New Japan Cup: LIJ battles Bullet Club

It was Bullet Club versus Los Ingobernables de Japón as round two of the New Japan Cup began today. Tetsuya Naito faced off against Chase Owens while Sanada battled Kenta.

It looked like Owens might be moving on to the next round as he hit Naito with a Styles Clash from the second rope but he could only get a two count. Owens landed another C Trigger to set the stage for the Package Piledriver. Naito fought his way out only to eat another C Trigger. As Owens hoisted Naito up, Naito flipped Owens into a Victory Roll for the win.

In the their match, Sanada pulled Red Shoes out of the way before he was steamrolled by Kenta. Unfortunately, when Sanada kicked out of Kenta’s roll-up Kenta landed right on Red Shoes. Kenta then rolled Red Shoes out of the ring and to the floor. With Red Shoes out Kenta retrieved a steel chair from under the ring. As Kenta lined Sanada up Red Shoes reached into the ring and took the chair away. Kenta grabbed Sanada and just threw him into Red Shoes. Red Shoes went into the chair and rolled out to the floor again.

Kenta cuts some corners. Courtesy: NJPW.

Kenta took the chair and smashed it over Sanada’s back three times. Sanada then took a chair shot to the head. As Sanada lay stunned Kenta rolled Red Shoes back into the ring. Kenta completely missed, completely botched, a double stomp from the top rope. Sanada fought out of a Go To Sleep but fell into a crossface submission from Kenta. Kenta had to let go as Sanada wasn’t submitting. Kenta took the Strong Openweight Championship and swung it at Sanada. Sanada dodged, seem to have Kenta set up for Skull End but Kenta hit Sanada in the head with the belt. Sanada though punted the belt into Kenta’s head and pinned him with that new spinning DDT he now uses.

The two Los Ingobernables de Japón members will now have no choice but to face off against each other in the quarterfinals.

New Japan Cup Night Five Results

Oskar Leube, Toru Yano and Tama Tonga versus The United Empire (Aaron Henare, The Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb)

Henare pins Leube with Rampage.

Winners: The United Empire (Aaron Henare, The Great-O-Khan and Jeff Cobb)

TMDK (Kosei Fujita and Zack Sabre Jr.) versus Bullet Club (El Phantasmo and David Finlay)

Finlay pins Fujita with a Blue Thunder Bomb.

Winners: Bullet Club (El Phantasmo and David Finlay)

TAKA Michinoku, Douki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Taichi versus House of Torture (Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi and Evil)

Almost everyone takes a swing from Kanemaru’s whiskey bottle. Sho shoves Taka into the official. He punches Taka in the “lower abdomen” and pins him with a crossarm piledriver. A pissed off Taichi clears the ring after the match with a steel chair.

Winners: House of Torture (Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi and Evil)

Lio Rush, Yoh and Tomohiro Ishii versus Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Hiromu Takahashi and Shingo Takagi)

Rush pins Bushi with Rush Hour.

Winners: Lio Rush, Yoh and Tomohiro Ishii

Tomoaki Honma, YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto versus The United Empire (Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis and Will Ospreay)

Aussie Open pins Honma with Corealis.

Winners: The United Empire (Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis and Will Ospreay)

Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada versus Ren Narita and Shota Umino

Okada pins Narita after a Landslide and two Rainmakers. Narita ends up with a bloody nose during the match.

Winners: Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada

Tetsuya Naito versus Chase Owens – New Japan Cup Round Two

Winner: Tetsuya Naito