New Japan Cup 2018: Night 1
March 9, 2018
Korakuen Hall
Tokyo, Japan

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Transcription by Josh Lopez

Block A Competitors (Michael Elgin, Tomohiro Ishii, Juice Robinson, Yujiro Takahashi, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Taichi, Bad Luck Fale, and Lance Archer)

New Japan Cup 2018 Reference Sheet

First Match: Tetsuhiro Yagi, Tomoyuki Oka, and Shota Umino vs. Hirooki Goto, Chuckie T, and Toru Yano in a 6-Man Tag Team Match 

Oka shoves Goto before the bell rings. The Young Lions are trying to calm down Oka. Goto and Oka will start things off. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Goto backs Oka into the ropes. Oka turns Goto over. Oka with a knife edge chop. Oka delivers a series of forearm shivers. Goto ducks a clothesline from Oka. Goto drops Oka with a shoulder tackle. Goto throws Oka back first across the turnbuckle pad. Oka tags in Yagi. Yagi and Goto are trading back and forth forearms. Goto tags in Taylor. Yagi with Forearm Smashes to Taylor. Taylor responds with a Dropkick. Yano and Goto clears the ring. Yano whips Umino back first to the steel guard rail. Taylor with a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Goto tags himself in.

Goto decks Yagi with a Elbow Knock Down for a two count. Following a snap mare takeover, Goto kicks Yagi in the back for a two count. Goto applies a rear chin lock. Goto rams Yagi’s head across the exposed steel. Goto tags in Yano. Yano is putting the boots to Yagi. Yano rakes the eyes of Yagi. Yano launches Yagi back first to the exposed steel. Yano with a Hip Toss for a two count. Yagi creates distance with a dropkick. Yagi tags in Oka. Oka runs through Yano with a shoulder block. Oka knocks Taylor off the ring apron. Yano rakes the eyes of Oka. Yano runs into a back elbow strike from Oka. Oka with a Body Avalanche to Yano. Oka follows that with an Over Head Belly to Belly Suplex for a two count.

Oka and Goto are trading forearm smashes in the corner. Oka slaps Goto in the face. Yano responds with an Inverted Atomic Drop. Oka with a Vertical Suplex to Yano. Oka tags in Umino. Umino reverses out of the irish whip. Umino ducks a clothesline from Taylor. Umino levels Yano with a Running Uppercut. Umino lands a Missile Dropkick for a two count. Taylor drops Umino with a Leg Lariat. Taylor bodyslams Umino. Taylor goes for a MoonSault, but Umino ducks out of the way. Umino with the La Magistral for a two count. Taylor places Umino on the top turnbuckle. Taylor plants Umino with The Awful Waffle to pickup the victory.

Winner: Hirooki Goto, Chuckie T, and Toru Yano via Pinfall 

Second Match: The Killer Elite Squad vs. Bad Luck Fale & Tonga Loa 

Archer and Loa will start things off. Archer attacks Loa from behind. KES goes for The Killer Bomb, but Fale gets in the way. Fale throws Smith out of the ring. Fale whips Smith ribs first to the steel guard rail. Loa bounces Archer head on the ring apron. Fale and Smith brings their to brawl to the crowd. Smith applies a side headlock. Archer and Loa are fighting on the other side of Korakuen Hall. Smith drives Fale back first to the apron. Loa rolls Archer back into the ring at the count of seventeen. Loa delivers clubbing blows to the back of Archer. Loa ducks a clothesline from Archer. Archer with a Spinning Side Slam. Archer kicks Loa in the chest. Archer tags in Smith.

Smith applies a rear chin lock. Stereo Bodyslams from KES. Archer tells Loa to get his ass up. Archer runs through Loa with a shoulder tackle. KES is cutting the ring in half. Archer is wrenching the neck of Loa. Smith with a Gut Wrench Suplex for a two count. Smith goes back to the rear chin lock. KES goes for The Hart Attack, but Loa counters with a DDT. Loa tags in Fale. Fale delivers stiff bodyshots in the corner. Fale launches Smith to the turnbuckle pad. Archer goes for a ChokeSlam, but Fale blocks it.

KES side steps Fale into the turnbuckle pad. Stereo Shoulder Tackles from KES. Smith follows that with a Leg Drop for a two count. Fale shoves Archer into Smith. Fale tags in Loa. The Bullet Club are double teaming Smith. Loa with a Samoan Driver for a two count. Smith responds with a Big Boot. Smith with a Reverse DDT for a two count. Loa Spears Smith. Loa is trying to negate the tandem offense from KES. Loa HeadButts Archer. KES levels Loa with The Hart Attack. KES plants Loa with The Killer Bomb to pickup the victory.

Winner: The Killer Elite Squad via Pinfall 

Third Match: Zack Sabre Jr, Yoshinobu Kanemaru, and El Desperado vs. Tetsuya Naito, Sanada, and Bushi in a 6-Man Tag Team Match 

Desperado and Bushi will start things off. Kanemaru attacks Bushi from behind. Kanemaru rakes the eyes of Bushi. Bushi side steps Desperado into the turnbuckle pad. Bushi with a HeadScissors TakeOver to Kanemaru. Bushi drops Desperado with a DDT. Bushi is putting the boots to Desperado in the center of the ring. Bushi tags in Naito. Naito and Bushi are double teaming Desperado. Naito decks Desperado with a Back Elbow Smash. Naito tags in Sanada. Sanada kicks Bushi in the gut. Sanada delivers a clubbing blow to the back of Desperado. Sanada dishes out multiple haymakers. Kanemaru kicks Sanada behind the referee’s back. Sanada knocks Kanemaru off the ring apron.

Sanada with a Single Leg TakeDown to Desperado. Desperado fights out of the Paradise Lock. Kanemaru drags Sanada out of the ring. Kanemaru whips Sanada rib first to the steel guard rail. Kanemaru with a PopUp Leg Drop to the back of Sanada. Kanemaru and Sanada are brawling in the crowd. Sabre is trying to separate the shoulder of Naito. Kanemaru hits Sanada with a folding chair. Kanemaru launches Sanada into the ringside barricade. Sanada gets back in the ring at the count of six. Desperado hits Sanada with a New Japan Note Pad. Sanada and Desperado are trading over hand chops. Desperado rakes the eyes of Sanada. Desperado tags in Sabre.

Sabre locks in the Cravate. Kanemaru tags himself in. Kanemaru kicks Sanada in the face. Sanada is pissed. Following a long haymaker exchange, Kanemaru shoves the referee into Sanada. Sanada reverses out of the irish whip. Sanada lands a SpringBoard Missile Dropkick. Sanada tags in Naito. We have a striking fest in the center of the ring. Naito with a Hip Toss to Sabre. Naito follows that with a Sliding Dropkick. Naito connects with a SlingShot Dropkick for a two count. Naito goes for Gloria, but Sabre counters with an Over Head Kick. Sabre locks in the Octopus Stretch. Bushi breaks up the submission attempt.  Desperado throws Bushi out of the ring.

Sabre levels Naito with a series of uppercuts. Naito spits at Sabre. Following another haymaker exchange, Naito hits a PopUp SpineBuster. Naito tags in Bushi. Bushi with a Missile Dropkick to Sabre. Bushi fires off a Double Knee Strike. Sanada follows that with a Big Boot. Sanada decks Bushi with a Spinning Heel Kick. Bushi connects with The Lightning Spiral for a two count. Bushi goes for a MX, but Sabre ducks out of the way. Sabre rocks Bushi with a European Uppercut. Bushi responds with an Enzuigiri. Sabre blocks the Codebreaker from Bushi. Sabre locks in the Arm Trapped STF which forces Bushi to tap out.

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, Yoshinobu Kanemaru and El Desperado via Submission 

Fourth Match: Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka, and Taichi vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, David Finlay and Toa Henare in a 6-Man Tag Team Match 

Suzuki repeatedly kicks the injured knee of Tanahashi before the bell rings. Suzuki goes for a knee bar, but Tanahashi blocks it. Tanahashi uppercuts Suzuki. Tanahashi follows that with a dropkick. Iizuka attacks Tanahashi from behind. Finlay and Henare with a Double Shoulder Block to Iizuka. Finlay side steps Iizuka into the turnbuckle pad. Finlay decks Iizuka with a European Uppercut. Finlay takes a swing at Suzuki. Suzuki locks in a Rope Assisted Arm-Bar. Iizuka kicks Finlay out of the ring. A massive pier six brawls breaks out in the crowd. Taichi is choking Tanahashi with a chair. Suzuki attacks one of the Young Lions. Iizuka rolls Finlay back into the ring at the count of eighteen.

Iizuka is choking Finlay with a rope. Iizuka starts mauling Finlay in the center of the ring. Suzuki repeatedly stomps on the midsection of Finlay. Finlay is having a hard time getting back on his feet. Following a snap mare takeover, Iizuka has Finlay in a lateral press for a two count. Iizuka tags in Suzuki. Finlay and Suzuki are trading forearm smashes. Suzuki slaps Finlay in the chest. Suzuki delivers a Buzzsaw Kick. Finlay fires back with more forearm smashes. Finlay drops Suzuki with a Spinning European Uppercut. Finlay tags in Tanahashi.

Tanahashi clocks Suzuki with a Running Forearm Smash. Tanahashi follows that with a dropkick to Taichi Tanahashi dropkicks Iizuka off the ring apron. Tanahashi with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Tanahashi goes for a Dragon Suplex, but Suzuki blocks it. Suzuki kicks the hamstring of Tanahashi. Suzuki applies a Leg Lock. Suzuki transitions into a Rear Naked Choke. Suzuki goes for a PileDriver, but Tanahashi blocks it. Tanahashi hits The SlingBlade. Taichi knocks Henare off the ring apron. Taichi lightly kicks Tanahashi in the face. Tanahashi delivers a spinning heel kick. Taichi goes for a PowerBomb, but Tanahashi counters with a Twist and Shout. Tanahashi makes the tag to Henare.

Henare with Forearm Smashes to Taichi. Henare runs through Taichi with a Shoulder Block. Henare lands a Flying Shoulder Tackle for a two count. Finlay knocks Iizuka off the ring apron. Taguchi Japan is triple teaming Taichi. Henare with a SpineBuster for a two count. Tanahashi dumps Suzuki out of the ring. Tanahashi and Suzuki are brawling on the floor. Taichi decks Henare with a Leg Lariat. Taichi rips off his pants. Henare blocks a SuperKick from Taichi. Henare Spears Taichi goes for a Two Count. Henare goes for a Samoan Drop, but Taichi lands back on his feet. Suzuki kicks Henare in the gut. Suzuki locks in a Rear Naked Choke. Taichi lays out Henare with Tenshojujihou to pickup the victory.

Winner: Minoru Suzuki, Takashi Iizuka, and Taichi via Pinfall 

Fifth Match: Kota Ibushi & Chase Owens vs. Kazuchika Okada & Chase Owens w/Gedo 

Ibushi and Hashi will start things off. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Hashi applies a wrist lock. Ibushi reverses the hold. Hashi responds with a side headlock. Hashi drops Ibushi with a shoulder tackle. Ibushi leapfrogs over Hashi. Hashi drop toe holds Ibushi to the canvas. Ibushi avoids a Basement Dropkick from Hashi. Ibushi goes for a Standing MoonSault, but Hashi ducks out of the way. Okada and Owens are tagged in. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Okada applies a side headlock. Okada runs through Owens with a shoulder tackle. Okada follows that with a Hip Toss for a one count. Okada applies a side headlock. Owens backs Okada into the ropes. Owens drives Okada wrist to the top rope. Owens tags in Ibushi.

Ibushi kicks Okada in the gut. Ibushi is mauling Okada in the corner. Owens rams his elbow across the back of Okada’s neck. Owens with a NeckBreaker for a two count. Owens bounces Okada’s head on the turnbuckle pad. Owens tags in Ibushi. Ibushi and Okada are trading forearm smashes. Okada creates distance with a Flap Jack. Okada tags in Hashi. Hashi with a Running Axe Handle Strikes to Ibushi. Hashi goes for a BodySlam, but Ibushi lands back on his feet. Hashi with a Bunker Buster. Hashi side steps Ibushi into the turnbuckle. Hashi delivers a Running Knife Edge Chop. Ibushi blocks a Neck Breaker attempt from Hashi. Ibushi dropkicks Hashi. Ibushi tags in Owens.

Owens is putting the boots to Hashi. Owens clotheslines Hashi. Owens follows that with a Running Fist Drop for a two count. Owens wrenches the injured shoulder of Hashi. Owens mocks Okada. Hashi is throwing clubbing forearm smashes. Owens thrust kicks the midsection of Hashi. Owens with a Running Neck Breaker for a two count. Ibushi kicks Hashi in the chest. Following a snap mare takeover, Ibushi applies a rear chin lock. Hashi places his boot on the bottom rope to create separation. Ibushi and Owens are cutting the ring in half.

Owens with a Flying Double Axe Handle Strike. Owens with a BackBreaker for a two count. Owens knocks Okada off the ring apron. Ibushi is lighting up Hashi chest. Ibushi goes for a Last Ride PowerBomb, but Hashi lands back on his feet. Hashi levels Ibushi with a Spinning Heel Kick. Hashi blocks The PK. Hashi with a BackStabber to Ibushi. Owens and Okada are tagged in. Owens dishes out a knife edge chop. Okada responds with a Running Back Elbow Smash. Okada with a Leaping Back Elbow in the corner.

Okada drops Owens with a DDT for a two count. Okada bodyslams Owens. Okada with a Flying Crossbody Block for a two count. Okada goes for a TombStone, but Owens lands back on his feet. Owens brings his lighting quick offense to Okada. Owens with a Hammer Lock Lariat for a two count. Owens goes for a Package PileDriver, but Hashi counters with a SuperKick. Ibushi responds with a Jumping Knee Strike. Hashi lays out Ibushi with an Inside Out Lariat. Owens decks Okada with a JawBreaker. Okada responds with a dropkick. Okada locks in the Cobra Clutch which forces Owens to tap out.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada & Chase Owens via Pinfall 

Sixth Match: Juice Robinson vs. Yujiro Takahashi in a First Round Block B Match In The 2018 New Japan Cup 

Takahashi starts things off with a Big Boot. Robinson and Takahashi are trading forearm smashes. Takahashi rakes the eyes of Robinson. Robinson drops Takahashi with a Leg Lariat. Robinson with a Jab/Chop Combination to Takahashi. Robinson delivers a corner clothesline. Robinson goes for a Running Cannonball Strike, but Takahashi ducks out of the way. Takahashi with a Helluva Kick to Robinson. Takahashi clotheslines Robinson. Takahashi transitions into a ground and pound attack. Following a snap mare takeover, Takahashi dishes out a Running Leg Drop for a two count. Takahashi follows that with a Big Boot. Robinson goes for Pulp Friction, but Takahashi blocks it. Takahashi sends Robinson crashing to the steel guard rail.

Takahashi hits Robinson with a pimp stick. Takahashi rolls Robinson back into the ring. Takahashi with the cover for a two count. Takahashi repeatedly slaps Robinson in the face. Takahashi drives Robinson face to the canvas. Takahashi with a Sliding Dropkick for a two count. Takahashi applies a rear chin lock. Robinson gets back to a vertical base. Robinson with a Belly to Back Suplex. Takahashi kicks Robinson in the gut. Robinson responds with a SpineBuster. Robinson is trying to catch his breath. Robinson clotheslines Takahashi over the top rope. Robinson with a Slingshot Crossbody Block. Robinson rolls Takahashi back into the ring. Robinson rams his shoulders into the midsection of Takahashi. Robinson connects with a SlingShot Spear.

Robinson follows that with a series of Juice Jabs. Takahashi catapults Robinson to the outside. Takahashi goes for a Fisherman’s Buster, but Robinson blocks it. Takahashi is biting Robinson’s fingers. Takahashi launches Robinson over the steel guard rail with a Back Body Drop. Takahashi with a Fisherman’s Buster through a steel chair. Robinson’s back is busted open. Robinson gets back into the ring at the count of nineteen. Takahashi with another Fisherman’s Buster for a two count. Takahashi places Robinson on the top turnbuckle. Robinson HeadButts Takahashi. Takahashi responds with an Avalanche Fisherman’s Buster for a two count.

Takahashi goes for The Tokyo Pimp, but Robinson lands back on his feet. Takahashi fires off Two SuperKicks. Robinson wants more punishment. Robinson takes down Takahashi with a Western Lariat. Robinson follows that with a Running Cannonball Strike. Robinson with a Double Knee GutBuster for a two count. Robinson goes for Pulp Friction, but Takahashi blocks it. Takahashi shoves Robinson into the referee. Takahashi low blows Robinson. Takahashi with an Inside Cradle for a two count. Takahashi levels Robinson with The Tokyo Pimp for a two count. Takahashi goes for Pimp Juice, but Robinson blocks it. Robinson dumps Takahashi on the canvas. Robinson PowerBombs Takahashi for a two count. Robinson plants Takahashi with Pulp Friction to pickup the victory.

Winner: Juice Robinson via Pinfall 

Seventh Match: Tomohiro Ishii vs. Michael Elgin in a First Round B Block Match In The 2018 New Japan Cup 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Elgin backs Ishii into the ropes. Ishii applies a side headlock. Ishii goes for a shoulder tackle, but Elgin stands still. Ishii dishes out clubbing forearms. Ishii taunts Elgin. This leads us to a forearm fest in the center of the ring. Ishii and Elgin are running into each other. Ishii finally takes down Elgin with the shoulder tackle. Elgin responds with a High Angle PowerSlam for a two count. Elgin delivers a series of knife edge chops. Ishii is pissed. Ishii wants more punishment. Elgin drops Ishii with a Elbow Pad Smash. Elgin clotheslines Ishii. Ishii fires back with multiple chops. Ishii PowerSlams Elgin. Ishii lightly kicks Elgin in the head. We’re in a middle of a long slapping exchange.

Ishii is paint brushing Elgin. Ishii goes for a Saito Suplex, but Elgin blocks it. Elgin drives his elbow to the back of Ishii’s neck. Elgin goes for a Step Up Enzuigiri, but Ishii ducks out of the way. Ishii rocks Elgin with a Back Elbow Smash. Elgin responds with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Elgin is trying to quicken the pace. Elgin bodyslams Ishii. Elgin follows that with a SlingShot Splash. Elgin applies a Waist Lock. Elgin with a Vertical Suplex. Elgin levels Ishii with a Leaping Forearm Smash. Elgin lands a Missile Dropkick. Elgin connects with a DeadLift Falcon Arrow for a two count. Elgin launches Ishii to the corner. Ishii kicks Elgin in the jaw. Elgin responds with a series of knife edge chops. Ishii is displaying his fighting spirit.

Elgin with a Chop/Forearm Combination to Ishii. Ishii returns the favor in the corner. Ishii ducks a clothesline from Elgin. Ishii with a Belly to Back Suplex. Ishii goes for a Vertical Brain Buster, but Elgin counters with a DeadLift Suplex. Ishii kicks Elgin in the gut. Ishii drops Elgin with a Delayed Vertical Suplex. Elgin immediately gets back on his feet. Following another forearm exchange, Elgin clotheslines Ishii. Elgin drives Ishii back first to the turnbuckle pad. Elgin reverses out of the irish whip. Elgin with a Thunderous Lariat to Ishii. Elgin delivers two Corner Clotheslines. Elgin with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. Ishii gets up in Elgin’s grill. Ishii is walking into forearm smashes from Elgin. Now Elgin is stepping into Ishii forearm attempts.

Elgin bodyslams Ishii. Ishii responds with a PowerBomb for a two count. Elgin blocks The Sliding D. Elgin with a Running Death Valley Driver into the turnbuckle pad. Elgin connects with a Top Rope Splash for a two count. Elgin with a Deadlift Falcon Arrow for a two count. Elgin goes for a Buckle Bomb, but Ishii counters with a Back Body Drop. Ishii hits a German Suplex. Elgin responds with a SuperKick. Ishii drops Elgin with a Spinning Heel Kick. Ishii goes for a Corner Clothesline, but Elgin counters with an Uranage Slam. Ishii levels Elgin with a Leaping HeadButt. Ishii with a SuperPlex for a two count. Ishii turns a PowerSlam into a Modified SlingBlade. Ishii with a Running Lariats for a two count. Elgin with a Forearm Smash to the back of Ishii’s neck. Elgin goes for a Bicycle Kick, but Ishii counters with a HeadButt. Elgin decks Ishii with a Step Up Enzuigiri.

Following the third forearm exchange of the match, Elgin hits a DeadLift German Suplex for a two count. Elgin follows that with a Release German Suplex. Elgin with a Running Lariat to Ishii. Elgin delivers a Vertical Suplex Side Slam for a two count. Elgin connects with an Avalanche Elgin Bomb for a two count. Elgin Buckle Bombs Ishii. Ishii responds with a Hurricanrana. Ishii drops Elgin with a Running Enzuigiri. Elgin with a Western Lariat to Ishii. Ishii responds with another Vicious HeadButt. Ishii lands The Sliding Lariat for a two count. Ishii goes for a Vertical Drop Brain Buster, but Elgin counters with a Vertical Suplex. Elgin with a Half & Half Suplex. Elgin levels Ishii with a Spinning Back Fist. Elgin follows that with a Buckle Bomb. Ishii explodes out of the corner with an Inside Out Lariat. Ishii goes for Sliding D, but Elgin counters with a PopUp PowerBomb for a two count. Elgin plants Ishii with The Burning Hammer to pickup the victory.

Winner: Michael Elgin via Pinfall 

Check out Episode 96 of The Josh Lopez Wrestling Podcast