Is this really the New Jay-pan Cup after all?

After all the trash talk, mocking of muscles, and promising victory in the New Japan Cup, Jay White must put up or shut up against the Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi!

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: David Finlay VS YOSHI-HASHI; Finlay wins and advances.
• 2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Jay White VS Hiroshi Tanahashi; White wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: David Finlay VS YOSHI-HASHI!

Both men beat Bullet Club members to get here, but only one can keep going! Will Finlay make it so the Headhunter can’t #GetBackUp? Or will he have to settle for just a win over the Texas Heavyweight Champion?

The bell rings, fans rally up already and Finlay circles with Hashi. They feel out the grapple, Hashi avoids Finlay going for a leg, and they tie up with collar ‘n’ elbow. Finlay gets around to clamp onto the shoulders, then shifts to a facelock. Hashi slips out the back, chicken wing cradles to a cover, ONE! Finlay gets around to hammerlock one arm, cording hold the other, then shift to a headlock. Hashi keeps shoulders up and fights up but Finlay throws him with a headlock takeover. Hashi headscissors and holds tight as Finlay kips. Hashi sits up to shift and get arms, but Finlay gets a ropebreak with a leg. The two reset and fans rally up.

Finlay and Hashi tie up, Finlay headlocks but Hashi powers out. Hashi goes to hip toss, Finlay counters but Hash counters the counter, and Hashi tosses Finlay up and out! Finlay bumps into railing, Hashi builds speed, but Finlay moves so Hashi stops at the ropes. Finlay catches his breath, gets back in, and resets with Hashi. Fans rally up, Hashi kicks Finlay low and runs but Finlay drops to then dropkick Hashi down! Finlay brings Hashi up to snap suplex and cover, TWO! Finlay stomps Hashi, brings him up and throws EuroUppers. Finlay whips, Hashi reverses to CHOP! Hashi mule kicks, hangs Finlay out to dry, but Finlay wiggles down!

Finlay forearms, Hashi forearms, and they brawl with the ropes between them! Hashi ROCKS Finlay, throws more forearms, then ducks Finlay’s retaliation to hotshot! Hashi runs, slides and trips Finlay up! Finlay hits apron on the way down while fans rally up. Hashi clubs Finlay on the back, Finlay throws body shots, but Hashi ROCKS him back. Hashi POSTS Finlay, follows him around the way, and then Hashi puts Finlay in the ring. Hashi gets in, stomps Finlay, but Finlay headbutts back. Hashi clubs Finlay, CHOPS him against ropes, then stalks him as he goes around. Finlay CHOPS back, EuroUppers over and over, but Hashi CHOPS again! Fans rally up and Hashi drags Finlay up.

Finlay throws body shots, forearms, but Hashi ROCKS Finlay in return! Hashi brings Finlay back up, but Finlay suplexes! Hashi slips out, Finlay throws elbows but Hashi clubs Finlay again. Hashi back suplexes, Finlay lands out on his feet to back suplex Hashi in return! Both men are down and fans rally up again. Finlay stands first, brings Hashi up and throws more forearms and uppercuts. Finlay whips, Hashi reverses but Finlay flying uppercuts! Hashi bails out, Finlay PLANCHAS! Direct hit and Hashi falls against railing! The ring count starts as fans rally. Finlay drags Hashi up, puts him in, and runs in at the corner to uppercut! Finlay hops up, leaps, FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO!

Finlay grows frustrated but fans continue to rally. Finlay drags Hashi up, reels him in, but Hashi elbows free. Finlay still rolls Hashi up, TWO! Hashi swings but into an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives and fans fire up as Finlay aims from a corner. Hashi is in the other corner, Finlay runs in corner to corner, but Hashi dodges! Hashi comes back but Finlay elbows him! Finlay goes up but Hashi trips him up! Finlay hits buckles on the way down! Both men are down, fans rally, and Finlay rolls to the neutral corner. Hashi aims from corner to corner now, and runs in to clothesline! Hashi brings Finlay around to bomb lift but Finlay slips free!

Hashi CHOPS Finlay, but Finlay ROCKS Hashi! Hashi forearms, Finlay forearms, repeat and fans rally up as they brawl! Finlay shifts to EuroUppers, but swings into a backslide! Finlay rolls through but Hashi MULE KICKS! Hashi gets Finlay up for a RUNNING BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Finlay lives but Hashi won’t let up! BUTTERFLY LOCK! Finlay endures, fans rally, and Finlay moves around. Hashi leans on the hold but Finlay still heads for ropes! Hashi drags him away! Fans keep rallying as Finlay keeps fighting, but Hashi keeps leaning on the hold! Finlay powers up, reaches out, but Hashi gets that arm for the chicken wing! Hashi chinlocks then gets a sleeper hold!

Finlay stands to BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?! Fans rally up again while both men are down. Finlay sits up first but Hashi follows. Finlay runs but Hashi denies the cutter! Hashi full nelsons, Finlay drops down to victory roll! TWO!! Finlay EuroUppers, but leaps into a BACKSTABBER! Hashi runs to METEORA! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up as Hashi gets back up. Hashi brings Finlay up and reels him into a full nelson! Hashi pump handles but Finlay elbows it away and rolls, but Hashi CHOPS him! Hashi has wrist control, Finlay ducks a chop and blocks the clothesline to PRIMA NOCTA STUNNER! Cover, TWO!!

Fans rally and Finlay powers up. Finlay drags Hashi up, suplexes, and hits a GHOSTBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives, fans fire up again and Finlay slashes the throat, vowing to end this! Finlay cravats and goes up the corner but no Acid Drop! Hashi CLOBBERS Finlay with a clothesline! Both men are down again and fans fire up! Hashi rises, drags Finlay up and fans rally. Hashi fisherman suplexes but Finlay fights free! Finlay swings, into a full nelson! Finlay reaches for ropes but Hashi headbutts him in the back! Finlay elbows back, but can’t get free! Finlay keeps trying, Hashi DRAGON SUPLEXES! Hashi runs to LARIAT again! Cover, TWO!!

Finlay survives and fans fire up again! Hashi drags Finlay up, reels him back in, full nelson to pump handle, but no Karma! Finlay is free but Hashi SUPERKICKS him! Hashi fisherman suplexes, shifts, KUMAGOROSHI! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives the Bear Cutter! Hashi isn’t letting off and the fans are thunderous! Full nelson, pump handle, STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE?! Cravat to ACID DROP!! Cover, Finlay wins!!

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

The Headhunter could not #GetBackUp, and Finlay is continuing on! Will Finlay add the NJCUP to the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Championship he just got with Juice?

2021 New Japan Cup Second Round: Jay White VS Hiroshi Tanahashi!

Finally, after days of taunting him, the Switchblade must face The Ace 1v1 with the tournament run on the line! Will White truly make this tournament his tournament? Or will the Once in a Century Talent keep going, bringing his NEVER Openweight Championship along towards the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?

White holds the ropes for Tanahashi as he enters, as if to further mock Tanahashi’s age. White and Gedo demand Korakuen clap as they Low Sweet. Tanahashi shows off the muscles, White shows off his muscles, and fans appreciate both men’s physiques. Fans rally up with “LET’S GO, ACE!” as the bell rings. White mocks the clapping and then tells Tanahashi to lie down so this can end easily. Tanahashi drops to a knee, White turns around saying he won’t embarrass Tanahashi by watching. Tanahashi is lying down?! White claps and smiles as he walks over. White and Gedo talk but Tanahashi rolls White up! TWO!! White swings but Tanahashi dodges and headlocks.

White pulls hair and puts Tanahashi in a corner to then stomp and throw forearms! White whips corner to corner but runs into an elbow! Tanahashi crossbodies and takes White down! Fans fire up with the air guitar but Gedo gets up on the apron. Tanahashi backs him down with double guns! Tanahashi turns around, dodges White’s ax handle and then flexes on him! White bails out as fans rally again. White and Gedo talk, Tanahashi rushes the ropes but his plancha is a feint! Tanahashi double guns and Young Lion Yota Tsuji flexes, too. White gets mad and goes after Tsuji! Tanahashi hurries over but White elbows him away! White then whips Tanahashi into railing!

Gedo cheers while White gets Tsuji up to whip him into railing, too! Red Shoes says to get this in the ring, but White hits Gabriel Kidd and whips him into railing just because he’s there! White stalks Tanahashi, mocks the clapping, and pulls Tanahashi’s hair! White RAMS Tanahashi into railing, and again! And again! Tanahashi falls down in a heap and White goes into the ring. White tells the cameras to watch his double guns but fans still clap, “Let’s Go, Ace!” The ring count starts, climbs up to 10 of 20 before Tanahashi sits up. Tanahashi stands at 13, staggers over to the ring and gets in at 16. White stands on Tanahashi, stomps him again and again, then covers.

Red Shoes refuses to count given the outside activity and White gets mad at him! White calls BS, drags Tanahashi up and hits a backbreaker! Cover, TWO! White is upset now that the count isn’t fast enough. White drags Tanahashi around by a leg for a Half Crab! Tanahashi endures, powers up, and fans rally as he powers over to the ropebreak! White holds on until Red Shoes counts 4. Fans still rally while White seethes. White stands on Tanahashi’s face, slaps him around, then cravats. Tanahashi body shots but White cranks for a neck wrench. White snapmares, clamps on a chinlock and digs his knee into Tanahashi’s back, and says Kota Ibushi has to be stopped! Tanahashi should want to stop Ibushi’s plans!

Tanahashi endures, fights up, and fights out. White knees low, brings Tanahashi around and has a cobra twist. White uses Tanahashi as an air guitar, then mocks Tanahashi for having stomach flab. Tanahashi endures, powers up and hip tosses White down! Fans fire up as White staggers over into a dropkick to the leg! Tanahashi drags White up to fires off fast hands and forearms! Tanahashi whips, White reverses, but Tanahashi hits flying forearms! Fans fire up again and the Young Lions join in. Tanahashi brings White up, throws forearms, and scoop slams White to a drop zone! Tanahashi goes up the corner but White rolls away.

Tanahashi hops down to get White’s leg for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! White ends up back in the drop zone and Tanahashi goes back up the corner. Tanahashi SUNSET SENTONS! Cover, ROPEBREAK! White saves himself but Tanahashi runs, only White to get around to a waistlock! Tanahashi switches, White switches, then Tanahashi, then White, again and again and again, until White pulls Tanahashi’s hair! Tanahashi breaks free, but White kicks low to DDT! Both men are down again and fans rally back up! White sits up, Tanahashi goes to ropes then a corner, White runs in to EuroUpper! White suplexes to the BLADE BUSTER! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up as White drags Tanahashi back up. White reels Tanahashi in, Tanahashi blocks the urenage but White knees low. Tanahashi still blocks the lift so White throws more knees. White trips Tanahashi, stomps him in the stomach over and over, then drags him back up. Fans rally, White reels Tanahashi in but still Tanahashi blocks the urenage! Tanahashi gets a leg, White throws forearms and gets free. White goes for a leg but Tanahashi throws forearms to get free. White goes to ropes, Tanahashi waits on him to get back up. White and Tanahashi approach and start throwing forearms! They go back and forth, hitting harder and faster, and fans rally up!

Tanahashi ROCKS White, but White fires off fast hands! Tanahashi fires off strikes in return, but White hits a COMPLETE SHOT! White waistlocks to a DEAD LIFT GERMAN SUPLEX! Fans fire up while both men are down, but White drags Tanahashi up and reels him in. Tanahashi still fights the urenage but White throws him down by his hair! White drags Tanahashi into the sleeper but Tanahashi fights free. Tanahashi runs at White but White dumps him up and out! But Tanahashi holds onto the ropes! Tanahashi skins the cat, but White is there to sleeper! Tanahashi elbows free, but swings into the URENAGE! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up while White keeps his focus.

White drags Tanahashi up, fisherman suplexes, but Tanahashi fights free to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT!! White rolls out to the apron but Tanahashi hurries after him. Tanahashi climbs the ropes to drag White up, but White gets a leg! DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi falls and clutches his leg while White talks trash. White steps in, but Tanahashi gets him for a DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Things are even and fans are thunderous as they rally up. Tanahashi gets a leg, White fires off forearms over and over and over, even clubbing ones, but Tanahashi doesn’t let go! Tanahashi eggs White on then dropkicks the other leg!

White is down, Tanahashi hits a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi ties up the legs for the CLOVERLEAF! White endures, Gedo coaches him, and White reaches around! Tanahashi drags White from the ropes and sits deeper on the hold! White desperately scrambles and gets the ROPEBREAK! Tanahashi lets go, fans fire up again, and Tanahashi stomps White’s legs. Tanahashi runs as White rises, but White avoids Slingblade, but no Bladerunner! SLINGBLADE outta nowhere! Gedo gets on the apron, Tanahashi gets a leg, DRAPING DRAGON SCREW for Gedo!! Tanahashi runs, SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi hurries up top and aims, for HIGH-

NO! White bumps the ropes to trip Tanahashi up! Tanahashi falls to the mat and White drags him up into position! BLADE- NO! Tanahashi gets around to full nelson, but White breaks that, only to end up in a STRAITJACKET GERMAN!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Fans are thunderous again as Tanahashi drags White up. Tanahashi reels White in, full nelsons again, but White fights it off! Fans rally as Tanahashi keeps trying, but White breaks free and elbows! Tanahashi trips White to get the legs, but White rakes Tanahashi’s eyes! INSIDE CRADLE! TWO!! White hurries to get Tanahashi in position but Tanahashi inside cradles! TWO, and Tanahashi’s SHOTEI rocks White!

Tanahashi full nelsons, White slips out and spins things around, but still no Bladerunner as Tanahashi gets a leg for a DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi drags White from ropes, has the leg again, but White blocks the dragon screw!? BLADERUNNER!!! Cover, WHITE WINS!!

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

King Switch trumped The Ace! He has a win over the NEVER Openweight Champion! And though he rests on the mat, he gets the microphone to speak. “Tsuji? Where’d Tsuji go? Gone with his loser friend?” White asks Yuya Uemura and Gabriel Kidd if they wanted something. The guy they used to look up to is GONE! Tanahashi’s put on too much weight, he’s not a good role model. But the one you should look up to is White! “Because I’m the one left in this ring. Despite lying down, I’m the one with my hand raised.” White is the REAL winner, just like he was the REAL winner of the “Jay1 Climax” and how he will be the REAL winner of the “New Jay-pan Cup.”

White says he told Tanahashi to lie down so their legacies and their histories with both the IWGP Intercontinental and Heavyweight Championships could be preserved, as well as everyone else’s legacies with those titles. They need to be saved from the “crazy man” that lost his mind who knows when. This only seems apparent to people now but White’s been saying it for a long time! No one ever listens or believes him. But he does what he says, and then everyone acts surprised! “Speaking of surprises, I have next, David Finlay? He beat Yoshi-Hashi.” White’s surprised that it’s Finlay, one half of the NEW Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions! Congratulations~!

White says Finlay wasn’t in the ring with White when he won those tag titles. But White and Finlay have been three years out from a 1v1 match. White is on a 12-0 winstreak against Finlay, the greatest streak ever! Well it is 12-1 overall but that first one was Finlay getting lucky. Ever since, White’s been going straight up. Finlay’s career has struggled to stay up, wink wink. But Finlay pulls some surprises by making it this far. White says the surprises will end there because Finlay will be in the ring with “the man that is trying to SAVE you, and everybody else, from the Era of Ibushi! Make no mistake, it is STILL MY ERA!”

White vows to meet Ibushi at Sakura Genesis, take those belts or belt from him, and if it is one unified belt, he will split them up again and keep his legacy, and Tanahashi’s legacy, going. Tanahashi owes White a big thank you for what’s gonna happen. As a thank you to Tanahashi, once they keep their legacies going, White will face Tanahashi for the NEVER title and add it to the collection! And then White will really elevate it because around Tanahashi, it doesn’t look good. But on White’s waist, “anything will look good on it.”

Until then, Tanahashi, Ibushi, Finlay, “and all you sorry sons of bitches,” just Breathe with the Switchblade. It is still his REAL era! White is ready to be THE best singles champion in NJPW, but is he overlooking Finlay in the quarterfinals?

My Thoughts:

An interesting way to wrap up the second round. The full event was just under two hours, a fairly short event really. I kept this to just the NJCUP matches, because while there were no Young Lions in any of the Six Man Tags, none of them were going to have impacts on the tournament. Kenta moved past Minoru Suzuki, Ospreay moved past ZSJ, Takagi and Sanada both moved past Goto and Nagata, and for the most part, the math going into the quarterfinals was all kept unaffected.

In the end, Finlay VS Hashi was pretty good considering neither has gone all that far in singles competition. Finlay gets the win so Hashi can focus on the NEVER Six Man titles since Goto and Ishii were both already out at this point. Tanahashi VS White was very good, but White winning makes a lot of sense. His story about wanting to stop Ibushi as if Ibushi is the villain is a very intriguing one. White is surely getting through Finlay next round, and he would’ve definitely gotten through Hashi. Despite how White’s character feels about being treated at WrestleKingdom, he’s been getting pushed strongly enough that he could be a finalist this year, but I feel like they’d be better served having someone else face Ibushi at Sakura Genesis.

My Score: 8.8/10