Who survives the semifinals?

Yuya Uemura or Boltin Oleg, Shota Umino or Callum Newman, only two men can make it to the finals of the 2026 New Japan Cup!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Ryusuke Taguchi & Taisei Nakahara VS Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi; Chase & Yujiro win.
• Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Taichi, Satoshi Kojima & Masatora Yasuda; Bishamon & Matsumoto win.
• Six Man Tag: YOH, Master Wato & El Desperado VS DOUKI, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Yoh, Wato & Desperado win.
• 8 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• Six Man Tag: Aaron Wolf, Toru Yano & Tomoaki Honma VS Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo; Ren, Fale & Togo win.
• 8 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
• 2026 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yuya Uemura VS Boltin Oleg; Yuya wins and advances.
• 2026 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Shota Umino VS Callum Newman; Callum wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

2026 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Yuya Uemura VS Boltin Oleg!

The Heat Storm conquered Great-O-Khan, disarmed 44 Caliber, and slayed the Rampaging Dragon, while the big man from Kazakhstan handled Henare and overcame the Souled Out Son of Strong Style’s stacked deck. But now, Hontai must battle Hontai to send someone to the finals! Will Yuya shine bright as the sun? Or will the semifinals soon be behind BARS?

The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two stare down. They circle, feel things out, and Yuya rolls to avoid the facelock. They go again, feel out the clinch, but each man avoids the other’s takedown. Oleg gets around but Yuya drops to go for a leg. Oleg slips away, they go again, and Oleg waistlocks. Yuya switches, Oleg switches, but Yuya slips away, and the fans cheer. Yuya and Oleg reset, feel things out, and clinch. Oleg waistlocks, but Yuya wrenches through to switch. Oleg facelocks, then he grinds Yuya down to gator roll. Oleg waistlocks, rolls to a bridging cover, ONE! Yuya slips around to facelock but Oleg slips free.

Oleg slips around and facelocks Yuya again, for another gator roll. They stand, Yuya slips away, and the fans rally as they continue to fight for control. Oleg gets a leg, but Yuya backflips through to then trip Oleg with a single leg takedown! Yuya clamps on with a toehold, but Oleg endures. Oleg tries to pry at the hold but Yuya floats to get an arm. Oleg moves around, slips behind, but Yuya blocks with a cording hold. Oleg tries to get free but Yuya cartwheels for the takedown! Oleg has the ROPEBREAK, and Yuya lets off. The two reset while the fans applaud. Oleg and Yuya feel things out again, and Oleg gets his own takedown!

Oleg floats to have the headlock, but Yuya endures. Yuya pushes with a chinbar, then rises to his feet, but Oleg still grinds the hold. Yuya pries at the hold but Oleg puts on the pressure. The fans rally as Yuya powers Oleg to the ropes, but he can’t power out as Oleg holds on tight! Yuya powers up again, powers out, but runs into a scoop! Yuya slips free, and he arm-drags Oleg into the armlock! The fans cheer while Yuya shouts! Oleg fights up, fights around, but Yuya wrenches. Yuya hammerlocks, puts on the pressure, then rolls Oleg up, TWO! Yuya hurries to get the arm back, but Oleg stands up. Oleg RAMS Yuya into a corner!

The fans cheer as Oleg is free, then he runs back in. Yuya dodges, Oleg hits buckles, and Yuya hits the arm-drag again! The fans cheer as Yuya has Oleg down in the armlock. Oleg fights up again, but Yuya shifts to a double wristlock. Oleg scoops, but Yuya fights back by putting on the pressure. Oleg still tries, but Yuya just puts on more pressure! The fans rally again as Oleg endures, and he powers through to scoop and SLAM! The fans cheer while Oleg backs away. Yuya stands, Oleg RUNS him over! Oleg shakes out the arm, runs in at the corner, but into an ELBOW! Yuya runs the ropes, but Oleg scoops again! And THROWS Yuya away!

The fans fire up with Oleg while Yuya tumbles. Oleg storms up on Yuya, stands him up, and gut wrenches! Yuya fights the lift, but Oleg powers up to Shake, Shake, and THROW! Oleg kips up and the fans fire up! Oleg then shakes out the bad arm, and he goes back to Yuya. Oleg drags Yuya up, but Yuya resists the lift! Yuya powers up, but Oleg CLUBS him on the back! Yuya goes to ropes and Oleg storms over, but Yuya ROCKS him with a forearm! Oleg CHOPS in return! Oleg whips corner to corner, but Yuya goes up and over, and manages a HIP TOSS! Then a DROPKICK! The fans fire up while both men are down!

Yuya rises up, the fans rally with him, and he brings Oleg back around. Yuya reels Oleg in, but Oleg blocks the back suplex, and he CLUBS Yuya on the back! Yuya CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS, then reels Oelg back in, BACK SUPLEX! Cover, TWO, but Yuya has the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! The fans rally as Oleg endures! Oleg fights around, reaches out, and kicks his way around to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Yuya lets go. Yuya backs off while Oleg shakes out the bad arm. Yuya hauls Oleg up, wrenches the arm, but Oleg ROCKS him! And ROCKS him again! But Yuya wrenches to ELBOW BREAKER!

Yuya whips corner to corner, then runs in, SPLASH CAUGHT! Oleg then OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES Yuya away! The fans fire up while both men are down again! The fans rally as both men go to corners, and then Oleg runs corner to corner to SPLASH! Oleg scoops and SLAMS Yuya, then goes up, up, and VADER BOMBS! Cover, TWO, and Yuya has the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK again! Oleg endures, fights up, but Yuya puts on the pressure! Oleg reaches out, but Yuya hits a FLYING TAKEDOWN! Yuya pushes on the double wristlock while the fans rally harder! Oleg kicks around, reaches out again, but Yuya pulls on the double wristlock!

Oleg still fights, still kicks, still reaches out, but Yuya rolls him from the ropes! Yuya reels Oleg in for a cording hold, but Oleg scoops to a fireman’s carry! SNAP KAMIKAZE! Cover, TWO!! The fans cheer as Yuya survives! Oleg huffs ‘n’ puffs and he stands Yuya up. Oleg fireman’s carries again, but Yuya slips free! Yuya full nelsons, but Oleg breaks free and ELBOWS Yuya away! The fans rally again, and Yuya runs up to ROCK Oleg! Oleg ROCKS Yuya in return! The fans rally harder as Yuya fires forearm after forearm! Oleg ROCKS Yuya right back! The shots go back and forth now, both men wobbly but not backing down!

Yuya fires a flurry, but Oleg CHOPS him! Oleg then brings Yuya around, but Yuya CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! They get forehead to forehead, then Oleg CHOPS again! Oleg eggs Yuya on, so Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS again and again! Yuya runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but still gets caught! BELLY2BELLY! Oleg runs, but Yuya reels him in! SAIDO!! Yuya roars, runs, but Oleg reels him in! Yuya fights the waistlock with elbow after elbow! Then ELBOW BREAKER! Oleg still reels Yuya in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down! The fans are dueling as Oleg slowly rises. Oleg drags Yuya up, and he fireman’s carries! But Yuya sunset flips through! TWO!

Yuya reels Oleg in for a cradle, TWO! Both men stand again, and Oleg CHOPS! Yuya PELES! Yuya full nelsons, Oleg breaks it, but Yuya DROPKICKS Oleg into ropes! Then SNAP GERMAN! But Oleg’s right back up! Only to run into the DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous as Oleg survives and Yuya fires up! Yuya roars, drags Oleg up, and clamps on the cording holds! But Oleg fights the lift! The fans rally harder and harder as the two fight for control! Oleg HEADBUTTS Yuya, then OLEG DEADBOLT SUPLEXES Yuya away!! The fans are thunderous as Yuya tumbles to the codrner!

Oleg storms up on Yuya, grabs the legs, then YANKS Yuya right up into the BOLTIN BOMB!! High stack, TWO?!? Yuya survives and the fans are thunderous again! Oleg RIPCORDS Yuya into the fireman’s carry! And the VERDICT!! Yuya sputters, Oleg covers, TWO!!! Yuya survives and Oleg cannot believe it! The fans are erupting as Oleg brings Yuya back up. Oleg fireman’s carries, goes to the corner, but Yuya fires elbows! Yuya slips to the top rope, but Oleg ROCKS him! Oleg roars, then he climbs up! The fans are already worried as Oleg fireman’s carries Yuya from on high! Yuya fights with furious elbows, then HEADBUTTS!

Yuya adjusts his position, to SUPER STEINER!! Oleg goes tumbling away and the fans fire up again! Oleg comes back, but Yuya ENZIGIRIS! Oleg rebounds, but into the cording holds! Yuya swings but Oleg ROCKS Yuya! Oleg stands Yuya up, but Yuya HEADBUTT! Oleg swings but Yuya catches it to a cording hold! Yuya HEADBUTTS, then DEADBOLT SUPLEXES!! It wasn’t the cleanest, but Yuya still has Oleg down in the drop zone! Yuya goes up, up, and HIGH FLY ATTACKS!! The fans are thunderous as Yuya goes right back up! Yuya HIGH FLY ATTACKS again!! Cover, YUYA WINS!!!

Winner: Yuya Uemura, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

It was an epic battle to be sure, but the sun continues to shine as Heat Storm moves on! Will Yuya soon establish himself as the New Ace of New Japan?

2026 New Japan Cup Semifinals: Shota Umino VS Callum Newman w/ Zane Jay!

The Roughneck overcame the House of Torture’s tricks twice, then overcame one of his greatest obstacles in Zack Sabre Jr. Meanwhile, The Prince was able to slay two giants and even a Fierce Warrior to reach this point. With one half of the finals set, will Shota’s Second Chapter be looking up? Or will he be made to bow down and kiss the crown?

The bell rings and the fans rally up for Shota. Callum ignores that as he and Shota step up, but then Callum slips out of the ring. Callum claims he needs more warm-up time, and he stretches while walking around the outside. Shota wants Callum back in, but Callum says stay back. Shota’s already on the opposite side of the ring! Callum takes his time returning, and tells Shota to say please. Shota says please, and Callum steps in. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Shota finds a point of leverage to push Callum to the ropes. The ref counts, Callum complains, but Shota lets off very slowly. Shota pats Callum on the shoulders, and the fans applaud.

Callum is annoyed but he and Shota reset. The fans rally again, Callum mocks them for cheering Shota, and the two tie up again. It’s another deadlock, but now Callum finds leverage to put Shota on the ropes. The ref counts the break, Callum lets off, but Shota avoids the cheap shot! Shota headlocks, and he holds on tight as Callum tries to power out. Shota grinds the hold but Callum fights up. Callum pulls hair, puts Shota one the ropes, then powers up and out, only for Shota to RUN him over! The fans cheer as things speed up, and Shota avoids the hurdle to RUN Callum over again! Callum bails out while the fans cheer.

Callum goes out through the gate to shake off the damage, then he goes back to ringside. Callum tells Shota to shut up and give him time. Callum rolls in, but Shota stomps him around! Shota has Callum in the corner, CLUBS him, then throws ELBOW after ELBOW! The ref reprimands but Shota snapmares Callum to then basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Shota keeps on Callum, bringing him up for an UPPERCUT! Callum goes to ropes but Shota whips. Callum reverses, then he sweeps the legs, and he KNEES Shota in the side! The fans rally for Shota as he clutches his side, same as Goto and Hashi before him.

Callum taunts Shota with applause, then drags him back in for stomps. The ref reprimands as they’re in the ropes, but Callum stops to egg Shota on. Callum steps on Shota’s face, steps off as the ref counts, then he kicks Shota in the back. Shota gets mad and he ROCKS Callum! Callum eggs Shota on, Shota fires more shots, but then Callum ROCKS Shota! Callum snapmares and KICKS Shota, then kneeling covers, TWO! The fans cheer as Shota stays in this, but Callum clamps on with a chinlock. Callum traps an arm but Shota still endures. Callum then shifts to a fishhook! The ref counts and the fans boo, but Callum stops so he can ELBOW Shota in the head!

Callum mocks Shota for bleeding already. Indeed, Shota’s already got a bloody nose. Callum drags Shota up, but Shota ROCKS Callum! Callum goes stumbling away to the ropes while the fans rally for Shota. Shota ROCKS Callum again and again, then whips, but Callum reverses to sweep the legs! And PENALTY KICK to the arm! Shota writhes and flounders from the pain, but the ref has Callum stay back. The ref checks Shota’s arm, already taped up from before, but it seems Shota can continue. So Callum WRINGS the bad arm out, then stomps on it! Callum TOSSES Shota out, then goes out to wrap the bad arm around railing!

The fans boo and the ref reprimands, but Callum BOOTS the railing to jam up the arm! Shota slumps down against railing but Callum mocks the fans cheering Shota on. Callum drags Shota up as the fans rally, and Callum puts Shota in the ring. Kneeling cover, TWO! Shota is still tougher than that and the fans applaud. Callum smirks as he drags Shota up to KNEE him in the face again and again! Callum runs, but Shota DROPKICKS him down! The fans rally up again as Shota watches Callum go to the corner. Shota rises up, makes his way over to Callum, and winds up to ROCK and CHOPS again and again! Callum SPITS at Shota!

The fans rally for Shota while Callum eggs him on again. Shota just smiles and ROCKS, CHOPS, and repeat! The fans fire up as the shots just keep going! Callum slumps down, Shota digs his boots in, but the ref counts. Shota stops at 4, then he stands Callum up. Shota whips corner to corner, runs in and UPPERCUTS! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect, but the fans fire up for Shota all the same. Shota drags Callum back up, reels him in, but Callum wrenches through! Callum UPPERCUTS the bad arm! Shota backs away, Callum runs up, but Shota drop toeholds him onto ropes!

Shota aims to slingshot, but Callum avoids the DDT! Callum HOTSHOTS the bad arm, BOOTS Shota down, then slingshots, just to PENALTY KICK the bad arm! Shota falls but the fans rally back up. Callum catches his breath, and tells the fans to shut up already. Callum walks over to Shota, drags him up, and whips him into railing! Shota staggers, the ref reprimands, but Callum brings Shota around to whip into more railing! Shota slumps down, the ref reprimands again, but Callum brushes it off as no big deal. The fans rally for Shota, but Callum brings out a TABLE! Callum sets the table up nearby, then brings out another table!

Callum has the tables set up side by side, then he shoves the ref aside so he can bring Shota up! Callum suplexes, but Shota fights it! Callum still tries, but Shota snap suplexes Callum to the floor! The fans fire up while both men are down! Shota drags Callum up, puts him in the ring, and the fans applaud. Shota tells Zane Jay to back off, then he rolls into the ring. Callum hobbles and he wants Shota to hold on. Shota says no, and he LARIATS Callum against the ropes again and again! Shota winds up, but Callum half nelsons! Shota fights free, swings, but Callum ducks to then snatch the arm! DISARMER! The fans rally as Shota endures the mounted armbar!

Callum kneels on Shota, and shifts his grip to be behind the back! Shota endures, fights and kicks around, but Callum pulls on the bad arm! The fans rally harder and harder, and Shota fights his way over, only for Callum to lean way back! Shota still manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Callum lets go in frustration. Callum SPITS at them, then soaks up the heat. Callum whips, Shota reverses, and Shota TORNADO DDTS! Callum stumbles to the ropes, Shota runs up to slingshot and APRON DDT! The fans fire up with Shota as he shouts into the camera! Callum flops to the floor while Shota takes a lap around the ring.

Shota fires up again and the fans are with him. Shota returns to Callum, but Callum wants mercy again. Shota drags Callum up, and whips him into railing! Then he SHOTGUNS Callum up and over! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Shota drags Callum up, drags him up and onto the railing, but Callum fights free! Shota ducks a haymaker to HOTSHOT Callum on the railing! Then Shota runs to STRIKE KNEE Callum! Then DRAPING DDT to the floor! The fans go nuts seeing Callum spiked straight up and down! The ref checks Callum while Shota leaves him behind. Somehow, Callum can continue, so Shota walks over to him.

Shota drags Callum up, but he’s still a bit limp. Callum stumbles and falls so the ref checks him again. Callum is still conscious, so Shota drags him up and puts him in the ring. The fans cheer, and Shota reels Callum in for the POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Callum survives! Shota also fires back up, and he waits on Callum. Callum manages to stand up in the corner, so Shota BLINDSIDE KNEES him down! Then Shota runs to BLINDSIDE STRIKE KNEE! Callum falls back, but sits up again, into the STRIKE KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Callum lives but Shota stays focused! The fans rally up again as Shota waits on Callum.

Callum is in a daze as he manages to rise up, and Shota runs the ropes, only for Callum to SWAT the lariat! Callum SUPERKICKS, Shota catches him to a waistlock, but Callum elbows free! Shota ELBOWS and ENZIGIRIS, but Callum gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! ROUNDHOUSE! Callum has new life as he lifts Shota to POWEROBMB him out onto those tables!!! The fans go nuts again as Shota is down in the wreckage! Callum falls back, catching his breath from hitting that new gear. The fans rally up for Shota as he stirs, but Callum smiles again as he sits up. The fans rally harder as the ring count starts.

Shota sputters while Callum mockingly dares him to get in the ring. Shota is still down at 10 of 20, then at 13! Callum mocks Shota’s “in a snap,” and we pass 15! Shota finally emerges from the rubble at 16, but he’s got cuts all over his back! Shota hears 19 and gives one last gasp into the ring! But then PENALTY KICK! Callum waits on Shota to get back up, then runs back in, PENALTY KICK! Callum reels Shota in, hooks the leg, FIREBOLT!! Cover, TWO!!! Shota survives and the fans fire up, but Callum clamps on a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Callum pushes on the arm but Shota endures! The fans rally as Shota claws his way around, only for Callum to roll him away!

Callum PUSHES on that DOUBLE WRISTLOCK!! The fans are thunderous as Shota still endures! Callum is growing frustrated the longer this takes, and he stomps away on Shota’s head! Shota reaches out, kicks and claws at the mat, but Callum puts all he can into the armlock! Shota scoots back, and he finds the ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer while Callum lets go in frustration. Callum undoes his wrist tape while he waits on Shota. Callum shows off the crown tattoo, and he drags Shota up. Shota is a ragdoll but Callum still sits him up. Callum says be a good boy and just give up. Callum winds up, but Shota ducks the shot!

Shota ROCKS Callum, HEADBUTTS him, then winds up. Callum blocks, but Shota spins to SOUTHPAW LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Callum survives but the fans fire up for Shota! Shota drags Callum up, waistlocks, then half nelsons for the HALF ‘N’ HALF! Bridging cover, TWO! Shota roars, the fans fire up, and he rises again! Shota runs the ropes, but Callum LARIATS first!! Cover, TWO?!?! Callum runs to EXCALIBUR!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Callum roars and reels Shota in, but Shota DDT COUNTERS!! The fans are electric as both men are down again! Shota drags himself up with the ropes, as does Callum on the other end.

Shota grits his teeth as he and Callum both stand. They both run in, but Shota ducks a shot to POISON-RANA!! Shota gets moving, and he ROUGHNECK LARIATS!! Cover, TWO!??! Callum survives but Shota is just fired up more! Hook and SECOND- NO, Callum slips free, shoves Shota at the ref, then LOW BLOWS!! LARIAT OF THE PRINCE!! Cover, TWO?!?!?! Callum is beside himself, but he throws off his elbow pads! PRINCE’S- CRADLE COUNTER! TWO, and PRINCE’S CURSE!!!! Cover, CALLUM WINS!!!

Winner: Callum Newman, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

It was fast and furious, but Shota could not keep up! He falls short of the finals, how much harder will he have to fight to reach the finish line?

As for Callum, he gets the mic while Shota is still being tended to, and he tells Shota, “What did I tell you? Huh? What did I tell you? You always fail. No matter what you do, wherever, whenever, you fail. At this point in time, for gaijin wrestlers, I’m the peak, and you ain’t ever climbing past me, b*tch. But if you ever want a fourth, fifth, sixth chapter, and you like the color green, you’ve got my number. Now f*ck off.” Callum kicks Shota out of the ring, but will Shota even acknowledge that backhanded recruitment offer?

Callum then says whether you like it or not, have a face like a slapped arse spiked to the floor, Callum Newman is in the 2026 New Japan Cup Finals! The fans do cheer, but he tells them to shut up! He doesn’t need them! But who’s next? Who is the final man he makes kiss the crown? Who? He doesn’t care who it is, but who is it? Yuya returns to ringside! Yuya then storms down the ramp and Callum tells him to hurry up, they don’t have all day. Yuya steps into the ring and Callum says it’s the Heat Storm! Tomorrow night, Callum pits on the “storm” Yuya calls a bonfire. Yuya’s dream is finished. Callum already ended Shota’s tonight, so Yuya’s not getting past him.

Do what you want, Yuya, Callum will murder you! Yuya takes the mic to tell Callum that there is absolutely NO way Yuya lets Callum win tomorrow. Yuya says Callum can try whatever he wants, but the Heat Storm will still stand tall! Callum tries to intimidate with his sword, but Yuya doesn’t back down. Will Callum get burned for playing with fire? Or will that fire forge the crown of the United Empire?

My Thoughts:

A great New Japan Cup Semifinals here, but wow, I did not see that main event result coming. I suppose if I as a fan saw Yuya VS Shota as an obvious outcome, so did the NJPW creative team, so they went the other way with it. Great matches from both semifinals, with Yuya VS Oleg being the overall hotter match with Oleg’s over the top strength and Yuya still overcoming it. Shota VS Callum main eventing was still good from story because Shota is trying to be the ultimate hero while Callum is becoming the ultimate villain. Shota is definitely on the right path now for a proper build as said hero, fans were booing because he was in the “Face Wins LOL” territory. Yuya VS Callum is going to be great, no idea who wins because both make great choices to face Yota Tsuji.

My Score: 9/10