Here are quick results and a recap of the last semifinal match of the New Japan Cup that took place today in Hamamatsu.
Shota Umino defeated Ren Narita by submission with a Boston crab.
Tanga Loa, Yujiro Takahashi, & Bad Luck Fale defeated Togi Makabe, Toa Henare, & Tomoyuki Oka when Takahashi pinned Oka with a Pimp Juice DDT.
Tomohiro Ishii and Toru Yano defeated Taichi and Takashi Iizuka by disqualification after Taichi kicked the ref to break up a count.
Michael Elgin and Juice Robinson defeated Kota Ibushi and Chase Owens when Robinson pinned Owens with the Pulp Friction.
Killer Elite Squad defeated Hirooki Goto and YOSHI-HASHI when Lance Archer pinned YOSHI-HASHI following the Killer Bomb.
Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI and Hiromu Takahashi defeated Minoru Suzuki, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado when Naito defeated Desperado with the Destino.
HIroshi Tanahashi and David Finlay defeated Kazuchika Okada and Chucky T when Finlay pinned Chucky after a backslide.
New Japan Cup semifinal bout:
Zack Sabre Jr. defeated SANADA
This was a great match that continued to highlight Sabre as a submission machine that is a force to be reckoned with in this tournament. Much like in his previous matches, Sabre was the aggressor in the match and repeatedly had SANADA’s number on multiple occasions until SANADA was finally overwhelmed and could take no more. Brilliant match in terms of storytelling, and excellent booking in terms of making Sabre look like a threat.
They start off with a feeling out process, then start to grapple on the mat. SANADA is able to transition and gain control on multiple occasions. Sabre bails out of the ring as he’s overwhelmed.
SANADA sends Sabre to the outside where he comes off with a dive. Back in the ring, he goes for the paradise lock and the skull end but Sabre escapes by working on SANADA’s right arm. SANADA tries to find a comeback, but Sabre wraps him in the octopus hold as people started to get behind him.
They take turns reversing the hold until SANADA hits a side suplex. SANADA went for a moonsault, but landed on his feet and took a tackle from Sabre, who followed that up with a penalty kick. SANADA countered with a springboard dropkick, but Sabre counters by focusing on SANADA’s arm again.
SANADA tries to go for the cold skull but Sabre repeatedly escapes until SANADA catches him…or doesn’t, as Sabre escapes again and transitions into a pinning position for a nearfall. Sabre takes him down into a triangle position but SANADA deadlifts him and nails the TKO.
Sabre catches SANADA after a moonsault attempt and wraps him in a double arm chicken wing. SANADA tries to get his feet on the ropes, but Sabre grabs his leg. He repeatedly headbutts SANADA until he verbally submits, putting him in the New Japan Cup finals.
This makes it Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr. in the finals of the New Japan Cup, which will take place March 21.