Despite a hard effort, Yuji Nagata has failed to move past the first round of the New Japan Cup. Tonight, this legend steps into the ring and has Young Lion Kosei Fujita to take his frustrations out on – as he teaches Fujita a thing or two about professional wrestling.
Yuji Nagata Uses Decades Of Experience To Defeat Kosei Fujita
Hitting the ring with his usual stern expression, Nagata would go right to work on the arm of Fujita. He’d take Fujita to the mat with a side headlock – and nearly force a submission in the opening minute of this match. Nagata was relentless with this headlock, and when Fujita shoved his way free – he was driven down with a shoulder tackle.
Front facelock would be applied, but Fujita was able to slip out and end up with his wrist clutched and wrenched down. Fujita was able to fight free, but was kicked across the ring. Anything he can do – Nagata mastered decades ago, and was able to easily take Fujita to the mat with a cross armbreaker.
To his credit, Fujita was able to find his way to the bottom rope with his foot. Nagata would lock in a double wrist lock next, and Fujita once again found the bottom rope. Finally throwing some strikes, Nagata would level Fujita with a series of crisp mid-kicks.
He’d catch the third kick and launch off some forearm strikes, and managed to get a two count on Nagata. Dropkick would land, and Fujita locked in his finishing hold – the basic Boston Crab.
Nagata easily fought free, blocked a bodyslam attempt before Fujita slapped him across the ear. A big knee strike to the midsection would land, before a midkick got the nearfall. Exploder Suplex would set up Nagata Lock for the submission victory. Fujita will meet YOSHI-HASHI on March 10th – as he received a first round bye.
BULLET CLUB Remains Fine
Great Bash Heel are already out of the New Japan Cup, as both YOSHI-HASHI & Togi Makabe were taken out of the tournament in round one. Tonight, they will team with Tiger Mask IV to take on the Bullet Club unit of Gedo, El Phantasmo and Chase Owens.
BULLET CLUB would exchange a Too Sweet before the match, and Gedo kicked things off against Tiger Mask. Gedo hit some rough strikes to start, before Tiger Mask would quickly outwrestle him and apply a hammerlock in the middle of the ring.
Honma would get a tag and apply a hold as well, before Tiger Mask hit the ring again. ELP would rake the eyes of Tiger Mask from the apron, before Chase Owens pulled outside and threw him into the barricade. Makabe would have his chest attacked on the floor, while Gedo hit Tiger Mask with a belt.
In the ring, ELP would hit a high risk back rake – before allowing Owens into the match. The backbreaker would land, before Tiger Mask spiked him with a Tiger Driver. Makabe hit the ring for some rushing lariats and some punches. ELP made a cameo on commentary as Makabe hit a lariat in the middle of the ring for a two count.
Owens would hit Jewel Heist on Makabe, before tagging in ELP. Honma would enter the match and start chopping him in the throat, before hitting the bulldog and a Kokeshi. Tiger Mask would hit a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker before a Rocket Kokeshi landed for a two count.
Chase Owens hit a Package Piledriver, and ELP hit Thunder Kiss for the victory. ELP will face the winner of the main event match tonight – which sees Will Ospreay take on BUSHI.
Hiroshi Tanahashi Beats House of Torture At Their Own Game
House of Torture have had a rough start to the New Japan Cup, with Yujiro Takahashi failing to defeat Tetsuya Naito. Tonight they will regroup in six man tag team action, as EVIL, Takahashi and SHO take the fight to Hiroshi Tanahashi, Master Wato & Ryusuke Taguchi.
House of Torture attacked before the bell, with EVIL signalling out Taguchi. Taguchi would be able to hit a hip attack, before EVIL would manage to hit a knee to the tailbone. SHO would tag in and hit some swift strikes, before applying a chokehold. EVIL would apply a Cobra Twist, with Dick Togo, SHO and Takahashi helping to apply pressure.
Tanahashi would save Taguchi, before he’d be able to hit a hop attack in the ring and tag in Master Wato. Wato would nail a big dropkick before the springboard elbow strike would get a two count. SHO blocked the Crucifix Driver, before getting the tag to Takahashi.
Wato would get Tanahashi into the ring, and after a flipping senton out of the corner – the Slingblade would follow. Takahashi was able to block and bite the hand of Tanahashi, before EVIL held Tanahashi in place for a boot to the face.
House of Torture ran a three man assault on Tanahashi, ending with a Fisherman Buster. This got a two count, before Takahashi grabbed his walking stick. Dick Togo distracted the referee, and Tanahashi dodged the walking stick but not the low blow.
Tanahashi would block Big Juice, and hit a Low Blow of his own before rolling up Takahashi for the win. This is a win of the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions – and we could see this match again with gold on the line soon!
Tomorrow night, Ryusuke Taguchi will take on EVIL. SHO will take on Hiromu Takahashi. Can Ryusuke Taguchi be able to pull off the upset against the 2020 New Japan Cup victor? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hi4rgUf74I
