Posted in New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Cup Results (3/2/22): Kazuchika Okada vs. El Desperado

   March 2, 2022

New Japan Cup Results 3/2/22
Nippon Budokan
Tokyo, Japan

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Transcription by Josh Lopez

Click Here For The Official New Japan Cup 2022 Reference Sheet

First Match: CIMA vs. Taka Michinoku In A First Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup 

Test Of Strength. Cima applies a side headlock. Cima transitions into a hammerlock. Wrist Lock Exchange. Cima push kicks Michinoku. Michinoku repeatedly kicks the left knee of Cima. Michinoku sends Cima to the corner. Cima dives over Michinoku. Cima with a deep arm-drag. Cima dropkicks Michinoku to the floor. Cima lands The Suicide Dive. Cima rolls Michinoku back into the ring. Cima with a fireman’s carry slam. Cima applies a Modified Anaconda Vice. Michinoku puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Cima with three overhand chops. Michinoku answers with the greco roman eye poke Michinoku with a straight right hand. Michinoku applies a side headlock. Michinoku with a side headlock takeover. Michinoku applies the headscissors neck lock. Cima puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break.

Michinoku with Muay Thai Knee Strikes. Michinoku sends Cima to the corner. Michinoku with a Rising Knee Strike for a two count. Michinoku goes back to The Headscissors Neck Lock. Cima refuses to quit. Michinoku stomps on Cima’s chest. Cima slaps Michinoku in the ribs. Cima with a palm strike. Michinoku brings Cima down to the mat. Michinoku applies The CrossFace. Cima grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Michinoku side steps Cima into the turnbuckle pad. Michinoku kicks Cima in the face. Cima rolls under a clothesline from Michinoku. Cima hits The Backstabber. Cima kicks Michinoku in the chest. Cima with a double knee drop for a two count. Cima with another round of overhand chops.

Michinoku kicks the left knee of Cima. Michinoku rolls Cima over for a two count. Michinoku with a Running Knee Strike for a two count. Cima denies The Michinoku Driver. Cima kicks Michinoku in the gut. Michinoku nails Cima with The Pump Kick. Cima answers with a toe kick. Michinoku with Two SuperKicks for a two count. Michinoku goes back to The CrossFace. Michinoku wraps his legs around Cima’s neck. Michinoku grapevines the legs of Cima. Cima puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Cima negates The Michinoku Driver. Michinoku with three sharp elbow strikes. Cima with a Running Dropkick. Cima follows that with a Back Drop Driver. Cima with The Sliding Lariat for a two count. Cima connects with The Cross Legged Falcon Arrow for a two count. Cima plants Michinoku with The Flying Meteora to pickup the victory.

Winner: CIMA via Pinfall 

Second Match: Yoshi Hashi vs. Tomoaki Honma In A First Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup 

Shoulder Block Exchange. Forearm Exchange. Second Shoulder Block Exchange. Hashi with a running elbow smash. Honma drops Hashi with a shoulder tackle. Hashi avoids The Kokeshi HeadButt. Hashi stomps on Honma’s back. Hashi with forearm shivers. Honma shoves Hashi. Hashi unloads three knife edge chops. Hashi has Honma draped across the top strand. Hashi dropkicks the back of Honma for a two count. Hashi goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Honma blocks it. Honma kicks Hashi in the gut. Honma ducks a clothesline from Hashi. Honma with The DDT. Honma with three knife edge chops. Honma sends Hashi to the corner. Honma with a running elbow smash. Honma with The Running Bulldog. Honma goes for The Kokeshi HeadButt, but Hashi ducks out of the way. Second Forearm Exchange. Hashi slaps Honma in the ribs. Hashi with a blistering chop.

Honma HeadButts Hashi. Honma delivers The Kokeshi HeadButt. Hashi avoids The Rocket Kokeshi. Hashi is lighting up Honma’s chest. Hashi thrust kicks the midsection of Honma. Hashi hits The Super HeadHunter for a two count. Honma denies Karma. Honma with clubbing blows to Hashi’s back. Hashi with two short-arm lariats. Hashi goes for Karma, but Honma lands back on his feet. Honma blocks The Lariat from Hashi. Hashi with a knife edge chop. Honma ducks a clothesline from Hashi. Honma connects with Three Kokeshi HeadButts for a two count. Honma hammers down on the back of Hashi. Honma clotheslines Hashi. Honma talks smack to Hashi. Third Forearm Exchange. Palm Strike Exchange. Hashi applies a wrist lock. Hashi with a knife edge chop. Hashi HeadButts Hashi. Hashi SuperKicks Honma. Hashi with a short-arm lariat. Hashi drops Honma with a Running Lariat for a two count. Hashi connects with Karma to pickup the victory.

Winner: Yoshi Hashi via Pinfall 

Third Match: Hirooki Goto vs. Yuji Nagata In A First Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup 

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Wrist Lock Exchange. Nagata kicks Goto in the face. Nagata with a toe kick. Goto applies a hammerlock. Nagata transitions into a front face lock. Goto applies a rear chin lock. Nagata transitions into a hammerlock. Goto grabs the top rope which forces the break. Nagata kicks the left hamstring of Goto. Strong lockup. Goto applies a side headlock. Goto reverses the hold. Nagata whips Goto across the ring. Goto drops Ngata with a shoulder tackle. Forearm Exchange. Goto repeatedly stomps on Nagata’s chest. Goto sends Nagata to the corner. Nagata with The Big Boot. Nagata kicks Goto in the gut. Nagata with a forearm smash. Nagata whips Goto into the steel barricade. Goto kicks Nagata in the face. Goto inadvertently clotheslines the steel ring post. Nagata repeatedly kicks Goto in the back. Nagata rolls Goto back into the ring. Nagata stomps on Goto’s chest. Nagata with the arm-ringer. Nagata applies The Cross-Arm-Breaker. Goto puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break.

Nagata continues to kick Goto in the back. Nagata kicks Goto in the chest. Nagata with another arm-ringer. Nagata with clubbing mid-kicks. Nagata talks smack to Goto. Goto blocks a boot from Nagata. Goto hammers down on the right knee of Nagata. Goto HeadButts Nagata. Goto unloads Three Mid-Kicks. Goto sends Nagata to the corner. Goto with The Spinning Wheel Kick. Goto with The Running Bulldog for a two count. Nagata applies The Fujiwara Arm-Bar. Goto with heavy bodyshots. Nagata with a forearm smash. Goto answers with a shoulder tackle. Goto kicks Nagata in the back. Nagata with a toe kick. Nagata sends Goto back first into the barricade. Goto with a Running Lariat. Goto punches Nagata in the back. Goto slams Nagata’s head on the ring apron. Goto rolls Nagata back into the ring. Goto plays to the crowd. Goto ascends to the top turnbuckle.

Nagata slaps Goto in the face. Second Forearm Exchange. Nagata hits The Avalanche Exploder Suplex for a two count. Nagata delivers The Helluva Kick. Third Forearm Exchange. Nagata sends Goto to the corner. Goto denies The Exploder Suplex. Nagata with forearm shivers. Goto drops Nagata with The Misdirection Lariat. Goto connects with The Ushigoroshi for a two count. Goto goes for The GTR, but Nagata counters with The BrainBuster. Fourth Forearm Exchange. Goto with The Mid-Kick. Nagata applies The Nagata Lock II. Nagata transitions into The Fujiwara Arm-Bar. Goto puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Nagata with clubbing shoulder kicks. Nagata with an arm-ringer. Nagata follows that with a Rising Knee Strike. Nagata goes for The Back Drop Driver, but Goto counters with a Crossbody Block for a two count. Nagata kicks Goto in the face. Goto dodges The Step Up Enzuigiri. Goto plants Nagata with The Goto-Nishiki to pickup the victory.

Winner: Hirooki Goto via Pinfall 

Fourth Match: Jeff Cobb vs. Togi Makabe In A First Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Makabe kicks Cobb in the gut. Cobb reverses out of the irish whip from Makabe. Makabe drops Cobb with a shoulder tackle. Makabe dumps Cobb out of the ring. Makabe sends Cobb back first into the steel barricade. Makabe slams Cobb’s head on the ring apron. Cobb with a reverse hammer throw into the barricade. Cobb HeadButts Makabe. Cobb resets the referee’s twenty count. Cobb drives Makabe back first into the steel ring post. Cobb stands on Makabe’s chest. The referee admonishes Cobb. Makabe gets back in the ring at the count of fifteen. Cobb stomps on Makabe’s back. Cobb repeatedly drives his knee into Makabe’s back. Cobb uppercuts the small of Makabe’s back for a two count.

Cobb applies a wrist lock. Cobb with a Wrist Clutch German Suplex. Cobb is putting the boots to Makabe. Makabe tells Cobb to bring it. Makabe blocks a boot from Cobb. Makabe clotheslines Cobb. Makabe with two corner clotheslines. Makabe transitions into a corner mount. Cobb denies The Northern Lights Suplex. Cobb punches Makabe in the back. Makabe drops Cobb with a Lariat for a two count. Cobb reverses out of the irish whip from Makabe. Cobb drives Makabe back first into the turnbuckle pad. Cobb with a Running Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Forearm Exchange. Makabe ducks a clothesline from Cobb. Makabe applies a waist lock. Cobb with three sharp elbow strikes. Makabe with clubbing blows to Cobb’s back. Lariat Exchange. Cobb avoids The King Kong Knee Drop. Second Forearm Exchange. Makabe kicks Cobb in the gut. Second Lariat Exchange. Cobb connects with Tour Of The Islands to pickup the victory.

Winner: Jeff Cobb via Pinfall 

– There was a cleaning/disinfecting intermission during this broadcast.

Fifth Match: Taichi w/Miho Abe vs. Toru Yano In A First Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup

Taichi and Yano starts bickering with each other after the bell rings. Yano rolls Taichi over for a two count. Yano removes a turnbuckle pad. Taichi punches Yano in the back. Taichi whips Yano across the ring. Yano holds onto the ropes. Yano dodges The Big Boot. Yano slaps Taichi in the back of the head. Yano dumps Taichi out of the ring. Yano whips Taichi into the steel barricade. Yano pulls out a blue sack from under the ring. Miho stops Yano in his tracks. Taichi kicks Yano in the gut. Taichi sends Yano back first into the barricade.

Taichi starts choking Yano on the floor. Taichi puts Yano inside the blue sack. Yano gets back in the ring at the count of nineteen. Taichi hooks the outside leg for a two count. Taichi goes for a PowerBomb, but Yano counters with a Back Body Drop. Taichi puts the blue sack over the referee’s hand. Yano delivers the low blow. Yano rolls Taichi over, but the referee can’t see. Taichi reverses out of the irish whip from Yano. Taichi drops Yano with The Kamagiri. Yano avoids The Buzzsaw Kick. Yano removes Taichi’s pants. Yano with the schoolboy rollup for a two count. Taichi side steps Yano into the exposed steel. Taichi hits The Gedo Clutch for a two count. Taichi connects with The Kachi to pickup the victory.

Winner: Taichi via Pinfall 

Sixth Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. YOH In A First Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup

Chain grappling exchange. Tanahashi backs Yoh into the ropes. The referee calls for a clean break. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Wrist Lock Exchange. Tanahashi applies a hammerlock. Yoh with a drop toe hold. Front Face Lock Exchange. That leads us to a quick standoff in the center of the ring. Test Of Strength. Yoh applies an arm-bar. Side Headlock Exchange. Yoh backs Tanahashi into the turnbuckle pad. Tanahashi scores two liver shots. Tanahashi sends Yoh to the corner. Yoh dives over Tanahashi. Yoh with a deep arm-drag. Yoh dropkicks the left knee of Tanahashi. Yoh stomps on the left hamstring of Tanahashi. Yoh hyperextends the left leg of Tanahashi. Yoh with a low dropkick for a two count. Yoh applies The Heel Hook. Tanahashi grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Yoh repeatedly stomps on the left knee of Tanahashi. Yoh kicks the left knee of Tanahashi. Forearm Exchange. Yoh continues to kick the left knee of Tanahashi. Tanahashi blocks a boot from Yoh. Yoh denies The Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Yoh goes for The SuperKick, but Tanahashi counters with The Dragon Screw Leg Whip.

Tanahashi delivers his combination offense. Tanahashi bodyslams Yoh. Tanahashi with The SomerSault Senton for a two count. Tanahashi dropkicks the left knee of Yoh. Tanahashi applies The Texas Cloverleaf. Yoh grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Tanahashi repeatedly stomps on the right knee of Yoh. Yoh with a running elbow smash. Tanahashi ducks a clothesline from Yoh. Yoh drops Tanahashi with The Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Yoh with Two Inverted Dragon Screw Leg Whips. Yoh applies The Star Gazer. Tanahashi grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Yoh dropkicks the left knee of Tanahashi. Yoh goes for The Falcon Arrow, but Tanahashi counters with Two Twist and Shouts. Tanahashi with another Dragon Screw Leg Whip.

Yoh avoids The SlingBlade. Yoh with The Bridging German Suplex for a two count. Yoh with a leaping back elbow smash. Yoh puts Tanahashi on the top turnbuckle. Yoh with clubbing blows to Tanahashi’s back. Tanahashi denies The Avalanche Falcon Arrow. Tanahashi rocks Yoh with a forearm smash. Yoh with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Yoh with The SuperPlex. Yoh goes for The Falcon Arrow, but Tanahashi lands back on his feet. Yoh with a flying forearm smash. SlingBlade Exchange. Yoh is fired up. Yoh hits The Ushigoroshi for a two count. Yoh applies The Full Nelson Lock. Tanahashi with three sharp elbow strikes. Yoh SuperKicks Tanahashi. Tanahashi denies The Direct Drive. Yoh decks Tanahashi with a back elbow smash. Tanahashi with the backslide escape. Tanahashi negates The Direct Drive. Tanahashi slaps Yoh in the face. Tanahashi blocks The SuperKick. Tanahashi connects with The SlingBlade. Tanahashi plants Yoh with The Bridging Dragon Suplex to pickup the victory.

Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi via Pinfall 

Seventh Match: Tetsuya Naito vs. Yujiro Takahashi In A First Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Takahashi backs Naito into the ropes. The referee calls for a clean break. Takahashi pats Naito on the chest. Strong lockup. Wrist Lock Exchange. Naito applies a hammerlock. Takahashi grabs the top rope which forces the break. Takahashi backs Naito into the ropes. Takahashi adheres to the clean break. Test Of Strength. Naito kicks Takahashi in the gut. Naito with clubbing blows to Takahashi’s back. Naito whips Takahashi across the ring. Naito with a deep arm-drag. Naito kicks Takahashi in the gut. Following a snap mare takeover, Naito applies a rear chin lock. Takahashi puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Naito repeatedly stomps on Takahashi’s back. Naito applies the cravate. Naito hammers down on the back of Takahashi’s neck. Naito whips Takahashi across the ring. Takahashi holds onto the ropes. Takahashi drops Naito with The Hot Shot. Takahashi rolls Naito back into the ring. Takahashi stomps on Naito’s back and chest. Following a snap mare takeover, Takahashi with a sliding dropkick for a two count.

Takahashi applies a rear chin lock. Naito is throwing haymakers at Takahashi. Takahashi drives his knee into the midsection of Naito. Takahashi with The Reverse STO for a two count. Naito denies The Fisherman’s Buster. Naito kicks Takahashi in the gut. Naito with a NeckBreaker. Naito with a forearm smash. Naito with a toe kick. Naito punches Takahashi in the back. Naito whips Takahashi across the ring. Naito with a Hip Toss. Naito dropkicks the back of Takahashi’s head. Naito sends Takahashi to the corner. Naito with The Corner Dropkick. Naito sweeps out the legs of Takahashi. Combination Cabron for a two count. Naito rams his boot across Takahashi’s face. Takahashi with two overhand chops. Forearm Exchange. Takahashi blocks a boot from Naito. Takahashi sends Naito face first into the canvas. Takahashi with a Sliding Boot. Takahashi repeatedly drives his knee into the midsection of Naito. Takahashi with The Helluva Kick. Takahashi hits The Fisherman’s Buster for a two count.

Naito denies The Olympic Slam. Takahashi kicks Naito in the gut. Short-Arm Reversal by Naito. Takahashi dodges The Step Up Enzuigiri. Takahashi with The Olympic Slam for a two count. Naito fights out of the fireman’s carry position. Naito ducks a clothesline from Takahashi. Naito with a toe kick. Naito with clubbing elbow smashes. Naito repeatedly kicks Takahashi in the face. Naito with two sharp elbow strikes. Takahashi kicks Naito in the ribs. Naito with an Inverted Atomic Drop. Naito with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Naito follows that with The Esperanza. Takahashi thrust kicks the midsection of Naito. Naito ducks a clothesline from Takahashi. Takahashi connects with The Miami Shine for a two count. Second Forearm Exchange. Takahashi with clubbing blows to Naito’s back.

Naito denies Pimp Juice. Takahashi SuperKicks Naito. Takahashi goes for The Big Juice, but Naito lands back on his feet. Naito with a Release German Suplex. Naito with a Rolling Capo Kick. Takahashi reverses out of the irish whip from Naito. Naito with a flying forearm smash. Takahashi denies Valentia. Takahashi runs Naito into the referee. The House Of Torture gangs up on Naito. Double Irish Whip. Sho with a flying forearm smash. EVIL with a corner clothesline. Takahashi tells House Of Torture to get out of the ring. Takahashi tells Naito to get up. Takahashi delivers the low blow. Takahashi with an Inside Out Lariat for a two count. The referee gets distracted by Sho. Naito avoids the pimp stick shot. Naito drops Takahashi with a low blow of his own. Naito plants Takahashi with The Jackknife Hold to pickup the victory. After the match, EVIL attacks Naito from behind. EVIL lays out The Young Lions. Naito nails EVIL with The Pop Up Low Blow.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito via Pinfall 

Eight Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. El Desperado In A First Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup 

Desperado stomps on the right foot of Okada. Desperado applies a side headlock. Okada whips Desperado across the ring. Desperado runs into Okada. Shoulder Block Exchange. Okada drops Desperado with a shoulder tackle. Okada goes for a bodyslam, but Desperado counters with two deep arm-drags. Okada ducks a clothesline from Desperado. Desperado avoids The Rain Maker. Desperado rolls Okada over for a two count. Okada regroups on the outside. Desperado pulls Okada out of the ring. Desperado drives Okada back first into the steel barricade. Desperado slaps Okada in the back. Desperado whips Okada into the barricade. Desperado sends Okada shoulder first into the steel ring post. Desperado repeatedly stomps on Okada’s chest. Desperado rolls Okada back into the ring. Desperado applies a rear chin lock. Desperado pulls back the arms of Okada. Desperado puts his foot on the back of Okada’s head. Desperado repeatedly stomps on the left knee of Okada. Desperado with a quick splash for a one count.

Desperado hammers down on the back of Okada’s neck. Okada denies The Vertical Suplex. Okada drives Desperado back first into the turnbuckle pad. Okada puts Desperado on the top turnbuckle. Desperado kicks Okada in the face. Okada drops Desperado with The Flapjack. Okada dumps Desperado out of the ring. Okada gives Desperado a barricade receipt. Okada rolls Desperado back into the ring. Red Shoes ignores Okada’s cocky cover. Desperado with heavy bodyshots. Okada kicks Desperado in the gut. Okada with a NeckBreaker for a two count. Okada applies a rear chin lock. Desperado grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Okada bodyslams Desperado. Okada with The Slingshot Senton. Desperado unloads two knife edge chops. Desperado with forearm shivers. Okada uppercuts Desperado. Okada talks smack to Desperado.

Desperado unloads a flurry of chops. Okada drives his knee into the midsection of Desperado. Desperado reverses out of the irish whip from Okada. Desperado avoids the elbow knockdown. Desperado dropkicks the left knee of Okada. Desperado kicks the left knee of Okada. Desperado kicks the left hamstring of Okada. Okada reverses out of the irish whip from Desperado. Desperado continues to dropkick to the left knee of Okada. Desperado with a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Desperado slams the left knee of Okada on the canvas. Desperado with another quick splash. Desperado figure fours the legs of Okada. Okada with forearm shivers. Okada grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Desperado with a knee drop. Desperado with The Knee Crusher. Okada side steps Desperado into the turnbuckle pad. Okada puts Desperado on the top turnbuckle. Okada dropkicks Desperado to the floor. Okada drops Desperado with The DDT on the floor. Desperado gets back in the ring at the count of sixteen. Okada with another DDT for a two count.

Desperado denies The Reverse NeckBreaker. Desperado hammers down on the back of Okada’s neck. Okada reverses out of the irish whip from Desperado. Desperado side steps Okada into the turnbuckle pad. Okada kicks Desperado in the face. Desperado hits The SpineBuster. Desperado repeatedly stomps on the left knee of Okada. Desperado stands on Okada’s face. Desperado with clubbing overhand chops. Okada blasts Desperado with The Shotgun Dropkick. Okada bodyslams Desperado. Okada dives over Desperado. Desperado clips the left knee of Okada. Desperado applies Numero Dos. Okada grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Desperado with The Guitarra de Angel for a two count. Desperado lands The Frog Splash for a two count. Okada denies Pinche Lock. Okada hits The Reverse NeckBreaker. Okada applies The Money Clip. Desperado grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Okada bodyslams Desperado. Okada with The Flying Elbow Drop. Rain Maker Pose.

Desperado denies The Rain Maker. Desperado backs Okada into the turnbuckle pad. Desperado blocks a boot from Okada. Desperado dropkicks the left knee of Okada. Desperado with The Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Okada denies Numero Dos. Desperado kicks Okada in the gut. Okada whips Desperado across the ring. Okada goes for The Dynamic Dropkick, but Desperado counters with The Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Desperado goes back to Numero Dos. Okada refuses to quit. Okada applies The Money Clip. Okada with The Spinning Rain Maker. Okada going to The Money Clip Well. Okada with two short-arm clotheslines. Desperado nails Okada with Loco Mono. Desperado connects with Pinche Loco. Desperado denies The Landslide. Desperado applies a waist lock. Okada with three sharp elbow strikes. Forearm Exchange. Desperado goes for Pinche Loco, but Okada counters with a Back Body Drop. Okada dropkicks Desperado. Okada hits The Landslide. Okada plants Desperado with The Rain Maker to pickup the victory.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada via Pinfall 

Checkout Episode 298 of The Hoots Podcast

Author: Josh Lopez