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New Japan Cup 2023 bracket revealed!
New Japan Cup 2023 bracket revealed!
24 to battle in intense elimination tournament
The New Japan Cup kicks off on March 5 2023. The annual spring tournament brings a slice of March madness to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, with the prize being a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis in Ryogoku on April 8. After a 50 man field in 2022, a high barrier to entry in 2023 will see 24 compete in an intense 16 day tour culminating March 21 in Nagaoka. Here are your first round matches and byes:
Watch New Japan Cup live in English on NJPW World!
MARCH 5, Korakuen
Taichi (6th entry, 6th consecutive) vs SANADA (6th entry, 6th consecutive, 2019 finalist)
Struggling out of the blocks in 2023 as a loss to his former partner Manabu Soya in Yokohama Arena was compounded by defeats through the New Beginning tour, SANADA has admitted to struggling to find exactly what he wants to do with his wrestling career of late. With the New Japan Cup set to see its finals this year in SANADA’s home prefecture of Niigata, this tournament would certainly be a fine site for the resurgence of Cold Skull; if SANADA is looking for extra motivation, he couldn’t ask for a better first round opponent than Taichi.
Taichi’s like minded in ring approach and a mutual respect between the two men will ensure that this is a stunning encounter in Korakuen Hall, but while SANADA is looking to get back on his horse, so too is the Holy Emperor. After forming Just Four Guys, Taichi wanted a rapid stride to the top, but defeat to Will Ospreay in Sapporo this month has set him with rebuilding work to be done. Last time Taichi and SANADA met, it was a nail biting encounter in the NJPW World TV Championship tournament that went right down to the time limit wire before SANADA emerged on top. With no time limit in Korakuen, will the result be different?
Winner faces: KENTA (2nd entry, first in two years. New Japan Cup USA 2020 winner, STRONG Openweight Championship number one contender)
Despite a loss to Hiroshi Tanahashi in Osaka this past weekend, KENTA’s position as number one contender to Mr. No Days Off Fred Rosser in San Jose February 18 could see the STRONG Openweight Champion in a New Japan Cup for the first time. A deserving bye into round two in Nagoya March 11, KENTA will either face Taichi one on one for the first time in what could be a hard hitting meeting, or memories could be evoked of KENTA’s trolling of both his opponent and the crowd when he and SANADA met in Makuhari last autumn.
Tetsuya Naito (11th entry, 3rd conseuctive, 2016 winner) vs El Phantasmo (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive)
A first time singles meeting for Tetsuya Naito and El Phantasmo should be a highlight of the first round. With Jay White’s exile from Japan at the hands of Hikuleo now a reality, a power vacuum within BULLET CLUB could change the face of New Japan Pro-Wrestling at large. Though ELP fell just short in his attempt to seize power in the form of the NEVER Openweight Championship at New Beginning in Osaka, the potential exists for him to make major waves by seizing the New Japan Cup, and potentially what lies beyond at Sakura Genesis. Yet in his path lies last year’s New Japan Cup finalist. Days after ending the career of Keiji Muto in the Tokyo Dome, Naito will be setting his sights on a second consecutive Dome main event by setting a course for January 4 2024; to reach that point he needs the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Winner faces: Chase Owens (4th entry, 3rd consecutive)
A fortunate bye for Chase Owens sees him in the second round, where he will be a distinct underdog in Nagoya March 11 opposite ELP or Naito. That said, all that applies to Phantasmo applies to Chase Owens as well. Long a loyal soldier for BULLET CLUB, a 2022 that was highlighted with wins over Great-O-Khan and Tomohiro Ishii could and arguably should have Owens considering his place and potential in the impending factional land grab, and an upset could lead to big things for the rest of this year and beyond.
MARCH 6, Ota
David Finlay (2nd entry, first in two years) vs Tomohiro Ishii (15th entry, 8th consecutive)
‘Expect me’ was the rallying cry for David Finlay heading into the G1, and by the end of the tournament, everybody knew exactly what those words meant. The Rebel was a distinct underdog player heading into the tournament of tournaments last year, but with a string of successes, Finlay was in the mix for his block toward its final night, and his win over Will Ospreay during the tournament set the table for a stunning IWGP United States Championship challenge last September. Now, Finlay is anything but an underdog in the New Japan Cup and is looking to go deep in the bracket, but has a tough task ahead of him in the Stone Pitbull.
Winner faces: Great-O-Khan (3rd entry, 3rd consecutive, British Heavyweight Champion)
Champion of the British Great-O-Khan gets a bye into the second round, such is the respect the Eliminator no doubt feels he is warranted. A bout in Ehime March 13 with either Ishii or Finlay will be a difficult one for O-Khan, but after struggles in 2021 and 2022, he will want to threaten the final four at least on his third try in the tournament, as well as create as few contenders to his British gold as possible.
Shota Umino (2nd entry, first in four years) vs Yujiro Takahashi (13th entry, 4th consecutive)
After new Beginning in Sapporo, Shota Umino was left ruing a painful loss to Tetsuya Naito that showed the Roughneck that he still had some way to go to compete right at the top flight. With singles defeats to Will Ospreay and Tetsuya Naito giving the young man an inauspicious start to his post excursion career, Umino is planting his flag in the ground and declaring that this tournament will be where he rockets himself to the top. Certainly he would like to face Tetsuya Naito in a potential quarter final to do just that, but in the meantime he has the ever devious Yujiro Takahashi, and likely all of HOUSE OF TORTURE, to deal with.
Winner faces: Zack Sabre Jr. (6th entry, 6th consecutive, 2018, 2022 winner, NJPW World TV Champion)
Last year’s New Japan Cup winner and the current NJPW World TV Champion at time of writing will be getting a bye into March 15’s Okayama card and round two. Now buoyed by his first NJPW singles championship, ZSJ is setting himself in good stead for potential back to back New Japan Cup victories, and will be the pick of many opposite either Umino or Yujiro.
MARCH 8, Fukushima
Ren Narita (debut entry, NEVER Openweight 6 man Tag Team Champion) vs EVIL (7th entry, 5th consecutive, 2020 winner)
Alongside Strong Style teammates in Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado February 11, Ren Narita left Osaka as a champion for the first time in his career. The Son of Strong Style can not yet clear HOUSE OF TORTURE from his slate however, as EVIL gets a chance at singles vengeance for his trios loss in Fukushima. Will Narita’s rise continue, or will EVIL squash the Son’s hopes to change the guard this spring?
Winner faces: Jeff Cobb (3rd entry, 3rd consecutive)
Jeff Cobb’s return to Japanese competition for the first time in four months sees the Imperial Unit face either EVIL or Narita in Ehime March 13. Cobb has New Japan Cup prior with the King of Darkness, but will not discriminate in his pursuit of the spring trophy, and will just as happily send Narita for a Tour of the Islands for a spot in the last eight.
Toru Yano (18th entry, 18th consecutive) vs Mark Davis (debut entry)
As Aussie Open return to Japan, Mark Davis is entered into his first New Japan Cup, with Toru Yano in the first round. Davis and Kyle Fletcher had success through Battle Autumn and World Tag League against Yano and compatriots, but in singles action, can Yano’s wiles overcome Dunkzilla’s power?
Winner faces: Will Ospreay (4th entry, 3rd consecutive, 2021 winner)
Will Ospreay gets a berth in the second round after a stunning win against Taichi in Sapporo this month, and now awaits either Yano or Davis in Ehime. Ospreay would certainly prefer to face his United Empire teammate in the second round, but Yano would present a very different competition and just as much of a trap game for the Aerial Assassin. Now in his second month of a year long plan to get back to the top of the wrestling world, could Ospreay go all the way in the cup for the second time in his career?
MARCH 10 Yamagata
Kyle Fletcher (debut entry) vs YOSHI-HASHI (10th entry, 9th consecutive, IWGP Tag Team Champion)
The other half of Aussie Open will face YOSHI-HASHI in the first round in Yamagata. Aussie Open have certainly not forgotten their World Tag League final loss to Bishamon which led to YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto’s second IWGP Tag Team Championship reign; for the Aussie Arrow, a chance on March 10 not only to make a huge mark in his first singles match in Japan, but to potentially impress on the tag champs the need for a WTL rematch.
Winner faces: Hirooki Goto (15th entry, 5th consecutive, 2009, 2010, 2012 IWGP Tag Team Champion)
March 12 in Shiga, Hirooki Goto faces either a tag team rival in Fletcher or a tag team partner in YOSHI-HASHI. A three time New Japan Cup winner, Hirooki Goto earned a label of Mr. March around a decade ago. Now 20 years deep into his career, a chance to once again seize singles glory this spring.
Shingo Takagi (4th entry, 4th consecutive, KOPW 2023 holder) vs Aaron Henare (4th entry, 3rd consecutive)
Shingo Takagi’s war with Kazuchika Okada over the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in Osaka February 11 saw the Dragon come up just short, but it isn’t like the Dragon to take losses lying down. With the chance to bounce right back to title contention, Takagi takes on Aaron Henare in Yamagata.
For Henare, a singles defeat to Takagi all the way back in October 2019 was an indicator of the potential competitor he could become. After labouring under a perceived ‘glass ceiling’ in Hontai, the New japan Cup in 2021 was the impetus for Henare to break from the NJPW home team and become the United Empire’s Ultimate Weapon. Could this first round matchup see another career breakthrough?
Winner faces: Tama Tonga (5th entry, 2nd consecutive, NEVER Openweight Champion)
The NEVER Openweight Champion Tama Tonga will get a bye into the second round to face either Henare or Takagi. After defeating El Phantasmo in Osaka February 11, Tonga vowed to become the best NEVER Openweight Champion of all time. After the athleticism of Phantasmo, title on the line or not, either of his potential opponents will bring a classic ‘BMF’ NEVER style to the current title holder in Shiga March 12.
MARCH 5, Korakuen
Taichi (6th entry, 6th consecutive) vs SANADA (6th entry, 6th consecutive, 2019 finalist)
Struggling out of the blocks in 2023 as a loss to his former partner Manabu Soya in Yokohama Arena was compounded by defeats through the New Beginning tour, SANADA has admitted to struggling to find exactly what he wants to do with his wrestling career of late. With the New Japan Cup set to see its finals this year in SANADA’s home prefecture of Niigata, this tournament would certainly be a fine site for the resurgence of Cold Skull; if SANADA is looking for extra motivation, he couldn’t ask for a better first round opponent than Taichi.
Taichi’s like minded in ring approach and a mutual respect between the two men will ensure that this is a stunning encounter in Korakuen Hall, but while SANADA is looking to get back on his horse, so too is the Holy Emperor. After forming Just Four Guys, Taichi wanted a rapid stride to the top, but defeat to Will Ospreay in Sapporo this month has set him with rebuilding work to be done. Last time Taichi and SANADA met, it was a nail biting encounter in the NJPW World TV Championship tournament that went right down to the time limit wire before SANADA emerged on top. With no time limit in Korakuen, will the result be different?
Winner faces: KENTA (2nd entry, first in two years. New Japan Cup USA 2020 winner, STRONG Openweight Championship number one contender)
Despite a loss to Hiroshi Tanahashi in Osaka this past weekend, KENTA’s position as number one contender to Mr. No Days Off Fred Rosser in San Jose February 18 could see the STRONG Openweight Champion in a New Japan Cup for the first time. A deserving bye into round two in Nagoya March 11, KENTA will either face Taichi one on one for the first time in what could be a hard hitting meeting, or memories could be evoked of KENTA’s trolling of both his opponent and the crowd when he and SANADA met in Makuhari last autumn.
Tetsuya Naito (11th entry, 3rd conseuctive, 2016 winner) vs El Phantasmo (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive)
A first time singles meeting for Tetsuya Naito and El Phantasmo should be a highlight of the first round. With Jay White’s exile from Japan at the hands of Hikuleo now a reality, a power vacuum within BULLET CLUB could change the face of New Japan Pro-Wrestling at large. Though ELP fell just short in his attempt to seize power in the form of the NEVER Openweight Championship at New Beginning in Osaka, the potential exists for him to make major waves by seizing the New Japan Cup, and potentially what lies beyond at Sakura Genesis. Yet in his path lies last year’s New Japan Cup finalist. Days after ending the career of Keiji Muto in the Tokyo Dome, Naito will be setting his sights on a second consecutive Dome main event by setting a course for January 4 2024; to reach that point he needs the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Winner faces: Chase Owens (4th entry, 3rd consecutive)
A fortunate bye for Chase Owens sees him in the second round, where he will be a distinct underdog in Nagoya March 11 opposite ELP or Naito. That said, all that applies to Phantasmo applies to Chase Owens as well. Long a loyal soldier for BULLET CLUB, a 2022 that was highlighted with wins over Great-O-Khan and Tomohiro Ishii could and arguably should have Owens considering his place and potential in the impending factional land grab, and an upset could lead to big things for the rest of this year and beyond.
MARCH 6, Ota
David Finlay (2nd entry, first in two years) vs Tomohiro Ishii (15th entry, 8th consecutive)
‘Expect me’ was the rallying cry for David Finlay heading into the G1, and by the end of the tournament, everybody knew exactly what those words meant. The Rebel was a distinct underdog player heading into the tournament of tournaments last year, but with a string of successes, Finlay was in the mix for his block toward its final night, and his win over Will Ospreay during the tournament set the table for a stunning IWGP United States Championship challenge last September. Now, Finlay is anything but an underdog in the New Japan Cup and is looking to go deep in the bracket, but has a tough task ahead of him in the Stone Pitbull.
Winner faces: Great-O-Khan (3rd entry, 3rd consecutive, British Heavyweight Champion)
Champion of the British Great-O-Khan gets a bye into the second round, such is the respect the Eliminator no doubt feels he is warranted. A bout in Ehime March 13 with either Ishii or Finlay will be a difficult one for O-Khan, but after struggles in 2021 and 2022, he will want to threaten the final four at least on his third try in the tournament, as well as create as few contenders to his British gold as possible.
Shota Umino (2nd entry, first in four years) vs Yujiro Takahashi (13th entry, 4th consecutive)
After new Beginning in Sapporo, Shota Umino was left ruing a painful loss to Tetsuya Naito that showed the Roughneck that he still had some way to go to compete right at the top flight. With singles defeats to Will Ospreay and Tetsuya Naito giving the young man an inauspicious start to his post excursion career, Umino is planting his flag in the ground and declaring that this tournament will be where he rockets himself to the top. Certainly he would like to face Tetsuya Naito in a potential quarter final to do just that, but in the meantime he has the ever devious Yujiro Takahashi, and likely all of HOUSE OF TORTURE, to deal with.
Winner faces: Zack Sabre Jr. (6th entry, 6th consecutive, 2018, 2022 winner, NJPW World TV Champion)
Last year’s New Japan Cup winner and the current NJPW World TV Champion at time of writing will be getting a bye into March 15’s Okayama card and round two. Now buoyed by his first NJPW singles championship, ZSJ is setting himself in good stead for potential back to back New Japan Cup victories, and will be the pick of many opposite either Umino or Yujiro.
MARCH 8, Fukushima
Ren Narita (debut entry, NEVER Openweight 6 man Tag Team Champion) vs EVIL (7th entry, 5th consecutive, 2020 winner)
Alongside Strong Style teammates in Minoru Suzuki and El Desperado February 11, Ren Narita left Osaka as a champion for the first time in his career. The Son of Strong Style can not yet clear HOUSE OF TORTURE from his slate however, as EVIL gets a chance at singles vengeance for his trios loss in Fukushima. Will Narita’s rise continue, or will EVIL squash the Son’s hopes to change the guard this spring?
Winner faces: Jeff Cobb (3rd entry, 3rd consecutive)
Jeff Cobb’s return to Japanese competition for the first time in four months sees the Imperial Unit face either EVIL or Narita in Ehime March 13. Cobb has New Japan Cup prior with the King of Darkness, but will not discriminate in his pursuit of the spring trophy, and will just as happily send Narita for a Tour of the Islands for a spot in the last eight.
Toru Yano (18th entry, 18th consecutive) vs Mark Davis (debut entry)
As Aussie Open return to Japan, Mark Davis is entered into his first New Japan Cup, with Toru Yano in the first round. Davis and Kyle Fletcher had success through Battle Autumn and World Tag League against Yano and compatriots, but in singles action, can Yano’s wiles overcome Dunkzilla’s power?
Winner faces: Will Ospreay (4th entry, 3rd consecutive, 2021 winner)
Will Ospreay gets a berth in the second round after a stunning win against Taichi in Sapporo this month, and now awaits either Yano or Davis in Ehime. Ospreay would certainly prefer to face his United Empire teammate in the second round, but Yano would present a very different competition and just as much of a trap game for the Aerial Assassin. Now in his second month of a year long plan to get back to the top of the wrestling world, could Ospreay go all the way in the cup for the second time in his career?
MARCH 10 Yamagata
Kyle Fletcher (debut entry) vs YOSHI-HASHI (10th entry, 9th consecutive, IWGP Tag Team Champion)
The other half of Aussie Open will face YOSHI-HASHI in the first round in Yamagata. Aussie Open have certainly not forgotten their World Tag League final loss to Bishamon which led to YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto’s second IWGP Tag Team Championship reign; for the Aussie Arrow, a chance on March 10 not only to make a huge mark in his first singles match in Japan, but to potentially impress on the tag champs the need for a WTL rematch.
Winner faces: Hirooki Goto (15th entry, 5th consecutive, 2009, 2010, 2012 IWGP Tag Team Champion)
March 12 in Shiga, Hirooki Goto faces either a tag team rival in Fletcher or a tag team partner in YOSHI-HASHI. A three time New Japan Cup winner, Hirooki Goto earned a label of Mr. March around a decade ago. Now 20 years deep into his career, a chance to once again seize singles glory this spring.
Shingo Takagi (4th entry, 4th consecutive, KOPW 2023 holder) vs Aaron Henare (4th entry, 3rd consecutive)
Shingo Takagi’s war with Kazuchika Okada over the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in Osaka February 11 saw the Dragon come up just short, but it isn’t like the Dragon to take losses lying down. With the chance to bounce right back to title contention, Takagi takes on Aaron Henare in Yamagata.
For Henare, a singles defeat to Takagi all the way back in October 2019 was an indicator of the potential competitor he could become. After labouring under a perceived ‘glass ceiling’ in Hontai, the New japan Cup in 2021 was the impetus for Henare to break from the NJPW home team and become the United Empire’s Ultimate Weapon. Could this first round matchup see another career breakthrough?
Winner faces: Tama Tonga (5th entry, 2nd consecutive, NEVER Openweight Champion)
The NEVER Openweight Champion Tama Tonga will get a bye into the second round to face either Henare or Takagi. After defeating El Phantasmo in Osaka February 11, Tonga vowed to become the best NEVER Openweight Champion of all time. After the athleticism of Phantasmo, title on the line or not, either of his potential opponents will bring a classic ‘BMF’ NEVER style to the current title holder in Shiga March 12.
