Second round gets started Wednesday March 9
After three nights of first round action, round two of the New Japan Cup gets underway on Wednesday March 9. After Hiroyoshi Tenzan was forced to withdraw from his second round bye, Taichi’s spot in the sweet 16 is secure, but who joins the Holy Emperor?
NIGHT FOUR: March 9, Korakuen Hall
Main event: Kazuchika Okada vs Master Wato
As Master Wato heads into his first New Japan Cup match, he may be grateful for his bye into the second round, but also grateful for how his bracket shaped out. While there is no doubt that he heads into this match as the rank outsider, Wato can claim the significant experience boost that comes with wrestling both the IWGP Junior Heavyweight, and the IWGP World Heavyweight Champions in a one month span.
Will Wato be able to push Okada as hard as Desperado did in the Budokan? That remains to be seen, but the world will be eager to see it, and to keep the focus on the young blue haired prodigy here in Korakuen Hall. The Rainmaker is not one to give the spotlight to younger opposition, but will expect Wato to take it. Does he have the composure and the skillset to survive? And could a miracle happen in Suidobashi this evening?
Winner faces Taichi in round 3
6th Match: CIMA vs Yoshinobu Kanemaru
After CIMA took care of TAKA Michinoku to advance to round two, now the #STRONGHEARTS leader must content with his Suzuki-Gun compatriot Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Two deeply influential figures, countless wrestlers have been inspired by both men, and this first time ever singles confrontation is one to watch intently. Just who will move onto round three?
5th Match: Hirooki Goto vs Dick Togo
After a hard fought and honorable confrontation with Yuji Nagata in the Budokan, Hirooki Goto must prepare for the exact opposite against Dick Togo. While Goto will be happy to get his hands on the ever devious Spoiler, and while Togo himself is still capable of putting together a slick and competitive performance, it is likely the HOUSE OF TORTURE fixer will be pulling every trick out of the book in order to gain an ill-gotten victory tonight. Will the Fierce Warrior have an answer?
PLUS! LIJ vs Suzuki-Gun, United Empire vs BULLET CLUB, Naito & BUSHI vs SHO & Gedo, Tiger Mask & Tanahashi vs Chase & Fale!
NIGHT FIVE: March 10, Yamanashi
Main event: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs Bad Luck Fale
Singles record: 6-4 Fale Cup record: 1-1
Having defeated a junior heavyweight in YOH to reach the second round, Hiroshi Tanahashi must contend with a super heavyweight in Bad Luck Fale on March 9. Though Tanahashi has a positive win/loss record against the Rogue General, Fale’s power has seen him to the Cup final before, and the founder member of BULLET CLUB has always presented problems for the Ace. Can Tanahashi prevail? Or as the winds of change seem to be blowing through BULLET CLUB, will Fale be out to make a powerful statement?
6th Match: Jeff Cobb vs Satoshi Kojima
Singles record: 2-0 Cobb
Jeff Cobb started his New Japan Cup campaign with the clubbing Togi Makabe, and things don’t get any less hard hitting with Satoshi Kojima. Last year, Cobb faced Kojima in the first round, with the Imperial Unit powering through the Strongest Arm. The Third Generation living legend will not be willing to give up a place in round three easily, but can he upset Cobb?
5th Match: Tetsuya Naito vs Gedo
Singles record: 2-2
Tetsuya Naito goes from one vicious BULLET CLUB rulebreaker in Yujiro Takahashi to the Blacksmith, Gedo in the second round. Including Naito’s time as a junior heavyweight, he and Gedo are 2-2. Naito on paper is the favourite tonight, but just as with Goto and Togo, could Gedo have a trick up the sleeve that El Ingobernable doesn’t see coming?
4th Match: YOSHI-HASHI vs Kosei Fujita
After a hard fought win over Tomoaki Honma, YOSHI-HASHI moves on to face Young Lion Kosei Fujita. Fujita had the luck of the draw in reaching the second round, but can Young Lion heart be enough to get past the Headhunter?
PLUS! CHAOS vs HOUSE OF TORTURE, United Empire vs LIJ!
NIGHT SIX: March 12, Aichi
Main event: Aaron Henare vs SANADA
Singles record: 1-0 SANADA
Last spring, Aaron Henare’s frustration in hontai came to a head in the New Japan Cup, leading to him reinventing himself as the Ultimate Weapon in the United Empire. Then, his rise was stalled by SANADA after a singles defeat in April. Now he seeks singles revenge against Cold Skull; and SANADA’s status as IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion makes him all the more attractive an opponent. Can Henare move onto the round of 16, and potentially secure a future championship opportunity in the process?
7th Match: Will Ospreay vs El Phantasmo
Singles record: 3-2 Phantasmo
One of the most intriguing matches of the second round, former junior heavyweight rivals Will Ospreay and El Phantasmo are reunited in Aichi. Phantasmo has openly stated that he’s capable of taking on heavyweight competition, as long as he can get over the mental block of not using his Sudden Death superkick. He’ll look to show that against Will Ospreay, a man he’s beaten three times in the past, and twice in NJPW alone.
Should ELP pull the victory off, it would be a slight upset, but a massive statement win for the Headbanga. Yet Ospreay seems hard to deny, and the 2021 cup winner will not be satisfied with a first round exit.
6th Match: Great-O-Khan vs Taiji Ishimori
Another thrilling openweight contest sees Great-O-Khan face Taiji Ishimori. Both competitors have a distinct knack for adapting to their opposition, with a blend of submission proficiency and hard strikes for O-Khan with athleticism and pace for Ishimori. Bone Soldier Ishimori has beaten heavyweights in the past- a singles victory over Hirooki Goto last year being a highlight- but can he get past the Dominator and into the sweet 16?
5th Match: Zack Sabre Jr. vs DOUKI
Another openweight contest presents a Suzuki-Gun derby between Zack Sabre Jr. and DOUKI. DOUKI will be looking to show the work, and ZSJ in particular just how far he’s come, and may be looking for a ‘DOUKI chokey’ en route to an upset, but will ZSJ’s plethora of British stretches trump DOUKI’s Italian version?
PLUS! LIJ vs Suzuki-Gun highlights undercard tag previews!
NIGHT SEVEN: March 13 Hyogo
Main event: Minoru Suzuki vs Hiromu Takahashi
A unique first time ever singles offering to say the very least, Minoru Suzuki and Hiromu Takahashi go head to head in the Hyogo main event. With Hiromu driven by Cup success, he has to take on the most proficient and punishing heavyweights there is in Suzuki. Will it be Hiromu’s all or nothing style that wins out, or will he be caughrt in the clutches of the King?
7th Match: EVIL vs Tama Tonga
Singles record: 2-0 EVIL
There is no doubt that BULLET CLUB conversation will dominate this semi main event between EVIL and Tama Tonga. As Jay White has urged BULLET CLUB members to ‘make a decision’ as to how to accept the Guerrillas of Destiny’s ousting from the group, it seems like HOUSE OF TORTURE from the very start has pursued its own agenda. Will we be any nearer to finding out what that agenda may be tonight?
It seems certain that whatever H.o.T pursue, it does not involve Tama Tonga. Tonga tried to throw his hat in with EVIL during the G1 Climax last year, and was rebuffed to the tune of a frustrating loss that has the ‘Good Bad Guy’ hungry for revenge. Now making his first appearance in Japan since Jay White’s betrayal at IMPACT, how will he react in Hyogo?
6th Match: Shingo Takagi vs Tanga Loa
Singles record: 1-0 Takagi
In his first G1 Climax last autumn, Tanga Loa would turn more than a few heads, none more so than with his match against Shingo Takagi. There the offense that the Silverback brought had the world, and the Dragon stunned, and almost beaten. Here, Loa is indeed the underdog facing the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but an upset would be far from impossible, and either way the ensuing match should be spectacular.
5th Match: Chase Owens vs Tiger Mask
Singles record: 2-0 Tiger Mask
After rather more shady tactics toward his ‘boy’ in BULLET CLUB Jado than expected, Chase Owens moved to the second round, and seemed to side with Bad Luck Fale and Gedo backstage while Jado had much to ruminate on in this ongoing BULLET CLUB civil war. Now Chase moves onto Tiger Mask, an opponent he hasn’t wrestled one on one since he was a junior heavyweight six years ago, and one he has never beaten. Do not discount Tiger Mask, who helped defuse BULLET CLUB opposition in El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori back at Wrestle Kingdom, and could give the Crown Jewel more than a few issues.
PLUS! Okada & Tanahashi team, United Empire vs BULLET CLUB, DOUKI & El Desperado vs SHO & Yujiro!
