Aaron Henare is just one big tournament performance away from earning the respect of NJPW fans. While it’s not the G1 Climax – Henare is here for the New Japan Cup, and after Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb won their first round matches, and with Will Ospreay projected to defeat BUSHI in tonight’s main event? Henare better not mess up and lose to Young Lion Yuto Nakashima. A win here for Nakashima would be career changing, but unlikely at best.
Aaron Henare Gets Pushed Hard By Yuto Nakashima
Starting off cautiously, both men would throw some early strikes. Nakashima would show his MMA skills as he blocked the sprawl attempt of Henare, and broke through his guard to attempt a side headlock. If he could make this into a fight instead of a wrestling match, he’s got a chance.
However, Henare would hit some clubbing blows before applying a headlock to Nakashima. Nakashima would shove Henare off and hit a shoulder tackle. Some forearm blows would follow, before Henare tackled him down and to the outside.
Nakashima would be tossed into the barricades before being taken back into the ring for a two count. More heavy strikes would follow, before Henare hit a vertical suplex for a two count. Nakashima would dodge the rushing knee strike in the corner, and was able to hit a bodyslam.
Nakashima would block the spinebuster from Henare, before they’d trade shots in the middle of the ring. A midkick would get a two count on Henare, before falling to the Rampage Tackle. Henare will now face SANADA on March 12th in Aichi.
Zack Sabre Jr. Stretches Ryohei Oiwa To Advance To Second Round Of New Japan Cup
Drawing a young lion for the first round of the New Japan Cup is as great as it gets for someone like Zack Sabre Jr. With their limited movesets, a counter based wrestler like ZSJ will have numerous chances to bust out his impressive submissions, and will have a chance to show just how far Ryohei Oiwa has to go in NJPW.
Oiwa would strike fast on ZSJ with a dropkick before landing a hip toss and shoulder tackle. ZSJ slipped to the outside to take a second, before grappling with Oiwa in the middle of the ring – and ending up in a neck crank – which ZSJ easily escaped.
The arm of Oiwa was caught into a hammerlock, before ZSJ moved into a neck lock, before just grabbing all the limbs into a submission. Oiwa would find his way free, before going for a cross armbreaker – but was far too to the ropes.
ZSJ would punish Oiwa with some kicks, before being planted with a spinebuster. Dropkick in the corner and a gutwrench suplex would get Oiwa a two count. ZSJ would hit the cravat suplex, before being slammed to the mat.
Oiwa looked for the Boston Crab, but ZSJ was able to counter out before taking a dropkick to the jaw. ZSJ would apply a toehold, and would bend the leg in an unnatural way – forcing Oiwa to tap out. He will now move on to face DOUKI on March 12th in Aichi.
Can Zack Sabre Jr repeat his 2018 New Japan Cup successes? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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