Last spots filled in the round of 16

Kyoto saw the last matches in the first round of New Japan Cup 2021, with the field of 16 now set before round two starts on the 11th in Ehime. 

First to battle for a position in the round of 16 were David Finlay and Chase Owens. Chase started with a scientific style befitting of the Texas Heavyweight Champion, but he was met with a dropkick by Finlay and a suplex that put Owens on the mat. The BULLET CLUB member quickly responded however, tugging Finlay off the top rope into an innovative backbreaker, and creating a weakness that he would continue to exploit. A Northern Lights suplex and a body scissors continued to pile on the pressure as Finlay struggled from underneath. 

A neckbreaker gave Finlay some distance and though a dropkick through the ropes sent him reeling, Finlay was able to score with an Irish Curse backbreaker to gain a near fall from the referee. Owens managed to get back on the offensive, with a lariat and a half nelson into yet another backbreaker, but still couldn’t put Finlay down for the three count, the match continuing past the ten minute mark. 

Frustrated, Owens elected to take a more sinister route. Heading outside, the Texas champ tore away at the ringside mats, creating a distraction for the referee that allowed him to level Finlay with the championship belt. With the match in his pocket, Owens landed a huge knee that rocked Finlay and went for the Package Piledriver, but was caught with a Hurricanrana that gave Finlay the victory.

With a flash finish to the match prior, YOSHI-HASHI started his match with Yujiro Takahashi in speedy form, landing a quick bodyslam on his BULLET CLUB opponent. Though Yujiro went for the eyes of YOSHI-HASHI, he soon paid for his transgressions, being sent into the ringside guardrails. 

Yujiro was one step ahead of the Headhunter however, finding his stick at ringside and driving it into YOSHI-HASHI’s midsection. Back inside, Takahashi kept up the pressure on his opponent, and though YOSHI-HASHI fired back with trademark heart, was quickly stalled with shots to the midsection, until a big brainbuster finally created an opportunity for the CHAOS member. 

YOSHI-HASHI built momentum with running chops and a dropkick in the ropes, but couldn’t get more than a two count. A desperation hotshot from Yujiro however, and the flow of the match went back to the Tokyo Pimp. A top rope Fishinerman’s Buster was followed by a second center ring, but YOSHI-HASHI refused to quit.

Yujiro couldn’t hit Pimp Juice, but YOSHI-HASHI’s own attempt at a finish with Karma was denied with Miami Shine. As both men battled to their feet, they collided with lariats, the Headhunter coming out on top. Karma still proved elusive, but a swanton connected, and YOSHI-HASHI instead went for the submission, sinking in a Butterfly Lock that had Yujiro screaming in pain as the match passed the 15 minute threshold. While Takahashi refused to submit, he had no answer for the Karma that followed, sending YOSHI-HASHI into round two. 

The last round two spot would fall to either Toa Henare or Jay White in the main event.  White was unfazed by Henare’s haka to start the match, but was cagey in the opening of the bout, attempting to draw his countryman into a mistake. This he did when sliding out and back inside the ring, as he put the boots to Henare, before hanging Henare over the top rope and taking firm control with a side headlock center ring. 

Henare was finally able to score a satisfying elbow on White however, and followed with a heavy shoulder tackle before taking the Switchblade from corner to corner with chops. With momentum on his side, Henare would drive White into the ringside steel, but confidence would get the better of him as an exploder from White sent him tumbling over the top rope to the outside. 

The BULLET CLUB leader set to work on Henare with trademark midsection attacks to the apron and guardrail outside the ring and trademark arrogance within, taunts accompanying a half Boston crab. A hard Irish whip to the corner and a massive suplex would have White wondering whether the arrogance was misplaced however, until a DDT and half hatch into the corner gave the match back to the Switchblade. 

Exuding confidence, White swung with Henare, and though he tasted a harsh headbutt, the Switchblade would soon bait his opponent into a wild swing that was easily countered into a Complete Shot and delayed German suplex at the 15 minute mark. Again baiting Henare in, a Uranage would follow, before White pushed his opponent to the outside, declaring the Maori Warrior was not worthy of being in the same ring and demanding referee Red Shoes Unno count him out.

When Henare repeatedly got back into the ring, he was met with a Kiwi Crusher from White, but still refused to take the three count loss. Still though, the punishment continued, a snap backdrop suplex having Henare reeling before being put on the top rope. White would want a superplex from the corner, but was denied as Henare clawed his way back into the match, a diving shoulder tackle connecting at the 20 minute mark. 

A heavy lariat followed for Henare in the corner, followed by a running Samoan drop as the Kyoto crowd got behind the underdog. A Toa Bottom wasn’t forthcoming for Henare, but a hard backfist was, and a huge spear took White off his feet and had Gedo panicking ringside. White would go prone to avoid a Rampage Tackle, a trap designed to hit Bladerunner, but Toa Bottom would counter for two; Henare would level Gedo from the apron and hit a Rampage for a second nearfall, but still couldn’t finish off the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. 

Before Henare could go for the kill on White, a snap sleeper suplex would score for the Switchblade, and despite Henare’s struggles, a second also found the mark. A Bladerunner later and Jay White was through. White will now face Hiroshi Tanahashi on March 15 in Korakuen Hall.