Great-O-Khan had an easy path to the second round of the New Japan Cup – as Kota Ibushi was unable to get cleared for the tournament. Now, he will have to face Taiji Ishimori in the second round of the tournament – and it’s a hard match to call. O-Khan might have the size and power advantage, but it’d be hard to deny the skills and experience of Ishimori.
Great-O-Khan Foils The Carefully Laid Plans Of Taiji Ishimori
As soon as the bell rang, Ishimori would flee the ring – showing his speed edge over Great-O-Khan. Into the ring, Ishimori set the trap and went right after the left arm of the Great-O-Khan – before taking him outside and driving him into the ringpost. Using the bell hammer, more damage was done to the arm of Great-O-Khan, before Ishimori exposed a corner of the ring.
Focusing on a body part is an easy way to make progress in the match, and Ishimori was able to avoid the spinebuster and ground his bigger and stronger opponent. Another armbreaker would be followed by a backstabber, before La Mistica was blocked into a quick fireman’s carry. Great-O-Khan would apply the cross armbreaker.
Now on his feet in this fight, Great-O-Khan would work the arm of Ishimori using a steel chair and the ring post. In the ring, some armbreakers would land – before Great-O-Khan would hyper extend the left arm of Ishimori with his legs. The Mongolian Chops to the arm would serve to make Ishimori angry – and would see Great-O-Khan locked in the Yes! Lock for close call on a submission.
Great-O-Khan would drop Ishimori face first into the exposed steel in the corner – before looking for a submission in the middle of the ring. Ishimori would slip free and blast Great-O-Khan with a back handspring kick. A modified shoulder breaker would land, before Ishimori set up the Yes! Lock with La Mistica – before moving into Bone Lock.
Great-O-Khan was able to get free using his long legs, and would narrowly avoid the Bloody Cross. Sheepkiller was applied before Ishimori flipped out of The Eliminator before a near fall off a roll up. Low Blow would miss and Great-O-Khan would drop him with the Eliminator for the win.
Great-O-Khan will now face Zack Sabre Jr. in the third round of the New Japan Cup.
Will Ospreay Meets Someone Who Is HIs Equal
Will Ospreay is slowly building up to winning back to back New Japan Cups, having taken out BUSHI in the first round. However, now he’s got a tough situation in the second round – having to take on El Phantasmo.
The two time Super J-Cup winner is one big win away from breaking out as a potential heavyweight star in NJPW. Add in that Ospreay was the one who brought ELP to NJPW in the first place – and this match has layers. Historically – ELP has three wins over Ospreay, and two losses.
Kicking off with some chain wrestling, ELP would be able to push the match with a hard shoulder tackle – only for Ospreay to bounce right back to his feet. Ospreay went for the running hurricanrana, and ELP would land on his feet. Into the corner, ELP would set up the Rope Walk Hurricanrana – before just sending Ospreay flying into the middle of the ring.
On the outside, Ospreay would drop ELP on the barricade – right on his shoulder. Back into the ring, ELP would manage to regain his ground and set up Sudden Death – but he hesitated for far too long for being in the ring with Will Ospreay. A boot to the face landed, before ELP was thrown to the floor and nailed with a Plancha.
Back in the ring, Ospreay would nail the springboard forearm smash – but ELP held on, kicking out at two. ELP would get the springboard crossbody before looking for the lionsault. Ospreay slipped to the outside, only for ELP to hit the Tope Suicida – sending Ospreay up the ramp.
ELP Moves Past The Mental Block, Gets Dropped Moments Later
Back into the ring, ELP would springboard off the top rope with a swanton bomb, before hitting a lionsault for the two count. He’d again look for Sudden Death, but the mental block after being exposed as a cheater at Wrestle Kingdom – has issues throwing that kick. Ospreay would close in fast, and ELP looked for the suplex, only to take the stunner.
Ospreay has no issue hitting a superkick however, and would throw the kick only to be blocked. ELP block a powerbomb attempt, before sending Ospreay flying with the UFO. Taking too long setting Ospreay up on the top rope, ELP would get caught into the cheeky nandos kick – before looking for the top rope poisonrana – with Ospreay landing on his feet.
ELP was amazed, but couldn’t lose his focus. Ospreay would quickly land the Liger Bomb, before nearly getting pinned of a quick counter of the Hidden Blade. ELP was dropped for the Shooting Star Press, but was able to counter with a knee strike. OsCutter was blocked into a cutter from ELP, before the Thunder Kiss ‘86 splash for the near fall.
Finally, looking confident, he’d look to throw Sudden Death – only to be knocked out by two Hidden Blade elbow strikes for the finish. The mental block was cured, but not soon enough to get the win over Ospreay.
Will Ospreay will now face the winner of tonight’s main event – either SANADA or Aaron Henare. Who will push forward? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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