The second round of the New Japan Cup wrapped up today, but there was news regarding Will Ospreay. He won his second-round match on March 13, but he has now had to withdraw from the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Mark Davis, who Ospreay beat, will replace Ospreay in the quarter-finals against Evil this Friday.
As for today and the last two matches of the second round, we had Great-O-Khan battling ‘The Rebel’ David Finlay and Shota Umino against Zack Sabre Jr.
Finlay and O-Khan started the match by trading forearms to see who could hit harder, it was O-Khan so Finlay hit him with a throat chop. He then took him outside of the ring to throw him into the barricade, hit him with closed fists and viciously rake his eyes. The Rebel was in complete control, but O-Khan was able to surprise him with a reversal arm drag.
Great-O-Khan with Finlay in a submission hold. Credit: NJPW
He then began with the Mongolian chops to Finlay and followed them with a beautiful belly-to-belly suplex. O-Khan landed a bicycle kick and he then wanted the finish, but Finlay slipped out and chop-blocked his knee. The Rebel laid into O-Khan with cross faces and then hit a dominator for a two-count, followed by a uranage backbreaker.
Following both men going for a crossbody, O-Khan hit Finlay with a backbreaker and then locked him into the abdominal stretch hold. He released the hold to go for the Eliminator, but Finlay reversed into a stunner. The Rebel then went for Trash Panda, but O-Khan reversed by spiking Finlay on his head.
The Rebel driving Great-O-Khan into the barricade. Credit: NJPW
Finlay then reversed the Eliminator again and this time flipped it directly into Trash Panda, which was enough for the win. The Rebel is now off to the quarter-finals of the New Japan Cup.
Umino and Sabre closed the show, and to begin the match Sabre was testing the technical skills of Umino. Sabre was impressed after Umino turned a hammerlock into a roll-up for a two-count, and then Umino got started with a back elbow and a dropkick. Sabre then reversed a bodyslam and locked Umino in an arm bar while twisted in the ropes.
Sabre hitting a PK. Credit: NJPW
He then wrapped Umino’s arm in the barricade outside the ring stomping on it, it was clear he was after the arm of Umino. Sabre was toying with Umino, twisting the arm and repeatedly kicking him directly into it. Umino was finally able to reverse an arm drag and he then ran at Sabre hitting an uppercut followed by a fisherman suplex.
Umino then tried to get technical again, but he was no match for Sabre and he hit Umino with multiple dragon screw arm whips. Sabre then tried to drop Umino arm-first on the apron, but Umino reversed and arm-dragged Sabre shoulder-first into the apron. Umino then threw Sabre’s shoulder into the ring post and then into the barricade.
Umino was going to work on Sabre’s arm, making him feel the pain he has been feeling the whole match. Sabre got hung on the top rope and Umino drop-kicked him in the head before locking him in a double-wrist lock. Umino then hit Sabre with a slingshot DDT over the top rope and he then wanted Death Rider, but Sabre locked him in an arm bar.
Umino got out of the hold, but then Sabre kicked him directly in the back of the head. He was then looking for Zack Driver, but Umino turned that into two Cross Rhodes and then a reverse Bloody Sunday. Umino then went for a roll-up, but Sabre turned that into a vicious arm bar trapping both arms and Umino was lucky to get his foot on the ropes.
Umino and Sabre trading shots. Credit: NJPW
Sabre then kept kicking the chest of Umino begging him to give up before hitting a PK, but Umino no sold and jumped up hitting him with a dropkick. Both men then stood up to trade European uppercuts, Umino got the advantage after a tornado DDT followed by a leg-trapped DDT.
They continued to trade their best shots, and it seemed like Sabre was closing in on the win. He ran at Umino with an uppercut, but Umino rolled him through and hit a Death Rider to get the massive upset win!
Umino has shocked the world and moves on to the quarter-finals of the New Japan Cup to face David Finlay on March 18.
New Japan Cup 2023 Night Eight Results
Yuto Nakashima vs. Aaron Henare
Henare locked Nakashima into Ultima, making him pass out from the pain.
Winner: Aaron Henare
Ryohei Oiwa, Yoshi-Hashi & Hirooki Goto vs. United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)
Davis, who is off to the quarter-finals on Friday, hit a spinning slam on Oiwa to get the victory.
Winners: United Empire
Just 4 Guys (Taka Michinoku, Douki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Taichi) vs. House of Torture (Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & Evil)
In typical House of Torture fashion, they attacked Just 4 Guys before the bell giving themselves the early advantage. However, in the end, Kanemaru spat Togo’s own alcohol into his face allowing Taichi to put him in Seitei Jujiro for the win.
Winners: Just 4 Guys
Jado, Ren Narita & Tama Tonga vs. Bullet Club (El Phantasmo, Chase Owens & Kenta)
Kenta put Jado in the Game Over submission hold to make him submit.
Winners: Bullet Club
Chaos (Lio Rush, Yoh, Tomoaki Honma, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi, Hiromu Takahashi, Sanada, Shingo Takagi & Tetsuya Naito)
Lio Rush stole the spotlight in this match, he was moving at an insane speed battling with Takahashi and had everyone entertained. The end of the match saw Yoh and Bushi in the ring and it would be Yoh spiking Bushi with a Direct Drive to get the win.
