The 2026 New Japan Cup is here!

It’s opening night for the 2026 New Japan Cup, and it starts with the First Four In! Aaron Wolf or Don Fale, Yuya Uemura or Great-O-Khan, who will survive?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff – Taisei Nakahara VS Tatsuya Matsumoto; Matsumoto wins.
• Shota Umino & Masatora Yasuda VS Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi; Chase & Yujiro win.
• Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS El Phantasmo & Jado; Boltin & Yano win.
• 8 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS The United Empire; Unbound Company wins.
• Six Man Tag: Hontai VS House of Torture; Hontai wins.
• 10 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
• New Japan Cup 2026 Opening Round: Aaron Wolf VS Don Fale; Fale wins and advances.
• New Japan Cup 2026 Opening Round: Yuya Uemura VS Great-O-Khan; Uemura wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

New Japan Cup 2026 Opening Round: Aaron Wolf VS Don Fale w/ The House of Torture!

The House of Torture stole the NEVER Openweight Championship in Osaka, but the Big Bad Wolf is hunting something bigger. Will Wolf be able to tear down the Rogue General to start his first New Japan Cup? Or will a Grenade put an end to #WolfTime?

Oh, typical House of Torture, they attack Wolf during his entrance! The fans boo as Sho & Yoshinobu Kanemaru mug Wolf, but he fights back! Wolf headlocks them both, but then CHASE OWENS adds on! The fans boo as they all stomp Wolf down! The ref reprimands them all, but Chase puts Wolf in the ring. The bell sounds and Fale BODY BLOWS! Fale stomps Wolf while the fans boo, but Fale drags Wolf up. The fans rally for Wolf as Fale bumps him off buckles. Fale fires body shots and LARIATS in the corner again and again! The ref counts, Fale tells him to back off, then Fale storms back up on Wolf.

Fale drags Wolf up but the fans all rally for him. Wolf fires back with forearms, but Fale BODY BLOWS again! Fale CLUBS Wolf down, then brings him back up. Fale TOSSES Wolf out, then argues with the ref, letting the whole House stomp away on Wolf! The fans boo but Sho, Kanemaru, Chase, Dick Togo, Douki, and Yujiro Takahashi all get their shots in! Then they all play dumb! The ref starts a ring count while the fans rally up for Wolf. Wolf sits up at 5 of 20, stands at 12, and he rolls in at 13. Fale stomps Wolf at the ropes, then STANDS on him! The ref counts but Fale steps off at 4. Wolf sputters and coughs but the fans still rally.

Fale drags Wolf up to scoop and SLAM! Wolf writhes but Fale pushes him around. Fale then steps on Wolf’s back! Fale uses Wolf as a surfboard! Fale steps off, then covers, TWO! The fans cheer as Wolf toughs it out. Fale frowns, then he stands Wolf up. Wolf CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Fale CHOPS Wolf down! Fale drags Wolf back up, TOSSES him back out, and Fale again argues with the ref! This again lets The House stomp away on Wolf! Yano tries to point it out from commentary but the ref can’t keep order with all these bad actors. The ring count starts again, and Wolf sits up at 7 of 20. Wolf stands at 13, and he rolls in at 14.

Fale drags Wolf up and BODY BLOWS! Then he ROCKS Wolf with a forearm, and bumps him off buckles! The fans rally harder for Wolf but Fale whips him corner to corner. Fale runs in, but Wolf dodges the splash! Then Wolf runs in and LARIATS! The fans fire up as Wolf goes to suplex! But Fale’s too big! Wolf whips Fale instead, then runs in at the corner for another LARIAT! Wolf reels Fale back in, and one more try! Wolf suplexes Fale! And then ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Fale survives but the fans fire up with Wolf! Wolf drags Fale up, reels him in, but Fale is too big for an Angle Slam! Fale CLUBS Wolf, and SHOVES him into the ref!

The fans boo as the ref goes down, because now the House rushes Wolf! The fans boo as they all stomp away on Wolf! They bump Wolf off buckles, whip him corner to corner, but Wolf DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES back! And he scoop SLAMS Sho! And he kicks Yujiro to SAYANAGI! Wolf ROCKS Douki to SAYANAGI! The fans fire up again, but Fale LARAITS Wolf down! Then Fale tells them to get a TABLE! Kanemaru confiscates the timekeeper’s table! Yano rushes up to stop him but he’s sent into the railing! Kanemaru takes the table and puts it in the ring. Kanemaru helps Fale set it up, even as the fans boo as hard as they can.

Kanemaru puts Wolf on the table, then Fale goes up! But Wolf has Kanemaru in a TRIANGLE HOLD! Wolf kicks Kanemaru away, then picks up the table! And he CHUCKS it at Fale! The fans cheer as Wolf now drags Fale up, for the ANGLE SLAM!! Cover, but where’s the ref?! The ref hurries back in, counts, but Chase YANKS the ref back out!! The fans boo again, and Yano returns to go after Chase, but Chase kicks and CLAWS Yano down! They brawl, but REN NARITA shows up! BELT SHOT!! The Souled Out Son of Strong Style serves Wolf on a silver platter, and Fale drags him back up! GRENADE!! Cover, Fale wins!!

Winner: Don Fale, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Once again, The House of Torture stacked the odds against Wolf! With the numbers game always in their favor, will nothing stop them from taking over the tournament?

New Japan Cup 2026 Opening Round: Yuya Uemura VS Great-O-Khan!

The Heat Storm wanted to be IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, but he and Shota Umino fell short against the Knock Out Brothers. Can Yuya reignite the fire and head for the Cup? Or will the Dominator conquer this tournament in the name of the United Empire?

The bell rings and the fans cheer on Yuya as he stares down with Khan. The Khan fans do show up but they’re still outnumbered. Khan and Yuya circle as they feel things out, then they back away a moment. They step back up, but then Khan IRON CLAWS Yuya’s abs! Khan powers Yuya to the ropes, Red Shoes calls the break, and Khan backs off slowly. But then Khan BODY BLOWS! And Mongolian- NO, Yuya slips around to then put Khan on the ropes. Red Shoes calls the break again, and Khan shoves Yuya back. Yuya rolls through, comes back, ducks the claw, but Khan avoids the arm-drag! Mongolian Chops!

The fans rally but Khan whips Yuya to ropes. Yuya reverses, then drops down and hurdles over to HIP TOSS! And arm-drag! The fans cheer as Yuya has the armlock. Khan pulls at Yuya’s hair, but Yuya puts pressure on the wristlock. Yuya shifts around, then drops an ELBOW on the arm! Khan endures as the armlock is back on, and he tries a leg scissor counter. Yuya puts more pressure on the arm, then shifts around again. Yuya grinds the shoulder but Khan fights up. Khan stomps Yuya’s foot, clinches, but Yuya breaks free! Only for Khan to deflect the dropkick! Khan shakes out his arm before he drags Yuya up.

Khan whips Yuya to ropes and BACKDROPS him away! The fans cheer while Khan poses with arms behind his back. Khan then cocky covers but Red Shoes refuses to count. Khan steps on Yuya instead, then he drags Yuya up by his hair. Khan scoops Yuya to hit SNAKE EYES off the buckles! Then Khan hops up to sit on his throne! The fans applaud but Red Shoes counts. Khan pulls Yuya’s arms, but stops as Red Shoes counts 4. Khan then grabs Yuya’s hair and brings him around, FLYING SLAM DUNK! Cover, TWO! The fans applaud as Yuya survives but Khan frowns. Khan drags Yuya to center, then sits him up, for an IRON SHOULDER CLAW!

The fans rally as Yuya endures, and Yuya kicks around, only for Khan to IRON CLAW his face! Yuya kicks to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, and Red Shoes counts. Khan lets go, to then IRON CLAW Yuya’s ribs! Yuya has the ROPEBREAK again, and Red Shoes counts. Khan lets go but he argues with Red Shoes about the count. Khan drags Yuya back up, but Yuya CHOPS! The fans cheer, and Yuya ROCKS Khan with a forearm. And ROCKS him again! Then CLUBS him! But Khan Mongolian Chops! Yuya wobbles, Khan whips him to the corner, but Yuya goes up, only for Khan to avoid the crossbody! Khan says he’s too smart for that.

Khan scuffs Yuya, kicks him around, then stands him up for more Mongolian Chops! And more Mongolian Chops! And then more Mongolian Chops against the ropes! Khan then whips Yuya, but Yuya reverses and runs, FLYING ARM-DRAG! Then DROPKICK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Khan flounders while clutching his mouth. Khan goes to a corner, Yuya fires up and CHOPS him! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Yuya CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, and the fans fire up! Yuya whips Khan corner to corner, then runs up to CHOP! Yuya reels Khan in, SAIDO! Cover, TWO! But Yuya’s right on the ARMBAR!

Khan flails, clasps hands as best he can, but Yuya breaks the grip! ARMBAR! Khan kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud while Yuya lets go. Yuya looms over Khan, brings him up, and wrenches the bad arm. Yuya YANKS the arm, then hits an ELBOW BREAKER! And another ELBOW BREAKER! And another! But Khan has the IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Yuya pries the claw free, then hammerlocks Khan to RAM him into buckles! Khan shouts in pain as he falls in the corner! Yuya hurries to get Khan up, then he wrenches and YANKS the arm again. Yuya whips Khan to the corner, then runs up, but into a BOOT!

Khan clutches the bad arm, and Yuya runs back in! Khan dodges Yuya to send him up and out and to the floor! Yuya tumbles into the railing but the fans rally up. Khan slips outside to fetch Yuya, and RAMS him into the railing! Khan wrenches Yuya and whips him into the railing HARD! Yuya tumbles up and over and to the floor, right at the feet of the fans! Khan goes out after Yuya and the fans move aside. Khan drags Yuya up to then bowl him into chairs! STRIKE! The fans applaud while Khan goes back to ringside. Khan brings a chair out from under the ring! The fans rally up while Yuya flounders on the floor.

Khan returns with his chair, but Red Shoes tells him not to. Khan drums the ground using the chair, then takes aim! Red Shoes takes the chair away! The fans are torn and Khan asks what’s this about. Red Shoes takes this chair back to ringside, but Khan just uses a fan’s chair to JAM Yuya up! And SMACK him down! The fans are torn again but Khan leaves Yuya behind. Khan rests in the ring while Red Shoes checks on Yuya. Yuya’s able to continue, so Khan demands a ring count! The count begins, and Yuya is still down at 5 of 20. The fans rally up for Yuya as he grits his teeth and sits up at 12. Yuya crawls at 13, but he flounders at 17!

Yuya drags himself up and is in at 19! The fans cheer, but Khan is right on him with a whip and BACKDROP! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Yuya survives! Khan grows frustrated, but he drags Yuya up. Yuya’s a ragdoll but Khan still stands him up and reels him in. Khan suplexes, but Yuya blocks! Khan tries again but Yuya still fights. Khan suplexes but Yuya slips free! FULL NELSON! Khan pries that open with his iron claw, but Red Shoes reprimands about finger bending! Khan ELBOWS Yuya, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! The fans fire up as both men go to corners. Yuya runs in, SPLASH, and snapmare! Yuya then goes up and CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!

The fans cheer Yuya on as he goes back to the corner. Yuya climbs to the very top, but Khan bails out! The fans boo but Yuya hops down to then PLANCHA! The fans cheer as Yuya roars! Yuya then brings Khan back up and into the ring. Yuya hurries to underhooks Khan for the BUTTERFLY SLAM! Cover, TWO! Khan survives but Yuya just fires up again! The fans cheer as Yuya clamps onto the arms! But Khan BITES at Yuya’s shoulder to stop the suplex! Red Shoes reprimands, but Khan SPITS at Yuya! Yuya storms up, but into the IRON CLAW! Khan squeezes tight and Yuya drops to his knees! Then sits down!

The fans rally as Yuya endures, but he’s pushed further down! Cover, TWO! Yuya gets that arm up in time, but Khan digs his boot into the shoulder! Khan grinds Yuya down for another cover, TWO!! Yuya barely gets that arm up, but now Khan drags him back to his feet! ELIMIN- NO, Yuya arm-drags free! DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! The fans rally as Yuya puts pressure on Khan’s bad arm! Khan endures, but Yuya pushes that arm into the KIMURA! Khan flails, even as Yuya thrashes him around! The fans rally as Yuya turns Khan over and pushes on the arm! Khan kicks, kicks, rolls, but Yuya rolls with him! To then cording hold!

Yuya has both arms, but Khan pulls hair! Red Shoes reprimands, but Khan shifts to REVERSE STO! Then he SMACKS Yuya off the mat! then IRON CLAW THROW! Cover, TWO!! Yuya survives again and the fans fire up! Khan shakes out the bad arm while the fans rally behind Yuya even more. Both men rise up, the Khan fans getting stronger! Yuya and Khan stand, and Khan winds up! IRON- ENZIGIRI! Yuya gets Khan for the DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Khan escapes but Yuya goes to the corner! Yuya climbs, but Khan hits the ropes to trip him up! The fans are torn as Yuya lands on his heater!

Khan laughs at Yuya, then hits the IRON RIGHT! Red Shoes reprimands about the closed fist, but Khan drags Yuya up for a suplex, that he turns into a T T D!! Cover, TWO!?! Yuya survives the Tenzan Tombstone and that shocks Khan! The fans fire up and duel even harder now as Khan refocuses. Khan stands Yuya up, IRON CLAW, then ELIMINA- NO, Yuya slips free to have the cording holds! Khan pulls hair, but Yuya HEADBUTTS again and again! then DEADBOLT SUPLEX! More a throw version really, but Yuya goes up the corner! HIGH FLY ATTACK! Cover, YUYA WINS!!

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

The Dominator could not eliminate Yuya, and now Khan is the one eliminated! Is this already an ill omen for how the rest of the Empire will fair in this tournament?

As for Yuya, he grabs the mic to say, “I have won my first round match in this year’s New Japan Cup! Everyone, what do you think of NJPW right now?” The fans cheer, they’re happy with it! Yuya says for himself, he feels that this is a massive chance. They have the talent, they have the space, they have the time, they even have TV broadcasting them, so what’s missing? What’s missing is Yuya Uemura as the center of NJPW! The fans cheer for him to try that line again, he did kinda stumble over his words. Yuya checks his jaw before he goes again. What’s missing is Yuya Uemura as the center of NJPW!! The fans cheer him for getting it out!

Yuya continues by saying that he isn’t the best talker, but when it comes to what he does in the ring, he always shows he’s one of the best! That said, it will be the Heat Storm that fires everyone up. And finally, he wants everyone to join in on this. Let’s all get fired up for the New Japan Cup, YOSHA! The fans cheer that! Yuya is red hot right from the start, but will he make it all the way to the finals?

My Thoughts:

A very good opening night for the New Japan Cup, with a lot of these matches being tune-ups and momentum builders for the rest of the opening round. The House of Torture of course ganged up on Aaron Wolf, it just proves Wolf is a threat to them. But at the same time, Wolf didn’t need to go that far in the Cup, he was likely going to go after the NEVER Openweight Championship again. He could even get revenge on Ren Narita during Ren’s match in a couple days. Great match from Yuya VS Khan in the main event, and a great win for Yuya. I appreciate the fans didn’t mock Yuya for his flub but encouraged him to try again. You don’t get that in American crowds. The Cup has only just begun so there’s no real telling who’ll win, but it’d be great if Yuya got to the semifinals.

My Score: 8.7/10