The Sweet Sixteen hits its finale!

NJPW wraps up the round of sixteen as Los Ingobernables de Japon takes on Bullet Club back-to-back! Will it be tranquilo or Too Sweet tonight?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato VS YOH, Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma; Tanahashi, Taguchi & Wato win.
• El Desperado & DOUKI VS SHO & Yujiro Takahashi; Sho & Yujiro win.
• Six Man Tag: Guerillas of Destiny VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• Six Man Tag: Chaos VS Suzuki-Gun; Chaos wins.
• Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI VS Jeff Cobb & Will Ospreay; Cobb & Ospreay win.
• Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano VS Dangerous Tekkers; Dangerous Tekkers win.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Third Round: Shingo Takagi VS Chase Owens; Takagi wins and advances.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Third Round: Hiromu Takahashi VS EVIL; wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI VS Jeff Cobb & Will Ospreay!

The Uncontrollable Charisma meets the Hawaiian Hulk in the quarterfinals, while Black Mask lost to the Commonwealth Kingpin to start the New Japan Cup. Will Los Ingobernables de Japon go into the next round strong while also avenging Sanada? Or will the United Empire continue to conquer?

The Empire doesn’t even wait for LIJ to get in the ring before they attack! Ospreay goes after Bushi while Cobb is after Naito! Ospreay stomps away on Bushi, Cobb CLUBS and headbutts Naito and the bell rings to get this on record. Cobb puts on Naito’s hat to mock him, then bumps Naito off the apron. Ospreay keeps beating up Bushi and even rakes the eyes! The ref reprimands, Ospreay lets off, but Cobb puts Naito in the ring. Cobb stomps Naito, says he remembers Naito from the G1, and then brings Naito up to throw heavy body shots! Cobb CLUBS Naito, then tells Bushi he’s next.

Cobb drags Naito up, whips him to ropes, but Naito holds ropes and boots back! Naito dodges to shove Cobb, then Bushi dropkicks the legs out! Naito basement dropkicks then goes after the leg! KNEEBAR! Cobb gets the ROPEBRAEK, but Bushi stands on Cobb’s hand! The ref reprimands and Bushi steps away, but Naito keeps on the kneebar! Cobb claws at Naito and the ref counts. Bushi tags in, Cobb grabs at Naito’s hair, and the ref has Naito undo his leglock. Bushi stomps Cobb’s bad leg, then stands on the knee. Bushi has the other leg, too, but Cobb gets the ropebreak.

Bushi lets off to stomp Cobb around. Tag back to Naito, Naito stomps Cobb’s leg in the corner over and over. Naito pulls on Cobb’s hair, then whips him corner to corner. Naito runs in to JUMP KCIK! Leg sweep, but Cobb catches the slingshot! Tag to Ospreay before the TOSS! Slingshot senton! Ospreay BOOTS Bushi then goes out to RAM Bushi into railing! Ospreay digs at Bushi’s eyes while Cobb throws Naito out to CLUB him! Cobb CLUBS away on Naito’s chest, then mocks tranquilo! Fans rally up for “L I J!” but the ring count starts. Cobb brings Naito up to fake out commentary and throw Naito in for Ospreay.

Ospreay digs his knee on Naito’s head, but he lets off to taunt Naito. Ospreay throws forearms, Naito staggers around, and Ospreay CHOPS him to the corner! Ospreay digs his boot in but the ref counts. Ospreay scrapes Naito’s face but he lets off at 4. Ospreay drags Naito up but Naito throws a body shot! And haymakers! Ospreay kicks low, whips Naito hard into a corner, and Naito falls to the mat. Ospreay hurries to drag Naito over and he tags Cobb. Cobb stomps away on Naito, but fans rally up. Cobb stands on Naito and “surfs” on him! Cobb even mocks Naito’s pose! Cobb steps off and Naito writhes.

Fans rally up, Cobb drags Naito up to whip him to a corner. Cobb kisses his bicep, to run and uppercut in the corner! Then Cobb lifts Naito, for a running- Headlock takeover! Naito gets up to reel Cobb in for elbow after elbow! But Cobb ROCKS Naito! Naito dropkicks Cobb’s leg out! Fans fire up while both men are down! Naito and Cobb crawl, hot tags to Bushi and Ospreay! Ospreay kicks and whips but Bushi RANAS! Ospreay bails out, Bushi builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Ospreay hits railing! Fans fire up as Bushi puts Ospreay back in. Bushi spins Ospreay around, DDT! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally and Bushi stomps Ospreay. Bushi brings Ospreay up but Ospreay slips out of Fisherman Screw! Ospreay scoops for a SPIN-OUT BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up but Ospreay grins as he prepares the elbow pad! Bushi sits up, but Naito CLOBBERS Ospreay and dropkicks him! Cobb whips Naito but Naito FLYING FOREARMS! Cobb comes back, Naito dodges, kicks and TORNADO- NO! Cobb blocks to suplex! But Naito slips out, waistlocks, but Cobb switches! Cobb ripcords for TOUR OF- NO! Naito slips out to dropkick the leg! Naito runs in, tilt-o-whirl, but ATHLETIC PLEX!!

Fans fire up as Cobb runs at Bushi. Bushi dodges, Cobb ducks the enziguri but not the HEEL KICK! Bushi runs, but into an ENZIGURI from Ospreay! Cobb TACKES Bushi to the corner, Ospreay BOOTS, then feeds to Cobb’s LARIAT! Ospreay takes aim, Bushi sits up, HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, the Empire wins!

Winners: Jeff Cobb & Will Ospreay, by pinfall

Nothing could stop the combination of Hulk and Kingpin! Wait, Cobb aims at Naito and builds speed?! Oh, just to copy Naito’s fake-out and tranquilo. Is this a sign that nothing will stop the United Empire from taking the New Japan Cup?

Kazuchika Okada & Toru Yano VS Dangerous Tekkers!

The Rainmaker is IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and the Producer is currently Mr. KOPW 2022. Taichi beat one but lost to the other, will he and Zack Sabre Jr. get big wins outside of the Cup? Or will Chaos refuse to #JustTapOut?

Taichi shows off the dancing pecs and fans cheer. The teams sort out and Yano is honored to let Okada start. Taichi starts against Okada to give us a partial rematch from their Cup match. Fans rally as the two circle, and they tie up. Okada powers Taichi to ropes, the ref calls for the ropebreak, and Okada lets off. But then Taichi turns it around onto Okada! Taichi fakes the chop to pat Okada on the shoulders. Then Taichi kicks him low! Taichi whips, reels Okada in, but Okada forearms! Okada whips, Taichi holds ropes but Okada ducks the Ax Bomber! Okada ripcords but Taichi ducks the Rainmaker!

Fans cheer the standoff, but then Taichi CHOKES Okada! Taichi pushes Okada to the mat, lets off as the ref counts, and then eggs Okada on. Okada gets up but he blocks Taichi’s kick to spin him and BOOT him down! Okada tags Yano in and Yano fires up as he goes to untie a buckle pad! But Taichi CLUBS and whips Yano! Yano holds ropes to taunt Taichi, then he dodges the boot to SLAP him! Taichi CHOKES Yano and shoves him into the bare buckles! ZSJ DECKS Okada then runs over to dig his boot into Yano! The ref counts, the Tekkers let off at 4. They double whip Yano, ZSJ runs in to EuroUpper! Taichi adds a clothesline!

Taichi snapmares Yano for ZSJ’s NECK TWIST! ZSJ even mocks Yano’s shrug! Taichi paces around Yano, drags him back up, snapmares him back down, and KICKS him in the back! Cover, but there’s a choke in it! The ref reprimands so Taichi stops. Cover, but there’s another choke! The ref reprimands, so Taichi sits Yano up to dig his fingers into Yano’s chin! Is that a choke? Not sure but the ref reprimands anyway. Taichi lets off and fans rally up. Taichi bumps Yano off buckles, and now ZSJ wrenches Yano’s neck! Snapmare, and headscissors! ZSJ squeezes tight, pushes up for more pressure, but Yano endures.

Yano reaches out with a foot but Taichi blocks the ropebreak with his foot! The ref reprimands, Taichi steps away and Yano finally has the ropebreak. ZSJ lets off and fans cheer. ZSJ drags Yano up by his ears, but Yano breaks free to fire off forearms! ZSJ headbutts low, whips to ropes, but Yano reverses! Atomic- NO! Ear pulling! ZSJ pulls ears, whips, but Yano reverses to pull ZSJ’s hair! Both men are down and Yano tags in Okada! Okada rallies on ZSJ with forearms, then whips. ZSJ reverses but Okada CLOBBERS ZSJ! Then he DECKS Taichi! Okada whips ZSJ corner to corner, into the bare buckles!

Okada runs in to back elbow, then kick and DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, “O-KA-DA!” and he drags ZSJ up. Okada loops the arms and hooks a leg for a modified abdominal stretch! ZSJ endures, slips out, and has a motorcycle stretch! Okada turns it around on ZSJ, but ZSJ flips through to kip up and reel Okada in! Cobra twist! Okada endures, ZSJ taunts him, but Okada pops free to hip toss! ZSJ gets up, Okada throws a forearm. ZSJ EuroUppers, then eggs Okada on. Okada swings but into ZSJ’s wrench and PELE to the arm! ZSJ runs, blocks Okada’s boot and WRINGS the arm out!

Fans rally up and ZSJ tags in Taichi! Taichi drags Okada up for Kowata Kicks! Okada throws forearms in return! Taichi shakes that off to KICK Okada’s leg. Okada fires a forearm, Taichi kicks! Forearm, kick, repeat! Fans rally up as Okada eggs Taichi on! Taichi throws more kicks, but Okada EuroUppers! Taichi sobats! Taichi reels Okada in, but Okada fights the bomb to Alabama lift and REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Both men are down, fans rally up, hot tag to Yano! Yano is fired up again, and he drags Taichi up, but Taichi kicks low. Taichi goes to run but Yano throws him by his hair! High stack, TWO!!

Yano whips, Taichi reverses, Yano avoids the buckles, then baits Taichi into them! Roll up, TWO!! Yano drags Taichi up, whips him, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! Fans rally up as both men are down! Taichi grits his teeth and gets up. Taichi encourages them to get louder so the fans rally harder. Yano sits up, but he ducks the buzzsaw! Yano PANTSES Taichi! Taichi is embarrassed, just like when they faced off in the tournament, and Yano rolls Taichi up! ZSJ breaks it! Okada throws ZSJ out and tells Yano to finish this! Okada RAMS ZSJ into railing, Yano avoids Ax Bomber to clinch.

But Taichi fights back! It’s a sumo showdown! Yano fireman’s carry takeovers! Yano runs at Taichi but is sent into the bare buckles! Taichi hits the sumo throw! Taichi squares up in the three point stance, RUNNING FOREARM! Cover, Tekkers win!

Winners: Dangerous Tekkers, by pinfall

Taichi pins Mr. KOPW 2022 again! Is this a sign that the Holy Emperor should take that trophy away from Yano and bring it back to Suzuki-Gun? And what of ZSJ’s journey back to the Cup? Will the Submission Master be meeting the Rainmaker in the finals?

2022 New Japan Cup Third Round: Shingo Takagi VS Chase Owens w/ Bad Luck Fale!

The Rampaging Dragon got dumped on his head on a chair by the Crown Jewel while Bullet Club was beating up on LIJ. Chase won’t let Takagi beat him in five minutes, but will that attack only ensure Takagi goes after him even harder?

Chase attacks as soon as Takagi’s in the ring! The bell rings to get this on record as Chase stomps a mudhole into Takagi! Chase fires off forearms, lets off as the ref reprimands, but Takagi brings Chase in to fire back! Takagi JABS Chase then CHOPS him. Fans cheer and Takagi whips, but Chase holds ropes to boot back. Chase runs, rams Takagi, but Takagi returns to run him over! Takagi scoops and SLAMS to then SENTON onto Chase! Chase bails out but Takagi goes out after him. Takagi CLUBS Chase, then RAMS him into the apron. Takagi drags Chase up and bumps him off the apron, then bumps him off again.

Takagi puts Chase in the ring, but Fale distracts him. Chase WRECKS Takagi with a dropkick! And then RUSSIAN LEG SWEEPS Takagi into the apron edge! Chase turns Takagi for a NECKBREAKER to the floor! The ref check son Takagi while fans rally up. Chase drags Takagi up and into the ring, then covers, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Fans rally up but Chase drags Takagi up to CLUB him down. Chase puts Takagi on ropes, and he peels away the KT tape! Chase digs his boots into Takagi but the ref counts. Chase lets off, Takagi throws body shots!

Takagi ROCKS Chase with a forearm! Chase JAWBREAKERS back! Chase goes to a corner, Takagi runs in but Chase RUSSIAN LEG SWEEPS him into buckles! Takagi sits down and clutches his neck while Chase gets up. Fans rally but Chase drags Takagi up to snapmare. Chase clamps on claws into Takagi’s shoulder, then adds a top wristlock. Takagi endures but Chase KNEES him in the back! And then drops knees on his head! Chase stomps and taunts Takagi, but Takagi gets up. Fans rally but Chase cravats for a neck wrench. Takagi throws body shots to get free but Chase cravat KNEE SMASHES and mule kicks!

Chase runs for a RUNNING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Takagi gets under the ropes and fans rally up, but Chase bends Takagi back against the ropes! The ref reprimands, counts, and Chase lets off at 4. Takagi goes to the apron while Chase paces. Chase drags Takagi around by the legs to ROPE GUILLOTINE! Takagi writhes and sputters, and Chase talks trash. Fans rally up but Chase drags Takagi up to CLUB him in the neck! And again! Takagi gets to ropes but Chase brings him around to KNEE him down! Chase runs, SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as Takagi is still in this!

Chase drags Takagi up, reels him in and tucks the arms! Takagi fights the package, and back drops free! Fans fire up but Takagi still clutches his neck. Chase gets up, Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! And YUKON- NO! Chase blocks, hammerlocks, but no Jewel Heist! YUKON LARIAT! Fans are thunderous and Takagi gets his arms moving again. Takagi whips, KNEES Chase at the ropes, then hits a DDT! Takagi keeps moving, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Takagi says there’s still more! Takagi drags Chase up, suplexes, but the neck bugs him too much. Chase gets a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK!

Takagi endures, Chase suplexes for a GHOSTBUSTER! Takagi writhes and Chase aims from the corner. Takagi gets up, Chase runs in, forearm smash! And short arm LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Chase is annoyed that Takagi is still in this. Chase runs in, but Takagi dodges the C-Trigger! Chase CLUBS, CHOPS and whips, but Takagi reverses to fireman’s carry! Chase chinbars free! And then QUICK DRAW! Cover, TWO! Takagi survives the hip toss neckbreaker and fans rally up even harder. Chase drags Takagi up, reels him in, but Takagi fights the half nelson. Takagi elbows and arm-drags free, to ELBOW!

Takagi runs, but into a C-TRIGGER! Both men are down but fans fire up again! Chase follows Takagi to the apron and drags Takagi up. Chase tucks the arms, but Takagi holds ropes! Chase CLUBS Takagi down, then grabs at him. Takagi pushes Chase away, so Chase stomps the neck and shoulders! But Takagi drags Chase down for a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER to the floor! Fans are thunderous again while both men are down! A ring count starts and both men stir. Takagi drags himself up the railing, headbutts the railing, and fires up! He gets in the ring at 14 of 20! Chase sits up at 17 of 20, Fale shouts to him, and Chase is in at 19.99!!

Fans rally as Takagi and Chase go to opposite corners. Takagi waits for Chase to stand, then runs in to clothesline! Fans fire up again and Takagi feeds off that energy! Takagi drags Chase up, hoists him to the top rope, and then climbs up to join him! Takagi gets Chase up for a SUPERPLEX!! Chase’s headband goes flying off, but Takagi also clutches his neck and shakes his bad arm out. Fans are electric as Takagi wants Chase to get back up! Chase ROCKS Takagi with a forearm, but Takagi hits back! Chase forearms back, but Takagi forearms again! Takagi eggs Chase on, so Chase forearms again!

Takagi and Chase continue to trade forearms! As soon as Chase hits Takagi, Takagi hits back! They speed up, fans rally with them, and Chase gets the edge! Chase ROCKS Takagi, but Takagi headbutts the buckle to fire up! Takagi fires boxing elbows on Chase! But Chase fires the fast strikes! Takagi ROCKS Chase, ELBOWS, JABS, and- BACK ELBOW from Chase, to the neck! Chase aims from a corner, “BANG!” C-TRI- NO!! Takagi blocks the knee, catches the arms, MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!! Chase survives and fans are thunderous! Takagi fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” and fans clap along!

Takagi gets up, drags Chase up, and pump handles to the torture rack. But Fale gets on the apron! Takagi tells him to get down, but then Chase runs in! Takagi dodges and Chase hits Fale! Chase dodges Takagi and Fale gets knocked down! Chase rolls Takagi, with feet on the ropes! TWO!! Jackknife, TWO!! Chase rakes eyes, runs, but Takagi follows to clothesline at the ropes! Takagi runs, but into a C-TRIGGER!! Fans are fired up as Chase vows to end this! He tucks Takagi in, but still no package! So Chase shifts to a standard PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!!! Chase is furious but fans are thunderous again!

Chase glares as Takagi gets up at the ropes. Chase runs, C-TRIGGER! Then the tuck, but Takagi RANAS?! Chase BOOTS, Takagi PUMPING BOMBERS!! Fans fire up, Takagi roars and he gets Chase up! Pump handle, rack, LAST OF THE DRAGONS!! Cover, Takagi wins!

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

Chase could not slay Takagi, and now the Rampaging Dragon is soaring to the next round! Will Takagi continue towards the Cup, no matter who gets in his way?

2022 New Japan Cup Third Round: Hiromu Takahashi VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!

The Ticking Timebomb was also beat up by Bullet Club, and his revenge on the King of Darkness has been a long time coming! Will Hiromu finally take down the traitor? Or will Darkness Fall and prove Everything is Evil?

Hiromu doesn’t even wait for Evil to get in the ring before he attacks! Hiromu shouts at Dick to back off, then he goes after Evil! He whips Evil hard into railing, and then the bell rings to get this on record. Hiromu stands on Evil’s head, then drags him up to whip him into more railing! Dick creeps over but again Hiromu scares him off. Hiromu drags Evil up while mockingly asking what’s wrong. Hiromu tells Evil to get up, and then he whips him into even more railing! Evil TUMBLES over the railing! Fans fire up behind Hiromu while Dick checks on Evil. Evil crawls his way back and Hiromu eggs him on.

Wait, Hiromu climbs up now? But Dick has a chair! Hiromu hops down to chase Dick off again. But Evil gets a chair, and he THROWS it into Hiromu’s face! Red Shoes reprimands Evil but Dick gets his shots in. Evil then uses the House of Torture shirt to choke Hiromu! Evil whips Hiromu into railing now, then finally catches his breath. Evil goes back to stand on Hiromu’s head. Fans rally while Evil goes to the ring. Red Shoes calls to Hiromu, then starts the ring count. Hiromu sits up at 5 of 20, crawls his way over, and gets to his feet at 10. Hiromu is in at 11 but Evil whips him, into the bare blue corner! The Bullet Club Special!

Evil stands on Hiromu, fans rally up, and Evil is annoyed. Evil drags Hiromu up but Hiromu CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again! Evil knees low, throws Hiromu out, then argues with Red Shoes to distract from Dick attacking Hiromu! Dick puts Hiromu in for Evil and Evil drags Hiromu to a cover. Red Shoes refuses to count, he is still scared in the corner. Evil gets mad again but fans rally for Red Shoes. Evil drags Hiromu up, scoops and SLAMS! Now cover and count, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO! Evil is frustrated but the fans rally up again. Hiromu seems to be grinning despite the pain.

Evil slaps Hiromu around so Hiromu CHOPS back! Evil eggs Hiromu on, Hiromu CHOPS more. Evil rakes eyes! Hiromu blocks the kick, but Evil pulls on his nose! Evil runs, but Hiromu dropkicks the legs out! Fans rally up while both men are down again. Evil and Hiromu go to opposite corners, and Hiromu runs corner to corner to clothesline! Snapmare and basement dropkick! Evil bails out but Hiromu goes to the apron! Hiromu JOHN WOOS and takes out Evil and Dick! Fans are thunderous as Hiromu roars and gets to his feet. Hiromu goes back for Evil, drags him up and puts him in the ring.

Hiromu drags Evil up again, suplex, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and Hiromu drags Evil up again. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Evil slips off! Hiromu ends up in a corner, Evil runs in but into a BOOT! Hiromu runs, but Evil uses Red Shoes as a shield! Hiromu moves Red Shoes aside, but Evil blocks his mule kick! Evil hands the foot to Red Shoes, but then Hiromu blocks Evil’s mule kick! Hiromu has Red Shoes let his foot go, and then he DRAGON SCREWS Evil down! Fans fire up while both men are down! Hiromu gets up and watches Evil flounder to a corner. Hiromu runs in to SHOTGUN dropkick!

Evil is down in a corner but Hiromu drags Evil back up to a fireman’s carry. CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Hiromu fires up more and brings Evil back up. Fireman’s carry, but Evil fights and gets to the apron. Hiromu SUPERKICKS Evil! Hiromu runs, sunset flips, but Evil grabs Red Shoes! Dick sucker punches Hiromu! Evil then RAMS Hiromu into the timekeeper’s area! Down goes Abe-san! Young Lions and Red Shoes hurry to help the timekeeper, and fans rally up. A ring count starts, Evil drags Hiromu by his legs! SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Hiromu endures while the count climbs. Evil lets go at 10 of 20 to get in the ring!

Hiromu writhes, fans rally up, and he flounders to the apron. But Evil distracts Red Shoes and Dick throws Hiromu down! Red Shoes keeps the count going from 15! Hiromu pushes up at 17 and gets in at 19! Evil is furious but fans still rally for “HI-RO-MU!” Evil drags Hiromu up, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Evil is upset again and the fans continue to rally. Evil drags Hiromu back up, fireman’s carries, but Hiromu slips off to wheelbarrow and COMPLETE SHOT! Fans fire up while both men are down again! Evil crawls to a corner, Hiromu goes to the other. Hiromu runs but into a boot!

Hiromu roars and comes back, but is sent into bare buckles! Evil runs in to clothesline! Fireman’s carry, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and fans are thunderous! Evil is furious again and he slashes his throat to say this is it! Evil gets Hiromu up but no STO! Hiromu RAMS Evil into the bare buckles! Hiromu crawls to the far corner, comes back, and SUPERKICKS! Evil runs in but Hiromu dodges to SUPERKICK again! Hiromu runs and DECKS Dick, then dodges Evil to HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Fans fire up as Hiromu fireman’s carries, swing for TIMEBOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!

Hiromu and Evil are both down and fans are electric! Hiromu roars and rises again! He drags Evil back up, dragon sleeper to suplex, but Evil slips out! Evil blocks the superkick, rakes Hiromu’s eyes, then throws the foot into Red Shoes! Red Shoes is down, Dick gets in to rain down fists on Hiromu! Dick and Evil drag Hiromu up, set him up, MAGIC KILLER!! Dick then tells Red Shoes to get up. Cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives and Evil is furious again! Fans are thunderous but Evil again slashes the throat. Evil drags Hiromu up, but still no STO! Hiromu fires off elbows, so Evil whips him into bare buckles!

Hiromu roars and comes back, but Evil LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and Evil is losing his mind! Evil drags Hiromu up, spins him around, but still no STO! Wrench and Hiromu Roll! But Dick distracts Red Shoes!! Hiromu would’ve won already! Hiromu lets Evil go, but Evil reels him in! EVERY- NO! Hiromu shoves Evil into Dick! Dick hits railing, Hiromu steals EVERYTHING IS EVIL!!! High stack, Hiromu wins!!!

Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (advances to the quarterfinals)

The Timebomb gets his revenge on Evil!! The Best of the Super Junior continues on in the New Japan Cup! After he catches his breath, Hiromu gets the mic to tell Evil, in English, “Welcome to the Hiromu-chan World!” Dick drags Evil out of the ring as Hiromu says, “Losing to your own techniques has to be the biggest humiliation to you! I’m sorry, but you and I have very different goals and motivations! You guys, House of Torture, Evil, I’m done with you. Evil no more.” Fans applaud that sentiment, and then Hiromu continues.

“I haven’t seen a crowd like this here in a long time.” Fans also applaud that. “Not since the days before COVID. Actually, there were even more back then. But, thank you so much for coming today. Next, I’ll face Shingo Takagi! Of course, I’m winning this! And after I win this, I’ll challenge El Desperado. I will challenge for the title you’re holding, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Naturally, you’ll accept, won’t you?” Fans applaud that but Desperado doesn’t respond. Hiromu finishes up by saying, “Until then, let’s have more, more, more, more, more, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE…! Fun together~!”

The Best of the Super Junior wants another trophy and another shot at the Rogue Luchador. But will Takagi have something to say about that?

My Thoughts:

A great event, and I chose to do more of these matches because I felt they were go-homes worth checking out. But a real shame about Sanada, it turns out he really did get hurt in that match with Ospreay. As NJPW says themselves, it is an orbital fracture. That’s pretty bad, he’s out for the rest of the Cup series of events, but no news on how it affects his IWGP US Championship reign. It’d be a damn shame if he lost that title because of injury, after how long it took him to get such a reign. That said, I feel like United Empire winning was going to happen anyway. Cobb has momentum but Naito will get the win because the go-home math dictates as such.

I really liked the tag match of Okada & Yano VS Tekkers. Tekkers win with a pin off Yano so that Okada isn’t really hurt, and so that Taichi gets another win over Mr. KOPW 2022. I’m going to really enjoy seeing Taichi take on Yano in some kind of wild stipulation. Takagi VS Chase was great stuff, one of Chase’s best singles matches, but I figured Takagi was going to win. The great shocker was Hiromu winning over Evil. It was an awesome match, even with Dick being the distraction half the time, but Hiromu brings his story with Evil full circle. Hiromu’s beaten Evil, given up on redeeming him, LIJ finally moves on from their past.

LIJ VS LIJ in the next round is also very surprising, it’s going to be awesome, but I’m leaning towards Takagi. Hiromu may want after Desperado but Sho’s probably got the next title match. Hiromu can take the winner, and we see how things go in the spring and summer.

My Score: 8.9/10