Rookie, Olympian Aaron Wolf had one of his biggest tests of his career thus far taking on Don Fale on Night One of the New Japan Cup. He quickly learned though that the pro wrestling is sometimes a numbers game.
As Wolf made his entrance he was attacked from behind by Yoshinobu Kanemaru and Sho. Wolf got them both in headlocks but Chase Owens clobbered him. The three heels laid the boots to Wolf on the floor. Chase then rolled Wolf into the ring. The official rang the bell because…Why not?
Fale worked over Wolf with clubbing fists and stomps. Fale backs Wolf into a corner labeling him with punches and forearms. Wolf fought back with haymakers of his own. Fale tossed Wolf through the ropes and to the floor where the heels laid a beating on him once again. Once back in the ring, Fale slammed him down hard and rode him like a surfboard.
Fale tosses Wolf again. The house swarms him again. This time, Toru Yano, who is on Japanese commentary stands up taking exception to what is going on.
Fale charges in. Wolf ducks so Fale slams into a corner. Wolf nails him with a running clothesline. Wolf cannot get Fale up for a suplex so he whips him into a corner following up with a running clothesline. Wolf drops Fale with a snap suplex. Wolf lands a running, flying elbow drop for a two count. Fale halts an Angle Slam by tossing Wolf into the official who flies through the ropes to the floor.
The House of Torture storm the ring beating the hell out of Wolf. Man, they really hate this guy. Wolf though fights them off with slams, clotheslines and Judo throws. As the House attempts to bring a table into play, Yano leaves his commentating post and tries to intervene. Kanemaru cuts him off at the pass throwing him into a barricade.
As Kanemaru puts Wolf on a table in the ring and as Fale climbs to the second rope, Wolf puts Kanemaru in a triangle choke. Wolf just throws the table at Fale. Wolf cannot manage Fale at first but tries again and hits The Angle Slam. The official’s count is halted when he is pulled out of the ring and deposited on the floor.
Owens and Yano fight on the floor. Narita hits Wolf in the head with the Never Openweight Championship belt. Fale pins Wolf with the Grenade.
Fale will face Shingo Takagi in the next round.
In the second Cup match of the night, Yuya Uemura took on The Great-O-Khan.
Khan exerted his will when the bell rang pummeling Yuya with body shots and Mongolian Chops. Yuya reversed things with an arm bar. Khan threw Yuya off the ropes and back dropped him to Alpha Centuari.
Khan put Yuya into a corner taking a seat on his turnbuckle throne. Yuya found himself a victim of Khan’s claw hold having to loop his legs over the ropes to escape.
The bout goes to the floor. Khan slams Yuya into the barricade and three rows of chairs. Khan picks up a steel chair. While the official rips that one away Khan picks up another wailing on Yuya with it. Yuya barely makes it back into the ring.
Yuya gets a two count with a Dragon Suplex. Yuya climbs to the top rope but Khan crotches him onto it. Khan hits him with a knockout haymaker. Yuya slumps over. Khan lifts Yuyu off the top rope for a suplex. He spikes him instead. Yuya kicks out.
Yuya halts an Eliminator with a series of head butts and pins Khan with a flying body press from the top rope.
Yuya will face Drilla Maloney next in the tournament.
In the past, such superstars as Brody King, Bad Dude Tito, Shane Haste, Matt Riddle, Shelton Benjamin and others have been surprise entrants.
The New Japan Cup is an annual single-elimination tournament with the winner getting a IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match at an event following the tournament. Hirooki Goto is the only wrestler in history to have won the tournament three times and two times in a row. Recent winners include David Finlay (2025), Yota Tsuji (2024), Sanada (2023), Zack Sabre Jr. (2022), Will Ospreay (2021), Evil (2020).
The success rate of a New Japan Cup winner going on to win the title match they earned is 42% overall, 8 out of 19.
New Japan Cup 2026 – Night One Results
Shota Umino & Masatora Yasuda vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens)
Shota makes the save bailing out Yasuda but as Yujiro distracts the official, Chase and Umino fight over Yujiro’s cane. Owens hits Umino with a C-Trigger. Yuiro pins Yasuda with Pimp Juice DDT. Owens attacks Umino after the match in preparation for their New Japan Cup match.
Winners: HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yujiro Takahashi & Chase Owens)
El Phantasmo & Jado vs Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano
Jado has Yano in a crossface. Yano gets his foot on the ropes. Jado won’t break the hold though. As Jado argues with the official Yano slaps him in the back of his bald head. Jado slaps him back. Yano pushes Jado into the official. The official ducks out of the way. Yano punches Jado in the “lower abdomen” rolling him up for the pin.
Winners: Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano
Unbound Co. (OSKAR, Shingo Takagi, Drilla Moloney & Daiki Nagai) vs United Empire (Callum Newman, Jake Lee, HENARE & Zane Jay)
Zane Jay comes out and is pissed off about the entrance music. They are playing the traditional, generic Young Lions. Jay is with The United Empire now and wants their theme. Point taken. The sound crew plays…nothing.
Drilla pushes Jay into Newman. Drilla drop kicks Newman out of the ring. Drilla powerbombs Jay and pins him with the Drilla Killer. Newman taunts Oskar after the match. Oskar puts him in a sleeper hold from behind. Newman is choked out and drops to the floor.
Winners: Unbound Co. (OSKAR, Shingo Takagi, Drilla Moloney & Daiki Nagai)
Taichi, Master Wato & Tomoaki Honma vs HOUSE OF TORTURE (Ren Narita, DOUKI & Dick Togo)
As Narita distracts the official, Togo brings is garotte into the match. Before he can use it Taichi clocks him in the head. Taichi clotheslines both men to the canvass. Master Wato leaps onto Douki on the floor taking him out. Honma hits the falling Kokeshi on Togo. Taichi makes Togo submit.
Winners: Taichi, Master Wato & Tomoaki Honma
Unbound Co. (Yota Tsuji, Yuto-Ice, Taiji Ishimori, Robbie X & Gedo) vs TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, Robbie Eagles, Kosei Fujita & Hartley Jackson)
Jackson catches Gedo in the air for his driver and pins him easily. Robbie Eagles and Fujita taunt Robbie X and Ishimori with the titles.
Winners: TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr., Ryohei Oiwa, Robbie Eagles, Kosei Fujita & Hartley Jackson)
New Japan Cup 1st Round- Aaron Wolf vs Don Fale
Winner: Don Fale
New Japan Cup 1st Round- Yuya Uemura vs Great-O-Khan
Winner: Yuya Uemura
