We’re just one step away from the finals!

NJPW’s 2022 New Japan Cup and its biggest field ever is down to the FINAL FOUR! Who makes it through to tomorrow’s finals?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 10 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Master Wato & Guerrillas of Destiny VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins, by disqualification.
• Six Man Tag: Toru Yano, Tomohiro Ishii & Togi Makabe VS Suzuki-Gun; Yano, Ishii & Makabe win.
• Six Man Tag: Suzuki-Gun VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
• Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask, Tomoaki Honma & Hirooki Goto VS Strong Hearts; Strong Hearts win.
• YOSHI-HASHI & YOH VS Jeff Cobb & Great-O-Khan; Cobb & Khan win.
• Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI VS Will Ospreay & Aaron Henare; Ospreay & Henare win.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shingo Takagi VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins and advances to the finals.
• 2022 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Kazuchika Okada VS Tetsuya Naito; Naito wins and advances to the finals.

PLAY BY PLAY

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

The Once in a Century Talent has joined the Jado Avengers! Will the Ace, Six or Nine, the Good Bad Guy and Silverback finally be a winning combination over Taiji Ishimori, El Phantasmo, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & Gedo? Or do heroes fall to Too Sweet?

Once again, Bullet Club bails out of the ring, but Jado’s team is ready! Taguchi goes after Chase, then Taiji, while Wato is after ELP. Fale goes after Wato but Tanahashi’s after him. GoD go after Gedo, the bell rings to put this on record! ELP ROCKS Wato, Tanahashi CLUBS Fale, GoD knock Gedo down and Taguchi knocks Chase down. Tama throws hands on Chase now, Loa is after Fale, and Wato puts ELP in. Taguchi helps out, Six or Nine double whips to double drop toehold and double  basement dropkick! ELP goes to a corner, Taiji runs in, but into Wato’s back elbow, uppercut and sobat!

Wato stomps ELP, drags him over and tags Taguchi. They mug ELP, Taguchi snapmares and throws a point blank hip attack. Tag to Wato, he gives a point blank hip attack! Tag back to Taguchi, another point blank hip. Tag to Tanahashi, and he gives a point blank hip attack! Tag back to Wato, another point blank hip! Tag to Taguchi, yet another point blank hip! Tag to Tama, and fans rally up! Tama brings ELP up, point blank hip! Fans cheer and Tama smiles. Tag to Wato, he and Taguchi both get in, and Taguchi knocks the rest of Bullet Club down while Wato bumps ELP off buckles.

Taguchi sets up in a corner and fans rally up. Wato whips but ELP reverses and Fale CLOBBERS Wato! Taguchi is unaware as he gets into the groove, but ELP knocks down the rest of the team! Fale storms over to Taguchi, ELP stomps Wato, and Taguchi realizes something is wrong. He turns around and freaks out when he sees Fale! Fale CLUBS Taguchi in the ass! And then again! Taguchi falls over and Fale pushes him out. Gedo SPANKS Taguchi! Gedo drags Taguchi out to RAM into railing! Taiji puts Wato in and ELP stands on Wato’s chest! ELP DOUBLE STOMPS Wato, then tags Taiji.

Taiji hops up, ELP has Wato in a double underhook, and Taiji jumps down, to claw Wato on the back! Wato falls over while ELP flexes. Fans rally up, the ref keeps Fale and Tanahashi from brawling again, and Taiji keeps Wato from reaching his team. Taiji CLUBS Wato on the back, and ELP CLAWS him! Taiji CLAWS him, too! Gedo keeps Wato trapped, Taiji brings Wato up to scoop and SLAM! Tag to Fale, but all of Bullet Club stands on Wato! The ref is busy keeping Tanahashi back but Tama gets in to CLUB everyone down! They hit Tama back, and Fale stomps Wato. Fale DECKS Loa and ROCKS Tanahashi!

Fans rally for Wato but Fale drags him up. Tag to Chase, they mug Wato, and Chase stomps Wato down. Chase drags Wato into a chinlock, grinds Wato down, but Wato reaches out. Chase drags him away, fans rally up more, and Wato throws body shots. Chase CLUBS away and stomps Wato back down! Wato’s team coaches him but Chase says, “SUCK IT!” Chase runs, into a CALF KICK! Both men are down, fans fire up, and Wato hot tags in Loa! Loa rallies on Chase, fires off on Bullet Club, then swings on Chase. Chase blocks and he fires off a strike fest! But Loa hits an atomic drop! Loa runs, and LARIATS!

Loa rallies on Chase again, SPINEBUSTER! Fans fire up and Loa waits on Chase to get up. Loa runs but ELP CLOBBERS him! Taiji and ELP intercept Tama! The Cutest Tag Team reel in GoD, but GoD suplexes them first! Fans fire up and GoD corner SPLASH and LARIAT! Then they switch the other way, LARIAT and SPLASH! GoD whip Chase, body shot, uppercut and NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up and Loa tags in Tanahashi! The Ace fires up, but then gets a bit wary when Fale gets in! But GoD back him up! Tanahashi gets around, waistlocks Fale, Tama dropkicks, then Loa dropkicks! Tanahashi then runs to SLINGBLADE!

Fans fire up as Fale goes down! Chase runs in, Tanahashi blocks the kick to DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi intercepts Gedo stepping in, DRAGONS CREW! Fans fire up as Tanahashi runs, but Chase gets around to half nelson! Tanahashi elbows free, runs, into a BOOT! Chase ducks the Shotei to C-TRIGGER! Chase runs, C-TRIGGER! Chase drags Tanahashi back up, underhooks, but he shoves Tanahashi away as Wato FLYING UPPERCUTS! Taiji SEATED SENTONS Wato! Taguchi HIP ATTACKS Taiji! ELP ENZIGURIS Taguchi! Loa catches ELP and scoops him to a POWERSLAM! Fans fire up but Fale LARIATS Loa!

Tama forearms Fale, he stays up, but Tama baits him to ropes and dumps him out! Chase sees Tama and freaks out! Chase grabs the ref, Gedo gets in, AMERICAN SAKURA! Those damn silver knuckles! Gedo wants Tanahashi to get up, but JADO tackles him! Jado fires off hands on Gedo but the ref sees that! He rings the bell!!

Winners: Bullet Club, by disqualification

Chase goes after Jado! Tama goes after Chase! Tama throws Chase out, then he and Loa check on Jado. GoD drag Gedo up, Bullet Club won’t get to celebrate this one! Tanahashi has the knuckle! And he gives it to Jado! But Chase drags Gedo out of the ring! Bullet Club still keeps winning one way or another against Jado’s team, but is their luck starting to run out?

2022 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shingo Takagi VS Zack Sabre Jr!

The Rampaging Dragon got through his friend, Hiromu Takahashi, while the Submission Master scored a win over his longtime rival, Will Ospreay. Both have been to the finals of this tournament, but who falls this close to the finish?

The bell rings and fans rally up as the two stare down. They circle, approach, feel out the grapple, and fight for control. They end up on ropes, and Takagi lets off fast. ZSJ and Takagi reset, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Takagi finds leverage and pushes ZSJ back but ZSJ turns it around. ZSJ hooks Takagi’s arms in the ropes, but he still lets off clean. Fans cheer that as the two reset again. They feel out a knuckle lock, and then go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength. Takagi pushes the wristlocks, puts more pressure, but ZSJ keeps fighting up. ZSJ rolls back and reverses pressure onto Takagi.

Takagi fights up now, he turns things around but ZSJ turns them again to kick and cravat! Takagi gets to ropes and fans cheer as ZSJ lets off quickly. ZSJ backs off to his corner and they reset again. ZSJ talks a little smack, he and Takagi tie up, and ZSJ gets around to spin Takagi for a cravat. Takagi endures the neck wrench, arm-drags free, and things speed up! ZSJ turns hip toss into cobra twist, but Takagi hip tosses free anyway! ZSJ avoids the sliding lariat, boots Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to run ZSJ over! Fans fire up and Takagi drops a knee on ZSJ. Takagi puts ZSJ in the corner, then puts his leg on the ropes to kick it!

The ref reprimands as Takagi keeps kicking, then Takagi stands on the leg! The ref reprimands, Takagi steps off to stand ZSJ up. Takagi fires off back elbows then ROCKS him with a forearm! Takagi stands ZSJ up again to whip to ropes and knee hard against them! Fans fire up, Takagi suplexes but ZSJ counters with a GUILLOTINE! Takagi powers out, ZSJ headbutts low and snapmares, but Takagi kicks ZSJ away before the twist! Takagi gets the leg, but ZSJ steps through the Dragon Screw to get the NECK TWIST! Fans fire up while Takagi bails out. ZSJ takes a moment to catch his breath while Takagi clutches his neck.

Fans rally up as Takagi stands. ZSJ goes out after Takagi to EuroUpper! And again! And again! ZSJ fires off more EuroUppers against the railing! The ref goes out and ZSJ stops. ZSJ then drags Takagi up to put him in the ring. APRON NECK TWIST! The ref reprimands and counts as ZSJ keeps on the neck. ZSJ lets off at 4, fans applaud and rally up. “TA-KA-GI!” “Z S J!” is the rhythm as ZSJ stands on Takagi’s head at the ropes. The ref reprimands but ZSJ talks trash on Takagi. ZSJ steps off to kick Takagi in the back! ZSJ also gives toying kicks to the head, then he fires off kicks in the corner. Takagi ROCKS ZSJ with a forearm!

ZSJ tackles Takagi and claws at Takagi’s face! The ref reprimands, ZSJ puts on a necklock! ZSJ pushes up to put pressure, then gets an arm. Takagi endures and fans rally up. ZSJ pulls on the arm but Takagi clasps hands. Takagi moves around, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets off, storms up to Takagi and drags him up to EuroUpper against ropes. ZSJ eggs Takagi on, so Takagi CHOPS! ZSJ staggers, but he cravats and neck wrenches! Takagi grabs ropes, the ref counts and ZSJ lets off. ZSJ brings Takagi up to headlock, but Takagi powers out to ELBOW! JAB! But ZSJ jumps on for a GUILLOTINE! Takagi powers out and TOSSES ZSJ!

Fans fire up while both men are down. Fans rally up and Takagi sits up first. Takagi stands, brings ZSJ up, but ZSJ fights the saido. Takagi throws a body shot, a knee, and runs. ZSJ goes to arm-drag but Takagi blocks it! Takagi drags ZSJ back up to throw him down! And drop elbow after elbow, but then anticipates ZSJ putting up his knees! Takagi pushes the legs aside to drop a SENTON! Fans fire up again as Takagi checks his neck. Takagi tells everyone there’s more to come! Takagi gets up, stands ZSJ up, but ZSJ EuroUppers, only to miss! Takagi waistlocks but ZSJ elbows free and cravats for another neck wrench!

Takagi endures and fights up to scoop and SLAM ZSJ! Takagi hurries up the corner, YUKON ELBOW, but into an ARMBAR! ZSJ has the arm! Takagi scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Fans cheer and ZSJ lets off quickly. Fans rally up while both men are down. Takagi works on getting his bad arm moving but ZSJ is up first. ZSJ stands on the bad hand, steps over to hammerlock and ARM TWIST! Takagi clutches the arm, but ZSJ isolates it in a top wristlock to STOMP it! Takagi writhes and the ref checks on him, but Takagi says he won’t stop here. Fans rally up and ZSJ eggs Takagi on.

ZSJ gives toying kicks, again and again and again, but Takagi blocks the boot! JAB! YUKON feint to a DDT! Both men are down again and fans fire up! Takagi shakes out the bad arm and then he drives elbows into ZSJ’s shoulder over and over and over! Fans rally, Takagi runs but ZSJ catches the sliding lariat into a DISARMER! ZSJ bends the arm back, then has it in an INVERTED ARMBAR! Takagi endures, even as ZSJ keeps him trapped with leg scissors! ZSJ even hooks one of the legs, it’s part Bow ‘n’ Arrow now! Fans rally up as Takagi fights free, scrambles, and gets a ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go in frustration as fans cheer.

Fans rally back up and both men slowly rise. ZSJ stands, he EuroUppers Takagi, but has to back off from his own back pain. ZSJ EuroUppers again, then again but Takagi catches ZSJ in a Gory Especial! ZSJ slips out to sleeper hold, but Takagi fights out to put ZSJ in the sleeper hold! ZSJ sits down as Takagi leans on the hold, then Takagi shifts to a dragon sleeper! But ZSJ fights up to turn it around on Takagi! Takagi slips around to suplex but ZSJ slips off and gets the sleeper hold back! Takagi steps around to power out, and he pops ZSJ up to fireman’s carry and DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Fans fire up as both men are down again!

Fans rally, ZSJ rolls away to a corner. Takagi storms over, kicks at ZSJ, then brings him up. Takagi throws headbutts to ZSJ’s back, then hoists him up top. Takagi climbs, throws some body shots, then goes to the very top, SUPERPLEX! Fans fire up while both men are down again! Takagi’s superplex was double-edged given his bad shoulder and neck! Fans rally harder as Takagi crawls after ZSJ. ZSJ rolls away so Takagi fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” Fans fire up with him, Takagi gets the bad arm moving, and he runs corner to corner at ZSJ to clothesline! Then runs again, but into ZSJ’s backslide! Roll through, jackknife, TWO!!

Takagi is up, he spins ZSJ around to pump handle, but ZSJ wheelbarrows, only for Takagi to block! But ZSJ fights off the wheelbarrow suplex to victory roll and body scissor to EURO CLUTCH! TWO!! Takagi escapes, ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Takagi swings, into a full nelson, DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridge, ONE!! ZSJ couldn’t hold long, but he gets to a corner as Takagi flounders. Fans rally up again and Takagi crawls his way over. ZSJ runs in, PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! ZSJ grows annoyed and he copies the “OI! OI! OI!” Fans rally, Takagi gets up and ZSJ scoops, Takagi slips out, ROLLING COBRA! TWO!! ZSJ escapes and fans fire up!

ZSJ BOOTS, scoops, but Takagi blocks and wrenches out to pump handle and… MADE IN JAPAN! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and fans fire up again! Takagi grows frustrated, he shakes out the bad arm, and fans rally back up. Takagi roars and drags ZSJ back up. Takagi pump handles but ZSJ throws down elbows to fight the lift. Takagi and ZSJ both sit down. They each give a head junkyard dog headbutts, then stand back up. ZSJ EuroUppers, but he has to back off again. Takagi eggs ZSJ on and fans rally. ZSJ EuroUppers, and again, but there’s not a lot of power. Takagi fires off boxing elbows over and over and over!

ZSJ SLAPS Takagi! ZSJ fires off slapping palm strikes from all sides! JAB from Takagi! But ZSJ boots Takagi’s lariat! ZSJ jumps, Takagi catches him, but ZSJ wrenches out to PELE the arm! Takagi uses that momentum to run and SLIDING FOREARM! Takagi keeps going, PUMPING BOMBER!! But the bad arm slows Takagi down! Fans are thunderous, Takagi roars and he drags ZSJ back up! Pump handle, torture rack, but ZSJ fights off to IRON- NO! No octopus! Takagi powers up but ZSJ shifts around to a sleeper! He drags Takagi down, ARMBAR! Takagi moves around, but he ends up in a TRIANGLE HOLD!

ZSJ drive elbows in again and again, then uses all leg! Takagi doesn’t give up, ZSJ throws more elbows in, but Takagi still deadlifts! Fireman’s carry, but ZSJ slips around to a sleeper again! Takagi pries at the leg scissors, but ZSJ squeezes tighter! Takagi is fading, but he gets a second wind! Fans are thunderous as Takagi goes up the corner! SUPER BACKPACK SENTON!! But ZSJ holds on!?! Takagi flails, rolls around, ZSJ keeps after the back mount! Fans are thunderous again, but Takagi FLOPS! The ref calls it, ZSJ WINS!!

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by submission (advances to the finals)

The Submission Master hath slain the Dragon!! He returns to the New Japan Cup finale, will he be able to pull off another powerful performance in just 24 hours?

2022 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Kazuchika Okada VS Tetsuya Naito!

The Rainmaker overcame the #GLEAT CIMA, while the Uncontrollable Charisma survived the Hawaiian Hulk. Okada won against Naito in a world title match back in the New Years Golden Series, but that won’t slow Naito down. Will Naito be tranquilo all the way to the finals? Or will Okada keep his promise to be both IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and New Japan Cup winner at the same time?

The elaborate entrance attire is put aside, Naito of course taking his time. Okada is patient, he’s seen this plenty of times. The bell rings and fans applaud as these two stare down. Okada approaches and Naito stays by ropes, but they slowly circle. They feel out the grapple, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Naito uses a hand in Okada’s face, perhaps grabbing his nose, to put him on ropes. Red Shoes counts the ropebreak, and Naito lets off. Naito pats Okada on the shoulders, and fans applaud as they reset. Okada and Naito circle, tie up again, and Naito gets around. Okada wrenches the waistlock to a wristlock and he YANKS the arm.

Naito drop toeholds then floats to a headlock. Okada fights up, Naito grinds the hold, but Okada pries at the hold. Naito clamps on tighter, thrashes Okada around, but Okada fights up again. Naito powers up to keep the hold but Okada slips out to hammerlock. But Naito slips out the back to headlock! Fans cheer this technical exchange, and Naito grinds the headlock again. Naito brings Okada to his knees, but Okada fights back up. Okada throws body shots, pries at the headlock again, and he turns it around onto Naito. Naito rolls back to a cover, ONE, but Naito tries again. ONE, and Okada still has the headlock.

Naito endures, even as Okada pulls on the hold. Naito rolls but past the cover to pop out and headlock back! Okada keeps his shoulders up but Naito traps an arm. Okada headscissors back and holds tight as Naito tries to kip free. Okada pushes up to add pressure, but Naito endures. Naito kicks arounds, pops free, and rolls Okada to snapmare and headlock. Naito cranks on the hold, but Okada endures. Okada fights up, puts Naito on ropes, and Red Shoes counts the ropebreak. Naito lets go, Okada backs off, but Okada kicks low! Okada reels Naito into the headlock and fans cheer the exchange!

Naito powers up and out, but Okada runs him over! Fans cheer again, Okada throws forearms on Naito then whip him to ropes. Naito reverses to arm-drag Okada down! And kick low, to run, for a RANA! Fans fire up while Naito catches his breath. Naito drags Okada up, snapmares him down, and has a seated neck wrench with the cravat! Okada endures again, even as Naito pulls way back. Okada fights around to the ropebreak! The fans cheer, Red Shoes counts, and Naito brings Okada up to bump off buckles. Naito throws hard back elbows in the corner, and Okada sits down. Naito digs his boots in but Red Shoes counts.

Naito lets off but Okada puts Naito up top! DROPKICK! Naito tumbles to the floor! Okada catches his breath while Naito stirs and fans rally up as the ring count starts. Okada goes out, he brings Naito up to whip into railing! And then BOOTS him over! Fans fire up and Okada looms over Naito. Okada drags Naito back up and over the railing, for a DRAPING DDT to the floor! Naito is SPIKED, then he flops over! Okada is ice cold as he goes back to the ring, but the fans rally back up. Red Shoes checks but Naito is still in this. The ring count starts and Okada waits on Naito. Naito shakes out his arms at 5 of 20, and slowly sits up at 10.

Naito stands at 15, hobbles over, and gets in at 17! Okada looms over Naito again, stands on him for a cocky cover, but Red Shoes doesn’t count. Naito pushes the foot away anyway, but Okada kicks him around. Okada eggs Naito on and Naito gets up to CHOP! Okada doesn’t flinch, but Naito CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Okada kicks low, reels Naito in and NECKBREAKER! Then chinlock! Naito endures, pries at the hold, Okada grinds Naito down! Naito reaches out, but Okada cranks him back harder! Fans rally and Naito keeps reaching out forward! ROPEBREAK! Okada lets off and fans cheer again.

Okada paces while Red Shoes checks on Naito. Naito’s still okay to continue, and he fires off forearms! Okada eggs him on, Naito keeps hitting, Okada kicks low and whips. Naito reverses, Okada ducks and dodges but Naito dropkicks the legs out! Fans rally up again, Naito throws more forearms and kicks! Naito CLUBS, whips, and hip tosses for a basement dropkick! Okada bails out but Naito pursues. Naito drags Okada up, and whips him into railing! Naito then CLUBS Okada on the neck, then again. Then he kicks Okada’s leg, and wraps it around railing! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Naito fires more forearms!

Red Shoes reprimands more but Naito lets off to get space, and he runs in to dropkick the railing! Okada’s leg gets jammed and he falls over! Fans fire up and Naito leaves Okada behind to go into the ring. Fans rally up and the ring count starts. Okada clutches his leg, grits his teeth, fights his way up, and is up at 15, to get in at 16! Naito knows just by the count stopping, and he stomps Okada down. Naito stomps the leg, scuffs Okada around, then stomps the leg again! Okada manages to get up but Naito has the bad leg, for a SHIN BREAKER! And then he runs, but Okada dodges the basement dropkick! Only to swing into a BACKBREAKER!

Naito drags Okada into the leg hook full nelson! Okada endures, fans rally up, and Okada moves around. Okada gets the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes wants Naito to let go but as always with this hold, Naito claims he needs help. Red Shoes counts, Naito holds his hands up, and Red Shoes pries the legs off. Naito stomps Okada, then looms over him. And then stomps him more! Naito drags Okada up, turns him, but Okada elbows out of the neckbreaker! Okada blocks a kick to spin Naito and BOOT him down! Fans rally up as Okada grits his teeth and runs corner to corner. BIG back elbow, then a kick and DDT! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up again while both men are down. Okada stands, waits on Naito, then Alabama Lifts. Naito fights that off, CLUBS away on Okada’s back, but Okada back drops, only for Naito to make that an arm-drag! Okada rushes in, but Naito wrenches and hits a NECKBREAKER! Fans rally up again and Naito catches his breath and shakes out the cobwebs. Okada crawls his way to a corner, Naito runs in, but Okada BOOTS first! Naito dodges the shotgun dropkick to atomic drop! Naito shoves Okada to a corner, JUMP KICK! Leg sweep, COMBIN- NO! Alabama Lift and REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Then MONEY CLIP!

Fans rally, Naito endures and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Okada lets off and fans rally up again, “O-KA-DA!” “NA-I-TO!” Okada drags Naito up first, scoops him and SLAMS him into the drop zone. Okada climbs to the top, but Naito gets up and rushes over! Okada leaps over him, but turns around into Naito’s spin and TORNADO- NO! No DDT, but Naito dodges the lariat, to run into the dropkick! Fans fire up and Okada has the MONEY CLIP! Okada grinds Naito down again as he squeezes tight, but fans rally as Naito endures! Naito kicks and reaches, gets up, but Okada hits a BACK2BACKBREAKER! And then, MONEY CLIP!

Naito endures all over again and fans rally back up. Naito kicks around, Okada squeezes tighter, but Naito still fights forward! Okada cranks the hold and Red Shoes checks on Naito. Naito is fading, turning purple, but he gets a second wind and the ROPEBREAK! Fans fire up again while both men are down. Okada brings Naito up, scoops and SLAMS him again, then goes back to the corner. Okada climbs up again, MACHO ELBOW! And fans fire up for the Rainmaker Pose! Okada drags Naito up, ripcords, but Naito gets around to hook a leg, LIGHTNING SPIRAL! Both men are down again and fans fire up!

Fans rally, “O-KA-DA!” “NA-I-TO!” as both men stir. Naito sits up first and gets to a corner. He watches Okada get up, runs in, but Okada dodges the dropkick! Okada uppercuts, whips, but Naito reverses and TORNADO DDT’s! Fans fire up again and Naito sees Okada go to the corner. Naito puts Okada up top, climbs up after him, and SUPER STEINER! Fans stay fired up as Naito again aims from the corner. Naito runs in, but into an elbow! And then an uppercut! Okada runs in but misses in the corner! Naito throws more hard back elbows! Red Shoes reprimands, and counts, and Naito lets up.

Naito brings Okada up, to throw more back elbows! Fans keep rallying and Red Shoes reprimands again. Naito steps back, to throw more elbows! Naito CLUBS Okada down, and then he pushes Red Shoes away. Naito hops up the corner, stands Okada up, ESPERANZA! Fans fire up again and Naito encourages them to get louder. They get louder, so Naito runs in and CORRIENDO SHIKI DESTINO! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives but Naito stays cool. Naito looms over Okada, brings him up, wrench and tilt-o-whirl, but Okada slips free! Naito ROLLING KICKS, then hammerlocks and half nelsons! GLORIA! Then Naito goes up top?! STARDUST PRESS FLOPS!!

Okada escapes disaster and fans fire up again! Both men stir, and Okada stands up in the corner. Okada glares and then runs in, to SHOTGUN Naito to the other corner! Fans still rally as Okada drags Naito up. Naito blocks the gut wrench, fans rally up more, and Okada CLUBS Naito. Okada turns to a backslide, but he lets Naito slip off for a short arm LARIAT! Okada keeps wrist control and he drags Naito back up. Short arm LARIAT! Okada roars and fans fire up with him! Okada drags Naito back up, ripcord, but Naito fires off back elbows! Okada still holds on, so GERMAN SUPLEX! And Okada still holds on!

Okada brings Naito back up, ripcord, but Naito dodges! But Okada DROPKICKS again! Okada roars again and fans are fired up again! Okada gut wrenches, but Naito kicks and flails to fight it off. Naito throws body shots, then he scoops Okada, but Okada slips off! DISCUS- NO! Naito blocks to fire off elbows! Okada gets around, ripcord, but Naito ducks and tilt-o-whirls, only for Okada to block Destino! But Okada then lets Naito down, short arm- No! Naito ducks and ENZIGURIS! Naito whips, Okada reverses, but Naito fakes out the dropkick! ROLLING JACKKNIFE! TWO!! Fans are thunderous as Okada escapes!

Okada Alabama Lifts, but Naito sunset flips, only for Okada to sit on the cover! TWO!! Okada swings, Naito ducks but Okada elbows the waistlock. Naito swings, Okada ducks and ripcords, but Naito wrenches to hammerlock, POLVO DE ESTRELLA! Cover, Naito WINS!!

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

Naito redeems himself from the New Years Golden Series, and the Rainmaker’s promise has been broken! Naito gets a win off the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and keeps him from the finals! Okada is just as stunned as anyone, and Naito rubs it in with a tranquilo reclining. Okada applauds, because he does respect Naito. Naito then catches his breath and gets the mic.

“Buenas noches, Osaka-Jo Hall~! Osaka-Jo Hall hosted two New Japan Cup semifinal matches today. Thank you all for coming out to the venue. Gracias, amigos.” Fans cheer that sentiment, and Naito says, “By th eway, where’s tomorrow’s opponent? Has he gone home already? You’re still hanging out, aren’t you? Why not come down to the ring? Zack-chan, where are you? Zack, c’mon. Where are you? Have you gone home?” Fans clap for ZSJ, and he appears! Naito says, “Took you long enough, Zack-san. Please, come down to the ring.” ZSJ says, “Hasta manana,” he’l lsee Naito tomorrow. But Naito says in English, “Please, come to the ring. Please.”

ZSJ tries Japanese now, “Ashita, ashita,” tomorrow. ZSJ commends Naito on a good day’s work, but ZSJ says okay then. “Zack-san? Tomorrow? Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.” ZSJ gives back the “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu,” as both men look forward to “working” with each other. Fans cheer that exchange, and Naito adds “Hasta manana. Adios.” Naito then poses the question: Will he win the New Japan Cup? Or will it be Zack Sabre Jr? The last time they went 1v1 in Osaka was in the G1 Climax opener. ZSJ did win that, so please look forward to Naito getting his revenge tomorrow! And until then, the final here in Osaka-Jo Hall, TRANQUILO! Assen na yo. He hopes to see everyone back here tomorrow.

But for now, we close this out the only right way! “Bushi! Sanada! Hiromu! Takagi! Y Naito. Nosotros… Los Ingoberrrrrnables~! DE! JA! PON!” The Uncontrollable Charisma will meet the Submission Master in the finale of the biggest New Japan Cup ever! Who takes that trophy and goes for the gold at Hyper Battle?

My Thoughts:

A great penultimate event for the New Japan Cup! The 10 Man Tag opening was pretty convenient for me, but it was surprising that Bullet Club won again, and with a disqualification. All of this has to mean a sweep from #JadoAvengers, from the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles to GoD VS Chase & Fale to Jado VS Gedo. We got a lot of fun looking filler matches, good to see Strong Hearts get a win as a trio, and the United Empire stays strong because I’m still thinking they’ll challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles, and Ospreay can do any number of things in the background of the world title scene.

The semifinal matches were awesome stuff, and honestly both results surprised me. I thought Takagi was going to get back to the finals but ZSJ got him with that sleeper and is very strong going into the finals. Naito winning off his unique cradle was a great way to keep Okada strong in the loss. Naito now has a title match in his back pocket, so I can’t be sure he wins the cup. Naito won the cup back in 2016, the year before ZSJ did, this is going to be an awesome match for the finals.

My Score: 8.9/10