We were down to the final four of the New Japan Cup, and after today only two would be left standing. The two semi-final matches were David Finlay versus Tama Tonga and Mark Davis against Sanada.
Finlay and Tonga were in the first semi-finals of the night and Tonga got it going with a dropkick, but Finlay came right back hitting Tonga with a hot shot and then a side suplex. Finlay then took him to the outside to drive him into the barricade and then lay into him with some closed fists. He maintained control, but Tonga finally got himself back when he launched out of the corner with a big lariat.
Tonga with the rolling fireman’s carry. Credit: NJPW
Tonga then hit a big splash in the corner followed by an exploder suplex, and he then hit a springboard plancha onto Finlay on the outside. Finlay then slipped out of a power slam and chop-blocked Tonga’s knee with all his power. He then began with cross faces and then a running forearm into the back of Tonga’s head, but Tonga then reversed Finlay into the Tonga Twist.
It was a battle of forearms until Tonga hit SRC and then the Supreme Flow diving splash for a two-count. He then wanted the Gun Stun, but Finlay reversed into a flipping stunner and then a blue thunder bomb. Finlay charged out of the corner spearing Tonga in half, and then Tonga reversed Trash Panda into a sharpshooter.
Finlay in full control. Credit: NJPW
After Finlay made it to the ropes, he hit Tonga with an Irish curse backbreaker and then the dominator. However, Tonga then reversed Trash Panda again and this time he was able to hit Finlay with a Bloody Sunday. Finlay then ducked a Gun Stun, rolled Tonga through and then hit Trash Panda to secure the victory. The Rebel is now off to the finals of the New Japan Cup!
Sanada, the new frontman of Just 5 Guys, had a new look for his semi-final against Mark Davis and they got into the match quickly. Davis power slammed Sanada and then hit a jumping senton, he then took him outside the ring to throw him into the barricade. He then hung Sanada on the ring apron and laid into him with a massive knee lift.
Sanada flipped out of a side suplex and hit Davis with a side suplex of his own, he followed that with three big dropkicks. There was then a springboard plancha to the outside and Sanada was then caught on the apron by a springboard lariat from Davis sending him to the outside. The big man Davis then ran flying through the ropes hitting Sanada with a suicide dive.
Big man, big clothesline. Credit: NJPW
Later in the match, Sanada hit his springboard missile dropkick, but Davis completely no sold it and then hit him with a back suplex. A piledriver was attempted next, but Sanada turned that into a TKO and he then wanted a moonsault. Davis rolled out of the way and hit a power slam, he then went to the top rope himself for a splash. Sanada rolled out of the way this time, and he then went for the moonsault again.
Instead of rolling out of the way, this time Davis got his knees up and then hit Sanada in the head with the enzigiri. Davis was in complete control hitting his sliding forearm in the corner and then the beautiful Close Your Eyes Piledriver for a two-count.
Piledriver. Credit: NJPW
Davis then went for the Water Slide, but Sanada slipped out and hit his new modified DDT to steal the win. Despite the outcome, Davis is seriously a future star in NJPW.
The New Japan Cup Finals are now set for Tuesday, David ‘The Rebel’ Finlay will go one-on-one with Sanada!
New Japan Cup Night Eleven Results
Oskar Leube & Shota Umino vs. TMDK (Kosei Fujita & Zack Sabre Jr.)
Umino made Fujita submit to his STF.
Winners: Oskar Leube & Shota Umino
Ryohei Oiwa, Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii vs. Bullet Club (El Phantasmo, Chase Owens & Kenta)
After a string of roll-ups between ELP and Oiwa, it would be ELP holding him in a cradle long enough for the win.
Winners: Bullet Club
Ryusuke Taguchi, Ren Narita, El Desperado & Minoru Suzuki vs. House of Torture (Dick Togo, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & Evil)
Sho stole the win for House of Torture by hitting Taguchi’s face into an exposed turnbuckle and then hitting him with the wrench in the skull.
Winners: House of Torture
Tomoaki Honma & Yoshi-Hashi vs. United Empire (Jeff Cobb & Kyle Fletcher)
Cobb hit Honma with a superkick followed by Tour of the Islands to secure the victory.
Winners: United Empire
Los Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi & Shingo Takagi) vs. United Empire (Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan)
Henare locked Bushi in the Ultima and Khan locked Takagi in his abdominal stretch, Bushi would be the one to submit.
Winners: United Empire
Chaos (Lio Rush & Yoh) vs. Los Ingobernables de Japón (Hiromu Takahashi & Tetsuya Naito)
Naito isolated Yoh and hit him with Destino to have LIJ come out on top.