A new All Together event has been announced for May.
United Japan Pro Wrestling, an alliance of Japanese promotions featuring NJPW, announced early Tuesday in a press conference that an All Together event will be held on May 6 at Nippon Budokan. NJPW, Pro Wrestling NOAH, DDT, Dragon Gate, Big Japan Pro Wrestling, and Stardom will be participating.
All Together will be broadcast on Abema pay-per-view, with international details and English purchase information to follow.
The following matches have been announced:
Shota Umino (NJPW), Kaito Kiyomiya (NOAH) and Yuki Ueno (DDT) vs. Yuya Uemura (NJPW), Konosuke Takeshita (AEW/DDT) and Shun Skywalker (Dragon Gate)
Tomohiro Ishii (NJPW) and Daisuke Sekimoto (BJPW) vs. Jeff Cobb (NJPW) and Masa Kitamiya (NOAH)
Hiroshi Tanahashi (NJPW), Sanshiro Takagi (DDT), and Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH) vs. EVIL, Ren Narita, and Yujiro Takahashi (NJPW)
The full title of the event is All Together: United Japan Pro-Wrestling Inauguration & Noto Earthquake Benefit Event. A portion of the proceeds will go to those recovering in the Noto region of Japan from an earthquake that struck on January 1.
A second event will take place on June 15 in Sapporo that will focus on promotions unable to participate in the May event.
Great-O-Khan and Tanga Loa have chosen stipulations for their upcoming KOPW match.
Khan is scheduled to defend his interim KOPW title against Loa in Hamamatsu on Sunday. As per the championship rules, both competitors have submitted their proposed match stipulations for fans to vote on in a social media poll.
Loa was represented by Jado at a press conference on March 25. His camp has proposed a “King of Kaiju” match.
Much like a classical Texas Deathmatch, the bout will see competitors look to score a pinfall, after which a ten count will be applied, the last standing being the winner
Khan reportedly commented, “That’s something an ape would think up” upon hearing the proposed stipulation.
Khan then stated he wants to bring “renewed interest in NJPW events in local areas of Japan” before proposing a “Rural Revitalization Match in Hamamatsu.” The match type follows best-two-of-three falls rules, with the second fall promoting Hamamatsu’s local cuisine.
The NJPW star wrote on X Saturday night that he was retired, saying it “sucks”.
“Yeah I’m retired and it sucks now leave me the f*** alone,” he wrote. “Actually I have some merch and gear to sell still so don’t f*** off just yet.”
Coughlin, 30, is part of Bullet Club War Dogs and is a former NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champion with Gabe Kidd. His last match with NJPW took place on February 11, where he teamed with the rest of the War Dogs stable in a winning effort against Will Ospreay and the rest of the the United Empire in a cage match that served as Ospreay’s final match as a NJPW talent.
Beginning his wrestling career in 2018 for New York Wrestling Connection, he started with NJPW later that year and began training as a young lion. He graduated from that career phase in 2021 and started wrestling as The Android. In June of last year, he and Gabe Kidd joined Bullet Club and won the Strong Tag Team titles from Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI. They lost the titles later that year to the Guerrillas of Destiny.
A title match is set to take place on NJPW’s Road to Sakura Genesis tour.
NJPW has announced that Great-O-Khan will defend his KOPW 2024 Championship against Tanga Loa in Hamamatsu on Sunday, March 31. It’s a Road to Sakura Genesis event that will not be airing live on NJPW World.
The stipulation options for the match have not been revealed yet. In KOPW title matches, the competitors each propose a rule set for the match. A fan vote then determines which stipulation the match is held under.
NJPW wrote:
Since winning the championship during the Road to New Beginning, O-Khan has stated loud and proud that he would be taking the title to be defended around the country and not simply at the big tour ending dates. True to his word, this KOPW title match is set for March 31’s Road To live event, and the only way to watch the match as it happens will be in person at the venue. What rules will the competitors choose, and how will the bout play out?
Great-O-Khan has been provisional KOPW Champion since winning the title from Taiji Ishimori this January. Taichi had ended 2023 as the official KOPW Champion for that year.
Loa defeated Great-O-Khan when they faced off in the first round of the New Japan Cup. Loa later challenged Great-O-Khan to this KOPW title bout.
New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced the full card for Sakura Genesis.
The event takes place on Saturday, April 6 at Ryogoku Sumo Hall. The main event will see New Japan Cup winner Yota Tsuji challenge his LIJ teammate Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Also on the card, Jon Moxley will team with Shota Umino and face House of Torture’s Jack Perry & Ren Narita.
NJPW Sakura Genesis 2024 full card —
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito defends against Yota Tsuji
NEVER Openweight Champion EVIL defends against Shingo Takagi
Jon Moxley & Shota Umino vs. Jack Perry & Ren Narita
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion SHO defends against YOH
IWGP Tag Team Champions Chase Owens & KENTA defend against Bishamon (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Clark Connors & Drilla Moloney defend against Intergalactic Jet Setters (KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight) and Catch 2/2 (Francesco Akira & TJP) in a three-way match
DOUKI, Yuya Uemura & SANADA vs. Jeff Cobb, Great-O-Khan & Callum Newman
BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi vs. Gedo & David Finlay
Ryusuke Taguchi & El Desperado vs. Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita
Nic Nemeth vs. Tomohiro Ishii, plus two more new matches have been added to NJPW Windy City Riot.
After issuing a challenge to Ishii in a video on Wednesday, NJPW made a match between the two official for Windy City Riot at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Friday, April 12.
In another new bout added to the card for Chicago, Jack Perry will go one-on-one with Shota Umino in a rematch from the first round of the New Japan Cup. Perry won the first meeting between the two after targeting Umino in his first excursion into NJPW.
Also added to Windy City Riot, Hikuleo & El Phantasmo will defend the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship in an open challenge four corners bout. The three challenging teams have yet to be revealed.
Windy City Riot will air on Friday, April 12 at 8 p.m. Eastern time on NJPW World pay-per-view.
Following Wednesday’s new match announcements, here is the current lineup for Windy City Riot:
Tetsuya Naito vs. Jon Moxley
Hiromu Takahashi vs. Mustafa Ali
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Nic Nemeth
Jack Perry vs. Shota Umino
Four corners open challenge: Hikuleo & El Phantasmo defend the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team titles against three teams TBA
Riot rules tornado tag: Eddie Kingston & three partners TBA vs. Gabe Kidd & three partners TBA
Nic Nemeth has an opponent in mind for NJPW Windy City Riot.
Nemeth released a video on Wednesday challenging Tomohiro Ishii to face him on the April 12 pay-per-view in Chicago.
Nemeth said:
I will take on anyone, anytime, any place and I see New Japan has a show coming up in Chicago, April 12, Windy City Riot, you better believe the wanted man is going to be there and I’m calling you out because I want the hardest hitters there are. Tomohiro Ishii. Ishii vs. the wanted man, Windy City Riot, you hit hard but I hit harder.
Nemeth has several other matches scheduled for the next month. He’s wrestling Alex Shelley at TNA’s TV tapings in Philadelphia on Friday, he’s challenging Moose for the TNA World title at Rebellion on April 20, and then he heads to Mexico to wrestle for the AAA Mega Championship at Triplemania Monterrey on April 27.
Nemeth was originally scheduled to defend his IWGP Global Championship for the first time on April 6 at Sakura Genesis against Hiroshi Tanahashi. However, the match was postponed after the NJPW president suffered an ankle injury last month.
NJPW Windy City Riot is scheduled for Friday, April 12, 2024 at Chicago’s Wintrust Arena. Three matches are confirmed for the show thus far.
Tetsuya Naito vs. Jon Moxley (If Naito retains at Sakura Genesis this could be made an IWGP World title match)
Hiromu Takahashi vs. Mustafa Ali
Eddie Kingston & three teammates vs. Gabe Kidd & three teammates in a riot rules tag match
The rules of this match are listed as “No DQs tornado tag. Members revealed on entrance”
Jack Perry, ELP & Hikuleo, and Ren Narita are also advertised.
It will be Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon at NJPW Sakura Genesis.
Yota Tsuji is set to challenge his LIJ stablemate Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of Sakura Genesis on Saturday, April 6. The title match was confirmed with Tsuji being crowned the winner of New Japan Cup 2024 on Wednesday.
Tsuji defeated Hirooki Goto in the finals of the tournament. In his promo after the victory, Tsuji declared himself the face of NJPW’s new era and vowed to win the IWGP World Heavyweight title.
Naito was on Japanese commentary for the New Japan Cup finals. He got into the ring for a staredown with Tsuji following the match.
During his run in the New Japan Cup, Tsuji defeated Goto, EVIL, Ren Narita, El Phantasmo, and Jeff Cobb.
This will be the second time Tsuji has ever challenged for the IWGP World Heavyweight title. He lost to then-champion SANADA at Dominion 2023.
Sakura Genesis is taking place from Sumo Hall in Tokyo on April 6.
Less than a week after Sakura Genesis, Naito is facing Jon Moxley in a special singles match at NJPW Windy City Riot in Chicago on Friday, April 12. Naito wants it to be a title match if he’s still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
Hirooki Goto faces Yota Tsuji today in the New Japan Cup 2024 finals.
Goto is the only three-time New Japan Cup winner, although he has not won the tournament since 2012. Goto also has three runner-up performances to his credit, making him the most decorated New Japan Cup competitor in the tournament’s 20-year history.
This is the first New Japan Cup finals appearance for Tsuji.
The winner of today’s finals will face IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito for the title at Sakura Genesis on Saturday, April 6.
Naito will be in action in the semi-main event of today’s show, teaming with Shingo Takagi against EVIL & Dick Togo from Bullet Club’s House of Torture.
In a 10-man tag, Hikuleo, El Phantasmo, Toru Yano, Jado & Boltin Oleg will take on SANADA, Taichi, Yuya Uemura, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku of Just Five Guys.
YOH will face Yoshinobu Kanemaru in a special singles match on today’s show in the other featured bout.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi) defeated Katsuya Murashima & Shoma Kato
This was a decent outing from the Young Lions. They were firey heading into the finishing sequence, but BUSHI was able to secure the win with a crab.
United Empire (Francesco Akira, Great-O-Khan & TJP) defeated Ryusuke Taguchi, Tanga Loa & Tomohiro Ishii
This was a step up from what I expected. It almost felt like a decent effort was made in this match. Catch 22’s tandem offense led to the UE finish.
TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated United Empire (Callum Newman & Jeff Cobb)
This was a highly competitive undercard tag. The closing sequence went back and forth, with a handful of nearfalls between Nicholls and Newman. In the end, Mikey landed his finish to secure the win.
BULLET CLUB (Chase Owens, Gabe Kidd & KENTA) defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe & YOSHI-HASHI
Most of this match’s disorder came from the babyfaces. By the end, BULLET CLUB was taking full advantage of this chaos. KENTA hit Tenzan with his belt, leaving Owens free to secure the pinfall win.
After the match, BC tried hitting YH with the belt, but YH escaped. Makabe and Kidd also continued to brawl after the closing bell.
House Of Torture (Jack Perry, Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi) defeated El Desperado, Shota Umino & Yuji Nagata
This was fine.
The crowd was really into this match throughout its runtime, and most of the cheating wasn’t insulting. The closing sequence saw Narita hit Nagata with a low blow before forcing him to tap with the cobra twist.
YOH defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru
This match kicked off with Kanemaru and SHO jumping SHO before the opening bell. From here, the typical HoT match played out, complete with distracted referees and outside beat downs.
After spending an extended amount of time in Kanemaru’s Boston crab, YOH escaped to the bottom rope. He then took advantage of an attempted distraction, leading to Kanemaru spitting his whiskey in SHO’s face. YOH then rolled up Kanemaru to win the match.
After the match, YOH left with the junior title in hand.
Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & Jado), Oleg Boltin & Toru Yano defeated Just 5 Guys (DOUKI, SANADA, Taichi, TAKA Michinoku & Yuya Uemura)
This wasn’t a good match, but it didn’t try to be one.
Everyone had their moment to shine, but this was totally lighthearted bell-to-bell. In the end, ELP hit his finish and pinned TAKA to win the match.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito) defeated House Of Torture (Dick Togo & EVIL)
This was a by-the-book HoT tag.
The action worked its way into the crowd early on, with EVIL utilizing chairs to establish a lead. The fighting continued so long that the referee’s count reached 20, resulting in a double count-out.
Shingo grabbed the microphone and asked for a restart with EVIL’s belt in hand. HoT accepted the challenge, and the match restarted.
This was the second EVIL match to be thrown out and restarted in the past two days.
Once the match restarted, the fighting returned to the floor. EVIL and Togo isolated Shingo on the outside, hitting him with the turnbuckle cover and whipping him into the barricades. Once the match returned to the ring, the isolation continued.
Eventually, Naito tagged in and turned the match around for his team. HoT challenged Naito’s lead by choking him with a shirt, hitting a low blow, and bumping the referee. With the referee down, Togo choked Naito with his wire.
Once Naito escaped Togo’s wire, he used it himself. Naito then dropped Togo with a low blow and used a jackknife pin to win the match.
Shingo challenged EVIL to a match for the NEVER Openweight Championship after the match.
New Japan Cup: Yota Tsuji defeated Hirooki Goto
This match was a lot of fun, especially in the closing stretch. It’s easily one of the best matches of the tournament.
The match opened with a standard feeling-out process. This led to Goto leaving the ring, which Tsuji followed with a tope. Back inside the ring, Tsuji utilized body scissors to maintain his control.
A ushigoroshi reset the match, leading to a back-and-forth strike exchange. Goto won out, establishing control for the first time in the match. He tried for GTR but missed, leaving Tsuji free to drive him onto the mat.
Tsuji landed a pair of stomps for a nearfall. When Tsuji tried to follow up, Goto secured the sleeper hold. Goto then tried for GTR again, but Tsuji answered with a headbutt. Goto responded with eight headbutts of his own, maintaining his lead.
Goto landed Shouten Kai for one of the nearest nearfalls I’ve ever seen. After Tsuji kicked out, Goto paused, buying Tsuji enough time to respond with a knee. Tsuji went for Gene Blast but was cut off by a lariat.
Goto tried for a rainmaker, but Tsuji reversed into Gene Blast; Goto kicked out at one. Tsuji didn’t waste any time before hitting another Gene Blast. He then pinned Goto to win the New Japan Cup.
Tsuji cut the show ending promo, declaring himself the face of a new era. Naito joined him in the ring after Tsuji promised to take his belt. Naito questioned his readiness before having a friendly stare down.
Once Naito left the ring, Tsuji promised to take New Japan to greater heights.
Tsuji is set for action against his faction mate and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Tetsuya Naito, at Sakura Genesis.
The event is taking place in Nagaoka this Wednesday (March 20) and streams live on NJPW World starting at 4 a.m. Eastern time. In the main event, Hirooki Goto battles Yota Tsuji in the New Japan Cup tournament finals.
Goto advanced to the finals with a victory over SANADA, while Tsuji earned his place with a semifinal win against EVIL.
The winner of Goto vs. Tsuji will challenge Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on Saturday, April 6.
Naito is set for action in the semi-main event of Wednesday’s show. It will be Naito & Shingo Takagi vs. EVIL & Dick Togo.
Seven tag matches are part of the undercard for the New Japan Cup Finals. There will also be a special singles match between YOH and Yoshinobu Kanemaru.
Here’s the full lineup:
New Japan Cup Finals (Wednesday, March 20) —
2024 New Japan Cup tournament final: Hirooki Goto vs. Yota Tsuji
Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi vs. EVIL & Dick Togo
Hikuleo, El Phantasmo, Toru Yano, Jado & Boltin Oleg vs. SANADA, Taichi, Yuya Uemura, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku
YOH vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Shota Umino, Yuji Nagata & El Desperado vs. Ren Narita, Jack Perry & Yujiro Takahashi
YOSHI-HASHI, Togi Makabe & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. KENTA, Chase Owens & Gabe Kidd
Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls vs. Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman
Tomohiro Ishii, Tanga Loa & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Great-O-Khan, TJP & Francesco Akira
Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima
The New Japan Cup is down to its final two competitors.
Yota Tsuji vs. Hirooki Goto will take place in the finals on Wednesday, March 20 in Nagaoka. The winner will advance to face IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tetsuya Naito at Sakura Genesis on April 6.
The tournament semifinals took place on Monday in Fukushima. Tsuji defeated EVIL on the show, needing help from his LIJ teammates to overcome repeated interference by House of Torture. Goto then defeated SANADA in the second semifinal.
Tsuji’s route to the finals included wins over Jeff Cobb, El Phantasmo, Ren Narita, and EVIL. Goto’s route included wins over Chase Owens, a forfeit win over David Finlay, and SANADA.
New Japan Cup 2024’s semifinals take place today in Fukushima.
One one side of the bracket, SANADA of Just Five Guys will face Hirooki Goto of CHAOS in a battle of former tournament winners.
SANADA won the New Japan Cup 2023, defeating David Finlay in the finals. Goto remains the only three-time New Japan Cup winner, but his last victory came in 2012, and he has not made the finals since 2016.
On the other side of the bracket, Yota Tsuji of Los Ingobernables de Japon will battle EVIL from Bullet Club’s House of Torture.
EVIL won the tournament in 2020, defeating Kazuchika Okada in the finals and going on to defeat Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight & IWGP Intercontinental Championships at Dominion that year.
The winners of today’s tournament matches will meet in the finals on Wednesday, with the overall tournament winner advancing to face Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on April 6.
Zack brought so much out of the Young Lions; both looked great. Of course, Oleg led his team with multiple power-based sequences but also tried his hand at grappling. Kato was firey, adding to the energy of the match. Ultimately, ZSJ forced Kato to submit to win the match for TMDK.
Just 5 Guys (DOUKI, Taichi & Yuya Uemura) defeated El Desperado, Togi Makabe & Tomohiro Ishii
This was an uninspiring six-man.
This was filled with what you would expect: a handful of middling back-and-forths, an Ishii/Taichi striking battle, and Makabe taking the loss. The match ended after Uemura forced Makabe to tap out with an armbar.
After the match, Ishii and Taichi traded more strikes.
Ryusuke Taguchi & Tanga Loa defeated United Empire (Callum Newman & Great-O-Khan)
Bad. This was bad.
The only person who seemed like he wanted to be there was Newman. Unfortunately, this meant he was on the receiving end of some ugly-looking offense. Thankfully, this match eventually came to an end. Loa won the match for his team by forcing Newman to submit with a crossface.
After the match, Taguchi put his butt on Newman’s face. Loa then challenged O-Khan for the KOPW belt.
BULLET CLUB (Chase Owens, Gabe Kidd & KENTA) defeated CHAOS (Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI) & Hiroyoshi Tenzan
This was a by-the-book BULLET CLUB match.
After prolonged isolation from the BULLET CLUB trio, they distracted the referee. KENTA hit Tenzan with the tag belt and pinned him to win the match.
After securing the win, BULLET CLUB continued to beat down their opponents.
Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo & Hikuleo), Shota Umino & YOH defeated House Of Torture (Jack Perry, Ren Narita, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi)
Before the match began, HoT attacked Hikuleo, setting the pace for the rest of the match. There was a lot of shenanigans, as you would expect. After Umino cleared the ring of Perry, he forced Yujiro to submit with a crossface.
After the match, YOH stole the junior title ahead of their match on the 20th.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito) defeated United Empire (Francesco Akira, Jeff Cobb & TJP)
They’re really pushing the idea that TJP is stepping up to lead UE without him actually winning anything. Other than that, this was a totally average showcase tag.
This match featured heavy interactions from the pairings you would expect. Hiromu and Akira were the main focus heading into the final stretch. With the end in sight, Akira set up for his finish, but Hiromu reversed into the Hiromu roll to win the match.
New Japan Cup: Yota Tsuji defeated EVIL
This match was really bad. It was nothing short of frustrating from the first opening bell to the close. That said, Tsuji winning in the end did feel great (mostly because it marks the end of HoT in the cup, but hey, a win is a win).
Before the match began, Tsuji attacked HoT on the outside. This occupied Tsuji long enough for EVIL to take advantage, whipping Tsuji into the barricade. From here, HoT rushed the ring, leading to a beatdown on Tsuji. LIJ ran to the ring to make the save, but the sheer numbers from HoT proved to be too much.
The referee couldn’t gain order so he called for the bell. The match was ruled a no-contest.
An irate Tsuji grabbed the microphone and asked for a restart. In order for the match to restart, HoT and LIJ had to return to the back, which they did.
The match kicked off for the second time with an impassioned Tsuji rushed EVIL. EVIL retreated to the outside, where he lay in wait. When Tsuji met him on the floor, EVIL slammed him into the barricade and removed the cover from the turnbuckles.
Back inside the ring, EVIL pulled the hair of Tsuji, chopped his chest, and gouged his eyes. EVIL then worked Tsuji into the corner. Tsuji responded with a sudden curb stomp, resting the match. Before Tsuji could gain a footing, EVIL slammed him into the exposed corner and landed a fisherman suplex to re-cement his lead. EVIL followed up with Darkness Falls for a nearfall.
Tsuji reset the match again by driving EVIL into the exposed corner. A sit-out bomb from Tsuji scored him a nearfall. As soon as Tsuji was in a winning position, EVIL bumped the referee. HoT rushed the ring again, leading to a full-fledged beatdown. LIJ tried to make the save, but again, they were outnumbered.
Once a new referee entered the ring, EVIL floored Tsuji with a lariat. EVIL tried for Everything is Evil, but Tsuji flipped out and landed a headbutt and powerbomb in response. EVIL bumped the referee again and hit a low blow. Before Narita could hit Tsuji with his pushup bar, Shingo Takagi hit the ring and cleared HoT. BUSHI misted EVIL, and Shingo hit him with a pumping bomber to even the odds. This left Tsuji free to hit Gene Blast and win the match.
Tsuji, in his first New Japan Cup post-excursion, is in the finals.
New Japan Cup: Hirooki Goto defeated SANADA
This match opened with a slow feeling-out before working its way to the floor. On the outside, SANADA dropped Goto with a piledriver. Back inside, SANADA maintained his lead with basic offense.
Goto eventually dropped SANADA with a lariat to gain some footing. He then utilized more strikes to further his lead. SANADA didn’t let Goto’s lead develop, however. He landed a dropkick to send Goto to the floor followed by a plancha, regaining a strong lead.
SANADA attempted Skull End, but Goto escaped. This led to a short scramble, but SANADA landed TKO to stay on top. SANADA tried for the rounding body press but missed, leaving Goto free to land a ushigoroshi, resetting the match.
After a striking battle, SANADA hit a shining wizard. He then secured Skull End in the middle of the ring. Once Goto was freed, he dropped SANADA with a headbutt. When he tried for GTW, SANADA reversed and attempted multiple quick pins.
Goto kicked from SANADA’s cheap attempts at pinning Goto. SANADA followed up with a shining wizard, but Goto was quick to respond with GTR and GTW to win the match.
The match is set. On Wednesday, in his seventh finals, Hirooki Goto will face Yota Tsuji for the New Japan Cup.
Kidd’s contract expired back in January. According to Fightful’s report, he continued to work NJPW dates without a contract.
A member of Bullet Club War Dogs, Kidd has been associated with New Japan since 2020, when he began training as a young lion. After joining the Bullet Club last year, he won the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship with Alex Coughlin last July. The two held the titles until October when they lost to the Guerillas of Destiny (Hikuleo and El Phantasmo).
2024 has been a busy year for Kidd. In February, he took part in the ten-man steel cage match that served as Will Ospreay’s farewell from NJPW. This month he advanced in the NJPW Cup by defeating Callum Newman in the first round. However, he lost to Shingo Takagi in the following round.
On Sunday, Yota Tsuji and EVIL both advanced from the quarterfinals. They will now face each other in the semifinals, which take place Monday morning. The winner of that match will then move on to the finals on March 20, where they will face the winner between Hirooki Goto and SANADA.
During Tsuji vs. Ren Narita, House of Torture members began to interfere towards the end of the match. Los Ingobernables de Japon ran out to even the score, allowing Tsuji to advance by rolling up Narita. HoT then jumped Tsuji, but Shingo Takagi got involved, kicking off the main event between Takagi and EVIL. Much like the previous match, HoT regularly interfered until EVIL hit Takagi with the Everything is Evil for the win.
The winner of the New Japan Cup usually challenges for the IWGP World Heavyweight title. SANADA won last year’s New Japan Cup and went on to defeat Kazuchika Okada the following month at Sakura Genesis to win the title.
The semifinals for the New Japan Cup 2024 will be set following today’s last quarterfinals bouts in Shizuoka.
Both tournament matches tonight feature a member of Los Ingobernables de Japon vs. a member of Bullet Club’s House of Torture.
Former LIJ’s Shingo Takagi & HoT’s EVIL will meet in the main event quarterfinals matchup with a spot in Monday’s semifinals on the line.
In tonight’s other quarterfinals match in the semi-main, LIJ’s Yota Tsuji faces HoT’s Ren Narita.
The winners of today’s tournament matches will meet on Monday’s show in the semifinals. Hirooki Goto vs. SANADA is already set for the other semifinals bout on Monday’s show.
Six tag team matches round out today’s undercard, including an LIJ vs. Just Five Guys trios match featuring Tetsuya Naito, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI vs. SANADA, Taichi & Yuya Uemura.
Today’s show streams live on NJPW World beginning at 2 a.m. Eastern time.
This match featured heavy back and forth from the Young Lions. Taguchi wore his own Young Lion attire, matching the energy from the others. Oleg won the match for his team with a big drop to Kato.
Guerrillas Of Destiny (El Phantasmo, Hikuleo & Tanga Loa) defeated United Empire (Francesco Akira, Great-O-Khan & TJP)
This was an absolutely nothing match. After minutes of struggle, Loa won the match for GoD.
TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Zack Sabre Jr.) defeated United Empire (Callum Newman & Jeff Cobb)
This was a solid showcase between these teams. The isolation work and breakdown sequences were a blast. The match ended with a ZSJ arm bar on Newman that forced the submission.
El Desperado, Shota Umino & YOH defeated House Of Torture (Jack Perry, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi)
This was a total HoT match. There was a chicanery involving the Junior belt. Umino was able to overcome the hijinks to win the match.
This was a standard Bullet Club match built around isolation and the hot tag. Ishii and Kidd continue to be the best part of these showcase tags. Once Ishii and Kidd stopped brawling, YH won the match for his team.
Just 5 Guys (SANADA, Taichi & Yuya Uemura) defeated Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito)
This match featured heavy interaction between SANADA and Naito early. An extended match breakdown followed with a back-and-forth between teams. The scramble ended with Uemura securing a quick pin on BUSHI.
New Japan Cup: Yota Tsuji defeated Ren Narita
Narita opened the match by rushing Tsuji. He tried taking advantage on the floor, but Tsuji reversed, whipping Narita into the barricade. This forced Narita to the ring to recover.
After a pause, Narita went back outside and reversed momentum by driving Tsuji into the fencing. Narita then slammed Tsuji into the Shizuoka wall before throwing him into a sea of chairs. Narita followed up by attacking Tsuji with the floor seats. Back in the ring, Narita continued this advance. Tsuji eventually knocked Narita to the floor, but Narita cut off his dive with a chair shot.
Tsuji eventually launched into a rally. After scoring a couple of two counts from big moves, Tsuji set up for Gene Blast. Narita reversed and attempted Double Cross. Tsuji blocked Double Cross with a handstand and went for Gene Blast again. This time, Narita pulled the referee into Tsuji’s path.
After the ref bump, HoT hit the ring in full. Thankfully, LIJ was right behind and cleared the ring. Narita tried to take advantage of the distraction by hitting Tsuji with his pushup bar but he missed. Narita didn’t waste any time, though; he hit a low blow to follow up. Before Narita could capitalize, however, Tsuji transitioned into the pin and won the match.
Tsjui has defeated Narita for the first time in his career to advance to the semi-finals.
After the match, HoT beat down Tsuji. EVIL joined the beatdown, prompting Shingo Takagi to join the conflict ahead of the main event.
New Japan Cup: EVIL defeated Shingo Takagi
The brawl that marked the end of the last match kicked off this one. Shingo started hot, but EVIL was able to reverse momentum by utilizing his environment. Inside the ring, EVIL choked Shingo with a shirt, taking advantage of a distracted referee.
Shingo eventually launched a rally, but a kick from EVIL sent him to the mat. This led to HoT filling the floor with chairs. EVIL tried suplexing Shingo into the hardware, but Shingo reversed, giving EVIL a taste of his own medicine. Shingo then hit a suplex in the ring to further his newfound lead.
A sliding lariat from Shingo scored him a nearfall. EVIL needed separation, so he pretended to be injured. This distracted the referee, leading to a ref bump and HoT rushing the ring. HoT beat down Shingo, leaving EVIL in strong position.
Shingo dug deep to challenge EVIL’s lead, hitting a lariat to reset the match. After knocking EVIL to the floor, Shingo hit Made in Japan. During the count, HoT rang the bell before the referee could finish his count, triggering another distraction.
EVIL shoved Shingo into the referee again, leading to a full breakdown between LIJ and HoT. EVIL ate a face full of black mist, whiskey, and mystery powder before the referee woke back up. EVIL landed Everything is Evil and pinned Shingo to win the match.
