Is the United Empire going to be out of the New Japan Cup?

One half of the semifinals is set, but now for the other half! David Finlay or Jay White, Will Ospreay or Sanada, who moves on in the 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

• Six Man Tag: Bullet Club VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; LIJ wins.
• 2021 New Japan Cup Quarterfinals: David Finlay VS Jay White; Finlay wins and advances.
• 2021 New Japan Cup Quarterfinals: Will Ospreay VS SANADA; Ospreay wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: Bullet Club VS Los Ingobernables de Japon!

Evil ruined Shingo Takagi’s moment a couple days ago, and now he looks ready to ruin things for him again! Will Chase Owens and Taiji Ishimori help the King of Darkness beat his former friends? Or will Tetsuya Naito and Bushi also get their revenge on Evil alongside the Dragon?

Naito takes off his elaborate entrance gear while Bullet Club Low Sweets. LIJ then fist bumps, and Takagi calls out Evil! Fans cheer that and Evil steps up against Takagi. Fans rally with the bell and Takagi fires up. Takagi and Evil feel out the grapple, but then Evil falls back to tag Ishimori. Takagi and Ishimori circle, but Takagi rushes at Evil! Evil gets away, Chase gets in and attacks! Ishimori and Chase double whip Takagi but he holds ropes. Takagi kicks Ishimori, runs Chase over, then scoop slams Ishimori! Fans fire up as Takagi glares and points at Evil, but he bumps Ishimori off buckles. Tag to Naito and Naito fires off on Ishimori to snapmare and Pluma Blanca!

Ishimori endures, Naito pulls hair but the ref reprimands. Ishimori moves around to get a ropebreak. Bushi tags in, the ref helps Naito release Ishimori, and Bushi stomps Ishimori. Bushi drags Ishimori up to CHOP and then DOUBLE CHOP Ishimori to a corner. Bushi stomps but lets off as the ref reprimands. Bushi whips corner to corner, Ishimori dodges and runs back in but into the swing kick! But Chase trips BUshi! Evil DECKS Takagi then DECKS Naito, and Chase joins Evil in going after them. Evil RAMS Takagi into the timekeeper’s area! What does Evil have against Abe-san?! Evil stands on Takagi’s head while Chase keeps on Naito.

Young Lions help the timekeeper while Ishimori throws Bushi out. Evil gets his shots in on Bushi, Ishimori puts Bushi back in, cover, TWO! Ishimori drags Bushi up, turns him and hits a neckbreaker to the knee! Cover, TWO! Tag to Chase, and Chase stomps Bushi. Chase headlocks to punch Bushi, and Bushi ends up in the corner. Evil digs his boot in, Chase drags Bushi up but Bushi fires off forearms! Chase shoves Bushi down, stomps him then rains down rights! Chase stomps Bushi around, tags Evil back in, and Evil gets Bushi’s leg. Evil stomps away on the leg, drops an elbow on the knee and pulls on the toehold. Bushi tries to fight free, but Evil says the ref needs to watch LIJ.

But that’s all a distraction so Evil can put Bushi in the cobra twist, with the Bullet Club forming a chain from ring to railing! The ref stops bothering with LIJ but Bullet Club lets go. Evil covers, but Naito breaks it! Naito coaches Bushi while Evil complains. Evil kicks at Bushi, drags him up, but Bushi throws body shots! Evil knees low, reels Bushi in, but Bushi resists the fisherman suplex! Bushi fights, Evil still tries but Bushi resists again. Evil kicks low, runs, but Bushi spins him around for a DDT! Both men are down but fans rally up. Bushi crawls and hot tags Takagi! Takagi rushes Evil and runs him over! Takagi hits the Bullet Club corner, threatens Dick, then runs in at Evil.

Takagi blocks Evil’s boot, then JABS and CHOPS on repeat! Then Takagi unloads JABS, but Ishimori attacks! Takagi whips Ishimori away but Ishimori boots back! Ishimori holds Takagi and Evil runs in but Takagi boots Evil, throws Ishimori into him, then DOUBLE LARIATS! Fans fire up with Takagi and the “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi whips Evil, knees him at ropes, then suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Fans rally with “TA-KA-GI!” as he drags Evil back up. Takagi runs but Evil ducks the sliding lariat, only to swing into a Gory Especial! Evil fights it, rams Takagi into a corner, and Dick anchors Takagi’s feet! Evil runs in to clothesline, then he FISHERMAN BUSTERS!

Tag to Chase, Chase hits Naito off the corner, then runs in at Takagi. chase forearms, reels Takgai in and clotheslines! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Chase sits Takagi up, only for the Jewel Trigger to be blocked! Chase thumbs Takagi’s eye but runs into elbow, JAB and LARIAT! Both men are down again, Takagi tags Naito! Naito throws hands on Chase, whips him corner to corner, then runs in to rocket kick and leg sweep! COMBINACION CABRON! Fans fire up as Naito strikes his pose. Naito drags Chase up but Chase fights the neckbreaker off. Naito kicks, whips, but Chase reverses and Ishimori gets a cheap shot in!

Chase BOOTS Naito down, Bullet Club knocks Bushi down! Bullet Club whips Naito to a corner, Ishimori double knees, Evil corner clotheslines, then feeds Naito to Chase’s SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives but Bullet Club goes after LIJ on the outside! Evil of course goes after Takagi, but Takagi whips Evil into railing instead! Chase tucks Naito in but Naito fights and puts Chase in a corner! Bushi runs in and elbows Chase, Takagi runs in to clothesline! Takagi feeds Chase to Naito’s atomic drop, Bushi hits a CODE BREAKER! Naito rolls into a jackknife! Cover, but Ishimori breaks it!

Bushi throws Ishimori out, then builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Ishimori goes into railing! Naito hits Chase, wrenches, but Chase fights off Destino. Naito gives Chase back elbows, an enziguri, and then DESTINO!! Cover, LIJ wins!

Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by pinfall

Naito pins the Texas Heavyweight Champion! Will Naito be in line for a shot at that title? Or does he even really care? Meanwhile, Takagi wants after Evil with the ring bell but thinks better of it. Takagi and Evil talk trash and stare down, but they’ll have it out soon enough. Will Evil slay the Dragon? Or will Takagi make sure NOTHING is Evil’s?

2021 New Japan Cup Quarterfinals: David Finlay VS Jay White!

The record between these two is 12-1, in favor of the Switchblade! But if Finlay beat White once, can he do it again? Or will the New Jay-pan Cup continue on to the semifinals?

White complains that Juice Robinson is ringside, but it’s just because White always has Gedo. White and Gedo Low Sweet, White shows off the muscles and fans do cheer the physique. The bell rings, Finlay and White circle and fans rally up. White and Finlay approach, but White uses ropes as defense. Finlay backs off, White comes back and they circle again. White avoids Finlay shooting in for a leg, and then he uses ropes for defense again. They tie up, Finlay headlocks but White pulls hair. White puts Finlay in a corner, Red Shoes reprimands and counts, but White bails out while he lets go. White and Gedo talk a second before White goes back in the ring.

Gedo gets on the apron to distract and White attacks! White throws hands, stomps Finlay, then brings Finlay around to ROCK him with a right! White brings Finlay up to whip but Finlay reverses. White holds ropes, boots Finlay away then runs but Finlay ducks and drops to dropkick! Gedo is mad but fans cheer as White bails out. Finlay is after White, and he throws him into railing! Gedo storms over but Finlay backs him down. Red Shoes keeps peace between them and Finlay goes back to White. White POSTS Finlay! White wants space, and he whips Finlay into the railing by commentary! Gedo cheers but he’s the only one, as White RAMS Finlay into railing, then into apron!

White rams Finlay back into railing, and then back into the apron! White rams Finlay into railing one more time, then double guns at Yuji Nagata on commentary. White scoops to snake eyes Finlay on the railing! The ring count is climbing, White goes in at 10 of 20 and counts along. Finlay gets up at 15 and in at 16, but White stomps him down! Fans rally for Finlay as White stands on his neck! White lets off as Red Shoes reprimands, and White stands Finlay to CHOP him! White RAMS Finlay into the corner, rams him more, then scoops him for a backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer Finlay on but White drives knees into Finlay’s back again and again!

White wraps Finlay up in a rear bearhug and puts as much weight on Finlay as he can. Finlay endures, fans rally up and Finlay fights up. Finlay throws body shots but White knees low. Finlay forearms, White knees again! Finlay still throws forearms but White kicks low. Finlay EuroUppers and White stumbles! Finlay whips, White reverses and runs in but Finlay elbows him away. White plays up getting hit in the eye and Gedo swipes at Finlay! White attacks and CLUBS Finlay down! Juice protests but White drags Finlay up to a back suplex. Finlay lands on his feet, blocks the kick and hits a neckbreaker! Both men are down, fans fire up and Finlay rises first.

Finlay throws forearms on White, EuroUppers, then whips. White reverses but Finlay hits a LEAPING ELBOW! White bails out again but Finlay PLANCHAS! Finlay drags White up while Gedo and Juice shout at each other. Finlay puts White in, watches him from the corner, then runs corner to corner to EuroUpper! White falls over, Finlay goes up, and hits a FLYING UPPER! Cover, TWO! Finlay keeps focus, drags White up, and reels him in. White fights the lift off with elbows, but Finlay school boys. White rolls through, CHOPS Finlay, but Finlay runs in to clothesline White and himself out of the ring! Finlay gets up but Gedo is there again.

Finlay tells him to back down, but White RAMS Finlay into railing again! White whips but Finlay reverses and White hits railing now! Finlay drags White up, puts him in the ring, but Gedo anchors Finlay’s feet! Finlay kicks Gedo away but White hotshots Finlay down! Juice grabs Gedo to a fireman’s carry! Juice takes Gedo away so things are fair now! Fans cheer but White is pissed! Finlay rolls White up, TWO!! White kicks low to SPIKE DDT! White again protests about Juice taking Gedo away but he glares at Finlay. White runs in at the corner to EuroUpper, then he suplexes to the BLADE BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Finlay grits his teeth but he’s still in this.

White drags Finlay up, reels him in, but Finlay fights the urenage. White trips Finlay to get the BOSTON CRAB! Finlay endures as White sits deep! White tells Finlay to “tap like back then,” but Finlay refuses! Finlay powers up but White shifts to a Lion Tamer! Finlay just powers up more and gets the ropebreak! White mocks the applause for Finlay and then stomps Finlay down. White stalks Finlay, drags him up, fireman’s carries, but Finlay fights free! White elbows Finlay then runs but Finlay elbows back hard! Finlay runs but White forearms him at the ropes! Finlay returns the favor! White runs into a DEEP SIX! Both men are down, Finlay fires up and fans join in!

Finlay runs, into a SNAP COMPLETE SHOT! And DEAD LIFT GERMAN SUPLEX! Fans rally as both men are down, and White sits up first. White drags Finlay up, reels him in, but Finlay fights the urenage! White knees low over and over, harder and harder! White drags Finlay up again but Finlay throws elbows! They end up by ropes, so White TOSSES Finlay up and out! White then quickly fetches Finlay into the ring, and hits the URENAGE! High stack cover, TWO! White mocks the Young Lions, and he wants one of them to say “Kiwi” a la Gedo. They don’t, but White gets Finlay up and hits the KIWI KRUSHER! Cover, TWO!!

White grows frustrated, drags Finlay up in the sleeper, but Finlay fights it! White RAMS Finlay into buckles! White taunts Finlay and says this is his big chance. White stands on Finlay’s head and mocks the fans rallying up. White gives toying kicks but Finlay gets angry. Finlay swings but fights off the sleeper! White denies Prima Nocta, Finlay gets around to BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Both men are down but the fans fire up again! Finlay drags White up, cravats, but White RAMS him into buckles again! No Acid Drop, not even Sliced Bread, and both men are down again. White sits up and taunts Finlay while fans rally.

They go forehead to forehead, White throws a forearm but Finlay throws a forearm back! They go back and forth, fight up to their feet, and fans rally as they pick up speed! It’s fast and furious, Finlay ROCKS White, then ROCKS him again! Finlay brings White up to DECK him, and then brings him up, only for White to body shot and jab. But White swings into the IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Finlay grits his teeth, fans rally again, and he drags White back up. Finlay suplexes but White fights it, wrenches out, and again denies Prima Nocta, but Finlay comes back to CLOBBER White! Finlay fires up, gets White back up, and hits TRASH PANDA! Cover, TWO!!

White survives but Finlay is still fired up! Finlay drags White back up, cravats, but White wants a sleeper! Finlay fights out of that, White reels him in but Finlay also escapes Blade Runner! White still wants the sleeper but Finlay rolls White to a cover, TWO!! PRIMA- NO!! White slammed Finlay down, then gets him up for SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX! White wants to end this, he gets Finlay up, BLADE- PRIMA NOCTA! And then, ACID DROP!! Cover, FINLAY WINS?!?!

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

WHAT A SHOCKER! White was so confident, and perhaps everyone else just assumed the same, but Finlay ends the New Jay-pan Cup in the quarterfinals! And Finlay makes sure White remembers it! Will this be remembered as the moment Finlay finally rose up into the upper tier?

2021 New Japan Cup Quarterfinals: Will Ospreay VS SANADA!

The Commonwealth Kingpin is the last member of the United Empire left in the tournament, but he has a bull’s eye on his nose! Will Cold Skull make no bones about going after that target? Or will Ospreay be flying high one step closer to the trophy?

Ospreay talks trash about Sanada being in the ring with the best, and also about being a liar wanting to go after his nose. The bell rings, Ospreay rushes out but Sanada deflects the dropkick! Ospreay avoids Sanada’s standing moonsault but Sanada basement dropkicks Ospreay out of the ring! Sanada builds speed but fakes Ospreay out, to slingshot back into the ring. Fans cheer but Ospreay is annoyed already. Sanada waits for Ospreay to return as Ospreay rants on about his nose. Ospreay gets in and Sanada shows kick, but it’s a fake-out to kick him low. Sanada puts Ospreay in a corner, clubs him on the back, and Ospreay guards his nose.

Sanada whips, Ospreay holds ropes and elbows Sanada way. Ospreay makes Sanada straddle the ropes to then run and BOOT him down! Sanada tumbles to the floor, Ospreay goes out and brings him up to whip into railing! Ospreay whips Sanada into more railing nearby, then gives him a RAILING BACK SUPLEX! Ospreay says if Sanada won’t respect the bad nose, he won’t respect Sanada’s bad shoulders. Ospreay leaves Sanada behind and lets the ring count climb. Sanada gets up at 10 of 20, walks the pain off, and gets in at 17, only for Ospreay to stomp him down. Ospreay brings Sanada up, scoops and SLAMS, then uses a knee to cover. ONE, but Ospreay KICKS Sanada in the back.

Ospreay uses the knee to cover again, TWO! Red Shoes warns about how close to the throat Ospreay got, but Ospreay scoops Sanada for a BACKBREAKER! Ospreay looms over Sanada before he covers, TWO! Fans rally but Ospreay hooks an arm and turns Sanada over. Ospreay jabs Sanada in the ribs, gets the other arm, and reclines against the arm! Sanada endures, moves around, Ospreay reaches for a leg but Sanada gets the ropebreak! Ospreay lets Sanada go, puts him on the apron and CLUBS away on Sanada’s back. Ospreay goes up for a GUILLOTINE KNEE DROP! Sanada slumps down and Ospreay allows Shizuoka to applaud him.

Ospreay says he’s giving them the performance of a lifetime so they must applaud him! Fans do applaud and Ospreay goes back to the ring. The ring count starts again, Sanada is down as it reaches 10 of 20 already. Sanada rises as fans rally, and he is up at 15 to get in the ring at 17 again. Ospreay is annoyed but he drags Sanada back up. Sanada fires a forearm! And another! Ospreay knees low, whips Sanada to a corner, runs in but Sanada dodges. Ospreay boots him back, then PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Ospreay grows frustrated but Red Shoes says the count is fair. Fans rally, “SA-NA-DA!” and Ospreay is offended. Ospreay kicks Sanada around, toying with him, and then brings him up.

Sanada grabs Ospreay’s nose! Ospreay breaks free, is furious and he clubs Sanada. Ospreay runs but Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Ospreay is worried about his nose, Sanada drags him up but Ospreay throws a forearm. Ospreay whips, Sanada reverses, hurdles and hurdles and dropkicks! Ospreay flops out again, Sanada slingshots but Ospreay gets in. Ospreay forearms Sanada, suplexes, but Sanada slips out. Ospreay elbows him away then runs, but Sanada RANAS on return! Fans fire up as Sanada fireman’s carries Ospreay. Ospreay fights free, Sanada kicks and whips but Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER!

Both men are down, Ospreay tells fans to shut up with their rallying for Sanada, and he gets to a corner while checking his nose. Ospreay drags Sanada up, CHOPS him, then kicks him to CHOP again! Sanada ends up in a corner, Ospreay throws forearms on him and Sanada sits down. Ospreay dares Sanada to go after his broken nose as he digs boots into Sanada’s own nose! Red Shoes reprimands but Ospreay says this is what Sanada gets! Ospreay drags Sanada up, but Sanada traps both of Ospreay’s arms with one arm! Sanada uses his free hand to grab Ospreay’s nose! And then CLUB it! Sanada gets Ospreay’s arms and legs to tie him up in Paradise!

Sanada makes an adjustment and has Ospreay propped up against buckles! Sanada runs to dropkick Ospreay out of Paradise, and into buckles nose first! Fans fire up as Ospreay bails out, and Sanada PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Ospreay! Fans rally up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. The fans get louder and Sanada is satisfied. Sanada fetches Ospreay, puts him in the ring, and hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Sanada drags Ospreay up but Ospreay resists the fireman’s carry. Ospreay elbows Sanada, side steps him and ROLLING ELBOWS! Sanada wobbles, Ospreay brings him up to whip into a corner. Sanada goes out, springboards in but Ospreay gets under.

Sanada rolls, Ospreay flips around him to underhook and Canadian rack, but Sanada slips out to the dragon sleeper! Sanada inverted suplexes Ospreay onto the ropes, for a DRAPING STUNNER! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives but Sanada goes right to the corner! ROUNDING- No! Ospreay moves, Sanada lands on his feet but staggers into Ospreay’s SPANISH FLY! Both men are down, Ospreay still holds his nose but fans rally up. Ospreay gets to the apron, goes to a corner and climbs up. Sanada stands, Ospreay BLINDSIDE PIP PIP CHEERIO! Ospreay is furious as he drags Sanada up, lifts, POWERBOMB! High stack cover, TWO!! Sanada survives and Ospreay is on him again.

Ospreay underhooks, Sanada blocks the lift, so Ospreay fires off Kowata Kicks! Ospreay fireman’s carries, but Sanada slips off to chicken wing! Ospreay breaks free to forearm, but swings into more chicken wings! TIGER SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Fans rally up and Sanada vows to end this! Sanada scoops Ospreay for a BACKBREAKER! Sanada goes up but Ospreay anchors him! Ospreay climbs up to join Sanada, brings him up but Sanada fights back! Sanada clubs Ospreay down, but Ospreay tucks him in! CHEEKY NANDOS, to a fireman’s carry, LONDON HAS FALLEN! Cover, TWO! Ospreay is furious but he tears off his shoulder tape so he can pull his armband off!

Ospreay drags Sanada up with a wild grin on his face! Ospreay turns Sanada but Sanada spins through to suplex. Ospreay fights that, suplexes, but Sanada slips to the dragon sleeper! Ospreay arm-drags free, runs and springboards, OS- NO! Dragon sleeper! Ospreay snapmares through to dragon sleeper, but Sanada spins it back onto Ospreay! Ospreay reaches out, walks up the corner and has the dragon sleeper! Ospreay lets Sanada go to spin, but into Sanada’s SOBAT! Sanada Quebrada to the dragon sleeper! Sanada squeezes tight, then gives Ospreay a SKULL SWING, to SKULL END! Ospreay is caught, he reaches and flails but is starting to fade!

Fans rally, Ospreay gets a second wind but Sanada cranks the hold harder! Red Shoes checks, Ospreay’s arm drops once. Sanada lets him go, goes up top, ROUNDING BODY PRESS, onto knees!! Ospreay saves himself and fans fire up! Ospreay drags himself over to Sanada, then drags Sanada despite being on wobbly legs. Ospreay underhooks, lifts, but Sanada slips off! Ospreay gets around to a full nelson, Sanada breaks that and elbows Ospreay, but Ospreay HOOK KICKS! Ospreay runs but Sanada O’Conner Bridges! TWO!?! Ospreay narrowly escapes, blocks a boot and ROLLING ELBOWS! Ospreay runs but into a pop-up, only to make it a POISON-RANA!!

Fans are thunderous as Ospreay drags Sanada back up. Ospreay springboards for the OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO!?! Sanada survives and Ospreay is shocked! Ospreay drags Sanada up, turns him, DREAM SMASHER ELBOW! Ospreay brings Sanada in, underhooks, STORM BREAKER!! Cover, Ospreay wins!!

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

Cold Skull is the one who reached the end of his run, and now the semifinals are set! Ospreay gets the mic and says, “Shizuoka, hey! Now! Now you’re clapping for me?! You guys were all clapping for Sanada! Sa-Na-Da~! Sa-Na-Da~! Sa-Na-Da~! You SHOULD be doing OS-PREAY! OS-PREAY! OS-PREAY! Oh now you’re doing it?!” Shizuoka might be trolling Ospreay. But he tells them that they all really, really need someone like him, because he is “the most talented professional wrestler alive today!” And to prove it once again, Ospreay will go to the next round and beat Jay White-

Wait, no, it’s not White? It’s… David Finlay!? FINLAY!? Finlay beat Jay White? Seriously? Is that a rib? Ospreay laughs at how things have turned out! “Oh what a Cinderella Story! This is beautiful! But stories aren’t the fairy tales that you’ve told your children. So Finlay, well done on beating Jay White. But you’re dealing with a whole other animal.” Finlay’s Cinderella story comes crashing down. “Tell me the best, show me the best, but you all need to be reminded! I am Will Ospreay! And I am on! Another! Level!!” As shocking as Finlay winning was, will Ospreay’s victory be inevitable? Will the United Empire conquer NJPW?

My Thoughts:

A very good event to finish the quarterfinals, with some surprising twists. I skipped the Young Lion VS Young Lion match, and the United Empire beating Nagata and another Young Lion because Young Lions. Kenta & Fale VS Henare & Juice was not really consequential, all four guys are out of the running, but good for Fale to get a win on Henare, thereby keeping things completely neutral for Juice as one half of the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions. LIJ VS “Darkness Club” was a good match for the story, and Naito gets the win to keep math on Takagi and Evil even. I think it’d be funny if Naito was offered the opportunity to face Chase for the Texas Heavyweight title, and then turns it down because he doesn’t like how the belt looks or something.

Finlay VS White was a really good match, but what a shocker! I said it myself just a couple days ago, I thought White was winning again, so what a great twist. Sanada VS Ospreay was a great match, it played up the nose very well, and it seems Sanada can modify the Paradise Lock to send his opponent into corners. But I’m lightly surprised that Ospreay won this over Sanada, as I thought we were getting Evil VS Sanada, or even Evil VS White. But now, could we be looking at Takagi VS Ospreay in a rematch from their Best of the Super Juniors final instant classic? That’s a pretty awesome idea.

My Score: 9.2/10