After an amazing first night from New Japan Pro Wrestling in Long Beach, California we now have a look at the second round matches for the ongoing IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Championship tournament.
Jay Lethal overcame an injury to his ribs to defeat Bullet Club member Hangman Page in the first match of the tournament, as British technical wizard Zack Sabre Jr. defeated a game Juice Robinson to advance as well. Tomohiro Ishii secured something of an upset against Los Ingobernables de Japon leader Testuya Naito in the second half of the show, and Bullet Club leader Kenny Omega moved past Michael Elgin in one of the best matches of the entire year to round out bracket.
Sunday night in Long Beach, exclusively on New Japan World, it will be Kenny Omega taking on former ROH World Champion Jay Lethal and Tomohiro Ishii facing Zack Sabre Jr. in the semi-find round. The two winners will face off to determine which star will reign supreme as the first ever IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Champion.
One thing that may come into play as the Cleaner steps into the ring for night two in Long Beach is the ongoing drama between him and the “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes. Back at NJPW Dominion, Rhodes came down to ringside and tried to throw in the towel for his Bullet Club ally, in the match that would ultimate go to a 60-minute time limit draw. But Saturday night it was Omega who returned fire, approaching the ring with a white towel in hand. Cody would ultimately take the towel and throw it back into Kenny’s face, before taking a Rainmaker and falling to IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada in the main event.
