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3/12 NEW JAPAN CUP RESULTS FROM AICHI, JAPAN

3/12/22 Results from Round 2 of the New Japan Cup 2022 from Aichi, Japan:

Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi and Ryohei Oiwa vs. Kosei Fujita, Yuto Nakashima and Tomoaki Honma 

Wato taps out Fujita with a Vendaval submission.

Bad Luck Fale, Gedo and Chase Owens vs. YOH, Tiger Mask and Hiroshi Tanahashi 

Gedo taps out to Tanahashi’s Texas Cloverhold.

Owens tried to hit Tiger Mask with a V-Trigger, but missed.  Tiger Mask went for a Tiger Driver but Owens escaped.  Both men will meet tomorrow in Round 2.

Yujiro Takahashi, Dick Togo and EVIL vs. YOSHI-HASHI, Hirooki Goto and Kazuchika Okada

YOSHI-HASHI pins Togo after hitting Shoto.

BUSHI, Shingo Takagi, Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi vs. El Desperado, TAKA Michinoku, Taichi and Minoru Suzuki

Hiromu attacks The King as he is about to enter the ring.   Everyone battles around ringside.   Suzuki and Hiromu wicked stiff shots.  Suzuki-Gun kept the rest of LIJ out of the way, while Suzuki tortured Hiromu on the outside of the ring.  The match continued in the ring, while Hiromu lay on the ground for a while.   LIJ cornered TAKA in the ring.

Takagi pinned TAKA after a Pumping Bomber.

Hiromu and Suzuki continued to fight after the match all the way back to the locker.  Minoru Suzuki will face Hiromu Takahashi in tomorrow’s Round 2 event.

El Desperado was on the way to the locker room, when SHO appeared in street clothes and attacked.  They fight to the ring.  SHO kicks Desperado below the belt and hits him in the face with the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title belt.

Both men are out of the New Japan Cup so this angle will set up a future Title match, possibly in Osaka, the location of the New Japan Cup Finals.

New Japan Cup Matches:

DOUKI vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

DOUKI attacked ZSJ before he entered the ring.  DOUKI used a Lucha-based attack hitting ZSJ with quick moves and strikes.  ZSJ was able to take DOUKI to the mat and began his submission offense.   DOUKI fights back with strikes and kicks.   DOUKI hits a Daybreaker and gets a two count.  They reverse out of multiple pin combinations.  ZSJ traps DOUKI’s arms and goes for a another submission.   ZSJ grabs DOUKI’s legs and pulls them into a Cremation Lily submission.   Oh My God!

DOUKI submits.

Zack Sabre Jr. moves on to the Quarterfinals.

ZSJ kneeled over his Suzuki-Gun teammate and thanked him for a good match. 

Taiji Ishimori vs. Great O-Khan

Ishimori uses his quickness to attack O-Khan’s left arm.   Ishimori hits him with a chair on the arm.  O-Khan is driven left arm first into the metal turnbuckle.   Ishimori goes for arm submissions on the mat.  O-Khan fights back with his power.  Ishimori hits La Mistica and traps O-Khan in a Yes Lock.  Ishimori switches to a Bone Lock.  O-Khan gets to the ropes.   They reverse out a bunch of moves.   O-Khan hits an Eliminator.

O-Khan pins Ishimori 

Great O-Khan moves to the Quarterfinals to face Zack Sabre Jr.

Two great matches in a row.  

El Phantasmo vs. Will Ospreay 

Good match.  Both men knew each other well and put on a good stiff show. Tons of near falls.

Ospreay pins ELP after TWO Hidden Blades.

Will Ospreay will move on to the Quarterfinals.

SANADA vs. Aaron Henare 

As the referee is checking down both men, Kevin Kelly is telling the story of Henare and the history between United Empire and Los Ingobernales de Japon.   In a non-televised event, Henare injured his neck against SANADA.    Henare heard Kevin Kelly telling the story from inside the ring.   Henare pointed to Kelly and told him to “shut up”.   

That is how quiet it is in a New Japan event.  

Both men were evenly matched until Henare used his power moves.  Both men pulled out submission attacks.  O-Khan came to the ring with an ice pack on his arm to cheer on his teammate.    Both men hammered each other with hard strikes.   Henare hit a Rampage Tackle.  SANADA kicks out at two.  Henare goes for Streets of Rage but SANADA wiggles out and hits a TKO. 

SANADA hits a Mutoh Moonsault and pins Henare.

SANADA will advance to the Quarterfinals to face Will Ospreay.

Another good match.   Despite the loss, Henare also gets a small victory here.   Henare was in the main event against SANADA and he held his own.   This match was better than the match they had a year ago, when Henare joined United Empire. Henare’s future in New Japan looks promising.  Zack Sabre Jr and Will Ospreay have spoken of their respect for SANADA as a wrestler and opponent.  For Henare, he can only get better from facing SANADA.   

SANADA addressed the crowd in English, which showed respect to Henare.  He thanked the fans for coming and for watching on New Japan World.

Collectively, this event’s tournament matches were probably the best of the New Japan Cup.  Round 2 of the New Japan Cup concludes tomorrow night.

Thank you for reading.

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