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FIRST MATCH: CHAOS (Will Ospreay, Mikey Nicholls & Rocky Romero) vs. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, HIKULEO & Taiji Ishimori)
This match was a total mess. Fale and Romero tried to hold the bout together, but it never came together. Mikey Nicholls got in some good offense in his NJPW return match.
Need To Watch Rating: (3.0)
SECOND MATCH: Satoshi Kojima, Toa Henare & Toru Yano vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr.)
This was a little more like it. Davey Boy was the star of the match, while Kojima got to remind everyone how he became the legend that he is today. Henare got some good offense. Yano is entertaining as always. Suzuki is a mean, mean man. Lance Archer is also in this match.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.8)
THIRD MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL & BUSHI) vs. Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku)
Everyone in this match had great chemistry. TAKA is getting his working shoes ready for Best of Super Juniors. EVIL & ZSJ are never bad against each other.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.0)
FOURTH MATCH: Kota Ibushi, Hirooki Goto & SHO vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & Shingo Takagi)
Ibushi, Goto & Sho are an interesting tandem that never really get the chance to show off what they can do. The match focused on Shingo & Sho, who have been amazing against each other.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.0)
FIFTH MATCH: Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Togi Makabe, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada vs. Shota Umino, Michael Elgin, Colt Cabana & Ryusuke Taguchi
This match was all about Shota Umino. Umino and Tanahashi have a contentious relationship, and early in the match no one takes Umino seriously. Definitely the best undercard tag match of the night.
Need To Watch Rating: (6.0)
SIXTH MATCH: New Japan Cup First Round: Manabu Nakanishi vs. YOSHI-HASHI
This match definitely happened. Both men spend most of the match biting off more than they can chew. Shades of the opener, nothing ever clicked in place.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.5)
SEVENTH MATCH: New Japan Cup First Round: Tomoaki Honma vs. Taichi
Holy hell, this match was probably 8-10 minutes longer than it needed to be.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.0)
EIGHTH MATCH: New Japan Cup First Round: Juice Robinson vs. Chase Owens
The best match of the night by a long run. Chase’s most important NJPW match to date, and his first main event caliber performance. Robinson is a delight as always. Definitely worth going out of your way for.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
MAIN EVENT: New Japan Cup First Round: Yuji Nagata vs. Tomohiro Ishii
These men beat the living crap out of each other, how can you not seek that out. Great, hard-hitting match. Doesn’t quite live up to the match that had been insinuated by their past encounters.
Need To Watch Rating: (9.1)