Who will be the final two into the quarterfinals?

The New Japan Cup keeps moving right along, and Shota Umino takes on the Mighty Front Man! Will Zack Sabre Jr. look to repeat history as cup winner?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Aaron Henare VS Yuto Nakashima; Henare wins.
• Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Ryohei Oiwa VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Just4Guys VS The House of Torture; Just4Guys win.
• Six Man Tag: Tama Tonga, Ren Narita & Jado VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• 10 Man Tag: Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano, Tomoaki Honma, YOH & Lio Rush VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; Ishii, Yano, Honma, Yoh & Lio win.
• New Japan Cup 2023, Second Round: Great-O-Khan VS David Finlay; Finaly wins and advances.
• New Japan Cup 2023, Second Round: Shota Umino VS Zack Sabre Jr; Shota wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

BREAKING NEWS for the tournament!

Despite winning in the main event on March 13th, Will Ospreay’s shoulder will NOT allow him to continue! Mark Davis advances by forfeit to face Evil next round, will Dunkzilla be able to take down the King of Darkness in the Kingpin’s place?

New Japan Cup 2023, Second Round: Great-O-Khan w/ The United Empire VS David Finlay w/ Gedo!

The United Empire has been falling in the Cup, with only one man through to the next round. Will the Dominator be able to join the Commonwealth Kingpin? Or will Bullet Club’s new leader rebel against the Empire?

Khan draws his sword and Finlay dares him to do something, but the ref has both men stand down. The bell rings and the two step to each other as fans rally up. Finlay shoves Khan, Khan fires a forearm, and the forearms fire off back and forth! Fans rally, Finlay gets the edge, and he eggs Khan on. Khan grins and pats Finlay on the shoulder, before he throws another forearm! The forearms go fast and furious again, Khan ROCKS Finlay, and Khan eggs Finlay on. Finlay comes back to CHOP! Khan CHOPS in return! Finlay CHOPS, Khan CHOPS, and now it’s a CHOP fight! Khan CHOPS and CHOPS, but Finlay throat chops!

Finlay throws Khan out, goes out and RAMS Khan into railing! Finlay throws down hands while Gedo cheers him on. Finlay stomps Khan down, then eggs on the rest of the Empire. The Empire stays back so Finlay digs his fingers into Khan’s face! The ref reprimands, Finlay lets off and he Too Sweets Gedo. Finlay then wraps Khan’s hair around the railing and CLUBS away on his face! The ref reprimands, Finlay lets off and he RAMS Khan into the railing again! Khan drapes over the railing and Kyle Fletcher tells Finlay from commentary, “You’re an a-hole!” Finlay says Fletcher is Australian and that’s worse.

Finlay puts Khan back in the ring, fans applaud and Finlay taunts them, “This is your guy?” Finlay stomps Khan on the arm, then the leg, then the other leg. Khan writhes, Finlay knees for the cover, TWO! Fans rally up and Finlay drags Khan up. Finlay UPPERCUTS Khan to a corner, UPPERCUTS him again, and then UPPERCUTS again! Finlay stomps a mudhole into Khan, but the ref counts. Finlay digs his boots in, stands on Khan, and fans boo as Finlay lets off. Finlay taunts the fans and The Empire, then throws up the Too Sweet. Fans rally for Khan as Finlay storms over. Khan CHOPS, but Finlay snap suplexes! Cover, TWO!

Finlay is annoyed but the fans rally back up. Finlay sits Khan up and wraps him up in a cobra clutch! Khan endures, fights up, pries at the hold, and fans rally again. Finlay knees low and hard, and again, and again! Finlay gut wrenches but Khan slips free, so Finlay ROCKS him! Finlay runs, into a SAYANAGI! Fans rally up while both men are down. Finlay crawls to a corner but Khan rises. Khan drags Finlay up, to Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chop again! Khan whips Finlay corner to corner to clothesline, then he clinches for a BIG Belly2Belly! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally as Khan clamps onto Finlay with a head ‘n’ arm triangle! Khan puts as much weight as he can on Finlay but Finlay reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Khan fishhooks Finlay’s face, but he lets off at 4. Fans rally again while Finlay slowly rises. Khan runs in but Finlay dodges the boot to roll Khan! With tights! TWO, Finlay clinches Khan but Khan fights free. The forearms start flying again, Finlay UPPERCUTs but Khan HELL STABS! Finlay rebounds, into a BOOT! Cover, TWO! Finlay is hanging tough but fans rally behind Khan. Khan stands and crosses his arms behind his back. Khan kicks at Finlay, then drags him up.

Khan suplexes, Finlay slips out and CHOP BLOCKS! Khan clutches his knee and shouts in pain but Gedo likes what he sees. Finlay grins, he drags Khan up and fishhooks him into a CROSSFACE FOREARM! And another! And another! And another! And another! Fans rally as the ref backs Finlay off. Finlay says he was using the forearm, not the fist. Finlay gut wrenches again, to a CLIFFHANGER! Cover, TWO!! Khan is still in this but Finlay taunts him. Finlay kicks at Khan, fans rally up, and Khan sits up. Finlay slaps Khan around, gives him more kicks, and Khan gets mad! Khan swings, but into a spin!

Finlay dragon sleepers but Khan slips through to IRON CLAW SLEEPER!! Finlay throws elbows and is free, but he catches Khan to an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Cover, ONE?!!? Even Kyle is fired up! Finlay taunts Khan, “Oh, you want more? You want more?” Finlay looms over Khan, drags him up, runs, and LARIATS! Khan stays up!? And he eggs Finlay on! Finlay runs, LARIATS, and Khan staggers around, but he stays on his feet! Fans fire up as Khan eggs Finlay on. Finlay ROCKS Khan, runs, but Khan dodges, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Both men are down and fans are thunderous!

Khan and Finlay stir, the Empire pounds the apron as the fans clap along. Khan rises, he roars, and the “Monster Rage” is boiling! Khan drags Finlay up, HITSUJIGOROSHI! Finlay flails, but Khan scoops for the BACKBREAKER, into FUBUKI!! Finlay endures, flails, but he’s turning red! The ref checks, the arm drops once! The arm drops twice! But Finlay gets his second wind, only for Khan to iron claw! ELIMI- PRIMA NOCTA!? Finlay snatches that one outta nowhere! Gedo fires up, Finlay staggers over, but the fans rally for Khan. Finlay drags Khan up by his ponytail, and runs to BLINDSIDER LARIAT! Cover, TWO!!

Fans fire up as Khan survives again! Finlay is pissed but the count was fair! Finlay brings down the kneepad, “X marks the spot!” Finlay drags Khan up, but Khan suplexes! Khan tucks the legs, T T D!! Cover, TWO!! Finlay survives now and Gedo shouts for him to get up. The Empire coaches Khan and the fans rally back up. Khan clamps onto Finlay’s face, but Finlay breaks free to HEADBUTT! IRON RIGHT from Khan!! Khan drags Finlay back up, ELIMI- NO! Finlay slips out to suplex and TRASH PANDA!!! Cover, Finlay wins!

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

The King of Darkness cheated Jeff Cobb, but the Rebel eliminated the Dominator fair and square! Will the New Japan Cup end up just Too Sweet?

New Japan Cup 2023, Second Round: Shota Umino VS Zack Sabre Jr w/ Kosei Fujita!

The Roughneck brought down the Tokyo Pimp in the first round, but now he’s up against the NJPW World Television Champion! The Front Man has been undefeated since getting that title, will that continue until he wins the Cup again? Or will #SHOOTER shoot down the dream of back-to-back tournament wins?

Fans cheer Shota’s muscles, very much like they would for Hiroshi Tanahashi. Shota also gives a young fan in the front row a souvenir. ZSJ mockingly applauds that nice gesture. The bell rings and for once, ZSJ doesn’t have to worry about a time limit. Fans rally up as Shota and ZSJ stare down. ZSJ and Shota circle, feel things out, knuckle lock, and then break. They go again, collar ‘n’ elbow, and ZSJ waistlocks. ZSJ puts Shota on the ropes, Red Shoes counts the break, and ZSJ lets off quickly and cleanly. Fans applaud the sportsmanship and the two reset. ZSJ eggs Shota on, he wants to see what Shota’s got.

Shota and ZSJ knuckle lock, Shota drops, rolls, and wrenches to a top wristlock. Shota wrangles ZSJ, but ZSJ gets up, rolls, rolls back, flips and breaks free. Fans applaud the exchange but Shota keeps cool. The two go again with another knuckle lock, Shota shoots around to a waistlock but ZSJ hooks a leg to switch. Shota switches, ZSJ turns around to cravat. Shota brings ZSJ down to roll free and wrench back. ZSJ steps over and gets the cravat right back. ZSJ snapmares, chinlocks, but Shota slips free to hammerlock and cradle, TWO! Fans applaud the exchange and ZSJ has to admit that was good on Shota.

ZSJ and Shota circle and ZSJ admits, “Tanoshi (This is fun).” They feel things out again, knuckle lock, and ZSJ steps over, wrenches and wristlocks with one arm! Then he has the top wristlock and arm-drags Shota to an armlock. Shota keeps his shoulders up and fans rally. Shota kips up, wrenches and WRINGS ZSJ, but ZSJ kangaroo kicks! Fans applaud as the two stand off again. They approach, collar ‘n’ elbow, and ZSJ shoots around to full nelson! Shota endures, reaches out for ropes but ZSJ keeps him away. ZSJ taunts Shota to use technique, but Shota uses a bit of power to get free! Shota then switches the full nelson onto ZSJ!

Fans rally, ZSJ works on his escape, and he uses a leg for leverage in breaking the nelson. ZSJ switches, but Shota switches right back to get the nelson! Fans applaud and ZSJ is annoyed. ZSJ drops, but Shota stops the roll to nelson again! ZSJ breaks free, switches, but Shota switches right back! Fans applaud, Shota snapmares ZSJ but ZSJ headlocks. Shota powers out and he CLOBBERS ZSJ, to then basement dropkick! Fans fire up with Shota while ZSJ checks his chin. Shota paces around ZSJ, stomps him, then CLUBS ZSJ on the back. ZSJ stands but Shota CLUBS him again. Fans rally and Shota brings ZSJ up again.

Shota scoops ZSJ but ZSJ fights and gets to the apron. Shota swings, but into a HANGING ARMBAR in the ropes!! Red Shoes counts, ZSJ lets go at 4, and Shota drops to the mat. ZSJ steps in, he wrenches and WRINGS the bad arm! Shota writhes and ZSJ wants a check. Red Shoes checks Shota’s arm but Shota is okay to continue. ZSJ drags Shoto out and says hold on. He wraps the arm around railing and then BOOTS it! ZSJ says they’re not playing around! ZSJ wrenches and wrenches and KICKS the bad arm! Shota staggers away but ZSJ follows after. ZSJ has the arm, bends the fingers, but Red Shoes reprimands.

ZSJ lets go, gets in the ring, and the ring count begins. Fans applaud as ZSJ soaks it all up. Shota shakes out the arm, stands at 9 of 20 and slides in at 13. But ZSJ is after Shota already! Shota is in the ropes but ZSJ hammerlocks and STOMPS the arm! Then KICKS it! Shota writhes again but ZSJ stands over him. ZSJ asks if this is the future of NJPW. ZSJ drags Shota up, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ says this is what Shota gets for “playing” heavyweight. ZSJ shoves Shota into ropes and HEADBUTTS low! ZSJ then double wristlocks with the bad arm! Shota has the ropes, Red Shoes counts, but ZSJ bends the fingers!

ZSJ YANKS the arm as he lets off at 4, then he stalks Shota. ZSJ gives kick after kick to the bad arm, taunts “Papa” Red Shoes about it, and then lets off. Fans rallies for Shota and ZSJ says Shota needs it. ZSJ drags Shota up, wrenches and wristlocks to then WRINGS Shota’s arm! Shota kangaroo kicks ZSJ away! ZSJ comes back to headbutt low! ZSJ wrenches, but Shota scoops and DROPS ZSJ, to then run and UPPERCUT! Fans fire up with Shota, and ZSJ goes to a corner. Shota whips ZSJ corner to corner, runs in and UPPERCUTS! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Not quite perfect but Shota stays focused.

Shota drags ZSJ up, cravats and wrenches the neck but ZSJ fights free. Only for Shota to get the cravat again! ZSJ snapmares but Shota holds on! ZSJ fights up, Shota snapmares and chinlocks but ZSJ slips out to trap the arm! ARM TWIST!! Shota writhes but ZSJ catches his breath. The fans rally up but ZSJ says, “Mada mada (It’s not over).” ZSJ grabs the arm to DRAGON SCREW it! And then SCREWS it again! And again! Shota grits his teeth, crawls to ropes, but ZSJ is right on him. ZSJ whips Shota, Shota reverses but ZSJ avoids the dropkick to get the arm! FUJIWARA!! Shota endures, fights around, but ZSJ bends the fingers!

Shota fights more, but ZSJ fully mounts the arm! Then shifts to double wristlock! Shota reaches out, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go and fans applaud as Shota survives by a literal foot. ZSJ follows Shota out to the apron, then ZSJ drags Shota up. ZSJ straight arm levers but Shota resists the lift! Shota WRINGS ZSJ’s arm into the apron! Fans fire up while both men are down on the floor! Shota fires up despite the bloody noes and fans rally behind him. Shota wrenches ZSJ’s arm, wrenches it again, then wrenches it again! Shota hammerlocks the arm, then POSTS it!! ZSJ writhes and fans fire up more!

Shota stomps at ZSJ, drags him up, and he knuckle locks. ZSJ grabs at an ear but Shota shakes the bad arm. Shota RAMS ZSJ into railing! Fans rally, Shota drags ZSJ up and puts him in the ring. Red Shoes checks on Shota’s bloody nose, but Shota shoves his dad aside! Shota drags ZSJ up, wrenches the arm, WRINGS ZSJ, but ZSJ kangaroo kicks! Shota still has wrist control, he drags ZSJ up and then brings ZSJ down to TWEAK the arm! Shota grabs the arm, wrenches, CLUBS it, then CLUBS it again! ZSJ eggs Shota on, Shota stomps the shoulder! Shota lets go of ZSJ and paces around. Fans rally up as Shota kicks at ZSJ.

Shota mocks ZSJ and Red Shoes reprimands. Shota eggs ZSJ and ZSJ stands up to UPPERCUT! Shota doesn’t budge, so ZSJ UPPERCUTS again! And again! Those move Shota but ZSJ’s bad arm bothers him. ZSJ whips, Shota reverses, and Shota WRINGS ZSJ to DRAGON SCREW the arm! Fans fire up and Shota brings ZSJ back up. Shota hangs ZSJ out to dry, then runs side to side to DROPKICK ZSJ back down! Shota aims from the corner, ZSJ stands, and Shota runs in to tilt-o-whirl, DOUBLE WRISTLOCK TAKEDOWN! Fans fire up, ZSJ endures, and we’ve reached 15 minutes! ZSJ is going past his usual pace now!

ZSJ fights around as Shota keeps on the double wristlock! ZSJ even dares him to go after it! Shota powers on the hammerlock and ZSJ flails, to get the ROPEBREAK! Fans fire up as now ZSJ survives by a literal foot! Shota goes to the apron, he drags ZSJ up, and Shota has the bad arm. Shota wrenches the good arm, wrenches the bad arm, but ZSJ ROCKS Shota! Shota snarls through his bloody nose as ZSJ throws more forearms! Shota HOTSHOTS the bad arm! Fans fire up as Shota slingshots, for a BIG DDT! But Shota isn’t done there, he wants ZSJ to stand. Shota kicks low, but ZSJ wrenches out to hit an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!

But ZSJ’s bad arm makes it hard from him to hold the hold. Shota fights up, but ZSJ double wrist clutches and pops Shota into another ARMBAR!! ZSJ holds onto the arm with his one good arm, but Shota shifts. ZSJ gets the TRIANGLE HOLD! Shota endures as ZSJ squeezes tighter! ZSJ focuses on just the arm but Shota stomps him down! Shota is free and fans fire up again! But ZSJ DROPKICKS from behind!! Fans fire up more as ZSJ drags Shota up. Shota blocks the scoop and CLUBS away! ZSJ wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! But both men suffer a bit there! ZSJ tries another scoop but Shota slips free, CROSS RHODES!!

Both men are down and Shota still has the dragon sleeper! Shota drags ZSJ up, for another CROSS RHODES!! And then inverted suplex, BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up and Shota runs in, SWINGING NECKBREAKER!! Cover, TWO!?! ZSJ survives but Shota roars! Fans fire up again as Shota underhooks! ZSJ wrenches out to PELE the bad arm! ZSJ BOOTS Shota, runs, but into a POP-UP- NO! ZSJ catches Shota for a COBRA TWIST! But Shota hip tosses free! ZSJ victory rolls, EURO- NO! Shota blocks the Euro Clutch to O’CONNER BRIDGE! TWO!!! Fans are thunderous as ZSJ escapes!

ZSJ and Shota hurry to their feet, ZSJ runs in, but Shota gets around! O’CONNER- NO, REAR NAKED CHOKE!! To the DISARMER!! ZSJ grabs at the other arm, REVERSE DISARMER!! Shota endures, reaches, but he’s turning purple as ZSJ’s leg squeezes his neck! Fans fire up as Shota keeps fighting, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go as Shota’s toe makes the save! Fans rally up harder as we hit 20 minutes! Shota sputters but ZSJ taunts him, “Mada mada. This is the New Japan Cup, boy!” Shota sits up, and ZSJ KICKS him down! ZSJ tells Shota to just give up but Shota shakes his head. Shota growls and ZSJ says this is on Papa Red Shoes.

Fans are thunderous, ZSJ PENALTY- NO, Shota blocks the kick! Shota swings, but ZSJ ROUNDHOSUES! And PENALTY KICKS! But Shota stands right up!! ZSJ runs into a DROPKICK!! Fans are thunderous as both men are down again! Red Shoes checks both men and they’re both okay to continue. ZSJ sits up, Shota follows, and fans continue to rally. ZSJ and Shota crawl over to each other, and Shota throws a forearm. ZSJ ROCKS Shota with one! Shota throws another forearm, but ZSJ nods. ZSJ ROCKS Shota again! Shota nods, and he throws another forearm. ZSJ stands and eggs Shota on as Shota also stands up.

ZSJ UPPERCUTS, but Shota UPPERCUTS in return! ZSJ UPPERCUTS again, but the bad arm bothers him. Shota comes back to UPPERCUT! ZSJ staggers, Shota UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ rebounds to UPPERCUT again! Shota UPPERCUTS, ZSJ UPPERCUTS, and fans rally as they go back and forth! ZSJ fires off a flurry of UPPERCUTS, but Shota catches one to an arm hook! ZSJ fights the backslide! ZSJ spins Shota around to KICK the bad arm! Fans fire up, ZSJ eggs Shota on, but Shota goes to a corner. ZSJ runs in, but Shota gets around and TORNADO DDTS! And then he brings ZSJ up, picks him up, RAISED DDT!! Cover, TWO?!?!

ZSJ survives and shocks everyone! Fans are thunderous but Shota roars again! Shota drags ZSJ up, underhooks, but ZSJ slips free to the IRON OCTOPUS!! Shota stays standing, powers up to a fireman’s carry, but ZSJ shifts to a GUILLOTINE! Shota powers up again to a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, ONE?!?! At 25 minutes, ZSJ survives and fans are thunderous again! ZSJ flounders, but Shota runs in, into a backslide! Shota slips free but ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Cover, ONE?!?! Shota shocks ZSJ now! Both men stand, storm up and Shota fires a forearm! Shota spins, into a forearm! But he blocks ZSJ’s kick to wrench and UPPERCUT the arm!

Shota roars, ZSJ ROUNDHOUSES him! But Shota roars again! ZSJ SLAPS Shota down!! ZSJ roars and fans are electric! ZSJ aims from a corner, Shota rises, and ZSJ runs in, into a Gory Especial! Backslide, into underhooks! DEATH RIDER!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!!!

Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall (advances to the third round)

The Front Man just fell! Did all his time in 15 minute matches kill his cardio? Will he now owe the Roughneck a title match after the Cup?

As for Shota, he shows ZSJ respect and ZSJ shows it back. Then Shota gets the mic to say, “Zack. Thank you.” Fans applaud the further show of respect, and Shota continues, “Wrestling Zack gave me a lot of confidence. Okayama, thank you for supporting me to the end.” Fans applaud and chant “SHOTA! SHOTA!” Shota says that when he was a Young Lion, he wrestled ZSJ “and got wiped out.” And a few years later, Shota wins against ZSJ in the main event. “Who would’ve guessed it?” Shota admits, those submissions almost broke him, and his “will was running dry. But it was because of you guys in Okayama and your support that I’m able to speak now.”

Fans applaud again and Shota adds, “It’s because of you that I’m a pro-wrestler. Please keep sending me your support.” Shota knows that up next, it’s David Finlay. Shota vows he’ll beat Finlay, take the cup, go to Ryogoku, and beat Okada for the world title so that he can return here as champion! Fans like the sound of that! Shota looks to create a “paradigm shift” in this ring and lead the future! “So you better not take your eyes off me!” Shota throws down the mic as he’s thrown down the gauntlet! Will the Roughneck make the future now?

My Thoughts:

A great night for the New Japan Cup, and big win for Shota that I did not see coming. That was an awesome main event, and this is big for Shota to make it to the quarterfinals. Now, I don’t think Shota makes it to the finals or to Okada, but this is a big way to set Shota up for the NJPW World TV title, or any of the midcard titles, really. Finlay and Khan was a great match but I had a feeling that Finlay would win that. Big shame to hear Ospreay goes down to injury, denying us Ospreay VS Evil next round. Evil will surely defeat Davis now with all the same cheating they did to Cobb. Then we’ll get Evil VS either of his former LIJ allies after Naito VS Sanada have their match.

My Score: 8.8/10