Who will be the last ones in?

As the 2026 New Japan Cup opening round continues, Boltin Oleg battles El Phantasmo while Taichi battles Ren Narita!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Kickoff – Taisei Nakahara VS Masatora Yasuda; Yasuda wins.
• 8 Man Tag: Hontai VS The House of Torture; Hontai wins.
• Shingo Takagi & Gedo VS Don Fale & Dick Togo; Takagi & Gedo win.
• Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS The United Empire; The Empire wins.
• OSKAR & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS Callum Newman & Zane Jay; Oskar & Drilla win.
• 10 Man Tag: The Unbound Company VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
• 2026 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Boltin Oleg VS El Phantasmo; Oleg wins and advances.
• 2026 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Taichi VS Ren Narita; Narita wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

2026 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Boltin Oleg VS El Phantasmo!

After the New Beginning in USA, we have a NEW NJPW Strong Openweight Champion in Boltin Oleg, but also a NEW NJPW World Television Champion in Konosuke Takeshita! Can ELP rebound from losing to The Alpha? Or will the Headbanga be put behind BARS?

The bell rings and ELP runs up to DROPKICK! Roll up, TWO! Oleg rushes ELP but ELP dodges to then LARIAT him against the ropes. Oleg gets stuck, so ELP LARIATS again to send Oleg up and out! The fans cheer as Oleg tumbles, and ELP builds speed! ELP dives and sends Oleg over the railing! The fans fire up for “E L P! E L P!” as he hurries to reset the railing. ELP says watch out now, and he goes up the ropes! The fans cheers “E! L! P!” but Oleg hurries away out of range. ELP storms out after Oleg, only for Oleg to CLOBBER him! Oleg shows brains on top of brawn, and he stalks ELP around the way.

Oleg drags ELP up, whips him, but ELP reverses! Oleg hits railing! But Oleg comes back to CLOBBER ELP again! The fans cheer while Oleg stretches and walks it off. Oleg scoops ELP to SLAM him on the apron, then he steps up to join him. Jado coaches ELP but Oleg lifts and THROWS ELP into the ring! Oleg covers, TWO! ELP survives and the fans rally up, but Oleg drags ELP up. ELP ROCKS Oleg, ROCKS him again, and again! ELP runs, but he leaps over Oleg’s big dropdown! Oleg gets up to RUN ELP over! Oleg then runs the ropes for the BOLTIN SPLASH! Cover, TWO The fans cheer as ELP survives again and rolls to a corner.

Oleg stalks ELP, brings him up, and suplexes! The fans cheer as Oleg holds ELP up and walks around! Then Oleg SLAMS ELP at TEN! Cover, TWO! ELP survives yet again but even he admits, Oleg is just too strong. Oleg stands ELP up to whip him to a corner. Oleg runs up, but into a BOOT! ELP goes up, leaps, TORNADO- NO! Oleg stops the DDT to OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Oleg then stalks ELP to ropes, drags him up, and fireman’s carries! KAMI- NO, ELP slips free! And he dropkicks the legs out! ELP then drags Oleg to the corner, and he SLAMS the leg into the post! The fans are torn and the ref reprimands, but ELP SLAMS the leg again!

Oleg clutches the knee but ELP just SLAMS the leg against the post again! ELP gives a thumbs up to the fans before he brings Oleg around. ELP SLAMS Oleg’s leg off the apron! Oleg flops to the floor, clutching his knee, but ELP stands him up. ELP puts the leg on the railing, then through the gap! The ref reprimands but ELP CHOPS Oleg! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again! Oleg is stuck as ELP then BOOTS the railing! Oleg falls and writhes while the ref backs ELP off. The ref checks Oleg’s leg but ELP storms back over. ELP drags Oleg up and into the ring, then covers, TWO! The fans cheer as Oleg toughs it out.

ELP grabs Oleg’s leg and YANKS it! Oleg writhes more but ELP grabs the leg again, to DDT the foot! And then a float over into the HALF CRAB! Oleg endures as ELP sits deep! The fans rally as Oleg fights forward, ROPEBREAK! ELP lets go right away, and the fans rally up again. ELP drags Oleg up, CHOPS him, then CHOPS again! ELP whips but Oleg blocks! ELP SPIN CHOPS Oleg, then he whips, but Oleg reverses! ELP goes up, over, and keeps moving! ELP ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard and CROSSBODY! Then somersault to the LIONSAULT! Cover, but Oleg rolls right through to gut wrench! Shake, Shake, Shake, but ELP RANAS free!

The fans fire up while both men are down! ELP hurries to bring Oleg up, then knuckle locks and CHOPS! ELP goes up, up, jumps around and around, then FLYING- NO, Oleg stops this rana to then power ELP into the fireman’s carry! VERDICT!! The fans fire up while both men are down again! ELP and Oleg stir, then rise up. The fans rally, and Oleg runs to POUNCE ELP! Oleg keeps moving and he SPLASHES in the corner! Then he gut wrenches for the Shake, Shake, Shake and THROW! And a kip up!? The bad leg still hurts but Oleg slaps it into working. Oleg then hops over ELP to go up the corner, but the leg holds him back!

Oleg still VADER BOMBS, but FLOPS as ELP moves! ELP goes up, leaps, and TORNADO DDTS! ELP kips up and the fans fire up! ELP brings Oleg up, reels him in, and tucks the arms! But Oleg fights and wrenches free! Then OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Oleg kips up again, fighting through the pain! Oleg YANKS ELP up into the fireman’s carry! But ELP slips free! CHOP BLOCK! ELP has the leg, and through Oleg resists, ELP still turns him over for the HALF CRAB! Oleg endures as ELP has a wicked angle on the leg! Oleg fights, fights, and reaches out, but ELP drags him back! ELP sits way back on the hold!

The fans rally harder and harder as Oleg endures! Oleg fights, fights, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as ELP lets go. Oleg rolls out of the ring, but ELP goes to the apron. ELP then goes up, up, and ARIHARA MOONSAULTS! Down goes Oleg and the fans fire up! The ref checks, both men are somehow able to continue, so a ring count begins. Both men are still down at 5 of 20, then 8. ELP crawls over to Oleg, drags him up at 10, puts him in at 12, and the fans cheer. ELP drags himself up to the apron again, then goes up the corner. DIVING AX HANDLE! ELP then brings out the “air bass guitar!” The fans cheer as ELP tunes up the band!

ELP aims at Oleg, for SUDDEN DEATH!! But Oleg stays up!?! ELP dodges Oleg to SUDDEN DEATH! SUDDEN DEATEH! Then he reels Oleg in! ELP tucks the arms, but Oleg is too big for that! So ELP just lifts for a PILEDRIVER! But Oleg rolls through?!? The fans go outs for the POINT-BLANK KAMIKAZE!! Cover, TWO!?! ELP survives and the fans fire up again! The fans rally and duel harder and harder as both men stir. Oleg and ELP sit up, and ELP slaps Oleg around! ELP eggs Oleg on, then fires a forearm! Oleg wobbles, but he comes back to ROCK ELP! ELP drops and the fans rally up again.

Oleg waits on ELP to stand, and ELP comes back to fire forearm after forearm! Oleg just ROCKS ELP again! ELP flops back down and Oleg rests against ropes. Oleg hobbles his way back over, and ELP snarls as he takes off the elbow pads! The fans cheer as both men slap some fire back into themselves. ELP fires a SLAP, SLAP, SLAP! The palm strikes fly in from all sides, then ELP bobs ‘n’ weaves to fire fast hands! ELP runs to LARIAT, but Oleg stays up! ELP runs again, but Oleg LARIATS back! Both men wobble, but Oleg runs! But ELP dodges! ELP LARIATS THROUGH!! ELP hooks Oleg up, C R 2!!! Cover, TWO?!!? The fans are thunderous as Oleg survives!

ELP is beside himself but Jado coaches him not to give up! ELP goes to the corner, he climbs up top, but he’s a bit wobbly. Oleg stands and he ROCKS ELP! Oleg climbs to get ELP, but ELP flails to fight the suplex! ELP fires body shots, then he CLUBS the bad leg! ELP goes up and SUPER SUNSET FLIPS, only for Oleg to hold on! Oleg swings but his punch gets buckles! CHEEKY NANDOS SUDDEN DEATH! ELP goes up, up, but Oleg fireman’s carries! ELP fires elbows while the fans freak out! Oleg still holds onto ELP for the SUPER KAMIKAZE!! Oleg crawls to the cover, AND WINS!!

Winner: Boltin Oleg, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Truly a battle of champions worthy of this tournament! They show respect after as brothers in Hontai, and now Oleg is continuing on. He has the NEVER Openweight Six Man title, he has the NJPW Strong Openweight title, but will he soon add that New Japan Cup trophy?

2026 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Taichi w/ Ryusuke Taguchi VS Ren Narita w/ Dick Togo!

While the Holy Emperor has struggled to regain his footing after losing the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, he still seeks his first New Japan Cup trophy. However, running into the Souled Out Son of Strong Style means the House of Torture is not far away. Can Taichi win against a stacked deck? Or will the House lie, cheat and steal another win?

Taichi shows off new white gear for the occasion, but then the House of Torture attacks outta nowhere! Honestly, we should all be expecting this every time. Dick TOSSESS Taguchi, Red Shoes rings the bell, and Ren tells the fans to shut up as he kicks Taichi out of the ring. Ren stomps Taichi around, even as Taichi takes the jacket off. Taichi hits back but Ren knees low! Ren POSTS Taichi, then whips him into railing! Taichi slumps down but Ren pushes the gate open. Ren brings Taichi out into the crowd and THROWS him into chairs! The fans boo more but Ren leaves Taichi behind so he can go looking under the ring.

Ren brings out a couple chairs while Dick keeps beating up on Taguchi. Ren brings those chairs over to Taichi but Red Shoes reprimands. Ren lets Red Shoes have one chair, but he JAMS Taichi up with the other! And SMACKS him on the back! Red Shoes reprimands and the fans boo. The fans rally up for Taichi but Ren tells them to shut up. Ren drags Taichi up, puts him in the ring, then eggs him on. Ren scuffs Taichi, Taichi kicks in return, but Ren stomps him down. Ren scuffs Taichi more, talking trash the whole time, then stomps Taichi again. Taichi frowns as he sits up, but Ren fires a forearm. Taichi stands as Ren fires more shots, but now Taichi leans into the shots!

The fans rally for Taichi as Ren continues to throw hands! Taichi GAMANGIRIS Ren right down! The fans fire up while Taichi rises up. Taichi stands Ren up, TOSSES him out, then goes out after him. Taichi drags Ren up to whip him into railing! And then Taichi whips Ren into more railing! The fans cheer as Ren flops down! Taichi POSTS Ren, then opens the gate. Taichi fetches one of the chairs, brings it over, but Red Shoes reprimands. Taichi shoves Red Shoes aside! And he JAMS Ren up! And SMACKS Ren on the back! The fans cheer as Taichi gets his revenge! But then Yujiro Takahashi rushes out here!

Tokyo Pimp attacks Taichi while Red Shoes is down! The fans boo but this is again just typical House of Torture! Ren drags Taichi up, puts his leg around railing, and uses the chair to SMASH it! The fans boo but the damage is done. Ren stomps Taichi, drags him up, and puts him in the ring. Ren then drags Taichi to the corner and bends the leg against the post! Taichi endures, Red Shoes is back and reprimands Ren, but Ren holds until Red Shoes counts. Ren stops at 4, then he steps back inside to stomp Taichi around. Taichi clings to ropes as Ren stomps him, and Red Shoes has Ren back off. Ren stands Taichi up to whip him to ropes. Taichi hobbles into the ELBOW! Ren covers, TWO!

Ren takes the bad leg and he twists it in the toehold. The fans rally as Taichi endures, and Taguchi coaches Taichi to fight. Ren stomps away on the bad leg, then drops an elbow on the knee! Ren paces while Taichi writhes, and Ren drags Taichi up. Taichi RIDGE HAND CHOPS! And RIDGE HANDS! And KICKS! But Ren kicks the bad leg! Taichi hobbles to the corner but Ren is right on him. Ren puts the bad leg through the ropes! Red Shoes counts, Ren stops at 4, but he DROPKICKS the bad leg! Taichi grits his teeth as he frees his leg from the ropes. Ren runs up, but into a BOOT! Taichi adds a RIDGE HAND CHOP!

Ren staggers, comes back, but is sent into the corner for the GAMANGIRI! The fans rally while both men are down. Taguchi coaches Taichi while he and Ren sit up. Taichi hobbles to a corner, he runs in at Ren, and he CHOPS! The fans continue to rally as Taichi fires RIDGE HAND after RIDGE HAND! But Ren CHOKES Taichi! Taichi breaks free to SPINNING CHOP! And SPINNING CHOP again! Ren flops down in the corner but Taichi stands him back up. Taichi winds up to SPINNING CHOP again! The fans cheer as Ren flops right back down! Taichi drags Ren up by his shirt, brings him around, and SAI- NO, Ren spins into a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK!

The fans rally for Taichi as he endures the squeeze! Taichi pries the hold open, wrenches, but Ren ROCKS him! Taichi DECKS Ren! The fans fire up for Taichi, and OFF COME THE PANTS! The fans cheer again as Taichi powers up. Ren rises, but Dick anchors Taichi’s leg! The fans boo, but then Taguchi goes after Dick! The fans cheer as Funky Weapon beats down on Spoiler! But then Ren blocks the Tensho Jujiho! Ren hands it to Red Shoes, then SWEEPS Taichi’s leg! KNEEBAR!! The fans rally as Taichi endures again! Taichi claws at Ren, fights around, and reaches the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes counts and Ren lets go at 4.

Ren is frustrated but he drags Taichi back into the KNEEBAR! Taichi has the ROPEBREAK quickly this time, and Ren again lets go in frustration. Ren argues with Red Shoes, but then Dick also distracts him. Taguchi protests but Ren BOOTS Taguchi down! Ren then goes up the corner, waits as Taichi stands, but Taichi ROCKS Ren first! Taichi then PALM STRIKES Ren! Taichi shakes out the bad leg, climbs up the corner, and he brings Ren up. The fans rally for Taichi, and he hits a stalling SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taichi clutches his knee, but he rises up as the fans rally even harder.

Taichi shakes out the bad leg, then winds up to KICK Ren! And KICK! But Ren blocks one to kick the other leg! Ren spins Taichi to waistlock, but Taichi fights with elbows. Ren lets go and scrambles to a corner. Taichi huffs ‘n’ puffs as he storms up on Ren, then brings him around to snapmare and run, SLIDING D! Cover, TWO! A shoutout to Tomohiro Ishii doesn’t quite get it done, but Taichi keeps moving! AX BOMBER! Taichi roars and the fans are with him! Taichi brings Ren up, suplexes, and ISHII BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, but Dick YANKS Red Shoes out! And now Douki and Chase Owens rush out here! The fans boo as The House runs wild!

They beat up Taichi, they beat up Young Lions, but here comes Shota Umino & Master Wato! But they get beat up and thrown out! The fans boo as The House goes back to stomp Taichi. They drag Taichi up, whip him corner to corner, and then Douki ELBOWS Taichi! Dick ELBOWS Taichi, Yujiro LARIATS, and Chase forearm SMASHES! Then they snapmare Taichi, set him up, but wait! Taguchi is back up! Taguchi sends Chase into Douki! Then he ROCKS Yujiro! Dick kicks ‘n’ whips but Taguchi reverses to HIP ATTACK! Then he feeds Yujiro to Shota for a forearm! Even Masatora Yasuda adds a DROPKICK!

The fans cheer as Hontai clears out The House! Chase kicks Shota, whips, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up as Shota then feeds Douki to Wato’s DROPKICK! Hontai rallies for Taichi as he rises up again! But Ren has his pushup bar! The fans boo but Ren takes a swing! Taichi ducks it! DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Cover, TWO!! Ren survives and Taichi is beside himself! The fans are thunderous as they cheer Taichi on! Taichi roars and he brings Ren back up. Alabama Lift, but Ren grabs Red Shoes! The fans boo but Taichi has to let Ren down. Ren kicks the bad leg, then he SMACKS Taichi, for the DOUBLE CROSSER!! Cover, TWO!?!?

The fans fire up as Taichi survives, but it’s right into the KNEEBAR!! FIGURE FOUR KNEEBAR!! Taichi endures the hold, he reaches out for ropes, and the fans rally as hard as they can! Taichi sits up, claws at Ren, but Ren pulls on the leg! Taichi moves around, moves around, but Ren THRASHES the leg! Taichi claws at Ren, claws at the mat, and he fights his way backwards to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer while Ren lets go in frustration. Ren hobbles his way over to a corner, drags himself up, but the fans continue to rally behind Taichi. Ren reaches the top, and HELL’S GUILL- TENSHO JUJIHO!! The fans fire up as Taichi shoots Ren outta the sky!

The fans rally again as Taichi snarls and stands back up. Taichi hobbles his way over, drags Ren to his feet, and winds up to AX BOMBER!! The fans are thunderous for the “OSU!” Taichi then winds up and reels Ren in, DANGEROUS SAIDO! Bridging cover, but someone rings the bell?!? SHO!! The Murder Machine busts out the House’s fail safe! Taichi is confused but then he spots Sho! Red Shoes argues with Sho, but then Taichi storms up. Wait! Yoshinobu Kanemaru slithers into the ring! The fans and even commentary try to warn Taichi! The Heel Master takes a swig, but then he pushes Taichi aside?! WHISKEY MIST on Red Shoes!!

Sho asks what the hecc! That wasn’t the plan! Kanemaru takes off his House of Torture shirt to help Taichi to his feet?! Is Kanemaru still on Taichi’s side?!? The fans can’t believe it and neither can Sho! Kanemaru drags Ren up for Taichi, and Taichi fires up for the TENSHO- NO! Kanemaru shoves Ren aside, and then BOTTLE CRACKS Taichi!! Kanemaru tricked Taichi even worse than ever before!! PUSHUP BAR SHOT!!! Ren then goes to the corner while Sho puts Red Shoes back in! Ren drags himself up to the top rope while Taichi musters everything he can just to stand back up! HELL’S GUILLOTINE KNEE DROP!! Cover, Ren wins!!

Winner: Ren Narita, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

There’s cheating, there’s stacking the deck, and then there’s what House of Torture does! Taichi stepped up to take the place of his friend, Tomohiro Ishii, only to get suckered by a former friend. Will Taichi ever reach the mountaintop in NJPW?

As for Ren, he doesn’t even have the energy to stand up, so The House of Torture gets him out of there. It’s probably for the best, no one wants to listen to these cheaters and swindlers. But with so many tricks up their sleeves, will nothing stop the House from stealing everything for their own?

My Thoughts:

Another great night for NJPW as the New Japan Cup continues. More good tune-up matches, especially with tomorrow being the NJPW Anniversary Show on top of being a tournament night, with Douki being on the losing side ahead of defending his Junior Heavyweight title against Master Wato. With how House of Torture always is, Douki likely retains through massive cheating, but it’d be nice if the House got their comeuppance somehow.

Both Cup matches were awesome, Oleg VS ELP being the better straight up match, obviously. Oleg is getting great opportunities because he just is a great talent, and no one can fake size, so that alone is a plus on him. Taichi VS Narita was a great match even with all the overbooking, but I gotta admit, they really thought outside the box with Kanemaru’s fake turn. Taichi gets screwed over hard, and who knows what he’ll do while Ishii is recovering from his neck injury.

My Score: 8.9/10