Will The Ice be mightier than The Mullet?

As the New Japan Cup moves on, Shota Umino battles Chase Owens and Yuto-Ice battles Ryohei Oiwa! Who proves they are the mightiest?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Yuya Uemura & Masatora Yasuda VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney & Daiki Nagai; Uemura & Yasuda win.
• Boltin Oleg & Tomoaki Honma VS HENARE & Great-O-Khan; Henare & Khan win.
• Six Man Tag: Bishamon & Tatsuya Matsumoto VS The United Empire; The Empire wins.
• Hartley Jackson & Kosei Fujita VS Callum Newman & Zane Jay; Hartley & Fujita win.
• Six Man Tag: Hontai VS The House of Torture; Hontai wins.
• Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji VS Don Fale & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Takagi & Tsuji win.
• 2026 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Shota Umino VS Chase Owens; Shota wins and advances.
• 2026 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Yuto-Ice VS Ryohei Oiwa; Oiwa wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

2026 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Shota Umino VS Chase Owens!

The Roughneck may not have won the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, but perhaps he can get an even greater prize. Will Shota’s Second Chapter start looking up? Or will the Lonestar Outlaw make sure it’s his Last Testament?

The bell rings and Chase bails right out. The fans boo but Shota waits on Chase. Chase wants Shota to back up before he steps back in. Shota obliges, but then Chase SPITS at him! The fans boo again, but Shota just storms up on Chase. Shota chases Chase around the ring, but then Chase kicks low! Chase CHOPS and CLUBS Shota, then whips him, only for Shota to reverse! Chase is sent into railing! Shota then whips Chase into more railing! Chase drops to his knees but Shota stalks him. Shota follows Chase back into the ring, then stomps him down. Shota stands Chase up to CLUB him on the neck, then cravats for a neck wrench.

Chase endures, fires a few body shots, then rolls, only for Shota to roll with him! Shota puts on the pressure but Chase fights up again. Shota RAMS Chase with shoulder after shoulder, then snapmares to basement DROPKICK! Shota stands Chase back up, turns, and NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE! The fans applaud while Shota stays cool. Shota brings Chase up but Chase fires body shots. Shota just DECKS Chase in return! The fans applaud again while the ref checks Chase. Chase is conscious, so Shota stands him up for an UPPERCUT! Shota whips Chase to ropes, but Chase grabs those ropes to stop himself.

Shota runs up, Chase puts him on the apron, and Chase pokes Shota in the eyes! Chase then slides out to YANK Shota down! The fans still rally for Shota while he’s down. The ref tells Chase to get this inside the ring, but Chase whips Shota into railing instead! Shota staggers and the ref reprimands, but Chase brings Shota around to whip into more railing! Chase then opens the gate and goes behind commentary, just to take a fan’s Shota towel! Chase shows it off, before he CHOKES Shota with it! The ref counts, Chase says, “Daijobu! <It’s okay!>” The ref says it is NOT, and he starts the count. Chase lets go at 4 and “apologizes.”

Chase drags Shota up while the towel is returned. Chase puts Shota in the ring, covers, TWO! Chase argues with the ref, but then drags Shota up. Chase mocks the fans cheering Shota before he headlock punches! The ref reprimands, but Chase promises, open palm this time. Chase SMACKS Shota while in the headlock! Chase then drags Shota to a corner, and he SLAMS a leg into the post! The fans rally for Shota while Chase pushes Young Lions aside. Chase SLAMS Shota’s leg into the post again! The ref reprimands, Chase ignores him to taunt the fans, then he drags Shota from the corner. Chase drops knees on the bad leg!

The fans rally for Shota but Chase grabs the bad leg to drag Shota around. Spinning toehold! Then another spinning toehold! Shota CLUBS Chase on the back, so Chase stomps the leg! Chase steps through, but Shota BOOTS him out of the ring! The fans rally but Chase hurries back in, only for Shota to DROPKICK! The fans cheer while both men are down. Shota clutches the bad leg but he’s okay to continue. Chase goes to a corner while Shota fires himself up. The fans rally behind Shota as he hobbles his way over, and he fires forearms and CHOPS on repeat! Shota CHOPS Chase down, then whips him corner to corner.

Shota runs in, UPPERCUTS, then he reels Chase in for the FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect, but Shota stays focused. Shota reels Chase in, but Chase BACKDROPS free! Chase runs up, but Shota blocks the boot to WRING Chase, and S T- NO, Chase has the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go in frustration but he kicks Chase down. Shota stomps Chase around, but Chase shoves Shota away. Chase goes to a corner, Shota runs in, but into an ELBOW! Chase lifts Shota for the BUCKLE BUMP BACK SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Shota is tougher than that, but Chase rains down fists! The ref reprimands and Chase switches to SLAPS!

Chase then drags Shota up, fireman’s carries, but Shota slips free. Shota waistlocks, Chase switches, but Shota elbows free! Shota runs, and he KICKS the backdrop away! Shota runs again, but Chase dodges to SNAP GERMAN! The fans rally up while Chase hurries to cover, TWO! Chase checks his teeth while the fans rally behind Shota. Chase aims from a corner, runs up on Shota, and- Shota DROPKICKS the legs! Chase stays up and he KNEES Shota. Chase whips, but Shota reverses and TORNADO DDTS! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Shota rises while Chase flounders to a corner. Shota fires up and the fans are with him!

Chase stands, Shota runs in and KNEE STRIKES! Chase slumps down, Shota runs back in, STRIKE KNEE! Shota snapmares Chase and watches from the corner. Chase rises up, reaches out, but into the STRIKE KNEE! Cover, TWO! But Shota has the S T F!! Chase panics and reaches out while he endures the hold! Shota drags him back from ropes, and puts the STF back on! The fans rally as Shota puts on the pressure, but Chase still endures! Chase crawls, dragging Shota along with him, and he fights his way to the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go in frustration, but the fans continue to rally as Shota follows Chase to the apron.

Shota reels Chase in and aims for the floor! Chase holds onto ropes, but Shota kicks him low! Chase CLAWS Shota’s face! Chase BOOTS Shota, but Shota runs up! Chase catches him for an APRON SIDE EFFECT! The fans fire up while both men fall to the floor! Chase drags himself up and into the ring, and he wants the ring count! The ring count does start, and Shota is still down at 5 of 20. Then 10! Chase coughs and sputters while Shota stirs. Shota finally sits up at 13, but he’s still down at 15! The fans rally harder, and Shota rises at 17! He rolls in at 18, if only just enough! Chase drags Shota back to the apron, and drags him back up.

Chase reels Shota in, tucks the arms, and the fans worry already! Chase lifts but Shota fights it! Chase CLUBS away on Shota, then C- NO! Shota blocks the knee, but Chase throws hands! The ref reprimands about closed fists, but Shota ROCKS Chase with a hard forearm! The fans fire up for that, and Shota roars! Shota reels Chase in, APRON DDT! Chase flops to the floor while Shota leans on the railing. Shota stumbles but he comes back for Chase. Shota then hoists Chase up, DRAPING DDT to the floor! The fans are torn, that’s a bit harsh even for fighting someone from the House of Torture. Shota drags Chase up, but he’s deadweight now!

Shota demands Chase get up, but then speaking of the House, DICK TOGO is here! But then that means there are others lurking! YUJIRO TAKAHASHI ATTACKS SHOTA! The fans boo, but Yujiro sends Shota into railing! Then FISHERMAN BUSTER on the floor! The fans boo but Yujiro puts Shota in the ring. The ref is still busy with Dick so the House gets away with all this! Chase covers, TWO!!! Shota barely gets that arm up, but it’s enough! The fans rally for Shota while Chase paces. Chase says he’ll finish this now, and he drags Shota up. Chase has Shota on the ropes, then runs, for the C-TRIGGER!!

Shota flounders in a daze but Chase keeps moving! I HATE YOUR FACE KNEE!! Cover, TWO?!!? Shota survives again and the fans fire up! The House is furious but Chase vows to end it now! Chase drags Shota up, tucks, but Shota trips Chase to a jackknife bridge! TWO, Chase fires fast hands, but Shota LARIATS! Shota roars, runs, but Chase uses the ref as a shield! Then LOW BLOW!! The fans boo but the C-TRIGGER hits again!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Shota survives again and the fans fire up! Chase locks ‘n’ loads and drags Shota up again! C-TRIGGER POINT-BLANK! Then the tuck, and the LAST- NO, Shota flips free and HEADBUTTS!

Chase roars, but Shota LARIATS!! Cover, TWO!! Chase survives but now Yujiro gets on the apron! The ref is distracted as Dick uses the SPOILER CHOKER on Shota! The fans boo, but wait! Shota fights up, and he pries the choker away! Shota THROWS Dick into Yujiro! The fans cheer, but the ref was clipped! Chase has his branding iron! Shota dodges the attack to run and LARIAT!! The fans fire up with Shota and he gets Chase up, for the SECOND CHAPTER!! Cover, Shota wins!

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

The Roughneck had to do it on his own, but he thwarted the House of Torture stealing this one from him! But with many more members of the House running around in the bracket, will Shota be able to get through them all and claim the Cup?

2026 New Japan Cup Opening Round: Yuto-Ice VS Ryohei Oiwa!

The Knock Out Brothers are the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, but that doesn’t mean they can’t go for more. Will Yuto get high in Hyogo? Or will The Mullet remind us that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The bell rings and the two run up! They fire forearms back and forth and the fans fire up already! The shots are fast ‘n’ furious, but Oiwa gets the edge! Ice ROCKS Oiwa back, but Oiwa wrenches and YANKS the arm! Oiwa runs, Yuto ROCKS him! Yuto runs, Oiwa drops down, but Yuto BOOTS Oiwa out of the hurdle! Oiwa avoids the Penalty Kick, Yuto avoid the arm-drag, but Oiwa avoids another kick! The fans cheer the standoff while the two reset. The fans duel between the two as they step back up. Yuto swings, Oiwa ducks it, and Oiwa headlocks in return. Yuto powers up and out, but Oiwa RAMS him! Neither man falls, so Oiwa wrenches an arm.

Oiwa wrenches again and again and again, then RAMS the shoulder! And CLUBS it! Oiwa wristlocks, Yuto breaks free, but Oiwa dodges to arm-drag! Oiwa has the armlock but Yuto endures. The fans rally, Yuto fights up, but Oiwa wrenches again. Yuto pulls hair, puts Oiwa on the ropes, then whips, only for Oiwa to stay clamped onto the arm! Oiwa wrangles Yuto down to the mat! The fans rally as Oiwa puts on the pressure. Oiwa then half nelsons the other arm, pushes Yuto to a cover, TWO! Oiwa clamps onto the other arm now for a double wristlock. Yuto fights up, but Oiwa wrenches and whips, only for Yuto to DECK him!

Yuto storms up, Oiwa UP KICKS, then he arm-drags again! And right back to an armlock! Yuto fights up but Oiwa wrenches and hammerlocks the arm. Oita RAMS Yuto to a corner, then runs in, only for Yuto to dodge! Yuto KICKS and KNEES Oiwa, then SOBATS him down! Oiwa sits in the corner, Yuto gets gangtsa, “BOMBACLAT!” DOUBLE KNEES! Yuto then drags Oiwa up to TOSS him out! The fans rally as Yuto goes out after Oiwa. Yuto drags Oiwa up to put him on the apron, then he gets space for the KNEE LIFT! The fans cheer while Oiwa sputters. Yuto goes back to Oiwa, drags him off the apron, then mockingly asks what’s wrong.

Yuto stomps Oiwa, drags him up, then whips him into railing! The fans rally while Oiwa slumps back down. Yuto drags Oiwa up and brings him into the crowd! Fans move aside already, but Oiwa fires a forearm! Yuto fires back, they brawl again, and Yuto ROCKS Oiwa! Yuto winds up and bowls Oiwa into chairs! STRIKE! The fans cheer but Red Shoes reprimands. Yuto stomps Oiwa before leaving him behind. Oiwa stirs as the fans rally and the ring count begins. Oiwa is still down at 5 of 20, but he crawls towards ringside. Oiwa stands at 14, hobbles around, and he rolls in at 17! But Yuto stomps him right down!

Yuto whips Oiwa to ropes, then kitchen sink knees him down! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives and the fans rally up again. Yuto is annoyed as he picks Oiwa up, but Oiwa’s deadweight. The fans rally more while Yuto paces. Yuto scuffs Oiwa, eggs him on, and Oiwa flounders. Oiwa stands, fires a forearm, but Yuto eggs him on. Oiwa fires more shots, and he ROCKS Yuto! TENZ- NO, Yuto CLUBS Oiwa to stop the suplex. Yuto BOOTS Oiwa down! The fans rally as Yuto runs, and Oiwa DROPKICKS him! The fans applaud while both men are down. Oiwa rises, storms over to Yuto, and clinches. Yuto pulls hair to fight the whip!

Yuto whips Oiwa, but Oiwa RUNS Yuto over! Oiwa keeps moving and he RUNS Yuto over again! Oiwa whips just to YANK the arm, then he runs to RUN Yuto over! SENTON! Cover, TWO! Oiwa fires back up and the fans cheer. Oiwa wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! And ELBOW BREAKER! Yuto ROCKS Oiwa before the third! Then he mule kicks and reels Oiwa in. But Oiwa snatches the arm! Yuto fights off the Fujiwara Armbar, but Oiwa wrenches and UPPERCUTS the arm! Then SLEEPER! Yuto flails, reaches out, but Oiwa squeezes tight! The fans rally but Oiwa sits Yuto down! Then top wristlock for the ARC CLUTCH!

The fans rally for Yuto as he endures! Oiwa pulls on the arm, but Yuto fights forward! Yuto rises up, reaches out, but Oiwa puts on more pressure! So Yuto CLAWS Oiwa’s eyes! Red Shoes reprimands as Yuto has Oiwa down on the mat! Yuto lets Oiwa go, and Yuto shakes out the bad arm while Oiwa checks his eyes. Yuto drags Oiwa up, snapmares, then KICKS him on the back! Yuto runs, but Oiwa blocks the kick! Oiwa stands to ROCK Yuto, then TENZ- NO, Yuto pulls hair, BODY BLOWS, then he THROWS Oiwa down by his hair! Red Shoes reprimands again, but Oiwa runs up! But into a ROUNDHOUSE!

Yuto fires up while Oiwa falls! Yuto runs the ropes to ICE HIGH! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yuto again, and he aims from the corner. Oiwa rises up, Yuto runs up, CRU- LARIAT from Oiwa! Both men are down and the fans rally again. Yuto and Oiwa both crawl, going to opposite ends. Oiwa and Yuto both stand as the fans rally harder. Both men run up, and Yuto BOOTS first! Oiwa rebounds to ROCK Yuto with a forearm! Oiwa spins, but Yuto ROCKS him back! Oiwa spins to CHOP! And then ROLLING ELBOW! ROLLING ELBOW! And ROLLING ELBOW again! Oiwa goes to run, but Yuto spins him around!

Yuto gets in Oiwa’s face, then bobs ‘n’ weaves to SLAP and SLAP! Yuto DECKS Oiwa with the palm strike! The fans fire up again while Yuto snarls. Yuto runs, but Oiwa grabs the arm! Oiwa shakes his head, but Yuto SMACKS him again. Oiwa gets in Yuto’s face! Yuto eggs him on, so Oiwa fires forearms with Yuto again! The fans rally harder, Oiwa SLAPS and SLAPS, and SLAPS, and SLAPS! Yuto wobbles, but he SMACKS Oiwa, then HEADBUTTS!! Oiwa falls while Yuto wobbles, and the fans fire up with Ice! Yuto drags Oiwa up by that mullet, then winds up his- LARIAT from Oiwa outta nowhere!! The fans cheer again as Oiwa roars!

Oiwa drags Yuto up, TENZAN PLEX! Cover, TWO! Yuto is tougher than that, and the fans continue to rally. Oiwa drags Yuto up, eggs him on, then- NO, Yuto blocks the lariat! But Oiwa spins the other way to LARIAT Yuto after all! Cover, TWO! Yuto survives but Oiwa shakes his head. Oiwa sees Yuto go to ropes so he runs up and DROPKICKS! Yuto sputters, Oiwa says let’s go! Oiwa runs for THE- AMBITION RIGHT! BUZZSAW! Cover, ONE?!?! Oiwa shocks everyone, but he runs into a KNEE!! Yuto hurries to suplex, and GOURD BUSTER! Then CRUELLA blocked!! LAST SUPPER CRADLE!! OIWA WINS!!!

Winner: Ryohei Oiwa, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Yuto springs on Oiwa, but Red Shoes explains, that figure four leg cradle won it for Oiwa! After a serious slug fest, it comes down to a technical hold! Yuto is pissed that he let himself get caught. Will this Knock Out Brother just have to work on that aspect so he doesn’t get caught again?

As for Oiwa, he grabs a mic and hurries to tell Ice, “I understood today what a pro-wrestling high is. I felt it, too!” The fans applaud that, and Yuto heads to the back. Oiwa says he also remembered why he hates Ice’s guts! The fans applaud again, and Oiwa adds that “Let’s keep beating the hell out of each other, Ice.” The fans applaud and cheer while Oiwa stands back up. Oiwa thanks the fans here in Amagasaki for the support, and the fans applaud again. “Right now, what you saw in this ring was a never-say-die spirit. Heads up fighting with my eyes fixed to the sky. This is NJPW, the best in the world.” The fans cheer that.

Oiwa vows that he WILL be the 2026 New Japan Cup winner! Mic drop from The Mullet, but will he come through on that promise?

My Thoughts:

A very good night for New Japan Cup. Great stuff from Shota VS Chase, and Shota winning despite being outnumbered was definitely to build him up. Yuto VS Oiwa was great, but I’m a bit surprised Yuto-Ice didn’t win his match. But being IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, he and Oskar can focus on those titles rather than fighting in the tournament. And I do appreciate Oiwa feels he and Yuto are gonna be rivals for a long time.

My Score: 8.8/10