Yoshinobu Kanemaru Pulled From NJPW Best Of The Super Juniors 27

It emerged last week that IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Yoshinobu Kanemaru had suffered a right knee injury. He was subsequently pulled from the Road To Power Struggle shows but no announcement was made about his status for Best Of The Super Juniors 27.

New Japan has now announced Kanemaru has been pulled from the tournament because of his injury. He will be replaced by young lion Yuya Uemura who will face Master Wato on night one of BOSJ 27.

Upon being added to the tournament, Uemura said: "I know that my entry is as a result of Kanemaru's injury, so I can't say I'm delighted, but when I heard the news, I did get fired up.

"Last year I was able to enter the Super Jr. Tag League, and unfortunately I ended on zero points. That was a real let down, and I know it was a disappointment for my partner Tiger Mask. I won't ever live that down. In a league like this, everybody is trying to win. That's what I learned last year in the tag league; I have to be aiming for the top the whole time.

"I've been saying for months now that I want to make it into BoSJ, get results, and then maybe be able to challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Well, I just about achieved the first goal. Now just to get results!"