Will the United Empire dominate the New Japan Cup?

Great-O-Khan, Aaron Henare and Will Ospreay all compete as the New Japan Cup continues! Will the United Empire have the advantage in round three?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Tomoaki Honma, Kosei Fujita & Yuto Nakashima VS Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & Ryohei Oiwa; Taguchi, Wato & Oiwa win.
• Six Man Tag: YOH, Tiger Mask & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Bullet Club; Yoh, Tiger Mask & Tanahashi win.
• Six Man Tag: Chaos VS House of Torture; Chaos wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Suzuki-Gun; LIJ wins.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Second Round: Zack Sabre Jr. VS DOUKI; ZSJ wins and advances.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Second Round: Great-O-Khan VS Taiji Ishimori; Khan wins and advances.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Second Round: Will Ospreay VS El Phantasmo; Ospreay wins and advances.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Second Round: SANADA VS Aaron Henare; Sanada wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Suzuki-Gun!

Tetsuya Naito is through to the Sweet Sixteen, Shingo Takagi will have his Second Round match tomorrow, and sadly Bushi fell to Will Ospreay. But Hiromu Takahashi is getting ready to take on THE Minoru Suzuki after having his first round bye. Will the Ticking Timebomb be ready to take on the Meanest Man in the World after taking him on here?

At “KAZE NI NARE,” Los Ingobernables de Japon strikes first! Hiromu goes right at Suzuki, Bushi dropkicks Desperado, Naito is after Taichi and Takagi throws out Taka! The bell rings to get this on record as the brawl continues outside! Bushi CLUBS Desperado, Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS Suzuki but Suzuki hits back. Suzuki chokes Hiromu against railing! Taichi turns things around on Naito, Suzuki SMACKS Hiromu off the apron! Hiromu CHOPS again but Suzuki CHOPS him back! Suzuki fires off more shots, then DECKS Hiromu with a haymaker! Suzuki throws knees, then CHOPS Hiromu against railing!

Suzuki puts Hiromu in the ring and fans cheer. Hiromu CHOPS and fires forearms but Suzuki eggs him on! Hiromu fires off more shots and CHOPS, but Suzuki CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Hiromu CHOPS, Suzuki ROCKS Hiromu with a forearm! Hiromu comes back with forearms, but Suzuki hits a body shot and then DECKS Hiromu again! Hiromu gets up to CHOP as fans rally up. Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS but Suzuki laughs as he ROCKS Hiromu with another forearm! Suzuki whips, Hiromu flounders to the corner, Suzuki BOOTS him! Suzuki snapmares but Hiromu is up to SLAP!

Suzuki SLAPS Hiromu back! Suzuki whips, Hiromu comes back to SHOTGUN dropkick Suzuki into a corner! Hiromu then gets Suzuki up, bumps him off buckles and fires off forearms! The fans fire up as Hiromu keeps Suzuki in the LIJ corner. The ref has to bring Hiromu away from Suzuki but Naito holds the ref back from Hiromu! Bushi tags in, LIJ mugs Suzuki, and Bushi stomps Suzuki. Bushi whips, Suzuki reverses but Bushi boots back. Bushi runs into a knee! Suzuki throws Bushi out, BOOTS Hiromu down, and Suzuki-Gun attacks from the outside! Suzuki whips Hiromu into railing!

Suzuki drags Hiromu up as the ring count starts and he rams him into more railing. Then uses the bell hammer to DIG at Hiromu’s eyes!! The ring count is 13 of 20 and Suzuki lets off. Suzuki gets in at 15 to go after Bushi, then tag Taichi. Taichi snapmares and KICKS Bushi while Suzuki keeps after Hiromu on the outside! Cover, but the ref sees it’s really a choke! The ref reprimands Taichi but Taichi chokes Bushi again. The ref reprimands, Taichi sits Bushi up, and clamps on a chinlock! Meanwhile Suzuki chokes Hiromu on the railing! Bushi endures the hold, Taichi lets go in frustration, but Suzuki talks trash in Hiromu’s face.

Taichi drags Bushi up, tags in Taka, and Taka snapmares Bushi to dig knuckles into Bushi’s face. Desperado goes over to help Suzuki with Hiromu while the ref reprimands Taka about the knuckles. Taka lets off with the other hand, so the ref counts. Taka stops at 4, then he scrapes his soles on Bushi’s face. Taka brings Bushi up, CHOPS him, then tags in Desperado. Taichi holds Bushi for Desperado to stomp him down. Desperado drops a SPLASH on Bushi’s leg, then covers, TWO! Desperado stomps Bushi’s leg, but fans rally up. Desperado grabs a leg but Bushi kicks free with the other!

Bushi dodges Desperado, misses the enziguri but hits the HEEL KICK! Fans rally up while both men are down, but Taka gets in to stomp Bushi. Taka and Desperado double whip Bushi to a corner, but Bushi dodges Taka and boots Desperado! Then he throws Taka into Desperado, and DOUBLE RANAS! Fans rally up as Desperado and Bushi crawl, hot tags to Naito and Taichi! Naito sets up for a sumo stance! Taichi kicks at him but Naito blocks and whips Taichi away. Naito arm-drags Taichi, then runs him over. Suzuki gets in, Naito blocks a kick to kick the other leg! Naito dropkicks the legs out, then gets Taichi for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up, Naito brings Taichi up but Taichi CHOKES him! So Naito CHOKES back! Taichi CHOKES Naito, Naito kicks low! Naito CLUBS Taichi, whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! Fans rally up as Naito rises, but Taichi kicks. Naito ducks the buzzsaw, and sumo clinches! Taichi blocks the throw to throw Naito! But Naito is up to atomic drop! Naito shoves Taichi, runs in, JUMP KICK and LEG SWEEP! Naito swings in, and he fakes Taichi out with the sumo stance! Then Naito dropkicks for COMBINACION CABRON! Fans rally up and Naito tags in Takagi. Takagi brings Taichi up and fires off forearms and CHOPS!

Takagi whips corner to corner, runs in but Taichi boots. Takagi blocks to clothesline! Takagi fires up but Taichi tells him to shut up! Taichi chokes Takagi and throws him down, then runs, the LARIATS collide! Taichi staggers, Takagi runs, but Taichi dodges! Takagi dodges, waistlocks but Taichi breaks free to PELE! Both men are down and fans rally, Taichi crawls to tag in Taka! Taka stomps Takagi to a corner, Desperado and Suzuki get in. They whip Takagi corner to corner, Taka corner clotheslines, and Suzuki BOOTS! Feed to Desperado’s SPINEBUSTER, and Desperado sits Takagi up for DOUBLE PENALTY KICKS! Taka covers, TWO!

Suzuki and Desperado go after Bushi and Hiromu while Taka tries to scoop. Takagi is too big, so Taka pokes him in the eye! Taka runs, into ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! Taka flounders and fans fire up with Takagi’s “OI! OI! OI!” Bushi & Naito double whip Taka to a corner, Bushi back elbows and Takagi clotheslines! feed to Naito’s atomic drop and ENZIGURI! Bushi hits CODE BREAKER! Takagi runs, PUMPING BOMBER! Standing cover, LIJ wins!

Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by pinfall

But Hiromu and Suzuki are still brawling! Suzuki headlocks to bring Hiromu around the way! He whips Hiromu hard into railing, and then brings him along the exit way! The Meanest Man throws Hiromu through the doors and to the backstage area! The rest of LIJ isn’t even sure what to make of that, and Desperado just shrugs. Will the Timebomb be okay against the King of Pancrase next round? Or will he even make it to tomorrow?

Wait, SHO attacks Desperado as he exits! The Murder Machine wants after the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion since they’re both out of the New Japan Cup! They brawl, Sho rakes Desperado’s eyes and brings him back towards ringside! Young Lions do their best to stop this but Sho just beats them up! Desperado fights back, and he whips Sho, only for Sho to reverse and POST Desperado! Sho then whips Desperado into the railing, and then back into the POST! The ref tries to stop this but he gets thrown aside! Sho puts Desperado in the ring, fights off more Young Lions, then snatches the title!

Sho brings the IWGP Junior Heavyweight belt into the ring, and he aims at Desperado! But Desperado dodges the belt shot! Sho blocks the kick, to LOW BLOW! And then BELT SHOT! Sho holds up the title like he’s already won it, then places it beside Desperado. Will the House of Torture add another belt to their collection?

2022 New Japan Cup Second Round: Zack Sabre Jr. VS DOUKI!

The Submission Master and Japones Del Mal are both Suzuki-Gun, but you gotta face who you’re put up against in a tournament. Will ZSJ make Douki #JustTapOut on his way back to the Cup? Or will Douki shock everyone and break some brackets?

Douki dropkicks ZSJ when he first makes it to the apron! And then Douki builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit at the ramp! Fans fire up as Douki puts ZSJ in and the bell rings. Douki goes up top to missile dropkick! Douki whips, ZSJ reverses but Douki RANAS ZSJ out of the ring! Douki then goes up and triangle jumps, but ZSJ gets in. Douki lands on the apron, shoulders back in, and slingshot sunset flips! TWO, and ZSJ EuroUppers, into a backslide! TWO!! Douki gets the arm, LA MAGISTROL, but into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Douki gets the ROPEBREAK, ZSJ holds until the ref counts 4.

ZSJ finally takes his jacket off, then he stands on Douki’s head. The ref reprimands, ZSJ steps away. ZSJ drags Douki up as fans rally, and ZSJ EuroUppers. ZSJ EuroUppers Douki again, follows him around, then arm-drags. Douki is up, things speed up and Douki does the splits, but he rolls back into a full nelson! Douki arm-drags free, arm-drags ZSJ again, but ZSJ avoids the next arm-drag to flip Douki over. ZSJ drags Douki up, but Douki arm-drags him after all! Douki then runs, springboards and FLYING arm-drags ZSJ away! Fans fire up as Douki dropkicks ZSJ down! Douki takes a moment to catch his breath as fans rally.

Douki slaps ZSJ around and eggs him on. ZSJ gets up and eggs Douki on. Douki fires forearms but ZSJ headbutts low. ZSJ whips, Douki wheelbarrows and victory rolls, to get the legs and arms for a MEXICAN SURFBOARD! Douki drops ZSJ, gets the legs again, then pulls on the arms. Fans rally as Douki brings ZSJ up into the ROMERO SPECIAL! ZSJ endures, Douki sets him down but ZSJ pries free to wrench one of Douki’s arms! ZSJ isolates the arm to STOMP it! ZSJ shakes out his legs while Douki clutches his arm, and fans rally up. ZSJ gets a leg for a toehold, and he pulls way back on it!

Douki grabs at ZSJ’s face but the ref reprimands. Douki stops, ZSJ twists the foot! ZSJ then hooks the legs up, turns Douki over, leglock and calf slicer combo! Douki scrambles and gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, ZSJ lets one leg go but keeps on the other with a HALF CRAB! The ref counts, ZSJ lets off and Douki clutches his knee. Fans rally up while ZSJ talks trash on Douki. ZSJ gives toying kicks as Douki get sup, and Douki CHOPS! ZSJ shrugs that off so Douki CHOPS again! ZSJ eggs Douki on and Douki CHOPS again! ZSJ trips Douki up and gives him a KNEE JAMMER! Douki writhes again while ZSJ paces.

ZSJ gets the bad leg, stands on the knee, then stands on one of Douki’s hands. ZSJ bends and twists the other hand, even the fingers, and isolates that arm to STOMP it! Douki crawls away to ropes but ZSJ walks over. ZSJ gives Douki more toying kicks, then eggs Douki on. Douki gets up to throw a forearm! ZSJ shrugs that off, and even goes no guard to taunt Douki. Douki throws more forearms, but ZSJ gets an arm to wrench it! ZSJ has Douki in a deep motorcycle stretch! It’s almost a double armbar! ZSJ then stands on Douki’s back but fans rally up. Douki gets up, tries to turn things, but ZSJ pulls tighter on the arms.

Douki keeps trying, and he manages to turn ZSJ around, only for ZSJ to turn it right back. Douki tries the other direction, but again ZSJ turns it back. Douki flips through to throw ZSJ! ZSJ gets up and headbutts low. ZSJ runs but into Douki’s FLYING HEADBUTT! Both men are down and fans rally up! ZSJ gets himself to a corner, Douki goes to the other. Douki runs corner to corner, forearm smash and snapmare, to a basement dropkick! Fans rally and Douki runs, DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Douki drags ZSJ up, fans rally as he goes for the Gory Especial, but ZSJ fights that off.

ZSJ spins Douki around, Douki ducks and waistlocks but ZSJ switches. Douki throws elbows, ZSJ reels him in but Douki uses his leg to break free, but ZSJ ducks the enziguri to get a HALF CRAB! Douki endures as ZSJ sits deep! Fans rally, Douki drags himself over, but ZSJ drags him away from ropes, then gets the FULL BOSTON CRAB! Douki still endures, still crawls forward, still reaches out, and still gets the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets off as the ref counts and is growing annoyed but the fans rally up. ZSJ gives more toying kicks as Douki sits up. Douki eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ runs in to PENALTY- NO! Douki blocks the kick!

Douki kips up with leg, Gory Especial to DODON JUTSU! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives and Douki is beside himself. Fans rally up, Douki drags ZSJ to a drop zone and hurries up top. Douki leaps but ZSJ avoids the stomps! Douki runs in, RANA to a cover, but ZSJ rolls it! Douki wants Italian Stretch but ZSJ fights it to a FIGURE FOUR HEEL HOOK! Douki clubs away at ZSJ’s legs but ZSJ eggs him on! Fans rally as Douki endures and reaches out. Douki drags ZSJ along and gets the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go and fans rally up again. ZSJ stands on Douki’s bad leg, then on Douki’s head! The ref counts and ZSJ lets off again.

ZSJ taunts Douki, gives him more toying kicks, but Douki gets up. Douki throws forearms but ZSJ EuroUppers back! Douki flops against ropes and ZSJ eggs him on. Fans rally and Douki fires more forearms. ZSJ EuroUppers Douki back again! ZSJ wants Douki to bring it, so Douki fires even more forearms! Douki gets his bad leg moving, and he LARIATS! ZSJ stays up and SLAPS Douki! Douki runs again, LARIAT, but ZSJ still stays up to EuroUpper! Douki HELL STABS then ENZIGURIS! ZSJ staggers, Douki runs, LARIAT! He takes ZSJ down and fans fire up! Douki gets himself to the apron, and he slingshots for DAYBREAK! Cover, TWO!

ZSJ is still in this but Douki fires himself up! Fans rally up behind him and Douki hurries to wheelbarrow ZSJ. ZSJ rolls through to get the ANKLE LOCK! Douki rolls and drags ZSJ down, ITALIAN STRETCH #32! ZSJ endures, fights around, reaches out but Douki rolls him away! But ZSJ slips out of the Italian Stretch to go for an arm! Douki rolls ZSJ, TWO! Ghost pin, TWO! Sunset flip, TWO! Rolling cradle, TWO!! ZSJ gets up but into a takedown, but he slips out to SLEEPER HOLD! He then hooks up the arms, it’s like a modification on Cremation Lily! Douki reaches out, fans rally up, but ZSJ shifts to a DRAGON SLEEPER!

Douki kicks with his legs, but ZSJ grabs those for the Figure Four Stump Puller! There is Cremation Lily! Douki verbally quits, ZSJ wins!

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by submission (advances to the next round)

The Submission Master is moving on, but he shows Douki his respect. Will ZSJ continue to make people #JustTapOut in the New Japan Cup?

2022 New Japan Cup Second Round: Great-O-Khan VS Taiji Ishimori!

The Dominator wasn’t so dominant when he and Jeff Cobb faced Bone Solder and Rogue General last week. But this is 1v1 now, and Bad Luck Fale isn’t here to distract the ref. Will Khan eliminate Taiji and move on to the Sweet Sixteen? Or will Taiji make it the Too Sweet Sixteen when #ItsReborn?

The bell rings and Taiji bails out! Khan is annoyed already but Taiji dares him to come after him. Khan slides out but Taiji slides back in. So now, Taiji dares Khan to return. Khan gets in, but Taiji goes back out. Khan is getting frustrated with Taiji and he goes back out. The cat ‘n’ mouse continues, and then Taiji kicks and whips Khan. Khan reverses but Taiji reverses back to arm-drag and WRING the arm! Khan rolls out of the ring and Taiji pursues. Fans rally, Taiji drags Khan up and hammerlocks the arm, to POST the arm! Taiji drags Khan up again, wraps the bad arm around railing and pulls!

The ref reprimands and counts, Taiji lets off at 4 and BOOTS the railing! Khan shakes out the bad arm but Taiji grabs the bell hammer. The ref sees that so Taiji throws the hammer into the ring. The ref goes to fetch that, so Taiji gets a chair from under the ring! CHAIR SHOT to the arm! Khan writhes, Taiji shrugs and unties the blue buckle pad. The Bullet Club Special is in play! The ref checks on Khan but he refuses to let his arm hold him back. Khan grab at Taiji but Taiji raps his arm around one of the bare buckles! The ref reprimands and counts, Taiji lets off at 4. Taiji stalks Khan, he grabs the bad arm and hammerlocks it, to RAM it into bare buckles!

The ref reprimands but the damage is done! Khan writhes and clutches his arm but fans rally up. Taiji looms over Khan, stands on the bad arm, and even pulls on it. Taiji then isolates the arm to STOMP it! Khan writhes and clutches the arm again, but Taiji brings him up. Khan brings Taiji up for a bearhug with the good arm, but Taiji just goes after the bad arm! Taiji wrenches, wristlocks and wrangles Khan to the mat. Khan grabs at Taiji’s hair but the ref reprimands. Taiji BENDS the fingers on the bad hand, but Khan scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Taiji drags Khan up for a cobra clutch and takedown!

Khan endures as Taiji has this modified short arm scissor! Khan moves around, gets up, but Taiji uses cobra clutch to hit a BACKSTABBER! Fans cheer the creativity then rally up for Khan. Taiji aims from the corner, runs in, but into a fireman’s carry takedown! Khan wants the armbar but Taiji clasps hands! Khan uses his good arm to pry that apart and have the ARMBAR! Taiji endures now, kicks and flails and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Khan cranks on the arm until the ref steps in! Taiji gets free but Khan pursues him to the outside. Khan pulls Taiji’s arm into the post! The ref reprimands but Khan BOOTS Taiji down!

Khan pulls the arm into the post more, and even grabs a chair from under the ring! The ref does his best to stop Khan from using any of this, but Khan pushes him aside to get another chair! CHAIR SHOT against the post! Now Khan has evened things up between him and Taiji! Fans cheer and rally as Khan drags Taiji up and into the ring. Khan keeps the bad arm on the apron and he stands on the arm, to STOMP it! Taiji writhes and crawls away but Khan kicks him around. Khan drags Taiji up, wrenches and clamps the claw into the bad arm! Taiji endures and fans rally, but Khan JAMS the arm against his knee, and again!

Taiji goes writhing away but Khan gets him for a cover. TWO, but Khan locks the arm up in a leg scissor! Khan pushes up to put leverage on the bad arm, then he grabs for the other arm! Taiji endures, moves around, reaches out, but Khan drives elbows into his head! Taiji still reaches out for the ROPEBREAK! Khan lets off and fans cheer. Khan drags Taiji up, wraps the bad arm around ropes, and pulls. The ref reprimands so Khan Mongolian Chops the bad arm! And again! Taiji avoids the third and Khan chops ropes! That hurts the bad arm, and then Taiji rakes Khan’s eyes. Taiji whips, Khan reverses and Taiji hits the buckle hard!

Taiji holds his bad arm, but he BOOTS Khan back! Taiji then hops up to AX KICK, and then he drop toeholds Khan into the buckles! Fans rally up while both men are down, and Taiji goes to the opposite corner. Taiji runs back in, to DOUBLE KNEE! Snapmare and DOUBLE STOMPS! Taiji then gets the omoplata and the YES LOCK! Khan moves around, ROPEBREAK! Taiji lets go quickly and both men shake out their bad arms. Fans rally up but Taiji drags Khan up. Taiji hammerlocks the arm, but Khan blocks going into the bare buckles! Khan turns things around, and sends Taiji’s face into bare buckles!

The ref checks Taiji as fans rally up. Khan drags Taiji up, whips to YANK the arm, then he wrenches and CLUBS the arm! Khan drags Taiji down, he copies the omoplata! Khan pushes just on that and digs the Iron Claw into Taiji’s ribs! Taiji endures, fans rally up, Taiji tries to slip away but Khan IRON CLAWS Taiji’s face! ELIMI- NO! Roll to the cover, TWO!! Khan kicks low, whips Taiji, but Taiji handsprings to NEURALIZER! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Taiji gets up and he drags Khan up to wrench the bad arm. Taiji POSTS Khan in the corner, then wrenches to CODE BREAKER the arm!

Fans fire up while Khan writhes! Taiji aims from the corner again as Khan forces himself to get up. Taiji runs in, MYSTICA to YES LOCK!! Khan endures, claws his way over and reaches out, but Taiji rolls him away into the BONE LOCK!! Khan endures and reaches but Taiji pulls back harder! Khan scoots back into the ROPEBREAK! Taiji lets go in frustration and fans fire up. Taiji aims from the corner, “BANG!” Taiji drags Khan back up, but Khan blocks Bloody Cross! Taiji knees low, dodges Khan’s haymaker and fires off strikes to a JUMPING KNEE! Taiji fires up and fans fire up, too!

Taiji drags Khan back up, BLOODY- NO! Khan slips out, HITSUJIGOROSHI!! Then a scoop to a BACKBREAKER, and HITSUJIGOROSHI RACK!! Taiji endures as Khan pushes, but then Khan Iron Claws, to ELIMIN- NO! Taiji slips through, omoplata to ghost pin! TWO!! Khan escapes and Taiji is shocked! Taiji rushes in, but Khan dodges to get the chicken wing and IRON CLAW! Then ripcord, but Taiji knocks the ref down! Khan avoids the low blow kick! Iron Claw, ELIMINATOR URENAGE!! Cover, Khan wins!!

Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

The Dominator gets his revenge on the Bone Soldier, and he is moving on to the Sweet Sixteen! But with ZSJ being his next opponent, will Khan’s bad arm only be a big target for the Submission Master?

2022 New Japan Cup Second Round: Will Ospreay VS El Phantasmo!

Another collision of United Empire and Bullet Club as The Commonwealth Kingpin takes on The Headbanga! Will the United Empire continue its dominance? Or will ELP avenge his tag partner, Ishimori, and take out the #BillyGOAT?

The bell rings and fans applaud as these two circle. ELP and Ospreay tie up, are in a deadlock, but Ospreay powers ELP back to ropes. Red Shoes calls the ropebreak, Ospreay lets off but then gets a headlock. ELP pulls hair, he gets a headlock out of it, but Ospreay pulls hair to power out. They ram shoulders but neither falls. ELP dares Ospreay to run, so Ospreay does. They ram shoulders again, but Ospreay kicks and CLUBS ELP to then throw hands. Ospreay whips, ELP dodges the boot to ram Ospreay! Ospreay staggers, ELP rams him again! Ospreay stays up but ELP pokes eyes and runs, to run Ospreay over!

Fans cheer and ELP flexes. ELP runs, but Ospreay runs him over! Things speed up, ELP arm-drags and armlocks but Ospreay headscissors! ELP gets free and fans cheer the standoff. ELP and Ospreay circle again, fans rally up and the two feel out the grapple. They knuckle lock, ELP gets around then headlocks. Ospreay powers out, hurdles, ELP leaps over, and then Ospreay runs to RANA, but ELP handsprings through! Fans cheer as ELP struts about. ELP blocks Ospreay’s haymaker to knuckle lock, CHOP, go up and up and FLYING ARM-DRAG! ELP handsprings up, kisses his biceps, then covers, ONE!

ELP keeps on Ospreay by bending a finger. Ospreay pulls hair but ELP bends the finger more. ELP ROCKS Ospreay with a right hand to put him in the corner. ELP throws forearms, then he wrenches and whips corner to corner. Ospreay reverses, ELP goes up and over and runs, but into a scoop and SPIN-OUT BACKBREAKER! ELP still spins as he bounces off Ospreay’s knee! Fans rally up and Ospreay drags ELP back up. Ospreay CLUBS ELP, drags him up and shoves him, to CLUB him in the back! ELP flops out of the ring, Ospreay pursues and gets him up to RAILING BACK SUPLEX! Ospreay then lounges in the ring while ELP writhes.

Fans rally up and ELP gets up, but the ring count starts as he flounders back to railing. ELP gets in the ring at 6 of 20 and Ospreay mockingly applauds. Ospreay CLUBS ELP in the back, then puts ELP in the corner to RAM his shoulder in! And again! Ospreay brings ELP around but ELP blocks buckle bump to body shot and buckle bump! Fans rally as ELP throws haymakers, but Ospreay knees low. Ospreay whips, ELP reverses and Ospreay hits buckles hard! ELP stretches his back and fans rally up. ELP gives Ospreay an atomic drop, then DECKS him! Then scoops and SLAMS Ospreay into a drop zone! ELP hops up, but his back bothers him.

ELP stretches the back again, then drops an elbow on Ospreay! ELP tunes up the band, but is not having the fix in still messing with him? Ospreay BOOTS ELP down in the corner! Ospreay whips ELP out only to send him into the same corner hard! ELP tumbles up and out to the floor! Fans rally up and Ospreay takes aim, to PLANCHA! Direct hit and Ospreay lands on his feet out of it! Ospreay drags ELP up as fans rally and Ospreay puts ELP in. Ospreay aims from the corner, springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Ospreay is annoyed and fans rally up, but ELP kicks back from below.

Ospreay gets ELP up to CHOP him down! Ospreay drags ELP back up, to CHOP him down again! Fans cheer and Ospreay drags ELP up again. Ospreay whips ELP to a corner, but ELP goes up and over and rolls to duck and dodge, to springboard CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO, but ELP somersaults to LIONSAULT, but has to land on his feet as Ospreay bails out. ELP DIVES onto Ospreay! Direct hit at the ramp! Fans rally up and ELP crawls to Ospreay. ELP drags Ospreay up and into the ring, ELP fires up as the fans rally, but Ospreay rolls away. So ELP climbs the ropes, to SWANTON BOMB, and then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO!

ELP goes back to a corner and he tries tuning up the band again. Will ELP get through the mental block this time? Ospreay gets up and ELP hesitates again. Ospreay is still clutching his gut, fans rally up, and ELP grits his teeth. Ospreay stares ELP down, so ELP throws haymakers instead! ELP suplexes, STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE from Ospreay! Ospreay grins and he goes to the corner to tune up the band! Ospreay is taunting ELP now, but ELP blocks the superkick to SLAP Ospreay! ELP slaps Ospreay around more, runs, but into the tiger wall kick and ENZIGURI! Ospreay calls his shot, springboards, but ELP blocks the cutter!

ELP torture racks, but Ospreay lands on his feet to full nelson! ELP breaks free, ducks the hook kick, and mule kicks to run. But Ospreay slips around him, gets ELP up, but ELP slips out of the bomb to swing. Ospreay dodges, handsprings, but into the torture rack! SPINNING NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up and ELP crawls to a cover, TWO! Both men are down and fans rally up. ELP drags Ospreay up in a corner and puts him on the top rope. ELP throws haymaker after haymaker, then climbs up to join Ospreay. Fans rally as they stand on the top, but Ospreay slips under! Ospreay tucks ELP in, CHEEKY NANDOS!

Ospreay gets ELP back up and then climbs up behind him. Fans fire up as Ospreay stands ELP up but ELP fights the back suplex with palm strikes. Ospreay HEADBUTTS ELP then gets him back up, for a SUPER BACK- NO! ELP lands on his feet! ELP CLAWS Ospreay on the back! ELP then climbs up to give Ospreay a SUPER POISON- WHAT?! Ospreay lands on his feet! ELP can’t believe it, but Ospreay forearms, ROLLING ELBOWS, and then LIGER BOMBS! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up again as Ospreay prepares his arm! Ospreay aims from the corner, HIDDEN- NO! ELP RANAS Ospreay to a cover, TWO!!

ELP can’t believe it, and he turns around into a SUPERKICK! Ospreay hurries to the corner and climbs up! SHOOTING STAR onto knees! ELP cradles, TWO!! Ospreay survives but ELP vows to end it! ELP reels Ospreay in, but Ospreay pops him up to DECK him with a forearm! Ospreay springboards, into ELP’s CUTTER! ELP gets Ospreay up, straitjacket and torture rack, BURNING HAMMER!! Cover, TWO!! But ELP goes right to the corner, goes right up top, and THUNDER KISS 86!! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives again and ELP can’t believe it! Fans are thunderous as ELP gets to the corner!

ELP starts tuning up the band again! Is this the moment he gets past the blockage? ELP makes his move, but Ospreay CLOBBERS him! And then Ospreay resets in a corner, HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, Ospreay wins!

Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Just as ELP was on the threshold of breaking through his doubt, Ospreay slams the door shut on him! The Commonwealth Kingpin is moving on, but will he be facing friend or foe in the Sweet Sixteen?

2022 New Japan Cup Second Round: SANADA VS Aaron Henare!

LIJ won earlier tonight, though Hiromu is MIA right now… But will the Cold Skull keep things tranquilo going into the third round? Or will the United Empire sweep the night?

The bell rings and fans rally up as the two circle. Sanada avoids Henare’s kick and they keep circling. Fans rally up more and the two feel out the grapple. They knuckle lock, Henare shoots in and waistlocks, but Sanada switches. Henare wrenches free to a wristlock, but Sanada shoots in to waistlock. Henare hits a leg trip hip toss, then has the armlock. Sanada fights up to get the waistlock again, but Henare counters with a headlock takeover. Fans applaud the exchange, and Sanada keeps his shoulders up. Henare grinds the headlock, Sanada fights up but Henare hits another takeover. Sanada headscissors, Henare kips free and fans cheer.

Henare and Sanada circle as fans rally again. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Henare powers Sanada to ropes. Red Shoes calls for the ropebreak but Henare digs his forearms in. Red Shoes counts, Henare lets off at 4, to body shot and CLUB Sanada! Henare whips, Sanada reverses and things speed up. Henare holds ropes to fake out the hurdle, and then Henare dodges Sanada to run him over! Fans applaud the showing of strength, and Henare looms over Sanada. Fans rally as Henare stomps Sanada, then brings Sanada up to headbutt him to the corner. Henare whips corner to corner, Sanada goes up and over and he arm-drags Henare around!

Sanada dropkicks Henare and Henare bails out as fans fire up! Henare staggers around on the outside, Sanada aims and PLANCHAS, but Henare moves! Henare gets Sanada for a bearhug, then RAMS him into a post! Sanada writhes while fans rally and Henare catches his breath. Henare drags Sanada back up, wrenches and whips him hard into railing! Henare drags Sanada up to whip him hard into more railing! Sanada flops down, Red Shoes has Henare back off, and fans rally up. The ring count starts and Henare smirks before he slips in to slip right back out. Henare hausl Sanada up but Sanada throws body shots!

Henare KICKS and KICKS and DECKS Sanada! Henare goes back into the ring for real now and the ring count restarts. The count reaches 10 of 20 before Sanada sits up. Henare mocks the applause and Sanada gets up and in at 15. Henare stomps Sanada, bumps him off buckles, then throws body shots and forearms in the corner! Henare sits Sanada down to then stomp him and dig his boots in. Red Shoes reprimands, Henare lets off to cover. Red Shoes refuses to count after all that, so Henare drags Sanada up. Henare headbutts Sanada down, then covers. Red Shoes counts, TWO, but Henare clamps on a sleeper hold and body scissors!

Sanada endures as Henare squeezes tight. Sanada manages to turn over and fans rally up as Sanada kicks forward. ROPEBREAK! Henare lets Sanada go, and then he brings Sanada up. Sanada throws forearms, but Henare KNEES low. Henare clamps on a facelock, then suplexes, only for Sanada to block. Fans rally, Sanada and Henare fight for control, and Sanada suplexes, only for Henare to fight it off! Henare suplexes, but Sanada slips out to waistlock. Henare elbows free, runs, but Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Henare crawls to a corner, fans rally up, and Sanada kips up! Fans fire up with Sanada and he rallies with forearms!

Sanada arm-drags, gets around, and atomic drops! Henare staggers, Sanada trips him and has the legs! Fans cheer as Sanada tries, but Henare turns Paradise into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Sanada fights, Henare shifts it to an ARMBAR, but Sanada rolls him to a cover! TWO, and Sanada trips Henare to tie him up fast! Henare’s in Paradise and fans fire up! Sanada runs to dropkick Henare out of Paradise, and out of the ring! Fans rally up, Sanada takes aim, PLANCHA! Direct hit this time and fans fire up! Sanada encourages them to get louder so they do! Sanada then goes back for Henare, but Khan has appeared to be his corner man.

Sanada keeps his eyes on Khan but Khan stays back. Plus, he has an ice pack on his beat up hand, he can’t really do that much. Sanada puts Henare in the ring, aims from the corner and springboards, but Henare dodges! Henare runs, into a fireman’s carry! Henare slips off to fireman’s carry Sanada, but Sanada slips off and runs, into a BERSERKER BOMB! Both men are down and fans rally up! Henare drags himself up in the corner, Sanada is in the other. Henare runs in to SHINING WIZARD, and snapmare to KICK! Fans rally, Henare sits Sanada up to KICK him again! Henare drags Sanada up to KICK him back down! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up while Henare grows frustrated. Henare waits on Sanada to get up, and he KICKS but Sanada blocks! Henare CLUBS free, whips, but Sanada reverses to RAN- NO! Henare blocks the headscissor, gets Sanada up and hits a SAMOAN DROP! Henare runs to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up and Henare aims from a corner. Sanada slowly gets up, Henare runs in, RAMP- NO! Sanada BOOTS, then fireman’s carries! But Henare fights so Sanada throws him into the DRAGON SLEEPER! Henare fights free of that, so Sanada waistlocks, only for Henare to elbow free! Henare whips, Sanada goes up and out, then springboards in to missile dropkick!

Sanada drags Henare up, fireman’s carries, and T K O! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps cool and fans rally. Sanada drags Henare up, scoops and BACKBREAKER! Sanada goes up top for a ROUNDING BODY- NO! Henare moves, Sanada lands on his feet! Henare runs in, RAMP- NO! Sanada slips off the tackle to get the DRAGON SLEEPER! Henare powers through to DRAGON SLEEPER Sanada! Henare SKULL SWINGS Sanada around and around, then drops for a GROUNDED COBRA TWIST! Sanada endures and fans rally up! Henare pulls harder on the hold but Sanada claws and reaches out!

Sanada comes very close but he refuses to give up! He pries at the hold, reaches for the ropes, but he’s fading! Fans keep rallying, but Sanada pops free of the body scissors to get the ROPEBREAK! Henare lets go and catches his breath. Henare drags Sanada up, but he’s dead weight. Henare wants Red Shoes to name him the winner but Red Shoes has to check Sanada himself. Sanada is somehow still in this so fans rally up. Henare looms over Sanada, drags him up, but Sanada fires a forearm! Henare smirks and eggs Sanada on so Sanada throws more foerarms. Henare almost laughs as Sanada keeps trying.

Sanada gets going and Henare starts to feel the forearms. Henare HEADBUTTS Sanada back down! Henare then stands on Sanada’s head, drags him up, and fans rally up. Sanada fires off more forearms, but spins into an ELBOW JAB! HEEL KICK! SCREW HIGH KICK! Cover, TWO!! Henare is frustrated but he roars and drags Sanada back up. Henare fisherman’s to the rack but Sanada slips out to waistlock! Henare rams Sanada into a corner, then runs corner to corner, into a BOOT! Sanada BOOTS again, Henare tries again but gets an elbow! Sanada QUEBRADA, to the DRAGON SLEEPER! SKULL END!!

Henare is caught and fans fire up! Sanada squeezes tight, Henare starts to fade, but he gets a second wind! Henare kicks and fights, but Sanada keeps him down! Henare fades again, but he gets a third wind! Sanada leaves him down to go up top, ROUNDING BODY PRESS onto knees! Both men are down again and fans rally up again. Khan fans Henare off with a towel and Henare slowly gets up. Henare and Sanada crawl for each other and they go forehead to forehead. They throw forearms back and forth on their knees, then throw more forearms. They brawl while they stand up, and they keep going back and forth!

Fans rally as the forearms go faster and faster! And faster and faster! Sanada fires off, but Henare fires fast hands and a body shot! Sanada doubles over and Henare drags Sanada up. Sanada ROLLING ELBOWS back, then runs to ROLLING ELBOW! Sanada DRAGON SLEEPERS, but Henare powers through to suplex! Sanada tries to cradle counter, but Henare powers through to rack! Sanada slips off, shoves, ROLLING ELBOW! HAMMERHEAD HEADBUTT!! Henare snarls, fires himself up and aims from the corner. Sanada slowly gets up and Henare runs in, RAMPAGE!! Cover, TWO!!

Fans fire up as Sanada survives! Henare vows to end this and he drags Sanada back up. Fisherman, but no rack! Cradle, roll through, Henare gets Sanada up but Sanada flips off the toss! POP-UP CUTTER! Sanada goes right up top, ROUNDING BODY PRESS! Cover, Sanada wins!

Winner: Sanada, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

The United Empire’s Ultimate Weapon could not stop the Cold Skull! How will Ospreay react to this? As for Sanada, he gets the mic to say, “Everyone. Let’s have our first gift of 2022 for Nagoya, shall we?” Fans like the sound of that, and they’ve already got their phone lights ready. The spotlights go down and Sanada continues in English, “Thank you for coming. And thanks for watching New Japan World. Today, I fight with Henare, first time in a year.” Sanada apologizes if his English is bad. He also says this place is very romantic right now with the lighting, he got caught up in the moment.

“Let me say one thing. From all of Japan, I love Nagoya the most.” He even added a Nagoyan accent there! “OI, NAGOYA! See you next time.” But will Cold Skull be making it back as a New Japan Cup winner? Or will the Commonwealth Kingpin avenge Henare?

My Thoughts:

Another very good night for NJPW and the New Japan Cup. I skipped the first match, I knew the team with one Young Lion beats the team with two. Bullet Club’s Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale & Gedo lose to Yoh, Tanahashi & Tiger Mask because on one side, Tanahashi needs momentum. On the other, there’s a chance Chase beats Tiger Mask and that go-home math works out here. The Six Man Tag of Chaos was the Heavyweight champions, Okada, Goto & Hashi, and they of course beat the House of Torture, who are only NEVER Openweight champions. Chaos all gets momentum for their tournament matches, but Okada is the only one guaranteed to move on as far as I see it.

I kept the 8 Man Tag because as I started skimming, I liked that LIJ attacked first. It was a really good match, and I like that while LIJ wins, it was Takagi getting the finish to get momentum going into his next tournament match, and then Suzuki basically abducts Hiromu! Suzuki VS Hiromu is going to be a lot of fun to close out the second round tomorrow, and there are great possibilities. We could end up with Evil VS Hiromu for a fiery match on 3/18. Sho going after Desperado was a nice surprise, too, that’ll make a pretty great IWGP Junior Heavyweight title match.

ZSJ VS Douki was a very good match, especially for Douki. But in the end, I figured ZSJ would win here. Khan VS Taiji was also very good, great story with both men going after the other’s arm. Khan toughs it out, he’ll have a very good match with ZSJ, and I would think Khan loses because of the bad arm. Ospreay VS ELP was great stuff, and while ELP didn’t hit his superkick, he got that much closer to getting his confidence back. Ospreay wins, of course, but it was really great stuff.

And lastly, Sanada VS Henare was also really good stuff, but it makes sense Sanada wins. They weren’t going to pit Henare against Ospreay, and Sanada is still hot off his US Championship win. Ospreay VS Sanada is going to be really good, but I can see Ospreay winning so he can meet his rival, ZSJ, in the quarterfinals.

My Score: 8.5/10