Posted in New Japan Pro Wrestling

New Japan Cup Results (3/26/22): Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito

   March 26, 2022

New Japan Cup Results 3/26/22
Osaka Jo-Hall
Osaka, Japan

You can follow me on Twitter @JoshLopezMedia 

Transcription by Josh Lopez

Click Here For The Official New Japan Cup 2022 Reference Sheet

First Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi, The Guerrillas Of Destiny, Ryusuke Taguchi and Master Wato w/Jado vs. Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Gedo, El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori In A 10-Man Tag Team Match 

Team Tanahashi attacks Bullet Club before the bell rings. Wato rolls Phantasmo back into the ring. Team 6 or 9 gangs up on Phantasmo. Double Irish Whip. Double Drop Toe Hold. Double Basement Dropkick. Combo Offense to Ishimori. Double Spinning Back Kick. Wato kicks Phantasmo in the face. Wato applies a front face lock. Taguchi tags himself in. Taguchi with a gut punch. Following a snap mare takeover, Hip Smash Party. Wato slams Phantasmo’s head on the turnbuckle pad. Fale clotheslines Wato. Bullet Club clears the ring. Fale stands behind Taguchi. Fale with clubbing sledges across Taguchi’s hips. Gedo sends Taguchi back first into the steel barricade. Gedo rolls Wato back into the ring. Phantasmo stomps on Wato’s chest. Phantasmo tags in Ishimori.

Phantasmo applies a front face lock. Back Rake Party. Ishimori bodyslams Wato. Ishimori tags in Fale. The Tongan Massage Parlor is open for business. Ishimori kicks Tonga out of the ring. Fale stomps on Wato’s back. Fale knocks Team Tanahashi off the ring apron. Fale tags in Owens. Owens with two toe kicks. Owens applies a rear chin lock. Wato with elbows into the midsection of Owens. Owens with clubbing blows to Wato’s back. Owens repeatedly stomps on Wato’s back. Owens taunts Wato. Wato drops Owens with a Leg Lariat. Wato tags in Loa. Loa with a shoulder tackle. Loa clears the ring. Owens delivers his combination offense. Loa with an Inverted Atomic Drop. Loa with two clotheslines. Loa follows that with The SpineBuster. Phantasmo attacks Loa from behind. Double Toe Kick to Tonga. GOD with Double BrainBusters. Stinger Splash/Corner Clothesline Combination. Tonga whips Owens across the ring.

Tonga with a gut punch. Loa uppercuts Owens. Tonga with a Leaping NeckBreaker. Loa tags in Tanahashi. Fale walks into the ring. Tanahashi ducks a clothesline from Fale. GOD with Two Dropkicks. Tanahashi hits The SlingBlade. Tanahashi with Two Dragon Screw Leg Whips. Owens avoids The SlingBlade. Tanahashi decks Owens with a back elbow smash. Owens answers with The Pump Kick. Owens unloads Two V-Triggers. Owens goes for The Package PileDriver, but Wato counters with a SpringBoard European Uppercut. Ishimori with a SpringBoard Seated Senton. Taguchi with The Hip Attack. Phantasmo follows that with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Loa with The Running Powerslam. Fale with a Running Lariat. Tonga attacks Fale from behind. Tonga sends Fale tumbling to the floor. Owens backs away from Tonga. Gedo delivers the brass knuckle punch to the midsection of Tonga. Jado tackles Gedo. Jado transitions into a ground and pound attack which forces the disqualification. After the match, Jado puts the brass knuckles on. Bullet Club pulls Gedo out of the ring.

Winner: Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Gedo, El Phantasmo and Taiji Ishimori via Disqualification

Second Match: Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe and Toru Yano vs. Minoru Suzuki, Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru In A 6-Man Tag Team Match 

Tomohiro Ishii and Minoru Suzuki will start things off. Suzuki with a Running Boot. Ishii answers with a forearm. Ishii sends Suzuki to the corner. Ishii with a corner clothesline. Suzuki shoves Ishii. Forearm Exchange. Ishii dodges The Big Boot. Suzuki ducks a clothesline from Ishii. Ishii blocks a boot from Suzuki. Ishii goes for a German Suplex, but Suzuki lands back on his feet. Suzuki applies a front face lock. Ishii goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Suzuki lands back on his feet. Suzuki applies an arm-bar. Suzuki ducks a clothesline from Ishii. Ishii denies The Gotch Style PileDriver. Misfired Clotheslines. That leads us to a quick standoff in the center of the ring. Suzuki brings Ishii to the corner. Kanemaru tags himself in. Suzuki applies The Sleeper Hold. Taichi clears the ring. The referee checks on Ishii. Suzuki drags Ishii out of the ring. Suzuki kicks Ishii in the back. Suzuki toys around with Ishii. Ishii gets back in the ring at the count of seventeen. Kanemaru hooks the outside leg for a two count. Kanemaru repeatedly stomps on Ishii’s back and chest. Suzuki Gun is mauling Ishii in the corner. Kanemaru tags in Taichi.

Taichi mocks Yano. Suzuki Gun continues to abuse the referee’s vision. Following a snap mare takeover, Taichi kicks Suzuki in the back for a two count. Taichi applies the greco roman throat hold. Taichi stomps on Ishii’s back. Taichi tags in Suzuki. Suzuki kicks Ishii in the gut. Ishii wants more punishment. Forearm/Toe Kick Exchange. Suzuki applies The Double Heel Hook. Makabe breaks up the submission hold. Suzuki unloads Two Mid-Kicks. Second Forearm Exchange. Suzuki applies a side headlock. Ishii with The Back Drop Driver. Makabe and Taichi are tagged in. Taichi ducks a clothesline from Makabe. Taichi kicks Makabe in the gut. Makabe drops Taichi with a shoulder tackle. Makabe sends Taichi to the corner. Makabe with a corner clothesline. Makabe transitions into a corner mount. Taichi denies The Northern Lights Suplex. Makabe clotheslines Taichi for a two count. Makabe applies a waist lock. Taichi floors Makabe with The Kamagiri.

Makabe blocks The Roundhouse Kick. Makabe with forearm shivers. Taichi with a Spinning Back Kick. Taichi kicks the right shoulder of Makabe. Makabe delivers The Western Lariat. Makabe tags in Yano. Yano removes a turnbuckle pad. Taichi reverses out of the irish whip from Yano. Yano kicks Taichi in the gut. Taichi nails Yano with The Hook Kick. Taichi tags in Kanemaru. Kanemaru with two foot stomps. Double Irish Whip. Kanemaru with a running elbow smash. Suzuki with The Helluva Kick. Suzuki applies The Sleeper Hold. Sliding Dropkick/PK Combination. Kanemaru hits The British Fall for a two count. All hell starts breaking loose on the outside. Yano avoids Deep Impact. Yano kicks Kanemaru in the gut. Yano whips Kanemaru into the exposed steel. Taichi starts choking Yano. Taichi with a Sumo Style Takedown. Kanemaru is trying to pour whiskey down Yano’s throat. Yano decks Taichi with a back elbow smash. Kanemaru inadvertently blinds Taichi with The Suntory Surprise. Yano connects with The Schoolboy Rollup to pickup the victory. After the match, Yano pours whiskey all over Taichi.

Winner: Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe and Toru Yano via Pinfall 

Third Match: EVIL, SHO and Yujiro Takahashi w/Dick Togo vs. El Desperado, Taka Michinoku and Douki In A 6-Man Tag Team Match 

Sho attacks Desperado before the bell rings. Forearm Exchange. Sho rakes the eyes of Desperado. Sho whips Desperado into the steel barricade. EVIL wraps a towel around Michinoku’s neck. Sho is choking Desperado with his boot. Takahashi kicks Douki in the gut. Takahashi unloads two knife edge chops. Takahashi whips Douki across the ring. Douki ducks a clothesline from Takahashi. Douki with a Running Hurricanrana. Douki with a deep arm-drag. Douki follows that with a Leg Lariat. Takahashi tugs on Douki’s hair. Takahashi blocks a boot from Douki. Takahashi sends Douki face first into the canvas. Douki avoids The Sliding Boot. Takahashi ducks a clothesline from Douki. Takahashi starts biting Douki’s fingers. Douki with two uppercuts. Takahashi dumps Douki throat first on the top rope. All hell is breaking loose in Osaka. EVIL drives Michinoku back first into the barricade. The ring announcer goes down in the process. EVIL rolls Douki back into the ring. Takahashi hooks the outside leg for a two count. Takahashi talks to smack Douki. Douki with a forearm smash. Takahashi drives his knee into the midsection of Douki. Takahashi with The Reverse STO for a two count. Takahashi tags in EVIL

EVIL kicks Douki in the face. EVIL tugs on Douki’s hair. EVIL uses House Of Torture for leverage. EVIL goes into the lateral press for a two count. EVIL argues with the referee. EVIL tags in Sho. Wish Bone Attack. Sho toys around with Douki. Douki with three overhand chops. Sho rakes the eyes of Douki. Sho goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Douki blocks it. Sho continues to rake the eyes of Douki. Douki drops Sho with a flying forearm smash. Douki tags in Desperado. Desperado with a shoulder tackle. Desperado knocks EVIL off the ring apron. Sho kicks Desperado in the gut. Sho with forearm shivers. Desperado with a running elbow smash. Takahashi trips Desperado from the outside. Takahashi rakes the eyes of Desperado. Desperado kicks Sho in the face. Desperado decks Takahashi with a back elbow smash. Desperado shoves Sho into Takahashi. Desperado with a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count. Desperado toys around with Sho. Desperado tugs on Sho’s hair. Sho starts bending Desperado’s fingers. Sho kicks the left shoulder of Desperado. Sho applies The Kimura Lock. Sho transitions into The Cross-Arm-Breaker. Desperado puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Sho repeatedly stomps on the left shoulder of Desperado. Sho works on his joint manipulation game. Desperado with a forearm smash. Desperado ducks a clothesline from Sho. Sho denies Guitarra de Angel.

Sho continues to go after Desperado’s fingers. Sho kicks the left shoulder of Desperado. Desperado with a knife edge chop. Desperado with forearm shivers. Sho ducks a clothesline from Desperado. Sho Spears Desperado. Sho tags in EVIL. EVIL dumps Desperado out of the ring. Togo with a straight right hand. Togo rolls Desperado back into the ring. EVIL goes into the cover for a two count. EVIL repeatedly kicks Desperado in the face. Desperado fights out of the fireman’s carry position. Desperado denies Everything Is EVIL. Desperado with clubbing elbow smashes. EVIL thrust kicks the midsection of Desperado. Michinoku kicks EVIL in the back. Desperado Spears EVIL. Desperado tags in Michinoku. Michinoku knocks Takahashi off the ring apron. Michinoku kicks EVIL in the gut. Double Irish Whip. Suzuki with two corner clotheslines. Desperado hits The SpineBuster. Douki with a Running Double Foot Stomp. Michinoku with a Running Knee Strike for a two count. Suzuki Gun clears the ring. EVIL denies The Michinoku Driver. EVIL rakes the eyes of Michinoku. Michinoku answers with the greco roman eye poke. Michinoku with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Michinoku SuperKicks EVIL for a two count. Michinoku applies The CrossFace. Michinoku takes a swipe at Togo. EVIL connects with Everything Is EVIL to pickup the victory.

Winner: EVIL, SHO and Yujiro Takahashi via Pinfall 

Fourth Match: Hirooki Goto, Tomoaki Honma and Tiger Mask vs. The Strong Hearts In A 6-Man Tag Team Match 

Hirooki Goto and CIMA will start things off. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Goto with a waist lock go-behind. Wrist Lock Exchange. Cima grabs a side headlock. Goto walks Cima into the ropes. The referee calls for a clean break. Goto obliges. Test Of Strength. Goto applies a wrist lock. Cima grabs the top rope which forces the break. Cima backs Goto into the blue turnbuckle pad. Goto turns Cima over. Tiger and Lindaman are tagged in. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Forearm/Hamstring Kick Exchange. Tiger applies a side headlock. Lindaman whips Tiger across the ring. Tiger drops Lindaman with a shoulder tackle. Lindaman drops down on the canvas. Lindaman with a back elbow smash. Tiger hits The Tilt-A-Whirl BackBreaker. Tiger stomps on Lindaman’s back. Tiger tags in Honma. Honma repeatedly stomps on Lindaman’s back. Lindaman drives his knee into the midsection of Honma. Lindaman runs into Honma. Shoulder Block Exchange. Lindaman with two forearm smashes. Honma ducks a clothesline from Lindaman. Honma with a shoulder tackle. Honma clears the ring. Double Irish Whip. Goto with a Hip Toss.

Lindaman avoids The Kokeshi HeadButt. Lindaman with a knee lift to Goto. Lindaman dumps Goto out of the ring. Lindaman tags in Hawk. Chop Exchange. Hawk clears the ring. Hawk slams Honma’s head on the blue turnbuckle pad. Hawk tags in Cima. Cima with a straight right hand. Strong Hearts are mauling Honma in the corner. Following a snap mare takeover, Cima stomps on Honma’s face. Cima hammers down on the back of Honma’s neck. Cima applies the cravate. Honma grabs the bottom rope which forces the break. Double Irish Whip. Honma side steps Hawk into the turnbuckle pad. Honma with a shoulder tackle. Honma with The DDT/Flatliner Combination. Honma tags in Goto. Goto with a shoulder tackle. Cima answers with a knife edge chop. Cima whips Goto across the ring. Goto with a running shoulder tackle. Goto with a Spinning Wheel Kick. Goto follows that with a Belly to Back Suplex for a two count.

Cima fights out of the fireman’s carry position. Cima avoids The Discus Lariat. Cima with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Cima tags in Hawk. Hawk runs into Goto. Hawk with two chops. Goto drops Hawk with The Misdirection Lariat. Goto tags in Tiger. Tiger with The Flying Crossbody Block. Cima grabs Tiger from behind. Tiger kicks Hawk in the face. Tiger with a Flipping Mule Kick. Toe Kick Exchange. Tiger dumps Lindaman out of the ring. Tiger applies The Double Reverse Arm-Bar. Cima breaks up the submission hold. Goto tosses Cima out of the ring. Double Irish Whip. Honma with a running elbow smash. Goto with a corner clothesline. Tiger follows that with a Spinning Back Kick. Honma with The Running Bulldog. Assisted Kokeshi HeadButt. Tiger hits The Tiger Driver for a two count. Tiger with a Spinning Back Kick. Hawk avoids The Roundhouse Kick. Cima with a running elbow smash. Cima puts Tiger on the top turnbuckle. Cima with a leaping palm strike. Cima with The Iconoclasm. Double Basement Dropkick. Strong Hearts clears the ring. Lindaman lands The SomerSault Plancha. Hawk connects with Two Night Rides to pickup the victory.

Winner: The Strong Hearts via Pinfall 

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

Fifth Match: Jeff Cobb & The Great O-Khan vs. Yoshi Hashi & YOH 

Jeff Cobb and Yoshi Hashi will start things off. Cobb with a single leg takedown for a one count. Chain grappling exchange. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Standing Switch Exchange. Cobb with a waist lock takedown. Second chain grappling exchange. Cobb walks over Hashi’s back. Hashi kicks Cobb in the gut. Hashi punches Cobb in the back. Hashi hammers down on the back of Cobb’s neck. Hashi applies a side headlock. Cobb whips Hashi across the ring. Hashi runs into Cobb. Cobb drops down on the canvas. Cobb leapfrogs over Hashi. Hashi with a knife edge chop. Hashi with a forearm smash. Hashi whips Cobb across the ring. Cobb drops Hashi with a shoulder tackle. Cobb with a knife edge chop. Cobb sends Hashi to the corner. Hashi avoids the corner clothesline. Hashi with a corner clothesline of his own. Cobb reverses out of the irish whip from Hashi. Cobb denies The Sunset Flip. Cobb goes for a Leg Drop, but Hashi ducks out of the way. Hashi SuperKicks Cobb. Hashi applies a front face lock. Yoh tags himself in.

Yoh kicks Cobb in the gut. Double Irish Whip. Cobb shrugs off the double shoulder tackle. Hashi with a drop toe hold. Yoh with a Sliding Dropkick. Double Hip Toss to Khan. Yoh kicks Cobb in the back. Yoh with a forearm smash. Cobb clings onto the top rope. Yoh kicks the left knee of Cobb. Short-Arm Reversal by Cobb. Cobb with a Pumphandle Suplex. Khan whips Hashi into the steel barricade. Cobb stomps on Yoh’s chest. Cobb whips Yoh back first into the turnbuckle pad for a two count. Cobb punches Yoh in the back. Surf’s Up. Cobb whips Yoh into the blue turnbuckle pad. Cobb tags in Khan. Khan is choking Yoh with his boot. Cobb attacks Yoh behind the referee’s back. Khan bodyslams Yoh for a two count. Khan with Two Karate Chops. Khan puts his elbow on the back of Yoh’s neck. Khan knocks Hashi off the ring apron. Khan toys around with Yoh. Khan kicks Yoh in the gut. Khan punches Yoh in the back. Khan wants Yoh to kiss his boot. Yoh with forearm shivers. Yoh blocks a boot from Khan. Khan denies The Dragon Screw Leg Whip.

Khan rakes the eyes of Yoh. Yoh dropkicks Khan. Hashi and Cobb are tagged in. Hashi ducks a clothesline from Cobb. Hashi delivers his combination offense. Cobb reverses out of the irish whip from Hashi. Hashi with a running chop. Hashi thrust kicks the midsection of Cobb. Cobb denies The Hangman’s NeckBreaker. Hashi sweeps out the legs of Cobb. Hashi drives Cobb back first into the barricade. Hashi with a blistering chop. Hashi rolls Cobb back into the ring. Hashi hits The Flying Head Hunter for a two count. Cobb denies The Kumagoroshi. Cobb dropkicks Hashi. Cobb tags in Khan. Khan unloads a series of Mongolian Chops. Khan whips Hashi across the ring. Hashi dropkicks the left knee of Khan. Hashi tags in Yoh. Yoh with forearm shivers. Khan reverses out of the irish whip from Yoh. Yoh drops Khan with a Corkscrew Elbow.

Yoh pops back on his feet. Yoh with a leaping back elbow smash. Yoh with a NeckBreaker for a two count. Yoh applies a waist lock. Yoh kicks Khan in the gut. Khan with a shoulder tackle. Khan tugs on Yoh’s hair. Yoh blocks The Mongolian Chop. Yoh with The Judo Takeover for a two count. Khan denies The Falcon Arrow. Khan with The Face Plant for a two count. Khan applies The Sheep Killer. Khan slaps Yoh in the chest. Khan goes for a Bodyslam, but Yoh lands back on his feet. Hashi thrust kicks the midsection of Khan. Yoh with a single leg dropkick. Hashi with a Baseball Slide Dropkick to Cobb. Yoh plays to the crowd. Khan blocks The SuperKick. Yoh avoids The Mongolian Chop. Yoh SuperKicks Khan. Yoh hits The Ushigoroshi for a two count. Cobb with a Release German Suplex. Cobb goes for Tour Of The Islands, but Hashi lands back on his feet. Hashi with a thunderous chop. Hashi SuperKicks Cobb. Khan nails Hashi with The Pump Kick. Khan connects with The Eliminator to pickup the victory.

Winner: Jeff Cobb & The Great O-Khan via Pinfall 

Sixth Match: Will Ospreay & Aaron Henare vs. Hiromu Takahashi & Bushi 

Takahashi dropkicks Ospreay before the bell rings. Takahashi with a Senton Bomb to the outside. Bushi rolls Ospreay back into the ring. Takahashi whips Henare into the steel barricade. Bushi dropkicks Ospreay for a one count. Bushi stomps on Ospreay’s back. Bushi slaps Ospreay in the chest. Bushi sends Ospreay to the corner. Ospreay side steps Bushi into the turnbuckle pad. Bushi with a Pendulum Kick. Henare knocks Bushi off the ring apron. Ospreay whips Takahashi into the barricade. Ospreay punches Takahashi. Henare is choking Bushi on the floor. Henare rolls Bushi back into the ring. Ospreay talks smack to Bushi. Ospreay with a knife edge chop. Ospreay is choking Bushi with his boot. Ospreay tags in Henare.

Bushi with forearm shivers. Henare with heavy bodyshots. Following a snap mare takeover, Henare applies a judo style choke. Henare slams Bushi’s head on the blue turnbuckle pad. Henare tags in Ospreay. Ospreay with two knife edge chops. Ospreay with The Spinning Pendulum BackBreaker for a two count. Bushi fires back with forearm shivers. Ospreay kicks Bushi in the gut. Bushi with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Bushi tags in Takahashi. Takahashi ducks under two clotheslines from Ospreay. Takahashi with a Running Hurricanrana. Takahashi ducks a clothesline from Henare. Takahashi kicks Henare in the gut. Takahashi sends Henare to the corner. Takahashi with two corner clotheslines. Takahashi side steps Henare into Ospreay. Takahashi dropkicks Henare into Ospreay. Takahashi with a corner clothesline. Following a snap mare takeover, Takahashi with a basement dropkick for a two count. Ospreay fights out of the fireman’s carry position. Takahashi decks Ospreay with a back elbow smash.

Tiger Wall Flip Kick. Ospreay with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Ospreay goes for The PowerBomb, but Takahashi lands back on his feet. Ospreay with a knife edge chop. Takahashi reverses out of the irish whip from Ospreay. Ospreay goes for a Handspring Roundhouse Kick, but Takahashi counters with a German Suplex. Bushi and Henare are tagged in. Forearm Exchange. Henare sends Bushi to the corner. Bushi kicks Henare in the face. Bushi delivers The Missile Dropkick. Bushi lands The Suicide Dive. Bushi rolls Henare back into the ring. Bushi repeatedly stomps on Henare’s back. Bushi ducks a clothesline from Henare. Bushi drops Henare with The DDT for a two count. Henare denies The Swinging Fisherman’s NeckBreaker. Toe Kick Exchange. Bushi dropkicks Henare. Henare denies The CodeBreaker. Henare delivers The Rampage for a two count. Ospreay hits Pip Pip Cheerio. Ospreay with The Slingshot Pescado. Bushi denies The Streets Of Rage. Henare with a gut punch. Henare nails Bushi with The Hook Kick. Henare connects with The Streets Of Rage to pickup the victory.

Winner: Will Ospreay & Aaron Henare via Pinfall 

Seventh Match: Shingo Takagi vs. Zack Sabre Jr In A Semi-Final Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup 

Feeling out process after the bell rings. Takagi backs Sabre into the ropes. The referee calls for a clean break. Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Takagi walks Sabre into the ropes. Sabre turns Takagi over. Test Of Strength. Sabre applies the cravate. Takagi grabs the top rope which forces the break. Sabre talks smack to Takagi. Strong lockup. Sabre applies The Full Nelson Lock. Sabre transitions into the cravate. Takagi with an arm-drag takeover. Takagi whips Sabre across the ring. Sabre applies The Cobra Twist. Takagi with a Hip Toss. Sabre avoids The Sliding Lariat. Sabre with The Big Boot. Takagi drops Sabre with a shoulder tackle. Takagi with a Knee Drop. Takagi wraps the right leg of Sabre around the middle rope. Takagi repeatedly stomps on the right knee of Sabre. Takagi with clubbing elbow smashes in the corner. Takagi drives his knee into the midsection of Sabre. Takagi goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Sabre counters with The Guillotine Choke.

Sabre headbutts the midsection of Takagi. Following a snap mare takeover, Takagi up kicks Sabre. Takagi goes for The Dragon Screw Leg Whip, but Sabre counters with The Neck Crank. Takagi regroups on the outside. Sabre with clubbing uppercuts. Sabre rolls Takagi back into the ring. Sabre continues to crank on Takagi’s neck. Sabre is choking Takagi with his boot. Sabre repeatedly kicks Takagi in the back and chest. Sabre with a double leg takedown. Sabre applies the headscissors neck lock. Takagi puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Sabre uppercuts Takagi. Takagi with a knife edge chop. Sabre goes back to the cravate. Sabre applies a side headlock. Takagi whips Sabre across the ring. Takagi decks Sabre with a back elbow smash. Takagi scores a right jab. Sabre goes for The Guillotine Choke, but Takagi counters with a Vertical Suplex. Sabre denies The Back Drop Driver. Takagi with a knee lift. Takagi denies the running uppercut. Takagi pulls Sabre down to the mat. Takagi with two elbow drops. Takagi with a Senton Splash.

Sabre dodges the uppercut from Takagi. Sabre applies the cravate. Takagi bodyslams Sabre. Takagi goes for The Dragon Elbow, but Sabre counters with The Cross-Arm-Breaker. Takagi puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Sabre hyperextends the right shoulder of Takagi. Sabre applies a top wrist lock. Sabre stomps on the right elbow of Takagi. Sabre with clubbing chest kicks. Takagi blocks a boot from Sabre. Takagi scores a right jab. Takagi drops Sabre with The Fake Out DDT. Takagi with clubbing elbow smashes. Takagi goes for The Sliding Lariat, but Sabre counters with The Double Fujiwara Arm-Bar. Takagi puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Sabre with two uppercuts. Sabre denies The Noshigami. Takagi applies The Sleeper Hold. Dragon Sleeper Exchange. Takagi goes for a Vertical Suplex, but Sabre lands back on his feet. Sabre applies The Sleeper Hold. Takagi sends Sabre into the ropes. Takagi hits The Pop Up Death Valley Driver. Takagi repeatedly stomps on Sabre’s chest. Takagi with Two HeadButts. Takagi puts Sabre on the top turnbuckle. Takagi with The Avalanche BrainBuster.

Takagi with a corner clothesline. Takagi goes for The Pumping Bomber, but Sabre rolls him over for a two count. Standing Switch Exchange. Takagi goes for Made In Japan, but Sabre counters with The European Clutch for a two count. Sabre blasts Takagi with The PK. Sabre ducks a clothesline from Takagi. Sabre with The Bridging Dragon Suplex for a one count. Sabre fires off another PK for a two count. Sabre goes for The Zack Driver, but Takagi lands back on his feet. Takagi rolls Sabre over for a two count. Sabre kicks Takagi in the face. Takagi avoids The Roundhouse Kick. Takagi connects with Made In Japan for a two count. Sabre denies Last Of The Dragon. HeadButt Exchange. Uppercut/Forearm Exchange. Sabre with combination palm strikes. Takagi scores a right jab. Sabre kicks the right shoulder of Takagi. Takagi goes for The Western Lariat, but Sabre counters with an Overhead Wrist Kick. Takagi with a Sliding Forearm across the back of Sabre’s head. Takagi delivers The Pumping Bomber. Takagi goes for Last of The Dragon, but Sabre lands back on his feet. Sabre applies The Triangle Choke. Sabre makes Takagi pass out to The Rear Naked Choke.

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr via Referee Stoppage

Eight Match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Tetsuya Naito In A Semi-Final Round Match In The 2022 New Japan Cup

Collar and Elbow Tie Up. Naito backs Okada into the ropes. Red Shoes calls for the clean break. Naito pats Okada on the chest. Strong lockup. Wrist Lock Exchange. Naito with a drop toe hold. Side Headlock Exchange. Okada applies a headscissors neck lock. Following a snap mare takeover, Naito applies a rear chin lock. Okada backs Naito into the ropes. Okada kicks Naito in the gut. Okada applies a side headlock. Naito whips Okada across the ring. Okada drops Naito with a shoulder tackle. Okada with a forearm smash. Naito reverses out of the irish whip from Okada. Naito with a deep arm-drag. Naito kicks Okada in the gut. Naito with a Running Headscissors Takeover. Following a snap mare takeover, Naito applies the cravate. Okada puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Naito slams Okada’s head on the turnbuckle pad. Naito with clubbing elbow smashes. Naito is choking Okada with his boot. Okada puts Naito on the top turnbuckle. Okada dropkicks Naito to the floor. Okada whips Naito into the steel barricade. Okada with a Running Boot that propels Naito over the barricade. Okada hits The Draping DDT on the floor. Naito gets back in the ring at the count of seventeen.

Okada stands on Naito’s chest. Okada toys around with Naito. Naito with three overhand chops. Okada kicks Naito in the gut. Okada drops Naito with a NeckBreaker. Okada applies a rear chin lock. Naito puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Naito with forearm shivers. Okada drives his knee into the midsection of Naito. Naito reverses out of the irish whip from Okada. Okada ducks under two clotheslines from Naito. Naito dropkicks the left knee of Okada. Naito with a forearm smash. Naito kicks Okada in the gut. Naito punches Okada in the back. Naito whips Okada across the ring. Naito with a Hip Toss. Naito dropkicks Okada to the floor. Naito whips Okada into the barricade. Naito hammers down on the back of Okada’s neck. Naito kicks the left knee of Okada. Naito wraps the left leg of Okada around the barricade. Naito with forearm shivers. Naito dropkicks the left knee of Okada for added pressure. Okada gets back in the ring at the count of fifteen. Naito repeatedly stomp on the left knee of Okada. Naito toys around with Okada. Naito with The Knee Crusher. Okada avoids the low dropkick. Naito ducks a clothesline from Okada. Naito with a NeckBreaker onto the knee. Naito applies a headscissors neck lock.

Okada puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Naito is putting the boots to Okada. Okada denies The Hangman’s NeckBreaker. Okada blocks a boot from Naito. Okada with The Big Boot. Okada with a leaping back elbow smash. Okada kicks Naito in the gut. Okada drops Naito with The DDT for a two count. Naito denies The Reverse NeckBreaker. Naito with an arm-drag takeover. Naito with The Swinging NeckBreaker. Okada kicks Naito in the face. Naito avoids The Shotgun Dropkick. Naito with an Inverted Atomic Drop. Naito sweeps out the legs of Okada. Naito goes for Combination Cabron, but Okada counters with The Reverse NeckBreaker. Okada applies The Money Clip. Naito puts his foot on the bottom rope which forces the break. Okada bodyslams Naito. Okada dives over Naito. Naito ducks a clothesline from Okada. Okada denies The Satellite DDT. Okada dropkicks Naito. Okada goes back to The Money Clip. Naito refuses to quit. Okada with another bodyslam. Okada lands The Flying Elbow Drop. Rain Maker Pose. Naito avoids The Rain Maker. Naito with The Swinging Fisherman’s NeckBreaker. Okada side steps the low dropkick. Okada uppercuts Naito. Short-Arm Reversal by Naito. Naito with The Satellite DDT.

Naito puts Okada on the top turnbuckle. Naito with The Top Rope FrankenSteiner. Okada decks Naito with two back elbow smash. Naito side steps Okada into the blue turnbuckle pad. Naito with clubbing elbow smashes in the corner. Red Shoes admonishes Naito. Naito shoves Red Shoes. Naito drops Okada with The Esperanza. Naito hits The Destino for a two count. Naito with a Rolling Capo Kick. Naito with Gloria. Naito goes for The Star Dust Press, but Okada ducks out of the way. Okada blasts Naito with The Shotgun Dropkick. Naito denies The Tombstone PileDriver. Okada with two short-arm clotheslines. Naito denies The Rain Maker. Okada with a German Suplex. Naito dodges The Rain Maker. Okada dropkicks Naito. Naito blocks The Tombstone PileDriver. Naito goes for The Valentia, but Okada lands back on his feet. Naito blocks The Spinning Rain Maker. Naito with clubbing elbow smashes. Okada denies The Destino. Naito with a Step Up Enzuigiri. Okada reverses out of the irish whip from Naito. Okada goes for The Dropkick, but Naito holds onto the ropes. Rollup Exchange. Okada with a back elbow smash. Naito ducks a clothesline from Okada. Naito plants Okada with The Polvo de Estrella to pickup the victory.

Winner: Tetsuya Naito via Pinfall 

Checkout Episode 302 of The Hoots Podcast 

Author: Josh Lopez