Will the Heat Storm kiss the crown?

The 2026 New Japan Cup has reached the finals, and it will either be Yuya Uemura or Callum Newman that wins it all!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• NJPW World Television Championship Open Challenge: Konosuke Takeshita VS Yujiro Takahashi w/ Chase Owens; Konosuke wins and retains the title.
• Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Taichi, El Desperado & Masatora Yasuda; Taichi, Desperado & Yasuda win.
• Six Man Tag: YOH, Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi VS DOUKI, SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Douki, Sho & Kanemaru win.
• Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Great-O-Khan & HENARE; Khan & Henare win.
• Six Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
• Six Man Tag: Boltin Oleg, Aaron Wolf & Toru Yano VS Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo; Oleg, Wolf & Yano win.
• 8 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
• 2026 New Japan Cup Finals: Yuya Uemura VS Callum Newman; Callum wins and will challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.

PLAY BY PLAY

NJPW World Television Championship Open Challenge: Konosuke Takeshita VS ???

The Alpha took this title from El Phantasmo just last month at the New Beginning USA, but is now taking a gamble defending it against a mystery opponent! Who is answering the call? It’s… Well, wait, the House of Torture music plays, but BOTH Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi make their way out here. Konosuke tells them to figure out who is really challenging him, as does the ref. The fans seem to favor Tokyo Pimp, since it his hometown. Chase says he and Yujiro can decide with jankenpo. Yujiro agrees, they go, and Yujiro wins with scissors over paper! Chase says fair is fair, Yujiro gets the opportunity. And then Yujiro rushes Konosuke!

The fans fire up as Yujiro and Konosuke throw hands! The bell rings, we’re on the clock, and Konosuke runs. Yujiro dodges, and he RUNS Konosuke over! The fans fire up while Konosuke shakes that off. Yujiro stomps Konosuke, then CLUBS him on the neck. Konosuke goes to the ropes, Yujiro CLUBS him again, then CHOPS! And kicks! Yujiro winds up, runs, but into a BOOT! Konosuke whips, Yujiro reverses, but the TAKESHITA LINE finds him! The fans cheer while Yujiro bails out, and Konosuke builds speed! Yujiro runs away but Konosuke stops himself. The fans rally for Yujiro as he goes to the apron, but he grabs the ref!

Chase rushes in and hits a NECKBREAKER DROP on Konosuke! The fans are torn but the Lonestar Outlaw gets away with one. Yujiro storms back in, he drags Konosuke up, and he bumps Konosuke off buckles. Yujiro CHOKES Konosuke, the ref reprimands, but Yujiro stops at 4. Yujiro drags Konosuke up, snapmares, and LEG DROPS! ELBOW DROPS! FALLING HEADBUTTS! Cover, ONE!! The fans rally harder for Yujiro, even as he CHOKES Konosuke! The ref counts, Yujiro stops at 4, and he sits Konosuke up. Yujiro CLAWS Konosuke’s eyes, but Konosuke fires body shots! Yujiro KNEES low!

Yujiro snapmares Konosuke, runs and basement BOOTS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up again as Yujiro stands Konosuke up. Yujiro TOSSES Konosuke out, distracts the ref, and Chase goes after Konosuke! Konosuke fires hands in return and ROCKS Chase! Konosuke brings Chase around, but Chase POSTS him! The fans are torn as Chase runs up on Konosuke, but Konosuke kicks him and DDTS to the floor! The fans rally as Yujiro storms out after Konosuke. Yujiro SMACKS Konosuke off the apron, but Konosuke RAMS Yujiro! Konosuke sends Yujiro into railing, then brings him out into the crowd! Konosuke BOWLS Yujiro into chairs!

Konosuke wastes little time getting Yujiro back up, but Yujiro reverses the whip! Konosuke hits railing, but he runs back up on Yujiro, only for Yujiro to wrench and REVERSE DDT to the floor! The fans fire up but the ring count passes 10 of 20! Konosuke fires forearms, puts Yujiro back in, and the fans applaud. Konosuke goes to the apron but Chase anchors him! The fans are torn as Konosuke kicks at Chase! We’re at 18! Konosuke stomps free, rolls in at 19.5, but into PIMP- NO! Konosuke rolls Yujiro, TWO! Yujiro runs up, into an ALPHA ELBOW! Konosuke roars, runs, but Yujiro reels him in! INCOLLE SLAM! Cover, TWO!

The fans fire up as Yujiro drags Konosuke back up. Yujiro fireman’s carries for MIAMI SHINE! Cover, TWO! Konosuke survives again but the fans still rally. Yujiro brings Konosuke up, reels him in, and lifts, but Konosuke fights it! Konosuke BACKDROPs, Yujiro sunset flips, but Konosuke rolls through! WAGAMAMA KNEE! The fans are torn but Konosuke hauls Yujiro up! Yujiro BITES Konosuke’s hand! The fans cheer, even as Yujiro shoves Konosuke at the ref! Konosuke stops short, but Yujiro LOW BLOWS! And then PIMP JUICE!! Cover, TWO!! Konosuke survives and Yujiro can’t believe it! But the fans still cheer him on!

Yujiro hurries to the corner while Chase distracts the ref. Yujiro has his pimp cane! But Konosuke blocks the shot! Konosuke kicks low, and now he has the cane! Chase sends the ref to Yujiro, then Chase runs up on Konosuke! But Chase gets a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Yujiro runs up, he and Konosuke DOUBLE LARIAT! Konosuke drops to his knees! Yujiro runs, but Konosuke catches him, spins him, and RAGING FIRE!! Cover, Yujiro wins!

Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (still NJPW World Television Champion)

Just 10 minutes into this, and Konosuke closes it out! Konosuke then gets the mic to say, “As long as I have this belt, things are gonna be pretty interesting around here. There is some business I want to settle from last year. And that is with Shota Umino! How about we put this title on the line? That is your message from The Alpha!” Konosuke has called out The Roughneck, will he win back that loss from the G1 Climax? Or will Shota’s Second Chapter be golden after all?

After 8 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS TMDK…

Kosei Fujita wrangles Daiki Nagai into a modified top wristlock and gets the Unbound Young Lion to tap out! But there’s still heat between Yuto-Ice and Ryohei Oiwa, so Ice gets the mic to tell Oiwa, “I know you hate me. If you really hate me, I wanna feel that hate! Because I REALLY hate you! I’m always ready to beat the crap outta you. But while we have different ideas about pro-wrestling, which style, yours or mine, makes more money? It is MY emotion, my passion, that makes money. And maybe if you and I beat the hell outta each other, then the fire and hate will make us both quite a lot of money. If you’re picking a fight, where do you wanna pick it?”

Oiwa takes the mic but the mic isn’t on. Oiwa tests it while the fans cheer him. He then tells Ice, “I don’t care about fighting. This is the King of Sports, NJPW. This is about wrestling, not about fighting. So when it comes to picking up your fight, your style or my style, my pure pro-wrestling will make me an IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. Are you ready, Zack?” Ice takes the mic back to say however way you cut it, if you want the titles, then that’s a reason for Ice to beat the crap outta Oiwa, so lucky him! The Knock Out Brothers accept TMDK’s challenge, but Ice wants to feel how hard Oiwa’s head, heart, and hate are.

Oiwa snatches the mic back to get right in Ice’s face! Oiwa tells Ice that Ice better be ready for this. Oiwa says yeah, okay. But maybe Oiwa’s just an idiot! They can always go back and forth on this, but it won’t change the fact this is about feeling! Because at the end of the day, Let’s Get High! BIG UP! Things are certainly heated already, but will The Knock Out Brothers be able to knock down TMDK? Or will they learn that no matter what, The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

2026 New Japan Cup Finals: Yuya Uemura VS Callum Newman!

It was only 24 hours ago that the Heat Storm made it through BARS and The Prince conquered The Roughneck. Now they fight to define the future of NJPW. Who will raise the Cup and claim the right to challenge for THE IWGP Heavyweight Championship?

The bell rings and the fans rally behind “YU~YA! YU~YA!” Callum mockingly encourages the cheers, then he and Yuya circle. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and Callum KICKS a leg. Yuya hobbles away but the fans continue to rally. Yuya and Callum reset, feel things out again, and they tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Callum pushes Yuya back. Yuya slips through to wrench and hammerlock. Callum switches the hammerlock onto Yuya, then cravats, but Yuya rolls and wrangles Callum. Yuya has the armlock but Callum endures, so Yuya shifts to a headlock. Callum headscissors but Yuya shrugs those off.

Yuya puts the pressure on Callum but Callum pulls hair! Callum headscissors Yuya, but Yuya turns him over, floats, and has the headlock back. The fans cheer the technical exchange as both men stand. Yuya wrenches Callum’s arm to wrangle him again, but Callum fights up and goes to the ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, Yuya lets go cleanly, and the fans applaud. Callum is annoyed, but he tells Yuya to back off more. Yuya obliges and the two reset. They circle, feel things out, and tie up again. But Callum CLAWS Yuya’s eyes just to put him on the ropes! Red Shoes reprimands but Callum BODY BLOWS Yuya, to then wrench and whip.

Yuya reverses the whip but Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and builds speed, only for Yuya to ARM-DRAG him out of the ring! The fans fire up for Yuya while Callum tumbles out of the ring. Callum takes a walk up the ramp, but he comes back as the ring count climbs. Callum rolls in at 7 of 20, only to roll out again. The fans boo but Callum soaks up the heat. Yuya eggs Callum on, but Callum drags Yuya out of the ring! Callum ROCKS Yuya, whips him, but Yuya reverses again! Callum hits railing and falls down in a heap! The fans cheer Yuya while he brings Callum back up. Yuya puts Callum in the ring and fans cheer his sportsmanship.

Yuya stalks Callum, paces around him, then drags him up. But Callum breaks free! Yuya kicks low to ARMBAR DDT, then he TWEAKS the arm! Yuya arm-drags, then hooks up the arm, to SNAP LOCK! The fans rally again while Yuya waits on Callum. Callum rolls away to ropes, but Yuya wants the arm. Yuya drags Callum up but Callum shouts in pain. Yuya lets Callum go, but follows him to a corner. Yuya CHOPS, then whips, but Callum reverses to SWEEP the leg! Callum KNEES Yuya in the side! Yuya scrambles away in pain while Callum shakes out his bad arm. Callum follows Yuya to ropes, snapmares him, then KICKS him in the back!

The fans rally for Yuya while he writhes, but Callum kneels on him for a cover, TWO! The fans applaud as Yuya is tougher than that. Callum drags Yuya up, fishhooks his face, but stops as Red Shoes counts 4. Callum ELBOWS Yuya in the head, stomps him around, then eggs him on. Callum kicks Yuya, eggs him on, then kicks him again. Yuya ROCKS Callum, fires more forearms, but Callum KNEES low! Callum whips Yuya, Yuya goes up and up, but Callum ducks the crossbody! Callum then WRINGS Yuya’s arm out! Callum KICKS the bad arm and Yuya scrambles away. The fans rally but Callum is on Yuya again, and TOSSES him out!

Callum brings Yuya around, taunts Hiroshi Tanahashi as he sits by the New Japan Cup itself, and he wraps Yuya’s arm around railing. Callum BOOTS the railing to jam up the arm! Then Callum SPITS at Tanahashi! The fans boo but Callum brings Yuya around and whips him hard into railing! Yuya goes up and over to fall onto the floor, but Callum soaks up all the heat as he takes a lap around the ring. Callum then waits in the ring as the count starts. The fans rally harder and harder for Yuya as he stirs. Yuya crawls at 5 of 20, drags himself to ringside by 11, but doesn’t stand until 14! Yuya rolls in at 15, but Callum is on him with KNEE after KNEE!

Callum hooks Yuya up, PRINCE’S- NO, Yuya slips free! Yuya runs to the corner, goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Direct hit this time and both men are down! The fans continue to rally while Callum crawls to a corner. Yuya roars and storms up to CHOP! CHOP! CHOP! Yuya whips corner to corner, but Callum reverses, only for Yuya to go up and over! Yuya ARM-DRAGS then DROPKICKS! The fans fire up with Yuya as he stands tall. Yuya drags Callum up, reels him in, but Callum fires elbows! Yuya still hits the BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Callum survives, but Yuya has the ARMBAR! Callum scrambles to the ROPEBREAK!

The fans cheer as Yuya lets go, but Callum still clutches his arm. Yuya storms back up on Callum, grabs the arm, and wrenches through to YANK! Yuya wrenches again, and hits an ELBOW BREAKER! Callum drops to his knees while the fans fire up again. Yuya storms up on Callum, half nelsons, then full nelsons, but Callum breaks the hold! Callum REVERSE HEADBUTTS! Yuya swings, but Callum blocks and wrenches to HEEL KICK! Then TIGER SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Yuya escapes in time and the fans rally up again! Callum huffs ‘n’ puffs as he drags Yuya back up, and he underhooks for- NO, Yuya cording holds!

Callum fires forearms to break free! They both go to corners, but Yuya runs up. Yuya blocks a boot, but not the ENZIGIRI! Callum aims, but Yuya ducks the superkick to SAIDO! But Callum’s right up! ROUNDHOUSE! Callum runs, into a DROPKICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! The fans are still behind Yuya as he and Callum stir. Red Shoes checks, both men are still good to go, so they sit up to their knees. Callum fires a forearm first, but Yuya fires back. Callum kicks from below, then sits up to slap Yuya. Yuya stands while Callum eggs him on, and Yuya DECKS Callum! Yuya dares Callum to stand up now!

Callum stands, and he rams his shoulder into the buckles to get it back into place. Callum fires a forearm, Yuya fires a forearm, and repeat! The fans rally up while Callum shakes it off, and he ROCKS Yuya again! Yuya roars but Callum says wait, calm down! Callum puts his hands back and SPITS at Yuya! The fans boo but Yuya swings, only for Callum to block and BOOT and BUZZSAW! Callum reels Yuya in, hooks the leg, FIREBOLT! Cover, TWO!! Yuya survives and the fans fire up! Callum is frustrated but he goes to the corner and climbs up. But Yuya springs up to join him! The fans fire up as Yuya SUPER ARM-DRAGS! Cover, TWO!

But Yuya clamps on the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Callum flails and kicks around to the ROPEBREAK! Yuya lets go in frustration, then he drags Callum up with a waistlock. Yuya shifts to the full nelson, but Callum fights free again! Callum elbows, ROLLING ELBOWS, then ROLLING ELBOWS again! Callum spins, but into an ENZIGIRI! Yuya runs, but into a LARIAT! Callum hurries to cover, TWO!! Yuya survives and the fans fire back up! Callum grows further frustrated, but he unwraps his wrist tape. Callum shows off the crown tattoo, then he drags Yuya up. Callum winds up, but Yuya ducks and slips through to underhook!

Yuya lifts, but Callum slips free! Callum goes up, POISON-RANA! And then EXCALIBUR!! Cover, TWO!! Yuya survives and shocks everyone! Callum pleads with Red Shoes but the count was fair. But wait, Zane slides a chair into the ring! Now Zane distracts Red Shoes so that Callum can take aim! Yuya grabs the chair, but he dodges the double stomps! Callum hobbles from stomping chair, and Yuya throws the chair to Zane! Zane catches it, and Yuya DROPKICKS it into him! Down goes Zane, but Callum ROCKS Yuya! Callum runs, but into a RANA! Then ARMBAR!! Callum clasps hands to fight off the hold!

The fans rally as hard as they can as Yuya and Callum struggle, and Yuya breaks the grip! ARMBAR!! Callum hurries to turn into the hold, he clasps hands again, but Yuya shifts things into a DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Callum endures, reaches out, and kicks his way around! Yuya keeps turning Callum away from ropes but Callum still kicks! Yuya rolls Callum away! Then cording hold! Callum fights the other, but Yuya still has the arm! They roll, Callum fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT, but Yuya HEADBUTTS! Yuya then cording holds, but Callum sends him at Red Shoes! LOW BLOW!! And then PRINCE’S CURSE!! Cover, TWO?!?!

The fans are thunderous as Yuya survives! Callum is beside himself, but he goes to a corner. Callum catches his breath, then watches Yuya rise. EXCALIBUR!! Callum isn’t done there, as he stands Yuya up, and vows to end this! PRINCE’S CURSE!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Yuya survives again and the fans are electric! Callum is freaking out while the fans give everything they have to cheer on Yuya! Callum rises up, he stands over Yuya, and he soaks up the heat from the fans. Callum SPITS at them, then drags Yuya up by his hair. Callum winds up, but Yuay ducks the shot! GERMAN SUPELX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Yuya still holds on!

Callum flails but Yuya hooks the arms! DRAGON SUPLEX!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Callum escapes but Yuya roars! The fans are with Yuya as he brings Callum back up! Callum clamps onto one arm, then the other, but Callum pulls hair to fight the lift! Yuya RAMS Callum into a corer, then hits the DEADBOLT PLEX!! Yuya goes up top, HIGH FLY ATTACK!! Cover, TWO!!! Callum survives and the fans are thunderous! Yuya just goes back up, aims again, and HIGH FLY- SUPERKICK!!! Callum hits his anti-air, then the LARIAT OF THE PRINCE!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!? Callum just hurries to fireman’s carry, but Yuya fires elbows! Callum still swings for a POWERSLAM!! Cover, CALLUM WINS!!!

Winner: Callum Newman, by pinfall (2026 New Japan Cup Winner)

It was a fiery battle to the very end, but the Heat Storm flamed out! Will Yuya still be the sun that shines on NJPW’s future after falling short?

As for Callum, he is presented the New Japan Cup trophy by President Ace and they pose for the photo op. Tanahashi then steps outside, and Callum looks Yuya in the eyes to make sure he understands who won. Callum then gets the mic to say, “What the F did I tell you, huh? No one in this company wanted to win this tournament more than Callum Newman.” The fans do applaud that, and Callum says he’s been saying it for a long, long, long time now. This unit, HIS unit, HIS United Empire, he carried it for so long, and now this is HIS NJPW! Come over and say it, losers! The gate is right there, he’ll beat yer ass! Yeah, that’s what he thought!

Callum says not only does the Cup make him one of the best right now, not only is he the Gaijin Ace, he is the NJPW ACE now! Callum stares down Tanahashi as he says that, but then Yota Tsuji appears on stage. The IWGP Heavyweight Champion smiles as he walks down the ramp and to the ring. Yota steps into the ring with Callum, then gets his own mic. Yota tells Callum, “Congratulations. On April 4th, in Ryogoku, you’ve got me next. Are you ready!?” The fans cheer, but then The Empire steps up to the apron. Callum has them stand down, and Yota makes his exit. The Gene Blast is ready, but will he survive the Sakura Genesis?

Callum continues by saying he wasn’t finished talking yet. Tsuji, see you at Ryogoku. And you are gonna do exactly what Callum’s been telling everyone else. Is not only Callum the Kingslayer, he is THE New Japan Cup winner, and they will all make way for The Prince and kiss the crown. The formal announcement is made, and the confetti flies. Will all of NJPW have to make way as Callum takes the throne?

My Thoughts:

A great final night for New Japan Cup, though I expected a couple more title matches here. But we still got a great NJPW World TV Championship match to open, and great opportunity for Yujiro while they’re in his hometown. Obviously, Konosuke still wins out, even with Chase trying to help. Konosuke calling out Shota was surprising, but it makes sense with how their G1 Climax match went. Maybe Shota wins, maybe he doesn’t, but that’ll be a good match. And naturally, Yuto-Ice and Ryohei Oiwa want to keep fighting, and the tag titles will be on the line. That could also go both ways, but I’m leaning towards KOB retaining.

Awesome main event, and though the fans were hotly behind Yuya, Callum winning out was probably the right choice in terms of story. Yota has a good part in confronting Callum, and the Road to Sakura Genesis will help build things. Yota still has both titles because he overcame Andrade at New Beginning USA, but I’m not sure the top title is changing at Sakura Genesis.

My Score: 9/10