Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (12/26/18)

Published

7 years ago

December 26, 2018

It’s the final NXT of 2018 and Heavy Machinery looks to go out with some gold! Will Tucker Knight & Otis Dozovic take the titles from The Undisputed Era?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Bianca Belair VS Lacey Evans VS Mia Yim VS Io Shirai; Belair wins and will challenge Shayna Baszler for the title at TakeOver: Phoenix.
Jaxson Ryker w/ The Forgotten Sons VS Mitch Taverna; Ryker wins.
NXT Tag Team Championships: The Undisputed Era VS Heavy Machinery; The Undisputed Era wins and retains the NXT Tag Team Championship.

PLAY BY PLAY

NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Bianca Belair VS Lacey Evans VS Mia Yim VS Io Shirai!

The Queen of Spades wants a real challenge, and is through with the Pirate Princess. Therefore, William Regal put it together that four of the best and freshest superstars gets their chance! Will it be the Un-De-Fea-Ted, the Lady of NXT, the Head Baddie in Charge, or the Genius of the Sky that heads to Phoenix to face #ShaynaTwoTime?

The bell rings and fans are pretty well divided. Lacey says she’ll be polite and step aside for the other three to fight. Mia and Bianca trash talk from past beef, but Io rolls Bianca up! TWO, and now Mia and Io chop back and forth on Bianca. They double whip and double clothesline Bianca, and Bianca bails out. Mia builds speed to DIVE onto Bianca! Fans fire up with Mia, but Lacey attacks Io! Lacey whips but Io uses it to DIVE onto Bianca! Io takes a rough landing of her own but Mia helps her up. They work together to go after Lacey now. They double dropkick Lacey to a corner, then Io whips Mia in for a big boot! Io runs in for a back elbow, and Mia comes back for a cannonball! Fans fire up with Io as she finishes off with double knees!

Io drags Lacey up and waistlocks. Mia aims but Lacey ducks, the roundhouse goes into Io! Lacey clubs away on Mia but is put on the apron. Lacey lands on her feet to sweep the legs and slingshot an elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Lacey keeps her cool while she looms over Mia, but Io returns. Lacey drop toeholds Io onto Mia! And then she hits the swinging bronco buster! Cover on Io, TWO! Lacey keeps her composure but she’s growing frustrated. Lacey drags Io up and puts her in the corner to grind her boot into Io’s stomach. The ref backs Lacey off but Lacey comes back to snapmare Io to a cover. TWO, but Lacey whips Io corner to corner. Bianca runs in to blast Io, then scoops her. Lacey runs in but Bianca swings Io at her. Io slips out and dumps Bianca out of the ring.

Lacey grabs Io and bumps her off buckles. Io shoves Lacey away but gets tripped up. Lacey covers, but Mia breaks it. Lacey throws Mia out but Io rolls Lacey up! TWO, and Lacey sweeps the legs to a cover, TWO! Fans applaud for this fast and furious action, and rally up for Io. Lacey rains down rights and then covers. But Bianca breaks it! Bianca drags Io up into the torture rack but Lacey ends up saving Io. Lacey and Bianca argue over whose prey and whose ring this is, but they end up working together to run Mia over! Bianca drags Mia up and she suplexes her with Bianca. Io saves Mia and then Io leaps. Bianca and Lacey catch her but Mia dropkicks them all down! It’s a double cover for Io, TWO and they toss Io out.

Mia rains rights on Bianca but Lacey kicks her down. Lacey covers Mia but Bianca drags her off. Bianca covers Mia but Lacey drags her off. They argue again and start shoving. Mia takes advantage to saido suplex and bridge on Bianca, but Lacey breaks it! Lacey kicks Mia down, but Io springboards in for a missile dropkick! Bianca SPEARS Io! All four women are down but Full Sail is fired up! Bianca gets up and covers Mia, TWO! She covers Lacey, TWO! Bianca’s frustrations boil up but she goes after Io. She puts Io in a full nelson, then double chicken wing, but Io rolls through to double stomp! Io drop toeholds Bianca to the ropes, Tiger Feint Kick!

Io hurries up top, and leaps for a big missile dropkick! Cover, but Lacey breaks it. Lacey throws Io out but Mia chops away on Lacey. Mia kicks and kicks but gets the Woman’s Right!! Cover, but Io narrowly breaks it! Io hits a shotei, then a scoop slam. She steps on Lacey, then hops up for the ASAI MOONSAULT! Cover, but Bianca whips away with her ponytail! Bianca lifts Io and tosses her out on Mia! Bianca lifts Lacey in the torture rack, K.O.D! Cover, Bianca wins!!

Winner: Bianca Belair, by pinfall; new #1 Contender

The EST is still Un-De-Fea-Ted, and is headed to TakeOver: Phoenix! Will Bianca be the ace that trumps the Queen of Spades?

Jaxson Ryker w/ The Forgotten Sons VS Mitch Taverna!

The Gunner of this three man unit hasn’t had many matches but he’s won every time. Will Ryker continue to #DoUntoOthers against even a physically impressive opponent as the “Real Man of Steel”?

The bell rings and the two big men tie up. Ryker powers Taverna to a corner and fires off big hands! He backs off at 4 but goes right back for a scoop. Taverna slips out and chops, but it does nothing to Ryker! Ryker shoves and slams Taverna with a spinebuster! Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake coach Ryker on as he shoves and knees Taverna. Ryker grabs Taverna by the head and grinds his face into the mat. He lets up at 4 but clubs Taverna back down. Blake and Cutler mock and taunt Taverna while Ryker thrashes him around. Ryker scoops and snake eyes Taverna before clubbing him with double ax handles! But Ryker isn’t done with him yet. Cutler and Blake tell him to end it, and he brings Taverna up for a rebound powerbomb! Cover, Ryker wins!

Winner: Jaxson Ryker, by pinfall

The Forgotten Sons all stay undefeated, not to mention staying focused. Will they close in on some championship gold in the New Year?

Velveteen Dream looks back on 2018.

The Experience was no different from 2017 to 2018. It was that the NXT Universe finally opened their eyes. Dream has impressed the fans as well as living legends. Don’t believe him? Just look at the tweets of Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and even Kurt Angle or John Cena. If you thought this year was something, just wait for 2019. #DreamOn.

Tommaso Ciampa speaks.

“I am a man of my word.” When he makes a promise, he delivers. Yet sometimes, Ciampa feels like a broken record. He feels like he’s a man alone in a room talking to a wall. But last week when he helped Johnny Gargano against Aleister Black, that was vindication. It proved someone has been listening this entire time. “Johnny Gargano listens. Johnny Gargano followed my lead, and look at what it led to.” Gargano pinned the former champion, Aleister Black, so where does that put Gargano? Gargano can’t have a shot at the title, that match is taken.

But shouldn’t Gargano get an opportunity at some other title? Like Ricochet’s North American Championship. Gargano is listening. This is what DIY always talked about. Two kids with no contracts, touring the world and “the day DIY took over NXT.” This TakeOver will be their takeover! Ciampa as NXT Champion, Gargano as North American Champion. “Two kids taking over the world. Johnny, the possibilities are endless.” Will Gargano truly follow Ciampa’s lead?

NXT Tag Team Championships: The Undisputed Era VS Heavy Machinery!

Kyle O’Reilly has already had three partners with these titles since coming to NXT. He would win them with Bobby Fish, defend them with Adam Cole, and regain them with Roderick Strong. But in all that time the titles have been Undisputed, Tucker Knight & Otis Dozovic have grown stronger. Tucky & Dozer have a six month winning streak and look to finally feast on gold before going to the main roster. Will Heavy Machinery have its fill? Or will they be sent to the main roster still hungry for their first taste?

The introductions are made, the titles are raised, and we begin with Strong against Tucker. Fans duel “Undisputed!” “Steaks and Weights!” as the two circle. Kyle distracts Tucker but he still fights Strong off. Tucker fights Kyle off then tackles Strong. Strong gets loose but gets thrown down with a waistlock. Tucker rolls Strong, TWO. He gets Strong again, TWO. Strong gets a headlock but Tucker powers out. Kyle tags in before Tucker runs Strong over. Kyle runs in but Tucker runs him over, too. Tucker hip tosses Strong but Kyle kicks Tucker in the legs. Kyle kicks Tucker to the Undisputed corner and tags in Strong. The Undisputed Era double whip Tucker but Tucker comes back with double clotheslines! Tag to Dozer!

Strong dropkicks Dozer’s leg but Dozer stays up. Strong throws hands but Dozer blocks the whip to reverse. Dozer sees Strong go up and over so he clobbers him from behind. Kyle runs in but he gets clobbered! Dozer grabs Strong and throws him across the way! Dozer scoops and slams Strong down, then drags him back up. He shoves Strong to the Heavy Machinery corner and tags in Tucker. Dozer whips Tucker in for a corner splash, then Tucker whips Strong at Dozer for the tackle. Tucker covers, TWO! Tucker drags Strong up in an armlock. Strong endures the wrenching and reaches for Kyle. Tucker keeps Strong away from Kyle a couple times but the third time’s the charm.

Kyle runs in but Tucker throws Strong aside to catch him. Kyle fights back but Dozer picks up Strong, and Heavy Machinery sandwich the Undisputed Era before double belly2bellies! Then Heavy Machinery ram bellies to squish Strong! Tucker whips Kyle but Kyle holds ropes. Kyle bails out and retreats but Tucker gives pursuit. Strong gets run over, and then Tucker puts Kyle in the ring. Tucker clobbers Kyle and kicks Strong, but Kyle kicks back. Kyle grabs a leg but the referee counts. Kyle lets go at 4, but Strong gets Tucker with a backbreaker to the floor! Strong perhaps meant to only drop him on the apron, but both of them crash and burn all the way down. The referee checks on both of them, but they’re somehow okay to continue.

Kyle goes after Tucker with kicks and Strong crawls his way back to the corner. Fans rally up for Tucker as Kyle throws hands. Tucker hits back with body shots but Kyle rocks him with a knee. Kyle puts Tucker in the ring but Tucker fights back more. Kyle rocks him with another knee, then tags Strong. The Undisputed Era mug Tucker with kicks and chops in the corner. Strong keeps Tucker down and clubs away. Strong laces Tucker’s leg in the ropes to pull on it. The ref counts and Strong lets up at 4, to then mock Dozer. Strong turns around into a shove from Tucker, but he comes back with haymakers. Tag to Kyle but Tucker fights back. Tucker sends Strong flying but Kyle dragon screws the leg in the ropes! Cover, TWO!

Kyle keeps on Tucker with a standing ankle lock. Tucker rolls and fights back with his free leg. Kyle shifts to ground ‘n’ pound with palm strikes, and then goes for an armbar! Fans rally and Tucker gets a ropebreak. Kyle lets him go and tags Strong. The Undisputed Era unload kicks and elbows, then an Olympic Slam from Strong! Cover, TWO! Strong keeps on Tucker’s leg with a modified deathlock. Tucker endures and fans rally up again. Tucker drags himself and Strong backwards, but then Kyle helps Strong drag Tucker back! Fans boo but Tucker clubs away on Strong. Tucker frees himself but Strong goes after Dozer. Strong turns around into a BIG clothesline! Both men crawl, hot tags to Kyle and Dozer!

Dozer rallies on the Undisputed Era with endless clotheslines! Kyle runs into a trapped-leg suplex! Dozer sandwiches Kyle and Strong in the machine! Fans fire up with Dozer as he pumps it up. Caterpillar elbow! Kyle runs and boots Dozer, but then runs into Dozer’s arms. Tag to Tucker and Strong saves Kyle. Tucker clobbers Strong then clubs Kyle. Dozer catapults Kyle at Tucker for a belly2belly! Aka the Hoss Toss! Cover, but Strong breaks it! Tucker shoves Strong out and goes up top! Tucker doesn’t normally moonsault, and he flops! Kyle tags Strong, and Strong runs in but misses. Tag to Dozer but Strong fires elbows off. Dozer runs Strong over, but gets a boot and enziguri on the rebound. Dozer clobbers Strong with a clothesline! Cover, TWO!! Strong lives but Dozer doesn’t lose heart.

Dozer drags Strong around and decides to climb now! Tucker rarely goes up, Dozer almost never goes up. Kyle runs over but gets a right hand. Strong kicks Dozer down! Strong climbs up to join Dozer, but Dozer resists. They struggle and Kyle comes in to tip the scales, SUPERPLEX BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Dozer lives but Strong tags Kyle. Kyle boots Tucker down and Tucker hits steps on the way. Dozer fights off Undisputed Era but still gets a big knee. Ax ‘n’ SMASH! Cover, TWO!! Kyle is furious but he tags Strong back in. Strong blasts Tucker with a dropkick, and then STRONG ELIMINATION!! Cover, Undisputed Era wins!

Winners: The Undisputed Era, Strong pinning; still NXT Tag Team Champions

Strong and O’Reilly win by the skin of their teeth! They manage to keep Heavy Machinery at bay, and continue their reign into 2019. Bobby Fish and Adam Cole join them in celebrating on the stage, because 2018 ends Undisputed. Will their promise of being completely draped in gold come true after all?

My Thoughts:

What a great episode to close out 2018! First off, I didn’t expect the Women’s Championship #1 Contenders match happening first. It started with the Faces working together and it almost became a tag team match rather than a Fatal 4 in just how the action went. Of course the Heels didn’t get along, and that made for some great stuff. The only sloppy part was no one being quite close enough to break Lacey’s pin on Mia. Technically Lacey would’ve won there if not for the ref slowing down just enough for Io. Another great part of it was that I expected Io Shirai to win, but instead it’s Bianca Belair. Perhaps Bianca can make the shift to at least Tweener against Shayna as far as characters. But their match will be great, and maybe Bianca will get it to everyone’s surprise.

Jaxson Ryker squashes his opponent, because it was filler. The Forgotten Sons haven’t gotten an actual story yet, maybe 2019 brings them going up against a fan favorite Face tag team so there are actual developments for Ryker, Cutler and Blake. With Heavy Machinery heading up to main and War Raiders banged up from WarGames, the only Face team right now is Lorcan & Burch. Perhaps a team like Mendoza & Carillo will get some character and they can be a new exciting Face midcard team. And speaking of Heavy Machinery, the fact they were advertised as the newest NXT Call-Ups killed any chance of surprise in tonight’s tag title match. They had their best match so far with Strong & O’Reilly, but it was too much to think they’d bring those tag titles with them to Raw or SmackDown. I just hope Vince doesn’t drag them down the Enzo & Cass route now…

My Score: 8.5/10

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Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (12/22/18)

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Mitchell’s WWE 205 Live Results & Report! (12/26/18)

Coverage

Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (3/13/26)

Who’s feeling lucky?

Published

8 minutes ago

March 13, 2026

Steven Mitchell

Very superstitious~! Writing on the wall~!

Don’t worry, it IS Friday! But with Revolution on Sunday, ROH is giving us a special bonus episode tonight, free gratis on YouTube!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Ace Austin VS KM; wins.
Marina Shafir VS Danielle Kamela; wins.
Rush VS BEEF; wins.
Persephone VS ???
Wheeler Yuta VS Serpentico; wins.
8 Man Tag: Eddie Kingston, Ortiz & Top Flight VS Roppongi Vice & MXM Collection; win.

PLAY BY PLAY

[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage will be on delay]

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW New Japan Cup Results & Report! (3/13/26)

Who’s feeling lucky?

Published

5 hours ago

March 13, 2026

Steven Mitchell

It’s a mighty night for the New Japan Cup!

The New Japan Cup arrives in Osaka as round two continues. Tonight, Hartley Jackson VS Callum Newman, and Hirooki Goto VS Jake Lee!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Shota Umino & Masatora Yasuda VS Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi; Chase & Yujiro win.
Six Man Tag: YOSHI-HASHI, Satoshi Kojima & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
Six Man Tag: Hontai VS House of Torture; Hontai wins.
Yuya Uemura & Tomoaki Honma VS WarDragons; WarDragons win.
10 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS The United Empire; The Empire wins.
2026 New Japan Cup Second Round: Callum Newman VS Hartley Jackson; Callum wins and advances.
2026 New Japan Cup Second Round: Jake Lee VS Hirooki Goto; Goto wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

2026 New Japan Cup Second Round: Callum Newman w/ Zane Jay VS Hartley Jackson!

The Prince was able to slay one giant German in the first round as he made Oskar “kiss the crown.” But now he runs into TMDK’s giant Aussie! Will Callum find a way to make the mighty kneel? Or will he see that it’s Jackson Number One!

Hartley offers a handshake to show there is sportsmanship here, but Callum just flips him off. The bell rings and Callum runs up to BOOT Hartley! Callum fires off a flurry of forearms, then he mockingly says, “Jackson, gambatte yo. <Do your best.>” Callum CLUBS Hartley, runs the ropes, but Hartley follows, blows past him, then CLOBBERS him! “Jackson Number One!” The fans cheer that! Hartley stands Callum up to CHOP him down! Callum grimaces as he stands back up, but Hartley CHOPS again! Callum stands up faster this time, but Hartley CLUBS him on the back. Hartley then CHOPS Callum in a corner!

Hartley brings Callum out to suplex, but Callum slips free! Callum waistlocks, Hartley switches, but Callum elbows free. Callum then trips Hartley and KNEES him in the side! Hartley rolls away to a corner, clutching his ribs, but Callum says, “Callum Number One!” The fans are torn but Callum walks over to Hartley. Callum digs his knee into Hartley’s face but the ref counts. Callum mocks the ref, then backs off at 4. But then he digs his boots back in! The ref counts, Callum backs off and flexes. Callum KICKS Hartley, KICKS him again, and again! Callum eggs Hartley on and slaps him around. Hartley says, “Kimochi! <Feels good!>”

Callum says okay, and slaps Hartley some more. Hartley says, “Motto! <More!>” Callum fires a forearm, but Hartley dares him to headbutt?! Callum says okay! He brings Hartley out and HEADBUTTS! But Callum’s the one dazed by that! The fans cheer as Callum has to sit down! Hartley brings Callum up to HEADBUTT, and Callum staggers to a corner! Hartley storms up on Callum, ROCKS him with a forearm, then whips corner to corner. Callum sputters but Hartley SPLASHES, then short arm LARIATS! And then SENTONS! The fans cheer while Callum sputters again. Hartley covers, TWO! Callum toughs it out but the fans rally for Hartley.

Hartley drags Callum up, fireman’s carries, but Callum fights free with elbow. Callum staggers, kicks, but Hartley blocks! Callum ROCKS Hartley, ROLLING ELBOWS, then ROUNDHOUSES! The fans applaud as Hartley falls and Callum wobbles. Callum shakes out the remaining stars from those headbutts while Hartley rolls out of the ring. Callum builds speed and DIVES onto Hartley! They both hit railing! The fans fire up while both men are down! The ref checks and Callum stands up. Callum flexes, saying he’s the best. The fans rally for Hartley while Callum goes back for him. Callum stands Hartley up to whip, but Hartley blocks!

Callum kicks Hartley, whips, but Hartley reverses! Callum hits railing hard! The fans fire up as Callum bounces off and crawls on the floor. Hartley rises, and he tells fans to move aside. The fans oblige as Hartley fetches Callum. Callum fires forearms but Hartley ROCKS him in return. Hartley then BOWLS Callum into the chairs! STRIKE! The fans fire up for that one! Hartley nods, then heads over to fetch Callum. Hartley has more fans clear out as they move through the crowd. The fans cheer as Hartley CLUBS Callum, then takes aim! Hartley BOWLS Callum again! Callum slides with a chair for the second STRIKE!

The fans cheer and Hartley bows in thanks. Hartley then makes his way over to fetch Callum again. The ref wants this back in the ring already but Hartley makes Callum take a seat. Hartley CHOPS Callum, then heads back to the ring as the count starts. No, wait, Hartley turns around, and he runs up on Callum! CROSSBODY gutter ball as Callum dodges! Hartley hits chairs instead! Callum hobbles his way to railings to rest against them. Hartley crawls, and manages to take a seat, but Callum runs up to DROPKICK him right back down! The fans rally as the count climbs, and Callum is back in at 10 of 20. Hartley sits up at 11!

The fans rally harder as Hartley struggles to rise! Hartley stands at 15, and he hurries on shaky legs! Hartley returns to ringside at 18! Hartley rolls in at 19.5! Callum is beside himself, but he wants Hartley to wait. Both men sit up into a kneeling position. Callum then fires a forearm! Hartley DECKS Callum in return! Callum sits up again, and fires another forearm. Hartley DECKS Callum again! Now Callum stands and he dares Hartley to do the same. Both men stand, and the forearms keep going back and forth! The fans rally up as the shots go faster and faster! Callum fires a flurry, then runs, but into a fireman’s carry!

Callum flails and throws elbows, but Hartley puts him on the top rope. Hartley ROCKS Callum, and Callum clings to ropes to stay up. Hartley climbs, brings Callum up, but Callum fires body shots! Callum ROCKS Hartley, then hops down to GAMANGIRI! Callum then gets under Hartley, and manages a RUNNING POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO! Hartley survives but Callum PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up as Callum aims from a corner! Callum runs again, KNEE STRIKE! Cover, TWO!! Hartley survives again and the fans fire up! Callum grows frustrated but he then mockingly cheers Harltey on again.

Callum reels Hartley in, underhooks, but Hartley might be too big for the lift. Callum KNEES Hartley down! “Callum number one, b*tch!” Callum vows to end this, and he reels Hartley back in. But Hartley fireman’s carries! DEATH VALLEY BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives and the fans fire up again! Hartley pounds the mat, the fans rally behind him, and he torture racks Callum! BURNING- NO, Callum lands out! Callum BOOTS, HEEL KICKS, but Hartley DISCUS LARIATS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Callum sputters while Hartley again rallies the fans. Hartley drags Callum up, but Callum HEADBUTTS!

Both men wobble, Callum rebounds, but Hartley ELBOWS him down! Hartley hurries to cover, TWO!! Callum survives but Hartley hauls him right up! PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!! Callum survives and the fans fire up again! Hartley shouts, “IKU ZO! <Here we go!>” Hartley drags Callum up, but Zane Jay slides a chair into the ring! Hartley picks it up, hands it to the ref, and the ref puts it outside, but Callum LOW BLOWS Hartley!! Then EXCALIBUR!! Cover, Callum wins!

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

The Prince needed help this time, but he still slayed another giant! Will Callum soon claim the Cup and the crown?

2026 New Japan Cup Second Round: Jake Lee VS Hirooki Goto!

Similar to Callum Newman, the Silent Jester defeated the Headhunter, but now runs into the other half of Bishamon! Will this Smart Bastard have a plan for taking down the Fierce Warrior? Or will the Goto Revolution rise again?

The bell rings and the fans rally for “GO-TO-O! GO-TO-O!” Jake conducts the fans like a choir, and there are “JA-KU! JA-KU!” fans here. Jake calls for silence as the two circle, and then they tie up. They’re in a deadlock but the fans rally again. Goto puts Jake on the ropes, but Red Shoes calls the break. Goto obliges and the fans applaud. Jake brushes that off and the two reset. They circle again, tie up again, and are in another deadlock. Jake powers Goto to the ropes, Red Shoes calls another break, and Jake lets off slowly. The fans applaud that, and Jake mocks the zanmai “HAI~!” Goto runs up, but Jake blocks the kick!

Jake kicks Goto, whips Goto to ropes, but Goto ducks ‘n’ dodges to then RUN Jake over! The fans cheer while Jake sputters. Goto stomps Jake around, then drags him up. Goto snapmares Jake into the chinlock, digging his knee into Jake’s back. Jake endures but Goto ELBOWS him in the head! Goto stomps Jake around, then brings him up. Goto CLUBS Jake on the neck, then follows him to the ropes. Goto CLUBS Jake again, then CHOPS! Goto whips, Jake reverses and KNEES low! Jake then hoists Goto up, to crotch him on the ropes! Jake mocks Goto’s pain as Goto slumps to the apron. The fans rally as Jake goes to the outside.

Jake aims from the apron as Goto stands, and runs up to PENALTY- NO, Goto blocks the kick! Goto trips Jake and he lands hard on the apron! Goto kicks Jake, then brings him around to whip, only for Jake to reverse! Goto hits railing, but he comes back! Only for Jake to get around, lift, and SLAM Goto on the apron! Jake rolls into the ring and leaves Goto to the count. Goto stirs at 3 of 20, sits up at 7, and Hashi coaches him up. Goto manages to stand at 13, but Jake is already bringing out his black medical glove. Goto rolls in at 17, but Jake stomps him! Jake cocky covers but Red Shoes refuses to count.

Jake argues with Red Shoes, and he changes feet. No, still no good. Jake properly covers Goto, Red Shoes counts, TWO! Jake drags Goto up to CLUB him, then he puts Goto on the ropes. Jake fishhooks Goto for the Bad Vibrations! Jake stops as Red Shoes reprimands, then throws the glove away. Jake stalks Goto, kicks him around, and taunts him while the fans rally. Goto frowns while Jake laughs, and Goto CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Jake kicks low, then whips Goto to the corner. Goto reverses, then runs in, but Jake dodges! Goto hits buckles, then Jake scoops him, to put him in the Tree of Woe!

Jake fires KNEE after KNEE into Goto, then runs corner to corner to KNEE Goto out of the Tree! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Goto survives. Goto coughs and sputters, but Jake drags him up to whip to ropes, and KNEE! Jake whips again and KNEES! Jake whips a third time, Goto reverses, but Jake still KNEES him low! Jake runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Jake checks his jaw but Goto drags him up. Goto ROCKS Jake with forearm after forearm, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs up and MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Jake is tougher than that but Goto stays focused.

The fans rally as Goto brings Jake up, but Jake fights the fireman’s carry! Jake CLUBS Goto, then waistlocks, but Goto fires elbows. Goto is free, but he runs into another KNEE! The fans are torn while Goto writhes on the mat. Jake catches his breath, then hauls Goto up for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Goto survives but Jake frowns. Jake drags Goto up, bumps him off buckles, then takes aim! Jake runs corner to corner, but Goto ducks the boot! Jake is stuck on the ropes while the fans rally again. Jake hobbles from the corner, but he dodges Goto! Guzel and CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Goto survives!

Jake is annoyed but he shakes his head as he stands back up. Jake watches Goto crawl back to the corner and reloads. Goto stands, Jake runs in, but Goto again dodges the boot! Dragon sleeper, and DRAPING SHOTO! The fans cheer while both men are down again! The fans rally up as Goto and Jake stir. They both sit up slowly, then head for each other. Both men stand, and Goto fires a forearm! Jake fires back! They trade forearms again and again, picking up speed! The fans rally as the shots go back and forth, neither man backing down! Jake ROCKS Goto, CLUBS Goto, then brings him up, only for Goto to HEADBUTT!

Jake drops to his knees while the fans fire up. Goto HEADBUTTS Jake again and again and again! The fans cheer as Goto tops it off with one more HEADBUTT! But Jake goes crazy! We’ve seen Jake bring this out against Yota Tsuji and Yoshi-Hashi, and now this wild joker runs up on Goto! Goto takes a swing but Jake ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Goto spins him around, URA GTR! Goto runs, but into a BOOT! Goto RIDGE HANDS! Jake ROUNDHOUSES! Jake hurries to FACELOCK GUILLOTINE! Goto flails, but he’s dropped to a knee! The fans rally harder and harder but Goto is fading! Wait, Goto gets a second wind, but Jake KNEES him low!

Jake reels Goto in, but Goto fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Goto grits his teeth as he rises up, and he storms over to Jake. Goto drags Jake up, fireman’s carries again, G T W! Cover, TWO!! Jake survives and the fans fire up again! Goto catches his breath before he stands up again. Goto roars and the fans are with him! Goto powers up as Jake sits up, but Jake SPITS at Goto! Goto BUZZSAWS Jake down! Then he drags Jake up, dragon sleeper, G T R!! Cover, Goto wins!

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

The Jester was defiant to the end, but his run in the New Japan Cup ends here! What will it take for Jake Lee to conquer NJPW?

As for Goto, the fans cheer him on as he gets the mic. “Everyone, thank you for coming tonight! I will definitely win this year’s New Japan Cup, and then win THE IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the belt I have never held before, and then come back here!” The fans cheer that! Goto continues by saying listen up! Follow him as he brings the Goto Revolution to another victory! The fans cheer Goto’s straightforward message, but will he truly stand on the mountaintop he has fought so long to reach?

My Thoughts:

Another very good night for New Japan Cup, though maybe not as fiery as the previous nights. Good stuff in the tune-ups again, good to see Takagi & Drilla back in action as WarDragons again. Very good match from Callum VS Hartley, and Callum is doing really well selling those chair bowling spots. Hartley did get cheated, so that protects him in the loss while building the Heel heat on Callum. Great match from Goto VS Jake, and I’m actually a little surprised this is where Jake loses. His wild joker mode is 1-2, having only worked on Hashi, but Goto is a tried and true choice so it makes sense. And Goto pointing out that, despite having the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship before, he still needs the classic IWGP Heavyweight title is great stuff.