Will the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion stay in the New Japan Cup?

Kazuchika Okada is back in action as the New Japan Cup starts the Sweet Sixteen! Will he keep his promise to make it rain?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask, Ryusuke Taguchi & Tomoaki Honma VS Suzuki-Gun; Tiger Mask, Taguchi & Honma win.
• Six Man Tag: Guerrillas of Destiny VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club: LIJ wins.
• Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI VS Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan; Henare & Khan win.
• YOSHI-HASHI & YOH VS Will Ospreay & Jeff Cobb; Ospreay & Cobb win.
• Hiroshi Tanahashi & Master Wato VS Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI; Tanahashi & Wato win.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Third Round: Hirooki Goto VS CIMA; Cima wins and advances.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Third Round: Kazuchika Okada VS Taichi; Okada wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

2022 New Japan Cup Third Round: Hirooki Goto VS CIMA!

The Fierce Warrior survived the House of Torture’s tricks, and the #GLEAT Cima survived the Heel Master targeting his legs. Who survives the other here to move into the quarterfinals?

The bell rings and fans cheer as the two circle. They approach, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Cima puts Goto on ropes but the ref counts the ropebreak. Cima lets off slowly, but he pats Goto on the shoulder and lets off clean. They circle again, tie up, and Goto gets a waistlock. Cima pries the hold open to wrench the arm, but Goto rolls, wrenches and WRINGS Cima. Cima gets up to trip Goto and has a toehold. Goto fights back with a chinlock, then gets the arm. Cima fights off the armbar, turns and slips out to tie up Goto’s legs. Cima chinbars Goto, but Goto moves around, so Cima goes back to the legs, then floats to a headlock.

Goto slips out to get a facelock and he then gets a double wristlock. Goto keeps on the arm but Cima rolls and gets to the ropebreak with a foot. Goto lets off and fans rally up as the two reset. They tie up with knuckle locks, Goto breaks one to wrench and wrangle with the other. Cima endures, moves around, gets to his feet, but Goto wrenches again. Goto headlocks, Cima powers Goto to ropes and throws body shots. The ref calls for the ropebreak but Goto turns things around on Cima, only for Cima to have the headlock now. Cima lets off and Goto backs off, to CHOP! Fans cheer as Goto eggs Cima on.

Cima kicks low, headlocks and then thrashes the hold, but Goto powers out to get the headlock back. Cima throws body shots, powers out, but Goto runs him over! Goto runs, Cima drops then dropkicks! Goto bails out and fans fire up as Cima hurries after. Goto kicks low then CLUBS Cima. Goto whips but Cima reverses and Goto crashes into railing! Cima stalks Goto around the way, CLUBS him, then puts him against the railing. Cima chokes Goto against the railing but the ref reprimands. Cima lets off, to hop up and stomp Goto on the head! Fans cheer and Cima HOTSHOTS Goto off the railing!

Fans rally and Cima goes around the railing to get Goto up on the apron. Cima CLUBS Goto on the neck and Goto falls to the floor. The ring count starts, Cima drags Goto up and in at 4 of 20. Cima stands on Goto, then runs to drop a leg, brother! Cover, TWO! Cima stands on Goto’s hair and pulls the arms! Then NECK TWIST! Goto writhes and fans rally up as Cima paces. Cima shows his dancing pecs, then he drags Goto to the ropes. Cima stomps Goto under the rope, then gets the legs! ROPE GUILLOTINE! Cima drags Goto up as fans rally, and Cima CLUBS Goto on the neck. Cima then brings Goto back up to snapmare.

Cima gets the legs, ties them up, then sits Goto up for a STUMP PULLER! Goto endures, Cima pulls back into a FIGURE FOUR CRADLE! TWO!! Goto escapes but Cima keeps his focus. Cima stomps Goto and fans rally up. Cima CLUBS Goto on the neck, but Goto CHOPS back! And CHOPS, and CHOPS! Cima fires off elbows! Cima runs, but into a LARIAT! Both men are down and fans fire up! Goto snarls and gets up, to then fire forearms on Cima. Goto KICKS Cima to a corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs in to MURAMASA! And BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up and Goto grits his teeth.

Goto drags Cima up, but Cima kicks low and runs! But Goto runs him over! Cima bails out, and Goto PLANCHAS!? Goto hits Cima down and fans fire up! The ring count starts, Goto stands at 6 of 20. Goto roars and fans fire up as he drags Cima up. Goto POSTS Cima, then puts him in at 15 of 20. Goto climbs up the corner as fans rally, MACHO ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Cima survives and fans fire up more. Goto gets up, drags Cima up, but Cima fights the fireman’s carry. Cima elbows free, rolls to dodge, then hits a BACKSTABBER on Goto! But his leg is bothering him! The lingering damage done by Yoshinobu Kanemaru comes into play!

Goto is in a corner, Cima runs in, DOUBLE KNEES! Then DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up while both men are down. Cima drags Goto up, reels him in, but Goto fights the suplex. Cima still gets Goto up but Goto slips off to waistlock! Cima elbows free, runs, but Goto follows! Cima ducks and runs but Goto follows again. Goto then goes past Cima, Cima follows him, but then Goto waits to fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Fans rally as Cima and Goto roll and crawl to opposite corners. Goto runs corner to corner, but Cima dodges! Cima runs back in, but is put right up top!

Goto CLUBS away on Cima, then drags him out for a SUPER NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Cima survives and fans fire up more! Goto drags Cima up, brings him around and puts him back up top. Goto CHOPS then climbs, but Cima fights back! Cima throws elbows, but Goto throws forearms and even headbutts! Goto then fireman’s carries Cima! Cima fights to get down, and then he goes to the apron. Cima ROCKS Goto, then slingshots in! Fans fire up as Goto resists, but Cima keeps pulling! POWERBOMB!! Cima sees Goto is down and fans fire up! Cima goes right back up, METEORA MISSES as Goto moves!

Goto aims as Cima crawls, BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Fans rally up while both men are down again. Goto drags himself up the ropes, powers up as Cima rises, BUZZSAW! Cima flounders into the fireman’s carry! G T W!! Cover, TWO!?! Cima survives and fans fire up again! Goto drags Cima up, dragon sleeper, G- NO! Cima backslides free, TWO!! Goto escapes but Cima runs in and gets around, SUPERKICK! Goto roars and stays up, he deflects the boot but fakes the discus to reel Cima in! But Cima fights the bomb to Alabama! SCHWEIN!! Cover, TWO!?!? Goto survives but Cima has him sit up! Cima then runs, to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!!

Fans are thunderous as Goto sits up again. Cima hurries to the apron, he goes up the ropes, to SPRINGBOARD BLINDSIDE METEORA! And then he goes from the other side, FRONTSIDE SPRINGBOARD METEORA! Cover, Cima wins!!

Winner: Cima, by pinfall (advances to the quarterfinals)

Another #GLEAT victory for Cima in NJPW! He overcomes an IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion to move on, will he keep this going in the next round?

2022 New Japan Cup Third Round: Kazuchika Okada VS Taichi w/ Miho Abe!

The Rainmaker promises to lead the way in NJPW for this 50th year, but now he runs into the Holy Emperor! Will Okada still make it rain in the Sweet Sixteen? Or will Taichi earn himself a world title shot even without the Cup?

The bell rings and fans rally up as the two stare down. Taichi and Okada slowly circle, then tie up. Okada puts Taichi on ropes and Red Shoes calls for the break, but Taichi turns things around. Taichi copies Okada’s fake chop to the shoulder pats. Taichi backs off and Okada circles with him again. They tie up, Okada puts Taichi back on ropes, and then Okada pats shoulders in return. Taichi CHOKES Okada! Taichi throws Okada down, runs, but Okada boots him first! Okada CLUBS Taichi to a corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs in, but Taichi dodges the back elbow. Okada dodges Taichi, then puts Taichi up top.

Taichi boots Okada away before the dropkick! Okada runs back in, into a ROUNDHOUSE! Fans fire up as Okada goes down! Fans rally up, Taichi kicks Okada out of the ring, then goes out to fetch him. Taichi CHOKES Okada, but Okada fights the choke slam! Okada grabs railing, Taichi throws a body shot, but Okada grabs railing again. So Taichi POSTS Okada instead! Red Shoes has the ring count start, and Taichi drags Okada up to put him in at 6 of 20. Cover, TWO! Taichi drags Okada up, snapmares, and KICKS him in the back! Fans cheer, Taichi paces around and covers, but Red Shoes sees the choke!

Taichi lets off, but he chokes Okada again. Red Shoes reprimands, but Taichi says that’s not a choke, THIS is a choke! He uses both hands! Red Shoes counts, Taichi lets off at 4. Taichi paces around Okada, gives him toying kicks, but Okada gets up and throws forearms! Okada runs, but Taichi kitchen sink knees him down! Taichi drags Okada up, and wraps Okada in a cobra twist! Okada endures and Taichi even pulls hair! Red Shoes reprimands, Taichi lets off the hair, but he slaps Okada. Taichi then thrashes Okada around! Okada still endures, so Taichi shoves him down. Fans applaud, even Miho, and Taichi kicks Okada around.

Okada sits up, Taichi gives him more toying kicks. Taichi kicks Okada in the face so Okada gets up and throws more forearms! Taichi CHOKES Okada again! Red Shoes reprimands so Taichi lets off, and then he whips Okada corner to corner. Okada reverses, then runs in, but into a BOOT! Taichi runs at Okada, into a FLAPJACK! Both men are down and fans fire up! Okada rises first and he glares at Taichi. Okada runs in to CLOBBER Taichi with forearms and elbows, then whips. Taichi reverses but Okada comes back to CLOBBER Taichi again! Okada then whips Taichi to a corner, runs in and back elbows! And DDT! Cover, TWO!

Okada keeps cool while fans rally up again. Okada drags Taichi up, wrenches the arm, and puts on the MONEY CLIP! Taichi powers Okada to a corner but Okada turns it around. Okada puts Taichi up top, to DROPKICK him down! Taichi tumbles to the floor and Miho checks on him. Fans rally, a ring count starts, but Okada goes out to fetch Taichi. Okada stands Taichi up, but Taichi RAMS Okada into railing! Taichi drags Okada up to whip, but Okada reverses to kick and DDT to the floor! Both men are down again and Red Shoes checks on them. They’re both okay to continue so the ring count starts again.

Okada stands at 7 of 20, then has Red Shoes stop at 13. Okada drags Taichi up to put him in, and fans cheer as this continues in the ring. Okada gets Taichi up, but Taichi fights the gut wrench! Fans rally and Taichi clubs Okada on the back. Taichi wrenches to HOOK KICK! Both men are down and fans fire up again. Miho rallies the fans as Taichi and Okada stir. Taichi stands first, and he KICKS Okada in the chest! Okada doubles over and Taichi taunts him while he stands on Okada’s head. Okada pushes the hand away, gets up, and Taichi KICKS him again! Okada eggs Taichi on, so Taichi KICKS again!

Okada staggers but he eggs Taichi on again. Taichi kicks but Okada blocks! Okada CLUBS the leg, so Taichi tries the other! Okada blocks again to CLUB the leg, then ROCKS Taichi with a forearm! Okada runs in but misses the back elbow! GAMANGIRI! Fans fire up as Okada goes down, and Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! Taichi waits on Okada, and he BUZZSAWS! Cover, TWO! Okada survives but Taichi keeps cool. Fans rally up more as Taichi aims from the corner. Okada stands, but he dodges the superkick to ripcord! Taichi dodges but Okada blocks the kick! Okada scoops for SPINNING TOMBSTONE!

And then MONEY CLIP! Taichi reaches out and has the ROPEBREAK! Okada lets go in frustration but both men are down again. Fans rally up, as does Miho, and Okada drags Taichi back up. Okada scoops to SLAM Taichi, then he goes to a corner. Okada climbs up for a MACHO ELBOW! And of course, the Rainmaker Pose! Okada drags Taichi up, ripcords but Taichi dodges. Taichi runs but into Okada’s DROPKICK! Okada gets Taichi’s arm and MONEY CLIP!! Taichi endures as Okada squeezes tight! Fans rally, Taichi fights up to his feet, but Okada shifts to ripcord and spin, but into Taichi’s sumo clinch!

Okada fights off the throw to get MONEY CLIP on the other side! Taichi endures again and fans rally up. Taichi reaches out, Okada pulls him away from ropes! Okada clamps tighter on the hold but Miho coaches Taichi. Taichi CHOKES Okada and gets free of the Money Clip, to SUMO TOSS Okada! Fans fire up and Taichi runs in to AX BOMBER!! Fans rally and Miho bangs the mat as the two are down again. Taichi rises and waits on Okada. Taichi runs, but Okada boots the lariat and uppercuts! Taichi GAMANGIRIS again! Both men are back down, but Taichi is already sitting back up.

Fans rally as Taichi drags Okada up. Okada short arm lariats first! Taichi stays up, but Okada hits him again! Taichi drops to his knees but Okada stands him back up. But Taichi short arm AX BOMBERS! Okada stays up, fans fire up, and Taichi short arm AX BOMBERS again! Okada roars but Taichi AX BOMBERS him down!! Taichi drags Okada back up, another AX BOMBER! Taichi gets Okada up again, reels him in, DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives but both men are down. Fans are thunderous and Taichi vows to end it! Taichi drags Okada up, reels him in, but Okada back drops and sits down, TWO!!

Taichi hurries up to sobat! Taichi runs, Okada DROP- CHOKE SLAM! Taichi turns dropkick into choke slam!! Taichi roars and fans fire up again! Taichi drags Okada up and reels him in, but TAICHI STYLE LAST RIDE!! Deep stack cover, TWO!!! Fans are thunderous again as Taichi and Okada stir. Taichi stands first and he takes aim from the corner. Taichi takes the sumo three point stance, and runs in, into a scoop! Taichi fights free, resets, but Okada gets around. Ripcord, but Taichi DECKS Okada with the elbow! Cover, TWO!! Both men are down again and Miho shouts to Taichi as the fans rally back up.

Taichi bangs the mat and fires himself up! Taichi drags Okada into Alabama lift, but Okada clubs the legs, so Taichi ALABAMA SLAMS Okada instead! Fans are thunderous as both men are down once again! Taichi storms over and drags Okada up. Taichi puts Okada on the top rope, climbs up, but Okada fires forearms. Taichi ROCKS Okada right back! And then Alabama lifts?! But Okada slips out to sunset flip, and then hits a SIT OUT LAST RIDE!! Fans are thunderous again as Okada sits back up. Okada roars, he drags Taichi up, and short arm LARIATS! Taichi falls but Okada shakes his head. This isn’t all!

Okada gets Taichi back up, short arm LARIAT! Okada roars and fans rally behind him. Okada gets Taichi up, ripcord, but Taichi dodges! Taichi trips Okada, tucks him in, but Okada slips out the back! DISCUS LARIAT! But Taichi’s right up! GAMANGIRI!! But Okada’s right up, too?!? DROPKICK!! Taichi’s back up?!? But he’s staggering, into the LANDSLIDE!! Okada drags Taichi back up, ripcords, RAINMAKER!!! Cover, Okada wins!!

Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (advances to the quarterfinals)

The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion stands tall! Will Taichi have to fall back to his win over KOPW 2022 holder, Toru Yano?

As for Okada, he gets the mic to tell Taichi that he knows the fans would love to see Taichi challenge for the world title. Taichi is tough, so Okada would be happy to take Taichi on again, over the world title. Fans cheer that idea, and then Okada thanks the fans for their “hot, hot, hot support!” “This kind of violent fight comes with the territory in the New Japan Cup. And this kind of performance comes with the territory with Kazuchika Okada! Maybe in 2020 and 2021, with COVID, there were times we couldn’t make it. But now that I’m chimpion-” Okada catches his flub. “But now that I’m champion, we’re going all over!” Fans cheer that, too.

Okada continues to say that the New Japan Cup is going to roll on, so please keep enjoying it. “And watch me win this as champion! Don’t turn your eyes from NJPW, the New Japan Cup, and Kazuchika Okada. And in this New Japan Cup, I’ll keep making it rain!” The champion is rolling, but could Cima be a #GLEAT X factor in the quarterfinals?

My Thoughts:

Another great event for NJPW as the third round starts. Suzuki-Gun loses in a match that was all people out of the tournament, and it was probably to give Sho the opening he took to attack Desperado again. I’m a bit surprised we got Guerrillas of Destiny VS Bullet Club so soon, but it makes sense that GoD would lose. They’re Faces now, they’re the underdogs, and Gedo did distract Jado. But LIJ gets the win over the other Bullet Club formation so that Hiromu has momentum over Evil and Takagi has momentum over Chase Owens. As I said yesterday, I’m seeing Hiromu losing to Evil but Takagi winning against Chase, so that Takagi can be the one to crush Evil.

We get wins for United Empire to build momentum for their guys, as Khan goes against ZSJ and Cobb goes against Yoshi-Hashi. Khan probably loses to ZSJ, but I’m thinking Cobb wins over Hashi. Naito & Bushi lose against Tanahashi & Wato given Naito VS Tanahashi is coming up. Tanahashi has the momentum but Naito probably wins. But either way, it’ll make a great match-up next round with the winner of Cobb VS Yoshi-Hashi. We got a great match out of Goto VS Cima, and honestly a great surprise win for Cima. At the same time, I should’ve figured they’d keep from giving us Chaos VS Chaos in Okada VS Goto.

And speaking of which, Okada VS Taichi was awesome stuff. Taichi always comes really close to winning matches with the big names, so he’s coming closer and closer to the top of the card. Okada says as much in his closing promo, and maybe Taichi is just one key moment away from reaching that next level. The rest of Okada’s promo is about the same, other than his momentary flub. He and Cima are going to have a great match, probably going to be Cima’s best match in NJPW, but I would think Okada goes over. Whoever comes out of the other part of this bracket, whether it’s Tanahashi, Naito or Cobb, that’s going to be an awesome semifinal with Okada, too.

My Score: 8.8/10