The 2023 New Japan Cup concludes on Tuesday in Nagaoka.
NJPW has released the full card for the final day of the tournament.
The night’s main event will see Bullet Club’s David Finlay face Just Five Guys’ SANADA to decide who takes home the cup this year. The winner will also earn an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match against Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis.
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship will be defended on Tuesday’s show as well. Hiromu Takahashi will put his title on the line against Lio Rush.
New Japan Cup Finals, March, 21, 2023 lineup:
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Yuto Nakashima vs. DOUKI & Taichi
Ryohei Oiwa & Shota Umino vs. Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr.
Tomoaki Honma, Tomohiro Ishii & Tama Tonga vs. El Phantasmo, Chase Owens & KENTA
Rysuke Taguchi, Toru Yano, Ren Narita & El Desperado vs. Dick Togo, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & EVIL
Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito vs. Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan
YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto & Kazuchika Okada vs. Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi (c) vs. Lio Rush
New Japan Cup 2023 Finals: SANADA vs. David Finlay
NJPW will run its first show in front of fans since February 26 today, the New Japan Cup final in Osaka-jo Hall.
Kazuchika Okada will face EVIL in the tournament final, with the winner going on to face Tetsuya Naito tomorrow at Dominion for both the IWGP Heavyweight and the IWGP Intercontinental titles.
Okada previously won the New Japan Cup in 2019 and 2013. This marks the first final round appearance for EVIL. Both times Okada won the Cup he went on to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in his next title match, taking the title from Hiroshi Tanahashi in 2013 and from Jay White in Madison Square Garden last year.
The semi-main will feature SHO, Toru Yano and Tomohiro Ishii taking on Naito, Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi. SHO and Takagi will face off at Dominion for the NEVER Openweight title.
The undercard will also feature a preview of tomorrow’s IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team title match. At Dominion, Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi will defend the tag titles against Taichi and Zack Sabre, Jr. Tonight, Sabre and Taichi will team with Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado against Ibushi, Tanahashi, Yuji Nagata and Ryusuke Taguchi.
Master Wato will have his first match since returning from excursion tonight, as he will face DOUKI. This match was set up when DOUKI attacked Wato as he made his debut.
SANADA and BUSHI vs. Yujiro Takahashi and Taiji Ishimori, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima vs. Hirooki Goto and Gabriel Kidd, plus Togi Makabe and Tomoaki Honma vs. Yuya Uemura and Yota Tsuji are also scheduled for tonight’s show.
The crowd gave a round of applause at the opening bell.
Honma and Tsuji started off with a short strike exchange. They got a nice ovation. Honma hit a shoulder tackle and they tagged out.
Makabe and Uemura tagged in. Makabe cut Uemura off after a whip into the barricade. Makabe and Honma used quick tags as they continued working over Uemura. Uemura blocked a Honma charge into the corner and tagged out after a flying forearm.
Tsuji hit Honma with a dropkick for a two count. Honma hit a back elbow but missed a kokeshi. The crowd got behind Tsuji as Makabe tagged back in. Tsuji hit a series of strikes and a spear before tagging out.
Makabe and Uemura had some miscommunication on a spot. Makabe hit a forearm. Uemura hit a dropkick. Tsuji jumped in and they hit Makabe with tandem dropkicks. Uemura used a crab but Makabe forced a rope break.
Uemura hit a high-grip belly-to-belly for a near fall. Makabe hit a powerslam for a near fall. Tsuji and Honma jumped in. Honma hit a kokeshi on Tsuji. Uemura used a sunset flip and a rolling cradle on Makabe for a near fall.
The finish saw Makabe hit a lariat, then use a German with a bridge for the pin.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Satoshi Kojima defeated Hirooki Goto & Gabriel Kidd (9:57)
This was another solid undercard tag match. Kidd has improved a lot since the beginning of the year.
Tenzan and Goto began with a power exchange. Tenzan hit some Mongolian chops. Kojima and Kidd tagged in and traded forearm shots. Kojima cut Kidd off. Goto tried to jump back in but Tenzan and Kojima intercepted him with a tandem tackle.
Kidd came back with a dropkick to Tenzan. Goto tagged in but ate a mountain bomb from Tenzan. Kojima got a tag and hit Goto with machine gun chops in the corner. Goto cut Kojima off before he could hit a top rope elbow and tagged out.
Kojima hit a Koji Cutter on Kidd for a two count. Goto broke up the pin. Goto held Kojima in a Russian leg sweep position while Kidd connected with a missile dropkick. Kojima and Tenzan hit Goto with a TenCozy Cutter and he rolled outside.
Kidd blocked a brainbuster from Kojima and hit his own brainbuster for a near fall. Kidd then hit the ropes and ran into a lariat from Kojima. Kojima covered for the pin.
Master Wato defeated DOUKI (8:46)
It’s Master Wato’s world, we’re just living in it.
Wato looked okay here. He did a couple of spectacular dives. DOUKI is not exactly a ring general so the booking didn’t do Wato any favors.
DOUKI took a swing at Wato with his pipe before the opening bell. Wato ducked the shot and sent DOUKI outside. Wato hit a nice tornillo. As DOUKI rolled back inside, Wato hit a springboard elbow that was not as nice.
DOUKI came back with a tope suicida. He whipped Wato into the barricade and liberally used his pipe to inflict damage on the floor. Back inside, DOUKI hit a double stomp for a two count.
DOUKI raked the eyes. Wato came back with a dropkick. He followed with karate chops and a bicycle knee strike for a two count. DOUKI hit a lariat into a double down.
DOUKI hit his slingshot DDT for a near fall. The referee had to check on Wato as it looked like he might have injured his head for real on the DDT. DOUKI hit a torture rack bomb for a two count.
Wato came back with a sunset flip for a two count. He then hit a twisting senton for the pin.
After the match, Yoshinobu Kanemaru ran in and laid out Wato. Tenzan then rumbled in to make the save for Wato.
I say this as someone who has also dyed my hair an obnoxious color: Wato needs to go to a professional to get his hair dyed, or at very least use a better dye. DM me dude, I have some product recommendations. This Master Wato gimmick is just pure death.
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We had an intermission while they disinfected the ring.
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Taiji Ishimori & Yujiro Takahashi defeated BUSHI & SANADA (9:20)
The finishing sequence was very clever but the rest of this match was just kind of there. They also didn’t get a ton of time to build a good match.
BUSHI and Ishimori began. BUSHI got the upper hand quickly. SANADA and BUSHI used quick tags in hitting some simple offense on Ishimori. Ishimori cut BUSHI off by choking him with his t-shirt and Bullet Club went to work on BUSHI.
Ishimori taunted the crowd and teased ripping BUSHI’s mask off. BUSHI came back with an enzuigiri and a DDT before he tagged out.
SANADA sent an interfering Yujiro outside and hit a plancha. He then locked the paradise lock on Ishimori before breaking it with a dropkick. Ishimori tried the paradise lock but SANADA rolled out. Ishimori hit a handspring into a Pele kick.
Yujiro got a tag. He bit SANADA’s hand to block a TKO. SANADA then bit Yujiro’s hand. BUSHI tagged in and hit a suicide dive to both Yujiro and Ishimori. BUSHI hit a backstabber on Yujiro for a two count.
The finish saw Yujiro go for Pimp Juice. BUSHI blocked and tried a backslide. Yujiro slid out and used the threat of his own backslide to get back to Pimp Juice. He hit the move and pinned BUSHI.
Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr., Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi, Yuji Nagata & Ryusuke Taguchi (12:44)
The pre-match here was great. Tanahashi was emotional and was pointing out fans in the crowd.
The match itself was very good as well.
The first five minutes of the match were spent working over Tanahashi’s left leg. Tanahashi teased a couple of signature spots but Sabre would interfere and cut him off again. Tanahashi’s selling was on another level here. Taichi held Tana up while Sabre hit him with dragon screws.
Tanahashi finally managed a crossbody off the second rope and a dragon screw to Taichi. Nagata tagged in and hit Kanemaru with an exploder for a near fall. Ibsuhi tagged in and hit a springboard dropkick.
Sabre tagged in for a great sequence with Ibushi. Ibushi hit a series of strikes and a standing moonsault. Sabre ducked a mid kick and used a heel hook. Sabre locked in an octopus hold. They did a long submission tease before Tanahashi made the save.
Sabre and Taichi doubled up on Ibushi. Ibushi blocked a Zack Driver and hit a double Pele kick before tagging Taguchi. Taguchi missed a hip attack on Sabre. Desperado tagged in and hit two atomic drops.
The babyfaces cleared the ring and went four-on-one on Desperado. Taguchi hit a hip attack for a near fall. Suzuki-gun jumped in. Everyone but the legal men brawled outside. Tanahashi hit a plancha on Taichi.
The finish saw Taguchi hit a Bomaye for a near fall. He went for Dodon but Desperado shoved him off and nearly into the referee. Desperado then hit a straight right hand and Pinche Loco for the pin.
Sabre and Taichi tried to attack Tanahashi and Ibushi with the tag titles after the match. Tanahashi hit a slingblade on Sabre. Tanahashi and Ibushi then hit a double slingblade on Taichi.
Ibushi and Tanahashi posed over a fallen Taichi with the tag belts.
This was quite good and offered a nice preview of tomorrow’s Shingo/SHO match. They also had a great match earlier in the New Japan Cup where SHO eliminated Shingo to set up the NEVER title shot.
Shingo and SHO started out. They did a series of tackles, drop downs and leapfrogs. SHO hit a dropkick which Shingo no-sold. Shingo hit a lariat. He then tried a sliding lariat but missed. SHO hit some kicks before tagging Yano.
Yano untied a corner pad. Shingo ducked a swing of the corner pad. Yano raked Shingo’s eyes. Naito jumped in and saved Shingo. Ishii and Hiromu brawled to the floor. Shingo knocked SHO off the apron and went outside after him before climbing back in to work on Yano.
Naito tagged in and continued working over Yano. Naito hit a combinacion cabron. Hiromu tagged in for a corner clothesline and a low dropkick for a near fall. Yano used a hair pull to take Hiromu down before tagging out.
Ishii and Hiromu had a super exchange. Ishii hit a tackle. They traded palm strikes to the chest. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick. The crowd came alive as Hiromu fought for a suplex. Ishii blocked and caught a superkick. They traded Germans. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex. Hiromu momentarily no-sold it before hitting a dropkick into a double down.
Shingo and SHO tagged back in. Shingo sent SHO into the exposed buckle before hitting a series of strikes in the corner. SHO came back with a spear for a two count. Shingo and SHO traded dozens of strikes. SHO blocked a pumping bomber but Shingo answered with a short lariat.
Naito tagged in and took a flip bump off a SHO lariat. SHO tagged Yano. Yano sent Naito into the exposed buckle and used a schoolboy for a two count. Naito used a schoolboy for a two count.
Naito blocked a low blow. Ishii and Yano doubled up on Naito. Yano got a two count of a schoolboy before Hiromu saved. He scored another two count after another Ishii assist.
Shingo and SHO jumped in. Shingo hit a sliding lariat on SHO. Hiromu jumped in and pulled Yano’s hair. LIJ went three-on-one on Yano. Naito used a jackknife cradle on Yano for the finish.
Shingo and SHO had an intense face-off after the match before LIJ posed in the ring with all their titles.
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We got another intermission as they disinfected the ring before the main event.
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Katsuyori Shibata joined the commentary team for the main event.
New Japan Cup Final: EVIL defeated Kazuchika Okada (31:50)
This was a match filled with ref bumps and interference in a tournament filled with ref bumps and interference, but there was a payoff here. The match never reached the level of a really good Okada match but the story of the match and the angle after were very memorable.
The story they’ve been telling with EVIL all tournament long is that he is being more ruthless and is doing whatever it takes to win, even using low blows and chair shots on his tag partner to advance to the final.
That was on display here right away. They teased locking up but EVIL hit a kick to the gut and Darkness Falls for an immediate near fall. He went for Everything is EVIL but Okada blocked and locked in the Cobra Clutch. EVIL elbowed out and Okada rolled outside.
Okada took over on the floor after suckering EVIL in. Back inside, Okada hit a neckbreaker for a one count. He missed a slingshot senton and EVIL threw Okada outside. EVIL put Okada’s Rainmaker right arm in a chair and posted it.
Referee Red Shoes Unno went out to the floor and EVIL shoved him away into the aisle. EVIL placed a chair around Okada’s neck and hit it with a second chair. Okada beat the ccount back inside. EVIL slammed Okada’s right arm into the mat and hit it with stomps.
EVIL used a hammerlock around the top rope before hitting some hard chops. EVIL rammed the right arm into the barricade. Back inside, Okada came back with a DDT and a running back elbow.
Both men missed back elbows in the corner. Okada sat EVIL on the top rope and hit a dropkick, sending EVIL to the floor. Okada whipped EVIL into the barricade and sent him over the railing with a big boot.
Okada hit a draping DDT off the barricade. Okada threw EVIL back inside and covered for a two count. EVIL blocked an air raid crash and hit a fisherman’s suplex for a two count. Okada came back with a flapjack into a double down.
They traded strikes. Okada missed a dropkick. EVIL missed a senton. EVIL tried a misdirection attack out of the corner but Okada was ready and hit a dropkick. That spot ruled.
Okada hit a tombstone and locked in the Cobra Clutch. EVIL reached the bottom rope to force a break. Okada hit a running back elbow in the corner. EVIL hit a ref-assisted mid kick. EVIL shoved Okada into Red Shoes who took a bump and rolled to the floor. EVIL hit a low blow.
EVIL brought four chairs into the ring. EVIL hit Darkness Falls on the chairs. EVIL got rid of the evidence and a Young Lion revived Red Shoes. EVIL covered for a super close near fall. It’s tough to tell with the fans instructed not to be vocal but it didn’t feel like they bought that as a finish.
EVIL hit a top rope superplex for a two count. EVIL made a throat slash gesture. Okada hit a forearm strike. EVIL gouged Okada’s eyes. Okada came back with an air raid crash into a double down.
They traded strikes from their knees, then standing. The crowd really got into this exchange, clapping along. EVIL blocked a big boot and hit a rolling elbow at the 25 minute mark.
Okada hit a dropkick and locked in the Cobra Clutch. EVIL gouged Okada’s left eye to break the hold. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick. EVIL no-sold it but popped right up into a tombstone.
Okada went back to the Cobra Clutch. EVIL appeared to be ready to pass out in the hold but Okada gave it up. Okada hit two Rainmakers before applying the Clutch again. Gedo ran in and took the ref. Yujiro Takahashi ran in and hit Okada with a fireman’s carry slam. Yujiro ran off and Gedo walked to the back. EVIL and Okada were both down.
EVIL hit a lariat for a two count at the 30 minute mark. Okada blocked Everything is EVIL and hit a European uppercut. Okada got the Cobra Clutch again. EVIL shoved Okada off into the referee. Red Shoes took another bump. EVIL hit a low blow.
EVIL hit a big stomping low blow. The referee was revived. EVIL hit Everything is EVIL for the pin.
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EVIL called out Naito after the match. Naito said it would be two members of LIJ in the title match and offered EVIL the LIJ fist bump. EVIL appeared to accept, but then laid out Naito with an STO.
Gedo, Ishimori, Jado, and Yujiro made their way to the ring. EVIL stomped on Naito’s LIJ hat and stomped on Naito. EVIL did the Too Sweet with the Bullet Club to cement his defection.
Shingo, Hiromu, BUSHI and SANADA ran in to make the save and Bullet Club bailed. EVIL posed with the Two Sweet hand signal before walking to the back with Bullet Club.
All four matches are worth a look but just watch the last two if you’re pressed for time.
EVIL vs. SANADA
Kazuchika Okada vs. Hiromu Takahashi
Report —
Korakuen Hall was again the venue for today’s show.
Minoru Suzuki, Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & El Desperado defeated Yuji Nagata, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & Gabriel Kidd (12:14)
The focus here was on Sabre and Taichi vs. Tanahashi and Ibushi, the tag title program. This was a solid opener.
Tanahashi and Taichi started off. Taichi choked Tana with a length of rope, a trick he also used last night against SANADA. The match broke down into a brawl. Suzuki and Nagata paired off, as did Tanahashi and Taichi and Sabre and Ibushi.
Taichi choked Tanahashi with a piece of security fence. When the match returned to the ring, Suzuki-gun began working over Tanahashi’s right leg. Taichi brought the tag belts into the ring while Sabre and Suzuki tied Tanahashi up in holds.
Ibushi got a tag and had a nice exchange with Sabre. Ibushi went for a standing moonsault but Sabre caught him in a submission on the landing. Suzuki and Nagata tagged in and renewed their rivalry. Suzuki went for the Gotch-style piledriver but Nagata blocked and hit an exploder.
Kidd tagged in for an exchange with Suzuki. Kidd fought off a double team from Desperado and hit Suzuki with a dropkick. The match broke down. Ibushi hit a dive to Sabre.
Desperado and Kidd ended up the legal men. Desperado hit a straight right hand and used Pinche Loco to pin Kidd.
The post-match was intense. After the bell, Sabre put Ibushi in a triangle. Taichi and Tanahashi faced off on the outside. Nagata made the save for Ibushi. Ibushi went after Sabre and Taichi but was held back.
SHO and Shingo looks to be the NEVER Openweight title program so they started off the match.
SHO and Shingo traded some power strikes. Ishii tagged in and cut Shingo off with some hard chops. Naito jumped in and hit a dropkick to Ishii’s left knee to cut him off. Naito and BUSHI took turns working on Ishii while SHO and Shingo brawled on the floor.
Ishii came back with a powerslam on Naito and tagged Goto. Goto hit a backdrop suplex. Naito answered with a back elbow and a dropkick. BUSHI entered for a double team which allowed Naito to hit a one-legged dropkick.
Shingo and SHO tagged back in. Shingo missed a sliding lariat but blocked a spear. They traded vertical suplexes and lariats. Shingo hit a German. SHO responded with two rolling Germans. Shingo blocked a third. SHO hit a knee strike. Shingo hit a lariat.
BUSHI tagged in for an enzuigiri and a DDT. Ishii jumped in but BUSHI dispatched him. LIJ went 3-on-1 on SHO. BUSHI hit a backstabber. Goto made the save for SHO.
BUSHI went for an MX. SHO ducked it. Ishii and Naito jumped in. Ishii hit a brainbuster on Naito. Shingo hit a pumping bomber on SHO.
The finishing sequence saw SHO hit a power breaker on BUSHI for a two count, then use the Shock Arrow for the pin.
SHO hit Shingo with a spear after the match and stood over him with the NEVER Openweight title in hand.
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A Way to the Grand Master video played. The Grand Master then debuted. This was the former Hirai Kawato, now using the name Master Wato. Wato has all blue gear and blue hair.
Wato came to the ring and cut a brief promo. He was then jumped from behind by DOUKI who left him laying with several shots with a pipe.
This was an underwhelming debut to say the least.
We then had an intermission before the two semifinal matches.
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New Japan Cup semifinal match: EVIL defeated SANADA (20:14)
There have been better matches in this tournament but the storytelling here was off the charts great. EVIL has been showing a more ruthless side throughout the entire tournament and that peaked here with his brutal beating of his own tag partner.
SANADA offered a handshake at the opening bell. EVIL looked to accept it but then went for an STO. SANADA blocked and went for Skull End. EVIL slid out. EVIL hit a tackle. SANADA hit an arm drag and EVIL rolled outside to stall.
EVIL clotheslined SANADA to the floor and then posted his arm inside a chair. SANADA came back with a dropkick and a plancha. EVIL raked SANADA’s eyes and used a ref-assisted mid kick. SANADA hit a back suplex.
EVIL hit a ref-assisted Magic Killer. They did a long double down before trading strikes at the ten minute mark. EVIL hit a misdirection lariat out of the corner and used Darkness Falls for a two count.
SANADA blocked Everything is EVIL. EVIL blocked Skull End. SANADA used a dragon suplex for a two count. SANADA used Skull End but EVIL slid out and hit a lariat for a near fall.
There was a scary spot at the 15 minute mark. SANADA tried to flip out of the corner for Skull End. It looked as though EVIL was supposed to block and hit a suplex but SANADA somehow got spiked on top of his head.
SANADA used an O’Connor roll to set up Skull end. SANADA gave up the hold and went for a top rope moonsault but EVIL got his knees up. EVIL shoved SANADA into the ref and the ref took a bump to the floor.
With the ref down, EVIL hit a low blow. He then brought two chairs into the ring. He placed one around SANADA’s neck and hit it with the other. EVIL set up like he was going for the scorpion deathlock but hit another low blow instead.
EVIL revived the referee at the 20 minute mark. He then immediately hit Everything is EVIL and pinned SANADA.
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There was another brief intermission before the main event.
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New Japan Cup semifinal match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiromu Takahashi (27:00)
I expected a match of the year candidate. This was a match of the year candidate.
Okada broke cleanly after they locked up at the outset. Hiromu feigned doing the same before hitting a forearm strike and a flying headscissors. Okada locked on a head and arm choke but Hiromu forced a break.
They rolled outside where Okada hit a neckbreaker on the floor. Back inside, Okada hit a slingshot senton before covering for a one count. Hiromu came back with a lariat and a dropkick.
Okada rolled outside and Hiromu nailed him with a shotgun dropkick off the apron. Okada went flying through the security fence. Back inside, Hiromu hit a superkick and a falcon arrow for a near fall.
Okada hit a huge flapjack. He went for a top rope elbow but rolled through and landed on his feet. Hiromu hit a German. They traded strikes and Okada got the better of the exchange. Okada hit a Woo dropkick. He sat Hiromu on the top rope and hit another dropkick sending Hiromu crashing to the floor.
Okada whipped Hiromu into the barricade and then sent him over it with a big boot. Okada hit a draping DDT off the barricade. Okada hit a missile dropkick off the top for a two count. He hit a dropkick to the back before trying a standard dropkick and missing. Hiromu answered with a shotgun dropkick. This was an incredible sequence.
Hiromu sat Okada on the top rope and then sent him to the floor with a dropkick, a call back to the earlier spot where Okada did the same thing. Hiromu hit a sunset bomb off the apron. He followed up with a Dynamite Plunger for a near fall.
Hiromu went for Time Bomb. Okada blocked. Hiromu hit the ropes but ran right into an Okada dropkick. Okada hit a tombstone and locked in the cobra clutch. Hiromu grabbed Okada by the hair and hit a DVD into the buckle to break the hold.
Okada blocked Time Bomb. Okada hit a dropkick. Hiromu hit a lariat. Hiromu then hit a Rainmaker for a near fall. Hiromu hit Time Bomb but Okada kicked out at the last instant.
Hiromu ducked under a spinning Rainmaker and locked in a triangle. Okada broke it with a powerbomb. Hiromu used a cradle for a near fall and a wheelbarrow facebuster. Okada hit a dropkick but Hiromu no-sold it and hit a lariat.
Hiromu went for Time Bomb 2. Okada blocked and hit a spinning tombstone at the 25 minute mark. Okada went back to the cobra clutch. Hiromu slid out. Okada hit a Rainmaker and went back to the clutch. He gave up the hold and hit two more Rainmakers.
Okada then locked in the cobra clutch one final time. Hiromu passed out in the hold and the ref called for the stoppage finish.
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Tomohiro Ishii (19:12)
These are two of the ten best wrestlers in the world and they had a either the best or second best match of the tournament so far here in the opener.
They opened by trading shoulder tackles. Hiromu held his own in the exchange but Ishii established the clear advantage. They then traded hard chops. Again Hiromu held his own but again Ishii got the better of the exchange.
Hiromu fired up and hit chops. Ishii answered with one headbutt which sent Hiromu stumbling to the ropes. Hiromu rolled outside but Ishii went right after him and threw him back in the ring. Hiromu landed a snapmare and a dropkick but Ishii was back in control after a vertical suplex.
Hiromu hit a falcon arrow for a near fall. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick. Ishii popped right up and sent Hiromu into the buckle with a tackle. They did an intricate series of counters ending with Ishii hitting a backdrop suplex.
Hiromu hit a rana and rolled through into a triangle choke. They did a long submission tease but Ishii broke the hold by powering Hiromu into the corner pad. Ishii hit a hard corner clothesline to set up a delayed superplex. Both guys sold this great on landing. Ishii got a near fall.
Hiromu blocked a lariat. Ishii hit an enzuigiri. Ishii then connected with the lariat. Hiromu struggled to his feet and hit some weak forearms. Ishii answered with a single forearm shot and a sliding lariat for a two count.
Ishii went for the Vertical Drop Brainbuster. Hiromu countered into a triangle. Ishii again broke the triangle and hit a lariat. Hiromu took a crazy flip bump off the lariat. Hiromu popped up and hit a dynamite plunger for a near fall.
Hiromu hit two lariats and a superkick. He then hit a DVD into the corner pad. Ishii sold this like he was dead. They did a series of finisher teases. Hiromu no-sold a German. Ishii no-sold a lariat. Hiromu dropped Ishii with a single headbutt in a callback to the start of the match.
Hiromu hit a lariat. He hit Time Bomb but Ishii kicked out at two.
Ishii hit a headbutt. Hiromu spiked Ishii with a brainbuster then hit Time Bomb 2 for the pin.
Both guys sold for a long time after the bell and both stumbled to the back after. This was a war.
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: EVIL defeated YOSHI-HASHI (2:00)
YH sold the knee injury from yesterday’s show during his entrance. EVIL attacked as YH posed on the buckle before the bell rang. EVIL repeatedly hit the knee with a chair.
Once the bell rang, YH tried to fire up and hit chops but EVIL would kick at the leg and cut him off.
EVIL used a scorpion deathlock. They did a long submission tease. YH refused to tap but the referee called for the bell and a stoppage.
EVIL went back after the leg after the match. They continue to build EVIL as a monster who will do anything to win this tournament and they protected YH on the loss.
Uemura started off and did well for himself against Shingo. SHO tagged in to face off with Shingo as that still appears to be a NEVER title direction. SHO got cut off and LIJ worked him over.
SHO made a tag to Goto who got some offense in on Naito. Naito tagged BUSHI who hit Goto with a missile dropkick. Goto tagged Uemura.
Uemura and SHO doubled up on BUSHI. Uemura hit a nice dropkick. Everyone jumped in for a big move as the match broke down. SHO and Shingo traded hard clotheslines.
BUSHI and Uemura were left the legal men. BUSHI hit an enzuigiri and a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall before hitting a fireman’s carry into a codebreaker for the pin.
Shingo and SHO faced off after the match. Shingo taunted SHO with both his NEVER Openweight title and his NEVER Six-Man title belt.
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Way to The Grand Master video and intermission time.
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New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Taiji Ishimori (16:52)
Okada went to lock up but Ishimori hit a thumb to the eye instead. Okada quickly established the advantage once they did lock up and Ishimori rolled outside.
Gedo appeared and distracted Okada. Ishimori attacked from behind. Okada then rolled outside where Gedo hit him with a wrench to the gut. Ishimori used a chinlock and hit a leg drop for a two count.
Ishimori hit an enzuigiri and a sliding German for a two count. Ishimori then went back to the chinlock. Okada came back with a flapjack and more of his signature spots. Okada hit a DDT for a two count.
Ishimori fought out of a tombstone attempt and hit a handspring kick. Ishimori hit a meteora. He went for a knee strike but Okada ducked and rolled him up for a two count.
Ishimori got the Yes Lock applied but Okada forced a rope break immediately. Ishimori attacked Okada’s abs with strikes. Okada hit an air raid crash at the 10 minute mark.
Okada hit a slam and teased a top rope elbow. Gedo jumped on the apron and allowed Ishimori to recover. Ishimori knocked Okada off the apron and hit a golden triangle off the post to the floor.
Back inside, Ishimori hit a shotgun dropkick and a meteora for a two count. Ishimori got the Yes Lock again. Okada did a great job selling this like it was a potential finish but he made the ropes.
Okada hit a dropkick. Ishimori reversed a tombstone into a lungblower for a near fall. Okada sold his abs big. Okada made it to his feet and hit a spinning tombstone.
Okada went for his head and arm choke. Gedo jumped on the apron and Okada gave up the hold. Okada got the hold again. Ishimori pulled the ref down and the ref took a bump.
Gedo jumped in with brass knuckles. Okada ducked the knuckles and sent Gedo outside after a Woo dropkick.
Okada hit Ishimori with a dropkick and then used the head and arm choke for the submission.
This was Ishimori’s best match in about two years. He has to pick his spots now because he’s had so many injuries and he picked today to turn it on.
They felt that the interference was necessary given that Ishimori has been an undercard junior heavyweight tag guy for the last year and it worked to enhance the match.
New Japan Cup quarterfinal match: SANADA defeated Taichi (22:50)
Taichi pulled a length of rope out of his pants and used it to choke SANADA on the opening lockup. Taichi then beat SANADA around ringside. He sent him into the barricade. He dragged him through the building and choked him with a piece of fence. He posted SANADA’s left shoulder.
Back inside, Taichi went for a cover but Red Shoes refused to count the pin. Taichi again choked SANADA. SANADA came back with a low dropkick. He hit a second dropkick to Taichi’s left leg and Taichi rolled outside. SANADA hit a plancha.
Taichi hit a thumb to the eye and a jumping high kick at the ten minute mark. SANADA caught a thrust kick and tried to lock in Skull End. Taichi blocked and hit a backdrop suplex.
They traded strikes. Taichi went for Black Mephisto. SANADA blocked. SANADA ducked an axe bomber and hit a draping neckbreaker. Taichi blocked a springboard attack but SANADA turned it into a sunset flip for a near fall.
SANADA used a moonsault to set up Skull End. Yoshinobu Kanemaru ran in and took the referee. Taichi tapped to Skull End but the ref didn’t see the tap. SANADA gave up the hold. Taichi hit a backdrop suplex.
Taichi used a dragon sleeper with a body scissors. SANADA teased tapping but eventually reached the ropes to force a break.
Taichi went for a last ride but SANADA fought it off. Taichi hit an axe bomber and a jumping high kick at the 20 minute mark.
Taichi hit a backdrop suplex with a bridge for a near fall. SANADA ducked an axe bomber and hit a hurricanrana for a two count. SANADA hit a TKO.
The finish saw SANADA use a spinning Skull End. He went for a moonsault press but Kanemaru jumped on the apron. Taichi shoved the ref down and hit a low blow. SANADA shoved Taichi into Kanemaru and Kanemaru flew off the apron. SANADA then used an O’Connor roll for the pin.
Taichi shoved the ref down after the match as SANADA continued selling the low blow.
New Japan Cup second round match: YOSHI-HASHI defeated BUSHI (10:22)
This was a solid opener marred by an apparent injury to YH’s right knee.
BUSHI attacked YH as he posed on the turnbuckle during his entrance. BUSHI choked YH with his t-shirt. YH came back with a shoulder block and a series of strikes and chops in the corner. YH no-sold a series of strikes.
YH appeared to tweak his knee as BUSHI blocked a charge into the corner. YH slid on the mat as he planted his feet and his right knee gave out. He continued working with a notable limp and the referee checked in on him for the rest of the match.
BUSHI hit a suicide dive and a draping DDT on the apron. BUSHI hit a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall. BUSHI called for the MX but YH caught him coming off the buckle with a lariat. YH hit a second lariat for a near fall.
YH used the butterfly lock. They did a long submission tease but BUSHI forced a rope break. BUSHI used a backslide with a weird bridge for a two count.
The finish saw YH slide out of a fireman’s carry and hit Karma for the pin.
New Japan Cup second round match: SANADA defeated SHO (14:43)
This was very good.
SHO has put on some mass with all of it residing in his quads and his biceps.
They started with chain wrestling. SHO got a cross armbreaker but SANADA forced a break. SHO wrenched on SANADA’s left arm. He slammed it on the top rope and used a wristlock around the post.
SANADA came back with a dropkick to the back on the apron. SANADA barred the left knee but SHO reached the ropes. SANADA no-sold some strikes and kicked at the left knee as he found his point of attack.
SHO came back with a spear and a dropkick. He went back to the armbar but SANADA forced a break. SANADA tried his leapfrog dropkick but SHO caught him with a German and went back to the armbar. SHO transitioned to a triangle and SANADA broke the hold with a powerbomb.
SHO hit a power breaker. He went for Shock Arrow but SANADA blocked. SANADA landed on his feet off a German attempt. SANADA used a TKO threat to transition to Skull End. SHO reversed and used a cradle for a two count.
SHO used a kimura. SANADA rolled through into Skull End. SHO reversed into a wheelbarrow German with a bridge for a near fall. SHO fired up.
SHO again went for Shock Arrow. SANADA blocked and got Skull End. SHO escaped and tried Shock Arrow again. SANADA blocked and hit a spinning Skull End. SHO escaped.
The finish saw SANADA tease a moonsault press. Instead he landed on his feet on the moonsault and locked in Skull End again. SHO tapped.
Hiromu and Yano continued their comedy series here. Yano pulled a bag of Hiromu’s hair clippings out of his tights as they faced off.
Shingo and Tsuji started the match for real. Tsuji was quickly cut off. Shingo and Naito worked Tsuji over. Tsuji came back with a dropkick to Naito.
Hiromu and Ishii tagged in and business picked up. Ishii was tremendous in selling like he wasn’t taking Hiromu seriously as they first engaged. Hiromu made him a believer after a series of signature spots. Ishii fired up and they traded strikes. Hiromu hit a brainbuster. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex.
With Hiromu down, Tsuji tagged back in. He used a variation on a guillotine which looked nasty on Hiromu’s surgically repaired neck. Everyone jumped in. Yano took Shingo and Naito down with hair pulls.
Tsuji went for a crab but Hiromu blocked. LIJ went three-on-one on Tsuji. Naito and Hiromu hit stereo dropkicks for a near fall.
The finish saw Hiromu go for a crab. Tsuji blocked. Hiromu hit a superkick and went back to the crab and Tsuji tapped.
Ishii and Hiromu faced off after the match. They face each other in a tournament match tomorrow. That match is going to rule.
Hiromu also stared down Naito before finally participating in the LIJ fist bump. Was that foreshadowing the Cup final? That match is also going to rule.
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Way to the Grandmaster video and cleaning intermission time.
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New Japan Cup second round match: Taichi (w/ Zack Sabre, Jr.) defeated Kota Ibushi (w/ Hiroshi Tanahashi) (18:08)
There was some good action here but I’m going to stop short of recommending it given the screwy finish.
If you get nauseous watching head drops this was not the match for you.
Sabre tripped Ibushi from the floor early on. Taichi took the ref and Sabre pounded on Ibushi on the outside. Taichi beat Ibushi around the arena and choked him with camera cables. Ibushi made a comeback as the action returned to the ring and used a standing shooting star for a near fall.
They traded hard kicks. Ibushi sold a roundhouse kick big. Ibushi hit a sick Pele kick but sold his neck on landing. Ibushi hit a backdrop suplex for a two count and Ibushi sold his neck again.
Taichi removed his pants. Taichi hit an axe bomber. Ibushi answered with his own lariat. Each tried a last ride but both escaped. Ibushi hit a high kick. Ibushi then connected with a last ride for a two count.
Ibushi teased a Kamigoye. Sabre took the referee. Taichi hit a low blow and used a Gedo clutch for a near fall. Tanahashi tried to fire Ibushi up.
Ibushi missed a charge into the corner. Taichi hit a jumping high kick and a sick backdrop suplex that dropped Ibushi on his head. They traded high kicks into a double down.
Ibushi blocked a buzzsaw kick. He teased sending Taichi into the buckle like a lawn dart but settled for a nasty spike package piledriver instead. Ibushi again went for Kamigoye but Taichi pulled the referee in his path. The ref took a bump and fell out of the ring.
Sabre jumped in and hit Ibushi with strikes. He went for a Zack Driver but Tanahashi saved. Tanahashi hit Sabre with twist and shout and they brawled to the back.
With the ref still down, Taichi hit Ibushi with the iron glove. Taichi then hit Black Mephisto for the pin.
Taichi posed with Ibushi and Tanahashi’s tag titles after the match.
They’re serving two masters by simultaneously pushing Taichi as a serious threat to win the cup and also going so hard in the direction of Sabre and Taichi vs. Tanahashi and Ibushi. That’s not a criticism, it’s just an interesting strategy worth noting.
New Japan Cup second round match: EVIL defeated Hirooki Goto (18:25)
This was a hard-hitting main event. They protected Goto on the finish and established that EVIL will cheat to win if he has to.
EVIL stood blocking the ring steps after his entrance, waiting for Goto to appear. Goto entered and they brawled all over the building before they ever set foot in the ring. That was a creative start.
The brawl continued in the ring. Goto hit a big kick before going to a chinlock. Goto has been going to that chinlock early in all of his recent matches. Goto hit some more strikes. EVIL came back with a lariat that sent Goto over the top to the floor.
EVIL sent Goto into the barricade before Pillman-izing Goto’s arm against the post. Back inside, EVIL used a chinlock. EVIL hit a shoulder tackle. Goto escaped a brainbuster and hit a misdirection lariat.
Goto hit a Saito suplex for a near fall. EVIL answered by taking Goto to the mat with a hair pull. EVIL hit a seated senton in the corner for a two count. They did an awesome series of misdirection spots that ended with Goto hitting an ushigoroshi.
They traded strikes. Each fought for a suplex. Goto hit a rolling elbow and an inverted GTR for a two count. Goto hit a series of mid kicks. EVIL caught a kick and hit a German. Goto no-sold it and they hit simultaneous lariats. Goto hit a lariat for a near fall.
Goto went for a GTR. EVIL blocked and hit a counter elbow to the orbital bone. EVIL hit a fisherman buster for a two count just past the 15-minute mark.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. EVIL called for Everything is EVIL but Goto blocked. They did a series of counters ending with Goto hitting a headbutt.
Goto hit a mid kick and a GTW but EVIL kicked out. Goto went for a GTR but EVIL shoved him off into the referee. The ref took a bump. EVIL hit a lariat and a low blow before reviving the ref. EVIL covered for a two count.
EVIL then hit Everything is EVIL for the pin.
EVIL closed the show with a promo.
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So the quarterfinals are now set. Here are the matches:
New Japan Cup second round match: Taiji Ishimori defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru (9:18)
This had a creative start as Kanemaru attacked Ishimori on the stage during is entrance. Kanemaru proceeded to work over Ishimori’s left leg.
Ishimori’s selling was great but there wasn’t much to the match otherwise. Kanemaru worked over the leg for five minutes. Ishimori hit a handspring kick and started his comeback.
Ishimori missed a knee strike. They traded cradles. Ishimori went for the Bloody Cross but Kanemaru pulled the ref in his path. The ref took a bump. Kanemaru hit a low blow. Kanemaru tried to spit whiskey but Ishimori covered his mouth and made him swallow it. Ishimori covered for a two count.
Kanemaru went for Deep Impact. Ishimori caught him coming off the ropes and teased Bloody Cross. Kanemaru blocked and used a cradle for a near fall.
The finish saw Ishimori try for a Yes Lock. Kanemaru blocked. Ishimori hit a lungblower for a near fall, then hit Bloody Cross for the pin.
New Japan Cup second round match: Tomohiro Ishii defeated Togi Makabe (13:28)
It’s clobbering time.
The bar for stiff brawls between veterans has been set very high in this tournament. This was good but I honestly expected more.
They traded power moves right away as both men went for tackles and lariats. Ishii got the upper hand and hit some hard chops in the corner. Makabe came back with a powerslam and a northern lights suplex for a near fall.
Ishii hit a German on Makabe into the turnbuckle. Makabe sold this as if he had been shot by a sniper rifle. Ishii dropped some knees on the neck area as he went to work.
Makabe came back with a lariat, dropping Ishii. They traded simultaneous lariats before Makabe dropped Ishii with a lariat. Makabe hit a spider German but Ishii no-sold it and hit a lariat with Makabe perched on the buckle.
Ishii hit a delayed superplex. Makabe no-sold it. Ishii hit a lariat for a two count. Makabe hit a German with a bridge for a two count.
Makabe went up top for the King Kong Knee Drop but missed with it. Ishii hit a headbutt and a lariat. Ishii hit another headbutt. Makabe fired up and hit a series of chops and forearms to the side of Ishii’s neck. Ishii cut him off with a lariat.
Ishii then hit the Vertical Drop Brainbuster for the pin.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kota Ibushi & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (13:55)
Ibushi charged the ring as if he had been shot out of a cannon and beat up Suzuki-gun one-on-three before the opening bell.
Sabre and Taichi recovered and cut Tanahashi off in the ring. Taichi held Tanahashi while Sabre hit a dragon screw. Taichi then brawled around the arena with Ibushi, choking him with a cable.
Back inside, Sabre and DOUKI worked over Tanahashi’s left leg. This continued forever. I genuinely believe that Taguchi may have been sleeping on the floor during the match. Sabre worked for a cobra twist. Tana slid out and hit an inverted dragon screw.
Ibushi and Taichi got tags. They traded a series of kicks. Taichi hit a mid kick. He tried a last ride but Ibushi blocked and hit a high kick into a double down.
Taguchi tagged in and Taichi tagged him with a kick on the belt line before tagging DOUKI. DOUKI hit Taguchi with a lariat for a two count. DOUKI hit Suplex de la Luna. Ibushi jumped in and broke up the pin. Ibushi and Taichi brawled to the floor.
Taguchi used two different cradles for near falls. DOUKI blocked a hip attack. Tana jumped in and hit DOUKI with a slingblade.
The finishing sequence saw Taguchi hit a Bomaye for a near fall. Taichi and Sabre jumped in. Ibushi and Tana took them out to the floor. DOUKI used a cradle for a near fall. Taguchi then hit an enzuigiri and used Dodon for the pin.
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Sabre and Taichi attacked Tanahashi and Ibushi after the match. They teased hitting a belt shot but Taguchi jumped in and grabbed the belts. Tana and Ibushi recovered and Taichi and Sabre bailed.
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Another Way to the Grandmaster video played before intermission.
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New Japan Cup second round match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Toru Yano by countout (9:17)
This was one of the best comedy matches you’ll ever see.
Hiromu entered wearing a construction helmet and started the match still wearing it. The referee took hand sanitizer away from Yano before the match.
The match began and Yano immediately produced hair clippers. Hiromu rolled outside and crawled under the ring. Yano went out after him. Hiromu appeared on the other side of the ring and grabbed the clippers.
Hiromu threatened to use the clippers but the battery was dead. Yano then produced a second set of clippers and threatened Hiromu’s hair with them. Hiromu ran wild with a shotgun dropkick. He sent Yano into the barricade.
Yano reversed another whip into the barricade. They brawled around the arena. Yano produced a pair of scissors and again threatened to cut Hiromu’s hair.
They fought their way back to the ring. Yano exposed a turnbuckle. Hiromu avoided the exposed buckle and hit a superkick. Hiromu went for a sunset bomb off the apron but Yano blocked. Yano produced another set of scissors.
Yano taped Hiromu to Yota Tsuji. Yano used the scissors to cut off a chunk of Hiromu’s hair.
They fought backstage. Hiromu used the tape to blindfold Yano and pushed him into an elevator. Hiromu sent the elevator to the ground floor.
Still taped to Tsuji, Hiromu hopped back to the ring. He beat the count back in at 19 and advanced.
Hiromu and Tsuji hobbled to the back together after the match, still taped together.
New Japan Cup second round match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Yuji Nagata (20:15)
The story early on was that Okada may have been too confident going into the match and Nagata was going to make him fight for everything he got.
Nagata opened with a headlock takeover. Okada ran into a high kick. They brawled outside where Okada sent Nagata into the barricade.
Back inside, Nagata ducked a back elbow and hit an exploder. Okada came back with a back elbow. Nagata blocked a tombstone attempt and hit an overhead belly-to-belly at the ten minute mark.
Okada’s facial expressions were awesome in this stretch of the match, as though he was realizing that he might actually lose.
They traded strikes as the intensity was kicked up a notch. Okada hit a shotgun dropkick and an air raid crash for a two count. Okada teased a top rope elbow but Nagata cut him off and hit an exploder off the turnbuckles for a two count.
Okada hit a dropkick to the back, then a second dropkick. Okada went for his Deep In Debt head and arm choke but Nagata reversed into a Nagata Lock crossface. Okada forced a break.
Nagata fought for an exploder. Okada blocked and applied a cobra clutch. They did a long submission tease but Nagata broke the hold with an exploder. Okada missed a dropkick. Okada caught a PK.
They traded strikes and slaps. Nagata ducked a spinning Rainmaker and hit a backdrop suplex for a near fall. Nagata fought for a suplex. Okada grabbed the top rope. Nagata hit a grazing enzuigiri.
Okada then rolled off the ropes into the head and arm choke. Nagata’s facial expressions while in the choke were incredible.
Nagata fought the choke for a long time but eventually tapped.
Okada closed the show with his post-match press conference in the ring.
Korakuen Hall was again the venue for today’s show.
New Japan Cup first round match: BUSHI defeated YOH (15:43)
These guys worked hard but this badly needed a crowd. They didn’t work particularly stiff, so it was two guys working in a dead silent arena and the match went too long.
The opening exchange saw YOH hit a hurricanrana. BUSHI rolled to the floor and YOH hit him with a plancha. YOH may have tweaked his left knee as he landed awkwardly and came up limping. BUSHI again rolled outside where he sent YOH into the barricade.
BUSHI hit a neckbreaker against the barricade. YOH made it back inside after a countout tease. BUSHI went to work on YOH. YOH came back with a handspring elbow and a figure four. YOH used a dragon screw and falcon arrow for a near fall.
BUSHI came back with a neckbreaker and a draping DDT on the apron for a near fall. YOH hit a pair of bridging Germans for near falls. They traded strikes. BUSHI hit an enzuigiri and a rewind kick. YOH hit a superkick.
They did a series of standing switches. BUSHI hit a backstabber for a near fall. YOH hit a flatliner for a near fall. YOH locked on a calf crusher. YOH gave up the hold and teased a dragon suplex. BUSHI blocked and hit a code breaker.
BUSHI hit an elevated neckbreaker and used the MX for the pin.
New Japan Cup first round match: YOSHI-HASHI defeated Hiroyoshi Tenzan (17:37)
These guys beat the hell out of each other. Both had welts all over their chests from hard chops. I can’t believe I’m recommending a YOSHI-HASHI match but I am.
They started off trading tackles. Then they moved to chops. Tenzan hit some Mongolian chops. YH sent him outside and they brawled on the floor. They did a countout tease but Tenzan made it back in at 19.
Tenzan hit a brainbuster for a near fall. They traded more chops. YH hit double knees for a near fall. Tenzan went for a brainbuster off the second but YH hit a sunset bomb for a near fall. Tenzan hit a massive spear and used an STF.
Tenzan hit a slam. He missed a top rope moonsault. YH missed a swanton bomb off the top rope. They traded strikes. Tenzan hit chops and a headbutt. YH hit a lariat and made a cover. Tenzan kicked out at one.
YH hit a diving headhunter off the top for a two count. He locked on the Butterfly Lock but Tenzan forced a break. YH went for a headhunter but Tenzan hit a mountain bomb for a near fall.
Tenzan locked in an anaconda vice. YH powered his way to his feet and Tenzan used an anaconda buster for a near fall.
The finish saw Tenzan go back to the anaconda vice. YH turned him over into a crucifix for a near fall, then locked in the Butterfly Lock and Tenzan tapped. An excellent match.
Kazuchika Okada, Tomohiro Ishii, SHO & Toru Yano went to a double countout with Tetsuya Naito, SANADA, Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi (12:29)
Yano and Hiromu began with some comedy. Hiromu acted disgusted at the sight of Yano. He took forever to get in the ring and start the match. The ref checked Yano’s tights and found a bottle of and sanitizer.
While the ref disposed of the hand sanitizer, Yano pulled hair clippers from his tights and chased Hiromu around the ring with hair clippers. Hiromu’s selling made this funny.
SHO and SANADA had an exchange, then SHO and Shingo, then Ishii and Shingo were in together. They traded hard chops and punches before Naito and Okada tagged in. Okada hit an air raid crash. Naito hit a spinebuster.
They built back to Yano and Hiromu. Hiromu went for a sunset bomb off the apron. Yano pulled a second pair of clippers out of his tights and chased Hiromu through the building with them.
They fought up onto the concessions area. Yano pulled out a roll of tape and taped Hiromu’s legs together. Okada ran to the concourse and tried to get Yano back to the arena but it was too late and both Yano and Hiromu were counted out.
Rather than cutting the tape off Hiromu, Naito and Shingo carried him back to ringside.
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A Way to the Grandmaster hype video aired before intermission.
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New Japan Cup first round match: Hirooki Goto defeated Yujiro Takahashi (w/ Jado) (16:41)
This took a few minutes to get going but the closing sequence was well done.
They started off trading tackles. They brawled to the floor where Yujiro hit an inverted DDT to take control of the match. Yujiro hit kicks in the corner and used a uranage for a two count.
Goto fired back with palm strikes to the chest and a lariat. Goto hit a wheel kick in the corner and a Saito suplex for a two count. Goto went for an ushigoroshi but Yujiro raked his eyes and escaped.
Yujiro hit a fisherman’s superplex for a near fall. They did an intricate series of misdirection spots that ended with simultaneous lariats. Goto hit a headbutt. Yujiro hit a big boot.
Goto hit a draping GTR for a near fall. Yujiro grabbed the referee. Goto shoved the referee away. Jado hit a kendo stick shot. Yujiro hit Miami Shine for a near fall.
Yujiro went for Pimp Juice but Goto fought it off at the fifteen minute mark. Yujiro hit two thrust kicks. Yujiro hit a headbutt. He again went for Pimp Juice. Goto reversed into an ushigoroshi attempt. Yujiro blocked with an eye rake.
The finishing sequence saw Jado take the ref. Yujiro swung his pimp cane at Goto but missed. Goto hit a headbutt. Goto hit ushigoroshi for a near fall and hit a GTR for the pin.
New Japan Cup first round match: EVIL defeated Satoshi Kojima (20:09)
This was a very good main event. Kojima is limited but they built a match around what he can still do and it worked.
They traded shoulder blocks. EVIL rolled outside. Kojima missed a pescado and crashed to the floor. EVIL sent Kojima into the barricade. EVIL used a chair and Pillman-ized Kojima’s right arm against the post with a chair.
EVIL went to work on the right arm. Kojima tried a slingshot elbow but missed. EVIL went back to the arm. Kojima fired up and hit machine gun chops in the corner. He went for a top rope elbow but EVIL cut him off.
They fought to the apron. EVIL teased Everything is EVIL on the apron but Kojima blocked and hit a DDT. Kojima tossed EVIL back in and hit the diving elbow. EVIL came back with an eye rake and mid kick at the ten minute mark.
EVIL hit a cannonball and used a Fujiwara armbar while wrenching back on Kojima’s fingers. Kojima forced a rope break. Kojima blocked a lariat and hit a Koji Cutter. Kojima then hit a second rope Koji Cutter for a near fall. EVIL took the bump right on his knee which looked like it sucked.
Both fought for a suplex. EVIL won the struggle and hit a fisherman’s suplex. Kojima blocked Darkness Falls and hit a lariat. Kojima hit the ropes for another lariat but EVIL blocked and hit a lariat for a two count.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls for a two count. He went for Everything is EVIL but Kojima blocked. Kojima blocked a lariat and hit a lariat for a two count.
Kojima hit a brainbuster for a near fall. Kojima called for one more lariat. EVIL pulled the ref in Kojima’s path. EVIL hit a ref-assisted Magic Killer. EVIL was down. Kojima was down. The ref was down.
EVIL hit a corner clothesline and top rope superplex for a two count. EVIL pulled off his elbow pad. He went for a lariat but Kojima ducked and hit a lariat. Kojima covered for a two count.
The final sequence saw Kojima hit a lariat to the back. He charged in for a second lariat but EVIL caught him coming in and hit Everything is EVIL for the pin.
Minoru Suzuki, El Desperado, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKI defeated Yuji Nagata, Yota Tsuji, Yuya Uemura & Gabriel Kidd (10:34)
This was a fun opener.
Suzuki-gun attacked before the opening bell. Kidd and DOUKI ended up starting the match as the legal men. Kidd and Uemura cut DOUKI off.
Suzuki-gun then stormed the ring as a unit and cleared it. A wild brawl broke out around the ring. Suzuki choked Nagata with a camera cable. Suzuki-gun gained the upper hand in the brawl and began working Uemura over in the ring.
The match built to a Suzuki and Nagata showdown. Suzuki blocked an exploder attempt. Nagata blocked a penalty kick. Suzuki worked for a choke but Nagata fought it off. Suzuki-gun cleared the ring and quadruple-teamed Nagata.
Nagata came back with an overhead belly-to-belly on Desperado. Tsuji tagged in. Tsuji and Kidd doubled up on Desperado. Tsuji hit a spear and got a Boston crab applied but Kanemaru broke it up.
Uemura hit a dropkick on Kanemaru. Suzuki put Uemura in a choke. Nagata broke the hold and brawled to the floor with Suzuki.
The finishing sequence saw Desperado block a vertical suplex and hit a spear off a misdirection. Tsuji fought off Pinche Loco and hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Desperado hit a strike, then used Pinche Loco to pin Tsuji.
New Japan Cup first round match: SANADA defeated Ryusuke Taguchi (15:47)
This was a very good match. They did a little bit of comedy early just so you knew that it was a Taguchi match but Taguchi had his working boots on.
Taguchi offered a fist bump before the bell but SANADA declined.
They locked up and started off with a chain wrestling sequence that ended in a stalemate. Taguchi again offered a fist bump. SANADA pondered the offer for several seconds. He accepted, but was on guard for when Taguchi tried to throw a kick.
Both went for a dropkick simultaneously and missed. SANADA then offered a fist bump. Taguchi accepted. Both then tried to throw kicks at the same time. Taguchi tried the paradise lock and posed and danced. The hold was not applied. SANADA then correctly applied the hold and broke it with a dropkick.
SANADA hit some atomic drops and Taguchi sold his ass. SANADA stepped out of the way of a hip attack and covered for a two count. SANADA used a chinlock. Taguchi blocked a charge into the corner and hit a dropkick.
Taguchi hit a series of hip attacks in the ropes. Taguchi went for three amigos. SANADA blocked the third amigo and briefly applied Skull End. Taguchi escaped and hit the third amigo.
SANADA blocked a bomaye. Taguchi rolled outside. SANADA missed a plancha. Taguchi hit a diving crossbody off the second rope to the floor.
Back inside, Taguchi got an ankle lock applied. SANADA escaped and applied Skull End. Taguchi escaped that and went back to the ankle lock. SANADA powered out and used Skull End. SANADA used the spinning Skull End but Taguchi cradled him for a near fall.
Taguchi used a magistral cradle for a two count and rolled SANADA up for another close near fall. SANADA rolled through and used a Japanese clutch for the pin.
New Japan Cup first round match: SHO defeated Shingo Takagi (17:07)
An excellent match.
This was an upset in the sense that Shingo rarely loses. In another sense you could see that Shingo and SHO for the NEVER title is a planned direction so the finish made sense.
Shingo had his right hand taped up so they built the match around SHO attacking the injury.
They charged at each other at the opening bell and traded an awesome series of power lariats. SHO got a near fall off one of the lariats and locked in an armbar. Shingo forced a rope break. SHO kicked at the right arm.
SHO hit a dropkick. Shingo no-sold it and hit a shoulder block before clotheslining SHO over the top rope. Shingo rammed SHO into the barricade and hammered him with kicks. Shingo hit a DDT on the floor and they did a countout tease.
The pace slowed for the first time at the five minute mark as Shingo used a chinlock and hit some short kicks. They traded strikes. SHO tried a spear but Shingo blocked with a front facelock. SHO powered out of that and hit a vertical suplex.
SHO hit a lariat, ducked under a Shingo lariat and hit a spear. Shingo elbowed out of a German attempt but left his arm vulnerable and SHO attacked it. Shingo hit a jab and a lariat.
Shingo went to the mat and SHO locked in a cross armbreaker. He transitioned to a triangle which Shingo powered out of. Shingo went for noshigami but SHO blocked and hit a series of kicks. They hit simultaneous lariats. They traded suplexes.
Shingo hit a lariat. SHO hit a jumping knee strike. Shingo hit a pumping bomber off a misdirection spot and followed with noshigami. SHO kicked out at two.
Shingo hit a left arm lariat in the corner. They climbed to the top. Shingo went for a superplex. SHO blocked with headbutts. SHO hit a powerbomb on his knees.
SHO hit a lariat and Shingo took a flip bump. Shingo kicked out at one. SHO hit a wheelbarrow German into a bridge for a near fall.
SHO called for Shock Arrow but Shingo powered out. They exchanged lariats and forearm strikes. Shingo hit a double sledge to the chest. SHO hit ten unanswered forearm strikes. Shingo hit a jab and a headbutt. Shingo hit Made in Japan but SHO kicked out.
Shingo hit another pumping bomber but SHO again kicked out. Shingo went for Last of the Dragon but SHO blocked and got a kimura.
Shingo tried to roll through the kimura but SHO kept the hold and then hit a piledriver. SHO followed with Shock Arrow for the pin.
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The Way to The Grandmaster video played before intermission.
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New Japan Cup first round match: Kota Ibushi defeated Zack Sabre Jr. (15:16)
This was good but these two have had much better matches. Sabre is usually protected in the New Japan Cup and Taichi and Sabre have clearly been pushed as challengers for Ibushi and Tanahashi’s tag titles, which makes me wonder if something is up.
They told a striker vs. grappler story. Sabre used his mat skills to attack all of Ibushi’s limbs.
Sabre tried to get Ibushi to the mat right away. Ibushi tried to keep his distance and measure Sabre for kicks.
Sabre finally got Ibushi to the mat. Ibushi escaped and rolled outside. Ibushi hit some hard kicks to Sabre’s legs, dropping him. Sabre caught a kick and got a heel hook. Ibushi forced a break. Sabre used a scissors on one of Ibushi’s legs and an ankle lock on the other.
Sabre missed a charge into the corner. Ibushi hit a high kick and a standing moonsault for a one count. Ibushi hit a hurricanrana and Sabre rolled outside. Ibushi teased a golden triangle but Sabre stepped away before Ibushi tried it.
With Sabre on the apron, Ibushi hit a high kick. Sabre pulled Ibushi to the floor and used a kneebar. Back inside, Sabre used another heel hook around the bottom rope. Ibushi hit some punches but Sabre took out his legs with a sweeping kick.
Sabre blocked a series of strikes. Ibushi hit a lariat into a double down. Ibushi went for a last ride but Sabre blocked with a guillotine. Sabre grabbed a heel hook. Ibushi powered out.
Sabre wrenched on Ibushi’s arm before transitioning to an octopus. Ibushi slid out. Sabre used a single-leg crab before getting another heel hook. Ibushi forced a rope break.
Sabre ducked a strike and used a crucifix for a near fall. Ibushi hit a Pele kick. Sabre escaped a last ride. Ibushi hit a double stomp to the chest. Sabre hit a penalty kick.
Ibushi blocked a Zack Driver and hit a knee strike. He then immediately hit the Kamigoye and pinned Sabre.
New Japan Cup first round match: Taichi (w/ DOUKI) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi (21:51)
Tanahashi was amazing in this match.
Taichi hit a powerbomb as Tanahashi posed on the turnbuckle during his entrance. Tanahashi sold this big.
Uemura and Tsuji climbed into the ring to check on Tana and Taichi kicked them off. Red Shoes continued to attend to Tanahashi.
The bell rang. Taichi hit a high kick and Tana rolled to the floor. DOUKI attacked Tana with a pipe. Taichi choked Tana with a cable. He threw Tana back in but Red Shoes refused to count the pin.
Tana fought off a second DOUKI attack on the floor. Taichi went out after him and beat Tanahashi all around the empty arena. Back inside, Red Shoes again refused to count the pin.
Tsuji began pounding on the ring to fire Tanahashi up. Taichi hit a kick and a big boot. Tana fired up with strikes and a flying forearm. Tana hit a slam and a somersault senton for a near fall. Tana blocked a kick and hit a dragon screw.
Tana missed a charge into the corner and Taichi hit a jumping high kick. Tanahashi blocked another kick. Taichi blocked the follow-up dragon screw. They traded forearm strikes. Taichi kicked at Tanahashi’s left leg.
Tanahashi came back with a flurry. Taichi hit a series of kicks. Tanahashi blocked a kick. They traded strikes. Taichi hit a kick and dumped Tanahashi on his head with a suplex. Tanahashi blocked a last ride. Taichi hit Kawada kicks.
Tanahashi blocked a kick and hit a black hole slam. Tsuji again pounded on the apron to fire Tanahashi up. Taichi twice blocked slingblade. He hoisted Tana up for another suplex but Tana turned it into a slingblade.
Taichi blocked another slingblade. He teased Black Mephisto. Tanahashi escaped and hit twist and shout. Tanahashi hit another slingblade.
Tanahashi hit a High Fly Flow to a standing Taichi. He went to climb the ropes again but DOUKI jumped on the apron. Tana knocked DOUKI off. Tana blocked a low blow from Taichi. Taichi shoved the ref and hit a low blow. Taichi used the Gedo clutch but Tanahashi kicked out.
Taichi measured a thrust kick. Tana blocked. Taichi hit an axe bomber and a last ride for a near fall.
Tanahashi fought off Black Mephisto again and hit a series of forearms. Taichi dropped Tanahashi with one counter forearm. Tanahashi climbed to his feet and dropped Taichi with a slap.
Taichi blocked a whip into the ropes and hit another backdrop suplex. Taichi hit an axe bomber and a jumping high kick before taking his trousers off.
Taichi hit a superkick and Black Mephisto and got the relatively clean pin.
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Taichi put Tanahashi in the stretch plum after the bell. Young Lions jumped in to break it up but DOUKI and Taichi cleared the ring. Ibushi then ran in for the save.
Taichi and Ibushi faced off. DOUKI jumped Ibushi from behind. Taichi hit Ibushi with one of the tag belts. DOUKI then pulled Tanahashi to his feet and Taichi dropped him with a belt shot also.
Taichi closed the show with a promo while standing over Tanahashi and Ibushi.
New Japan Cup first round match: Taiji Ishimori defeated Gabriel Kidd (8:54)
There was not a lot wrong with the work in this match but it would have benefited greatly from having a crowd.
Kidd grabbed an armbar. Ishimori briefly escaped but Kidd got back to the armbar and got a quick one count. Kidd hit a shoulder tackle. He tried for a crab but Ishimori forced a rope break before the hold could be applied.
Ishimori tripped Kidd near the ropes and tossed him outside. Ishimori whipped Kidd into the barricade, then rolled him back inside for a near fall. Ishimori hit some knee strikes and raked Kidd’s back.
Ishimori hit double knees in the corner. He teased an attack off the second rope but Kidd intercepted him with a dropkick. Kidd fought for and finally landed a vertical suplex for a near fall.
Ishimori cut Kidd off. He teased a sliding German but opted for a springboard attack instead. Kidd was supposed to catch him off the ropes and apply a crab but the timing was messed up. Kidd got the crab but Ishimori forced a rope break.
The finishing sequence saw Ishimori hit a back elbow and a back handspring kick for a near fall. He then applied the Yes Lock and Kidd tapped.
New Japan Cup first round match: Yoshinobu Kanemaru defeated Yuya Uemura (9:34)
These two had a good match. They had a hot start and a great series of near falls at the end.
Uemura is gigantic.
They came up with a creative start as Uemura attacked Kanemaru before the opening bell. Uemura hit a slam and a dropkick. Kanemaru rolled outside. Uemura avoided a whip into the barricade and hit some strikes.
Back inside, Uemura used a side headlock. Kanemaru broke free and took the fight back to the floor. This time he was able to send Uemura into the barricade. Kanemaru then hit a leg slice over the edge of the barricade.
In the ring, Kanemaru used a headscissors on the mat. Kanemaru hit some short kicks to taunt Uemura. Uemura fired up and hit a vertical suplex, a dropkick and a springboard crossbody for a near fall.
Uemura hit his trademark double underhook belly-to-belly but Kanemaru kicked out at two. Uemura charged but Kanemaru pulled the referee in his path. Kanemaru hit a kick and grabbed his whiskey bottle. The ref pulled the bottle away and Uemura rolled Kanemaru up for a near fall.
Uemura used three quick cradles for near falls. Kanemaru then cut him off with a dropkick and hit an inverted DDT for a near fall.
Kanemaru then climbed to the second rope and hit Deep Impact for the pin.
The CHAOS team went four-on-one against BUSHI at the outset. Goto hip tossed YH on top of BUSHI for a near fall. LIJ then used a four-on-one to cut YH off. They focused on YH’s left arm in working him over. EVIL hit a senton for a two count.
SANADA used a cobra twist. Shingo tagged in and took a shot at his first round opponent SHO on the apron. Shingo hit a knee drop on YH. YH fired up and tagged SHO who had a nice power exchange with Shingo. SHO powered Shingo up with a suplex for a near fall.
SHO and Shingo exchanged strikes and lariats. Shingo ducked a lariat and hit a German. SHO no-sold it and hit a lariat into a double down.
YOH and BUSHI tagged back in. YOH hit a nice hip toss, a dropkick and kipped up. YOH hit a head and arm suplex into a bridge for a two count as the other six competitors brawled around ringside.
BUSHI hit a jaw breaker and a rewind kick. YOH tried a Pele kick but their timing was off and it looked bad. Goto tagged in and fell victim to a four-on-one. BUSHI hit a back stabber for a near fall and a swinging DDT for another two count.
BUSHI called for the MX. Goto ducked and the move missed. Everyone jumped in for a big move. YH hit EVIL with a lariat and fought off a Magic Killer. SHO suplexed Shingo.
The finish saw Goto hit BUSHI with an ushigoroshi and a GTR for the pin.
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A Way to The Grandmaster hype video played before intermission.
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New Japan Cup first round match: Yuji Nagata defeated Minoru Suzuki (20:36)
This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but these guys presented a master class on getting a lot out of a little, playing to your strengths, selling and intensity. Happy Birthday to the king, as Suzuki turned 52 today.
Suzuki hit a big boot at the opening bell. Both men then fired off a series of strikes. Suzuki laughed as Nagata gave him his neck and invited some forearm shots. They traded forearm strikes to the side of the neck. Both saw their necks turn red from the force of the strikes.
After trading forearms, they moved on to trading slaps to the face and neck. Suzuki teased going down after several unanswered slaps but stayed up. The first five minutes of the match consisted entirely of strikes back and forth.
Nagata hit a big boot. He went for a second boot but Suzuki grabbed a kneebar. Nagata forced a rope break. They rolled outside where Suzuki sent Nagata into the barricade. Suzuki hit Nagata with a bucket and a water bottle.
Suzuki grabbed a chair. The referee tried to grab the chair. Suzuki shoved the ref to the ground and he took a bump. Suzuki then retrieved a second chair and used it on Nagata’s right arm. Suzuki wrenched Nagata’s left arm in the barricade.
They teased a countout but Nagata made it back in at 19. They traded strikes again in the corner. Suzuki dropped Nagata with a slap. Suzuki tried for a figure four around the post but the ref broke it up.
Suzuki hit a series of palm strikes to the chest in the corner. Nagata tried to fire up but couldn’t. Suzuki hit a kick in the corner. He went for a PK but Nagata caught the kick. Nagata then hit a series of kicks to a seated Suzuki.
Nagata hit a big boot in the corner. He tried for a suplex but Suzuki caught him in a guillotine. Nagata powered out of the hold and wrenched Suzuki’s right arm. Nagata then hit a series of kicks to the right arm.
Nagata continued working the right arm. Suzuki sold as though his elbow was dislocated. Nagata tried to wrench the arm again but Suzuki blocked and applied a rear naked choke. Nagata teased passing out. Suzuki gave up the hold and made a cover but Nagata kicked out.
Suzuki used a sleeper. He transitioned for a Gotch-style piledriver attempt. Nagata blocked the piledriver. Suzuki hit a knee strike. He tried for the piledriver again but Nagata powered out.
They traded forearm strikes. Nagata was bleeding from the mouth. They traded hard slaps to the face. Suzuki hit a headbutt and Nagata dropped to a knee. Suzuki hit two more headbutts and both men went down. The last headbutt was borderline unsafe. They traded more strikes.
Nagata hit an exploder out of nowhere. Suzuki used misdirection to try to set up a rear naked choke but Nagata blocked and hit a high angle suplex hold and pinned Suzuki for the upset.
New Japan Cup first round match: Kazuchika Okada defeated Gedo (15:31)
They used every trick in the book to make this a passable manager vs. wrestler battle.
Gedo entered with his right arm in a sling. He cut a promo. Okada entered. Okada demanded that Gedo remove the sling before the match started. Gedo pulled a spray bottle out of the sling and tried to spray something in Okada’s eyes but Okada blocked.
The bell rang and Gedo laid down, inviting Okada to pin him. Gedo tried to pull brass knuckles out of his jacket but Okada blocked and took them away. While the referee disposed of the knuckles, Gedo pulled a wrench out of his pants and used it on Okada’s abdomen.
Gedo again used the wrench on the floor. Gedo grabbed a table and hit Okada with it. Okada beat the count back inside but Gedo sent him back to the floor. Gedo used a chair on Okada at the five-minute mark.
Back inside, Gedo hit a series of kicks and punches. Okada blocked a kick and hit a big boot. Okada hit a running back elbow in the center and another in the corner. Okada hit a DDT for a two count, still selling his abdomen.
Okada hit a scoop slam. He teased a top rope elbow but Gedo rolled out of the ring. Gedo used a hammer to attack the abdomen and tossed Okada back inside.
Okada reversed a whip and missed a dropkick attempt. Gedo covered for a two count. Gedo used a bow and arrow but Okada reached the ropes for a break. Gedo blocked a flapjack but Okada countered with an air raid crash.
Okada went for a tombstone but Gedo fought it off by holding on to the referee. Gedo threw Okada into the ref and hit a low blow.
Gedo retrieved another set of brass knuckles that had been taped to the post. Gedo used the brass knuckles and revived the referee. Gedo used the Gedo Clutch but Okada kicked out at two.
Jado made his way to ringside. Gedo tried a Blade Runner but Okada blocked. Okada again tried for the dropkick but Gedo avoided it.
Jado took the ref. Gedo tried another brass knuckles shot but Okada ducked and hit a dropkick. Okada hit a second dropkick at 15 minutes, sending Jado crashing to the floor.
Okada hit a tombstone and used the Deep In Debt for the submission victory.
New Japan Cup round one match: Togi Makabe defeated Yota Tsuji (8:42)
This was an excellent opener and was probably Makabe’s best match in years.
Tsuji hit a spear right at the opening bell and scored a quick two count. Tsuji then hit a shoulder tackle for another near fall.
Makabe rolled outside and Tsuji followed. Tsuji peppered Makabe with strikes before Makabe reversed a whip into the barricade and established control of the match. Makabe hit a slam and used a single-leg crab.
Tsuji fired up and hit a tackle into a double down. Tsuji was first up and hit a vertical suplex for a near fall. Tsuji used a Boston crab but Makabe powered out. Tsuji answered with a second spear for another near fall.
Makabe hit his best powerslam in years for a near fall. Makabe applied a crab but Tsuji forced a rope break. Tsuji used a cool rolling cradle for a two count. Tsuji hit the ropes but ran right into a lariat.
Makabe then hit a German suplex into a bridge for the pin.
New Japan Cup round one match: Toru Yano defeated Jado (w/ Gedo and Yujiro Takahashi) (9:08)
This should get votes for worst worked match of the year. You have to see this to believe how bad it was.
They both played to the nonexistent crowd for comedy. Yano came to the ring with a spray bottle of hand sanitizer. Yano untied a corner pad.
Yano ducked a kendo stick shot. They had a battle over who would drop their weapon first. The ref took Jado’s stick and Yano hit Jado with the corner pad. Jado took a delayed flop bump.
Up to this point it was just a typical comedy match that wasn’t clicking. Then things took a turn.
Jado took the ref and Yujiro ran Yano into the barricade. Jado followed up with some chops, back rakes and biting.
Jado sent Yano into the exposed buckle. Jado used a cradle for a near fall. Jado used an abdominal stretch. Gedo took the ref and Yujiro and Gedo hit a double back suplex on Yano for a two count. Yano untied a second turnbuckle pad. Jado hit Yano with it.
The finish saw Jado take the ref. Gedo jumped in. Gedo tried a low blow but Yano blocked. Yano hit low blows to Gedo and Jado. Yujiro jumped on the apron but didn’t do anything. Yano used a schoolboy for the pin.
Suzuki-gun’s attack before the opening bell failed and the faces ran wild at the outset. Taichi and Sabre doubled up on Tanahashi to take control of the match. Sabre hit a PK and an assisted dragon screw as they went after Tana’s left leg.
They continued working the leg. Suzuki used a kneebar. Taichi and Suzuki used chairs to attack the leg on the outside.
The match turned when Sabre went for a cobra twist. Tana reversed into a dragon screw and tagged Ibushi. Ibushi lit up Sabre with strikes and hit a standing moonsault for a near fall.
Suzuki and Nagata tagged in and traded strikes. Suzuki used misdirection and applied a rear naked choke. He went for the Gotch-style piledriver but Nagata slipped out and hit an exploder suplex.
The babyfaces cleared the ring and went four-on-one against Suzuki. Uemura hit Suzuki with a double underhook suplex and used a crab before Suzuki-gun jumped back in to break it up.
The match broke down. Suzuki and Uemura were left the legal men. Suzuki took the ref. Kanemaru hit Uemura with a whiskey bottle. Suzuki then hit the Gotch for the pin.
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Suzuki and Nagata had a pull-apart after the match while Ibushi and Sabre talked trash. Taichi and Sabre then double-teamed Ibushi and posed with Ibushi and Tanahashi’s tag titles.
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Another Way to The Grandmaster hype video played. This was the same video as last night.
We then had an intermission for cleaning and disinfecting the ring.
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New Japan Cup round one match: Hiromu Takahashi defeated Tomoaki Honma (18:47)
If you have any doubt as to whether Hiromu is one of the ten best wrestlers on earth, watch this match. He got a great match out of Tomoaki Honma. Honma was great too.
They established that Honma had a power edge as a heavyweight as they traded shoulder tackles at the outset. Honma missed a kokeshi and only after that was Hiromu able to drop him with a tackle.
Hiromu hit a dropkick and Honma rolled outside. Hiromu hit a shotgun dropkick off the apron. Hiromu did a lap around the ring and hit a second dropkick on the floor, sending Honma into the barricade.
Back inside, Hiromu hit some strikes to the neck and shoulder area. He followed up with a headscissors on the mat, working over the neck. Hiromu hit a series of unanswered strikes to the neck before Honma countered with a DDT.
Honma hit a back elbow and a bulldog. He went for a kokeshi but missed again. Hiromu tried a kokeshi and missed. Honma hit a brainbuster for a two count and hit a series of hard chops.
They traded strikes. They traded running back elbows. They hit a pair of simultaneous lariats. Honma hit a German suplex. Hiromu tried a German but Honma blocked. Hiromu hit a lariat.
Then it was time for the terrifying spot of the match.
Honma rolled to the apron. Hiromu teased a sunset bomb but Honma blocked. Honma knocked Hiromu into the barricade. Honma teased a diving kokeshi off the post but Hiromu blocked and hit a DVD on the apron.
Honma did a tremendous job of selling the DVD as though he were dead. It was delivered about as safely as it could have been, but there’s not a lot of margin for error for two guys who have broken their necks.
Honma beat the count back in at 19. Hiromu hit some strikes. Honma tried to fire back but collapsed, selling exhaustion.
They traded strikes at the 15 minute mark. Honma hit a series of chops and tried another kokeshi but missed again. Hiromu went for a Dynamite Plunger. Honma blocked and hit a diving kokeshi, a standard kokeshi, then another diving kokeshi. He rolled Hiromu up for a two count.
Honma tried a kokeshi from the second rope but missed. Hiromu immediately covered for a two count. Honma hit a diving kokeshi to the back. Hiromu hit a lariat. Honma kicked out at one.
Honma ducked a superkick and hit a kokeshi. He went for a slam but Hiromu blocked and hit a superkick.
Hiromu hit a running DVD into the turnbuckle, then hit Time Bomb for the pin.
Awesome, awesome match.
New Japan Cup round one match: Tomohiro Ishii defeated El Desperado (20:18)
This was the best empty arena match I’ve seen during the pandemic.
They locked up. Desperado broke cleanly against the ropes but taunted Ishii over his height. Ishii fired up. Desperado hit a foot stomp. Ishii fired back with a tackle and some stiff kicks to the back.
Ishii hit a tackle and hit some short kicks to Desperado’s head, taunting him. Desperado came back with a hard chop and a tackle. Desperado then turned his attention to Ishii’s left leg and began working it over.
Desperado posted the left leg and sent Ishii into the barricade. Desperado hit a double knee drop to the bad leg and Ishii sold it big. While Red Shoes checked on Ishii, Desperado exposed a turnbuckle.
Desperado sent Ishii into the exposed buckle. He sent Ishii into the buckle a second time but Ishii no-sold it and hit a pounce out of the corner. Ishii then hit his chop and forearm combinations in the opposite corner.
Desperado went for a spear but Ishii blocked. Ishii tried a powerbomb but Desperado slipped out. Desperado hit a misdirection spear but Ishii answered with a heel hook on landing. Desperado forced a rope break, but now his left leg was compromised.
Desperado hit a spinebuster and applied Numero Dos. Ishii crawled to the ropes to force a break. They traded kicks. Ishii reversed a whip and sent Desperado into the exposed buckle.
Desperado pulled Red Shoes into Ishii’s path and hit a low dropkick. Desperado then got Numero Dos applied again but Ishii powered out.
Desperado went for a pumphandle slam but Ishii slid out and hit a brainbuster. Ishii hit a powerslam into a double down. They traded strikes. Ishii dropped Desperado with a big forearm at the 15 minute mark.
Ishii went for a powerbomb but he sold as though his knee gave way. Ishii hit the powerbomb on the second attempt and stacked Desperado up for a near fall. Desperado blocked a lariat.
Ishii blocked a low blow attempt. Ishii hit a backdrop and used a sliding lariat for a near fall. Ishii went for the Vertical Drop Brainbuster but Desperado slid out. Desperado shoved Ishii into Red Shoes, then hit a low blow for a near fall.
Desperado missed a charge and hit the exposed buckle but quickly recovered and slammed Ishii’s head into the exposed buckle. Desperado then hit Guitarra de Angel for a near fall.
Ishii blocked two Pinche Loco attempts. Desperado wound up for a lariat but Ishii hit a headbutt to the chest. Ishii hit a lariat but Desperado kicked out at two.
Desperado blocked a brainbuster and used El Es Culero for a great near fall.
Ishii then hit the vertical drop brainbuster for the pin.
While original plans for the tournament were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, the New Japan Cup is still taking place this year.
At their press conference announcing the resumption of events, NJPW revealed that the New Japan Cup will begin on June 16 and end on July 11. It will be a 32-man openweight tournament.
The winner of the New Japan Cup will challenge Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and IWGP Intercontinental Championship in the main event of Dominion on July 12. The New Japan Cup finals and Dominion are both taking place at Osaka-jo Hall. Fans will be allowed to attend those shows, but the arena will be limited to one-third capacity.
The other New Japan Cup events won’t have fans in attendance.
The first round matches on the left side of the bracket will take place on June 16 and June 17, with the first round matches on the right side then being held on June 22 and June 23.
For the first seven New Japan Cup shows, there will be an additional non-tournament match on each card. There will then be two non-tournament matches on July 3. Those non-tournament matches haven’t been revealed.
The card for the New Japan Cup finals will feature 7-9 matches in total.
After several months of dormancy, New Japan Pro Wrestling has announced a return to live events.
NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced today in an online press conference that NJPW events will return starting on June 15. The first show will be a Together Project Special. The actual card for the first show will remain a mystery until the show starts.
The New Japan Cup, which was previously slated for March, will instead start on June 16 and run through July 11. These shows will be held with no fans in attendance.
The finals will be held on July 11, with Dominion taking place the following night on July 12. Both shows will be held at Osaka-jo Hall and will be the first shows to allow fans into the arena. However, these shows will only hold a third of Osaka-jo Hall’s normal capacity.
Sugabayashi also announced that the previously scheduled tour that was to take place in July in the Hokkaido region has been cancelled.
NJPW last held a show on February 26, a New Japan Road event. They had previously said that they would not hold shows until the state of emergency in Japan was lifted, which happened for all of the country on May 25.
