First semifinal set
March 16 saw the first New Japan Cup semifinal set, as two quarterfinal matches were set to take place in Nagoya’s Dolphin’s Arena.
Before action started on the night however, an announcement was made that David Finlay had to withdraw from action on the night due to illness. As he underwent evaluation at a local hospital, Hirooki Goto advanced to the semifinals due to forfeit.
That left HOUSE OF TORTURE’s Jack Perry taking on 2023 Cup winner SANADA in the main event of the evening. Perry was quick on offence, taking the ring announcer’s mic and choking out SANADA with the cable before the bell. SANADA battled back, but would get dumped to the floor by Perry, who kept up the pressure and dictated the pace before a side Russian legsweep from the 2023 Cup winner. A dropkick followed on the money, and after a SANADA plancha, the Nagoya faithful got on side; as the pace quickened though, Perry showed his wrestling IQ with a drop toe hold into the Snare Trap. SANADA made the ropes, but when he did so, Perry had the awareness to slide out, and drilled his foe with a hung DDT off the apron to the wooden floor he’d exposed in the opening moments.
SANADA kicked out of a follow up Tiger Driver in the ring, but when he went for an O’Connor Roll, Perry pulled down the referee. HOUSE OF TORTURE came to the ring right on cue to a livid reaction from Nagoya; Yuya Uemura and Taichi evened the odds somewhat and SANADA buried Perry with a poison rana, but Perry fired back with the Glass Jaw knee. Both men were slow back to their feet from the exchange, but SANADA landed a Shining Wizard and then a Moonsault for a sure fire three- until Ren Narita pulled out the referee. Dick Togo would choke out SANADA for Perry to hit a second Glass Jaw, but SANADA rolled the shoulder before three at the 15 minute mark.
As chaotic scenes continued to play out between HOUSE OF TORTURE and Just Five Guys ringside, Perry wanted another Glass Jaw, but was countered into an O’ Connor Bridge for three. Confronted by Goto afterward, both men promised to return to Nagoya having won the Cup and the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Hirooki Goto will now face SANADA in the semifinals Monday in Fukushima. Tournament action continues Sunday in Shizuoka, with Yota Tsuji facing Ren Narita and EVIL taking on Shingo Takagi.
