Final set for Nagaoka
March 19 saw Semifinal Sunday in the New Japan Cup, as the final four did battle to determine the New Japan Cup final on Tuesday March 21.
The first of the semifinals saw David Finlay take on NEVER Openweight Champion Tama Tonga. Solid lockups saw a battle for control at the bell before Tama accelerated the pace, scoring a dropkick and armdrag before being taken down with a hotshot across the ropes and a suplex to the NEVER Champion. Having gained his advantage through wrestling technique, Finlay would maintain it through fouler means, and his street fighting mean streak saw Finlay rake the eyes and pound with closed fists to Tama on the floor.
The Rebel kept in control past the five minute mark, but Tama would have enough on a hammer throw into the corner, exploding out with a lariat and following with a corner splash. Finlay tried to stall his opponent’s momentum by bailing to the outside, but would get met with a plancha from Tama; his plan B was a chop block to take out the knee, and as Tama’s base was taken from him, the Rebel tried to break his face with crossface shots. A Tongan Twist created some time for Tama, but that was all it created as Finlay kept dealing damage with forearm shots.
Tonga started firing back in combination, and landed SRC before the Supreme Flow, but only got two; now in the driver’s seat though, a Gunstun seemed the next move. Desperate counters would pay off for Finlay, who got two from Prima Nocta and drilled a Blue Thunder Bomb and spear, but only got a very near two as the Gunma crowd got behind Tama Tonga. X marked the spot for Finlay, who removed his kneepad to set for Prima Nocta, but a quick counter saw him instead writhe in pain from a Sharpshooter, just barely pulling himself to the bottom rope.
As Finlay came to his feet hobbling with knee damage, Tama charged in but was caught instead with an Irish Curse backbreaker. Tama again denied Trash Panda, getting an inside cradle and then Bloody Sunday for near twos, but Finlay was equally resistant to the Gunstun, and after Trash Panda, advanced to the finals.
The main event would see SANADA, flanked by the members of the newly rebadged Just Five Guys, and with a different clean shaven look, facing Mark Davis who was joined by the members of the United Empire. The battle of speed and power was evident from the off as SANADA slowed Davis with a dropkick to th eknee, but Dunkzilla responded by dumping his foe and landing a big senton, taking advantage on the floor. Heavy hands of Davis made their mark in and out of the ring, but SANADA would be able to escape out the back door of a throw and connected with a suplex to buy himself a little time.
A barrage of dropkicks put Davis to the floor where a plancha was waiting at the five minute mark, but couldn’t maintain his advantage, Dunkzilla fighting out of a TKO before landing a massive tope suicida. A second rope shoulder tackle kept the match in the Australian’s hands, and even a springboard dropkick wasn’t enough to take Davis off his feet, the big man following instead with a side suplex for a near two. Fighting off the back foot, SANADA got his TKO for two, but a power slam followed, and Davis escaped a Skull End attempt before climbing up to the top.
A big splash proved to be in error, but SANADA similarly crashed and burned into the big man’s knees. An intense physical war continued as Davis absorbed SANADA’s strikes and buried a Brisbane Bomber for two; Dunkzilla wanted the Waterslide to end things, and though SANADA would counter with an O’Connor Roll, he had no answer for an incredible spike piledriver that got 2.9 from the referee. SANADA was out on his feet and set for the Water Slide ride, but an instinctive counter into the modified DDT saw him advance.
