These New Japan Cup matches are gonna leave a mark!

Suzuki VS Kenta, Goto VS Takagi, these might be the heaviest hitting matches in the 2021 NJCUP yet! But who withstands it all to make it to round 3?

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

• Six Man Tag: Juice Robinson & HenarACE VS Jay White, EVIL & Bad Luck Fale; Bullet Club wins.
• 2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Minoru Suzuki VS KENTA; Kenta wins and advances.
• 2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Hirooki Goto VS Shingo Takagi; Takagi wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: Juice Robinson & HenarACE VS Jay White, EVIL & Bad Luck Fale!

The Flamboyant One again joins the Hammerhead and the Once in a Century Talent to battle Bullet Club! But the Switchblade has switched out his partners to have the King of Darkness and Rogue General with him! Will Hiroshi Tanahashi or Jay White have more momentum going into their battle in the “New Jay-pan Cup?”

After Bullet Club Low Sweets, and after Tanahashi shows off the muscles only for White to match him, the teams sort out and White starts with Tanahashi. Fans rally for the NJCUP preview and clap, “Let’s Go, Ace!” Tanahashi and White tie up, Tanahashi pushes White towards ropes but White turns it around. White lets off to flex and then circles with Tanahashi again. Fans still rally for Tanahashi, but White dodges to flex again. White and Tanahashi circle again, Tanahsahi dodges to flex but White fires off kicks and haymakers. White stomps Tanahashi in a corner, whips him corner to corner, but Tanahashi reverses.

White reverses back but so does Tanahashi, but then so does White, but then Tanahashi, but then White pulls hair! White knees Tanahashi into the corner, whips him back the other way, but Tanahashi elbows him away. Tanahashi goes up to crossbody White down! Fans fire up and Tanahashi double guns. Tanahashi tags Henare, and HenarACE double whip to double elbow, then Double Half Crab! The ref reprimands, counts, and HenarACE lets White go. Henare stomps White, drags him up and wrenches the arm to a wristlock, then Juice tags in. Juice climbs up and drops ax handles on White’s arm! Juice has White in a corner by pulling hair, the ref counts but White lets go and apologizes.

Juice whips White corner to corner, White reverses, but Juice goes up and over. Juice hip tosses White, scoops him and slams him, then dropkicks White down! Fans fire up, Evil runs in but Juice scoops and slams him! Juice dropkicks Evil and fires up, but here comes Fale! Juice can’t quite scoop Fale and clubs Juice. Fale scoops, Juice slips out and dropkicks him away! Juice fires up and scoops, but falls over with Fale! Fale can’t cover because of a bad leg but Evil and White take out HenarACE. Fale pushes Juice around, then gets in the ref’s face so that Gedo can get cheap shots in! White talks trash as he returns to the corner.

Fale stands on Juice’s back, tags White in, and White joins in on the “Bullet Club Massage” treatment for Juice! The ref counts, everyone stops and White stomps Juice down in the corner. White talks trash to HenarACE and distracts the ref so that Evil and Fale can pull Juice’s grapefruits into the corner! Bullet Club CLUBS Juice’s legs then puts him in for White to cover. ONE, but White clamps on with a chinlock. White keeps Juice from HenarACE but fans rally up. Juice fights up, fights back with body shots, but White clubs Juice on the back. Juice JABS, JABS and JABS, but White ducks the leg lariat to throw Juice down by his hair!

White rolls Juice all the way back to the Bullet Club corner and tags in Fale. Fale drags Juice up but Juice throws hands. Fale throat chops! Fale whips Juice to an open corner, runs in and splashes Juice, to then scoop and SLAM him! Fale runs but Juice avoids the elbow drop! Fans rally up as both men crawl, hot tags to Tanahashi and White! Tanahashi dodges to throw hands, then again. Tanahashi dodges a third time for flying forearms! Fans fire up as Tanahashi DECKS Evil and drags White up. Tanahashi throws forearms, scoops and slams White into a drop zone, and goes up the corner. SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi keeps focused and waits for White to rise.

Tanahashi runs but White avoids the slingblade to get a leg! Tanahashi fights free, gets White’s leg, but White fights free. Tanahashi fires off fast hands, brings White back up but White grabs hair! Tanahashi breaks free, but White kicks low and hits a DDT! Fans rally as both men are down again. White and Tanahashi go to opposite neutral corners, and White runs in to uppercut Tanahashi! White reels Tanahashi in for BLADEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Gedo protests but White grits his teeth as he circles around Tanahashi. White stomps Tanahashi’s legs back and forth, left then right. White double guns while Tanahashi writhes. White grabs at the legs again but Tanahashi kicks him away!

White comes back to drag Tanahashi up but Tanahashi hits TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Fans rally, Tanahashi crawls for his corner but so does White, and Evil tags in first! Evil storms over, drags Tanahashi up, but Tanahashi breaks free to kick! Evil blocks to give that to the ref, but Tanahashi blocks Evil’s kick! The ref lets Tanahashi’s leg go, and Tanahashi DRAGON SCREWS Evil! Fans fire up as both men are down and Tanahashi heads for his corner. Hot tag to Henare! Henare throws forearms and headbutts on Evil, whips but Evil reverses, only for Henare to hit a LEAPING SHOULDER! Evil goes to a corner, Henare runs in to clothesline!

Henare fireman’s carries but Evil slips off to CHOP! Henare just roars and CHOPS back! Henare whips, Evil reverses but Henare reverses back to SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Juice hits the Bullet Club corner and joins HenarAce as they double whip Evil corner to corner. Tanahashi whips Henare in to clothesline Evil! Juice whips Tanahashi in for a splash, then Juice runs in to clothesline! Tanahashi and Juice hold Evil in place for Henare’s SPEAR! Cover, but Juice breaks it! Tanahashi throws him out, Juice DECKS Fale then PLANCHAS out onto him! Juice and Fale are down but Henare drags Evil up. Evil fights off the urenage but Henare powers up!

Evil slips out but Henare denies him Everything to HEEL KICK him down! Fans fire up, but Gedo distracts so that Dick Togo can run in! Henare CLOBBERS Dick then DECKS Gedo! Fans fire up with Henare as he drags Evil up. Henare reels Evil in while Juice keeps Fale down. Henare fisherman’s Evil to a torture rack but Evil slips off to rake eyes! White gets in to SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX! Feed to EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Cover, Bullet Club wins!

Winners: Bullet Club, by pinfall

Everything is Evil and that is why Bullet Club is rolling into their coming NJCUP matches! Evil and Fale glare at Toru Yano on commentary, as he is Evil’s next opponent. Will Evil avenge the Rogue General in round three? As for White, he’s mocking the Ace again, but will he be the one that folds?

2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Minoru Suzuki VS KENTA!

It would seem this was a battle a long time coming. Roughly sixteen years ago, the Meanest Man in the World made a mockery of a young Fang Revived. Now, just a few steps away from the would-be IWGP World Championship, will Kenta get revenge for that day? Or will history repeat itself in even more brutal fashion?

Kenta shows little respect to The King as he lounges and reads the newspaper during Suzuki’s entrance. Kenta doesn’t even get serious as Red Shoes does the checks. Kenta gets up, picks up the paper, keeps reading it, but then Suzuki snatches it away! Kenta bails out and the bell rings to get this started. Suzuki wants Kenta to get back in the ring but Kenta takes his time with his shirt and final preparations. Kenta goes around the way, slides in but then slips back out. Kenta jogs a bit while Suzuki grows annoyed. Kenta takes half a lap around the ring, gets back in, but then rolls right back out to troll Suzuki. Kenta goes back for his paper to finish reading.

The ring count starts but Suzuki snatches the paper from Kenta. Suzuki sets the paper out and sits, daring Kenta to get in to get the paper. Fans clap and Kenta goes to the apron. Kenta wants space so Suzuki goes to a corner. Kenta still takes his time getting in, and he goes for the paper, but Suzuki attacks! Suzuki kicks and clubs and fires off forearms! They clinch, go to ropes, go around the ropes, and Suzuki gets in Kenta’s face about getting serious. Red Shoes calls for the break, Suzuki lets off, and Kenta SLAPS Suzuki! Kenta bails out, Suzuki goes to chase but Kenta trips him! They go around, Kenta gets in and Suzuki grows frustrated.

Suzuki goes looking under the ring but now Kenta is the one getting impatient. Kenta tells Suzuki to get in, fans rally up, and Suzuki gets on the apron, only for Kenta to BOOT him down! Kenta grabs at Suzuki but Suzuki gets him in a DRAPING ARMBAR! Red Shoes counts, Suzuki lets go at 3 and drags Kenta out. Suzuki whips Kenta into railing! Kenta flops over but Suzuki drags him up to whip into more railing! Kenta tumbles down but Suzuki goes looking under the ring again. Suzuki finds a chair! Suzuki JAMS Kenta with it, Red Shoes tries to stop him but Suzuki pushes him aside. Kenta BOOTS the chair into Suzuki’s face!

Kenta rains down fists, then opens the gate to he can fetch the chair. Kenta brings the chair back to SMACK Suzuki on the back! Suzuki writhes, Kenta digs the chair into his neck! Red Shoes stops Kenta, Suzuki staggers and stumbles but Kenta is on him. Kenta whips Suzuki into railing hard! Fans rally for “SU-ZU-KI!” and he throws hands but Kenta elbows Suzuki back. Kenta puts Suzuki in, kicks him around, then KICKS him in the chest! And again! Suzuki fires up and eggs Kenta on! Kenta KICKS and KICKS then rakes Suzuki’s eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, Kenta KICKS but Suzuki throws forearms! Kenta rakes eyes again, KICKS Suzuki to a corner, then digs his boots in.

Fans rally, Suzuki tries to fight Kenta off but Kenta scrapes Suzuki’s face. Kenta drags Suzuki up to snapmare and KICK! And KICK! Suzuki just eggs Kenta on then gets up. Kenta throw forearms, Suzuki gives them back and fans rally as they brawl. Kenta gets the edge, taunts Suzuki now, but ducks the forearm to drop toehold! Kenta hooks Suzuki’s leg and pulls back. Suzuki endures Kenta’s attempts at the Calf Killer, so Kenta lets go to stomp Suzuki! Kenta mocks the fans as they clap, clapping his weird rhythm again. Kenta stomps Suzuki, drags him up and turns him for a neckbreaker! Cover, ONE! Fans cheer but Kenta snarls as he looms over Suzuki.

Kenta stomps Suzuki back down but fans rally up. Kenta toys with Suzuki, kicks him in the mouth, but Suzuki gets up and smiles! Kenta KICKS, KICKS and KICKS, but Suzuki laughs as he DECKS Kenta! Suzuki drags Kenta up to headbutt him to a corner! Suzuki runs corner to corner to BOOT Kenta, then snapmares him for a KICK to the chest! Suzuki makes Kenta sit up and KICKS him again! Then Suzuki runs to PENALTY KICK Kenta down! Suzuki covers with one foot, Kenta pushes him away. Kenta gets up to throw forearms, but Suzuki ROCKS Kenta again! And again! Kenta dodges the next forearm to spin Suzuki to a DDT!

Fans cheer while both men are down, and rally as Kenta stomps Suzuki at the ropes. Kenta drags Suzuki up on the apron and brings him through ropes, for a DRAPING DDT! Cover, ONE! Kenta slithers and watches Suzuki sit up in the corner. Kenta runs corner to corner to BOOT Suzuki! Suzuki grabs Kenta’s hair but Kenta throws forearms over and over! Kenta runs corner to corner but Suzuki follows to BOOT him! Suzuki fires off forearms now, then runs corner to corner. Kenta follows to BOOT back! Kenta throws more forearms on Suzuki, fans rally up, then Kenta goes corner to corner again to HESITATION DROPKICK!

Suzuki flops down, Kenta climbs up, for DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! No coup de grace here but Kenta vows to finish this! Kenta fireman’s carries but Suzuki counters with a GUILLOTINE! Suzuki spins Kenta, reels him in, but Kenta slips out to omoplata! Kenta gets the GAME OVER crossface! Suzuki endures, fans rally up, and Kenta can’t keep the grip. Suzuki fights towards ropes as Kenta tries to get the hold back on! Suzuki moves around, reaches and gets a ropebreak with a foot! Kenta lets go, but he comes back to KNEE Suzuki against ropes! Suzuki staggers, Kenta runs, PSYCHO KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Kenta fires up and slashes the throat, vowing to end this!

Kenta fireman’s carries, GO TO- NO! Suzuki counters to drag Kenta down for a HALF CRAB! Kenta endures as Suzuki sits deep, but then Suzuki drags Kenta from ropes! Fans rally as Kenta endures and crawls back for ropes, but Suzuki shifts and drags Kenta away again. Suzuki stomps Kenta’s head, then gets the Half Crab again! Suzuki bends Kenta even deeper! Kenta still fights to get the ropebreak! Suzuki lets go, talks trash and kicks at Kenta. Kenta sits up, Suzuki jabs him with knees, but Kenta gets up to SLAP Suzuki! Suzuki fires off SLAPPING palm strikes! Kenta wobbles, but he COUNTER STRIKES! Kenta fires off SLAP after SLAP, but Suzuki dodges to fire off fast SLAPS!

Kenta grins and fires off more SLAPS of his own! Suzuki laughs it off and it’s a SLAP FIGHT! Fans rally up as hands fly, but Suzuki gets the edge as he ROCKS Kenta again and again! Kenta BACK HANDS! And AGAIN! Fireman’s carry, but Suzuki slips out to a SLEEPER HOLD! Suzuki squeezes tight, fans rally up, and Kenta is already turning red! Suzuki spins Kenta around for more SLAPPING strikes! A flurry of palm strikes and it’s back to the sleeper! Suzuki then spins Kenta to reel him in, but Kenta fireman’s carries! GO TO SLEEP!! Cover, KENTA WINS!

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

In the blink of an eye, the Fang Revived turned things around and struck down the King! Will he do the same to whoever he faces in the quarterfinals?

2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Hirooki Goto VS Shingo Takagi!

Speaking of brutal battles, these two had incredible ones over the NEVER Openweight Championship, but are now battling for another prize! Who withstands another slugfest of fighting spirit and moves on to the third round?

The bell rings and fans rally already as the two circle. Goto and Takagi tie up, Goto headlocks but Takagi powers out. They collide with shoulders and neither falls. Takagi runs, rams Goto but Goto fires a forearm. Takagi forearms, Goto forearms, repeat and fans rally as they pick up speed. Goto and Takagi go faster and faster, no guard! Takagi gets the edge, runs, RAMS but Goto rebounds, only for Takagi to run him over anyway! Takagi runs, but Goto dodges the sliding lariat, only to run into a fireman’s carry! Goto fights off to dragon sleeper but Takagi snapmares free, BLINDSIDE EUROUPPER! Then SLIDING LARIAT!

Takagi drags Goto up, pump handle and fireman’s carry, but Goto slips off! Goto uses a sleeper to drag Takagi down for GOTO NI SHIKI!! TWO!! Takagi narrowly escapes Goto’s modified cradle and Goto bails out. Takagi goes out to BOOT Goto! Takagi drags Goto around, POSTS him, then goes around the way to drag him back up. Takagi bumps Goto off the apron, and again, then whips Goto, only for Goto to reverse! Takagi stops short of hitting railing, then dodges Goto as he runs in so Goto runs into railing! Takagi runs back in to kick and DDT! Fans fire up with Takagi and they clap “TA-KA-GI!” The ring count starts and Takagi drags Goto up to put him in.

Takagi brings Goto up to dig an elbow into Goto’s shoulder. Takagi drives the elbow in again and again, then drops a knee! Cover, TWO! Takagi keeps his cool, stands on Goto’s head and flexes, but lets off to bring Goto up. Takagi whips but Goto blocks by holding ropes. Takagi knees low, and again, and again, to then whip Goto to ropes. Goto blocks the hip toss to give a hip toss! Takagi gets up, blocks Goto’s kick and puts the legs on the ropes! Goto slips free before Takagi can hit a draping elbow, but Takagi keeps him on the apron. Takagi brings Goto up for headbutts, then fires up as he goes out to join him! Fans fire up and Takagi lines up his shot as he fireman’s carries Goto.

Goto fights free and pulls Takagi’s hair for an APRON HEADSHOT! Both men flop to the floor but Takagi clearly having the worst of it. Goto drags Takagi back up as fans rally. Goto whips Takagi into railing, then BLINDSIDE LARIATS him! Takagi slumps down, Goto digs his boot in! Red Shoes reprimands and Goto lets off. Goto drags Takagi up to put him in the ring and fans cheer his sportsmanship. Goto stomps Takagi at the ropes but Takagi goes to scoop. Goto clubs Takagi first, whips him and elbows him down! Cover, ONE! Goto clamps onto Takagi with a chinlock and digs his knee in. Fans rally as Takagi endures but Goto drives his elbow into Takagi’s face!

Goto sits Takagi up to grind his forearm into his face, then neck wrenches, then clamps on a headscissor squeeze! Takagi endures even as Goto pushes up for leverage. Goto thrashes about but Takagi endures and crawls with his legs. Fans rally up and Takagi gets the ropebreak! Red Shoes counts but Goto lets off fast, and fans rally again. Goto drags Takagi up, clubs him and stomps him then eggs him on. Takagi eggs Goto on in return but Goto KICKS him down! Takagi gets up, Goto clubs him more, then throws forearms. Takagi just fires up and CHOPS back! Goto likes that and dares Takagi to do it again. Takagi CHOPS and CHOPS but Goto uppercuts and elbows away!

Goto brings Takagi around for more elbows, then runs, into Takagi’s elbow! JAB and LEFT LARIAT! Fans fire up as both men are down. Takagi gets up, drags Goto up and whips him, but Goto blocks again. Takagi throws knees, whips and then KNEES Goto, to run and run him over! Takagi drags Goto back up, reels him in and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Goto stays strong but both men are feeling pretty sore. Fans rally up for “TA-KA-GI!” as he gets back up. Takagi kicks at Goto, then brings him back up. Takagi goes to Gory Especial but Goto fights that off. Takagi spins Goto but Goto hits a suplex! Fans rally up as both men are down and stirring.

Takagi goes to a corner, drags himself up, but Goto rises. Goto runs in to MURAMASA! And BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Goto keeps his cool and brings Takagi back up. Goto fireman’s carries but Takagi blocks with a facelock! Goto breaks free and fires off forearms! Goto has Takagi in the corner, whips him corner to corner, but Takagi reverses. Takagi runs in but blocks the boot. Takagi powers through and clotheslines! Takagi whips Goto, Goto reverses and runs in to clothesline! Goto reels Takagi in for a SAIDO! But Takagi’s right up to SNAP SAIDO! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Takagi sits up as fans rally again, and he stands up.

Takagi watches Goto rise then runs, but DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither falls but Takagi wobbles. Goto runs and LARIATS but Takagi stays up! Takagi runs to LARIAT but Goto stays up! Goto runs, LARIATS, but Takagi stays up. Takagi gets in Goto’s face, they both run, DOUBLE LARIATS! DOUBLE LARIATS! And again, DOUBLE LARIATS! Finally, both men flop over! Fans rally as Takagi and Goto stir. Goto grabs Takagi’s hair, stands him up, runs, but Takagi follows! Takagi clotheslines Goto at ropes, runs but then Goto follows! Takagi stops to elbow, JAB and- NO! Goto LARIATS! But Takagi is right up, only to run into a fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI!

But Goto can’t cover, he’s so tired! Fans rally up as both men are down again! Goto drags Takagi up, dragon sleepers, but Takagi spins around and RAMS Goto into a corner! Takagi staggers, dodges Goto, but Goto elbows the waistlock. Goto runs but Takagi reels him in! Goto fires off more elbows, but Takagi BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Takagi and Goto are down again as fans fire back up. Takagi gets up at the ropes, goes over to Goto and kicks him around. Takagi toys with Goto, but Goto slowly gets up. Takagi kicks Goto more, but Goto gets mad! Goto eggs Takagi on, blocks a kick but Takagi ROCKS him! Takagi kicks, Goto deflects and spins, but into the Gory Especial! NOSHIGAMI!

But Takagi can’t cover because he’s also tired! Fans fire up as Takagi gets back to his feet. Goto rises, Takagi runs, PUMP- NO! Goto dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! But Goto fires back up and swings, into a pump handle! MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO?!? Goto survives and fans fire up again! Takagi fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” and fans follow suit. Takagi drags Goto up, pump handles but Goto elbows the fireman’s carry away. Takagi wrenches, Goto throws more forearms! Takagi fires boxing elbows over and over, maybe about a dozen times before he DECKS Goto! Takagi fires up again, as do fans, and Takagi drags Goto back up.

Goto breaks free but Takagi JABS, but lariats into a fireman’s carry! G T W!! But again Goto can’t make the cover! Fans rally up hard as ever as both men slowly stir. Goto drags Takagi up, reels him into the dragon sleeper, but Takagi fights it! Goto spins Takagi to HEADBUTT! Goto facelocks for the REVERSE G T R! Cover, TWO!! Takagi survives but Goto grits his teeth. Goto powers up as Takagi sits up, to BUZZSAW Takagi down! Goto drags Takagi back up, dragon sleepers, but Takagi drops to victory roll! TWO!! Goto narrowly escapes and shocks himself! Goto kicks but Takagi blocks to HEADBUTT and LARIAT! Fans are thunderous again, and Takagi fires up as he rises again.

Takagi drags Goto up, pump handles and fireman’s carries, but Goto slips out to dragon sleeper! Takagi spins around but the two struggle for suplex control! Takagi powers through but Goto fights it off! Goto powers up to get Takagi up but Takagi fights free! Takagi gets Goto on the ropes, turns him around, DRAPING TAKAGI GTR! Takagi drags Goto back up as fans are thunderous again, and Takagi runs to PUMPING BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!?!? Goto survives again and Takagi is beside himself! Fans rally up as Takagi drags Goto into the pump handle and fireman’s carry. LAST OF THE DRAGONS!! Cover, Takagi wins!!

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

The Dragon slays the Fierce Warrior! Add this to defeating Kazuchika Okada in the opening round, Takagi’s on quite the roll! But he shows respect to Goto by applauding him on his way out. And after Takagi catches his breath and stands up, he gets the mic to speak.

“OI, NAGOYA! In a way, this was like revenge for what happened with the NEVER title from January. That was a decisive loss and this was a decisive win. But man, Goto’s tough as ever.” To Takagi, Goto talks “a load of nonsense, and God knows what goes on in his head, but Goto’s tough as nails.” But in the end, there was no “Goto Trouble” for Takagi. With this behind him, Takagi can go out in Nagoya even though restaurants close at 9. But even so, Takagi wants to thank everyone for coming out tonight. Fans cheer that, and Takagi says he’s “one step closer to Kota Ibushi! Oi, Ibushi, I know you’re watching. I’m coming for your neck.” Fans like that idea!

“The New Japan Cup marches on. I will keep soaring as a rampaging dragon.” He was out the first round last year, but he vows to be “soaring to victory!” But with Kenta being his next opponent, will Takagi keep going towards the finals? Or will the Fang Revived be able to slay the Dragon?

My Thoughts:

A very good event for NJPW. The first match I skipped was very clear, as Gabriel Kidd the Young Lion was going to take the loss, and Douki being in Suzuki-Gun’s match is about the same as a Young Lion. Another take on LIJ VS Chaos featuring Nagata happened and I probably could’ve covered it but time’s been limited. Sanada gets the win off Sho so that the math between Cold Skull and Blue Justice stays mostly unaffected. Sanada VS Nagata is part of tomorrow’s event, 3/14/21, and should be very good but Sanada is definitely winning. Bullet Club naturally gets another win as White needs momentum towards Tanahashi and Evil is building strong in his story of going back-to-back, and I almost feel like I could’ve skipped this one in favor of the LIJ match.

Suzuki VS Kenta had an interesting start with the newspaper bit, but then it got just as strong as expected with their strikes. Kenta getting the win was a bit surprising but he is rising up the ranks in NJPW and this is a sign of that. Goto VS Takagi was not quite on the level of the NEVER Openweight Championship match Takagi referenced, but it was still very good. Takagi winning makes a lot of sense, he is also rising up the ranks, and is quite the hot hand. Takagi VS Kenta next round already sounds like a really good match, but assuming EVIL gets through Yano, Takagi certainly wins again because they aren’t going to Bullet Club VS Bullet Club just yet. If it’s happening, it should be Evil VS White first. Plus, Evil VS Takagi makes for a great return to the story of Evil’s betrayal of LIJ.

My Score: 8.9/10