NJPW: Kings Of Strong Style II

[Big Roguey]

New Japan Cup Day Two Predictions

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Ryusuke Taguchi, BUSHI & Sho Tanaka vs. Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada

Comments: Teams with Young Lions don't win matches.

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Rocky Romero, Gedo & Jado) vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & El Desperado)

Comments: Hmmm. Suzuki-Gun B-Team vs Romero & CHAOS B-Team. Romero saves Gedo & Jado!

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Captain New Japan & Takaaki Watanabe vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Yohei Komatsu

Comments: All depends if Watanabe is being treated as a young lion here or if you're playing it from "he's back from the world travels"

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Kazushi Sakuraba & Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin & Killer Elite Squad)

Comments: Shibata > All

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Bullet Club (Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga)

Comments: Yujiro eats the fall because he's bloody useless.

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments: HONMAMANIA!

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Toru Yano vs. Karl Anderson

Comments: I bet against him once and lost, no fooling me twice.

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata

Comments: Natio's got more upside.

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima

Comments: Same reasoning as Naito, Ibushi is younger and has more upside.

[StarshipAwsome]

Six Man Tag Team Match

Ryusuke Taguchi, BUSHI & Sho Tanaka vs. Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Rocky Romero, Gedo & Jado) vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Captain New Japan & Takaaki Watanabe vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Yohei Komatsu

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Kazushi Sakuraba & Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin & Killer Elite Squad)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Bullet Club (Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Toru Yano vs. Karl Anderson

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima

Comments:

[daulten6]

Six Man Tag Team Match

Ryusuke Taguchi, BUSHI & Sho Tanaka vs. Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Rocky Romero, Gedo & Jado) vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & El Desperado)

Comments:

Togi Makabe, Captain New Japan & Takaaki Watanabe vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Yohei KomatsuSix Man Tag Team Match

 

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Kazushi Sakuraba & Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin & Killer Elite Squad)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Bullet Club (Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Toru Yano vs. Karl Anderson

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima

Comments:

[crackerjack]

Six Man Tag Team Match

Ryusuke Taguchi, BUSHI & Sho Tanaka vs. Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Rocky Romero, Gedo & Jado) vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Captain New Japan & Takaaki Watanabe vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Yohei Komatsu

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Kazushi Sakuraba & Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin & Killer Elite Squad)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Bullet Club (Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Toru Yano vs. Karl Anderson

Comments: The Fun stops here

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima

Comments:

[TBKT]

New Japan Cup Day Two Predictions

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Ryusuke Taguchi, BUSHI & Sho Tanaka vs. Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Rocky Romero, Gedo & Jado) vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Captain New Japan & Takaaki Watanabe vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Yohei Komatsu

Comments: I was going to go with Makabe's team to win after his loss to Honma, but you've been booking the old guard strongly so Tenzan and Nakanashi swung it for me.

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Kazushi Sakuraba & Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin & Killer Elite Squad)

Comments: I'd like to see a series between both Sakuraba and Benjamin, and between Meiyu Tag and KES. Sakuraba's shoot wrestling style mixed in with Benjamin's amateur background could be interesting.

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Bullet Club (Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Toru Yano vs. Karl Anderson

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima

 

I'm going with Ibushi to win now. Wins over Kojima in the quarter-finals and Nagata in the final would really give him momentum towards any title shot, and Bad Luck Fale is doing well in your game too.

[The_CoC]

New Japan Cup Day Two Predictions

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Ryusuke Taguchi, BUSHI & Sho Tanaka vs. Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Rocky Romero, Gedo & Jado) vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Captain New Japan & Takaaki Watanabe vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Yohei Komatsu

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Kazushi Sakuraba & Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin & Killer Elite Squad)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Bullet Club (Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Toru Yano vs. Karl Anderson

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima

Comments:

[Mootinie]

Last call for predictions, mayn.

[Mootinie]

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"Eight warriors remain as the ultimate opportunity draws ever closer."

 

New Japan Cup Day Two

7th March, 2015

 

Live On Pay-Per-View

Saturday, Week 1, March 2015

Held at the Toda Motorboat Race Place in front of 25,000 fans!

Show Rating: B+

PPV Buy-Rate: 1.37

This show increased our popularity in 22 regions.

 

Commentary Team: Mauro Ranallo and Mick Foley

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Six Man Tag Team Match

Ryusuke Taguchi, BUSHI & Sho Tanaka vs. Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada

 

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As KUSHIDA starts us off with Sho Tanaka, Mauro Ranallo mentions that the young lion sent out a tweet yesterday of him training with Kazushi Sakuraba and, as far as he understands, the 'Gracie Killer' has taken him under his wing. Tanaka tries to outwrestle KUSHIDA on the mat and puts up a formidable fight, but the experience of the 'Time Splitter' prevails much to the frustration of the youngster. The action in this match is very back and forth and neither team really seizes the advantage until Mascara Dorada hits a Dorada Screwdriver (a modified Michinoku Driver II) on Tanaka for the victory.

 

Match Time: 11:54

Rating: B-

 

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Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Rocky Romero, Gedo & Jado) vs. Suzuki-gun (TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & El Desperado)

 

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This contest featured perhaps the most rule bending you will ever see in a wrestling match. TAKA and Taichi refuse to start the match until Gedo is in the ring, just so they can toss him outside and beat him senseless with a padded steel chair. Later on in the match, Jado attempts to remove Despy's mask. Gedo and Taichi tangle with the ref and start arguing with each other as TAKA walks in and kicks Jado right in the nads from behind. The only person that doesn't bend the rules is Rocky Romero, not that he gets any reward for it. As this scrap breaks down further, it's Suzuki-gun that win this cheat-off, TAKA Michinoku pinning Gedo with a Backslide, and yes, his feet were on the ropes.

 

Match Time: 12:29

Rating: B-

 

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Six Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Captain New Japan & Takaaki Watanabe vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Manabu Nakanishi & Yohei Komatsu

 

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Watanabe insists that he starts this match, only to spend several minutes absorbing punishment from Tenzan and Nakanishi. Thankfully, he's able to use his size advantage to assert himself over Komatsu and tag out. An even match, that is until Makabe tags in. Determined to prove that that defeat to Toru Yano last week was nothing but an upset, Makabe tears through Tenzan and Nakanishi en route to pinning young lion Yohei Komatsu after a devastating Power Bomb. The angry 'Unchained King Kong' sulks to the back and Mick Foley says he feels sorry for the first person that decides to talk to him.

 

Match Time: 13:18

Rating: B-

 

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Six Man Tag Team Match

Kazushi Sakuraba & Meiyu Tag (Katsuyori Shibata & Hirooki Goto) vs. Shelton X Benjamin & Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.)

 

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Shibata is tagging with his two best friends today, all three of which fell at the first hurdle of the New Japan Cup last week. Mick Foley rightfully observes that victory for K.E.S. here should earn them a shot at Goto & Shibata's tag team titles. As expected, this is a knock-down, drag-out affair with lots of hard strikes and ring-shaking power moves. It comes down to who wants it more and it's the determination of the New Japan Army trio that prevails, Hirooki Goto hitting a Shouten Kai on Shelton X Benjamin for the victory.

 

Match Time: 13:46

Rating: B

 

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Six Man Tag Team Match

CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI) vs. Bullet Club (Doc Gallows, Yujiro Takahashi & Tama Tonga)

 

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Despite their best efforts, this Bullet Club trio were never really a match for the CHAOS A-team . They enjoy themselves when they have YOSHI-HASHI in their clutches, but Nakamura and Okada is a different story. Gallows is able to assert his size advantage to some success, but the counter wrestling of 'The Rainmaker' shuts him down. However, it's the 'King Of Strong Style' that picks up the victory, pinning Tama Tonga after a Boma Ye.

 

Post-match, CHAOS celebrate before taking a microphone. Ranallo loosely translates that Nakamura watched very closely last week and all of CHAOS had a good laugh at Makabe's expense. Nakamura has to stop mid-promo because he's laughing that much and passes the microphone to Okada. 'The Rainmaker' tells the fans that they need to watch the final day, because he and YOSHI-HASHI have a little special something planned for all of them. They leave up the ramp, and Nakamura still can't control his laughter.

 

Match Time: 14:44

Rating: B (match), A (promo)

 

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New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tomoaki Honma vs. Bad Luck Fale

 

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As the bell rings for this one, Mick Foley believes that this is the ultimate David and Goliath clash - but if anybody can topple the giant Fale, it'll be the ultimate underdog Tomoaki Honma. As anticipated, 'The Underboss' dominates the bulk of this contest with hard stiff body strikes. The crowd rally behind Honma though, who keeps fighting back with forearm smashes. Although Fale shuts him down initially, a running Kokeshi buys the fan favourite some valuable time. The magnitude of Honma's challenge is exemplified when he hits a Crazy Elbow, a Bulldog and then a Standing Kokeshi - all just for a 1 count! Honma keeps fighting on, but he becomes increasingly tired with each devastating move that Fale hits and the Bad Luck Fall proves to be one obstacle too much as 'The Underboss' progresses to the final day.

 

Match Time: 11:49

Rating: B

 

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New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Toru Yano vs. Karl Anderson

 

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Anderson ambushed Yano before the bell, and in scenes reminiscent of their clash in the G1 Climax last year, 'Machine Gun' steals the red robe and hijacks Toru Yano's taunts and mannerisms.

 

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He even knows all of Yano's tricks, blocking his low blow, and then sending him right into the turnbuckle he exposed before a Gun Stun puts YTR's lights out and ends his New Japan Cup journey.

 

Match Time: 2:23

Rating: C+

 

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New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Tetsuya Naito vs. Yuji Nagata

 

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A week since scoring a major upset over tournament favourite Hirooki Goto, Nagata once again looks in control against the 'Stardust Genius'. He wasn't too warmly recieved upon entering, but Naito wins the crowd over with his flashy moveset as he makes his comeback, rattling off a chain of lightning quick maneouvers for near falls. Just like his match against Nakamura, Nagata's advantage lies in his homework. He counters Naito's contrived corner dropkick with a shove off the apron and Naito's ribs meet the hard steel of the guardrail. The 'Stardust Genius' recovers though and quickens the pace. Mauro Ranallo correctly observes that the longer this one goes, the more it favours the experienced Yuji Nagata and that's why Naito is looking to end it quickly. Nagata simply can't deal with the pace and after Naito hits the Gloria, he's ripe for a pickings and a Stardust Press finishes this one off.

 

Match Time: 14:37

Rating: B+

 

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New Japan Cup Quarter Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Satoshi Kojima

 

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Mauro Ranallo notes that the winner of this match will face Bad Luck Fale on Thursday. Kojima isn't a great mat wrestler so he can't exactly nullify Ibushi's speed there, instead he just opts to hit hard and keep Ibushi down and out. It works here and there but naturally, the 'Golden Star' is one slippery, fast competitor. Not operating with any kind of subtlety, Kojima's power moves are often countered, or just outright dodged before Ibushi strikes back himself hard and fast. They say that in boxing, the punches you don't see hurt the most, and that's especially true with Ibushi who levels Kojima with a quick-fire slap and kick salvo, cultimating with a beautiful Standing Corkscrew Moonsault for a near fall. Despite being in control, Kojima simply can't put Ibushi away. He motions for the Cozy Lariat but Ibushi ducks it, then ducks an attempted left arm Cozy Lariat before catching Kojima flush with a Pele Kick! In a great display of strength, Ibushi gets Kojima all the way up and down with a Sit-Out Powerbomb and then seals his place in the Semi Finals with a Phoenix Splash.

 

Match Time: 17:57

Rating: B+

 

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And, once the dust had settled, we were down to four.

 

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[thecoolestjedi12]

Yeah, how does if feel Kojima!

[TBKT]

http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q685/RynWlsn/NJPW%202015/ytrkarl_1.jpg

 

I love Karl Anderson.

 

I like the way you're booking things. Seems consistent with how NJPW book but also not predictable.

[Mootinie]

I like the way you're booking things. Seems consistent with how NJPW book but also not predictable.

 

I think that might be the best compliment I could have possibly received, so thank you.

[Mootinie]

New Japan Cup Day Two Prediction Results

 

thecoolestjedi12: 8

StarshipAwesome: 8

Wolfman84: 7

Packerman120: 7

daulten6: 7

Crackerjack: 7

Uncrewed: 6

Kijar: 6

Jon The GOAT: 6

smurphy1014: 6

MHero: 6

TBKT: 6

The_CoC: 6

 

A close bunch of scores here, cookies and milk for all!

 

It should come as no surprise to anybody that the Match Of The Night was Ibushi vs. Kojima, scoring an 86. Naito vs. Nagata wasn't far off with an 84 whilst Fale vs. Honma scored an 83!

 

Predictions for the final day should be up soon, I plan to post that this weekend to cap off the month and then I'll be handing out a bucket load of prediction prizes.

[Mootinie]

New Japan Cup 2015 Day Three Preview

 

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New Japan Cup Day Three

12th March, 2015

 

After twelve highly competitive matches, we return to the Toda Motorboat Race Place for the final day. Bad Luck Fale, Tetsuya Naito, Karl Anderson and Kota Ibushi battle for the New Japan Cup, and with it, a guaranteed title shot at Invasion Attack in just under three week's time.

 

Elsewhere, Kazuchika Okada has promised a little special something and we can only hope that Nakamura has finished laughing when they tag with YOSHI-HASHI to take on the reigning IWGP Tag Team Champions, Meiyu Tag, and young lion Takaaki Watanabe.

 

Tanahashi and friends take on Suzuki-gun and Killer Elite Squad will collide with TMDK in what's sure to be an explosive six man tag team match. Makabe gets his hands on Toru Yano and Rob Conway will look to recapture the NWA World Heavyweight Championship that he lost at New Year Dash.

 

Join us on PPV or iPPV for the final day of the New Japan Cup!

 

New Japan Cup Day Three Predictions

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments:

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments:

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments:

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi or Bad Luck Fale vs. Karl Anderson or Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

 

http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q685/RynWlsn/NJPW%202015/50pxnjpw.png

[Big Roguey]

New Japan Cup Day Three Predictions

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments: Omega over all!

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments: I'm more of a fan of Nagata than I am of Kojima so that tips the balance for me.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments: Poor Conway

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments: Makabe's angry but he's got Nakanishi & BUSHI weighing him down. CHAOS have YANO TO RU!~

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments: Anderson/Ibushi seems like the more obvious final. Fale's not ready brother and Naito's just unfortunate to be up against Karl.

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments: Suzuki-gun A-Team vs Invaders? MiSu beats them all on his own.

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments: Why must you pair Tanahashi with two lumps of uselessness?

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments: Shinsuke will never stop laughing! Although I fear something a bit...ominous is coming from Okada & YOSHI's surprise.

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Karl Anderson

Comments: The NJ Cup is perfect to give guys like Ibushi a chance to see how they'll do. He's not at a G1 winning level yet but the NJ Cup is a good starter point.

[Hashasheen]

Six Man Tag Team Match - Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments: Because The Young Bucks need to be fired. And Omega needs a new challenger.

 

Tag Team Match - Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments: Kojima can go better, and Komatsu seems to have more upside.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship -Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments: Conway might be better, but Tenzan is TENZAN.

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match - Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments: Tomoaki Honma to unseat Tomohiro as NEVER Openweight Champion!

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments: All-native finale!

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments: See above.

 

Six Man Tag Team Match - Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments: I like TMDK more than Killer Elite Squad.

 

Six Man Tag Team Match - Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments: Tanahashi is carrying a real weak six-man.

 

Six Man Tag Team Match - Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments: Takaaki Watanabe eating the pin

 

New Japan Cup Final - Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments: Kota with the blinkers on for Tanahashi.

 

Btw, there's a DDT wrestler called Yukio Sakaguchi whose dad is a New Japan legend. See if you can snap him up in-game.

[Kijar]

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments:

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments: Kojima mark right here

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments: Tenzan mark right here

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments: Marufuji

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments: Tanahashi

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi or Bad Luck Fale vs. Karl Anderson or Tetsuya Naito

Comments: Ibushi vs Naito will be legendary

[Uncrewed]

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments:

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments:

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments:

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi or Bad Luck Fale vs. Karl Anderson or Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

[Wolfman84]

New Japan Cup Day Three Predictions

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments:

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments:

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments:

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Karl Anderson

Comments:

[thecoolestjedi12]

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments: KENNY OMEGA!

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments: Boo Kojima, Boo!

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments: Horns

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments: eh, eh, eh, eh, stuff

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments: If Fale wins, I riot

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments: I enjoy Anderson more, so tough to choose

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments: Suzuki-Gun deserve it

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments: Always go with Tanahashi

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments: Always picking Shibata, he may not win, but I will stand by my creed

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi or Bad Luck Fale vs. Karl Anderson or Tetsuya Naito

Comments: Ibushi wins the whole thing

[packerman120]

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments:

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments:

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments:

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi or Bad Luck Fale vs. Karl Anderson or Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

[smurphy1014]

New Japan Cup Day Three Predictions

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)Comments:

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments:

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments:

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi or Bad Luck Fale vs. Karl Anderson or Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

[The_CoC]

New Japan Cup Day Three Predictions

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments: 2 Sweet Me MoontieHoot

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments:

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments:

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments: Makabe is the Mastabe!!!! (I have no idea what that means)

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments: MY BOY IBUSHI IS DOING IT

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments: Cool to see him and Fale make it this far

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments: Haste is my neighbor so he wins.

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Karl Anderson

Comments: Ibushi gets the big win

[StarshipAwsome]

New Japan Cup Day Three Predictions

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments:

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments:

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments:

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi or Bad Luck Fale vs. Karl Anderson or Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

[TBKT]

Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

Comments:

 

Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

Comments:

 

NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

Comments: I'm not sure where you're going with the NWA title, but even if it's being treated as mid-tier I don't see Conway being over enough to get the win.

 

Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

Comments: Common sense says Team Makabe wins, but the combo of Saku and the CHAOS guys is intriguing...

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji, Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Lance Archer)

Comments: Suzuki is a god and the KES are a top team

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

Comments:

 

Six Man Tag Team Match

Katsuyori Shibata, Hirooki Goto & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

Comments:

 

New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Karl Anderson

Comments:

[Mootinie]

12th March, 2015 - New Japan Cup Day Three

 

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"Amid a shower of confetti, one man will stand tall and reveal his hand.

 

The Road To Invasion Attack starts here."

 

New Japan Cup Day Three

12th March, 2015

 

Live On Pay-Per-View

Thursday, Week 2, March 2015

Held at the Toda Motorboat Race Place in front of 25,000 fans!

Show Rating: B+

PPV Buy-Rate: 1.06

This show increased our popularity in 21 regions.

 

Commentary Team: Mauro Ranallo and Mick Foley

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Six Man Tag Team Match

Time Splitters & Mascara Dorada vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega)

 

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We kicked off the show with a great match, a lot of smooth transitions amid some excellent back and forth action between these six supremely skilled competitors. Mascara Dorada went wild off a hot tag, taking out both Kenny Omega and Nick Jackson with a Corkscrew Plancha to the outside leaving KUSHIDA alone in the ring with Matt Jackson. The Young Buck attempted a Superkick, but KUSHIDA ducked underneath it, wrapped on a headscissors and floated over into the Hoverboard Lock. Omega & Nick Jackson tried to break it up and save the match, but couldn't break free from the clutches of Shelley & Dorada and Matt Jackson had no choice but to tap out.

 

Match Time: 13:24

Rating: B-

 

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Tag Team Match

Satoshi Kojima & Yohei Komatsu vs. Yuji Nagata & Sho Tanaka

 

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Kojima & Nagata have both been "saddled" with a young lion for this interesting contest. Neither trust the abilities of their partners and as this match goes on, it basically just becomes two singles matches going at the same time. Nagata locks on his signature Fujiwara Armbar on Satoshi Kojima, complete with his white eyes! Komatsu tries to interject, but Tanaka takes him down and locks on a Fujiwara Armbar too! These two respective battles continue throughout the match, all the way until Kojima takes out Nagata with a Cozy Lariat. Sho Tanaka steps up to the plate and takes the fight to his veteran opponent but he gets knocked silly with a Cozy Cutter and Kojima promptly covers him for the victory.

 

Match Time: 12:36

Rating: C

 

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NWA World Heavyweight Championship

Hiroyoshi Tenzan © vs. Rob Conway

 

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Bruce Tharpe is ringside for the 'Iron Man', sporting a flashy green sequined jacket as he shouts abuse at Tenzan supporters in the front row. Conway gets physical in this match utilizing various slams, suplexes and painful strikes to put a hurting on Tenzan's aging body. The crowd will the Champion to push on though and he makes his comeback with Mongolian Chops. Tharpe attempts to interfere, hopping on the apron to distract referee Tiger Hattori, but Tenzan whips Conway to the ropes and inadvertly knocks his own Manager to the floor! He turns around into a Mountain Bomb and then Tenzan rolls back the years with a top rope Moonsault to retain his title.

 

Match Time: 11:36

Rating: B-

 

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Eight Man Tag Team Match

Togi Makabe, Tomoaki Honma, Manabu Nakanishi & BUSHI vs. Kazushi Sakuraba & CHAOS (Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo)

 

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Yano is last to enter and spits a large mouthful of water at Makabe as the bell rings to absolute mayhem! Ishii and Honma quickly take their fight to the outside. Gedo and BUSHI go head-to-head, that is until the masked Junior is sent headfirst into the steel ringpost. Meanwhile, Sakuraba has managed to take Nakanishi down and has him locked in a legbar as the lumbering giant tries to reach him with lofted punches. Eventually the fight returns to the ring and we have a proper match on our hands. The action was thick and fast, a lot of tags in and out and a lot of big moves from the get go as the numbers are slowly whittled down. Eventually, Ishii found himself alone with Honma. The NEVER Openweight Champion got the better of the ultimate underdog and attempted a Brainbuster... - but Honma blocked it and countered into an Inside Cradle for the victory!

 

Match Time: 14:46

Rating: B

 

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New Japan Cup Semi Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Bad Luck Fale

 

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Just like Naito at The New Beginning, Ibushi is noticeably nervous as he faces Fale's imposing figure. The 'Golden Star' takes the fight to the big man, aiming kicks as his legs as he looks 'chop that giant redwood down to size' - words courtesy of Foley on commentary. Ibushi continues this strategy throughout the match but even so, the big man is still able to reduce his opponent to a heap with one single clubbing forearm strike. Fale looks to be heading to victory as he downs Ibushi with a devastating Samoan Drop and then starts a slow climb to the top rope. The 320-pounder leaps off, but can only find the canvas with his gigantic splash! Ibushi takes advantage with a hasty Phoenix Splash and the proceeding impact was just enough to pick up the three!

 

Match Time: 10:37

Rating: B-

 

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New Japan Cup Semi Final

Karl Anderson vs. Tetsuya Naito

 

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One Bullet Club member had just bitten the dust, would a second join him? Anderson reeled off his Machine Gun to the crowd and fired the first shot as he blindsided Naito before he could even take off his jacket. Anderson asserted control and tried to dominate with his brawling abilities, but he found Naito to be a much tougher customer than expected. Using his experience, Anderson countered Naito's signature Slingshot Forearm Smash into a Gun Stun and thought he'd won the match, but the 'Stardust Genius' propped a foot on the bottom rope! Anderson lost this focus, frustrated, he started arguing with the referee before turning around right into a Pluma Blanca (an STO into a Koji Clutch). Despite Anderson's best efforts to escape, he was left with no choice but to submit his place in the final.

 

Match Time: 12:25

Rating: B

 

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Six Man Tag Team Match

Naomichi Marufuji & TMDK vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Killer Elite Squad)

 

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Little more than a taster of two matches that should take place in the not too distant future. After some early back and forth action, Suzuki's rivalry with Marufuji finally reaches boiling point and spills out of the ring into the crowd. Suzuki beats the life out of NOAH's ace and then locks on a Rear Naked Choke with such a strong grip that it takes both Tanaka and Komatsu to seperate his arms and help Marufuji to the back - but not before Suzuki beats them senseless too. TMDK fight on without their partner but the numbers game quickly gets to them and Suzuki seals the victory courtesy of the Saka Otoshi on Mikey Nicholls.

 

Match Time: 11:39

Rating: C+

 

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Six Man Tag Team Match

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Captain New Japan & Ryusuke Taguchi vs. Suzuki-gun (Shelton X Benjamin, TAKA Michinoku & El Desperado)

 

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Mauro Ranallo quickly hailed this as a match that could go either way given the relative poor fortunes of at least four of its competitors. Tanahashi makes all the difference though, he's simply far more skilled than anybody in the ring. Neither the Captain nor the 'Funky Weapon' make a match-costing mistake (very rare for those two) and Tanahashi seals the victory for his team with a High Fly Flow onto the masked El Desperado. Truthfully, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion hardly even broke a sweat here.

 

Match Time: 14:46

Rating: B

 

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Six Man Tag Team Match

Meiyu Tag & Takaaki Watanabe vs. CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada & YOSHI-HASHI)

 

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Both Okada and Nakamura were given separate entrances and boy were they over... A buzz surrounds both of those competitors and they started the match on the right foot as it was quickly asserted that Watanabe was quite the weak link. Not for the lack of effort but the youngster simply couldn't deal with the physicality of Nakamura. He didn't fare much better with the classy counter-wrestling of 'The Rainmaker' either and both of these ex-IWGP World Heavyweight Champions have clearly taught YOSHI-HASHI a thing or two because he was well in form tonight too. This match was only ever going one way and Hirooki Goto paid dearly for his poor performance, eating the Rainmaker Lariat as Kazuchika Okada picked up the victory.

 

Post-match, the CHAOS trio stuck around as Goto & Shibata regathered their bearings. Watanabe skulked off, he was clearly unimpressed with his own performance. Okada grabbed a microphone, he had a few words for his opponents. He put his left arm around YOSHI-HASHI, praising his tag partner before making a passing compliment to Nakamura in the background. 'The Rainmaker' challenged Meiyu Tag, he wanted them to defend their Championships against him and YOSHI-HASHI at Invasion Attack. Nakamura went as far as to lead the crowd into a YOSHI-HASHI chant that Goto and Shibata smirked at in disbelief. The Champions extended their hands and shook the hands of the victors to seal the deal.

 

Match Time: 14:58

Rating: B (match), B+ (challenge)

 

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New Japan Cup Final

Kota Ibushi vs. Tetsuya Naito

 

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We started with sixteen competitors but after fourteen matches across three days, we are now down to just two. Ibushi is treated to a warm reaction and this capacity crowd quickly assert that he is their favourite. The early advantage flips back and forth. Naito asserts his strength advantage with the collar and elbow lock-up and then grounds his opponent to nullify his speed. Ibushi breaks away back to a vertical base and tries to unload with quick strikes, only for Naito to back away and take a breather on the outside. The fans take exception to what they feel is cowardice on the part of the 'Stardust Genius', but Ranallo actually praises this smart gameplan. Naito continues to manage Ibushi's pace, that is until he manages to knock Naito to the outside with a Roundhouse Kick to the side of the head. He follows this up by charging towards the adjacent corner before hopping over the top rope onto the second turnbuckle truss on the outside before landing on Naito with an Asai Moonsault! Ranallo calls it the Golden Triangle Moonsault and it wipes both men out. Ibushi is back to his feet first and rolls Naito back in the ring before making a cover - but only for 2!

 

From here on out, this match was all Ibushi. He found his stride and built momentum as he hit a succession of moves - a Standing Shooting Star Press, a Pele Kick & a Sit-Out Powerbomb; but Naito kicked out after each. That said, the 'Stardust Genius' was simply surviving and when Ibushi slammed him down to the canvas with a Scoop Slam and climbed up top, one couldn't help but think that this contest was over. That was until...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Of all people, Suzuki-Gun's Shelton X Benjamin came sprinting down the ramp and hopped on the apron, grabbing Ibushi's leg just before he was about to leap off with the Phoenix Splash. Naito rolled over, so that he was facing away from the comotion in the corner. Ibushi crouched down and hammered away, but Benjamin wouldn't release his grip. He finally let go as Ibushi stood up again... only to get crotched on the top rope by Naito! He pulled Ibushi down, and then hit his signature Gloria before a Stardust Press sealed the victory, and with it, Naito's first ever New Japan Cup.

 

Match Time: 24:57

Rating: B+

 

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Shelton X Benjamin was nowhere to be seen as the young lions attended to Kota Ibushi. He was escorted from the ring, an ice pack placed on his neck as he bowed his head in shame. Naito had his hand raised, much to the chagrin of the audience who let him exactly how they felt about his victory. A large cheque and a bouquet of flowers were gifts handed to the victor in the traditional post-match ceremony but the grand prize was the New Japan Cup itself, handed to Naito by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling President, Takaaki Kidani. But instead of raising it high, Naito placed it carefully down on the canvas and asked for a microphone from ring announcer Kimihiko Ozaki. In a rather short victory speech, the 'Stardust Genius' started by complimenting Kota Ibushi, claiming he put up one hell of a fight before insisting he would like to fight him again. He spoke about how difficult the tournament had been but said this was the best he'd felt since his knee injury nearly three years ago. To close off, Naito declared his intention to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and told Hiroshi Tanahashi that he would see him at Invasion Attack.

 

Naito handed the microphone back to Ozaki... and then raised the New Japan Cup as red and white confetti rained down on the ring! He posed for photographs and then celebrated on the top turnbuckle in front of a partisan audience, some cheering, some still upset, to close the show and conclude the tournament.

 

Rating: B-

 

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And your winner is... Tetsuya Naito!

 

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