Will we see someone #JustTapOut in the New Japan Cup?

Yuji Nagata VS SANADA! Will Ospreay VS Zack Sabre Jr! The New Japan Cup continues, but will the Commonwealth Kingpin #JustTapOut? Will Blue Justice meet a Skull End?

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

• 2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: SANADA VS Yuji Nagata; Sanada wins and advances.
• 2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Will Ospreay VS Zack Sabre Jr; Ospreay wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: SANADA VS Yuji Nagata!

The Cold Skull broke through the Stone Pitbull while Blue Justice broke in Young Lion Yota Tsuji. But will this be Nagata’s Skull End? Or will justice be served and help him advance to the quarterfinals?

Sanada doesn’t even get completely in the ring before Nagata makes his entrance. Sanada is still stoic despite that, but we’ll see if it doesn’t affect him in the match. The bell rings, Sanada and Nagata circle and fans rally up. They tie up, Nagata waistlocks then full nelsons just to get the arm for a wristlock. Sanada spins and wrenches but Nagata rolls to kick Sanada away. Fans cheer that quick exchange as the two reset. Nagata and Sanada knuckle lock for a test of strength. They’re evenly matched until Nagata turns it into a low straitjacket. Nagata then shifts to a cravat, cranks on a neck wrench, then snapmares but Sanada handsprings through!

Fans cheer the exchange and rally up with “SA-NA-DA!” “NA-GA-TA!” as the two go again. Nagata headlocks, grinds, but Sanada throws body shots. Sanada powers out, Nagata runs him over! Things speed up, but Nagata fakes out the dropkick! Sanada avoids the Penalty Kick and fans cheer again. Nagata and Sanada both stay cool as they circle again. They tie up with another knuckle lock, and another test of strength begins! Nagata brings Sanada’s hands up to bend the fingers and bring him to a knee. Sanada fights up but Nagata puts more power into it. Sanada powers up to Northern Lights Suplex! Nagata gets up but Sanada dropkicks the legs out!

Sanada kicks Nagata out of the ring, follows, and whips him into railing! Sanada brings Nagata around to whip into more railing! And then reels him into a PILEDRIVER to the floor! Red Shoes checks on Nagata while Sanada goes into the ring. Nagata is okay to continue and the ring count begins. Nagata sits up at 6 of 20, stands at 11, and walks it off at 13. Nagata is in at 15 but Sanada is on him with stomps. Sanada gets Nagata up for a back suplex! Cover, TWO! Sanada clamps on with a chinlock and squeezes tight. Nagata endures, Sanada shifts position to put more pressure, but Nagata moves around and reaches out to get the ropebreak. Red Shoes counts and Sanada lets go at 3.

Sanada drags Nagata up, Nagata throws body shots and fans rally again. Sanada forearms Nagata, then again. Nagata forearms back, they go back and forth and fans rally up again. Nagata eggs Sanada on, Sanada throws more forearms, then runs, but into the kitchen sink knee! Sanada is down but Nagata takes a moment to catch his breath. Fans rally with “SA-NA-DA!” “NA-GA-TA!” as Nagata KICKS Sanada. And KICKS! Sanada gets up, Nagata KICKS him to a corner, then whips him corner to corner. Nagata runs in to BOOT, but Sanada fights the exploder. Nagata ROCKS Sanada and hits a BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!

Nagata keeps on Sanada with a suplex but Sanada blocks. Nagata knees low then whips, but Sanada reverses to hit a RANA! Nagata staggers up into a dropkick! Nagata bails out, Sanada PLANCHAS him down! Fans fire up and Sanada encourages they get louder. Fans get louder, Sanada is satisfied and he goes back to fetch Nagata. Sanada drags Nagata up and puts him in the ring, covers, TWO! Sanada drags Nagata back up, Nagata blocks the fireman’s carry with clubbing forearms and knees, then throws hands to back Sanada down. Nagata whips Sanada corner to corner but Sanada tumbles out and springboards back in with a missile dropkick! Nagata is right up to EXPLODER!

But Sanada is right up, fireman’s carry for a TKO! Cover, TWO! Sanada grits his teeth as fans rally up again. Sanada drags Nagata up into the dragon sleeper! Nagata powers free but swings into a spin, and Sanada gets Nagata on the ropes for MAGIC SCREW! Cover, TWO! Sanada hurries to the corner and goes up, ROUNDING BODY FLOP! Nagata avoids the moonsault and both men are down! Fans fire up as Sanada and Nagata stir. Nagata rises first, shakes out the cobwebs, and watches Sanada in the corner. Nagata runs in to SHINING WIZARD, then he hoists Sanada up top! Nagata climbs up to join him, but Sanada throws forearms back!

Nagata stays up so Sanada throws more forearms! Nagata again rises up so Sanada throws more forearms! Sanada dares Nagata to try again and Nagata rises to throw forearms! Nagata brings Sanada up, for a SUPER EXPLODER!! Both men are down but the fans rally again! Nagata rises, takes aim as Sanada sits up, BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives but Nagata keeps on him. Nagata reels Sanada in but Sanada blocks the suplex with a headlock. Nagata knees but Sanada ducks the enziguri! Sanada body scissors and rolls Nagata to the O’Conner CLUTCH! TWO and Nagata gets Sanada into the CROSSFACE! Sanada endures, crawls around, reaches but Nagata pulls back!

Sanada still powers his way over, but Nagata rolls him away! Nagata keeps the crossface as fans rally. Sanada endures even more, fans rally up more, and Sanada moves around again. Nagata pulls way back but Sanada gets the ropebreak with a foot! Nagata lets go, Sanada goes to the apron, and Nagata stalks him. Nagata drags Sanada up, and suplexes him onto the ropes, to steal MAGIC SCREW! Cover, TWO! Sanada survives, Nagata drags him back up and reels him in, but Sanada crossbodies the back suplex! Cover, TWO! Sanada runs into a kick, Nagata goes to suplex, but Sanada suplexes first! Nagata fights that off to suplex Sanada but Sanada slips out to dragon sleeper!

Sanada holds tight, drops back, SKULL END! Nagata endures the squeeze as fans rally up. Nagata uses his legs to turn body scissors into a toehold! Sanada endures now as he drags himself and Nagata back to a ropebreak! Nagata lets go and the two get space. Fans rally again as Sanada and Nagata stand. Nagata eggs Sanada on so the forearm brawl is back on! Fans rally as they go back and forth, Nagata ROCKS Sanada and dares him to keep going. Sanada keeps going, so does Nagata, and Nagata ROCKS Sanada again. Fans cheer as Sanada hits Nagata again and the forearms keep flying! Sanada gets the edge, spins, but into an enziguri!

Nagata reels Sanada in to GERMAN SUPLEX, but Sanada lands on his feet! Nagata WHEEL KICKS Sanada to a corner, but runs into an elbow! Sanada Quebradas over to get the dragon sleeper! Fans rally as Nagata endures, but Sanada drops back for SKULL END! Nagata again endures as he’s stuck but Sanada squeezes tight! Red Shoes checks as Nagata starts to fade! The arm drops once, but Nagata revives! But he’s fading again as the rally continues. Sanada lets go to go up top, ROUNDING BODY PRESS! Cover, Sanada wins!

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

And the Cold Skull stops Blue Justice’s run in the NJCUP! But we’ll all learn who his next opponent is in the main event! Will Sanada be meeting a familiar opponent in ZSJ? Or will he encounter the Commonwealth Kingpin to revisit G1 Climax 2019?

2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Will Ospreay VS Zack Sabre Jr!

A rivalry returns as the Rev-Pro British Heavyweight battles the man he took this title from! But 13 months later, these two battle on the road to a world heavyweight championship! Will the United Empire’s last man standing soon leave his rival wallowing in defeat again? Or will the Submission Wizard snag two title opportunities in one match?

Tensions are rising as ZSJ gets in and gets in Ospreay’s face. The bell rings and the two rush each other, and Ospreay SHOTGUNS ZSJ out of the ring! Ospreay pursues with a PLANCHA! Ospreay then gets ZSJ in the ring fast, aims, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Ospreay keeps going, springboards, OS- NO! ZSJ blocks the cutter, Ospreay kicks but ZSJ ducks that to flip him over, EUROCLUTCH! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay narrowly escapes and he BOOTS ZSJ down! Ospreay realizes the match is still going, to his relief, and he digs his knee into ZSJ. Ospreay drags ZSJ up to club him, EuroUpper, and whip. ZSJ blocks the boot to get a standing toehold, then he WRINGS Ospreay’s arm out!

Ospreay goes to ropes but ZSJ is on him with a mounted wristlock. Red Shoes counts, ZSJ lets off at 3 to stomp Ospreay’s arm! ZSJ eggs Ospreay on, clamps onto the arm and twists, but Ospreay fights up. ZSJ wrenches but Ospreay rolls through to trip ZSJ. ZSJ headscissors, Ospreay handsprings through again, ZSJ ducks Ospreay’s Penalty Kick then headlocks. Ospreay powers out, things speed up but ZSJ turns hip toss into a wild spin into a cobra twist! Ospreay hip tosses free, ZSJ snapmares from below but Ospreay handsprings to come back with a basement dropkick! Fans fire up as ZSJ bails out. Ospreay builds speed, but then slides out to DECK ZSJ!

Ospreay wags his finger, the fans don’t get the flying moves anymore. Ospreay brings ZSJ up to CHOP him, but he even kinda hurts his own hand. Ospreay BOOTS ZSJ down, drags him up and wrenches to whip him into railing! ZSJ goes down in a heap, kicks railing in frustration, but Ospreay brings him up to club him. ZSJ EuroUppers but Ospreay DECKS him again. Ospreay drags ZSJ up and around to put on the apron for clubbing shots, and then hops up for GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMPS! Fans cheer while ZSJ slumps down. Ospreay leaves ZSJ behind as he goes into the ring, and a ring count begins. The count goes past 10 of 20 before ZSJ gets up.

ZSJ slides in at 14 but Ospreay stomps him down! Ospreay digs his knee into ZSJ as he has him in the corner, and Ospreay is talking trash the entire time. Ospreay lets off, ZSJ gets up and fires off Eurouppers! Ospreay ROUNDHOUSES ZSJ down, then drops knees! Cover, ONE! Ospreay talks more trash as he stomps ZSJ down. Ospreay scoops ZSJ and spins him to hit a BACKBREAKER! Ospreay scrapes ZSJ out of the ring and then lets the ring count take care of this. Fans rally while ZSJ slowly sits up. The count is past 10 of 20 again, ZSJ again gets back in at 14, and Ospreay basement dropkicks him! Ospreay CHOPS ZSJ but ZSJ eggs him on.

Ospreay CHOPS again and ZSJ falls over! Ospreay digs a knee in for the cover, ONE. ZSJ throws EuroUppers over and over but Ospreay drops to trip ZSJ up! Ospreay gets a toehold and twists the ankle. ZSJ endures, turns over, but Ospreay turns his escape into a Bow ‘n’ Arrow! ZSJ pops out to cover, ONE, ARMBAR! Ospreay fights up and stomps ZSJ down! Ospreay drags ZSJ up, ZSJ wrenches and EuroUppers the arm! Ospreay elbows then runs but into a BIG arm-drag! Both men are down and fans rally up. ZSJ goes after the arm with a wristlock, hammerlock, and then STOMPS it! The fans cheer while ZSJ steps over to get a mounted hammerlock to TWIST!

Ospreay writhes and clutches the arm while ZSJ taunts him. ZSJ sees Ospreay go to a corner, and runs corner to corner to EuroUpper! Ospreay ROCKS ZSJ back with an elbow and shakes out the bad arm. ZSJ headbutts low, headlocks, but Ospreay powers out. Things speed up but ZSJ catches Ospreay’s drop to an armlock! Ospreay scoots and gets the ropebreak! ZSJ lets go fast but comes back to kick Ospreay while he’s down. ZSJ gives almost slapping stomps before he gets up and kicks Ospreay more. ZSJ gets Ospreay high, whips but Ospreay holds ropes to block. ZSJ BOOTS the bad arm, whips Ospreay to ropes, but Ospreay manages to handspring! But ZSJ blocks the kick!

ZSJ goes for an ankle lock, Ospreay rolls to throw him away. ZSJ rushes back but Ospreay steps over and handsprings to NEURALIZER! Both men are down and fans fire up. Fans rally as Ospreay and ZSJ stir, and Ospreay is up first. ZSJ follows, but Ospreay brings him up to CHOP! ZSJ staggers to a corner, but he comes back to bump Ospreay with his shoulders. Ospreay CHOPS ZSJ back down, but ZSJ still eggs him on. Ospreay drags ZSJ up, CHOPS him again, and ZSJ falls back into the corner. But ZSJ still eggs him on! Ospreay gives toying kicks and slaps him around. ZSJ blocks the chop to go after the arm!

Ospreay rolls, dragon sleeper to inverted lift, EMERALD FLOWSION! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives getting caught and fans rally up. Ospreay kicks ZSJ from the mat now, but ZSJ turns around to give those kicks back. Ospreay slaps ZSJ around then forearms him. Ospreay drags ZSJ up just to hit him again but ZSJ kicks from below. Ospreay stands ZSJ up to DECK him! ZSJ gets up to ELBOW BREAKER! Ospreay clutches his arm and ZSJ eggs “Willy Boy” on. Ospreay ROCKS ZSJ with a right, then another! But because it’s his bad right arm, they’re proving double-edged shots! Fans rally up, “Z S J!” “OS-PU-REY!” ZSJ CHOPS back! Ospreay unleashes Kowata Kicks!

Ospreay tells ZSJ to get up, then he spins, but into an IRON OCTOPUS! Ospreay powers ZSJ to a fireman’s carry, tosses ZSJ, but ZSJ lands on his feet! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Ospreay down! Fans fire up as both men are down again! Ospreay gets the bad arm moving but ZSJ is up and brings Ospreay up. Ospreay fights the scoop but ZSJ EuroUppers, only for Ospreay to HEEL KICK! Ospreay drags ZSJ up, reels him in but ZSJ victory rolls to a takedown! SLEEPER AND SCISSORS! Ospreay fights up but ZSJ becomes a backpack! Ospreay heads for a corner but ZSJ uses his arms to hook arms. Ospreay pops ZSJ onto the corner, tucks him in, CHEEKY NANDOS!

ZSJ stands, Ospreay springboards, OSCUTTER! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and fans fire up again but Ospreay grows frustrated. Ospreay powers up, drags ZSJ up, reels him in to underhook and lift, but ZSJ slips out ot trip! Body scissors and bridge but Ospreay blocks! ZSJ blocks the sunset by sitting, TWO! Ospreay staggers, blocks the boot and ROLLING ELBOWS! Ospreay powers up and drags ZSJ to his feet. Fans are thunderous as Ospreay lifts but ZSJ counters bomb to guillotine! Ospreay powers out of that but ZSJ PELES the arm! MYSTICO TAKEDOWN! Ospreay rolls around to avoid one hold but ends up in a triangle hold!

Ospreay dead lifts, but ZSJ lets off to scoop, ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?! Ospreay survives but ZSJ just drag shim back into the triangle hold! ZSJ squeezes tight, this is how he won last round! Ospreay fades but he manages to fight up. Ospreay powers up to dead lift and then bring ZSJ to a corner! Ospreay goes up and up but ZSJ shifts to Kimura! Red Shoes reprimands, they’re on the ropes! Ospreay powers through the double wristlock to ROCK ZSJ! Ospreay keeps ZSJ up top with him, though, and adjusts position. Ospreay underhooks ZSJ but ZSJ fights out to headbutt an arm! ZSJ stands up, gets Ospreay up, SUPER ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!!

Ospreay fights to keep the armbar away but that end sup in a DISARMER! ZSJ gets the other arm!! A modification on Far Away From Home, but Ospreay is fighting it off! ZSJ drags him around, to lock it in!! Ospreay still fights, ZSJ shifts for Clarky Cat, but Ospreay gets a ROPEBREAK with his foot! ZSJ lets off, and fans are fired up! Fans rally up as Ospreay and ZSJ slowly sit up. ZSJ has a bloody elbow, Ospreay has a bloody nose, ZSJ KICKS Ospreay down! ZSJ dares Ospreay to get up, Ospreay rises, but he blocks the PK! ZSJ SLAPS Ospreay, BOOTS him, but Ospreay fires up, Gory Especial! ZSJ slips out, IRON OCT- NO! Fireman’s carry, and TOSS! Cover, TWO!!

Fans are thunderous and Ospreay wipes the blood from his nose. Ospreay takes off the elbow pad and drags ZSJ up. Ospreay turns ZSJ but no Dream Smasher, he backslides then bridges to a jackknife, TWO!! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! SUPERKICK from Ospreay! Ospreay goes to the corner, SUPER OS- NO! ZSJ blocks this, drags Ospreay to a sleeper then scoop, but Ospreay flips out to DREAM SMASHER ELBOW!! Ospreay fires up and fans are thunderous! Underhooks, lift, STORMBREAKER!!! Cover, Ospreay wins!!

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

Sweat and blood were shed, but perhaps the tears will come later. Red Shoes gets a towel for Ospreay to press on the nose while Taichi helps ZSJ. Will ZSJ recover from losing to Ospreay again? As for Ospreay himself, provided he can talk with the bloody nose, gets the mic. “Yeah, y’know what, I’m not even gonna play the humble game. I deserve a round of applause.” Ospreay wants the fans to clap so they clap. He gets them to clap the “Os-preay” rhythm, and then says he is “the greatest British wrestler that has ever lived!” This win proves that “without a shadow of a doubt.”

Ospreay said it before, he’ll say it again, “I am the best guy to place your bets on for winning the New Japan Cup! Tell me the best, show me the best, but in case you’ve forgotten, I am Will Ospreay, and I am on! Another! Level!” The Commonwealth Kingpin is certainly headed to the next round, but will he be meeting his Skull End in the quarterfinals?

My Thoughts:

Sorry for skipping all but the NJCUP matches, but we were getting a lot of the same Six Man Tags we’ve been getting. David Finlay had two Young Lions so it was clear they were taking the loss for him. Suzuki-Gun loses again because of Douki, but perhaps the surprising part was it was Chase Owens who got the win when he’s not in the Cup anymore. LIJ VS Chaos was won by Sho over Bushi, though it didn’t matter, since Takagi already cleared out Okada and Goto in the NJCUP and is moving on anyway. So all in all, not really anything that would impact the next couple of matches anyway.

Sanada VS Nagata was good, but of course Sanada goes over. Ospreay VS ZSJ was great stuff, good story for both of them, and good story in Ospreay dealing with his bad arm. Ospreay getting through makes sense since the Empire would have no one left, Ospreay himself is building up his story, and to be fair, we’ve seen Sanada VS ZSJ quite a few times already, it’ll be nice to get more Sanada VS Ospreay.

My Score: 8.9/10