11
Tadasuke Kongo 10 Seiki Yoshioka Pinfall 24:51
Nioh Kongo 5 Junta Miyawaki Over The Top Rope 21:41
10 Hajime Ohara Seiki-gun 3 Haoh Pinfall 20:26
11 Yuya Susumu Stinger 9 Tadasuke Pinfall 24:20
12 Ikuto Hidaka Los Perros del Mal de Japón 6 Yuya Susumu Pinfall 22:26
13 Kotaro Suzuki Los Perros del Mal de Japón 13 Hayata Pinfall 26:52
14-15 Hayata Stinger - WINNER - -
Yoshinari Ogawa Stinger 12 Kotaro Suzuki, Nosawa Rongai & Yo-Hey Over The Top Rope 26:01
Winner: Hayata (2)
Close

2022

The 2022 Noah Junior Rumble was part of the N Innovation U-Cup. It was held at Yokohama Radiant Hall, Yokohama on 6 January. Daisuke Harada, the winner, successfully defeated Hayata for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship the next night.[7]

More information Entry, Wrestler ...
Entry Wrestler Unit Order Eliminated by Method Time of
elimination
1 Atsushi Kotoge Seiki-gun 9 Yo-Hey Pinfall 16:49
2 Alejandro Kongo 6 Hajime Ohara Pinfall 14:54
3 Yuya Susumu Stinger 4 Atsushi Kotoge Pinfall 11:13
4 Yo-Hey Los Perros del Mal de Japón 12 Seiki Yoshioka Over The Top Rope 20:00
5 Seiki Yoshioka Stinger 13 Kotaro Suzuki Pinfall 20:20
6 Tadasuke Kongo 5 Junta Miyawaki Over The Top Rope 11:59
7 Junta Miyawaki Seiki-gun 8 Haoh Pinfall 16:20
8 Nosawa Rongai Los Perros del Mal de Japón 2 Yoshinari Ogawa Over The Top Rope 6:51
9 Yoshinari Ogawa Stinger 3 Nosawa Rongai Over The Top Rope 7:42
10 Eita Los Perros del Mal de Japón 1 Nosawa Rongai Over The Top Rope 6:49
11 Daisuke Harada Seiki-gun - WINNER - -
12 Kotaro Suzuki Los Perros del Mal de Japón 14 Daisuke Harada Pinfall 24:30
13 Haoh Kongo 11 Daisuke Harada Over The Top Rope 18:18
14 Nioh Kongo 7 Junta Miyawaki Pinfall 14:59
15 Hajime Ohara Seiki-gun 10 Seiki Yoshioka Pinfall 17:33
Winner: Daisuke Harada (3)
Close

2024

The 2024 edition of the tournament premiered under the "N Innovation" banner and took place between October 30 and November 6.[8]

Round 1 Semifinals Final
         
Dragon Bane Pin
Kai Fujimura 13:11[9]
Dragon Bane Pin
Yuto Kikuchi 11:22[9]
Yu Owada 6:37[9]
Yuto Kikuchi Pin
Dragon Bane Pin
Junta Miyawaki 16:20[9]
Amakusa Pin
Tadasuke 8:44[9]
Amakusa 3:18[9]
Junta Miyawaki Pin
Yo-Hey 13:55[9]
Junta Miyawaki Pin

2025

The 2025 edition of the tournament premiered under the "Jr. Grand Prix" banner and will take place between November 8 and 21.[10]

Round 1 Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
        
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Daiki Odashima 12:56[11]
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Ninja Mack 10:50[12]
Ninja Mack Pin
Alejandro 8:29[11]
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Tadasuke 10:11[13]
Daga 9:31[14]
Tadasuke Pin
Tadasuke Pin
Amakusa 14:38[15]
Amakusa Pin
Jun Masaoka 10:31[14]
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Kai Fujimura 14:26[13]
Yuto Kikuchi 11:14[14]
Hayata Sub
Hayata Pin
Eita 14:35[12]
Hajime Ohara 10:24[14]
Eita Pin
Hayata 8:38[13]
Kai Fujimura Pin
Kai Fujimura Pin
Junta Miyawaki 6:53[11]
Kai Fujimura Pin
Shuji Kondo 12:57[15]
Black Menso-re 0:57[11]
Shuji Kondo Pin

References

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