Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
From Ehime, Japan:
1 - Daiki Nagai and YOSHI-HASHI vs. TAKA Michinoku and Yuya Uemura
TAKA forces Nagai to tap out to Just Facelock
2 - Katsuya Murashima, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Hirooki Goto vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Satoshi Kojima and Yuji Nagata
Kojima pins Murashima after hitting a big lariat.
3 - Hartley Jackson, Ryohei Oiwa and Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Callum Newman, Jeff Cobb and TJP
Cobb pins Jackson after a Tour of the Islands.
4 - Jado, Toru Yano, El Phantasmo and Boltin Oleg vs. BUSHI, Yota Tsuji, Tetsuya Naito and Shingo Takagi
Tsuji pins Jado after a curbstomp.
Callum Newman joins the English commentary table.
5 - Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale, Drilla Moloney, SANADA and David Finlay vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi, Ren Narita and EVIL
Both teams immediately brawl into the crowd. They finally get it to the ring. Lots of shenanigans. Kanemaru hits the Suntory Surprise in Owen's face. Narita hits the Double Cross on Owens.
Narita pins Owens.
On commentary, Newman asked if SANADA even broke a sweat in this match. The camera catches War Dogs walking back to the locker room and all giving SANADA a look of distrust.
War Dogs and House of Torture are now separate factions. The question is what is SANADA's gameplan here?
New Japan Cup Round 2:
6 - Taichi vs. Gabe Kidd
According to Walker Stewart on commentary, this is Taichi and Kidd first ever singles match.
They begin by trading strikes and kicks. Kidd hits a running powerslam and a Boston Crab. Rope break. Taichi with a running kick to the face, then hits Tensho Jujihou. Taichi gets a two count. Taichi hits multiple quick kicks to Kidd's head. Kidd charges but Taichi dodges and hits a spinning high kick. They trade kicks and chops. Kidd hits multiple headbutts and a hard open hand slap. Taichi hits multiple stiff kicks to Kidd's chest. Taichi blocks a Rebound Lariat, but Kidd hits an enzuigiri. Kidd applies a Cobra Twist. Taichi reverses out and hits his own enzuigiri.
Taichi applies a Stretch Plum. Kidd is fading but Taichi lets go of the submission. Taichi tries for a powerbomb but Kidd blocks it. Tachi goes for another, lifts up Kidd, but Kidd tries to wiggle out. Taichi drops Kidd right on his head. Taichi hits an Ax Bomber. Taichi hits a Dangerous Driver. Two count. Kidd blocks a superkick, but Taichi hits a stiff elbow to the chin. Taichi goes for a Black Mephisto, but Kidd reverses into a piledriver. Kidd goes for an Oni Knee Strike, but Taichi hits another Tensho Jujihou. They exchange lariats. They trade more strikes. Kidd hits a Rebound Lariat. Taichi kicks at one. Kidd hits a punch to the jaw. Kidd with a brainbuster. Taichi kicks out at two. Crowd is loving this match.
Kidd hits an Oni Knee Strike. Kidd hits a piledriver. Kidd makes the cover but Ren Narita pulls the referee out of the ring. The crowd is pissed. Kidd goes to fight Narita. Yujiro Takahashi and SHO jump Kidd, but Kidd fights them off. Narita hits Kidd with the push up bar. House of Torture leaves the ringside.
Taichi is still on his back in the ring. Kidd is on the floor. The referee starts the count. The crowd starts to boo. The crowd is cheering for both men. The referee gets to 20.
Kidd gets counted out.
Taichi wins by count out and will move into the quarterfinals and will face Zack Sabre Jr. Dangerous Tekkers, former IWGP Tag Team Champions, will meet in the next round.
Both Taichi and Kidd are mad at the outcome of the match. Taichi was throwing chairs. Kidd was wobbly heading back to the locker room.
This was a good match until House of Torture got involved. Taichi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. should be a great match, with lots of emotion.
7 - Shota Umino vs. Great O-Khan
Umino comes out in his white hoodie. He does not interact with the crowd.
Solid wrestling to start. Umino was very methodical and deliberate with his attacks. O-Khan attacks with a similar style. O-Khan applies a head and arm choke. Umino gets to the ropes. They fight to the floor. O-Khan slams Umino on the ring apron. Umino hits a shotgun dropkick, sending O-Khan over the guardrail. O-Khan hits a Tenzan Tombstone Driver on the floor. Umino beats the count back to the ring. O-Khan hits a face first STO. Two count.
They exchange strikes. They trade lariats. O-Khan applies an Iron Claw with an airplane spin. O-Khan goes for the Eliminator but Umino reverses into a DDT. They trade elbows and punches. O-Khan applies the Sheep Killer. Umino reverses out. O-Khan hits a punch to the jaw. Umino reverses out of an Eliminator and hits a half nelson suplex. Umino with a lariat. Umino measures O-Khan and hits a Psycho Knee. Umino hits a Northern Lights Bomb.
Umino pins O-Khan.
Shota Umino moves into the quarterfinals to face either Jeff Cobb or Tetsuya Naito.
Shota Umino gets the mic and says "Shhhh". He bows to the crowd and drops the mic and leaves the ring.
No backstage comments by Umino either.
It seems Umino is going back to basics. Rather than being a uber babyface, he is focusing on controlling his emotions and getting results in the ring.
Round 2 of the New Japan Cup will conclude on March 14 with the following matches:
TJP vs. Drilla Moloney
Boltin Oleg vs. Shingo Takagi
Tetsuya Naito vs. Jeff Cobb
On Saturday March 15, Hirooki Goto will defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against Yuji Nagata.
Thank you for reading.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
