New Japan Cup Final set
The New Japan Cup final is now set, as Fukushima saw two gripping semifinals on March 18.
The first of the night’s semifinals pit Yota Tsuji against EVIL. With not even the slightest hint of a fafir fight, EVIL was accompanied by Dick Togo to ringside, prompting Tsuji to get the jump on his foe in the dark of his entrance. Sure enough, all of HOUSE OF TORTURE would soon hit the ring though, prompting a pitched brawl to break out, and the match to be deemed a no contest.
Tsuji demanded the match be restarted, and as a throng of referees ensured everyone was ejected from ringside, the bell sounded once again. The Fukushima crowd erupted as Tsuji took the fight to EVIL, who regained the advantage on the floor. Shooting Tsuji into an exposed turnbuckle would score two off the referee as Tsuji struggled, only getting some distance from a corner face breaker combination and a second chain center ring. A Curb Stomp scored for Tsuji, but EVIL would fire back with a referee assisted Magic Killer.
As the match again took a dark turn, EVIL sent Tsuji again into the exposed buckle and landed Darkness Falls for a near two. There was still fight in Tsuji, who misdirected the King of Darkness into the exposed buckle; as both men reset, EVIL fired in brutal clotheslines, but Tsuji refused to fall at EVIL feet, tensing up and firing back with a Brainbuster Bomb for a nearfall. Spaghetti legged, Tsuji went for the Double Jump Curb Stomp, but thanks to EVIL, the referee tasted the boot again, and again H.O.T re-emerged.
After a mugging from the entire HOUSE, EVIL rocketed a lariat to Tsuji, who kicked out. EVIL was sure to follow, but a massive backflip counter and a Death Valley Bomb got a new official to 2.9. That official would soon be taken out by EVIL, as the mugging was set to continue, but Shingo Takagi made the save to a rapturous reception; after a deeply satisfying Pumping Bomber, a massive Gene Blaster scored to put Tsuji in the final.
The main event pit SANADA against Hirooki Goto for the other final spot. After a raucous semi main event, there was a more considered pace in the opening moments of the bout, but things suddenly escalated when the match went outside. Goto tried to run into SANADA but ate a drop toe hold into the guardrail and then a piledriver on the concrete floor, echoing his transformation against Taichi a year prior. Goto would beat the referee’s 20 count but was still badly hurting as he fought back with chops and jabs before a follow into the ropes and a big time lariat, but a dropkick and plancha kept the former World Champion in charge.
Goto tried to get offense going in the face of a seemingly unbeatable SANADA, but was still wobbly from the piledriver; SANADA stayed ahead with a TKO, but a Moonsault missed, and the receipt was an Ushigoroshi from the Fierce Warrior. With damage on both men taking its toll, Goto and SANADA traded elbows, but as had been the case throughout the bout, SANADA was a step ahead. As Goto went for GTR, he would instead be met with a Magic Screw and then a Shining Wizard into the Skull End, Goto fading 15 minutes deep.
When SANADA felt Goto had been weakened enough, he went up and hit the Moonsault, but only got two as the heart of Goto still beat proud. Without much technique, but with a lot of force, Goto scored with a big headbutt as the crowd got behind him, urging a massive left footed PK to find the back of the net. A second mid kick scored, but GTR was countered with a backslide for a nail biting nearfall, and an O’Connor Bridge that was even closer. SANADA found his feet and drilled Goto with another Shining Wizard. Deadfall was followed with GTW and then a GTR for a huge victory.
Yota Tsuji will now face Hirooki Goto in the New Japan Cup final March 20 in Nagaoka
