The Junior League is an annual professional wrestling round-robin tournament held by All Japan Pro Wrestling, to decide the promotion's top junior heavyweight wrestler, as well as the #1 contender to the World Junior Heavyweight Championship. It was established in 1983 as a single-block round-robin tournament then in 2006, it began as a two-block round-robin tournament, in which each block's highest scorers face off in the finals. A victory is worth two points, a draw is worth one, and a loss zero; each match has a thirty-minute time limit. In 2012, the tournament was renamed the "Junior Hyper League". After no tournament took place in 2013, the 2014 tournament was dubbed "Jr. Battle of Glory", being announced to take place in February, instead of its usual place in the summer.
After a break due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the event was stalled and postponed. The tournament returned in 2021 but as a two-day event presenting a 16-man single elimination tournament.
The first winner of the tournament was Chavo Guerrero in 1983 and the latest one is Francesco Akira who won it in June 2021. Kai, Kotaro Suzuki, Shuji Kondo, and Koji Iwamoto are the only wrestlers to hold the title of champions on more than one occasion each.
Results List of winners YearWinnerRef 1983 Chavo Guerrero 1998 Yoshinari Ogawa 2003 Carl Malenko 2006 Kaz Hayashi 2007 Chris Sabin 2008 Kai 2009 Shuji Kondo 2010 Jimmy Yang 2011 Kai 2012 Hiroshi Yamato 2014 Kotaro Suzuki 2015 Kotaro Suzuki 2016 Atsushi Aoki 2017 Koji Iwamoto 2018 Shuji Kondo 2019 Koji Iwamoto 2021 Francesco Akira 2022 Atsuki Aoyagi 2023 Dan Tamura 2025 Atsuki Aoyagi
1983 In 1983, All Japan Pro Wrestling held the "NWA International Junior Heavyweight Title League" between May 12 and 26, 1983. The winner, Chavo Guerrero, also won the vacant NWA International Junior Heavyweight Championship.
+Final standings Wrestler Score Chavo Guerrero 12 Ultra Seven 11 Mike Davis 8 Shiro Koshinaka 4 Mitsuharu Misawa 0 Results ChavoGuerrero MikeDavis MitsuharuMisawa ShiroKoshinaka UltraSeven ChavoGuerrero Guerrero(12:15) Guerrero(6:52) Guerrero(7:45) DoubleCountout(11:10) MikeDavis Guerrero(12:15) Davis(10:11) Davis(10:56) Countout(7:23) MitsuharuMisawa Guerrero(6:52) Davis(10:11) Koshinaka(21:25) Seven(11:26) ShiroKoshinaka Guerrero(7:45) Davis(10:56) Koshinaka(21:25) Seven(11:34) UltraSeven DoubleCountout(11:10) Countout(7:23) Seven(11:26) Seven(11:34)
1998 In 1998, All Japan Pro Wrestling held the "World Junior Heavyweight Title League" between July 6 and 19, 1998. The winner, Yoshinari Ogawa, also won the vacant World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
+Final standings Wrestler Score Yoshinari Ogawa ?? Satoru Asako ?? Tsuyoshi Kikuchi ?? Kentaro Shiga ?? Yoshinobu Kanemaru ??
2003 The 2003 Junior League was held from March 28 to April 10, 2003. The winner, Carl Malenko, went on to unsuccessfully challenge Kendo Kashin for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship on April 12, 2003.
+Final standings Wrestler Score Carl Malenko 8 Jimmy Yang 8 Kaz Hayashi 6 Gran Hamada 4 Ryuji Hijikata 2 Gran Naniwa 0
Results Malenko Hamada Naniwa Yang Hayashi Hijikata Malenko Malenko(6:25) Malenko(6:45) Malenko(7:53) Hayashi(11:01) Malenko(6:16) Hamada Malenko(6:25) Hamada(8:27) Yang(9:34) Hayashi(12:15) Hamada(8:56) Naniwa Malenko(6:45) Hamada(8:27) Yang(10:17) Hayashi(9:46) Hijikata(10:30) Yang Malenko(7:53) Yang(9:34) Yang(10:17) Yang(8:47) Yang(7:42) Hayashi Hayashi(11:01) Hayashi(12:15) Hayashi(9:46) Yang(8:47) Hijikata(11:20) Hijikata Malenko(6:16) Hamada(8:56) Hijikata(10:30) Yang(7:42) Hijikata(11:20)
2006 The 2006 Junior League was held from June 25 to July 3 over six shows and featured two blocks of four. Foreign participation included Taka Michinoku from Kaientai Dojo and Virus from Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. The winner, Kaz Hayashi, won every match he participated in; he went on to fail in his challenge to Junior Heavyweight champion Shuji Kondo on August 27. Note that "brother" YASSHI wrestled as "strong" YASSHI for two of his matches. +Final standings Block A Block B Kaz Hayashi 6 Katsuhiko Nakajima 5 Taka Michinoku 4 Katsushi Takemura 4 Ryuji Hijikata 2 Virus 2 "brother" Yasshi 0 Mazada 1 Block A Hayashi Hijikata Michinoku Yasshi Hayashi Hayashi(13:32) Hayashi(28:05) Hayashi(3:28) Hijikata Hayashi(13:32) Michinoku(13:46) Hijikata(3:24) Michinoku Hayashi(28:05) Michinoku(13:46) Michinoku(1:54) Yasshi Hayashi(3:28) Hijikata(3:24) Michinoku(1:54) Block B Mazada Nakajima Takemura Virus Mazada Draw(30:00) Takemura(13:58) Virus(12:53) Nakajima Draw(30:00) Nakajima(14:17) Nakajima(11:01) Takemura Takemura(13:58) Nakajima(14:17) Takemura(10:32) Virus Virus(12:53) Nakajima(11:01) Takemura(10:32)
2007 The 2007 Junior League, was held from June 24 to July 1 over six shows, involving two blocks of five. Foreign participation included Chris Sabin from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Unlike the previous year, the Junior Heavyweight champion, Katsuhiko Nakajima, was allowed to compete. +Final standings Block A Block B Shuji Kondo 6 Chris Sabin 6 Ryuji Hijikata 4 Dick Togo 5 Katsuhiko Nakajima 4 Miguel Hayashi, Jr. 4 Pepe Michinoku 4 Akira 3 El NOSAWA Mendoza 2 "brother" Yasshi 2 Block A Hijikata Kondo Mendoza Michinoku Nakajima Hijikata Kondo(9:28) Mendoza(10:40) Hijikata(0:43) Hijikata(12:22) Kondo Kondo(9:28) Kondo(7:08) Michinoku(0:24) Kondo(19:47) Mendoza Mendoza(10:40) Kondo(7:08) Michinoku(7:45) Nakajima(10:49) Michinoku Hijikata(0:43) Michinoku(0:24) Michinoku(7:45) Nakajima(19:05) Nakajima Hijikata(12:22) Kondo(19:47) Nakajima(10:49) Nakajima(19:05) Block B Akira Hayashi Sabin Togo Yasshi Akira Akira(19:24) Sabin(12:33) Draw(30:00) Yasshi(16:44) Hayashi Akira(19:24) Hayashi(12:57) Togo(18:35) Hayashi(9:27) Sabin Sabin(12:33) Hayashi(12:57) Sabin(14:43) Sabin(8:28) Togo Draw(30:00) Togo(18:35) Sabin(14:43) Togo(8:28) Yasshi Yasshi(16:44) Hayashi(9:27) Sabin(8:28) Togo(8:28)
2008 The 2008 Junior League featured two blocks of five and is being held from July 20 to August 3 over nine shows. +Final standings Block A Block B Kai 5 Silver King 6 Mazada 4 Takemura 4 El Samurai 4 Kaz Hayashi 4 Shuji Kondo 4 Phil Atlas 3 Ryuji Hijikata 3 T28 3 Block A Hijikata Kai Kondo Mazada Samurai Hijikata Draw(30:00) Kondo(0:33) Hijikata(14:24) Samurai(10:58) Kai Draw(30:00) Kondo(18:49) Kai(9:48) Kai(11:51) Shuji Kondo Kondo(0:33) Kondo(18:49) Mazada(16:32) Samurai(10:03) MAZADA Hijikata(14:24) Kai(9:48) Mazada(16:32) Mazada(16:22) Samurai Samurai(10:58) Kai(11:51) Samurai(10:03) Mazada(16:22) Block B Atlas Hayashi King T28 Takemura Atlas Atlas(10:45) King(11:33) Draw(30:00) Takemura(13:54) Hayashi Atlas(10:45) Hayashi(14:20) Hayashi(13:52) Takemura(13:24) King King(11:33) Hayashi(14:20) King(10:10) King(14:03) T28 Draw(30:00) Hayashi(13:52) King(10:10) T28(16:32) Takemura Takemura(13:54) Takemura(13:24) King(14:03) T28(16:32)
2009 The 2009 Junior League featured two blocks of five and is being held from July 26 to August 7 over eight shows. Foreign participants included Petey Williams and Super Crazy. The winner, Shuji Kondo, went on to fail in his challenge to Junior Heavyweight champion Kaz Hayashi on August 30. +Final standings Block A Block B Kai 6 Minoru 8 Super Crazy 5 Shuji Kondo 6 Kaz Hayashi 3 Petey Williams 2 Nosawa Rongai 2 Mazada 2 Toshizo 0 Hiroshi Yamato 2 Block A Kai Hayashi Rongai Crazy Toshizo Kai Kai(12:02) Nosawa(12:23) Kai(11:11) Kai(10:30) Hayashi Kai(12:00) Hayashi(24:47) Draw(30:00) DCO(12:29) Rongai Nosawa(12:23) Hayashi(24:47) Crazy(8:37) DDQ(9:54) Crazy Kai(11:11) Draw(30:00) Crazy(8:37) Crazy(11:31) Toshizo Kai(10:30) DCO(12:29) DDQ(9:54) Crazy(11:31) Block B Yamato Mazada Minoru Williams Kondo Yamato Mazada(11:55) Minoru(11:27) Yamato(11:11) Kondo(9:06) Mazada Mazada(11:55) Minoru(10:26) Williams(6:55) Kondo(8:58) Minoru Minoru(11:27) Minoru(10:26) Minoru(11:15) Minoru(19:10) Williams Yamato(11:11) Williams(6:55) Minoru(11:15) Kondo(11:21) Kondo Kondo(9:06) Kondo(8:58) Minoru(19:10) Kondo(11:21)
2010 The 2010 Junior League featured two blocks of six and was held from July 25 to August 8 over nine shows. The winner, Jimmy Yang, went on to unsuccessfully challenge Kaz Hayashi for the World Junior Heavyweight Championship on August 29, 2010. +Final standings Block A Block B Minoru 8 Kai 8 Hiroshi Yamato 6 Jimmy Yang 6 Kaz Hayashi 5 Bushi 4 Super Crazy 5 Mazada 4 Hikaru Sato 4 Shuji Kondo 4 Antonio Thomas 2 Taka Michinoku 4 Block A Thomas Sato Yamato Hayashi Minoru Crazy Thomas Thomas(8:42) Yamato(11:15) Hayashi(14:46) Tanaka(10:49) Crazy(7:38) Sato Thomas(8:42) Sato(8:42) Hayashi(9:35) Tanaka(8:09) Sato(10:01) Yamato Yamato(11:15) Sato(8:42) Yamato(12:55) Minoru(10:54) Yamato(Forfeit) Hayashi Hayashi(14:46) Sato(9:35) Yamato(12:55) Minoru(15:03) Draw(30:00) Minoru Tanaka(10:49) Tanaka(8:09) Tanaka(10:54) Hayashi(15:03) Crazy(7:34) Crazy Crazy(7:38) Sato(10:01) Yamato(Forfeit) Draw(30:00) Crazy(7:34) Block B Bushi Yang Kai MAZADA Kondo Michinoku Bushi Bushi(7:03) Kai(13:17) Bushi(4:49) Kondo(13:24) Michinoku(10:51) Yang Bushi(7:03) Kai(8:29) Yang(10:00) Yang(6:25) Yang(8:36) Kai Kai(13:17) Kai(8:29) Kai(Forfeit) Kai(9:22) Michinoku(8:55) Mazada Bushi(4:49) Yang(10:00) Kai(Forfeit) Mazada(9:15) Mazada(6:18) Kondo Kondo(13:24) Yang(6:52) Kai(9:22) Mazada(9:15) Kondo(10:03) Michinoku Michinoku(10:51) Yang(8:36) Michinoku(8:55) Mazada(6:18) Kondo(10:03)
2011 The 2011 Junior League featured two blocks of six and was held from September 11 to September 25 over nine shows. With his win, KAI became the first person to have won the tournament twice. +Final standings Block A Block B Kai 7 Koji Kanemoto 8 Kenny Omega 6 Shuji Kondo 6 Minoru 5 Jimmy Yang 6 Black Bushi 4 Hiroshi Yamato 4 Bushi 4 Hikaru Sato 4 Kaz Hayashi 4 Mazada 2 Block A B. Bushi Bushi Kai hayashi Omega Minoru B. Bushi B. Bushi(4:15) Kai(7:05) B. Bushi(10:15) Omega(11:07) Minoru(10:26) Bushi B. Bushi(4:15) Kai(10:30) Bushi(11:51) Omega(8:59) Bushi(15:08) Kai Kai(7:05) Kai(10:30) Kai(14:01) Omega(18:07) Draw(30:00) Hayashi B. Bushi(10:15) Bushi(11:51) Kai(14:01) Hayashi(13:43) Hayashi(12:21) Omega Omega(11:07) Omega(8:59) Omega(18:07) Hayashi(13:43) Minoru(16:52) Minoru Minoru(10:26) Bushi(15:08) Draw(30:00) Hayashi(12:21) Minoru(16:52) Block B Sato Yamato Yang Kanemoto Mazada Kondo Sato Yamato(13:39) Sato(8:32) Kanemoto(10:32) Sato(9:42) Kondo(9:30) Yamato Yamato(13:39) Yang(9:43) Kanemoto(9:31) Yamato(12:46) Kondo(10:55) Yang Sato(8:32) Yang(9:43) Yang(11:45) Yang(7:27) Kondo(7:58) Kanemoto Kanemoto(10:32) Kanemoto(9:31) Yang(11:45) Kanemoto(10:37) Kanemoto(13:28) Mazada Sato(9:42) Yamato(12:46) Yang(7:27) Kanemoto(10:37) Mazada(2:11) Konso Kondo(9:30) Kondo(10:55) Kondo(7:58) Kanemoto(13:28) Mazada(2:11)
2012 The 2012 Junior League, dubbed "Junior Hyper League", featured two blocks of six and was held from July 15 to July 29 over ten shows. +Final standings Block A Block B Koji Kanemoto 8 Shuji Kondo 7 Kai 6 Hiroshi Yamato 7 Hikaru Sato 5 Kaz Hayashi 6 Minoru Tanaka 5 Sushi 6 Mazada 4 Gillette 2 Aegyptus Aerial 2 Andy Wu 0