New Japan Pro Wrestling wrapped up the New Japan Cup on Wednesday morning. Since the show aired at 2am EST, here’s a spoiler-free match list for all of the non-nite owl New Japan Fans. Each match receives a Need To Watch Rating of 0.0-10.0.
FIRST MATCH: Shota Umino vs. Tetsuhiro Yagi
Stellar start to the show. Umino and Yagi began a rivalry that will likely last years. A simple but effective bout that will continue to age well as these two men progress in their careers.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.4)
SECOND MATCH: Tomoyuki Oka vs. Taichi
Oka continues to show flashes of brilliance, and Taichi’s heavyweight run is still surpassing all expectations. Definitely a fun match, while not must-see viewing.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.9)
THIRD MATCH: Togi Makabe, Toa Henare & Michael Elgin vs. Bullet Club (Tanga Loa, Bad Luck Fale & Yujiro Takahashi)
Not much to write home about. Both teams are wildly effective units, but Henare and Co. are definitely getting a little stale, and need a refresh quick.
Need To Watch Rating: (2.9)
FOURTH MATCH: CHAOS (Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Killer Elite Squad (Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.)
Completely depends on a the viewer’s opinion of Toru Yano. Ishii got to dominate Archer for fun stretches of this match. Both teams making solid cases for Heavyweight Tag contendership.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.2)
FIFTH MATCH: Juice Robinson & David Finlay vs. CHAOS (Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI)
Hopefully a preview of World Tag League. Both teams would fit in nicely in the round robin blocks. Definitely recommended viewing.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.5)
SIXTH MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & SANADA) vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado)
Suzuki-gun and LIJ continue to have a show stealing rivalry. Naito and Suzuki’s chemistry is wonderful, while Hiromu and BUSHI continue to be a thorn in the side of the IWGP Jr. Tag Team Champs. Recommended place to start watching the show, for many who are in a time crunch.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.1)
SEVENTH MATCH: CHAOS (Kazuchika Okada & Chuckie T) vs. Kota Ibushi & Chase Owens
Okada and Chuckie T continue to be a surprisingly effective tandem. Nearly written off as a comedy character during his Tag League debut, Chuckie T has been learning much from The Rainmaker. Owens and Ibushi continue to pair flawlessly. Chase Owens is a sleeper pick for Gaijin of The Year, but the year is young.
Need To Watch Rating: (7.9)
MAIN EVENT: New Japan Cup Final Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Absolute classic. Truly fluid, breathless, brutal storytelling. Tanahashi fights with the strength of 100 Tanahashi’s against Minoru Suzuki’s protege. Seek. Out. This. Match.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
