We’re closing in on another chapter in the rivalry of Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tetsuya Naito, as they will meet in the third round of the New Japan Cup. However tonight, we have the NJPW Dream Team back again, as Tanahashi teams with the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada and YOH to take on Naito, SANADA & BUSHI in a huge six man tag team match.
Los Ingobernables de Japon Takes The Victory Over The NJPW Dream Team
Tanahashi & Naito would give the fans exactly what they were wanting, and started this match off. They’d lock up in the middle of the ring, and Naito would get the better of the chain wrestling exchange at first – before ending up in the side headlock. Tanahashi would be forced to let the hold go after Naito would grab a handful of hair and sling him into the corner.
Naito would dodge the crossbody attempt with the Tranqulio pose, before tagging BUSHI. Tanahashi would nail the basement dropkick to BUSHI, before catching Naito as well. YOH got the tag and got the two count off a suplex, before Okada getting in after he realised the match nearly ended without him hitting the ring. BUSHI was slammed down before Okada hit the senton over the ropes.
The Dream Team would hit a double back elbow, before BUSHI would get dropped with a DDT from YOH. Okada & SANADA got tags, with SANADA getting Okada in the Paradise Lock – to the glee of Naito. The dropkick would free Okada, only for SANADA to take a DDT shortly after. Okada would get taken into Skull End, before YOH helped him free.
The flapjack would get Okada a chance to make the tag, and YOH would meet SANADA with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. SANADA & YOH have very similar styles, and YOH would manage a near fall after the Falcon Arrow. L.I.J would hit a triangle attack on YOH, before Okada would save him from Skull End.
BUSHI dropped Okada, Tanahashi took out BUSHI, Naito sent Tanahahsi to the floor – before YOH & SANADA again had the focus. The TKO dropped YOH for a two count, before Skull End forced YOH to tap out.
Chase Owens Continues His New Japan Cup Dreams
Chase Owens remains in the New Japan Cup after taking out Jado in the first round, and tonight has another very winnable match on his plate. Historically, Tiger Mask has always beaten Owens- but haven’t met since Owens was a Junior Heavyweight. It’s been 17 years since Tiger Mask was in a New Japan Cup, having been in the 2005 tournament – where Masahiro Chono took him out in the opening round.
Owens would get taken down to the mat quickly by Tiger Mask with an armbar attempt. The ropes were found, before Owens took some kicks to the arm and head. Owens slipped outside, but was able to stop Tiger Mask before he’d hit the dive… only to meet the ring post face first.
The dive would land, before Owens would take control in the ring with a bow and arrow stretch. Slowing down the pace and focusing on the back would seem to work for Owens, including a double axe handle off the top rope.
Tiger Mask would catch Owens on the top rope the second time around, and took him down with an arm drag. Tiger Bomb would be set up, but Owens blocked and hit the knee strike to the back of the head. The Tiger Bomb would finally land, but Owens kicked out at two. Tiger Mask went to the top rope, but missed the Diving Headbutt.
Double knee gutbuster would get a near fall for Owens, before the C-Trigger dropped Tiger Mask. Package Piledriver would land, and this one is over. Owens will now face the winner of Shingo Takagi & Tanga Loa in the next round of the New Japan Cup.
How deep can Chase Owens get in the 2022 New Japan Cup? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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