Differ Cup
Encyclopedia
The Differ Cup is a biennial, cross-promotional professional wrestling tournament
in Japan
, contested among several teams of junior heavyweight
tag team
s, each typically representing a particular promotion
. It was first held in 2003, and has since been held in 2005 and 2007. Since the founding of the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance
in 2006, the Differ Cup has been considered a production of the GPWA, with several member promotions participating.
The tournament, featuring 8 teams, is held over two nights at the Tokyo
Differ Ariake
, which the name derives from. The quarterfinals and semifinals are held on the first night, with the finals and third place matches, as well as several non-tournament bouts, contested on the second.
and Naomichi Marufuji
, were also the GHC Junior Heavyweight Champions
; their opponents in the finals, Minoru Fujita
and Ikuto Hidaka
, were the ZERO1-MAX International Lightweight Tag Team Champions
. The following teams were involved:
Professional wrestling tournament
On various occasions in professional wrestling a single-elimination tournament of varying match types are held, often to determine a championship or number-one contendership therein...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, contested among several teams of junior heavyweight
Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a cruiserweight is a wrestler weighing 220 lb and less, sometimes 215. The older term junior heavyweight, which was used to describe the division, is more favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called junior heavyweight titles...
tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
s, each typically representing a particular promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
. It was first held in 2003, and has since been held in 2005 and 2007. Since the founding of the Global Professional Wrestling Alliance
Global Professional Wrestling Alliance
The Global Professional Wrestling Alliance is a cooperative group of professional wrestling promotions and wrestlers from around the world. Formed in 2006, the group was founded by the professional wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa, the founder of Pro Wrestling Noah...
in 2006, the Differ Cup has been considered a production of the GPWA, with several member promotions participating.
The tournament, featuring 8 teams, is held over two nights at the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Differ Ariake
Differ Ariake Arena
is an indoor sporting arena located in the Ariake neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan, next to the Pro Wrestling Noah headquarters office. The capacity of the arena is 1,246 seats and it was opened in 1999...
, which the name derives from. The quarterfinals and semifinals are held on the first night, with the finals and third place matches, as well as several non-tournament bouts, contested on the second.
List of winners
- 2003: Último Dragón and YossinoMasato YoshinoMasato Yoshino is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Dragon Gate wrestling promotion.-Toryumon:...
(Toryumon Japan) - 2005: KentaKenta Kobayashi, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...
and Naomichi MarufujiNaomichi Marufujiis a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling Noah, with occasional appearances in other professional wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, among others. Marufuji is the first of only two Grand Slam Champion in Pro...
(NoahPro Wrestling Noahis a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
) - 2007: Madoka and Kengo MashimoKengo Mashimo, a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Kaientai Dojo. His style is a combination submission wrestling and hard, martial art strikes. He is currently the ace of Kaientai Dojo.- Career :...
(K-DojoKaientai DojoKaientai Dojo is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku....
)
2003
The 2003 Differ Cup was held on February 8 and February 9. It involved the following teams:- KUDO and MIKAMIMikami- People :*Shinji Mikami, creator of the Resident Evil game series, and other notable Capcom titles.*Takayuki Mikami, a Japan Karate Association Instructor who teaches in the United States.*Kyohei Mikami - A wrestler from Shimane...
(DDTDramatic Dream TeamDramatic Dream Team, better known by its initials DDT or its logo reading D2T, is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 1997 by Sanshiro Takagi...
) - Tetsuhiro Kuroda and Chocoball MukaiChocoball MukaiHiroshi "Chocoball" Mukai is a Japanese male pornographic actor and a former professional wrestler.-Life and career:...
(WEW) - Yoshihito Sasaki and Tatsuhito TakaiwaTatsuhito TakaiwaTatsuhito Takaiwa is a Zainichi-Korean professional wrestler. Takaiwa is one of the more well-traveled junior heavyweights in Japan, having wrestled for New Japan, and Zero-One, as well as making special appearances in All Japan and NOAH....
(Zero1-Max) - Masao Orihara and Ikuto HidakaIkuto Hidakais a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Pro Wrestling Zero1. Hidaka was the regular partner of Minoru Fujita, with whom he has held the Zero1-Max International Lightweight Tag Team and Intercontinental Tag Team Titles, making them the only team to do so...
(Michinoku ProMichinoku Pro WrestlingMichinoku Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded by The Great Sasuke in 1993. Michinoku Pro was the first independent wrestling promotion in Japan to not base its operations in Tokyo, but rather in Morioka, Iwate...
) - KentaKenta Kobayashi, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...
and Kotaro SuzukiKotaro SuzukiKotaro Suzuki , born June 18, 1978 in Warabi, Saitama is a professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.- Career :...
(Pro Wrestling NoahPro Wrestling Noahis a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
) - The Great Takeru and Kappa Kozou (IWA Japan)
- Último Dragón and YossinoMasato YoshinoMasato Yoshino is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for the Dragon Gate wrestling promotion.-Toryumon:...
(Toryumon Japan) - Jun KasaiJun Kasaiis a Japanese professional wrestler, primarily competing for Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Dubbed the Crazy Monkey for his violent and oftentimes self-harmful style of hardcore wrestling, Kasai is considered a breakthrough talent in Japanese wrestling, able to work both hardcore and technical styles...
and Gran NaniwaGran Naniwawas a Japanese professional wrestler. Naniwa was known for his comedic gimmick, in which he performed mannerisms of crabs. This was also reflected upon in the design of his wrestling mask.-Career:...
(freelance)
2005
The 2005 Differ Cup was held on May 7 and May 8. The winners, KentaKenta Kobayashi
, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...
and Naomichi Marufuji
Naomichi Marufuji
is a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling Noah, with occasional appearances in other professional wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, among others. Marufuji is the first of only two Grand Slam Champion in Pro...
, were also the GHC Junior Heavyweight Champions
GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship
The Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight wrestlers. It was created on July 16, 2003 when Kenta and Naomichi Marufuji defeated Jushin Liger...
; their opponents in the finals, Minoru Fujita
Minoru Fujita
is a Japanese professional wrestler contracted to Pro Wrestling Zero1, where he is a former AWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, having won a tournament final against Takuya Sugawara.-Career:...
and Ikuto Hidaka
Ikuto Hidaka
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Pro Wrestling Zero1. Hidaka was the regular partner of Minoru Fujita, with whom he has held the Zero1-Max International Lightweight Tag Team and Intercontinental Tag Team Titles, making them the only team to do so...
, were the ZERO1-MAX International Lightweight Tag Team Champions
ZERO1-MAX International Lightweight Tag Team Championship
The NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Zero1, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight The NWA International Lightweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese...
. The following teams were involved:
- Tiger EmperorKotaro SuzukiKotaro Suzuki , born June 18, 1978 in Warabi, Saitama is a professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.- Career :...
and Super ShisaSuper ShisaYoshiyuki Saito is a Japanese professional wrestler best known by his ring name Super Shisa, currently wrestling for Dragon Gate. His gimmick is inspired by the Ryukyuan Shisa...
(freelance) - Takehiro Murahama and Katsuhiko NakajimaKatsuhiko Nakajimais a Japanese professional wrestler, represented as a freelancer by his mentor Kensuke Sasaki's Kensuke Office dojo and agency. He along with Sasaki and other Kensuke Office graduates currently most frequently wrestle in Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the current GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion in...
(freelance) - Minoru FujitaMinoru Fujitais a Japanese professional wrestler contracted to Pro Wrestling Zero1, where he is a former AWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, having won a tournament final against Takuya Sugawara.-Career:...
and Ikuto HidakaIkuto Hidakais a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Pro Wrestling Zero1. Hidaka was the regular partner of Minoru Fujita, with whom he has held the Zero1-Max International Lightweight Tag Team and Intercontinental Tag Team Titles, making them the only team to do so...
(Zero1-Max) - Taka Michinoku and PSYCHOPsychoPsycho is a suspense novel by Robert Bloch. It was adapted into Alfred Hitchcock's seminal 1960 film of the same name.-Plot:Norman Bates is a middle-aged bachelor who is dominated by his mother, a mean-tempered, puritanical old woman who forbids him to have a life away from her...
(K-DOJOKaientai DojoKaientai Dojo is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku....
) - KentaKenta Kobayashi, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...
and Naomichi MarufujiNaomichi Marufujiis a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling Noah, with occasional appearances in other professional wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, among others. Marufuji is the first of only two Grand Slam Champion in Pro...
(NoahPro Wrestling Noahis a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
) - Ibushi KotaIbushi Kotais a Japanese professional wrestler, who currently wrestles for Dramatic Dream Team and New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Career:...
and KUDO (DDTDramatic Dream TeamDramatic Dream Team, better known by its initials DDT or its logo reading D2T, is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 1997 by Sanshiro Takagi...
) - Kaz HayashiKaz HayashiKazuhiro "Kaz" Hayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is working for All Japan Pro Wrestling. He is also the head booker for the company's junior division.-Career:...
and Leonardo SpankyBrian KendrickBrian David Kendrick is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under his real name. Before joining TNA he spent several years wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment, where he wrestled under his name, as Spanky, and finally as "The" Brian Kendrick...
(freelance) - GENTAROGentaroGentarō is a Japanese male personal name, and may refer to:* Kodama Gentarō , Imperial Japanese Army general and Meiji era government official* Yamashita Gentarō , Imperial Japanese Navy admiral...
and Takashi Sasaki (freelance)
2007
The third incarnation of the Differ Cup was held on May 5 and May 6. The event featured the following teams:- Yoshinobu KanemaruYoshinobu KanemaruYoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Kanemaru holds the records for the most reigns for both of Noah's Jr...
and Ippei Ota (NOAHPro Wrestling Noahis a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling ace Mitsuharu Misawa. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan...
) - Madoka and Kengo MashimoKengo Mashimo, a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Kaientai Dojo. His style is a combination submission wrestling and hard, martial art strikes. He is currently the ace of Kaientai Dojo.- Career :...
(K-DOJOKaientai DojoKaientai Dojo is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku....
) - HARASHIMAHarashimaHarashima is a wrestler for Dramatic Dream Team and is in the faction Disaster-Box with Toru Owashi. He is a 4-time KO-D Openweight Champion and five time KO-D Tag Team Champion, currently holding the latter with Minoru Fujita, who is performing under his old Hero! gimmick.-Career:Harashima...
and Ibushi KotaIbushi Kotais a Japanese professional wrestler, who currently wrestles for Dramatic Dream Team and New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Career:...
(DDTDramatic Dream TeamDramatic Dream Team, better known by its initials DDT or its logo reading D2T, is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion founded in 1997 by Sanshiro Takagi...
) - Manabu Hara and Katsumi Usuda (BMLBig Mouth LoudBig Mouth LOUD was a professional wrestling promotion based in Japan. Big Mouth LOUD was based on the style of New Japan Pro Wrestling, but was not officially tied to New Japan...
) - KagetoraFumiyuki Hashimoto, known by his stage name Kagetora , is a Japanese professional wrestler who works for Dragon Gate. He wrestles in independent wrestling leagues all around Japan and has wrestled in the United States for Chikara and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla...
and Banana Senga (El DoradoEl Dorado WrestlingEl Dorado was a Japanese professional wrestling promotion that was seen as the evolution of dragondoor. Most of El Dorado's wrestlers were graduates from Ultimo Dragon's Toryumon Gym, and thus the promotion was based on a Junior Heavyweight style with varying emphasis on high flying maneuvers,...
) - Ikuto HidakaIkuto Hidakais a Japanese professional wrestler, currently performing for Pro Wrestling Zero1. Hidaka was the regular partner of Minoru Fujita, with whom he has held the Zero1-Max International Lightweight Tag Team and Intercontinental Tag Team Titles, making them the only team to do so...
and Osamu Namiguchi (Zero1-Max) - Keizo Matsuda and Kappa Kozou (IWA Japan)
- Black EmperorRicky MarvinRicardo Fuentes Romero is a Mexican professional wrestler, known by his ring name Ricky Marvin and is most known for his work in the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH...
and Pentagon Viper (GPWAGlobal Professional Wrestling AllianceThe Global Professional Wrestling Alliance is a cooperative group of professional wrestling promotions and wrestlers from around the world. Formed in 2006, the group was founded by the professional wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa, the founder of Pro Wrestling Noah...
)