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New Japan Cup

Professional wrestling pay-per-view event series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The New Japan Cup (NJC) is an annual single-elimination professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) since 2005. It is considered the second most prominent heavyweight tournament in NJPW, after the G1 Climax which follows a round-robin format.

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Since the 2006 edition, the winner of the tournament, like with the G1 Climax, would receive a championship match, originally, for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. However, unlike with the G1 Climax, the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion could not participate in the tournament (in the case of the champion winning the G1 Climax, he would get to pick the next challenger for his title). In 2014–2018, the winner could choose to challenge for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship instead, while in 2015–2018, the NEVER Openweight Championship was also an option; only the 2014 winner Shinsuke Nakamura chose not to compete for the Heavyweight Championship, challenging for the Intercontinental Championship instead. In 2020, due to Tetsuya Naito being both the Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion, the winner received a match for both titles, and in 2021, after the Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships were unified into a new championship, the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, the latter became the title the winner of the New Japan Cup would automatically challenge for; like previously with the Heavyweight title, the World Heavyweight Champion cannot compete. However, in 2022, it was once again an openweight tournament and featured all the champions from both the heavyweight and junior heavyweight divisions including the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. The first night of the 2022 tournament saw the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion take on the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in the first round, a match that usually happens at NJPW's anniversary event.

The number of participants in the New Japan Cup has varied over the years, from a lowest of 14 in 2007 and 2009 to a highest of 48 in 2022; the 2021 tournament features 30 entrants. It is considered a heavyweight tournament, although the 2005, 2008–09, 2020, and 2022 editions were openweight tournaments instead, also featuring junior heavyweights; in 2020, NJPW premiered the New Japan Cup USA, a version of the tournament taking place in the United States to determine a contender for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

Hiroshi Tanahashi is both the inaugural winner of the New Japan Cup, and the first wrestler to have won it twice; Hirooki Goto, Yuji Nagata, Kazuchika Okada, and Zack Sabre Jr. have since also become two-time winners. Goto is both the only three-time winner and the only person to have won the tournament two years in a row.

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Results

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2005

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The 2005 New Japan Cup was held from April 19 to April 24. The first two rounds were held on individual nights, with round one taking up the entire card on April 19.[5]

Round 1
April 19 		Round 2
April 21 		Semifinals
April 24 		Final
April 24
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi DQ
Yuji Nagata 24:12[5]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Koji Kanemoto 17:38[5]
Koji Kanemoto Pin
Ryushi Yanagisawa 8:19[5]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 19:45[5]
Minoru CO
Osamu Nishimura 16:47[5]
Osamu Nishimura† Sub
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 20:47[5]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Jushin Thunder Liger 15:54[5]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 19:21[5]
Kendo Kashin Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 8:55[5]
Kendo Kashin Pin
Yutaka Yoshie 15:48[5]
Yutaka Yoshie Pin
Scott Norton 9:07[5]
Kendo Kashin Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 10:20[5]
Tiger Mask Pin
Masahiro Chono 10:29[5]
Masahiro Chono Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 14:16[5]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 7:34[5]

† Minoru was forced to pull out before his Round 2 match, due to suffering severe dizziness, and was replaced by Osamu Nishimura, who he beat in Round 1.[5]

2006

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The 2006 New Japan Cup was held from April 16 to April 30.[6] Giant Bernard, the winner of the tournament, went on to fail in his challenge against IWGP Champion Brock Lesnar on May 3.[7]

Round 1
April 16, 20, 21, 22 		Round 2
April 23,25,26 		Semifinals
April 28,29 		Final
April 30
        
Giant Bernard Pin
Toru Yano 8:19[6]
Giant Bernard Pin
Riki Choshu 9:11[6]
Black Strong Machine Pin
Riki Choshu 6:46[6]
Giant Bernard Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 16:43[6]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Takashi Iizuka 11:31[6]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Ryoji Sai 14:56[6]
Ryoji Sai Pin
Naofumi Yamamoto 13:59[6]
Giant Bernard Pin
Yuji Nagata 19:40[6]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Masahiro Chono 25:12[6]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 14:27[6]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Scott Norton 12:30[6]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Yuji Nagata 18:49[6]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tatsutoshi Goto 1:24[6]
Togi Makabe Pin
Yuji Nagata 10:50[6]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 9:57[6]

2007

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The 2007 New Japan Cup was a 14-man tournament held from March 3 to March 21.[8] Giant Bernard and Hiroyoshi Tenzan received byes to the second round, due to their victories in the 2006 New Japan Cup and G1 Climax respectively. Shinsuke Nakamura was injured in a non-tournament match on March 13, giving Tenzan an additional pass to the semifinals. The winner, Yuji Nagata, went on to defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi for the championship on April 13, beginning his second reign with the title.[9] He also became the first person to reach the NJC final twice, and the first to win both the New Japan Cup and G1 Climax.

Round 1
March 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 		Round 2
March 13, 15 		Semifinals
March 18 		Final
March 21
            
Togi Makabe Pin
Travis Tomko 9:29[8]
Togi Makabe Pin
Takashi Iizuka 11:32[8]
Tomoaki Honma Sub
Takashi Iizuka 14:06[8]
Togi Makabe DQ
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 12:27[8]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Toru Yano 10:16[8]
Shinsuke Nakamura Forfeit[8]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan N/A
Togi Makabe Pin
Yuji Nagata 20:05[8]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Yuji Nagata 12:12[8]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Masahiro Chono 17:25[8]
Masahiro Chono Pin
Riki Choshu 8:44[8]
Yuji Nagata Sub
Giant Bernard 18:22[8]
Shiro Koshinaka Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 10:03[8]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Giant Bernard 13:05[8]

2008

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The 2008 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from March 9 to March 23.[10] The winner, Hiroshi Tanahashi, became the first two-time winner of the NJC and went on to fail in his challenge against IWGP Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on March 30.[11]

Round 1 Round 2 Semifinals Final
        
Tomohiro Ishii Sub
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 13:03[10]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin1
Togi Makabe 18:07[10]
Takashi Iizuka Pin
Togi Makabe 10:27[10]
Togi Makabe Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi 12:11[10]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi 20:32[10]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Ryusuke Taguchi 13:42[10]
Jushin Thunder Liger Pin
Ryusuke Taguchi 11:33[10]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Giant Bernard 18:24[10]
Koji Kanemoto Sub
Karl Anderson 9:05[10]
Koji Kanemoto Pin
Giant Bernard 9:45[10]
Giant Bernard Pin
Tomoaki Honma 10:43[10]
Giant Bernard Pin
Toru Yano 10:44[10]
Milano Collection A.T. Pin
Toru Yano 11:25[10]
Toru Yano Pin
Rhino 11:21[10]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Rhino 10:17[10]

1This match originally ended in a double countout at 2:35, but it was restarted with Makabe winning via pinfall in 14:49.[10]

2009

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The 2009 New Japan Cup was a 14-man tournament held from March 8 to March 22.[12] Giant Bernard and Yuji Nagata, the winners of the Cups of 2006 and 2007, received byes in the first round of the tournament. The eventual winner of the tournament, Hirooki Goto, went on to lose the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match to Hiroshi Tanahashi on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2009.[13]

Round 1
March 8 		Round 2
March 15 		Semifinals
March 22 		Final
March 22
            
Hirooki Goto Sub
Karl Anderson 11:10[12]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 19:00[12]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Togi Makabe 15:32[12]
Hirooki Goto Sub
Yuji Nagata 14:51[12]
Yuji Nagata DQ
Takashi Iizuka 14:49[12]
Takashi Iizuka Pin
Tomoaki Honma 10:53[12]
Hirooki Goto Sub
Giant Bernard 18:18[12]
Milano Collection A.T. Pin
Toru Yano 09:50[12]
Milano Collection A.T. Pin
Giant Bernard 9:13[12]
Giant Bernard Pin
Yutaka Yoshie 08:56[12]
Yutaka Yoshie Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 20:29[12]
Yutaka Yoshie Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 13:38[12]
Tomohiro Ishii CO1
Wataru Inoue 12:33[12]

1This match originally ended in a double countout at 3:18, but it was restarted with Ishii winning via countout in 9:15.[12]

2010

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The 2010 New Japan Cup was a 15-man tournament held from March 14 to March 22.[14] As the previous winner of the Cup, Hirooki Goto received a bye in the first round of the tournament. With his victory, Goto became the second two-time winner of the tournament and the first to win it back-to-back. Goto went on to challenge the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on April 4, but would once again fail in his attempt to win the title.[15]

Round 1
March 14 		Round 2
March 20 		Semifinals
March 22 		Final
March 22
            
Hirooki Goto Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 15:04[16]
Yujiro Takahashi Pin
Yuji Nagata 13:41[14]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Masato Tanaka 11:15[17]
Wataru Inoue Pin
Giant Bernard 7:39[14]
Wataru Inoue Pin
Masato Tanaka 13:05[16]
Masato Tanaka Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 18:01[14]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Togi Makabe 21:42[17]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 11:46[14]
Togi Makabe Pin
Toru Yano 14:26[16]
Toru Yano Pin
Tomoaki Honma 10:34[14]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tetsuya Naito 15:52[17]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Strong Man 8:37[14]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 23:17[16]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Karl Anderson 9:52[14]

2011

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The 2011 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from March 6 to March 20. The winner, Yuji Nagata, went on to unsuccessfully challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on April 3.[18]

Round 1
March 6
March 13 		Round 2
March 19 		Semifinals
March 20 		Final
March 20
        
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 9:50[19]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 8:49[20]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 13:45[19]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Togi Makabe 9:55[21]
Karl Anderson Sub
MVP 12:20[19]
MVP Pin
Togi Makabe 10:41[20]
Togi Makabe Pin
Satoshi Kojima 16:01[19]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Yuji Nagata 14:44[21]
Wataru Inoue Pin
Toru Yano 10:17[22]
Toru Yano Pin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 11:09[20]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Sub
Takashi Iizuka 12:50[22]
Toru Yano Sub
Yuji Nagata 7:27[21]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Masato Tanaka 13:03[22]
Masato Tanaka Pin
Yuji Nagata 16:33[20]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Giant Bernard 11:32[22]

2012

Quick facts Promotion, Date ...

The 2012 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from April 1 to April 8.[23] With his win, Hirooki Goto, became the first three-time winner of the tournament.

Round 1
April 1 		Round 2
April 5 		Semifinals
April 8 		Final
April 8
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Toru Yano 17:25[24]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 18:21[25]
Satoshi Kojima Pin
Tetsuya Naito 17:53[24]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Karl Anderson 12:36[26]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Karl Anderson 8:00[24]
Karl Anderson Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 15:22[25]
MVP Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 9:45[24]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Hirooki Goto 25:25[26]
Togi Makabe Pin
Lance Archer 8:47[24]
Togi Makabe Pin
Minoru Suzuki 13:34[25]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Minoru Suzuki 15:31[24]
Togi Makabe Pin
Hirooki Goto 9:22[26]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 9:55[24]
Hirooki Goto Pin
La Sombra 9:51[25]
La Sombra Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 9:41[24]

2013

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The 2013 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from March 11 to March 23.[27] The winner of the tournament, Kazuchika Okada, went on to defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Invasion Attack on April 7.

Round 1
March 11 		Round 2
March 17 		Semifinals
March 23 		Final
March 23
        
Togi Makabe Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 10:45[28]
Yujiro Takahashi Pin
Davey Boy Smith Jr. 11:43[29]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Davey Boy Smith Jr. 13:06[28]
Davey Boy Smith Jr. Pin
Hirooki Goto 8:14[30]
Satoshi Kojima Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 13:37[28]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Hirooki Goto 18:46[29]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Tama Tonga 9:37[28]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Kazuchika Okada 23:52[30]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Karl Anderson 8:42[28]
Karl Anderson Pin
Kazuchika Okada 15:27[29]
Kazuchika Okada Sub
Lance Archer 10:14[28]
Kazuchika Okada Sub
Toru Yano 10:42[30]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Minoru Suzuki 10:24[28]
Minoru Suzuki Pin
Toru Yano 10:14[29]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Toru Yano 6:18[28]

2014

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The 2014 New Japan Cup took place between March 15 and 23.[31] The winner of the tournament got to choose whether to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight or the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.[32]

Round 1
March 15 		Round 2
March 22 		Semifinals
March 23 		Final
March 23
        
Togi Makabe Pin
Bad Luck Fale 9:36[33]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Tetsuya Naito 11:29[34]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 12:55[33]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Shelton X Benjamin 4:13[35]
Katsuyori Shibata Sub
Karl Anderson 9:14[33]
Katsuyori Shibata Pin
Shelton X Benjamin 10:06[34]
Yujiro Takahashi Pin
Shelton X Benjamin 6:21[33]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 15:20[35]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Doc Gallows 6:59[33]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Minoru Suzuki 12:27[34]
Toru Yano Pin
Minoru Suzuki 8:01[33]
Minoru Suzuki Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 13:12[35]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Davey Boy Smith Jr. 14:59[33]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Prince Devitt 10:23[34]
Prince Devitt Pin
Lance Archer 7:57[33]

2015

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The 2015 New Japan Cup took place between March 5 and 15.[36] The winner of the tournament got to choose whether to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight, IWGP Intercontinental or the NEVER Openweight Championship at Invasion Attack 2015 on April 5.[37]

Round 1
March 5 		Round 2
March 8 		Semifinals
March 15 		Final
March 15
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Toru Yano 2:47[38]
Toru Yano Pin
Kota Ibushi 2:44[39]
Kota Ibushi Pin
Doc Gallows 8:49[38]
Kota Ibushi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 14:14[40]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Karl Anderson 12:10[38]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Bad Luck Fale 12:51[39]
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Bad Luck Fale 16:34[38]
Kota Ibushi Pin
Hirooki Goto 17:31[40]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tomoaki Honma 10:10[38]
Togi Makabe Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 10:13[39]
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 8:02[38]
Togi Makabe Pin
Hirooki Goto 8:11[40]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Hirooki Goto 11:24[38]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Katsuyori Shibata 17:18[39]
Satoshi Kojima Pin
Katsuyori Shibata 8:53[38]

2016

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The 2016 New Japan Cup took place between March 3 and 12.[41] The winner of the tournament would once again get to choose whether to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight, IWGP Intercontinental or NEVER Openweight Championship at Invasion Attack 2016 on April 10.[42]

Round 1
March 3 		Round 2
March 4 		Semifinals
March 12 		Final
March 12
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Bad Luck Fale 13:55[43]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Michael Elgin 10:10[44]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Michael Elgin 8:22[43]
Michael Elgin Pin
Hirooki Goto 9:28[45]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tama Tonga 7:40[43]
Tama Tonga Pin
Hirooki Goto 9:24[44]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Hirooki Goto 11:28[43]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Tetsuya Naito 20:15[45]
Tomoaki Honma Pin
Satoshi Kojima 11:50[43]
Satoshi Kojima Pin
Toru Yano 5:41[44]
Toru Yano CO
Yujiro Takahashi 1:13[43]
Toru Yano Pin
Tetsuya Naito 2:32[45]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Evil 15:20[43]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Tetsuya Naito 16:21[44]
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 13:42[43]

2017

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The 2017 New Japan Cup took place between March 11 and 20.[46] Unlike previous years, this tournament was held across eight events in 10 days.[47] Tomoaki Honma was originally announced for the tournament, but was pulled out and replaced with Yuji Nagata after suffering a spinal cord injury.[48]

Round 1
March 11, 12 		Round 2
March 13, 14, 15, 17 		Semifinals
March 19 		Final
March 20
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Evil 22:55[49]
Evil Pin
Yuji Nagata 13:33[50]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Tanga Loa 11:45[49]
Evil Pin
Bad Luck Fale 12:20[51]
Michael Elgin Pin
Bad Luck Fale 10:32[49]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Toru Yano 8:33[52]
Toru Yano Pin
Tama Tonga 3:46[49]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Katsuyori Shibata 18:48[53]
Katsuyori Shibata Pin
Minoru Suzuki 19:44[54]
Katsuyori Shibata Pin
Juice Robinson 11:23[55]
Juice Robinson Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 10:21[54]
Katsuyori Shibata Sub
Tomohiro Ishii 22:32[51]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Kenny Omega 29:45[54]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Sanada 14:02[56]
Yoshi-Hashi Sub
Sanada 13:57[54]

2018

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The 2018 New Japan Cup took place between March 9 and 21.[57] The winner of the tournament, Zack Sabre Jr., challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Sabre also became the second non-Japanese wrestler, after Giant Bernard, to win the New Japan Cup.

Round 1
March 9, 10, 11, 12 		Round 2
March 14, 15 		Semifinals
March 16, 18 		Final
March 21
        
Michael Elgin Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 29:02
Michael Elgin Pin
Juice Robinson 17:04
Juice Robinson Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 16:08
Juice Robinson Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi 29:53
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Taichi 23:53
Hiroshi Tanahashi CO
Bad Luck Fale 14:36
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Lance Archer 11:02
Hiroshi Tanahashi Sub
Zack Sabre Jr. 34:02
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Kota Ibushi 22:23
Kota Ibushi Stop
Zack Sabre Jr. 21:02
Tetsuya Naito Sub
Zack Sabre Jr. 22:43
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Sanada 26:36
Toru Yano 12:52
Davey Boy Smith Jr. CO
Toru Yano Sub
Sanada 4:51
Chuckie T. Pin
Sanada 21:31

2019

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The 2019 New Japan Cup took place between March 8 and 24.[58] Unlike the previous year, the tournament featured 32 wrestlers instead of 16 and marks the New Japan Cup debut of 7 wrestlers. After David Finlay was pulled out of the tournament due to an injury, Ryusuke Taguchi was announced as his replacement.[59]

Round 1
March 8, 9, 10, 11 		Round 2
March 13, 14, 16, 17 		Quarterfinals
March 20, 21 		Semifinals
March 23 		Final
March 24
               
Yuji Nagata 21:34
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Taichi 22:55
Tomoaki Honma 17:54
Taichi Sub
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 20:25
Manabu Nakanishi 12:26
Yoshi-Hashi Sub
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Chase Owens 14:10
Juice Robinson 24:36
Chase Owens Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 21:10
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Michael Elgin 24:06
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Mikey Nicholls 17:25
Mikey Nicholls Pin
Hikuleo 08:55
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Will Ospreay 20:10
Will Ospreay Pin
Bad Luck Fale 11:30
Will Ospreay Pin
Lance Archer 18:08
Toa Henare 11:11
Lance Archer Pin
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Sanada 33:07
Hiroshi Tanahashi Sub
Shota Umino 16:48
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Ryusuke Taguchi 17:18
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 12:08
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Zack Sabre Jr. 21:11
Kota Ibushi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 20:38
Kota Ibushi 16:07
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Evil 15:33
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Hiroshi Tanahashi 24:11
Sanada Sub
Togi Makabe 07:26
Colt Cabana Pin
Colt Cabana Pin
Toru Yano 7:47
Toru Yano Pin
Davey Boy Smith Jr. 05:30
Colt Cabana 14:56
Sanada Sub
Satoshi Kojima 13:43
Minoru Suzuki Pin
Minoru Suzuki 28:45
Sanada Pin
Hirooki Goto 20:47
Sanada Pin

2020

Quick facts Promotion, Date ...

The 2020 New Japan Cup took place between June 16 and July 11. It was originally going to take place from March 4 until March 21, but was postponed when New Japan Pro-Wrestling suspended all of its activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[60][61]

On June 9, New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced that it would resume its activities, beginning with the 2020 edition of the New Japan Cup, which would now be an Openweight tournament and take place from June 16 until July 11, with the final being held at Osaka-jō Hall in Osaka.[62][3]

Due to both the Heavyweight and Intercontinental titles being held by Tetsuya Naito, the winner of the tournament would earn a match against him for both titles at Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall, instead of choosing one title to challenge for.[63]

Round 1
June 16, 17, 22, 23 		Round 2
June 24, July 1 		Quarterfinals
July 2 		Semifinals
July 3 		Final
July 11
               
Togi Makabe Pin
Yota Tsuji 08:41
Togi Makabe 13:28
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
El Desperado 20:17
Tomohiro Ishii 19:12
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Toru Yano Pin
Jado 09:07
Toru Yano 09:17
Hiromu Takahashi CO
Tomoaki Honma 18:45
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Hiromu Takahashi 27:00
Kazuchika Okada Stop
Kazuchika Okada Sub
Gedo 15:30
Kazuchika Okada Sub
Yuji Nagata 20:14
Yuji Nagata Pin
Minoru Suzuki 20:35
Kazuchika Okada Sub
Taiji Ishimori 16:52
Yuya Uemura 09:32
Yoshinobu Kanemaru Pin
Yoshinobu Kanemaru 09:18
Taiji Ishimori Pin
Gabriel Kidd 08:53
Taiji Ishimori Sub
Kazuchika Okada 31:50
Evil Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi 21:51
Taichi Pin
Taichi Pin
Kota Ibushi 18:08
Kota Ibushi Pin
Zack Sabre Jr. 15:15
Taichi 22:50
Sanada Pin
Ryusuke Taguchi 15:47
Sanada Pin
Sanada Sub
Sho 14:43
Sho Pin
Shingo Takagi 17:06
Sanada 20:13
Evil Pin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 17:35
Yoshi-Hashi Sub
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Bushi 10:22
Yoh 15:42
Bushi Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 2:00
Evil Stop
Satoshi Kojima 20:08
Evil Pin
Evil Pin
Hirooki Goto 18:25
Hirooki Goto Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 16:40

Original card

The original card for the New Japan Cup, when it was scheduled to take place from March 4 to March 21, had to be completely re-worked for the eventual final card, as several wrestlers who originally planned to participate could not go to Japan when NJPW resumed its activities due to travel restrictions amid the pandemic.

Of the 32 wrestlers included in the original card, 14 were not a part of the eventual tournament in June–July: Alex Coughlin, Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens, Colt Cabana, David Finlay, Karl Fredericks, Jay White, Kenta, Jeff Cobb, Juice Robinson, Mikey Nicholls, Tanga Loa, Toa Henare, and Will Ospreay.[64]

Cancelled Round 1 card
More information Day 1 (March 4), Day 2 (March 7) ...

2021

Quick facts Promotion, Date ...

The 2021 edition's schedule was announced on January 13.[65] The tournament ran from March 4, on NJPW's anniversary event, to March 21. The final night was NJPW's first show held at Xebio Arena Sendai.[65] Evil and Hiroshi Tanahashi received byes on account of being the previous edition's winner and the reigning NEVER Openweight Champion respectively.

At the semifinals on March 20, the match between Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi and Bullet Club's Jay White, Kenta and Yujiro Takahashi was stopped due to a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Miyagi prefecture. While Bullet Club went backstage; Okada, Tanahashi, and Ibushi stayed in the ring area to calm the crowd and pose for pictures while New Japan employees were performing safety checks throughout the arena, which took about half an hour. After the safety checks were made, the match was able to continue with ring announcer Makoto Abe informing attendees shortly beforehand the rest of the event would be canceled if they were any additional aftershocks.[66]

Round 1
March 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 		Round 2
March 11, 13, 14, 15 		Quarterfinals
March 16, 18 		Semifinals
March 20 		Final
March 21
          
Evil Pin
Jeff Cobb 23:08
Satoshi Kojima 11:50
Jeff Cobb Pin
Evil Pin
Toru Yano 7:54
Tetsuya Naito 20:20
Great-O-Khan Stop
Great-O-Khan 13:02
Toru Yano Pin
Toru Yano CO
Bad Luck Fale 5:50
Evil 22:43
Shingo Takagi Pin
Taichi 22:43
Hirooki Goto Pin
Hirooki Goto 23:51
Shingo Takagi Pin
Kazuchika Okada 23:58
Shingo Takagi Pin
Shingo Takagi Pin
Kenta 23:47
Tomoaki Honma 14:54
Minoru Suzuki Pin
Minoru Suzuki 16:50
Kenta Pin
Juice Robinson 17:17
Kenta Sub
Shingo Takagi 30:06
Will Ospreay Pin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 13:37
Will Ospreay Pin
Will Ospreay Pin
Zack Sabre Jr. 21:23
Gabriel Kidd 17:21
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Will Ospreay Pin
Sanada 18:56
Yota Tsuji 13:42
Yuji Nagata Pin
Yuji Nagata 18:18
Sanada Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 25:18
Sanada Pin
Will Ospreay Pin
David Finlay 21:04
David Finlay Pin
Chase Owens 11:20
David Finlay Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 13:12
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 15:50
David Finlay Pin
Jay White 19:24
Toa Henare 24:46
Jay White Pin
Jay White Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi 19:54

2022

Quick facts Promotion, Date ...

The 2022 edition's schedule was announced on December 28, 2021, and the tournament ran from March 2 until March 27.[67] The 2022 edition featured 48 participants which included wrestlers from both heavyweight and junior heavyweight divisions including the champions.

Round 1
March 2, 6, 7 		Round 2
March 9, 10, 12, 13 		Round 3
March 14, 15, 17, 18 		Quarterfinals
March 20, 21 		Semifinals
March 26 		Final
March 27
            
Kazuchika Okada Pin
El Desperado 26:21
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Master Wato 18:34
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Taichi 24:17
Toru Yano 6:25
Taichi Pin
Taichi N/A
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Forfeit[a]
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Cima 20:52
Yuji Nagata 12:37
Hirooki Goto Pin
Hirooki Goto Sub
Dick Togo 9:50
Hirooki Goto 17:20
Cima Pin
Cima Pin
Taka Michinoku 9:48
Cima Pin
Yoshinobu Kanemaru 14:46
Kazuchika Okada 27:42
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Yoh 16:50
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Bad Luck Fale 15:01
Hiroshi Tanahashi 18:41
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 18:11
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Gedo 14:18
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Jeff Cobb 19:04
Togi Makabe 8:10
Jeff Cobb Pin
Jeff Cobb Pin
Satoshi Kojima 15:36
Jeff Cobb Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 17:22
Tomoaki Honma 9:45
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Yoshi-Hashi Sub
Kosei Fujita 9:20
Tetsuya Naito 24:43
Zack Sabre Jr. Pin
Kota Ibushi Forfeit[b]
Great-O-Khan N/A
Great-O-Khan Pin
Taiji Ishimori 16:43
Great-O-Khan 20:03
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Ryohei Oiwa 10:35
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Douki 15:03
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Will Ospreay 23:04
Yuto Nakashima 8:40
Aaron Henare Pin
Aaron Henare 25:07
Sanada Pin
Sanada 16:56
Will Ospreay Stop
Bushi 12:48
Will Ospreay Pin
Will Ospreay Pin
El Phantasmo 17:31
Zack Sabre Jr. Stop
Shingo Takagi 19:24
Tomohiro Ishii 23:32
Shingo Takagi Pin
Shingo Takagi Pin
Tanga Loa 12:31
Shingo Takagi Pin
Chase Owens 16:41
Chase Owens Pin
Jado 7:13
Chase Owens Pin
Tiger Mask 10:33
Shingo Takagi Pin
Hiromu Takahashi 23:43
Ryusuke Taguchi 7:26
Evil Pin
Evil Pin
Tama Tonga 14:21
Evil 15:52
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Sho 15:45
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Minoru Suzuki 19:27

2023

Quick facts Promotion, Date ...

The 2023 edition's schedule was announced on January 7, 2023, and the tournament ran from March 5 until March 21.[69]

Round 1
March 5, 6, 8, 10 		Round 2
March 11, 12, 13, 15 		Quarterfinals
March 17, 18 		Semifinals
March 19 		Final
March 21
Kenta 29:12[70]
Sanada Pin Sanada Pin
Taichi 24:27[71] Sanada Pin
Tetsuya Naito 24:41[72]
Chase Owens 18:07[70]
Tetsuya Naito Pin Tetsuya Naito Pin
El Phantasmo 17:32[71] Sanada Pin
Mark Davis 13:20[73]
Jeff Cobb 17:42[74]
Ren Narita 18:44[75] Evil Pin
Evil Pin Evil 15:30[72]
Mark Davis[c] Pin
Will Ospreay Pin
Toru Yano 12:33 Mark Davis 20:01[74]
Mark Davis Pin[75] Sanada Pin
David Finlay 19:56[77]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 20:06[78] Kyle Fletcher 20:43[79]
Kyle Fletcher Pin Hirooki Goto 16:38[80]
Tama Tonga Pin
Tama Tonga Pin
Shingo Takagi 20:46[78] Aaron Henare 16:34[79]
Aaron Henare Pin Tama Tonga 18:27[73]
David Finlay Pin
Great-O-Khan 13:07[81]
David Finlay Pin David Finlay Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 18:40[82] David Finlay Pin
Shota Umino 17:50[80]
Zack Sabre Jr. 26:12[81]
Shota Umino Pin Shota Umino Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 9:47[82]

2024

Quick facts Promotion, Date ...

The 2024 edition's schedule was announced on December 27, 2023, and the tournament ran from March 6 until March 20.[83]

Round 1
March 6, 7, 8, 10 		Round 2
March 11, 12, 13, 15 		Quarterfinals
March 16, 17 		Semifinals
March 18 		Final
March 20
          
Sanada Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 23:51[84]
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Kenta 10:55[85]
Sanada Pin
Jack Perry 16:02[86]
Shota Umino 12:20[85]
Jack Perry Pin
Jack Perry Pin
Toru Yano 8:28[84]
Toru Yano Countout
Yujiro Takahashi 2:56[85]
Sanada 19:05[87]
Hirooki Goto Pin
TJP 16:17[88]
David Finlay Pin
David Finlay Pin
Tanga Loa 16:42[89]
Tanga Loa Pin
Great-O-Khan 15:50[88]
David Finlay [d]
Hirooki Goto Forfeit
Tomohiro Ishii 16:20[88]
Chase Owens Pin
Chase Owens 21:36[89]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Hirooki Goto 23:01
Yota Tsuji Pin
Evil Pin
Hikuleo 14:32[91]
Hikuleo Pin
Oleg Boltin 9:21[92]
Evil Pin
Shingo Takagi 17:33[93]
Shingo Takagi Pin
Yuya Uemura 23:22[92]
Shingo Takagi Pin
Gabe Kidd 18:20[91]
Callum Newman 14:10[92]
Gabe Kidd Pin
Evil 16:50[87]
Yota Tsuji Pin
Yota Tsuji Pin
Jeff Cobb 21:41[94]
Yota Tsuji Pin
El Phantasmo 21:56[95]
El Phantasmo Pin
Mikey Nicholls 13:21[94]
Yota Tsuji Pin
Ren Narita 18:08[93]
Taichi 18:54[94]
Ren Narita Pin
Ren Narita Pin
Zack Sabre Jr. 23:08[95]

2025

Quick facts Promotion, Date ...

The 2025 edition's schedule was announced on December 28, 2024, and the tournament ran from March 8 until March 20.[96]

Round 1
March 8, 9 		Round 2
March 11, 12, 14 		Quarterfinals
March 15 		Semifinals
March 16, 17 		Final
March 20
          
David Finlay Countout
Evil 17:03[97]
Yota Tsuji 4:53[98]
Evil Pin
David Finlay Pin
Yuya Uemura 14:59[99]
Yoshi-Hashi 14:49[97]
Yuya Uemura Pin
Yuya Uemura Pin
Sanada 15:47[98]
David Finlay Pin
Zack Sabre Jr. 20:12[100]
Zack Sabre Jr. Pin
Ryohei Oiwa 19:12[97]
Ryohei Oiwa Pin
Chase Owens 9:39[98]
Zack Sabre Jr. Pin
Taichi 26:27[99]
Taichi Countout
Gabe Kidd 20:35[101]
Gabe Kidd Pin
Ren Narita 22:15[98]
David Finlay Pin
Shota Umino 27:58[102]
Shota Umino Pin
Great-O-Khan 22:55[101]
El Phantasmo 13:59[103]
Great-O-Khan Pin
Shota Umino Pin
Jeff Cobb 10:25[99]
Jeff Cobb Pin
Tetsuya Naito 15:03[104]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Callum Newman 11:05[103]
Shota Umino Pin
Shingo Takagi 24:10[105]
TJP 15:04[104]
Drilla Moloney Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 14:04[103]
Drilla Moloney Pin
Drilla Moloney 11:13[99]
Shingo Takagi Pin
Shingo Takagi Pin
Boltin Oleg 18:45[104]
Boltin Oleg Pin
Bad Luck Fale 7:11[103]
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Notes

  1. Forfeited due to a knee injury.[68]
  2. Forfeited due to Ibushi's lingering injuries.[68]
  3. Ospreay withdrew from the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Davis replaced Ospreay.[76]
  4. Finlay forfeited his match due to suffering an illness.[90]

See also

References

External links

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