Round of 16 complete after Hyogo bouts
New Japan Cup’s third round lineup is complete, after four more made the cut of 16 in Hyogo on March 13.
Hiromu Takahashi and Minoru Suzuki met for the first time in singles action in the main event, a tense atmosphere penetrated by the first stinging chop across the chest of the King. Blood would stream down Suzuki’s chest as he continued to throw, and the match passed five minutes with only open palms being exchanged. The first thing that could be close to being called a wrestling move would be an Irish whip into the guardrails for Suzuki as Hiromu tried to do all he could just to stand.
The chops continued back in the ring, but now Hiromu began to fire back. A series of shotgun dropkicks finally had Suzuki reeling, if only to get a count of one from the referee, and as Suzuki demanded more from his foe, the two went back to square one. Suddenly, Hiromu tried to get a quick flash pin, but as the King kicked out, a lariat from Takahashi saw no reaction, Suzuki rattling off rights and lefts in punishment.
Headbutts and a rear naked choke followed for Suzuki, who couldn’t convert with the Gotch Style Piledriver, and instead buried a knee. In complete charge, Suzuki went again to finish Takahashi, but was caught with the Unnamed Hiromu Roll for the surprise victory.
Tama Tonga headed into his second round match accompanied by Jado, who had apparently made his choice to back up the Good Bad Guy against EVIL. The rematch to a controversial finish in the G1 Climax last year started fast with Tama immediately brawling with the King of Darkness on the floor. Both men would crash into the ringside barricades, but it would be EVIL emerging with the upper hand before almost winning via countout.
As Jado continued to urge Tama, and ensure Dick Togo didn’t get involved, EVIL attacked his foe with the corner pad before applying a chair to the neck. The Hyogo crowd would help Tonga to rally though, and after sending EVIL into the exposed steel buckle, a neckbreaker scored some damage and some time. A trio of stunning dropkicks connected, ut EVIL was right there to kill the momentum, using the referee for a one man Magic Killer.
Darkness Falls would create a nearfall for EVIL, but Tama remained in the hunt, escaping EVIL’s clutches and firing up after a shot to the buckle with a massive lariat, and a Tongan Twist for two. Supreme Flow connected for a very near two from official Asami, and Tonga was sure to score the three with the Gunstun, but Dick Togo would pull the referee to the floor.
As Yujiro Takahashi and SHO ran in to put the boots to Tonga, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo seemed to head off HOUSE OF TORTURE, only for ELP to rock Tama with Sudden Death. The G.o.D member was easy pickings for EVIL, and when Jado would clear the ring, both Chase Owens and Bad Luck Fale would twist the knife.
Tanga Loa and Shingo Takagi faced off in another G1 Climax 31 rematch where Loa had much to prove to the Dragon. He certainly didn’t back down in the opening exchanges, and got the better of a forearm exchange, before taking a tackle, slam and senton. Takagi kept the pressure up on the outside, but Loa would find enough of an opening to crack the Dragon with a lariat, and take hold of the bout.
Loa would suppress Shingo with his strength, and proficiency in the OJK submission hold, but when the Dragon had a moment to breathe, he quickly made Loa pay. A brutal tackle and suplex scored, and though Loa found an exploder, Takagi quickly fired back with a lariat. Switching from power to speed though, Loa had more success, landing a dropkick to suprise his foe, and following through with a diving headbutt for two. Apesh*t didn’t connect though, and as Shingo wriggled off the hook, a sliding lariat scored at the ten minute mark.
A superplex scored for Shingo, but Loa had an answer for the Pumping Bomber and connected with a powerbomb for a near two. Loa kept throwing, but a second Pumping Bomber scored flush and put Takagi through.
First to get through to round three was Chase Owens. Owens would head to the ring in an original BULLET CLUB shirt and with Bad Luck Fale in his corner, as the hot crowd in Hyogo welcomed the tournament action. Tiger would have the early going with a straight arm bar that had Owens scurrying to the ropes before some stiff kicks and a tope suicida. On re-entry to the ring though, it was a slingshot backbreaker that put the heavyweight in control.
Tiger would battle back in the face of Owens’ assault on the back, and landed a top rope armdrag before sinking his signature double armbar. Staying persistent as Owens made the ropes, Tiger scored with the Tiger Driver for a nearfall, but the masked legend missed a top rope headbutt. Quickly going for the victory against a troubling opponent, Owens hit a gutbuster, and though Tiger escaped a Package Piledriver, the C-Trigger led to a successful second try for the victory.
