Past clashes with present to create the future of NJPW!

Hirooki Goto seeks his FOURTH New Japan Cup championship while Yota Tsuji wants his first. Who will face Tetsuya Naito at Sakura Genesis?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• BUSHI & Hiromu Takahashi VS Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima; Bushi & Hiromu win.
• Six Man Tag: Tomohiro Ishii, Tanga Loa & Ryusuke Taguchi VS The United Empire; The Untied Empire wins.
• Zack Sabre Jr. & Mikey Nicholls VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman; ZSJ & Mikey win.
• Six Man Tag: YOSHI-HASHI, Togi Makabe & Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
• Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Desperado & Yuji Nagata VS The House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
• YOH VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Yoh wins.
• 10 Man Tag: Just5Guys VS Hikuleo, El Phantasmo, Jado, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg; Leo, ELP, Jado, Yano & Boltin win.
• Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi VS EVIL & Dick Togo; Naito & Takagi win.
• 2024 New Japan Cup Final: Hirooki Goto VS Yota Tsuji; Tsuji wins and will challenge Tetsuya Naito for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis.

PLAY BY PLAY

YOH VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!

Direct Drive wants after the Murder Machine, but Sho is claiming he’s all hurt from his match against Tetsuya Naito back at the Anniversary Show. However, the Heel Master is looking to stop Yoh before he ever gets close to the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship! Will Kanemaru protect Sho from Yoh? Or will nothing stop the Roppongi 3K grudge match?

Yoh walks out, showing off the belt he stole as payback for all of Sho’s messing around, but wait! SHO attacks?! He’s not hurt at all! We should’ve known that was all a farce! Kanemaru joins in but the ref reprimands Sho for even showing up! The fans boo but Kanemaru gets Yoh in the ring. Sho then joins in and the mugging continues! The fans continue to boo, the ref continues to reprimand, and he tells Sho he has to get out. Sho exits the ring but Kanemaru still stomps Yoh. The bell rings to get this on record, and Kanemaru stomps Yoh more. Kanemaru uses Yoh’s own jacket to CHOKE him!

The ref reprimands and the fans boo, but Kanemaru lets off at 4. Yoh coughs and sputters, Kanemaru brings him up, and Kanemaru CLUBS Yoh on the neck. Kanemaru whips corner to corner, then runs to BOOT! Kanemaru brings Yoh out but Yoh fires forearms in return! Kanemaru knees low, runs, but Yoh drops to then bypass and drop toehold! Kanemaru stays up, grabs at the ref, but Yoh gets away fast! Yoh throws hands, whips, but Kanemaru reverses and Sho trips Yoh up! The fans boo as Kanemaru keeps the ref from seeing Sho whip Yoh into railing! Yoh falls in a heap but Sho hauls him up, to whip into more railing!

The fans boo but Sho acts like he is concerned for the ref. Kanemaru goes out to drag Yoh up and scoop to SLAM! Kanemaru then slides back into the ring, the ring count begins, and Yoh writhes at 5 of 20. Yoh grits his teeth, drags himself up, and slides in at 14! Kanemaru brings Yoh up to TOSS back out, and then Kanemaru distracts the ref so Sho can attack! The fans boo again but Sho puts Yoh in the ring. Kanemaru covers, TWO! The fans cheer, but then Kanemaru suplexes Yoh high and hard! Yoh writhes, Kanemaru KNEES him in the back again and again and again! Kanemaru grabs the arms to make it a motorcycle stretch!

Yoh endures, the fans rally, and Yoh fights around. But Kanemaru wrangles him and then stands on the shoulder blades! Yoh endures, kicks and flails, but Kanemaru keeps Yoh down. Yoh still fights over, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, but then Kanemaru distracts and Sho drags Yoh out! Sho RAMS Yoh into railing and the fans boo again! Kanemaru goes out to get Yoh, and whips him hard into railing! Yoh staggers out through the gate into No Man’s Land, but Kanemaru pursues. Kanemaru stomps Yoh around, then drags him back up. Kanemaru brings Yoh over to APRON BACK SUPLEX!

Yoh writhes and flops off the apron while Kanemaru rolls back into the ring. The fans rally as the ring count begins again. The ref also makes sure Sho stays back, but Yoh is still down at 10 of 20. Yoh grabs at the apron skirt, drags himself up, but is still down at 15! And then 18! Yoh springs in at 19! The fans cheer, Sho is upset, but Kanemaru clamps right on with a CAMEL CLUTCH! The fans rally as Yoh endures being bent way back! Yoh kicks around again, and has another ROPEBREAK! Kanemaru kneels on Yoh as he lets off, but stands up at 4. Kanemaru then stomps Yoh around, but Yoh eggs him on.

Kanemaru stomps Yoh in the corner, but Yoh fires forearms in return! Kanemaru claws the eyes! Kanemaru whips, Yoh holds ropes, and then Yoh BOOTS! Yoh runs up but Kanemaru BOOTS! Kanemaru kicks but Yoh blocks to DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up while both men are down! Yoh and Kanemaru stir, and Yoh goes to a corner. Yoh stands, runs up, and he CLOBBERS Kanemaru! And CLOBBERS him again! Yoh whips, Kanemaru reverses but Yoh FLYING FOREARMS! The fans rally and Yoh grits his teeth while clutching his back. Kanemaru is in a corner, Yoh fires up and the fans are with him!

Yoh runs in to ELBOW Kanemaru, then reels him in for the NECKBREAKER! Yoh keeps going, HALF HATCH BRIDGE! TWO, but the fans rally up again. Yoh drags Kanemaru up, kicks low and scoops to SLAM him in the drop zone. Yoh goes up and up, but Kanemaru avoids the twisting senton! Kanemaru drags Yoh back up, whips corner to corner, then back drops Yoh on the rebound! Kanemaru scoops to SLAM Yoh into the drop zone, then flips him over. Kanemaru goes up to MOONSAULT onto Yoh’s back! And then, BOSTON CRAB! Yoh endures and the fans rally as Kanemaru sits deep on the hold!

Yoh grits his teeth and powers up! The fans rally as Yoh fights his way around, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! Kanemaru lets go in frustration but he goes right up top! Kanemaru tells Yoh to get up, and Yoh stands, into the DEEP- NO, Yoh gets around to waistlock! Kanemaru grabs the ref! The ref slaps Kanemaru’s hands away and Yoh GERMAN SUPLEXES! Bridging cover, TWO! Kanemaru survives but Yoh keeps his cool. Yoh drags Kanemaru up, reels him in and suplexes, but Kanemaru slips free! He shoves Yoh into the ref! Kanemaru ENZIGIRIS Yoh, and Sho unties the blue buckle pad!

Kanemaru crawls over there and eggs Yoh on. Yoh runs in, and the buckle pad goes away! Yoh hits bare steel! Kanemaru whips Yoh back into the buckles, then trips him for the BOSTON CRAB!! Yoh endures, the fans rally, and the ref is back. Sho taunts Yoh but Yoh fights his way over. Kanemaru drags him back! HALF CRAB! Yoh endures, Kanemaru steps over to have a deep angle, but Yoh scrambles forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Kanemaru lets go in frustration. Kanemaru drags Yoh up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Yoh fights it! Yoh suplexes to FALCON GOROSHI! Cover, TWO!

Kanemaru survives but the fans rally behind Yoh as he goes to ropes. Yoh drags himself up and fires up! The fans cheer as he tunes up the bad! But then Sho gets on the apron! The ref stops Sho, Yoh runs up at him! Kanemaru storms up, turns Yoh around, but Yoh body shots first! The WHISKEY MIST hits Sho! The fans fire up as Yoh SUPERKICKS Kanemaru, then uses the ropes in the O’Conner, FIVE STAR CLUTCH!! YOH WINS!

Winner: Yoh, by pinfall

The Heel Master and Murder Machine get outsmarted and outmaneuvered, and Yoh snatches the belt back! He even taunts Sho with it! But when and where will Yoh get the chance to truly own the title?

Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi VS EVIL & Dick Togo!

While it won’t be The Uncontrollable Charisma VS The Rampaging Dragon for the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, they are going to team together to take the fight to the House of Torture! Will The King of Darkness pay for cheating Takagi? Or will Darkness Fall even now?

The moment Takagi steps into the ring, Evil & Dick attack! Naito hurries up but Dick knocks him down! The bell rings to put this on record, and Evil CLAWS Takagi’s eyes! Dick sends Naito into railing then stomps him down while Evil runs, only for Takagi to run him over! The fans fire up, Takagi puts his robe aside and he storms up on Evil. Takagi KNEES Evil against ropes again and again, but lets off as the ref counts. Takagi whips to KNEE Evil, but then Evil bails out to avoid getting run over again. Dick is still after Naito, and he whips Naito into more railing! Takagi whips Evil but Evil reverses to send Takagi into railing!

Evil CLAWS Takagi’s eyes, the fans boo and the ref reprimands, but Evil tells them all to shut up. But Takagi throws body shots, knees low, then POSTS Evil! The fans rally up but then Evil keeps Takagi from the ring to bring him into the crowd! Evil CLUBS Takagi, fans move aside, and Evil SMACKS Takagi off chairs! Evil then uses a chair to SMACK Takagi! Takagi is down and the ring count starts. Dick sends Naito into more railing while Evil CHOKES Takagi with a chair! Evil SMACKS Takagi again, kicks him around, and we pass 10 of 20. Evil CHOPS Takagi, CHOPS him again, but Takagi hits back!

Takagi SMACKS Evil off a chair and we pass 15 of 20! Takagi hurries to leave Evil behind! But Dick stops Takagi! The count hits 20, it’s a DRAW!

Double Count-Out Draw

The fans boo and Takagi is frustrated with the House of Torture all over again! Naito didn’t even get his entrance attire off! Takagi gets a mic to shout, “Oi! Where do you think you’re going?! This is a big event here in Nagaoka! This is the final night of the series! It can’t end like this!” Evil & Dick have made their way to the ramp but Takagi gets in the ring to tell them to get back here! They’re gonna keep going, just like the No Contest last time! Oh, well, if you’re going home, guess that’s fine. Takagi has the NEVER Openweight Championship! Does Evil not want it? Evil gets mad, so Takagi says come get the belt back!

Evil & Dick are upset but they won’t leave without the belt, so they rush back in! Dick goes after Naito and sends him out again, the bell rings to restart this match! Takagi fires JAB after JAB, then CHOPS! Evil goes to a corner, and Naito sends Dick into railing now! Takagi kicks Evil, whips corner to corner then runs in. Takagi blocks the boot to clothesline through! Takagi keeps moving, Evil ducks but runs into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint into the DDT! The fans fire up and Takagi calls to Naito. Naito has his entrance attire put aside, and he helps Takagi get Evil up for the double whip. Takagi KNEES, snapmares, and Naito basement dropkicks!

Takagi gets Evil up to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi looks around, finds the camera, and says “TOKI GA KITA! <THE TIME HAS COME!>” The fans fire up with “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi brings Evil up. Takagi reels Evil in but Evil fights the lift! Takagi fights the headlock but Evil CLAWS Takagi’s eyes! Evil whips Takagi into the corner and surprise, the buckle pad is gone again! Takagi hits bare buckles, Dick BLASTS Naito, and Evil brings Takagi out. Evil RAMS Takagi into the timekeeper! Down goes Abe-san and the fans boo! Evil gets the mic, Dick has the buckle pad, and Dick SMACKS Takagi while Evil insults him and stomps him!

The fans boo but Evil says let’s see Takagi take the belt now! Evil leaves Takagi behind while the ref sorts things out. The ring count starts, Takagi writhes, and he rises up at 9 of 20. Takagi checks on Abe-san, he’s alright, so Takagi hurries in at 14! Evil wrenches the bad arm, and RAMS it into the bare buckles! Dick tags in, he stomps Takagi then brings him up. Dick CLUBS Takagi’s arm, CLUBS it again, then wrangles Takagi to the mat. Dick drops knees on the shoulder, then drops knees again! Dick stands on Takagi at the ropes but the ref counts. Dick steps away at 4 while the fans boo. Dick then drags Takagi around, and he drops a fist! Cover, TWO!

The fans rally up but Dick stomps Takagi. Tag to Evil and Evil drags Takagi up to CLUB the bad arm. Takagi falls and Evil looms over him. Evil tosses Takagi out, gets in the ref’s face, and Dick hammerlocks Takagi to POST the bad arm! Dick then puts Takagi back in, Evil covers, TWO! Evil covers again, TWO! Deep cover, TWO!! Takagi survives and Evil is furious, but the fans rally up. Evil kicks Takagi around, CLUBS him, but Takagi eggs Evil on! Takagi CLUBS the bad arm, CLUBS it again, but Takagi fires forearms, knees, and CLUBS in return! Evil CLAWS Takagi’s eyes! Takagi kicks but Evil blocks, and hands it to the ref!

But then Takagi blocks Evil’s kick! The ref lets Takagi go, and Takagi DRAGON SCREWS Evil! The fans fire up and Takagi reaches out for his corner! Hot tag to Naito! The fans fire up as Naito kicks Evil, CLUBS away on him, then whips. Naito arm-drags Evil, ELBOWS him down, then basement dropkicks! Naito DECKS Dick, too! The fans rally as Naito whips Evil to a corner, runs in, and JUMP KICKS! Leg sweep! COMBINACION feint, then DROPKICK, cabron! The fans fire up as Naito poses, and Naito even SPITS at Evil! Naito drags Evil up, SPITS at him again, then turns him for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!

Naito keeps cool and he brings Evil up. Naito cravats to neck wrench but Evil endures. Dick attacks to save Evil! Dick holds Naito back but Naito BOOTS Evil away! Naito ELBOWS Dick then dodges Evil to waistlock. Evil switches, Naito throws elbows to get free, then Naito runs. But Dick trips him up! Dick tags in, he and Evil stomp away on Naito! But Takagi comes back, so the ref has to stop him. Evil CHOKES Naito with a House of Torture towel, then sends Naito into the ref and Takagi! LOW BLOW on Naito! Dick wraps the SPOILER CHOKER onto Naito! The fans boo but Naito fights the choker!

Naito stands, pries free, and arm-drags Dick away! The fans fire up as Naito ELBOWS Dick, then uses the SPOILER CHOKER on him! Dick tastes hist own medicine, then Naito shoves Dick to ropes! Pop-up LOW BLOW! Dick falls, Naito runs, ROLLING JACKKNIFE! The ref is back to count the cover, LIJ wins!

Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi, by pinfall

But Evil storms in to CLAW Naito’s eyes! Evil runs, but into an atomic drop! Feed to the LARIAT, then clothesline in the corner! Feed to the ENZIGIRI, then PUMPING BOMBER! The fans fire up as LIJ stands tall here, and Takagi gets the mic back! “OI, EVIL! I think it’s over between you and I. Next, we do this for the NEVER Openweight Championship!” The Rampaging Dragon wants gold back one way or another, so will he once again be on top of the Openweight Division?

2024 New Japan Cup Final: Hirooki Goto w/ YOSHI-HASHI VS Yota Tsuji!

It’s the moment of truth! The Fierce Warrior wants to have that feeling of holding up the trophy one more time, but Gene Blast wants to bring about a new era! Who wins their way into the future of NJPW?

The fans are all already dueling between “GO-TO-O!” and “YO~TA!” The bell rings and the two stare down. The cheering gets even stronger, and Red Shoes determines that it is more in Goto’s favor. Goto and Yota circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Goto powers Yota to ropes but lets off with a pat on the shoulder. Yota grins and the fans applaud. Yota and Goto circle again, tie back up, and Goto waistlocks. Yota wrenches, wristlocks, and Goto rolls. Goto wrenches, hammerlocks, headlocks and hits the takeover. Yota endures the grind and rolls Goto to a cover, ONE! Goto grinds the hold, Yota fights up and he pops out the back to hammerlock.

Yota SNAP LOCKS the hold, but Goto endures. Goto fights around, gets the ROPEBREAK, and Yota lets off slowly. Yota pats Goto on the shoulder, then CHOPS him! The fans cheer and Yota grins. The two reset and Yota calls for knuckle locks. Goto obliges, they tie up, and they go shoulder to shoulder in a test of strength! Yota uses his height for leverage here and he brings Goto to his knees. The fans rally, Goto fights up, and Goto kicks low to headlock again. Yota powers up, throws body shots, then powers out. They RAM shoulders but neither falls! The fans cheer, Yota eggs Goto on, so Goto runs. They RAM shoulders, but still neither falls!

Yota fires up but Goto kicks low. Goto whips, Yota reverses, but Goto counters hip toss with hip toss! Goto runs to run Yota over! The fans fire up again as Goto stands tall! Goto then stomps Yota, brings him up and snapmares him into a chinlock. Yota endures the knee in his back, grabs at Goto, but Gota cranks the hold. The fans rally as Yota fights around, stands up, and throws body shots. Goto lets go to swing, but Yota spins him and arm-drags him! And BOOTS him right down! The fans fire up while Goto bails out, and Yota encourages the fans to get louder. The fans oblige, and Yota builds speed! Yota DIVES and sends Goto into railing!

The fans are thunderous as Yota walks around the outside. Red Shoes checks Goto but he’s still in this. Yota returns, glances at Naito on commentary, and he brings Goto up to put in the ring. The fans cheer and Yota steps inside. Yota covers, ONE!! Goto is tougher than that but Yota keeps cool. Yota grins as he stands over Goto. The fans rally and duel, but Yota CLUBS Goto on the neck. Yota then scoops and SLAMS Goto, covers, TWO! Yota is a little annoyed but he brings Goto back up. Goto CHOPS! Yota brushes that off and pushes Goto around. Goto CHOPS again, so Yota stands him up to CHOP!

Goto staggers to a corner and the fans fire up! Yota grins as he stands Goto up for a cravat. Yota snapmares then puts on the body scissors! Goto endures the squeeze and the fans rally. Goto drags Yota along as he crawls forward, but Yota puts on the pressure! Yota hooks an arm, but Goto still fights to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Yota lets go cleanly. The fans duel again while Yota paces around. Yota grins while Goto sputters, and Yota kicks Goto around. Yota brings Goto up but Goto pushes him away, so Yota kicks Goto. Goto CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS in return! But Yota knees low! Yota whips Goto corner to corner but Goto reverses!

Goto runs up, but into a BOOT! Yota runs but Goto follows to LARIAT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Goto drags Yota up, fires forearm after forearm, then whips him to a corner. Goto runs in to MURAMASA! And SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Goto is frustrated but the fans continue to rally behind him. Goto drags Yota up, fireman’s carries, but Yota fights it! Goto swings, but into the BACKBREAKER, COMPLETE SHOT and STOMP! The fans fire up and Yota sits as he catches his breath, but he still smiles. Goto crawls to a corner but Yota fires up! The fans fire up as Yota aims and Goto rises!

Yota runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH! Yota keeps moving, he ducks ‘n’ dodges to run Goto over! Then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Yota brings Goto up again. Yota reels Goto in, but Goto fights the suplex! Yota still tries but Goto suplexes him first! Yota fights that off, suplexes Goto, but Goto slips free to waistlock. Yota elbows free, runs, but Goto follows! Yota dodges Goto, Goto follows again, but Yota redirects! Yota ducks ‘n’ dodges to SUPERKICK! Goto roars, but Yota ROCKS him with a forearm! Yota roars, but runs into the fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! The fans are thunderous while both men are down!

The fans fire up and the “YO~TA! YO~TA!” is now stronger than the “GO-TO-O!” Goto crawls his way over to Yota, sits him up, and he fires a forearm! Yota grits his teeth to forearm in return! Goto throws another forearm! Yota sits up to fire another back! Goto fires another, Yota falls back, and the fans rally up. Goto eggs Yota on and Yota sits back up. Yota stands to fire another forearm! Goto growls, then forearms back! Yota forearms again and he eggs Goto on! Goto ROCKS Yota! Yota ROCKS Goto! The forearms keep going, they pick up speed, and the fans rally up! Goto ROCKS Yota, Yota wobbles and drops to a knee!

Goto drags Yota back up, but Yota fires forearm after forearm! Yota roars, but Goto catches him to spin and URA GTR! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! Goto rises and roars! Goto brings Yota up, fireman’s carries, G T W!! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives and the fans are thunderous again! Goto drags Yota up, dragon sleepers, and TRUE G T- NO! Yota catches Goto, backslides, but Goto rolls through! So Yota suplexes to the ORANGE CRUSH!! Cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down! Yota grits his teeth, stands, and even Naito is amazed at how the fans now support Yota.

Yota aims, runs up, and he CURB STOMPS Goto in the face!! But Yota isn’t done there, he just huffs and puffs and storms back over to Goto. Yota drags Goto up, brings him to a corner, and then Yota jumps up and up and FLYING CURB STOMPS!! Cover, TWO!!! Goto survives and the fans are electric! Yota hurries to haul Goto right up! Fireman’s carry, but Goto slips free to a SLEEPER! Goto squeezes tight as Yota reaches out! Yota pries at the hold but he’s fading! Goto sits Yota down and leans on the hold! But Yota gets a second wind! Yota stands, but then he sputters right back down!

Goto wants Red Shoes to check so Red Shoes picks up Yota’s hand. It drops once, and Goto lets go to run and PENALTY KICK! The fans fire up, Goto hauls Yota into the dragon sleeper! But Yota manages to fire hands from below! Goto grabs the arm, uses that to ripcord, but Yota HEADBUTTS Goto down! The fans fire up again as Goto still holds onto the wrist. Yota nods and he brings Goto up. But Goto HEADBUTTS back! Both men lean on each other while the fans fire up! Goto HEADBUTTS again, and again, and again! And again, and again, and again! Goto lets Yota fall and the fans are electric!

Goto drags Yota up, reels him in, and roars as he suplexes, for SHOUTEN KAI!! Cover, TWO!!!! Yota survives and shocks everyone! Goto’s classic move didn’t finish this, but he focuses and stands back up. Yota also rises, and Goto powers up! BUZZSAW! But Yota’s right up!? V-TRIGGER!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous again! Yota drags himself to a corner, drags himself up to his feet, and he aims at Goto. Goto slowly rises, turns around, GENE- LARIAT!!! Goto turns Yota inside-out and the fans are volcanic! Goto staggers around, powers back up, and ripcords to- GENE BLASTER!!! Cover, TWO?!?!?!

Goto survives and everyone is shocked again! Goto grits his teeth as he and Yota both rise. Yota is on wobbly legs but he finds Goto! Yota reloads to GENE BLASTER!!!! Cover, YOTA WINS!!!

Winner: Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (2024 New Japan Cup Champion)

This battle of generations was truly a battle for the ages! Goto came within moments of his former glory, but will he have to leave the past in the past?

As for Yota Tsuji, he stands to have his hand raised, all while Naito watches on from commentary. The trophy is brought in and is presented to Yota by NJPW Chief of Business Production and representative of TV Asahi, Hitoshi Matsumoto. They have the photo op, and Yota carefully sets the trophy down. Yota then takes a moment to catch his breath before he gets the mic. “The door to a new era has now opened.” The fans cheer that! “The rain has stopped, the king of the empire has left. But I am here. I am the symbol of the new era.” The fans cheer that, too! Yota asks the fans, “What will the future look like? Are you waiting for me? Let’s walk together.”

The fans applaud and Yota continues by saying there is still one more thing he has to do. And he points to Naito! The fans applaud and Yota asks Naito to join him in the ring. The fans cheer, and Naito takes a quick swig of water before leaving commentary. Naito steps into the ring with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and the fans cheer as champion and challenger stand face to face. Yota reminds us that he said he’d have results in the New Japan Cup. Now, he’ll stand across from Naito in Ryogoku and take the world title in the Spring. Yota then offers Naito the mic and the fans cheer.

Naito sets the belt next to the trophy, takes the mic, and he tells Yota, “Are you ready?” The fans like the sound of that! Naito says on April 6th, in Ryogoku, in the main event of Sakura Genesis, Naito will show NJPW and Los Ingobernables why HE is on top. The fans cheer and Naito picks the belt up. Naito takes his leave, but will he be leaving Ryogoku still holding onto the title? As for Yota, he picks the mic back up to say that in this cerulean blue ring, the best pro-wrestling takes place. And Yota will take NJPW to new and greater heights. Are they ready? Because the new era has begun!

Yota sure looks ready, but as he holds up the Cup and the streamers fly, will he soon have it all within his grasp?

My Thoughts:

A great final night for the 2024 New Japan Cup series. Yes, I still skimmed a lot but I did see great builds in these other stories. While his team lost, Yoshi-Hashi afterwards fought off Kenta & Chase Owens all by himself, so clearly we’re getting Bishamon VS Kenta & Chase for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. Likewise, House of Torture may have won (with Narita shockingly making Yuji Nagata submit), it was after much cheating and Shota Umino calls them out on it. Shota also challenges them to a match for Sakura Genesis, promising a surprise. Can’t wait to see if Shota makes that into some kind of No Disqualification match.

Yoh VS Kanemaru with Sho all over that one was good stuff, and great win for Yoh with that. Yoh VS Sho for the Junior Heavyweight Championship match is definitely coming, and who knows which way that goes. Good win for Guerrillas of Destiny and friends, maybe something could build there with Just5Guys for the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag titles but who knows. Great match out of Naito & Takagi VS Evil & Dick that of course sets up a NEVER Openweight title match. I wonder if Takagi wins and redesigns the belt given how Evil spray-painted the current belt all over with black.

And of course, just an awesome New Japan Cup finals match, with Goto looking amazing even in defeat, which of course helps Yota look amazing in his win. First try, first win for the Reiwa Musketeer, and we got a really good promo from him and Naito to add to the hype. Naito VS Yota is going to be awesome, and I want to say Naito is retaining, but Yota losing two world title matches in his “rookie year” just feels odd to me. Though, so does Yota winning the title already in his rookie year, as wild as that would be.

My Score: 9.1/10