Zach Sabre Jr. and Tetsuya Naito are New Japan Cup finalists.
Technique trumped brute strength as Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shingo Takagi to claim his spot. ZSJ fought his way out of a Last of the Dragon to take Shingo down with a Triangle Choke Hold. Shingo hoisted ZSJ off the canvass for another try at Last of the Dragon but ZSJ locked on a Sleeper Hold. Shingo carried ZSJ to a corner climbing a turnbuckle with him on his back. ZSJ and Shingo crashed to the mat. ZSJ didn’t relinquish the hold though. Shingo passed out. The crowd in attendance at Osaka-Jo Hall was stunned by the outcome.
In the other semi-finals match, IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada fought Tetsuya Naito in another match in their forever feud. Although not as classic as their previous encounters Okada and Naito still put on a decent show. Naito shocked Okada and the crowd by pinning the champ with the sneaky roll-up he has been using.
Naito and ZSJ will meet tomorrow to decide the winner of the 2022 New Japan Cup. The winner usually receives a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
New Japan Cup Results Night 14
Hiroshi Tanahashi, Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa, Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato versus Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Gedo, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo)
Gedo is nailing people with brass knuckles behind the official’s back. Jado rushes in to stop him. He gets his pals disqualified.
Winners: Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Gedo, Taiji Ishimori and El Phantasmo) via disqualification.
Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano and Togi Makabe versus Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
Kanemaru swigs some whiskey. Yano punches him in the “lower abdomen”. Kanemaru spits the whiskey in the face of Taichi. Yano rolls up Kanemaru.
Winners: Tomohiro Ishii, Toru Yano and Togi Makabe
Suzuki-gun (El Desperado, TAKA Michinoku and DOUKI) versus House of Torture (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO)
Taka is distracted by Dick Togo. Evil pins Taka with Everything is Evil.
Winners: House of Torture (EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi and SHO)
Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma and Tiger Mask versus STRONGHEARTS (CIMA, T-Hawk and El Lindaman)
STRONGHEARTS get the win with T-Hawk pinning Honma.
Winners: STRONGHEARTS (CIMA, T-Hawk and El Lindaman)
The United Empire (Jeff Cobb and Great O-Khan) versus YOSHI-HASHI and Yoh)
Khan pins Yoh with the Eliminator.
Winners: The United Empire (Jeff Cobb and Great O-Khan)
The United Empire (Will Ospreay and Aaron Henare) versus Los Ingobernables de Japon (Hiromu Takahashi and BUSHI)
Henare pins Bushi with Streets of Rage.
Winners: The United Empire (Will Ospreay and Aaron Henare)
Zack Sabre Jr. versus Shingo Takagi – New Japan Cup Match
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr.
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada versus Tetsuya Naito – New Japan Cup Match
Winner: Tetsuya Naito