NJPW Announces KUSHIDA Replacing YOH for Best of the Super Juniors 2024

As noted before, YOH was recently pulled from New Japan Pro Wrestling’s upcoming Best of the Super Juniors 2024 tournament due to him suffering a shoulder injury at their Sakura Genesis 2024 event earlier this month in Japan.

NJPW provided an update earlier today announcing that KUSHIDA will be YOH’s official replacement for their upcoming Best of the Super Juniors 2024 tournament.

Official press release:

KUSHIDA joins Best of the Super Jr. 31!

Time Splitter added to the lineup

After medical appraisals following an injury sustained at Sakura Genesis revealed a dislocated left shoulder and damaged labrum for YOH, an empty position was open for Best of the Super Jr. 31. In a video message released to social media, KUSHIDA declared his intention to join the lineup, something now officially confirmed.

KUSHIDA makes his 11th entry to the BOSJ field and his second consecutive appearance. The 2015 and 2017 tournament winner and six time former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion carries an incredible track record into this tournament, as well as a chip on his shoulder, shaky results in 2023 precluding his initial entry into the running. KUSHIDA will be out to prove a point in the tournament starting May 11, and to get right back into the singles title hunt.