Top 10: Power Players and Shock Collapses in NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33

The Big Picture

The NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 33 has reached a boiling point as the tournament moves past its sixth night of action. On the day of AEW's Double or Nothing, the wrestling world's spotlight is firmly shared with Himeji, where the junior heavyweight division has exploded. As F4WOnline detailed, the action has completely shattered the pre-tournament brackets, leaving former champions fighting for survival on the bubble.

The Power Rankings

1. Titan (A Block)

Titan reigns supreme at the apex of A Block. While the rest of the locker room trades losses, the Mexican sensation sits on a flawless 5-0 record with a commanding 10 points. His high-flying mastery was fully showcased in Osaka during night five, where he systematically dismantled veteran Ryusuke Taguchi to keep his sheet clean. No one in either block has matched his pace or precision. He is the clear tournament favorite, operating on a completely different plane than his peers.

2. El Desperado (B Block)

El Desperado proved his elite standing by snatching a vital win over rival SHO on night six. The victory snapped a tense deadlock, propelling Desperado into a massive five-way tie for first place at six points. While his 3-2 record is not immaculate, his poise under pressure remains his ultimate weapon. He wrestled with clinical efficiency, shutting down the typical House of Torture antics before they could ruin the match. He is the glue holding the junior heavyweight division together right now.

3. Jun Kasai (A Block)

Jun Kasai remains the absolute focal point of A Block despite a shocking setback. In Himeji on night six, the deathmatch icon constructed a terrifying structure of chairs outside the ring that he proudly dubbed Himeji Castle. Though he lost the bout, his sheer creativity and willingness to push physical limits have defined the tour's narrative. He previously secured a hard-fought victory over Robbie X on night five to maintain his position in the hunt at six points. He is a dangerous wild card who makes every opponent sweat.

4. YOH (B Block)

YOH still shares the top spot in B Block, but his momentum took a severe beating in Himeji. Headlining night six, he dropped a grueling main event to Robbie Eagles that exposed defensive gaps in his game. Before this stumble, his crisp offense had him positioned as the block's most dangerous threat. He sits tied at six points, but the loss puts his direct tiebreaker status in immediate jeopardy. He must recover his footing quickly or risk falling out of playoff contention entirely.

5. Taiji Ishimori (B Block)

Taiji Ishimori delivered the most satisfying tactical performance of night six. By conquering the master of dirty tactics, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Ishimori officially broke the infamous Kanemaru curse that has plagued him for years. This vital win elevated him to six points, firmly cementing his place in the B Block lead pack. The veteran's offense looked incredibly sharp, executing rapid counters and showing zero physical fatigue. He has quietly positioned himself as the most dangerous tactician in the tournament.

6. Robbie Eagles (B Block)

Robbie Eagles saved his entire tournament from the scrapheap on night six. Entering the main event in Himeji with his back firmly against the wall, the sniper delivered a masterclass to upset YOH. The win dragged Eagles up to four points, keeping him within striking distance of the five-way tie at the top. Had he lost, his tournament would have been functionally dead with only four points remaining on the table. Instead, he proved why his resilient spirit and technical precision make him a championship threat.

7. Valiente Jr. (A Block)

Valiente Jr. pulled off the single biggest upset of the tournament by defeating Jun Kasai on May 23, 2026. Entering Himeji Castle as a heavy underdog, he braved Kasai's brutal environment and turned the legend's own signature skewers against him. The victory was a massive statement of intent, pushing his tally to four points in A Block. While he previously suffered a tough loss to Francesco Akira on night five, this historic triumph completely erases that disappointment. He has shown he can survive the absolute ugliest fights.

8. Daisuke Sasaki (B Block)

Daisuke Sasaki remains tied for the B Block lead, but his aura of invincibility was shattered on night six. He fell victim to a massive upset against Jakob Austin Young, a result that sent shockwaves through the locker room. Sasaki's calculated style was completely disrupted by Young's relentless energy and unpredictable pacing. Despite the loss, Sasaki's early dominance keeps him afloat at six points. However, this defeat exposes a blueprint that other opponents will surely try to replicate.

9. KUSHIDA (B Block)

KUSHIDA is enduring a nightmare tournament that has officially pushed him to the bubble of elimination. His night six defeat at the hands of Hyo was a devastating blow, leaving the legendary six-time champion stranded at a miserable 1-4 record. With only two points to his name, his path to the semifinals is now practically blocked. His veteran instincts have looked sluggish, failing to counter the raw speed of younger competitors. It is a shocking decline for one of the greatest junior heavyweights of all time.

10. Nick Wayne (A Block)

Nick Wayne continues to prove he belongs among the elite, sitting comfortably at six points in A Block. The teenage phenom secured a vital victory over Daiki Nagai on night five to keep his tournament aspirations alive. While his tag team defeat alongside Tiger Mask on night six showed he still has defensive vulnerabilities, his singles form remains highly impressive. He has played his role with a cocky confidence that rubs veterans the wrong way. His ceiling is limitless, but he must avoid rookie mistakes in the final stretch.

Honorable Mentions

Several wrestlers are right on the cusp of breaking into the top tier. Master Wato has quietly built a strong campaign in A Block, sitting at six points after a clinical victory over Kosei Fujita on night five. Meanwhile, Jakob Austin Young deserves massive credit for his shocking upset of Daisuke Sasaki, proving he can play spoiler against the division's biggest heels.

On the flip side, we must address the abysmal performance of Daiki Nagai, who sits at a disastrous 0-5 record with zero points. Nagai has looked completely out of his depth in every single outing, raising serious questions about his inclusion in this year's tournament. If New Japan wanted to test their young lion under the bright lights, this trial by fire has only resulted in third-degree burns.