Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
From Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan:
Night One of the New Japan Cup was supposed to take place on March 7. According to http://www.njpw1972.com, There was a broken ring post which forced the event to be canceled. The Round 1 matches for March 7, will be rescheduled for March 8.
1 - Tomoaki Honma, Toru Yano, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Hirooki Goto vs. Tiger Mask, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata
Nagata pins Honma with a back suplex with a bridge
The announce that Hirooki Goto will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Yuji Nagata on March 15.
2 - Jado, El Desperado and El Phantasmo vs. Jeff Cobb, Jakob Austin Young and Great O-Khan
Desperado forces Young to tap out to Numero Dos.
They show a video of Clark Conners challenging El Desperado for the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Championship in a Hardcore Rules match. Desperado accepts the challenge.
3 - BUSHI and Tetsuya Naito vs. Francesco Akira and Callum Newman
BUSHI goes for a La Magistral Cradle on Akira, but Akira reverses and cradles BUSHI to get a pin.
New Japan Cup Round 1:
4 - Yuya Uemura vs. SANADA
SANADA comes to the ring with an inappropriate shirt calling Uemura “still Young Lion”.
Good wrestling to start the match. SANADA takes the advantage with a low blow then throws Uemura into the crowd. Uemura beats the count out. They trade strikes. Uemura with a back suplex. SANADA with a dropkick sending Uemura to the floor. SANADA locks in Skull End. SANADA goes for a moonsault but Uemura gets the knees up.
Uemura goes to the top rope for a splash. SANADA grabs the referee to block the move. Taiji Ishimori pulls Uemura off the top rope. TAKA and Taichi chase Ishimori around the ring and back to the locker room.
Uemura avoids another moonsault and hits an Uranage suplex. They trade kicks and reversals. Uemura rolls SANADA into a Superman Cradle.
Uemura pins SANADA.
Yuya Uemura advances in the tournament to face YOSHI-HASHI in Round 2.
5 - Yota Tsuji vs. EVIL
Dick Togo attacks Tsuji on his way to the ring. Tsuji fights them both off. EVIL hits a lariat and applies the Darkness Scorpion. Rope break. EVIL hits Darkness Falls. Two count. Tsuji reverses out of Everything is Evil and stuns EVIL with a head butt. EVIL avoids a Malo Crash but Tsuji hits a lariat. EVIL pulls the referee into a Gene Blaster. Togo throws powder in Tsuji’s eyes. EVIL hits a low blow. EVIL hits Everything is Evil on Tsuji.
EVIL pins Tsuji
EVIL advances in the tournament and will face David Finlay in Round 2.
Tsuji, winner of the 2024 New Japan Cup is eliminated in the first round. More importantly, EVIL has pinned the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion and becomes the number one contender.
EVIL vs. Finlay should be a good match with lots of shenanigans.
6 - Ryohei Oiwa vs. Chase Owens
Both men were evenly matched until Owens hit a neckbreaker on the guardrail. Back in the ring, Owens hits a Jewel Heist. Two count. Owens with a C-Trigger. Oiwa countered with an arm wrench and attacks Owen’s left arm.
Owens hits a sunset bomb into the turnbuckle. Another C-Trigger and a half nelson suplex. Oiwa counters with a lariat. Owens hits another stiff C-Trigger. Owens goes for a Package Piledriver but Oiwa reverses into an arm submission.
Owens taps out.
Ryohei Oiwa advances in the tournament and will face Zack Sabre Jr. in Round 2.
7 - Gabe Kidd vs. Ren Narita
The match up of two protégés of Katsuyori Shibata.
Gabe Kidd comes to the ring to a big pop from the Korakuen crowd. He sees Narita attacking from the rear and is ready. He beats Narita and throws him into the ring post. Kidd has “Fighting Spirit” on his trunks. Kidd hits a moonsault off the turnbuckle on Narita. The crowd is loud and applauds Kidd.
Back in the ring, Kidd elbows Narita and hits a running dropkick. Kidd sits in a Katsuyori Shibata pose which pops the crowd. Narita drags Kidd out of the ring and they brawl into the crowd. Then they brawl into the backstage area. They fight back to ringside. Kidd gives a two sweet salute to Gedo who is on Japanese commentary. Kidd stacked a pile of chairs and was about to plant Narita with a Piledriver. SHO comes to the ring and Kidd chases him. Kidd charges at Narita who backdrops him on the chairs. Narita suplexes him on the chairs.
Narita beats down Kidd at ringside. Kidd is almost counted out. Narita hits a suplex. They trade strikes. Kidd with a suplex and a moonsault. Two count. Narita hits a Hells Guillotine. Two count. Narita applies a Dragon Sleeper. Kidd powers out. Narita applies a sleeper. Kidd blocks a Double Cross and kicks Narita in the chest. Kids hits a brainbuster. Two count.
Kidd goes for the Rebound Lariat but Narita pulls the referee who takes the brunt. Narita grabs his push up bar and hits Kidd in the gut. Narita calls for SHO and Yujiro Takahashi who come to the ring and stomp on Kidd. Narita smashes a chair over Kidd’s head. Right in front of Gedo. Kidd is bleeding from the head. House of Torture is about to finish off Kidd when Taiji Ishimori and Drilla Moloney make the save. They all fight back to the locker room, leaving Kidd and Narita in the ring.
They fight over the push up bar. Kidd yanks it away and tosses it to the floor. They exchange strikes. Kidd flattens Narita with a bloody slap. Kidd hits a knee strike. Kidd follows with a piledriver. Kidd holds on and hits another piledriver.
Kidd pins Narita.
Gabe Kidd advances in the tournament who will face Taichi in Round 2.
Good match. Kidd looked like a babyface fighting against all odds and got the win, yet he still was a War Dogs heel. He played to the Korakuen faithful fans and was enjoying himself.
Kidd looked emotional after the match. He said “F**k House of Torture”. He goes on to say lots of people claim to be the new leaders of New Japan, like Shota Umino and Yota Tsuji. He says he is the leader of the next generation in New Japan. He said he bleeds New Japan. He says “F**k AEW, F**k WWE, New Japan is number one”. Massive pop for that. He will be the New Japan Cup Winner.
Kidd takes the New Japan Strong belt, places it near the Lion Head in the ring and bows and pays respect to New Japan, the promotion.
This was not Gabe Kidd, the War Dog. This was Gabe Kidd as a potential babyface of the company, with a Korakuen crowd in full support. The story of War Dogs and House of Torture is not done. But there should be a resolution at some point.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
