Written by: Super Mastodon (@SuperMastodon)
This year’s New Japan Cup is almost near its conclusion, the finals will take place in front of a live audience on July 11, 2020 at Osaka-Jo Hall and the winner will face Tetsuya Naito the following day on Dominion for the Double IWGP Championship. But before we get there, let’s take a look at the journey first by reviewing the results of the entire second round, quarter finals, and semi finals.
Day 4 – Round 2
Date: June 24, 2020
Taiji Ishimori def. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Match Time: 9:18
This rivalry dates all the way back to their days in NOAH as these two were the top stars of the promotion’s junior heavyweight division. However Ishimori has not gotten a single pin fall victory over Kanemaru throughout their run their and this narrative continued even in their NJPW career when Ishimori became the newest member of Bullet Club, losing to Kanemaru in last year’s BOSJ. Now the long streak is finally over but I have to say the match that led to it was decent at best. It could’ve been a slightly big moment in front of a crowd but Kanemaru is way past his prime by this point to have outstanding matches so Ishimori’s first ever win over his senior rival ended up being a forgettable match. A heatless near 10 minute affair that ended with a Bloody Cross. At least it didn’t overstay it’s welcome.
Tomohiro Ishii def. Togi Makabe
Match Time: 13:28
If you’ve been reading my reviews for a while then you know I’ll always love a good ol’ hoss fight. It’s probably my favorite type of match style, just two beefy dudes running into one another with endless stiff exchanges. That was exactly what this match was and I appreciated every second of it. Ishii works well against anyone and Makabe clearly put in some effort into this one, he usually just phones it in at this point of his career but since NJPW returned he’s been motivated so far. A lot of lariats and elbows as you’d expect, nothing out of the ordinary for these two. Ishii ends up getting the victory with the Vertical Drop Brainbuster.
Hiromu Takahashi def. Toru Yano
Match Time: 9:17
What else can I say that’s not even been said yet about this match? This is an award for suffering through Yano vs. Jado, a comedy match done right. Yano triggering Hiromu with cutting his hair like he did in the past, a funny running gag throughout their encounters in this tournament, there wasn’t really a “wrestling match” per se, just a straight up comedy skit and I loved it! Like everyone has mentioned this was a DDT match in an NJPW show and the finish couldn’t get any more whackier, in a good way. It’s really creative and I don’t mind a good harmless fun match like this, especially when the two personalities make it work. Best ending to a match in the so-called “COVID era.”
Kazuchika Okada def. Yuji Nagata
Match Time: 20:14
When Nagata got the surprise win over Suzuki a lot of fans got hyped for his eventual match on Okada. I thought it was fine, not really mindblowing or anything, both men worked hard but it needed a crowd for it to be compelling enough in my opinion. I like Okada always acting more arrogant against the veterans though and paying up for it by getting beat up. Although I’m not so sure if I’m really too keen on the Cobra Clutch, it’s not really a believable submission hold the way he delivers it, not too “strong” enough if you know what I mean. Fantastic effort from Nagata but Okada’s matches, especially long lengthy ones needs an audience for them to be more memorable.
Day 5 – Round 2
Date: July 1, 2020
YOSHI-HASHI def. BUSHI
Match Time: 10:22
I hate to be harsh but there was seriously nothing memorable that happened in this match other than poor YOSHI-HASHI receiving a random injury in the middle of the match. This man’s luck is so awful that you can’t help but to feel bad. It was a nothing match, felt like pointless filler.
SANADA def. SHO
Match Time: 14:43
After a decisive victory over Shingo, SHO is facing another LIJ member in SANADA. I was intrigued by this match up and I thought their styles blended well, it won’t be as hard hitting as SHO vs. Shingo but it was still a nice mix of highflying and technical match. I think they should’ve put more time into it though as when it felt like they were finally heating up, it ended way too soon. SANADA got the win with the Skull End, here’s hoping he changes to a more devastating looking finisher as I know he won’t be doing Moonsault Presses forever, even his mentor Keiji Mutoh retired the move when he got old.
Taichi def. Kota Ibushi
Match Time: 18:08
This was a pretty good match between ongoing rivals. They both got their respective tag-team partners in their corners, Taichi with Zack and Ibushi with Tana, obviously they played a part into the match later on. The first half of the match wasn’t really anything special to me though, just a classic heel vs. face dynamic. It wasn’t until when Taichi got rid of the pants is when things started to turn up a notch and finally hits the Iron Claw as bestowed onto him by Takashi Iizuka then hits the Black Mephisto, getting back-to-back victories over the reigning IWGP Tag-Team Champions.
EVIL def. Hirooki Goto
Match Time: 18:25
I’m surprised this took the main event spot over the previous match but they showed why. A strong solid match from top to bottom although nothing really to rave about. EVIL has been leaning more onto his name throughout the tournament though, more-so evidently in this one hitting Goto in the nuts, cheating his way to victory. I’ve been liking this new edge to EVIL’s character, he’s been in dire need of an attitude change for awhile now other than looking like a typical goth character.
