EVIL is a few short wins away from having won his second New Japan Cup, but his past stands in his way. Even with it having been almost two years since he left Los Ingobernables De Japon, he still can’t escape them – and tonight must face Hiromu Takahashi.
The junior heavyweight has taken EVIL to his limits in the past, and tonight is coming off a mauling from Minoru Suzuki – which once again proved that Hiromu is more than the sum of his parts. Whoever wins gets Shingo Takagi in just two days in the Quarterfinals – a tough draw for sure.
Hiromu Takahashi Comes Out Guns Blazing
Hiromu would attack EVIL before the bell, who had Dick Togo in his corner – which might as well make this a handicap match. EVIL would benefit from a distraction, allowing him to throw a chair in the face of Hiromu. Into the ring, EVIL would toss Hiromu into an exposed corner of the ring.
Hiromu throw some strikes – before EVIL would throw Hiromu to Togo for some strikes. A body slam in the middle of the ring would get a trio of close falls – EVIL persistent on these covers. A dropkick to the knee would send EVIL tumbling to the outside, where Hiromu came off the apron with a massive dropkick that took both men down.
Into the ring, EVIL would get taken down with a dragon screw leg whip, before a Death Valley Driver into the corner. EVIL was able to avoid the Sunset Flip Powerbomb to the floor – and drove Hiromu into the barricade.
EVIL Has Been Vanquished
Darkness Scorpion was applied briefly on the floor, with EVIL looking for the count out. Togo would pull Hiromu down off the apron at 14, but Hiromu would find his way in before 20. Darkness Falls was set up in the middle of the ring, but Hiromu was able to counter into the complete shot.
EVIL would use the exposed corner to set up Darkness Falls, but Hiromu was able to fight back and nail Time Bomb in response. The referee was dropped – and Dick Togo rushed the ring. Magic Killer was nailed, and Hiromu would barely kick out at three.
Exposed steel would fire up Hiromu, before he’d run into the lariat. Hiromu would get a visual pinfall on EVIL – but Togo ran the distraction. EVIL tried to hit the STO, but was shoved into Togo and nailed with his own finisher – granting Hiromu the win!
Who will win the 2022 New Japan Cup? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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