The New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) Cup finals will see five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada, who has also won two New Japan Cup tournaments (2013, 2019) face Evil who is in his first New Japan Cup finals.
Okada is 2-0 in New Japan Cup finals action. The only match Okada has lost in the history of the New Japan Cup was in 2015 when Bad Luck Fale defeated him in the first round. The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion also carries a 3-1 record against Evil.
Evil bested Okada during their first meeting during G1 Climax 27 on August 5, 2017, at 22:47 after a physical match. His victory over Okada, who was the IWGP Heavyweight Champion at the time, ‘made’ Evil into a legitimate marquee contender in NJPW.
Okada would successfully make his v8 defense against Evil on October 9, 2017, at King Of Pro Wrestling. Okada would then defeat Evil during G1 Climax 28 and G1 Climax 29 during bracket action.
Evil is a former NEVER Openweight Champion and a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champion (w/Sanada) and has unleashed a dark streak that has seen him viciously attack his opponents during the current New Japan Cup, including his Cold Darkness tag team partner, Sanada.
An Evil victory would mean he would face Los Ingobernables de Japon (LIJ) leader and his unit mate IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental ‘Double Champion’ Tetsuya Naito on July 12th at Dominion. If Okada is able to defeat Evil for the fourth time, then he will effectively receive a Wrestle Kingdom 14 rematch.
It’s likely Evil will continue his hyper-aggressive streak against Okada, in hopes to overwhelm the finesse orientated Okada. Okada, on the other hand, will have to weather the storm and hope to bring rain after Evil is discouraged if he is to win his second consecutive New Japan Cup tournament.
