Will Evil continue towards a New Japan Cup repeat?

Last year’s tournament winner is still in it! Will Darkness Fall and bring the King of Darkness one step closer to winning another New Japan Cup?

NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Kazuchika Okada, SHO, Hirooki Goto & Yuji Nagata; Okada, Sho, Goto & Nagata win.
• Six Man Tag: Juice Robinson & HenarACE VS Jay White, KENTA & Chase Owens; Juice & HenarACE win.
• 2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Great-O-Khan VS Toru Yano; Yano wins and advances.
• 2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: EVIL VS Jeff Cobb; Evil wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Kazuchika Okada, SHO, Hirooki Goto & Yuji Nagata!

Sanada rejoins Shingo Takagi, Bushi & Tetsuya Naito, but Tomohiro Ishii is the one stepping aside this time. Will the Dragon and the Cold Skull be ready for the Fierce Warrior and Blue Justice in the NJCUP’s second round? Or will the Rainmaker and High Voltage help Goto and Nagata build momentum against the calm and the fury?

The teams sort out, and after the LIJ fist bump, Takagi starts against Goto. Fans rally as we get another NJCUP preview and the two circle. They tie up, Goto headlocks but Takagi powers out. Goto rams Takagi, Takagi runs to ram Goto! Goto forearms, Takagi forearms, repeat, and fans rally up as they pick up speed! Takagi gets boxing elbows in then runs, but Goto follows, only for Takagi to fireman’s carry! Goto slips out to a dragon sleeper but Takagi snapmares him! Takagi runs, Goto avoids the sliding lariat, and fans cheer as they stand off. Takagi and Goto back away, and Okada tags in, as does Naito. Naito and Okada circle, fans rally up, and they tie up.

They’re in a deadlock, Okada pushes Naito to ropes, and the ref calls for the break. Okada lets off, fakes the chop and pats Naito on the shoulder. Naito turns things right around, the ref calls for the break, but Naito returns the fake out and shoulder pat. But then Bushi is there to grab Okada by the hair! Naito attacks while the ref reprimands, then whips, but Okada reverses to elbow Naito. Naito stays up but he runs into a boot! Okada snapmares and runs to dropkick Naito! Naito gets to a corner, Okada whips him corner to corner but runs into boots. Naito runs at Okada, blocks the boot, waistlocks, but Okada elbows free.

Naito atomic drops, Bushi dropkicks the legs out and Sanada adds a basement dropkick! Bushi and Sanada hit the Chaos corner, Takagi joins them in going out after them. Naito cravats and cranks Okada while Takagi whips Goto into railing! Fans cheer as Takagi clubs Goto and throws down elbows! Sanada whips Nagata into railing, Bushi clubs Sho and Naito grinds Okada with a chinlock. Okada gets the ropebreak, Naito holds on and cranks a little harder, but lets go as the ref counts. Tag to Bushi, Naito wrenches Okada’s arm for Bushi to club! Bushi takes off his shirt and uses it to choke Okada! The ref reprimands, Bushi lets go with one hand but the ref reprimands more.

Bushi lets go, the shirt is thrown away and Bushi stomps Okada. Bushi bumps Okada off buckles, tags in Takagi, and Takagi cravats Okada while taunting Goto. Takagi snapmares and runs, to hit Goto! Goto gets in and attacks Takagi! Bushi gets in to go after Okada while Takagi elbows, JABS and LARIATS Goto! Goto bails out and Takagi goes back to Okada. Bushi chokes Okada with the shirt again, Takagi drags Okada around, and tag to Sanada. Fans rally for “SA-NA-DA!” “O-KA-DA!” as Sanada throws forearms. Sanada clubs Okada to a corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs in but into boots! Okada runs but into a kick! Sanada runs but into another BOOT!

Both men are down, fans fire up, hot tag to Nagata! Nagata DECKS Naito, DECKS Bushi and KICKS away on Sanada! Nagata whips Sanada corner to corner and runs in to BOOT! Sanada fights the exploder but Nagata throws a forearm, then double hooks for a BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Nagata suplexes, Sanada slips out and waistlocks but Nagata elbows him away! Nagata whips corner to corner, Sanada elbows then Quebrada! Nagata gets under but Sanada dropkicks him out! Sanada then PLANCHAS and takes Nagata down! Fans cheer and Sanada encourages they get louder. Sanada then goes back to Nagata to put him in the ring. Cover, TWO!

Sanada drags Nagata up, reels him in but Nagata fights off the back suplex! Nagata kicks but Sanada blocks to elbow the leg! Sanada throws forearms but Nagata gives them back and fans fire up again! Nagata ROCKS Sanada, runs, but Sanada fireman’s carries! Nagata fights off to suplex again but Sanada slips out to a dragon sleeper! Nagata spins through and suplexes to put Sanada on the ropes! MAGIC SCREW! Fans fire up while both men are down again. Sanada and Nagata crawl, hot tags to Sho and Bushi! Bushi kicks Sho, whips him to a corner but Sho reverses. Sho runs in but into the swing kick! Bushi goes up, leaps, missile dropkick! Bushirooni!

Bushi dropkicks legs out, basement DDT’s Sho, cover, TWO! Fans rally as Bushi drags Sho up but Sho throws forearms! Bushi and Sho trade forearms now, Bushi gets the edge and runs, but Sho drops to go the other way and run Bushi over! Sho wrenches, kicks, kicks and KICKS, but Bushi blocks! Sho ROCKS Bushi with a forearm, whips him to a corner and runs in. Bushi dodges, Takagi clotheslines Sho while Bushi blasts the Chaos corner! Naito gives Sho a rocket kick then sweeps the legs, for COMBINACION CABRON! Naito feeds Sho to Takagi, Bushi runs in, SPINEBUSTER BACKSTABBER COMBO! Cover, TWO!!

Sho survives and fans fire up as Bushi drags him up. Bushi has the leg, Sho slips out and feeds Bushi to Nagata’s BOOT! Sanada dropkicks Nagata’s legs out, Okada BOOTS Sanada down! Naito dropkicks Okada’s legs out, kicks Goto low, and then Naito and Takagi double whip Goto. Goto breaks through the clotheslines to ROCK Takagi, DISCUS Naito, and then fireman’s carry Takagi for USHIGOROSHI! Goto then runs Bushi over and shouts to Sho! Sho dead lifts but Bushi fights the waistlock. Bushi kicks, Sho blocks then ducks the enziguri but not the mule kick! Bushi comes back to- No! No Code Breaker, Sho tosses Bushi to LARIAT!

Sho dead lifts to the GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! LIJ and Chaos brawl outside while Sho drags Bushi up again. Sho double pump handles Bushi for SHOCK ARROW!! Cover, Chaos and Nagata win!

Winners: Yuji Nagata & Chaos, by pinfall

High Voltage takes down Death Mask, and he himself might have a shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship in his future! But will this only motivate Takagi and Sanada more for the second round?

Six Man Tag: Juice Robinson & HenarACE VS Jay White, KENTA & Chase Owens!

The Flamboyant One teams with Hiroshi Tanahashi and the Hammerhead so they can all get some semblance of payback on Bullet Club! But after already dealing with Henare, will the Switchblade get a step up on The Ace before the next round?

Tanahashi shows off the muscles and Juice joins in, but so does White. Bullet Club Low Sweets, then teams sort out. Tanahashi calls White out so White accepts. White tells Henare to get out, he’s a loser. The bell rings and fans rally up already. White talks trash while flexing, but Tanahashi gets fans rallying with “Let’s Go, Ace!” Tanahashi circles with White, but he’s wary of Chase and Kenta. White and Tanahashi tie up, are in a deadlock, and Juice says, “Show ’em your power!” Tanahashi shows his power, but White turns it around to put Tanahashi on ropes. The ref calls for the ropebreak, White lets off to flex.

Gedo cheers White and fans do cheer the muscles, but Tanahashi shrugs that off to circle with White. They tie up, White again turns things around to put Tanahashi on ropes, but Tanahashi turns it right back. Tanahashi lets off cleanly to flex his muscles! White kicks but Tanahashi blocks! Tanahashi elbows the leg, wrenches an arm, flexes, but White wrenches back. Tanahashi wrenches again to flex, and he tags in Henare. Henare fires off knees and forearms on White, then bumps him off buckles! And again! White flounders, Henare bumps him off buckles again! Fans are fired up with Henare but White throws a forearm. Henare ROCKS White, whips him to a corner but White reverses.

Henare comes back to run White over! Bullet Club avoids getting blasted off the corner, so Henare headbutts White. And again! Henare runs but Chase swipes! Henare glares at him but goes back to White, only for White to block the kick and hit a DRAGON SCREW! White flexes again then sucker punches Tanahashi! Juice protests but White tells the ref to keep him back. White digs his boots into Henare’s neck at the ropes but lets off as the ref counts. White stomps Henare to the corner, tags Kenta, and they mug Henare. Kenta throws body shots, drags Henare up and whips him to ropes. Kenta elbows Henare, sucker punches Juice, but then scurries away.

The ref keeps Juice back, Kenta throws Henare out, and White is there to stomp Henare down! White digs his boots in, flexes, but lets off as the ref is done dealing with Juice. Chase mockingly applauds Henare as White puts him in the ring. Kenta drags Henare to a cover, TWO! Another cover, ONE! Another cover, ONE!! Kenta tags Chase, they stomp Henare, then Chase stomps Henare’s arms and head. Chase stomps Henare’s hand, leg, and then drags him up to a headlock and punch! Henare flounders into the corner, White tags in, and he adds his own stomps. White stomps one leg, then the other, then stomps again. White distracts the ref and Kenta digs his boots into Henare.

The ref sees, Kenta stops and tags in. White stands on Henare’s hand, Kenta stands on the other hand! Fans rally for Henare, Kenta stomps Henare’s hand again, then drags him up. Kenta snapmares Henare and KICKS him in the back! Henare grits his teeth but Kenta KICKS him again. Henare fires up, Kenta KICKS him, then stomps him. Henare fires up more as Kenta throws haymakers! Kenta rakes Henare’s eyes, whips him, but Henare dodges to LEAPING SHOULDER TACKLE! Hot tag to Juice! Juice fires up and runs in to clothesline Kenta! Juice keeps moving and he LEAPING LARIATS Kenta! Juice tells off the Bullet Club then whips Kenta.

Kenta reverses but Juice reverses back to kick, run and BULLDOG! Fans fire up, Juice pumps up and the fans clap along. Juice throws JAB after JAB, then pumps up, but the Left Hand is a feint to a DDT! Juice hits White and Chase then spits at Gedo. Fans rally with Juice as he runs at Kenta in a corner, but Kenta BOOTS him! Kenta boots again, hops up, reels Juice in and hits a tornado hotshot! Kenta goes up top and FLYING CLOTHESLINES! Cover, TWO! Kenta drags Juice up, Juice switches, but Kenta switches back and shoves Juice. Juice hits Chase, but Kenta rolls Juice! TWO!! Juice swings on Kenta but into a spin and DDT! Cover, TWO!

Kenta grows frustrated but he decides to end this! Kenta drags Juice up, fireman’s carries, but Juice slips off to shove Kenta. Juice gets Kenta back with a SPINEBUSTER! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Hot tags to White and Tanahashi! Tanahashi blocks the kick but White throws forearms! White whips, Tanahashi comes back with a flying forearm! Tanahashi fires off forearms then brings White around to scoop and slam! Tanahashi hops up, for the SOMERSAULT SENTON! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi keeps close to White and fans fire up again. Tanahashi runs, but White gets around the slingblade! Tanahashi elbows free but White blocks his kick to a DRAGON SCREW!

Tanahashi writhes, gets to ropes, but White is in the opposite corner. White runs in to uppercut, then BLADE BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally but White hits Henare and Juice! White dusts off the abs to flex on Tanahashi while giving him toying kicks. White stomps Tanahashi, drags him up and reels him in, but Tanahashi fights off the urenage. White trips Tanahashi to hit a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! White gets the legs but Tanahashi kicks him away! White comes back, but kicks into Tanahashi’s DRAGON SCREW! Chase tags in, he hurries to rain down rights on Tanahashi, but the ref pulls him off because of the closed fists.

Chase pushes the ref, runs and SHINING WIZARDS Tanahashi! Cover, TWO! Chase drags Tanahashi up but Henare runs in, Chase kicks him first and whips, only for Henare to reverse into a SAMOAN DROP! Kenta BOOTS Henare, Juice LEG LARIATS Kenta! White avoids the leg lariat to throw Juice down by his hair! Tanahashi gets up, gets around and spins White for TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Fans fire up, Tanahashi runs at Chase but Chase ducks the slingblade to mule kick! Tanahashi blocks Jewel Trigger into a DRAGON SCREW! And then the TEXAS CLOVERLEAF!! Chase endures but taps, Tanahashi’s team wins!

Winners: Juice Robinson & HenarACE, by submission

The Texas Heavyweight Champion taps to a Texas Cloverleaf! Is the NEVER Openweight Champion in line to take Chase’s title for his own? Or will he have to worry about the Switchblade first? White makes fun on Tanahashi’s stomach not being as cut as his, but will White end up cut out of the “New Jay-pan Cup?”

2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Great-O-Khan VS Toru Yano!

The Dominator had quite the shocking victory over Tetsuya Naito in the NJCUP, while the Producer snuck another victory off of Bad Luck Fale. Will Khan not only conquer Mr. KOPW 2021 but move on to the third round of the tournament?

Yano is already scared of Khan, which makes sense between walking out like a zombie and then just standing there like a statue in the ring. Yano’s very long introduction of all his merchandise and such finishes, and it looks like Yano patched up the KOPW 2021 trophy after what Fale did to it last round. The bell rings, Yano is still scared of Khan but Khan shouts at him to shut up and get out of the corner. That just scares Yano more and he stays by the ropes. Yano bails out and complains to Red Shoes, but then grabs tape from under the ring! Khan dares Yano to get in and tape his hands?! Yano goes in and ties up Khan’s hands with tape!

Yano says Khan is still scary, but Khan says he’ll let Yano take off the corner pads?! Yano can’t believe he’s serious, but he does it! One pad down, and Khan is oddly satisfied. Yano doesn’t understand, but Khan dares him to use the pad as a weapon!? Yano goes for it, but Khan dodges the pad attack, then breaks free of the tape!! Yano freaks out and gets out of the ring! Khan is too scary for Yano! Khan mockingly asks what’s wrong, but then lies down on the mat? Fans clap for Yano and he gets in the ring, to stomp Khan! Yano wasn’t going to fall for a pin trap! But then Khan grabs Yano’s leg and drags him down into a KNEEBAR! Yano endures, crawls, and gets the ropebreak!

Khan holds on until the count of 3, and then tells Yano he’s an idiot. Khan stomps Yano, whips him to ropes, but Yano holds ropes. Khan runs in but Yano dodges and SLAPS him! Khan gets mad, he runs in but Yano dodges to get the ponytail! Khan breaks free, Yano kicks low and runs, but Khan runs Yano over! Yano bails out again and goes up the ramp. Yano dares Khan to come out after him! Khan tells Yano to get back in the ring but Yano refuses. Khan gets Yano’s chair and rips off the label to take a seat! Yano gets upset but Khan is scary, so Yano gets another chair! Yano takes the chair to the ramp, and he takes a seat! Yano and Khan shout at each other and a ring count starts.

Khan gets impatient with Yano but Yano gets anxious on the outside. Khan tells Gabriel Kidd to get the KOPW 2021 trophy. Kidd does as asked and Yano asks what the heck! Khan threatens the trophy if Yano doesn’t get back in! Yano asks Red Shoes to do something about this, but the ring count keeps climbing! Khan puts his boot over the trophy so Yano gets in to save it! Fans cheer and Khan applauds Yano’s bravery. Khan kicks the chair aside and Red Shoes gets the trophy to safety. Khan offers a handshake to Yano but Yano doesn’t trust that. Yano accepts it but Khan crushes Yano’s hand in the iron claw! Khan wrenches and twists Yano’s hand, then stomps it!

Khan drags Yano up and gut wrenches, to then suplex Yano! Cover, TWO! Khan is annoyed but he drags Yano into the katagatami! Yano endures the head-and-arm triangle as Khan thrashes him about and leans on him! Khan drags Yano up in the hold, to then SLAM him down! Yano endures as Khan squeezes tighter, reaches for ropes and gets the ropebreak with a foot! Khan lets go of the hold but smothers Yano until Red Shoes counts 3. Khan drags Yano back up, and bumps him off the bare buckles! Khan CLUBS Yano, hops up and sits on Yano! The fans cheer but Red Shoes counts. Khan stands at 3, then sits back down and gets Yano’s arms for the reverse motorcycle!

Khan hops down as Red Shoes counts again, and then pushes Yano over. Khan has a cocky cover, Red Shoes refuses to count after the corner choking. Khan stomps Yano, then taunts him. Khan clamps the iron claw onto Yano’s head and pushes him down towards his boot! Yano fights up and throws forearms, but Khan knees low! Khan whips Yano but Yano stops short of the bare buckles. Khan runs in but Yano sends him into bare buckles! Fireman’s carry takedown and then a dodge to the BELLY2BELLY! Fans fire up as both men are down! Fans rally as Yano rises and fires up again. Yano brings Khan up but Khan throws a forearm!

Yano returns it, they go back and forth and fans rally up. Khan ROCKS Yano, fires off more forearms, then runs, into Yano’s atomic drop and takedown! CATAPULT to bare buckles! Roll up, TWO!! Yano runs, but into Khan’s BOOT! Khan drags Yano up to Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chop! Fans fire up as Khan aims, but Yano blocks the iron claw! Yano and Khan shout at each other, Khan shoots in but Yano counters to a cradle! TWO, and Khan kicks Yano! Khan clamps on an iron claw, but Yano also clamps on a claw! Khan’s claw is stronger and he smothers Yano to the mat! Yano fades, it’s a cover, TWO!? Khan drags Yano up but Yano breaks free!

Yano dodges, baits Khan in and dumps him out! Khan hits railing, Yano hurries to tie him up with his ponytail!! The ring count starts, Yano runs away, and Khan tries to untie his hair from railing! The count is past 10 of 20, and Khan has to use scissors to cut his hair! Khan is furious, he gets in at 18, but now he has scissors! Red Shoes tells Khan to put those away! Khan is too angry, he rushes Yano with the scissors! Yano and Red Shoes get out of the way but Red Shoes falls over! Yano dodges Khan again, spins him, and low blows! SPEAR to the back! And then the takedown, M O U! Cover, Yano wins!!

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

The Dominator got duped! He not only lost this match, but he’s lost some of his hair because of Yano’s antics! Is there any coming back from this for Khan? As for Yano, will he find yet another creative way to climb up the ladder and make it all the way to the finals?

2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: EVIL w/ Dick Togo VS Jeff Cobb!

The King of Darkness won last year’s NJCUP, and got a first-round bye this year. But will he start the road to a repeat performance? Or will he just take a Tour of the Islands instead?

After Evil and Dick Low Sweet, the bell rings and fans rally already. Evil and Cobb circle, but then Evil bails out. Evil and Dick regroup, and Evil starts checking under the ring. Red Shoes reprimands but Evil wants him to keep Cobb back a second. Evil keeps checking under the ring, but then he slides in and circles with Cobb. They approach, feel out the grapple, but Evil backs off a moment. Dick swipes at Cobb and Evil attacks! Evil clubs and CHOPS Cobb, then mockingly applauds before he CHOPS again! Cobb doesn’t seem amused, and he reverses the whip to run Evil over! Evil bails out again but Cobb pursues.

Evil wants Red Shoes to tell Cobb to stop, but Cobb senses Dick creeping up on him. Cobb glares at Dick but then he senses Evil’s sneak attack! Cobb kicks Evil and whips him into Dick! Evil and Dick crash into railing together! Cobb drags Evil up and CHOPS him against railing! Fans cheer as Cobb drags Dick up to DECK him! Cobb throws forearms on Evil, follows him around the way, and scoops him for a knee to the ribs! Cobb puts Evil in, and mockingly Too Sweets at Yujiro Takahashi on commentary. Cobb gets in the ring, dodges Evil and dropkicks him down! Fans cheer as Cobb gets a lot of air on that one. Cobb hauls Evil up to DECK him!

Cobb toys with Evil, pulls hair, but Red Shoes reprimands. Cobb lets go of hair to stomp Evil, then bring him up for more forearms! Evil falls over again, Cobb covers, TWO! Cobb smirks but keeps his cool as he looms over Evil. Cobb drags Evil up as fans rally, and Cobb headbutts Evil to ropes. Cobb whips Evil but Evil holds the ropes! Cobb ROCKS Evil, whips him again, but Evil reverses. Dick anchors Cobb, Evil clotheslines Cobb out! Red Shoes reprimands Dick but Evil goes out to fetch Cobb. Evil whips Cobb into railing! And then claws Cobb’s face before he RAMS him into the timekeeper! Down goes Abe-san! Evil drags Cobb up while Young Lions help the timekeeper.

Evil mockingly applauds before he takes Cobb around the way. Cobb throws body shots but Evil rakes Cobb’s eyes! Evil brings out the chairs! Evil puts one around Cobb’s head, then has the other for the HOMERUN! Dick and Evil Too Sweet again and Evil mockingly claps along with fans as they rally up. Evil leaves Cobb behind for the ring count. Cobb sits up at 6 of 20 but slowly rises. Cobb is standing at 12 and in at 13! Evil walks over, drags Cobb by a leg and stomps the leg. Evil drops an elbow on the knee then pulls back on the toehold. Cobb endures, grabs at Evil but Evil keeps on the hold. Cobb clubs but Evil clamps a leg around the foot to pull harder.

Cobb gets the ropebreak, Evil doesn’t let go so Cobb starts clubbing. Red Shoes counts and Evil lets go at 3. Cobb goes to the apron, Evil toys with him, and Evil drags Cobb in by his leg. Evil stands Cobb up, just to throw him out. Evil goes out after Cobb, and again RAMS him into the timekeeper’s area! Why does Evil hate Abe-san!? Evil mockingly applauds the Young Lions helping Abe, but Cobb throws body shots on Evil. Evil claws Cobb’s eyes, follows him around the way and puts him in the ring. Cover, ONE! Cobb still has a lot of fight in him so Evil mocks the rallying claps. Evil drags Cobb up by his hair, reels him in, but Cobb denies the fisherman suplex!

Cobb powers up to suplex but Evil fights that off! Evil kicks low, whips Cobb to the blue corner, and surprise~! Dick took the pad away! Evil kicks low, and hits the FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Cobb survives but Evil keeps his cool. Evil toys with Cobb as he kicks at him and stands on his head. Cobb pushes Evil’s foot away then throws hard body shots! Evil kicks back, blocks Cobb’s kick and gives it to Red Shoes! But Cobb blocks Evil’s kick, hands that to Red Shoes, and JABS Evil! Cobb then clinches Evil for an OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Evil ends up in a corner, Cobb watches as Evil rolls out to the apron.

Fans rally, Red Shoes is busy with Dick, but Cobb drags Evil up the corner. Cobb DEAD LIFT SUPERPLEXES Evil! Fans fire up as Cobb hurries over to cover, TWO! Cobb drags Evil up, scoops him, and runs to RAM him into a corner, then keeps going. No stampede as Evil slips off to throw Cobb down! Fans rally as both men are down again. Cobb gets to another corner, Evil slowly rises, and Evil runs in to clothesline! Evil brings Cobb out but Cobb blocks the fireman’s carry! Cobb clubs Evil away, runs, but Evil goes to the corner. Cobb dodges Evil’s clothesline to swing on Evil. Evil dodges that but not the LEFT LARIAT!

GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT but onto knees!! Though with a guy as big as Cobb, that was double-edged for Evil to do! Evil gets up, hobbles around and runs, to LARIAT Cobb down! Evil talks some trash as he gets up and gets the legs! Evil turns Cobb for the SHARPSHOOTER! Cobb endures but Evil sits deep! Fans rally, Cobb powers up, and Cobb heads around towards ropes. Evil sits deeper but Cobb still gets the ropebreak! Evil holds until Red Shoes counts 4, but fans rally as Cobb sputters. Evil drags Cobb up, fireman’s carries, and DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Cobb survives and Evil is surprised!

Fans rally, Evil sits Cobb up and slashes the throat, to then stand and spin Cobb. Cobb fights off the STO, but Evil kicks low to whip. Cobb stops short of the bare buckles and SUPERKICKS Evil down! Fans rally again as Cobb gets to his feet. Cobb drags Evil up, scoops him, RAMS a corner, then hits the OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Cover, TWO! Cobb grits his teeth as he drags Evil back up. Cobb fireman’s carries but Evil blocks now! Cobb CHOPS Evil off his feet! Fans rally as Cobb fireman’s carries again, but Evil rakes eyes! Dick is on the apron but Evil distracts Red Shoes as Dick elbows Cobb! Dick has his choker but Cobb blocks it!

Cobb elbows Dick down, Evil runs in but Cobb dodges to REBOUND GERMAN! GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Evil lives but Cobb keeps his focus. Cobb drags Evil up, whips him, but Evil holds ropes. Evil boots Cobb then runs in, but Cobb scoops him! Evil grabs Red Shoes, and Red Shoes goes for the ride on the ATHLETIC PLEX! Everyone is down as Cobb covers, and Cobb realizes the ref is down! Cobb gets frustrated but fans rally up. Cobb drags Evil up but he blocks Evil’s low blow! Cobb whips Evil to the corner to hit a leaping back elbow! Cobb drags Evil up top, climbs up to join him, but Dick has the SPOILER CHOKER!! Cobb fades as Dick squeezes tight!

Wait, Cobb gets a second wind and picks Dick up! And RAMS him into Evil! Cobb is free and throws the choker away. Cobb drags Dick up, scoops him, and pops him around to then CHOPS Evil with his free arm! Cobb drags Evil along, for a DOUBLE OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE!! Milano on commentary says “This is Awesome!” on behalf of the fans! Fans rally up, Cobb drags Dick up to TOSS him out! Lucky for Dick, the blue buckle pad is there. Cobb gets Red Shoes back in the ring and then returns to Evil. Cobb gut wrenches Evil for a POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives but Cobb keeps his focus as fans rally again.

Cobb drags Evil up, mocks Bullet Club with the finger gun and BANG, then whips, but Evil flops over. Fans rally, Cobb drags Evil up, but Evil rakes Cobb’s eyes! And POINT-BLANK LARIATS! Both men are down but fans fire up again! Evil rises, Cobb grabs at him, but Evil slashes the throat and vows to end this! Evil drags Cobb up, spins him but no STO! Cobb GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cobb drags Evil up, reels him in, but Evil uses that to RAM Cobb into the bare buckles! Evil staggers around, runs back in, but Cobb dodges and Evil gets bare buckles! Wait, Tokyo Pimp jumps off commentary and is lurking!

Cobb drags Evil up, reels him in, but Yujiro distracts Red Shoes just as Evil slips out and LOW BLOWS Cobb!! Evil brings Cobb in for EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Cover, Evil wins!!

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

The King of Darkness conquers the Empire’s Hawaiian Hulk! And with Yano taking out Khan, he is next to face Evil! After catching his breath, Evil gets up and gets the mic to say, “OI, Jeff Cobb! That’s the power of the Bullet Club, punk! I will in win the New Japan Cup for the second straight time, and take that title from Ibushi.” Evil will even “destroy the entire IWGP name and make my own title.” IWGP is just crap anyway. Evil will “destroy all of NJPW’s history,” because EVERYTHING IS EVIL! It’s rrrrreeeeal! Bold claims for the King of Darkness, but will he make history to then destroy history? Or can the Producer of all people cut him off in the third round?

My Thoughts:

A very good event to start the NJCUP’s second round. The 8 Man was pretty good but also pretty quick, and it works that Sho returns the favor to Bushi from last match. Bushi won fast but Sho wins with a finisher, but the math is preserved for Goto VS Takagi and Sanada VS Nagata. Similarly in the Six Man Tag, which was also really good, math is preserved since Tanahashi makes Chase Owens submit. Chase is already out of the NJCUP, White and Kenta need to go strong into matches with Tanahashi and Suzuki, so Chase was the only one who could take the loss. And further math was accounted for, as Finlay was kept in a different match, and lost because he had Young Lion Tsuji on his team, so now Finlay VS Chase for the Texas Heavyweight Championship can go either way.

Naturally, United Empire wasn’t going to face itself in the third round of the NJCUP, so one or both Khan and Cobb had to lose. If Khan won, it would’ve been a giveaway that Cobb loses tonight. Granted, Cobb still lost, but it wasn’t a given. Yano VS Khan was hilarious with Khan actually daring Yano to use his antics to try and get an advantage, only for those usual tricks to backfire. Khan having to sacrifice his hair to stay in the match was pretty unique. Evil VS Cobb was also good as a pure match, though the pacing was rather moderate, as most Evil matches are. Yujiro helping Evil win was a decent change-up from Dick Togo being around, and can even feed towards the Bullet Club civil war where Yujiro is Team Evil.

Evil declaring his own intentions with the top title(s) in NJPW is an interesting addition to his want of a repeat, and it seems like a lot of people can just do what they want with the titles. Ibushi wants to unify for a true world title, White wants to keep both titles separate but perhaps not defend them separate like how Naito intended, and then Evil just wants some kind of NJPW EVIL Championship or something like that. As I said before, there are a lot of possibilities for the finals, I wouldn’t mind seeing Evil VS White for the Bullet Club civil war to really get going, but who knows if we get that.

My Score: 8.9/10