[Results] New Japan, 6/14/09

Koji Kanemoto emerged as the somewhat surprising winner of the 2009 Best of the Super Jr. in a year when young juniors from home and away were emphasized. Kanemoto's third Super Jr. tournament win started with an easy victory over NOAH youngster Atsushi Aoki, who was put through ankle hell to the point that the referee feared for his health and stopped the match. The second semi final was a spectacular air battle between Prince Devitt and Kota Ibushi which was more competitive and ended when Devitt revealed his "new model" ("Shingata") Prince's Throne to advance. Then later in the match the two New Japan juniors, Kanemoto and Devitt, put on a fantastic 20 minute file which both showed Devitt's growth and perhaps Kanemoto's defiance in a year where it seemed he might finally be on the way down. After a Tiger suplex, Kanemoto locked Devitt in his modified ankle hold for the tap out and tournament win. Kanemoto will now go on to challenge old friend Tiger Mask for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title shortly.

Tsuyoshi Kikuchi and Atsushi Aoki stood in the center of the New Japan ring before the show began and held up a photo of the late Mitsuharu Misawa as an image of the legend showed on the monitor. While the two would normally be booed for being hostile outsiders, they were sent warm encouragement from the fans. The fans chanted "Misawa!" after the silent prayer ended and many were in tears remembering the great man. Wrestlers wore black armbands all night in tribute to Misawa.