New Japan Cup Preview (Part Two)

Hi guys,

Welcome to part two my NJPW Preview of the New Japan Cup which starts on the 8th March!

This post's going to have a lot bigger names that part one (which you can find here https://wrestling-chatter.blogspot.com/2019/02/new-japan-cup-preview-part-one.html), and it's also got some match ups that I'm way too excited about. Just a note, I'm sorry this post is so long but I managed to have missed an entire day of matches!

Will Ospreay v Bad Luck Fale

When I heard that our own jr/ heavyweight hybrid Will Ospreay was going to be in the NJ Cup, I screamed slightly... but that scream faded when I heard his first round match is against Fale. I mean after Ospreay's win against Cobb, anything is possible especially when it comes to someone as talented as Ospreay. He can literally do anything he sets his mind too! For me, Ospreay being in this tournament is a great step forward for the Jr division and I can actually see him going so far . Like Chase Owens, Ospreay has nothing to lose from being in this tournament but everything to gain! That's even if it means beating the good ol' Rogue General Bad Luck Fale. I know that a lot of people have doubts about Fale but he's an experienced veteran and has had some amazing matches in the past, especially his last one with Okada. It's going to be speed v size but god damn it's going to be an intense match up and either guy could win depending on who gets the advantage (and as long as Fale doesn't stand on Ospreay).

Toa Henare v Lance Archer
The New Japan Cup keeps pitting my favourites against each other and this match up is literally the same. Since I started watching NJPW, I've seen how much Toa Henare has improved after set backs with his injury and it's crazy to see how far he's come from that over enthusiastic young lion. I mean he's still got that fire, but it's a lot more controlled and he's been picking up a lot of wins lately which has to be great momentum for his first tournament! Also, I'm really excited to see what kind of ring gear he's wearing (because I really want to see that Peter Pan gear again). Then you've got the American Psycho Lance Archer who's another fave of mine (not just because I keep shouting EVERYBODY DIES!). For someone so tall, it's crazy how agile Lance Archer is like that time he walked across the ropes - I mean he really challenged gravity there. Apart from that, he's just an amazing wrestler and his experience in the industry shows from his accomplishments to the way he dominates a ring. This is one of the harder match ups to predict because it's two top athletes with completely different personalities which is exciting. So, whoever wins will be fine in my book!

Hiroshi Tanahashi v Shota Umino
Isn't this an exciting match up? If any of you've read my Young Lion post (and if you have then thank you), you'll know how much I love Shota Umino and that I see so much potential in him and this is going to get tested by the Ace of NJPW. Obviously I don't see poor Shota winning against Tana (unless there's some miracle) but it's going to be one hell of a learning curve. I also think it's going to be an amazing platform to show the whole world how good this guy really is! Tana on the other hand really needs to knock it out of the park in this tournament because it's not been a great month for the Ace after losing his title to Jay White! We also know that he's probably not 100% in terms of his body health because he's been taking so much punishment since winning the G1. But, I'm never going to count the Ace out again. In terms of this match, I think Tanahashi is going to embrace it because we know how much he invests in these lions and Shota is going to literally give his heart and soul!

EVIL v Zack Sabre Jr
It's time for socialism v Halloween again! The funny thing is that even though we've seen this match up a lot lately, I'm still excited for it especially considering that EVIL finally managed to beat ZSJ earlier this year. After dropping the tag titles to G.O.D last month, this tournament could really be a way to get Evil back in the singles game and what's a better way to start it again then going after the IWGP heavyweight title. We then have ZSJ with so much to prove this year after not only winning the Rev Pro British title but also as the reigning New Japan Cup winner. Not that he doesn't have the talent to win it again because I've got so much faith in my fellow British socialist! Like all the other matches, it's going to be brutal, intense and just pure chaos in all the best ways possible. So let's see if Evil's win was a fluke or he really can beat the submission master!

Colt Cabana v Togi Makabe
After Honor Rising, I'm so excited to see Colt Cabana back in New Japan (even if it isn't teaming with my boy Yano). However, that smile we always see Cabana with might not be there after his fight with the Unchained Gorilla Togi Makabe because he's all fight and not really a lot of play! I don't think Colt really has anything to prove in this match because the fans have seen how much fun he is but also that he kicks ass. Togi Makabe on the other hand always has something to prove and I know that being part of the NEVER 6 man tag champs isn't enough and that singles gold is what he wants, and probably deserves. Even though both guys are veterans in wrestling, I see Togi Makabe having just the smallest advantage over Cabana with experience in a New Japan ring and having already tasted gold a lot of times. However, I don't want to count Colt out and he's going to put a hell of a fight and not make it easy for Makabe to win!

Minoru Suzuki v Satoshi Kojima
This is another match up that I saw and went, "Well, isn't this going to be something." It's two veterans with so much to prove and I know that they're just going to murder each other, especially Suzuki because that's what he does best! In terms of Suzuki, and I know I've said it about a lot of people, but I really want him to win. He's not had a big single's title for a while and being missed out of the WK main card has given his a huge chip on his shoulder. I guess I could say the same about Kojima who, after returning from injury, hasn't really got that much momentum after his below average World Tag score and just not really being on many shows. I know it's going be a crazy match and it's going to show the world that even two semi-oldies and veterans of the trade can perform like 20 something year olds with PK's galore and Koji's signature chops in the corner of the ring.

Yano v Davey Boy Smith Jr
I never really give Yano a chance when it comes to Suzuki Gun but I've been proved wrong before. I love watching Yano in the ring and he's someone that always puts on a hilarious match, but will this be the same against Davey Boy Smith Jr who, like his partner Lance Archer, has a huge chip on his shoulder. Do  I think that Yano can win the whole tournament: no. Do I think that he could win this match: maybe, I mean I've seen Yano beat guys like Suzuki so anything's possible. Also, after being pinned by Will Ospreay, Davey Boy Smith Jr could either be angrier than ever or really be rocked by what happened which could have psychological impact on this match. Even though I don't know who will win (though I hope its DBS), I now the match will have turn buckles removed, suplexes and maybe a low blow!

Hiroyoshi Tenzan v Rysuke Taguchi
I had initially got myself really excited for a match between Tenzan and my chosen winner David Finlay. So, I was mega sad when I found out that Finlay was injured and had to pull out. Yet, the replacement is way too perfect. Who else could replace Finlay but his fellow Taguchi Japan faction member and the man on the quest to be both the 69th Jr champ and 69th Heavyweight champ: Rysuke Taguchi! I know people are going to see this as a joke but, as seen by his match against Ishimori, Taguchi is a damn good wrestler and can have fun in the meantime so I don't see anything wrong with that! Taguchi is going against Tenzan who is one badass wrestler who, like Koji, has a lot to prove after not doing that well in World Tag League. If NJPW sticks to it's philosophy, it'll be easy to say Tenzan is beating Taguchi. But, if Taguchi wants to move up and the NJ cup is flipping everything on its head, Taguchi is winning this!

Kota Ibushi v Tetsuya Naito
This match up is probably the one that people are most looking forward to watch, and I'm one of them! I remember how excited I was when Kota said he was sticking with NJPW and was entering the tournament. I mean I was worried we'd lost the Golden Star to AEW. Like so many of the other guys, if not more, Ibushi has so much to prove after missing out on winning the G1 last year and then really being seen as 2nd to Kenny and then losing his NEVER title after a few weeks. Then we've got Naito-san on his quest to be the first guy to hold two of the top prizes in NJPW! The NJ cup is probably his best shot and I think he'll do really well as long as he doesn't have to go against ZSJ because the crowd are probably still mega bitter after the G1. Like Toa Henare v Lance Archer, I can't pick who I want to win because it's probably like a mother picking who her favourite kid is - impossible. I also think it's not fair to give us this in the first round because either way, the crowd isn't going to be happy that one of their faves are going to be eliminated so early!

So, who do I want to win? Well, with David Finlay out because of injury, I had to rethink a few things... Realistically I see someone like Ibushi, Naito or Okada winning. In my heart, I'd love to Chase Owens win (but will Owens challenge his fellow BC Jay White) so I think I have to go for either Minoru Suzuki or Goto who really deserve it and haven't had much mometum to go for a title lately. I can just imagine seeing Suzuki v Jay or Goto v Jay at Madison Square Garden but I don't want to get my hopes up yet!

So, now that I've looked at all the teams, what are your thought on the really big New Japan Cup Line Up? Who do you want to win and who do you think is going to win? Like always, let me know in the comments or on social media (@Wrestling_Chat on Twitter and Wrestling Chatter on FB and WrestlingChatter96 on IG) all your thoughts!

Until next time,

Bye!