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.
List of winners Global Junior Heavyweight League 2009: Yoshinobu Kanemaru 2015: Daisuke Harada 2018: Kotaro Suzuki 2019: Hayata 2020: Daisuke Harada (2)
Jr. Rumble 2020: Atsushi Kotoge 2021: Hayata (2) 2022: Daisuke Harada (3)
N Innovation 2024: Dragon Bane
Jr. Grand Prix 2025: Hiromu Takahashi
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. +Final standings Block A Block B Katsuhiko Nakajima 6 Jyushin Thunder Liger 5 Kotaro Suzuki 5 Yoshinobu Kanemaru 4 Delirious 4 Atsushi Aoki 3 Kenta 3 Taiji Ishimori 2 Ricky Marvin 2 Genba Hirayanagi 0 Block A Delirious Katsuhiko Nakajima Kenta Kotaro Suzuki Ricky Marvin Delirious Nakajima (15:05) Delirious (18:54) Suzuki (13:52) Delirious (14:20) Katsuhiko Nakajima Nakajima (15:05) Draw (30:00) Draw (30:00) Nakajima (12:07) Kenta Delirious (18:54) Draw (30:00) Suzuki (17:28) Kenta (1:59) Kotaro Suzuki Suzuki (13:52) Draw (30:00) Suzuki (17:28) Marvin (9:04) Ricky Marvin Delirious (14:20) Nakajima(12:07) Kenta (1:59) Marvin (9:04) Block B Atsushi Aoki Genba Hirayanagi Jyushin Thunder Liger Taiji Ishimori Yoshinobu Kanemaru Atsushi Aoki Aoki (13:11) Draw (30:00) Ishimori (13:54) Kanemaru (17:32) Genba Hirayanagi Aoki (13:11) Double countout (9:19) Double countout (7:09) Double countout (7:45) Jyushin Thunder Liger Draw (30:00) Double countout (9:19) Liger (13:08) Liger (14:45) Taiji Ishimori Ishimori (13:54) Double countout (7:09) Liger (13:08) Kanemaru (15:56) Yoshinobu Kanemaru Kanemaru (17:32) Double countout (7:45) Liger (14:45) Kanemaru (15:56)
2015 The second tournament, now named Global Junior Heavyweight League, took place from July 18 to August 5, 2015.
+Final standings Block A Block B Daisuke Harada 10 Atsushi Kotoge 8 El Desperado 8 Taiji Ishimori 8 Kenoh 8 Bengala 6 Zack Sabre Jr. 8 Hajime Ohara 6 Yoshinari Ogawa 6 Super Crazy 6 Sho Tanaka 2 Taka Michinoku 6 Hitoshi Kumano 0 Genba Hirayanagi 2 Block A Daisuke Harada El Desperado Hitoshi Kumano Kenoh Sho Tanaka Yoshinari Ogawa Zack Sabre Jr. Daisuke Harada Harada (5:23) Harada (10:06) Harada (13:29) Harada (8:33) Harada (11:58) Sabre (12:12) El Desperado Harada (5:23) Desperado (7:53) Desperado (13:31) Desperado (10:19) Ogawa (1:05) Desperado (11:06) Hitoshi Kumano Harada (10:06) Desperado (7:53) Kenoh (9:03) Tanaka (9:01) Ogawa (8:41) Sabre (9:47) Kenoh Harada (13:29) Desperado (13:31) Kenoh (9:03) Kenoh (13:50) Kenoh (13:28) Kenoh (7:33) Sho Tanaka Harada (8:33) Desperado (10:19) Tanaka (9:01) Kenoh (13:50) Ogawa (3:32) Sabre (10:07) Yoshinari Ogawa Harada (11:58) Ogawa (1:05) Ogawa (8:41) Kenoh (13:28) Ogawa (3:32) Sabre (11:46) Zack Sabre Jr. Sabre (12:12) Desperado (11:06) Sabre (9:47) Kenoh (7:33) Sabre (10:07) Sabre (11:46) Block B Atsushi Kotoge Bengala Genba Hirayanagi Hajime Ohara Super Crazy Taiji Ishimori Taka Michinoku Atsushi Kotoge Kotoge (8:49) Kotoge (8:36) Ohara (12:41) Crazy (11:05) Kotoge (14:58) Kotoge (10:44) Bengala Kotoge (8:49) Hirayanagi (6:22) Bengala (6:15) Bengala (3:24) Ishimori (10:48) Bengala (7:40) Genba Hirayanagi Kotoge (8:36) Hirayanagi (6:22) Ohara (8:29) Crazy (5:29) Ishimori (7:44) Michinoku (7:33) Hajime Ohara Ohara (12:41) Bengala (6:15) Ohara (8:29) Crazy (10:16) Ishimori (7:15) Ohara (11:31) Super Crazy Crazy (11:05) Bengala (3:24) Crazy (5:29) Crazy (10:16) Ishimori (12:27) Michinoku (8:26) Taiji Ishimori Kotoge (14:58) Ishimori (10:48) Ishimori (7:44) Ishimori (7:15) Ishimori (12:27) Michinoku (9:07) Taka Michinoku Kotoge (10:44) Bengala (7:40) Michinoku (7:33) Ohara (11:31) Michinoku (8:26) Michinoku (9:07)
2018 The third tournament took place from September 8 to October 4, 2018.
+Final standings Block A Block B Kotaro Suzuki 8 Yo-Hey 8 Daisuke Harada 6 Ikuto Hidaka 7 Hitoshi Kumano 6 Hi69 6 Tadasuke 6 Minoru Tanaka 6 Seiya Morohashi 2 Hayata 3 Hajime Ohara 2 Junta Miyawaki 0 Block A Daisuke Harada Hajime Ohara Hitoshi Kumano Kotaro Suzuki Seiya Morohashi Tadasuke Daisuke Harada Harada (19:04) Harada (12:06) Suzuki (16:31) Harada (8:47) Tadasuke (15:31) Hajime Ohara Harada (19:04) Kumano (12:24) Ohara (10:11) Morohashi (10:05) Tadasuke (6:54) Hitoshi Kumano Harada (12:06) Kumano (12:24) Suzuki (14:33) Kumano (11:52) Kumano (9:59) Kotaro Suzuki Suzuki (16:31) Ohara (10:11) Suzuki (14:33) Suzuki (9:19) Suzuki (10:18) Seiya Morohashi Harada (8:47) Morohashi (10:05) Kumano (11:52) Suzuki (9:19) Tadasuke (9:53) Tadasuke Tadasuke (15:31) Tadasuke (6:54) Kumano (9:59) Suzuki (10:18) Tadasuke (9:53) Block B Hayata Hi69 Ikuto Hidaka Junta Miyawaki Minoru Tanaka Yo-Hey Hayata Hi69 (9:35) Hidaka (11:11) Hayata (4:45) Tanaka (11:33) Draw (12:36) Hi69 Hi69 (9:35) Hidaka (14:47) Hi69 (2:49) Hi69 (19:41) Yo-Hey (13:11) Ikuto Hidaka Hidaka (11:11) Hidaka (14:47) Hidaka (8:03) Tanaka (12:38) Draw (30:00) Junta Miyawaki Hayata (4:45) Hi69 (2:49) Hidaka (8:03) Tanaka (5:55) Yo-Hey (8:02) Minoru Tanaka Tanaka (11:33) Hi69 (19:41) Tanaka (12:38) Tanaka (5:55) Yo-Hey (14:57) Yo-Hey Draw (12:36) Yo-Hey (13:11) Draw (30:00) Yo-Hey (8:02) Yo-Hey (14:57)
2019 The fourth Global Junior Heavyweight League took place from June 27 to July 27, 2019.
+Current standings Block A Block BTadasuke8Hayata7Yo-Hey6Kotaro Suzuki7Yoshinari Ogawa6Chris Ridgeway6Daisuke Harada5Hajime Ohara4Minoru Tanaka5Hi694Junta Miyawaki0Hitoshi Kumano2 Block A Daisuke Harada Junta Miyawaki Minoru Tanaka Tadasuke Yo-Hey Yoshinari OgawaDaisuke Harada Harada (6:52) Draw (30:00) Tadasuke (15:01) Harada (15:20) Ogawa (9:47)Junta MiyawakiHarada (6:52) Tanaka (8:43) Tadasuke (8:57) Yo-Hey (8:57) Ogawa (9:54)Minoru TanakaDraw (30:00) Tanaka (8:43) Tadasuke (10:14) Yo-Hey (12:40) Tanaka (11:33)Tadasuke Tadasuke (15:01) Tadasuke (8:57) Tadasuke (10:14) Tadasuke (10:41) Ogawa (13:19)Yo-Hey Harada (15:20) Yo-Hey (8:57) Yo-Hey (12:40) Tadasuke (10:41) Yo-Hey (14:14)Yoshinari Ogawa Ogawa (9:47) Ogawa (9:54) Tanaka (11:33) Ogawa (13:19) Yo-Hey (14:14) Block B Chris Ridgeway Hajime Ohara Hayata Hi69 Hitoshi Kumano Kotaro SuzukiChris Ridgeway Ohara (9:20) Hayata (14:30) Ridgeway (13:08) Ridgeway (10:01) Ridgeway (8:38)Hajime Ohara Ohara (9:20) Hayata (15:59) Ohara (10:20) Kumano (13:35) Suzuki (10:09)Hayata Hayata (14:30) Hayata (15:59) Hi69 (11:27) Hayata (11:01) Draw (30:00)Hi69 Ridgeway (13:08) Ohara (10:20) Hi69 (11:27) Hi69 (9:39) Suzuki (8:59)Hitoshi KumanoRidgeway (10:01) Kumano (13:35) Hayata (11:01) Hi69 (9:39) Suzuki (10:32)Kotaro Suzuki Ridgeway (8:38) Suzuki (10:09) Draw (30:00) Suzuki (8:59) Suzuki (10:32)
2020 The 2020 Global Junior Heavyweight League, featuring 4 blocks took place between January 10 and January 30.
+Final standings Block A Block B Block C Block D Yoshinari Ogawa 4 Dick Togo 4 Hajime Ohara 4 Daisuke Harada 4 Hayata 2 Kotaro Suzuki 4 Atsushi Kotoge 4 Minoru Tanaka 3 Nosawa Rongai 2 Tadasuke 2 Yo-Hey 2 Nio 3 Junta Miyawaki 0 Hao 2 Hitoshi Kumano 2 Chris Ridgeway 2
Block A Hayata YoshinariOgawaNosawaRongai JuntaMiyawaki Hayata Ogawa(18:33) DoubleCountout(6:43) Hayata(9:48) YoshinariOgawa Ogawa(18:33) DoubleCountout(10:29) Ogawa(8:08) NosawaRongaiDoubleCountout(6:43) DoubleCountout(10:29) Nosawa(9:23) JuntaMiyawaki Hayata(9:48) Ogawa(8:08) Nosawa(9:23) Block B KotaroSuzuki Tadasuke Hao DickTogo KotaroSuzuki Suzuki(7:39) Suzuki(9:20) Togo(15:09) Tadasuke Suzuki(7:39) Tadasuke(7:49) Tadasuke(12:46) Hao Suzuki(9:20) Tadasuke(7:49) Togo(9:21) DickTogo Togo(15:09) Tadasuke(12:46) Togo(9:21) Block C AtsushiKotoge Yo-Hey HajimeOhara HitoshiKumano AtsushiKotoge Kotoge(15:41) Ohara(14:20) Kotoge(10:56) Yo-Hey Kotoge(15:41) Ohara(13:49) Yo-Hey(13:53) HajimeOharaOhara(14:20) Ohara(13:49) Kumano(13:39) HitoshiKumano Kotoge(10:56) Yo-Hey(13:53) Kumano(13:39) Block D DaisukeHarada ChrisRidgeway MinoruTanaka Nio DaisukeHarada Harada(10:56) Draw(30:00) Draw(30:00) ChrisRidgeway Harada(10:56) Tanaka(11:34) Ridgeway(13:39) MinoruTanaka Draw(30:00) Tanaka(11:34) Nio(14:24) Nio Draw(30:00) Ridgeway(13:39) Nio(14:24)
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. EntryWrestlerUnitOrderEliminated byMethodTime ofeliminationDaisuke HaradaMomo no Seishun11/12HayataOver The Top Rope22:00Yo-HeyFull Throttle11/12HayataOver The Top Rope22:00TadasukeKongo7NiohOver The Top Rope16:22HayataStinger13Atsushi KotogePinfall24:32Nosawa RongaiSugiura-gun5Atsushi KotogePinfall14:59Junta MiyawakiMomo no Seishun6TadasukePinfall15:33Yoshinari OgawaStinger1HimselfAbandoned the match.5:498Seiki YoshiokaFull Throttle4Nosawa RongaiPinfall12:599Kaz HayashiSugiura-gun3Seiki YoshiokaOver The Top Rope12:3510HaohKongo9HayataPinfall18:1811NiohKongo10Daisuke HaradaPinfall19:4712Hajime OharaFull Throttle2Kaz HayashiPinfall12:1413Kotaro SuzukiStinger8HaohPinfall17:2914Atsushi KotogeMomo no Seishun -WINNER - -Winner:Atsushi Kotoge
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. It was part of Noah Cage War 2021. The Rumble had 15 participants, 1 more than the previous year. The winner, Hayata, 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. EntryWrestlerUnitOrderEliminated byMethodTime ofeliminationDaisuke HaradaSeiki gun / Momo no Seishun2HayataOver The Top Rope17:26Nosawa RongaiLos Perros del Mal de Japón1Yoshinari OgawaOver The Top Rope17:26EitaLos Perros del Mal de Japón8Yoshinari OgawaOver The Top Rope23:55Seiki YoshiokaStinger11Yo-HeyOver The Top Rope25:25Junta MiyawakiSeiki-gun7EitaPinfall23:13Yo-HeyLos Perros del Mal de Japón14HayataPinfall35:00-9HaohKongo4Junta MiyawakiPinfall21:11TadasukeKongo10Seiki YoshiokaPinfall24:51NiohKongo5Junta MiyawakiOver The Top Rope21:4110Hajime OharaSeiki-gun3HaohPinfall20:2611Yuya SusumuStinger9TadasukePinfall24:2012Ikuto HidakaLos Perros del Mal de Japón6Yuya SusumuPinfall22:2613Kotaro SuzukiLos Perros del Mal de Japón13HayataPinfall26:5214-15HayataStinger -WINNER - -Yoshinari OgawaStinger12Kotaro Suzuki, Nosawa Rongai & Yo-HeyOver The Top Rope26:01Winner:Hayata (2)
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 defeated Hayata for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship the next night.