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FIRST MATCH: Yuji Nagata & Manabu Nakanishi vs. Michael Elgin & Yota Tsuji
Solid, standard opening tag match. Nagata and Nakanishi seem out for blood. Makes one wonder who’s cornflakes Elgin & Tsuji p*ssed in.
Need To Watch Rating: (2.0)
SECOND MATCH: Togi Makabe, Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Ren Narita vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens, HIKULEO, Taiji Ishimori & Bad Luck Fale)
Another pretty standard tag affair. Narita is a standout as always. Bullet Club can seemingly do no wrong, even with all of the shenanigans.
Need To Watch Rating: (3.5)
THIRD MATCH: Hirooki Goto & Shota Umino vs. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi)
Takagi and Naito are a fun team. Takagi holds his own against Goto, which fuels my theory about him secretly being a heavyweight. Umino is a fun presence as well.
Need To Watch Rating: (4.0)
FOURTH MATCH: Los Ingobernables de Japon (EVIL, SANADA & BUSHI) vs. Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki, Davey Boy Smith Jr. & Taichi)
Solid six-man tag match. SANADA and Suzuki give some tantalizing previews of their second round matchup, otherwise pretty inessential.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.9)
FIFTH MATCH: Kota Ibushi & Tomoaki Honma vs. Suzuki-gun (Zack Sabre Jr. & TAKA Michinoku)
See above.
Need To Watch Rating: (1.9)
SIXTH MATCH: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, YOSHI-HASHI & Toa Henare vs. Colt Cabana, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomohiro Ishii & Juice Robinson
Tanahashi again elevates nearly 8 wrestlers at once, just by teaming with them. This is the core of NJPW’s main unit having a fun tag match.
Need To Watch Rating: (2.5)
SEVENTH MATCH: New Japan Cup Second Round Match: Lance Archer vs. Will Ospreay
This is easily Ospreay’s best match since Wrestle Kingdom. Archer is a spectacular base for the Aerial Assasin. Go watch this match. Now.
Need To Watch Rating: (10.0)
MAIN EVENT: New Japan Cup Second Round Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Mikey Nicholls
This match is fine. A bit lacking in drama, but loaded with violence. Nicholls is a crazy, crazy man, and a welcome addition to the NJPW roster. The Rainmaker is flawless as always.
Need To Watch Rating: (8.5)
