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FIRST MATCH: Satoshi Kojima & Yota Tsuji vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku)
Great bout, Yota Tsuji has phenomenal exchanges with both Suzuki-gun members. Kojima and Suzuki’s endless rivalry has yet to get boring.
Need To Watch Rating: (5.0)
SECOND MATCH: YOSHI-HASHI, Juice Robinson, Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Bullet Club (HIKULEO, Chase Owens, Bad Luck Fale & Taiji Ishimori)
Solid tag match. Nothing essential.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.9)
THIRD MATCH: Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma & Ren Narita vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (SANADA, BUSHI & Shingo Takagi)
Good preview of SANADA & Goto’s tournament match. Shingo Takagi continues to work like Stan Hansen.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.5)
FOURTH MATCH: CHAOS (Will Ospreay, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Suzuki-gun (Davey Boy Smith Jr., Lance Archer & Taichi)
Not a ton to write home about, but Davey Boy Smith Jr. has been having a stellar tour.
Need To Watch Rating: (3.9)
FIFTH MATCH: Kazuchika Okada, Togi Makabe & Toa Henare vs. Michael Elgin, Colt Cabana & Mikey Nicholls
Solid preview bout. Nicholls continues to shine in NJPW. Cabana felt a little out of place, as the only comedy wrestler in the bout.
Need To Watch Rating: (3.8)
SIXTH MATCH: New Japan Cup First Round Match: Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Ryusuke Taguchi
Really great bout. Tenzan is no slouch during tournaments. Taguchi is hungry to prove he can hang with the heavyweights. The results are a lot of fun.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.0)
SEVENTH MATCH: New Japan Cup First Round Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shota Umino
Shota Umino is a star. Simple as that. This is the match that many will talk about in 20 years as “the beginning” of whatever breakout success is on the horizon for this young lion.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
EIGHTH MATCH: New Japan Cup First Round Match: EVIL vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
These two have flawless chemistry. Definitely worth seeking out for its clash of styles.
Need To Watch Rating: (9.9)
MAIN EVENT: New Japan Cup First Round Match: Tetsuya Naito vs. Kota Ibushi
Simply put, these two cannot have a bad match. They always find a creative way to top their last outing. This is a truly spectacular match and should be sought out at all costs.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.5)
