NJPW New Japan Cup 2025 - March 7 - March 20, 2025

  • Welcome to "The New" Wrestling Smarks Forum!

    I see that you are not currently registered on our forum. It only takes a second, and you can even login with your Facebook! If you would like to register now, pease click here: Register

    Once registered please introduce yourself in our introduction thread which can be found here: Introduction Board


Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers

New Japan Cup 2025 brackets revealed​

24 man single elimination tournament begins March 7

en.png

The madness of March is almost upon us once more in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, as New Japan Cup 2025 gets set to start on March 7. This year, 24 wrestlers will face off in the single elimination tournament to determine who will be the Strongest of the Spring, as well as to earn a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion April 5 at Sakura Genesis in Ryogoku.

March 7 and Korakuen Hall will see the first of eight first round matchups, with eight further randomly selected entrants receiving a bye into round two. Those entrants and first round matchups are as follows...

Watch ALL of New Japan Cup LIVE in English on NJPW World!

March 7 Korakuen Hall
0307_1.jpg

Yota Tsuji (4th entry, 2nd consecutive. 2024 winner, IWGP Global heavyweight Champion) vs EVIL (9th entry, 7th consecutive. 2020 winner)

A battle of former New Japan Cup winners sees Yota Tsuji take on EVIL. The King of Darkness returned to NJPW at New Beginning February 11 and quickly dismissed Yota Tsuji, saying that the 'present and future of NJPW' belonged to EVIL and not the IWGP Global Champion. EVIL has carried a grudge with Yota Tsuji specifically since last year's tournament, where Tsuji put paid to an EVIL tournament win by eliminating the malignant HOUSE OF TORTURE from the final four. Will dark revenge be in store for Tsuji, or after he and Gabe Kidd raised a rousing 'New Japan' chant from the fans in Osaka at New Beginning, will his momentum continue?

Winner to face: David Finlay (4th entry, 3rd consecutive. Career best: 2023 Finalist)

A lot of pundits had New Japan Cup 2024 down as David Finlay's to win before he was ruled out with health issues. Now having drawn a bye into the second round of the 2025 tournament, Finlay will hit the ground after a two month hiatus ready and hungry. However the results play out on March 7 for Tsuji and EVIL, things will be heated on the 11th in Okayama; either Finlay engages in a Wrestle Kingdom rematch with Yota Tsuji, or will battle with EVIL after the King of Darkness suddenly claimed that Finlay's War Dogs 'no longer belong' in BULLET CLUB.

0307_2.jpg

Yuya Uemura (3rd entry, 2nd consecutive. Career best: first round) vs SANADA (9th entry, 9th consecutive. 2023 winner)

When Yuya Uemura returned from excursion at King of Pro-Wrestling 2023, he joined Just Five Guys, but with a pointed promise that he wanted to take on every other member in singles competition, including IWGP World Heavyweight Champion at the time SANADA. Now, circumstances are very different, but that singles match is in place. SANADA was about to put Taichi's head through a guitar in Osaka on February 11 when Uemura made his return, and vowed to take on the J5G betrayer 'anytime, anywhere'. Yet despite his promise to 'fire up the wrestling world,' Uemura's first NJC back from excursion in 2024 only ended in the first round. Can he get past the first obstacle of the 2023 NJC winner?

Winner to face: YOSHI-HASHI (12th entry, 11th consecutive. Career best: quarterfinalist (2019, 2020))

Fans in Okayama on February 11 will either see a first time ever singles match for YOSHI-HASHI against Yuya Uemura, or a rematch of YOSHI-HASHI's second round exit in 2024 to SANADA. Last May, SANADA and Uemura teamed up to challenge then IWGP Tag Team Champions Bishamon in Taiwan. Ten months is a long time in wrestling indeed; who will face the Headhunter one on one?

March 8: Korakuen Hall
0308_1.jpg

Ryohei Oiwa (2nd entry, 1st in three years) vs Chase Owens (6th entry, 5th consecutive. Career best: 3rd round (2022))

In his first entry to the New Japan Cup since joining TMDK, Ryohei Oiwa seeks to grip a spring full of opportunity. Having already challenged Konosuke Takeshita for the NEVER Openweight Championship at a date to be determined, Oiwa could add the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to his title schedule as well. Yet with a lot of title opportunities since his September return all coming up blank, Oiwa feels the need to make something of one of his chances and fast. can he secure some hardware in the New Japan Cup? History has shown nobody should count out Chase Owens in a tournament setting, and after a first round win over Tomohiro Ishii last year, one shouldn't discount Chase in 2025 either.

Winner to face: Zack Sabre Jr. (8th entry, 8th consecutive. 2018, 2022 winner)

ZSJ looks to bounce back from his IWGP World Heavyweight title loss at New Beginning, and to take the shortest route available to him to make it back to the gold. The two time New Japan Cup winner started his successful 2022 campaign with a win over then Young Lion Oiwa, and history could repeat, or be disrupted three years on in Okayama March 11.

0308_2.jpg

Gabe Kidd (4th entry, 2nd consecutive. NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion. Career best: 2nd round (2024)) vs Ren Narita (3rd entry, 3rd consecutive. Career best: 2024 quarterfinalist)

Osaka sees perhaps the most personal of all the first round matchups with Gabe Kidd taking on Ren Narita. At New Beginning, EVIL's 'expulsion' of War Dogs from BULLET CLUB saw Narita deliver the exclamation point in the form of a Double Cross to Kidd, all mere moments after an electric double KO draw for Kidd against Yota Tsuji. Exploding backstage, Kidd yelled that he had taken care of Narita when the HOUSE OF TORTURE member to be was on excursion to LA, only for Narita to abandon his pride as a member of HOUSE OF TOTURE. Kidd's biggest weakness is letting raw emotion get the better of him, and the numbers game is sure to be in play as H.O.T are feeling more bullish than ever; who advances?

Winner to face: Taichi (8th entry, 8th consecutive. Career best: 2020 quarterfinalist)

Taichi might be buoyed by the return to action of Yuya Uemura, but the welcome return of the Heat Storm does come in the midst of a long personal slump. That often applies to the New Japan Cup, where he has only broken out of the first round twice. Last year, that all too familiar first round exit came at the hands of Ren Narita, and Taichi would appreciate the chance to strike back in 2025. At the same time though, a hard fight with Kidd might be exactly the call to action that Taichi needs March 12 in Uwajima.
March 9 Amagasaki

0309_2-1.jpg

El Phantasmo (4th entry, 4th consecutive. NJPW World TV Champion. Career best: second round (2024)) vs Great-O-Khan (5th entry, 5th consecutive. Career best: third round (2022))

After Great-O-Khan scored an emphatic win over Shota Umino at New Beginning in Osaka, they head into the New Japan Cup with confidence at a high. Making the third place playoffs of the G1 last year, O-Khan is pushing for their best ever career tournament performance, but with a hard ask int he form of the NJPW World TV Champion. El Phantasmo will be treating every match on this tournament run as a title match, but doesn't have the 15 minute restriction in Hyogo as he looks to show Hontai superiority over United Empire.

Winner to face: Shota Umino (4th entry 3rd consecutive. Career best: 2023 quarterfinalist)

The biggest question going into this second round meeting March 12 in Uwajima has to be the mental state of Shota Umino. Voluntarily shaving his own head after his defeat against Great-O-Khan in Osaka, Umino appears to have hit rock bottom, and now the world wonders if he can claw himself back up. Drawing a bye, March 12 will see him either face the nemesis that put him in this position, or a Hontai ally who knows what it's like to claw oneself back from the brink of despair.

0309_4-1.jpg

Callum Newman (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive) vs Tetsuya Naito (13th entry, 5th consecutive. IWGP Tag Team Champion, 2016 winner)

Unlucky for some, Tetsuya Naito looks to turn his 13th New Japan Cup entry into his second career win, and boosted by his IWGP Tag team Championship success with Hiromu Takahashi, looks to make bigger singles strides again this spring. Someone famed for his big strides in Callum Newman, whose career best year of 2024 was marred by an early end thanks to a knee injury sustained during the World Tag League. Now Newman is back, and looking to take another black mark off his 2024 record by avenging two singles losses to Naito with the biggest singles win of his career.

Winner to face: Jeff Cobb (5th entry, 5th consecutive. Career best: 2022 quarterfinalist)

In the face of defeat over the NJPW World TV Championship in Korakuen Hall, and in search of a new direction, Jeff Cobb said that he would be taking some time away, now returning at New Japan Cup in need of making a change. One poetic way of changing his direction could be a win over Tetsuya Naito, avenging the loss that needed his career best Cup run back in 2022. Or perhaps, after making a very intriguing tag team right up to Newman's injury during World Tag League, it's an all United Empire affair for Cobb and Callum in the second round March 14?

0309_3-1.jpg

Tomohiro Ishii (17th entry, 10th consecutive. Career best: 2019 semifinalist) vs Drilla Moloney (debut entry)

Drilla Moloney heads into his first New Japan Cup on the roll of a lifetime. Transitioning to the heavyweight ranks, he had a stiff test ahead of him in the form of Shingo Takagi at New Beginning, but the Drilla Killa struck to give Moloney a clean win over the Dragon that will stand as the biggest result of his career to date. He now takes that momentum with him to another slugfest against Tomohiro Ishii, who came close to NEVER and AEW International gold at Wrestle Dynasty. With CHAOS mate Hirooki Goto's title success serving as inspiration, Ishii won't back down from the chance to finally take top flight heavyweight gold.

Winner to face: TJP (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive)

Openweight United Empire Capitan TJP heads into his second New Japan Cup having drawn a bye to the second round. There he will face a first time singles matchup against either one of Ishii or Moloney, a surprising fact in the latter case given Catch 2/2's tag team history with the War Dogs. It will be an intriguing test either way for TJP, who will be looking to fly the United Empire flag deep into the tournament.

0309_1-1.jpg

Boltin Oleg (2nd entry, 2nd consecutive) vs Bad Luck Fale (9th entry, first in three years. Career best: 2014, 2017 finalist)

Rounding out the first round bracket, it's a clash of the titans as Boltin Oleg takes on Bad Luck Fale. This international battle of New Zealand and Kazakhstan will see Boltin's status at the top of the roster in terms of pure strength put to the test against the huge two time finalist in Fale. Could the Rogue Army go on a run, or is it time for the Big Man From Kazakhstan to wreck some brackets?

Winner to face: Shingo Takagi (6th entry, 6th consecutive. Career best: 2021 finalist)

After one sure fire power based slugfest between Boltin Oleg and Bad Luck Fale, the hits will keep coming when the winner takes on Shingo Takagi. Having lost the NEVER Oepnweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 19, and then falling in defeat to Drilla Moloney at New Beginning, 2021 finalist Shingo wants to bounce back in the biggest way possible, and taking down the biggest man in the second round would be one way to do just that.​
 

Ricky Smarks

Absolute
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
183,773
Reaction score
39,082
Points
148
Age
38
Location
Wrestling Forums
Website
wrestlingsmarks.com
Favorite Wrestler
emma
Favorite Wrestler
YA1yyED
Favorite Wrestler
frmoJZU
Favorite Wrestler
nock3cf
Favorite Wrestler
danielbryan3
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Sports Team
WYT3shw
Favorite Sports Team
fRXTMaD
Favorite Sports Team
LechI0u
Favorite Sports Team
RHZ7KJg
A rare bad luck sighting :WOW
 

OsBlaze

BRUV
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
217,940
Reaction score
77,384
Points
128
Age
33
Location
Crawford County, GA
Favorite Wrestler
chrisjericho
Favorite Wrestler
MOLAnG4
Favorite Wrestler
edge
Favorite Wrestler
homd3TG
Favorite Sports Team
gLxCq87
Favorite Sports Team
WrE8t1L
Favorite Sports Team
lurU13l
Favorite Sports Team
HHst8yg
Let's go ELP :mark:
 

Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers

Nagata to challenge for IWGP World title March 15!​

Title match added to Nagoya card
card-6.jpg

Watch all of New Japan Cup LIVE in English on NJPW World!
A massive championship match has been added to March 15's New Japan Cup card in Dolphin's Arena, Nagoya.

After Hirooki Goto captured the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship February 11 in Osaka, he nominated Hiroshi Tanahashi to face him for 53rd Anniversary. Immediately after that nomination, Yuji Nagata approached to offer his own challenge to the new champion. Nagata, inspired by the veteran Goto's glory, requested his own shot, and his first at the top title in professional wrestling for 14 years.

That match happened in December of 2011, and in Dolphin's Arena, a match where Hiroshi Tanahashi matched Nagata's previously held defence record of V10 with the IWGP Heavyweight title. Nagata's historic reign between 2002 and 2003 earned him the nickname of 'Mr. IWGP'; now he looks to become a three time champion, and aged 56, surpass Genichiro Tenryu at 53 as the oldest IWGP Champion in history.

What happens in Nagoya? Catch the title action, as well as four New Japan Cup quarterfinals, all on March 15!​
 

Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers
Oh they had to cancel today's show bc a ring post broke and just streamed 2 hours of the wrestlers entertaining the crowd lmao I was wondering why there wasn't a replay up. I kinda wanna watch that still tho
 

Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers

UPDATE] New Japan Cup night 2 (March 8) Preview​

Tournament continues in Korakuen
en.png

The first night of the New Japan Cup saw a unique situation where a broken ringpost ended the action before it began, and all manner of chaos erupted in its place. Now pro-wrestling is back and the spring's greatest tournament finally officially gets underway.

Watch all of New Japan Cup LIVE in English on NJPW World!

Main event: New Japan Cup First Round- Gabe Kidd vs Ren Narita
Singles record: 1-0 Kidd

20250308_NJC_07.jpg

A spot opposite Taichi in the second round at stake, Gabe Kidd faces Ren Narita in the main event tonight. Ren Narita and EVIL's appearance, together with the rest of HOUSE OF TORTURE in Osaka February 11 could not have stood in starker contrast to the gripping match that preceded it between Kidd and Yota Tsuji. Yet after both men gave all they had in the squared circle, EVIL and Narita in particular served to make a mockery of their efforts. A metal pushup bar, a Double Cross, and the declaration from Narita to Kidd that someone seeking the favour of the fans deserves no place in BULLET CLUB served top make Kidd's blood boil.

Kidd asked whether Narita had forgotten the time he had spent in the LA Dojo on excursion, much of which in the friendship and guidance of Kidd himself. Both men would break bad in their own individual ways in the years hence, but as Narita has come to represent the worst of professional wrestling as Kidd fights to show its brightest, the end result tonight is sure to be wild and violent.

6th Match: New Japan Cup First Round- Ryohei Oiwa vs Chase Owens
20250308_NJC_06.jpg

With the prospect of Zack Sabre Jr. in the second round, Ryohei Oiwa enters his second career New Japan Cup feeling amped up to potentially face a teammate and mentor, but knowing that a difficult obstacle is in his way. Six years ago to the day, Chase Owens defeated Juice Robinson in the first round of the New Japan Cup here in Korakuen, and Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tomohiro Ishii have both felt how dangerous the Crown Jewel can be in a tournament setting, and inside the Hall. Oiwa is feeling the pressure of needing to produce results to back up limitless potential, but could he crack under the pressure that created a rough jewel in Owens?

5th Match: New Japan Cup First Round- Yota Tsuji vs EVIL
Singles record: 1-0 Tsuji

20250308_NJC_05.jpg

The scheduled main event on March 7 becomes match five of 'night two', and a first round rematch of last year's semifinal. The 2024 New Japan Cup saw Jack Perry, Ren Narita and EVIL all advanced in the tournament thanks to HOUSE OF TORTURE tactics and a wave of interference and cheating. Tsuji finally cut the head off the snake by eliminating EVIL from the semifinals, and went on to win the whole tournament, and has only gone from strength to strength since. Now the IWGP Global heavyweight Champion, Tsuji is less than a month removed from an electric draw with Gabe Kidd in Osaka, but one marred by the return of the King of Darkness.

EVIL laid out both Kidd and Tsuji before yelling that the present and the future of NJPW is his, not that of the Global Champion. Now EVIL will seek to prove that point with a first round victory, and the potential in the second round to face a man he 'kicked out' of BULLET CLUB in David Finlay. Tsuji though will be looking to grant a tournament rematch to the man he beat for Global gold in the Tokyo Dome, and to declare that HOUSE OF TORTURE has no place in his vision of New Japan's future. With long term goals of holding both the World and Global Championships together, will Korakuen see a bold first step in enacting that plan?

4th Match: New Japan Cup First Round- Yuya Uemura vs SANADA
20250308_NJC_04.jpg

Also in first round action, former Just Five Guys teammates in Yuya Uemura and SANADA collide. When Uemura first came back to NJPW from excursion in October 2023, it was as the fifth member that brought Just Five Guys back up to full strength at the time, but it was clear from the jump that he wasn't in the group to play nice. Backstage, after helping SANADA retain the IWGP World Heavyweight title against EVIL, Uemura made it very clear that his goal was to best every other member of the group in singles competition, and SANADA was right at the top of his list.

That match has now come to pass amid circumstances likely neither man could have predicted at the time. While Ueumura was laid up with a triceps injury, SANADA turned his back on Taichi and his team, joining the War Dogs. Then, New Beginning in Osaka saw SANADA foul his way to a win over Taichi and look to inflict further damage until the returning Heat Storm intervened. Now, it isn't clear whether personal triumph over SANADA, or Cup advancement is what drives Yuya most, but one would lead to the other either way. In the meantime, SANADA, having ridden a then fresh Just Five Guys alliance to the New Japan Cup two years ago, will be looking to consummate his War Dogs membership in similar form, breaking brackets in the process and moving on to YOSHI-HASHI in the second round.

3rd Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito) vs United Empire (Francesco Akira & Callum Newman)
20250308_NJC_03.jpg

After his loss against the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion, young Francesco Akira is determined to climb back to the top. What better way than by a former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion like BUSHI and a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion in Tetsuya Naito? Akira's partner Callum Newman will be even hungrier for that result, eager to prove his full recovery and eyeing Sunday's first round New Japan Cup match with great anticipation.

2nd Match: Hontai (Jado, El Desperado & El Phantasmo) vs United Empire (Jakob Austin Young, Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan)
20250308_NJC_02.jpg

The NJPW World TV Champion El Phantasmo and IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Champion El Desperado team up after a romantic encounter in our special talk show Friday to face United Empire, this time with Jakob Austin Young joining Cobb and Great-O-Khan. A prelude to Sunday's first round matchup for Phantasmo and Great-O-Khan, which side will have the upper hand?

1st Match: Toru Yano, Tomoaki Honma, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto vs Tiger Mask, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata
Adobe-Express-file.jpg

Hirooki Goto finds himself across the ring from his next challenger, Yuji Nagata, in an 8-man tag team match. This time, Goto teams with Hontai veterans and the Young Lion Daiki Nagai. With the highly anticipated IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match fast approaching, both Goto and Nagata will be eager to build momentum, while Hiroshi Tanahashi moves closer to the continuation of his Final Road against Satoshi Kojima on March 20's New Japan Cup Final day.

Kickoff Match: Katsuya Murashima vs Daiki Nagai
Singles record: 1-0 Murashima

Adobe-Express-file1.jpg

With a special kickoff bonus match in place as well, it's a night to remember following a night that will be remembered in Korakuen!​
 

Kairi HoHo

Devilishly handsome
Joined
May 14, 2013
Messages
35,112
Reaction score
20,538
Points
138
Age
37
Location
Hell's Kitchen
Favorite Wrestler
OZO8olA
Favorite Wrestler
Y2tTaaf
Favorite Wrestler
q9gbHdQ
Favorite Wrestler
zPa7dqi
Favorite Wrestler
m4aw1gh
Favorite Wrestler
oLvrzSU
Favorite Sports Team
hPPsgSL
Favorite Sports Team
hlbgCD9
Favorite Sports Team
guuKKYL
Favorite Sports Team
Um6oxIS
Oh they had to cancel today's show bc a ring post broke and just streamed 2 hours of the wrestlers entertaining the crowd lmao I was wondering why there wasn't a replay up. I kinda wanna watch that still tho

Just saw on New Japan's X Account ELP kissing Desperado then Tana and him enjoying it:lol
 

Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers
I actually watched the whole show while I was working today, it was a trip
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Kairi HoHo

Sky

TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION
Joined
Apr 17, 2019
Messages
86,162
Reaction score
25,416
Points
113
Location
The Impact Zone, Scotland
Favorite Wrestler
velvetsky
The levels of wrestling terrorism required to put EVIL over Tsuji in the first round.

SANADA's in lower card hell for life, he needs to move on
 

Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers
Sanada isn't gonna be able to do much anymore until he gets his arm fixed
 

Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers
Gabe Kidd is such a fucking star, everything he did in the main event was amazing
 

Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers
I know Chris Charlton had to bite his tongue when Gabe said fuck AEW and WWE
 

Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers

New Japan Cup night 3 (March 9) Preview​

New Japan Cup first round concludes

The first round of the New Japan Cup wraps up on March 9 in Okayama. The field goes down to the 16 in round two as brackets are made and busted.
Watch all of New Japan Cup live in English on NJPW World!

Main event: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Hirooki Goto vs Yuji Nagata & Satoshi Kojima
3.9.jpg

It's a speical tag team match in our main event tonight, as our New Japan Cup final action will be followed by a double preview of future singles action. On March 15, Yuji Nagata and Hirooki Goto will collide with Goto's IWGP World Heavyweight title up for grabs. Less than one week before his first top title challenge in 14 years, Nagata is looking to show that he is worthy of becoming the oldest IWGP champion in history.

Meanwhile, Satoshi Kojima and Hiroshi Tanahashi are set to square off on the day of the New Japan Cup final on March 20. As the veterans of Hontai do battle, will Kojima provide a hefty bump in the Final Road of the Ace tonight?

8th Match: New Japan Cup First Round- Tetsuya Naito vs Callum Newman
Singles record: 2-0 Naito

0309_4.jpg

The last match of the NJC first round will see Tetsuya Naito in his third singles match with Callum Newman. Naito's first singles encounter with the Prince of Pace back at Dominion 2024 saw El Ingobernable victorious, but the fight Newman put in would eventually see him qualify for G1 competition. That meant a rematch later in the summer, but one that Callum would rather forget as Naito went to victory well under then ten minute mark. Now Newman, freshly returned from knee injury, is up against an immense test. Could the third time be the charm for the Briton, or will it be Naito advancing to Callum's United Empire teammate Jeff Cobb int he sweet 16?

7th Match: New Japan Cup First Round- Tomohiro Ishii vs Drilla Moloney
0309_3.jpg

What could be the hardest hitting of all the first round matchups in this year's New Japan Cup sees Drilla Moloney take on Tomohiro Ishii. New Beginning in Osaka saw Moloney officially join the heavyweight ranks with a sensational victory against Shingo Takagi, instantly cementing himself as a major contender in this year's tournament. Yet Tomohiro Ishii himself is always in that mix, and will fight hard to face TJP in the second round. Ishii is set to face NJPW STRONG Champion and Moloney's fellow War Dog Gabe Kidd in Chicago April 11, and if the Stone Pitbull can send a message while advancing closer to gold of his own, so much the better in Ishii's eyes.

6th Match: New Japan Cup First Round- El Phantasmo vs Great-O-Khan
Singles record: 1-0 O-Khan

0309_2.jpg

First round action sees NJPW World TV Champion El Phantasmo facing Great-O-Khan in a match with a lot of intrigue, especially as it relates to the round of 16. ELP and O-Khan have only faced off one other time, in the 2023 G1 Climax, and with both having made great strides since, will have a lot of personal pride on the line. Meanwhile, the world hasn't seen Shota Umino since he voluntarily shaved his own head, after a defeat to O-Khan in Osaka this February. Shota has a bye in the second round, where O-Khan will be happy to add further salt into Umino's mental wounds, and Phantasmo will be looking to aid his Hontai ally through one on one competition.

5th Match: New Japan Cup First Round- Boltin Oleg vs Bad Luck Fale
0309_1.jpg

Meat is on the menu in Amagasaki as super heavyweights Boltin Oleg and Bad Luck Fale will do battle. On a hot streak with momentum boosted even in defeat to Konosuke Takeshita in Osaka last month, the Big Man From Kazakhstan Boltin wants to recover with a deep run in this year's tournament. Yet to do so, he'll need to beat a two time finalist in Fale. Boltin is used to manhandling every opponent under the sun, but that isn't going to happen when it comes to the Rogue General. Will Fale be too much for Boltin to handle, let alone Boltin Shake?

4th Match: Los Ingobernables De Japon (Yota Tsuji, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (EVIL, SHO & Dick Togo)
0309_04-1.jpg

Fallout from our first night's main event sees Yota Tsuji and EVIL back opposite one another in tag team action. One or the other will be out of the New Japan Cup, and looking for revenge against the one who sent them home in what is sure to be a heated affair.

3rd Match: War Dogs (Gabe Kidd, David Finlay & Gedo) vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
0309_03-1.jpg

Following Sunday's main event between Gabe Kidd and Ren Narita, the war between the War Dogs and HOUSE OF TORTURE will only escalate Sunday, as David Finlay returns to action. The true leader of BULLET CLUB is sure to have some strong thoughts when it comes to EVIl's 'expulsion' of War Dogs from the club, and where BULLET CLUB's future lies.

2nd Match: TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson) vs United Empire (TJP, Jeff Cobb & Jakob Austin Young)
0309_02-1.jpg

As TJP, Jeff Cobb, and potentially Ryohei Oiwa await second round competition next week, the return to in ring competition for Zack Sabre Jr. for the first time since his IWGP World title defeat is the focal point of this six man clash. With everybody involved having points to prove, who will come out on top?

1st match: Just 4 Guys (Yuya Uemura & TAKA Michinoku) vs War Dogs (SANADA & Chase Owens)
0309_01-1.jpg

Two days after Yuya Uemura and SANADA's New Japan Cup collision, tag team action sees Chase Owens and TAKA Michinoku also in the mix. Tensions are sure to be high after Uemura and SANADA's Korakuen Hall battle, and this is going to be no relaxing Sunday afternoon drive for the men involved.

Kickoff Match: Toru Yano & YOSHI-HASHI vs Daiki Nagai & Katsuya Murashima
0309_00-1.jpg

A special kickoff at 3:30PM local time will see Toru Yano and YOSHI-HASHI face Young Lions Murashima and Nagai. With Yano and YOSHI-HASHI now formally part of Hontai in the effective dissolution of CHAOS, this is a generational Hontai clash, and one where Nagai and Murashima must put aside personal differences to be effective.​
 

Ricky Smarks

Absolute
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
183,773
Reaction score
39,082
Points
148
Age
38
Location
Wrestling Forums
Website
wrestlingsmarks.com
Favorite Wrestler
emma
Favorite Wrestler
YA1yyED
Favorite Wrestler
frmoJZU
Favorite Wrestler
nock3cf
Favorite Wrestler
danielbryan3
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Sports Team
WYT3shw
Favorite Sports Team
fRXTMaD
Favorite Sports Team
LechI0u
Favorite Sports Team
RHZ7KJg
Wait, is Chase Owens finally, in the war dogs?

He was the only one unaffiliated at this point.
 

Chris

Dreams are Endless
Joined
Dec 23, 2011
Messages
393,274
Reaction score
162,130
Points
128
Age
28
Location
Texas
Favorite Wrestler
tLCb5kv
Favorite Wrestler
OEndG4L
Favorite Wrestler
ArsUxsj
Favorite Wrestler
mrperfect2
Favorite Wrestler
eelOIL6
Favorite Wrestler
BryanDanielson1
Favorite Sports Team
sfa
Favorite Sports Team
dallascowboys
Favorite Sports Team
sanantoniospurs
Favorite Sports Team
texasrangers
There's not really a logic tbh
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ricky Smarks