Will Tetsuya Naito avoid a Tour of the Islands?

The biggest New Japan Cup enters the quarterfinals! Tetsuya Naito and Jeff Cobb collide in a WrestleKingdom 16 rematch, but will history repeat itself?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Six Man Tag: Chaos VS Kosei Fujita, Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakashima; Chaos wins.
• Hiroshi Tanahashi & Satoshi Kojima VS Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI; Goto & Hashi win.
• 10 Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & The Guerrillas of Destiny VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Suzuki-Gun VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
• Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; LIJ wins.
• Six Man Tag: Suzuki-Gun VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Quarterfinal: Tetsuya Naito VS Jeff Cobb; Naito wins and advances.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Quarterfinal: Kazuchika Okada VS CIMA; Okada wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

10 Man Tag: Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & The Guerrillas of Destiny VS Bullet Club!

Team Six or Nine rescued Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado from a beatdown, and now they’re united against common enemies! Will the “Guerrillas of 69” take out Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, and most of all, Gedo? Or will their new alliance prove less than Too Sweet?

Jado leads the charge as they rush the ring, but Bullet Club’s five get out of the ring fast. Fale’s mad, so he shoves Abe-san down! Seems Evil isn’t the only one who bullies the timekeeper. But the ref tells Bullet Club to get back to the ring, and “Jado’s Avengers” dare them to, too. The bell rings to get this on record, and Jado’s team attacks! They brawl on the outside, Gedo rakes Jado’s eyes! Tama RAMS Chase into railing! Wato ROCKS ELP but Taiji bumps Taguchi off the apron. Taguchi gets in the ring while ELP pulls Wato’s ear and knees low. The Cutest Tag Team puts Six or Nine in the ring while Gedo chokes Jado.

Gedo tells Jado he made the wrong choice, and Fale CLUBS Loa, then CLUBS Tama. ELP stands on Taguchi at the ropes, Taiji stands on Wato, but the ref reprimands. ELP and Taiji step off, fans rally up, but they mug Taguchi and Wato. They double whip but the champs reverses to double drop toehold and double basement dropkick! Fans rally as Six or Nine double whip ELP. They double elbow, back hand and sobat, to SLIDING HIP! Wato covers, TWO! Fans rally and Wato CHOPS ELP at the ropes. Wato whips, ELP reverses and Taiji dumps Wato out! ELP BOOTS Loa off the apron and Fale is after him!

Taiji drags Wato out to RAM him into railing! Wato drops, Gedo rakes Jado’s eyes and Chase chokes Tama! The ref has his hands full but ELP distracts him with an early celebration. Taiji puts Wato in for ELP, ELP covers with a knee to the face, TWO! ELP drags Wato to the ropes to stand on his back! Tag to Fale, Fale stands on Wato’s back! Taiji gets in to climb onto Fale and then Gedo stands on Wato’s head! The ref reprimands and counts and the four step off. Gedo taunts Wato, Fale tags Chase, and fans rally up. Chase stomps Wato, drags him up to snapmare him for a forearm to the back!

Chase clamps on a chinlock and then shifts to a neck wrench! Wato endures, moves around but Chase knees him in the back. Tag to Gedo, he and Chase split the wishbone! Gedo holds up both hands and throws up the Too Sweet. Gedo stomps Wato, kicks him around but fans rally up. Wato gets up to CHOP! Gedo rakes the eyes! The ref counts, Gedo lets off and Wato falls. Gedo laughs as Jado’s team protests. The ref is busy keeping Tama back, Fale drags Wato over to a corner! Fale and ELP YANK Wato into the post! ELP and Taiji and Fale all pull on the legs to dig Wato in deeper! But Loa rushes over to save Wato!

Loa fights off ELP and Taiji, but Fale and Chase mug Loa. Chase and Fale double whip Loa at railing, and Loa tumbles up and over! Gedo drops fists on Wato, then covers, Taguchi breaks it! Gedo protests but then he tags Taiji in. Taiji stomps Wato as fans rally up. Taiji throws fists but Wato grits his teeth. Wato throws shots back, then CHOPS! And a kick, but Taiji blocks! Taiji CLUBS the leg, gut wrenches, but Wato slips out. Taiji mule kicks, runs, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Both men are down and fans fire up! Hot tag to Loa! The Silverback rallies on Taiji, DECKS Fale, then runs off Gedo and Chase!

Taiji runs in, DOUBLE KNEES to Loa in the corner! Taiji fires fast hands, runs, but Loa follows to SPEAR! ELP gets in to fire off forearms, but Tama gets in to give him haymakers! Fans rally with Tama, he whips, but ELP holds ropes to kick back! ELP runs, into a dropkick! ELP falls out, Tama fires up, but Chase runs in! Tama dodges the C-Trigger, then he whips Chase to ropes. Chase holds ropes, he fakes Tama out, then trips him for a SHINING WIZARD! But Loa runs in! Chase fires off fast hands, Taiji gets in, and they double whip. Loa breaks their line to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE!

Fans fire up with Loa and he brings Taiji up. Taiji pokes him in the eyes! Taiji whips, Loa reverses, Taiji handsprings to NEURALIZER! Taiji hurries to tag Gedo! Gedo JAWBREAKERS Loa, then aims, SUPER- NO! Loa blocks! Gedo says no but Loa says yes! Loa DECKS Gedo! Fans fire up with Loa, and he brings Gedo over to tag Jado! Fans fire up even more as Jado aims at his former friend! Gedo wants a handshake but Jado sees through that! Jado blocks the cheap kick, but Gedo rakes eyes! Gedo runs, but Jado rallies with clotheslines! Fans are thunderous as the Master Heater powers up!

Jado drags Gedo up, puts him through ropes, but Taiji & ELP save Gedo! But Wato springboards in, FLYING UPPERCUT for Taiji! Taguchi springboards in to MISSILE HIP ELP out! Then Six or Nine DOUBLE PLANCHA them both! Fans fire up more but Chase and Fale run in. Jado dodges Chase, holds him in place, and then moves as Fale runs in! Fale SPLASHES Chase, and then Tama runs in to STINGER SPLASH them both! Then Loa dropkicks Fale down! Tama whips Chase and throws a body shot, Jado PUNTS Chase, then Loa hits a BIG back suplex! Jado covers, TWO!

Fans fire up but Jado wants them to hush. Jado stomps to tune up the band and the fans clap along. Chase gets up, Jado runs in, but Chase dodges! Chase grabs the ref, Gedo gets in and he DECKS Jado! Gedo seems to be putting something away in his pocket! Did he have a loaded fist somehow? Chase drags Jado up to C-TRIGGER! Cover, Bullet Club wins!

Winner: Bullet Club, by pinfall

The Crown Jewel gets another pin off the Master Heater! Is it just not in the cards for Jado? Meanwhile, ELP and Taiji each choke Wato and Taguchi, making it clear they want after the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions! Will Bullet Club be Too Sweet through to the Spring?

2022 New Japan Cup Quarterfinal: Tetsuya Naito VS Jeff Cobb w/ The United Empire!

The Uncontrollable Charisma conquered the Hawaiian Hulk in the Tokyo Dome, and Cobb hasn’t forgotten that! Will he make sure Naito never forgets this match? Or will history repeat itself and lead Naito to the semifinals?

As usual, Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire. Cobb is patient, and then the bell rings. Fans applaud as the two stare down, and then they rally for “NA-I-TO!” Cobb claims it’s “JEFF CO-BU” instead. Naito and Cobb circle, each daring the other to step forward. They tie up, Cobb puts Naito on the ropes, and the ref calls the ropebreak. Cobb lets off slowly and cleanly, and fans applaud the sportsmanship. Naito and Cobb circle, tie up again, and though Naito tries, Cobb puts him back on the ropes again. Cobb lets off slowly and then mocks Naito’s LIJ fist. The two circle again and fans rally back up.

Cobb and Naito tie up again, and Naito gets around so he can waistlock and put Cobb on ropes. The ref calls the ropebreak, Naito lets off slowly, and he pats Cobb on the back. Then he pulls Cobb’s hair! The ref reprimands but Cobb breaks free. Naito ducks the lariat, Cobb avoids the basement dropkick, and Cobb runs Naito over with a shoulder! Naito bails out, Cobb builds speed! Cobb fakes Naito out and rolls to copy the tranquilo. But then Naito basement dropkicks him! Naito clamps on a chinlock and he pulls Cobb back, but fights up and backs Naito to a corner. The ref calls the break and Naito lets off slowly.

Naito then CLUBS Cobb, CLUBS him again, and cravats for a neck wrench. Cobb endures, scoops Naito, but Naito uses that for a flying-mare! Naito kicks, runs, and RANAS! Cobb flounders, Naito storms over and the Empire coaches Cobb, but Naito snapmares Cobb into the leg hook full nelson! Fans rally as Cobb endures, Naito pushes up for more pressure, but Cobb moves around. ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Naito thrashes the hold but then “apologizes” as he claims he can’t get loose. The ref reprimands, Naito lets Cobb go, and Ospreay coaches Cobb up while Khan fans Cobb off with the towel.

Naito stomps Cobb at the ropes, drags Cobb up, then kicks low. Naito kicks again, then CLUBS Cobb, then kicks. Cobb blocks a kick to scoop and FALL AWAY SLAM! Naito falls out of the ring and Cobb goes out the side. Cobb drags Naito up, ROCKS him with a forearm, then CLUBS him on the back. Cobb RAMS Naito into railing! Naito goes down in a heap and fans rally up. Cobb drags Naito up, SMACKS him off the apron, and then CHOPS him! Naito staggers around the way, Cobb fakes out English commentary and throws Naito into the ring. Kevin Kelly breathes easy and Cobb says Kevin’s fine.

Cobb gets in the ring, stomps Naito, then brings him up. Naito fires off forearms but Cobb body shots and snapmares, to then jam his knee in again and again. Then Cobb uppercuts Naito in the back! Naito writhes but Cobb covers, TWO! Fans rally up but Cobb drags Naito up to suplex. Cobb holds Naito up with one arm! Fans fire up and Cobb squats with Naito as the weight! Then he TOSSES Naito down! Fans fire up for that showing of strength and Cobb takes his time walking over to Naito. Cobb looms over Naito, drags him back up, and whips him to a corner. Cobb then runs in, to JUMP KICK!

Cobb leg sweeps, and he COMBINACION CABRONS! Fans fire up as Cobb copies the pose, and then covers. TWO, so Cobb covers again. TWO, and Cobb is annoyed. Fans rally, Cobb paces and drags Naito up. Naito throws body shots but Cobb doesn’t budge. Naito keeps throwing hands but Cobb short arm LARIATS! Then GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT flops as Naito moves! Fans rally up while both men are down. Khan fans Cobb off again while he and Naito get up. Cobb’s in the corner, he rushes Naito but Naito arm-drags him! And then throws back elbows! Naito gets under the clothesline to atomic drop and dropkick the leg! Then NECKBREAKER!

Fans fire up while both men are down again. Cobb goes to another corner, Naito runs in, JUMP KICK! Leg sweep! TRUE COMBINACION CABRON! Naito also shows Cobb how to do the pose properly. Cover, TWO! KNEEBAR! Naito is after the beat-up leg but Cobb endures! Cobb reaches out and gets the ROPEBREAK! Naito cranks harder on the leg, but the ref counts him! Naito lets go with only his hands and keeps the grapevine. The Empire protests and the ref counts again, but Naito lets the grapevine go slowly. Fans rally up and Naito brings Cobb up to get the leg. Cobb resists the lift, so Naito kicks the bad leg!

Naito brings Cobb up again, has the bad leg, but Cobb resists again! Cobb throws body shots but Naito kicks the leg again and again and again! Cobb drops, fans fire up and Naito brings Cobb up again. Naito has the leg, but Cobb CLUBS him down! Cobb gets to ropes but Naito brings him around, TORNADO- NO! Cobb blocks the DDT to suplex! But Naito slips off to waistlock. Cobb elbows free, whips, but Naito reverses to fire off back elbows! Cobb ROCKS Naito with a forearm! Naito ENZIGURIS! But Cobb LARIATS! Both men are down but fans fire up! Cobb crawls towards his corner while Naito goes the other way.

Cobb sees Naito in the open corner, and he runs in to back elbow! Naito flops down and to the apron! Cobb checks his face, then he drags Naito up. Cobb bumps Naito off buckles, then goes up the corner. Naito resists, but Cobb still deadlifts for the SUPERPLEX! Naito sits up in a daze before flopping back over! Cobb crawls to the cover, TWO! Cobb GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Naito survives and the Empire can’t believe it! Fans rally up, Cobb stalks Naito, and he drags Naito up to whip. Naito holds ropes then BOOTS back! Naito spins Cobb around, TORNADO DDT! Both men are down and fans fire up again!

Fans rally up as Naito and Cobb stir. Cobb gets to the corner, Naito hurries over to CLUB him. Naito hops up, reels Cobb in, ESPERANZA! Fans fire up and Naito aims as Cobb stands. CORRIENDO SHIKI- NO! ATHLETIC PLEX! Cobb counters Destino much like he did at WrestleKingdom! Fans are thunderous as both men are back down! The Empire rallies with the fans as Naito and Cobb slowly sit up. Naito throws forearms on Cobb, but Cobb ROCKS Naito with one! They stand, Naito fires off more forearms, but Cobb ROCKS Naito again! Naito fires even more forearms, but Cobb fires just as many!

Cobb whips, Naito FLYING FOREARMS! Cobb staggers, runs, but into a basement dropkick! Naito gets up but Cobb CLOBBERS him with a low headbutt! Cobb gets to ropes, fans rally up and Cobb drags Naito up with a gut wrench! DOCTOR BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives and fans are thunderous again! Cobb drags Naito up again, whips and scoops, but Naito slips out to REVERSE DDT! Cover, TWO!! Cobb survives that pseudo Destino but Naito fires back up! Naito drags Cobb up, wrenches and tilt-o-whirl, DESTI- NO! TOUR OF- NO! Roll up! Naito wins!!

Winner: Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)

The Empire can’t believe it! Naito snatches victory from the arms of defeat! Will the Uncontrollable Charisma be unstoppable on the way to the Cup?

2022 New Japan Cup Quarterfinal: Kazuchika Okada VS CIMA!

The Rainmaker has so far kept his promise to make it rain, and he has so far dominated as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. But he is up against a #GLEAT competitor who comes off a win over Hirooki Goto. Will Cima find himself a shortcut to the top? Or will Okada break this Strong Heart and continue to keep his promise?

The bell rings and fans rally up with claps for “O-KA-DA!” Okada and Cima circle, feel things out, back off a moment, then approach again. They tie up, Cima wrenches to a wristlock, but Okada rolls and trips Cima to a toehold. Cima endures then gets a body scissors to roll Okada to a cover! TWO, Okada has the toehold again but Cima fights back with a chinlock. Cima drags Okada down and leans on the hold but Okada rolls Cima to get a headlock. Cima keeps his shoulders up and rolls Okada to a cover, ONE! Okada cranks the headlock but Cima endures. Cima uses a chinbar but Okada eggs him on.

Fans rally, Cima headscissors free and even pulls Okada’s arm. Okada endures, moves around, and pops free to also have a butterfly stretch. Okada then jumps onto another headlock. Fans cheer the technical exchange while Cima fights up. Okada thrashes the headlock, but Cima throws body shots. Okada cranks the headlock harder and he grinds Cima down! Cima reaches back, ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes points it out, Okada lets off and fans cheer the exchange again. Cima and Okada reset, approach, and knuckle lock. They go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength. Okada puts Cima on ropes, but Red Shoes counts.

Okada lets off slowly, and he fakes the chop, to pat Cima’s shoulders. Fans cheer the Okada standard, but then Cima CHOPS! Cima runs, but Okada BOOTS and snapmares, to run and basement dropkick! Cima flops out of the ring while fans fire up! Okada goes out after Cima while fans rally up. Okada drags Cima up, ROCKS him with a forearm, then brings Cima around the way. Okada puts Cima in and covers, TWO! Okada clamps on with a chinlock and he grinds Cima down. Fans rally up and Cima reaches out again. Cima makes his way over, ROPEBREAK! Okada lets off cleanly and fans cheer.

Okada comes back but Cima throws body shots. Okada ROCKS Cima with a forearm, then whips him to a corner. Cima reverses and runs in but Okada puts him on the apron. Cima ROCKS Okada back then HOTSHOTS him away! Cima then gets in to drive a knee into Okada’s back! Fans rally up, Cima brings Okada up to snapmare and elbow drop. Cima then clamps on a chinlock and shifts to a neck wrench. Cima elbows Okada in the shoulder! Fans rally up more, and Cima brings Okada around to NECK TWIST! Fans cheer that while Cima brings Okada to ropes. Cima brings Okada through the ropes for an APRON LEG DROP!

Cima then gets space to DRIVE-BY DROPKICK! Fans fire up as Cima catches his breath and checks his kneepads. Cima brings Okada out, CLUBS his neck, then whips him into railing! Okada staggers, into a DDT to the floor! Cima then gets on the apron, fans fire up, METEORA to the floor! Fans fire up more but Cima checks his knees. Red Shoes checks Okada but he’s okay to continue. Cima hobbles a bit as he gets in the ring. The ring count begins, Okada is still down at 10 of 20. Okada slowly sits up at 12, clutching his neck and shoulder. We’re at 15 , Okada gets up at 17, and in at 18!

Cima drags Okada up to stomp him down! Cima sits Okada up again to drive elbows into the shoulder and neck, then ghost pin! TWO!! Okada escapes and fans rally again. Cima fires up and fans fire up with him as he brings Okada back up. Okada throws forearms but Cima eggs him on! Okada keeps throwing shots, but Cima elbows away on the neck! Cima runs, into a FLAPJACK! Fans fire up as both men are down again! Okada and Cima slowly rise as fans rally. Okada glares at Cima, throws forearms then whips. Cima reverses but Okada CLOBBERS him with an elbow! Okada then brings Cima up to whip him to a corner.

Okada runs in, back elbows Cima, and kicks him for a DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans applaud, and Okada brings Cima up to throw him out. Okada whips Cima into railing! And then another DDT to the floor! Fans rally up as Red Shoes checks on Cima. Cima’s okay to continue, so Okada runs a full lap around the ring to basement dropkick Cima down! Fans fire up for Okada bringing out something new, but now Okada has to catch his breath. Okada brings Cima up and into the ring, wrenches the arm and has the MONEY CLIP! Cima endures and fights his way forward to the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts, Okada lets off quickly.

Cima gets to a corner, Okada runs in but Cima BOOTS him! Cima goes up, SHOTGUN missile dropkick! Then Cima drops a SENTON! Cover, TWO! Fans rally while both men are down, and Cima gets up first. Cima brings Okada up, but Okada fights the fisherman hook! Okada CLUBS Cima, ROCKS him and runs, but Cima follows to dropkick at the ropes! And then SAIDO! Cima fires up, runs, but into Okada’s dropkick! Fans fire up again and Okada drags Cima back up. Okada scoops and SLAMS Cima, then goes to the corner. Okada climbs up, MACHO ELBOW! And fans already fire up for the Rainmaker Pose!

Okada brings Cima up, ripcords, but Cima ducks and waistlocks to straitjacket BACKSTABBER! Cima gets up and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up and Cima sits Okada up. Cima goes to the apron and climbs the ropes, springboard BLINDSIDE METEORA! Fans fire up but Cima resets on the other side! Springboard, but Okada avoids the meteora! Scoop and SPINNING TOMBSTONE! Fans fire up again while both men are down! Okada gets up first and he EuroUppers Cima. Cima eggs Okada on so Okada EuroUppers again. Cima keeps egging Okada on, and fans rally up behind him!

Okada EuroUppers again and Cima ends up in a corner. Okada runs corner to corner but Cima dodges the back elbow! Cima CLUBS Okada, puts him in the corner with legs in the ropes, and DRAPING BACKSTABBERS! Cima drags Okada to a drop zone and then goes to the adjacent corner! Springboard, COAST2COAST! Cima then snapmares Okada to sit in the drop zone! Cima goes up the corner, METEORA STOMPS!? Cima spares his knees to use his feet, but now he’s getting serious! The kneepads come down and Cima goes back up! METEORA, but Okada moves! The bare knees hit mat!

Okada crawls over to Cima as fans fire up, and he clamps on the MONEY CLIP! Cima endures, fans rally up and Cima gets to his feet, only for Okada to hit a BACK2BACKBREAKER! And then MONEY CLIP is put back on! Cima endures again as Okada squeezes tight! Fans rally up, Cima reaches out but Okada drags him to center! Cima kicks and flails but he isn’t giving up yet! Cima reaches out, crawls, but Okada squeezes even tighter! Cima still has life, but Okada bends him back! Red Shoes checks with Cima but Cima is still fighting! ROPEBREAK! Okada lets go and fans cheer as Cima survives.

Okada gets to his feet, drags Cima back up, and gut wrenches again. Cima fights free, rolls Okada then floats to ENZIGURI! Okada staggers, Cima goes for a leg but Okada blocks! Okada turns things to a backslide, Cima rolls through, but into a short arm LARIAT! Okada drags Cima back up for another short arm LARIAT! Okada roars, fans fire up and Okada brings Cima up to ripcord, only for Cima to slip out and SUPERKICK! Cima then fireman’s carries but Okada slips off. Okada spins but Cima jumps! Okada blocks the Code Breaker! Okada brings Cima around to LANDSLIDE! And then ripcord, RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!

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

Cima may have been wearing sky blue, but there were clouds in his way! The Rainmaker stands tall and is headed to the final four! But Cima has won Okada’s respect, as Okada bows on hands and knees in respect. Cima returns that respect, as both men have proven how #GLEAT they are today. Okada gets his title back on and then gets the mic to say, “Everyone, thank you for your hot, hot, hot support tonight!” Okada says many may not know his connection to Cima, but they both had the same teacher in Ultimo Dragon. “In that sense, Cima is a relative to me.”

They had their own paths, and Okada found his way to NJPW. But for them to meet and fight in a NJPW ring means a lot to Okada. If he represents another company and fights in the New Japan Cup, well, that just means other companies have great wrestlers, too.” Fans applaud that sentiment. Okada adds that the best are in NJPW. And Okada promises they’ll all keep tearing it up in the very best ring for the fans! Fans applaud that, too. Okada then says, “Wrestling in the New Japan Cup here in Nagaoka reminds me of three years ago. Back then, I won the Cup and became champion. I’m already champion now, so next is winning the Cup.”

Fans cheer that, remembering back to that time. Okada reminds everyone that there’s still more tomorrow, all part of this anniversary year, so he hopes everyone returns tomorrow. And he promises to keep making it rain in the New Japan Cup! Will Okada relive three years ago and have both top title and tournament cup?

My Thoughts:

Another very good event, and of the non tournament matches, I had to do the 10 Man cuz that was a match I was expecting from the Guerrillas VS Bullet Club story. It even had the five guys from Bullet Club I expected, but I didn’t think they were gonna win. I suppose it does set up a Junior Heavyweight Tag title match, so maybe Jado’s vindication is when he gets a 1v1 with Gedo or something. I skipped the others cuz we had three Young Lions as one team, the IWGP Heavyweight Tag champs together again, and just some tune-up tags. I will say, United Empire winning of Suzuki-Gun’s Douki, Taichi and Zack Sabre Jr. didn’t really affect math since Henare pinned Douki.

As for the New Japan Cup, Naito VS Cobb was great stuff, roughly on par with their WrestleKingdom match. Naito wins again but in a quick way to establish Cobb is getting closer to the top but he’s still not there. Okada VS Cima was also great stuff, and as I figured, that was Cima’s best match in NJPW. Okada wins, of course, but that’s big for him to show respect to Cima there. Okada VS Naito is going to be an awesome semifinal, and at this point, I feel like it could go either way. Naito could easily ruin Okada’s run at the Cup as payback from New Years Golden Series, and then he has a shot at the title in his back pocket if he doesn’t win the finals.

My Score: 8.7/10