Who makes it into the quarterfinals?

The New Japan Cup’s second round is almost over! But to make it into the quarterfinals, Ryohei Oiwa must defeat his own mentor, Zack Sabre Jr!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 8 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• Six Man Tag: Aaron Wolf, Satoshi Kojima & Masatora Yasuda VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
• Yuya Uemura & Tomoaki Honma VS Yota Tsuji & Shingo Takagi; Tsuji & Takagi win.
• Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Tastuya Matsumoto VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS Ren Narita & Dick Togo; Oleg & Yano win.
• 2026 New Japan Cup Second Round: Shota Umino VS Yujiro Takahashi; Shota wins and advances.
• 2026 New Japan Cup Second Round: Ryohei Oiwa VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

2026 New Japan Cup Second Round: Shota Umino VS Yujiro Takahashi!

The Roughneck overcame the Lonestar Outlaw last round, but now he must battle the Tokyo Pimp! Will Shota’s Second Chapter continue on to the quarterfinals? Or will the House of Torture just cheat their way to another victory?

Shota makes his entrance undisturbed, so that’s something. The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two stare down. They circle, feel things out, then back away. They reset, feel out a knuckle lock, but Shota shoots around to waistlock. Yujiro switches but Shota wrenches free. Yujiro wrenches back, wristlocks, but Shota rolls, slips around, and headlocks. Shota hits the takeover but Yujiro headscissors. Shota kips free, and the fans cheer the standoff. Yujiro and Shota reset, circle, and tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. They’re in a deadlock, but Shota finds a point of leverage to put Yujiro on the ropes. Yujiro turns things around, pats Shota on the chest, and lets off cleanly!

The fans applaud and Shota is surprised. Yujiro is actually doing all this by the book. Shota nods as he and Yujiro circle again, then tie up again. It’s a deadlock, and the two break. They go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! The shots go back and forth as the fans rally up! Shota kicks low, headlocks, but Yujiro powers up, only for Shota to hold on tight. Shota grinds the hold, but Yujiro powers up and around! Yujiro headlocks, Shota powers up and out, but Yujiro runs him over! Yujiro throws off his shirt to show how serious he is about this! Yujiro stands Shota up to scoop and SLAM! The fans cheer as Yujiro stands Shota up again.

Yujiro scoops and SLAMS again, then grabs the legs. Yujiro works to turn Shota over, but Shota fights it! Yujiro ditches one leg to have the HALF CRAB! The fans rally as Shota endures and Yujiro sits deep on the hold! Shota fights his way forward, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Yujiro lets go, then he stalks Shota to a corner. Yujiro whips Shota to the ropes, ELBOWS him down, then covers, TWO! The fans rally up while Yujiro stands Shota up. Yujiro turns Shota for the NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally again while Yujiro stays close to Shota. Yujiro brings Shota back up, reels him in, and hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO!

The fans cheer as Shota toughs it out, but Yujiro stays focused. Yujiro eggs Shota on and Shota rises up. Shota fires forearm after forearm, but Yujiro KNEES low! Yujiro CLUBS Shota, then runs, but Shota runs up to dropkick the legs out! The fans cheer while both men are down! Yujiro stands but Shota storms up on him. Shota ROCKS and CHOPS Yujiro on repeat, then he whips corner to corner. Shota runs in, UPPERCUTS, then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Yujiro survives but Shota just stays on him while the fans cheer. Shota stands Yujiro up to get the leg, SHIN BREAKER! Then step over for the STF! Yujiro scrambles right to the ROPEBREAK!

The fans applaud while Shota lets Yujiro go. Yujiro hurries away to a corner, but Shota stomps a mudhole into him. The ref counts, Shota backs off, and he runs back in. Shota blocks the boot to KNEE JAMMER! And then DRAGON SCREW! Shota turns Yujiro over for the STF! The fans rally while Yujiro endures! Yujiro drags Shota along as he reaches out, but Shota drags him back to center! S T F! Shota pulls on the hold but Yujiro endures! The fans rally again as Yujiro reaches out! Shota CLUBS away on Yujiro, but Yujiro still claws at the mat! Even with the grip in his face, he fights forward, knowing ropes are there! ROPEBREAK!!

The fans cheer while Shota lets go in frustration. Shota stands, the fans rally, but now the House of Torture appears! The fans boo as Dick Togo & Yoshinobu Kanemaru stroll down the ramp. Shota is also disappointed, but wait! Yujiro is telling them to let him face Shota fair and square! The fans cheer Yujiro being honorable, even if it shocks Dick & Kanemaru. Spoiler and Heel Master do as asked and they go back up the ramp. Shota nods as Yujiro stands up to be face to face again. Shota fires up and fires a forearm! Yujiro fires back! Shota shakes that off and nods again, to come back and ROCK Yujiro! Yujiro winds up to ROCK Shota!

The fans rally as the forearms keep going back and forth! Shota shoves Yujiro and tells him to really mean it! Yujiro fires more forearms, Shota still eggs him on, so Yujiro winds up and ROCKS Shota! Shota wobbles and drops to a knee! The fans fire up as Yujiro indeed brought it! Yujiro eggs Shota on now, and Shota rises back up. Shota ROCKS Yujiro, but Yujiro ROCKS Shota! The shots go back and forth again, and the fans rally back up! Shota fires a flurry, then winds up, but Yujiro DECKS Shota! The fans fire up as Yujiro runs, but DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, and they DOUBLE LARIAT again!

The fans cheer both men, Shota SWATS Yujiro’s lariat to then ROCKS him! ROLLING- NO, Yujiro ROCKS Shota! But Shota spins to SOUTHPAW LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Yujiro survives and the fans fire up! Shota runs the ropes, but Yujiro LARIATS him first! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Yujiro rises up, he brings Shota up, and he reels Shota in for the INCOLLE SLAM! The fans cheer the return of the Intercollegiate Athlete, and he brings Shota back up. Fireman’s carry and MIAMI SHINE! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives, even as Yujiro brings back the classics! Yujiro rises, the fans rally, and he hobbles his way around.

Yujiro drags Shota up, reels him in, but Shota wrenches out! ELBOW! ENZIGIRI! Yujiro roars?! And he comes back, but into Shota’s LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Yujiro survives and the fans fire up again! Yujiro goes to the corner, but Shota roars as he rises up! Shota runs in at the corner, BLINDSIDE KNEE STRIKE! Then Yujiro slumps down, into the BLINDSIDE STRIKE KNEE! Shota aims from the corner, runs in at Yujiro, and STRIKE KNEE!!! Cover, TWO?!? Yujiro survives and the fans are thunderous! Shota feeds off the energy to power up again! Shota runs the ropes to LARI- NO, Yujiro slips around and SHOVES Shota into the ref!!

The ref falls out of the ring, and Yujiro LOW BLOWS Shota!! Fair and square is out the window now! The fans boo in disappointment, but snakes are what they are! Now Dick, Kanemaru, and even Chase Owens rush out here! Chase gives Yujiro back his House of Torture shirt while Dick & Kanemaru stomp away on Shota! The fans boo as Yujiro just can’t help himself. The House whips Shota to a corner, then Kanemaru runs in for the ELBOW! Dick adds an ELBOW, then Chase adds a forearm SMASH! They snapmare Shota down, then Dick goes up! DICK CHOP! The fans boo but Yujiro covers, only for there to be no ref!

Kanemaru hurries to fetch the ref into the ring, and tells him to count! The ref counts the cover, TWO!!! Shota survives thanks to the delay! Yujiro is beside himself, but he brings Shota back up. Yujiro tells Shota to open wide! PIMP JUICE!! Cover, TWO?!?! Shota survives again and now Yujiro is freaking out! The fans rally up harder for Shota, even as Yujiro drags him back up. BIG JUICE cradle counter! TWO!! Yujiro is up, but Shota HEADBUTTS him! Both men fall to their knees while the fans fire up! Chase gest on the apron to distract the ref, and that lets Dick CHOKE Shota with the Spoiler Choker!

Kanemaru takes a swig, winds up, but Shota BOOTS the whiskey mist away! Then he sends Dick into Kanemaru! Chase shoves the ref down to attack Shota, but Shota hits him with a TORNADO DDT! But Yujiro has his pimp cane! Yujiro runs up on Shota, but Shota ducks the cane! Shota ROCKS Yujiro, then fires up again! Shota runs, ROUGHNECK LARIAT!! Shota isn’t done there, as he drags Yujiro up for the SECOND CHAPTER!! Cover, Shota wins!

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

If Yujiro hadn’t given in to his cheating ways, would he have won this? Who’s to say. Shota at least shows respect to Yujiro, giving him back the red baseball glove, the symbol of their friendship from Shota’s Young Lion days. But for now, it is Shota heading to the quarterfinals! Will this Second Chapter keep going until Shota has won it all?

2026 New Japan Cup Second Round: Ryohei Oiwa VS Zack Sabre Jr!

The Mullet had a fiery match with Yuto-Ice, but now he has a mighty match here in the second round! Will Oiwa get a grip on a spot in the quarterfinals? Or will the Front Man make him #JustTapOut?

The bell rings and the fans duel already. The two circle, feel things out, then Oiwa gets a leg. ZSJ facelocks, Oiwa waistlocks, but ZSJ switches. ZSJ full nelsons but Oiwa breaks it to get an arm. Oiwa wrenches and wristlocks but ZSJ moves around to work on the break. Oiwa hammerlocks but ZSJ uses the British escape to then wrench Oiwa into the hammerlock. The fans applaud the exchange, but Oiwa drop toeholds. Oiwa floats to a headlock, but ZSJ drop toeholds back to have the legs. Oiwa avoids the headlock, the two stand up, and the fans cheer the standoff. ZSJ and Oiwa reset, circle, and feel things out.

ZSJ and Oiwa knuckle lock, then ZSJ cording holds. ZSJ wrenches the arm, pushes on the wristlock, but Oiwa rolls and trips ZSJ. Oiwa has the leg, but ZSJ grabs Oiwa’s arms. ZSJ spins to wrench Oiwa, but Oiwa rolls and BOOTS ZSJ away. The two reset again while the fans applaud. Oiwa and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock again. They go shoulder to shoulder for a Test of Strength, but then ZSJ kicks and steps over to trap an arm. ZSJ cravats, then shifts to a headlock. Oiwa endures the grind, pries at the hold, but ZSJ puts on the pressure. The fans rally as Oiwa fights up, and he wrenches free to a top wristlock. ZSJ powers Oiwa right back into the headlock!

The fans applaud while Oiwa fights up again. Oiwa powers up and out, arm-drags, but ZSJ headscissors. Oiwa kips free, but ZSJ arm-drags back! Oiwa headscissors, ZSJ kips free, but Oiwa avoids the Penalty Kick! ZSJ avoids The Grip! The fans applaud the new standoff while ZSJ backs away to his corner. Oiwa and ZSJ reset, circle again, and the two tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. Oiwa headlocks and grinds the hold, but ZSJ powers up and out. Oiwa RUNS ZSJ over! The fans cheer as Oiwa then hits a headlock takeover. ZSJ tries a chinbar but Oiwa puts on the pressure. ZSJ headscissors but Oiwa shrugs it off.

The fans rally as ZSJ still fights the hold, but Oiwa still holds tight. ZSJ headscissors again and forces Oiwa down. Oiwa powers back up to keep the headlock! Oiwa makes it a cover, TWO! ZSJ stands, chinbars Oiwa to the ropes, then powers out of the headlock. ZSJ BOOTS Oiwa, then runs, but Oiwa drops down, hurdles over, and MONKEY FLIPS ZSJ! ZSJ comes back, but into the headlock takeover! Oiwa grinds ZSJ down again while the fans cheer. ZSJ kicks and kicks and pushes Oiwa back into the headscissors. ZSJ traps the arm but Oiwa uses headscissors on ZSJ. Oiwa puts on the pressure again but ZSJ bridges back.

ZSJ pulls on Oiwa’s legs, then turns things around to pop free. ZSJ drops on Oiwa for a headlock, but Oiwa headscissors right back. Oiwa then shifts to a cravat. ZSJ clasps his hands to fight the hold, but Oiwa avoids the swim move! Oiwa clamps on with the cravat again, but ZSJ rolls! Oiwa just rolls with ZSJ to keep the hold! The fans rally as ZSJ fights up, and he stands to spin and PELE Oiwa’s arm! Oiwa goes to the ropes and shakes out the arm. Oiwa storms up to ZSJ, but ZSJ WRINGS the arm! The fans applaud while Oiwa is down. ZSJ undoes his wrist tape while he catches his breath, and he goes back to Oiwa.

The fans rally as ZSJ stands on Oiwa’s bad arm, then on a leg. ZSJ grabs the other leg, ties it up with the first, and then he grabs Oiwa’s arm. ZSJ bends the fingers while pushing his way to the top wristlock. Oiwa flails but he can’t get free before ZSJ STOMPS his arm! The fans rally as ZSJ brings Oiwa up. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Oiwa to the corner, then UPPERCUTS again. And UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ steps on Oiwa, then wraps the bad arm around ropes! ZSJ pulls the bad arm, but Red Shoes reprimands and counts. ZSJ stops at 4 and the fans rally up again. Oiwa shakes out that arm, but ZSJ KICKS it! And KICKS it again! And again!

Oiwa flounders against the ropes while the fans rally more. ZSJ clamps onto the arm, grinds the shoulder, but Oiwa fights up. Oiwa arm-drags but ZSJ drags him back down. Oiwa headscissors, ZSJ moves around, and he pulls on the arm in a straight armbar! The fans rally as Oiwa endures, and he fights his way up to stack ZSJ. ZSJ keeps his shoulders up, and he wrangles Oiwa back down! The fans rally, Oiwa bridges, then he spins to get free of the armbar! But ZSJ turns the headlock into an armlock, only for Oiwa to have the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go while the fans applaud the exchange. ZSJ then stomps Oiwa at the ropes!

Oiwa snarls as he sits up, btu ZSJ stomps him away! ZSJ runs, but Oiwa avoids the boot to then trap ZSJ in the ropes! Oiwa LARIATS ZSJ down! ZSJ clutches his leg and also checks his chin while the fans rally up. Oiwa storms up on ZSJ, stands him up, and has the leg for a BIG SHIN BREAKER! ZSJ falls over and clutches his leg again, but Oiwa drags him to the ropes. Oiwa HIP DROPS the leg! Red Shoes reprimands but Oiwa brings ZSJ back up. Oiwa grabs that leg to BRIDGING DRAGON SCREW! The fans applaud as ZSJ falls hard. Oiwa gets the leg again, and he BRIDGING DRAGON SCREWS ZSJ again!

The fans rally as Oiwa brings ZSJ up again. ZSJ pushes him away so Oiwa goes for the legs. Oiwa steps through and has the INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Oiwa butterflies the legs and pushes down on them! ZSJ endures, sits up, and he eggs Oiwa on. Oiwa puts on the pressure, then adds a facelock to it! ZSJ pries free of that to twist Oiwa’s bad arm! Oiwa endures, and he BODY BLOWS ZSJ! Then he puts more pressure on the legs! ZSJ endures as the two stare down. Oiwa puts on even more pressure, but ZSJ grabs an arm to slip through and double wristlock. But Oiwa still puts on pressure with his free arm!

ZSJ goes for Oiwa’s free leg, but Oiwa stands up! Oiwa eggs ZSJ on while the fans rally. ZSJ sits up and drags Oiwa down by his arm! Oiwa breaks free to drop back! ZSJ writhes from the pressure, but he manages to get loose and go to the ropes! The fans cheer Oiwa as he stands up. Oiwa brings ZSJ around, goes for the leg, but ZSJ DDTS Oiwa first! The fans rally again while both men are down. ZSJ rolls away to the ropes and he shakes out his legs. Oiwa rises up, and ZSJ does admit that was good stuff. Both men rise up, and ZSJ hobbles his way over to Oiwa. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Oiwa and Oiwa staggers around.

Oiwa comes back to ROCK ZSJ! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Oiwa’s arm! Oiwa grabs the leg to UPPERCUT the knee! ZSJ UPPERCUTS the arm again! Oiwa UPPERCUTS the leg again! The fans rally while both men shake out their hurting limbs. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Oiwa right in the face! Oiwa staggers, but he comes back to ROCK ZSJ! ZSJ fires UPPERCUTS on the arm, but Oiwa avoids the Pele! But ZSJ avoids the Pele! PENALTY KICK! ZSJ gets Oiwa up, but Oiwa hits the TENZAN PLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down again! ZSJ shakes out the bad leg, making sure it still works. Oiwa stands up first, and he DROPKICKS the bad leg!

Oiwa runs the ropes, and he DROPKICKS the leg again! ZSJ grimaces, but Oiwa gets him again, BRIDGING- NO, ZSJ steps through to the ARMBAR!! Oiwa flails, reaches out, and he has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Oiwa survives by a literal foot! ZSJ lets Oiwa go, shakes out his legs again, and he hobbles back over to Oiwa. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Oiwa, then UPPERCUTS again! Oiwa leans on the ropes but ZSJ wrenches and whips him. Oiwa reverses to then DROPKICK ZSJ down! And he SENTONS on top! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives and the fans rally up. Oiwa nods, and he goes to the corner.

Oiwa climbs up and shouts, “IKU ZO! <Let’s go!>” Oiwa aims for the DIVING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives again and the fans rally back up! Oiwa drags ZSJ up, whips him to ropes, but ZSJ ducks the lariat to have the IRON OCTOPUS! ZSJ drags Oiwa down to the mat as he bends the arms back! Oiwa endures, manages to kick his way around, but ZSJ puts pressure on the headscissors portion! It’s like an inverted Triangle Hold as he pulls Oiwa back! Oiwa kicks, kicks, but ZSJ grabs the leg! CLARK CAT!! Oiwa flails, reaches out, but ZSJ CLUBS away on the hip and leg! Then he shifts into the DISARMER!

Oiwa kicks around again, and he manages to flounder his way to the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go in frustration but the fans continue to rally up. ZSJ stands, hobbles around, and he brings Oiwa back up. ZSJ reels Oiwa in, but Oiwa fights the suplex! Oiwa wrenches, ZSJ wrenches, but Oiwa short arm LARIATS! The fans fire up again as both men are down! Oiwa huffs ‘n’ puffs, and he roars as he rises to his feet! The fans cheer as Oiwa then gut wrenches ZSJ, DOCTOR BOMB! But then a roll with the leg, and Oiwa has the HEEL CLUTCH! ZSJ fights forward, but Oiwa drags him back! ZSJ rolls, but Oiwa rolls him back over!

Oiwa steps over for the TM CLUTCH!! ZSJ endures, reaches out, but Oiwa pushes on that inverted Half Crab! ZSJ pushes up off the mat, but Oiwa pushes him back down! ZSJ claws forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer again as Oiwa lets go in frustration. Oiwa shakes his head, though, saying he’s not done yet. Oiwa waistlocks but ZSJ fights the German Suplex with elbows. ZSJ goes to the corner, but Oiwa hits the CHAOS THEORY! Bridging cover, TWO!! And ZSJ has the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Now the fans rally up as Oiwa endures! Oiwa fights up, slips around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Oiwa shakes out the arm, and he brings ZSJ up!

Oiwa swings, but into a scoop! ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, TWO?!? Oiwa survives and the fans are thunderous! ZSJ is too tired to be frustrated, and he rolls away to ropes. The fans rally again as both men stir. ZSJ crawls to the corner, and he tells Oiwa to get up. ZSJ says they’ve got all day, and he runs up to PENALTY- NO! Oiwa blocks the kick! Oiwa then stands to wind up, but ZSJ DECKS Oiwa first! The fans fire up again while ZSJ hobbles around. Red Shoes checks Oiwa, but Oiwa sits back up. ZSJ storms up to KICK Oiwa back down! ZSJ eggs Oiwa on, KICKS him again, then paces. The fans rally harder and harder as Oiwa rises up.

ZSJ runs in, but Oiwa SWATS the kick! But ZSJ KICKS the lariat! But THE GRIP hits outta nowhere!! But Oiwa can’t make the cover! Oiwa crawls his way over, covers, TWO!! The delay may have saved ZSJ but the fans rally up all the same. ZSJ and Oiwa crawl to opposite corners, and the fans rally even harder as they stand back up. Oiwa runs in, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! ZSJ runs up, but into the SLEEPER! ZSJ drops down, EURO CLUTCH! TWO!! Oiwa escapes, then trips ZSJ! Oiwa steps over, but ZSJ slips free of the “Roy Clutch!” ZSJ turns Oiwa over, JAPANESE LEG ROLL- NO, Oiwa pops free and rolls ZSJ back for a deep cover! TWO!!!!

The fans are thunderous as ZSJ barely escapes that in time! ZSJ and Oiwa both go to ropes, they both stand up, and the fans rally as hard as they can! Oiwa and ZSJ run up, Oiwa’s LARIAT hits first!! Oiwa gets moving, and he spins, but into a SABRE DRIVER!!! Cover, ZSJ WINS!!!

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

What a mighty main event! “Roy” was indeed within reach of the quarterfinals, but it slips through his fingers in the blink of an eye! What will it take for him to break through to that next level?

As for Zack, he gets the mic. “People of Aichi, I’m sorry.” The fans chuckle about that, but ZSJ tells Roy to keep his chin up. “Let’s keep at it, more and more and more. You can do it all. You have my support.” The fans cheer the show of respect to his teammate and protege. ZSJ then jokes that he’s basically dead now. “Damn, Roy, you’re strong.” The fans applaud that, too! ZSJ says hold on, there’s still more to go. He’s already won the New Japan Cup twice, but he didn’t win the world title afterward. This year will be different. Wait, how do we say “Third time’s the charm” in Japanese? “Sandomenoshōjiki.” The fans like that!

ZSJ apologizes to Roy again, but he says the New Japan Cup still belongs to Zack Sabre Jr! He is not just the best technician, he is the BEST EFFIN’ WRESTLER IN THE WORLD! Arigato! The Front Man tosses the mic and the fans cheer him on. Will it truly be third time’s the charm for ZSJ to win the Cup and then the title?

My Thoughts:

Another great night for New Japan Cup, and a great finale to the second round. I feel like we’ve seen Yujiro play it fair and square for the first half of the match to only then cheat in the second half, but it was so long ago that clearly the trick still works. Great stuff with Shota overcoming the cheating again, and naturally he is in the quarterfinals. Oiwa VS ZSJ was an awesome match, perhaps Oiwa’s best singles match to date. They really made it feel close, but ZSJ finding a way to win out makes sense, he is a former world champion along with many other accolades. Winning the Cup three times would tie ZSJ with Hirooki Goto for first place, ahead of even Okada, Tanahashi, and Yuji Nagata. Not sure ZSJ does it this year, but he should definitely be no less than a semifinalist.

My Score: 8.9/10