March 6’s 52nd Anniversary Event saw the first three matches of the New Japan Cup, top billing of the tournament matches going to Jack Perry in his NJPW debut opposite Shota Umino.

Feeling under the gun in a high pressure Cup, Umino went hard out the gates, but would be stopped by Perry into his Snare Trap submission, followed by a DDT from apron to floor. A stinging snap Dragon suplex from Perry was withstood by Umino, who battled back with a DDT over the ropes and Trident in ring for two.

Perry fired back in response with thrust kicks and a poison rana, but the adrenaline surged through Umino, who hit Blaze Blade. Death Rider would have been next but for Yoshinobu Kanemaru, who created a distraction while Ren Narita struck Umino with his push-up bar and the Double Cross. Perry used a knee trembler to pick up the tainted win, and then accepted a Tshirt from EVIL, joining HOUSE OF TORTURE.

YOSHI-HASHI moved to the second round with a career first singles victory over KENTA. A hard fought battle began when the Headhunter wanted to bring the fight to the IWGP Tag Team Champion, chopping away at KENTA on the outside before being wrapped hard around the guardrails. YOSHI-HASHI would find himself under the thumb of KENTA, who dictated the pace, and responded to flashes of offence with blistering strikes and a Busaiku Knee that saw a near fall. When KENTA went for the Go To Sleep though, an Itadakikari counter saw YOSHI-HASHI pick up the win.

The first match of the tournament might end up being the shortest when all is said and done. Yujiro Takahashi thought he could get the jump on Toru Yano and handcuff his foe to the guardrail for a countout win. Yano instead broke the railing tog et back in, only to instead cuff Yujiro to timekeeper Taisei Watanabe. The time expired and Yano moved on.

Yano now faces Jack Perry in the second round while YOSHI-HASHI faces second round bye SANADA. Action continues Thursday with Chase Owens vs Tomohiro Ishii, Great-O-Khan facing Tanga Loa and David Finlay against TJP in the main event.