The 2017 New Japan Cup kicked off this weekend. For those new to NJPW, this is a 16-man single elimination tournament held annually. The winner of the tournament is granted a future title shot against the champion of his choosing. Last year’s winner, Tetsuya Naito, chose to face Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, and won.
The opening round this weekend was full of upsets. Michael Elgin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Minoru Suzuki and everyone’s favourite to win the tournament, Kenny Omega, have all been eliminated already.
Highlight from yesterday's best bout @KennyOmegamanX Vs Ishii! Watch the full video on @njpwworld Sign up Now! pic.twitter.com/0W6P8GytSQ
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) March 13, 2017
New Japan Cup 2017
Night 1
March 11th 2017
On Saturday NJPW held the first four opening round matches.
Preliminary Matches:
El Desperado and Taka Michinou (Suzuki-Gun) defeated Hirwai Kawato
Jushin Liger, Kojima and Tenzan defeated Tomoyuki Oka, Tiger Mask, and Nakanishi
Kenny Omega and Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club) defeated Yoshi-Hashi and Tomohiro Ishii (CHAOS)
Bushi, Hiromu Takahashi, Sanada and Naito (Los Ingobernables) defeated David Finlay, Kushida, Juice Robinson and Shibata
New Japan Cup Matches
New Japan Cup 2017 1st round
Yuji Nagata defeated Tanga Roa (Bullet Club)
New Japan Cup 2017 1st round
Toru Yano (CHAOS) defeated Tama Tonga (Bullet Club)
New Japan Cup 2017 1st round
Bad Luck Fale (Bullet Club) defeated Michael Elgin
New Japan Cup 2017 1st round
Evil (Los Ingobernables) defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi
New Japan Cup 2017
Night 2
March 12th 2017
Preliminary Matches:
Yuji Nagata and Jushin Liger defeated David Finlay and Tiger Mask
Tanga Roa, Tama Tonga and Bad Luck Fale (Bullet Club) defeated Kawato, Kojima and Tenzan
Bushi, Hiromu Takahashi, Evil, and Naito (Los Ingobernables) defeated Taguchi, Kushida, Michael Elgin and Hiroshi Tanahashi
Jado, Gedo, Yano, Goto and Okada (CHAOS) defeated Taka Michinoku, El Desperado, Taichi, Kanemaru and Iizuka (Suzuki-Gun)
New Japan Cup 2017 1st round
Juice Robinson defeated Yujiro Takahashi (Bullet Club)
New Japan Cup 2017 1st round
Yoshi-Hashi (CHAOS) defeated Sanada (Los Ingobernables)
New Japan Cup 2017 1st round
Katsuyori Shibata defeated Minoru Suzuki (Suzuki-Gun)
New Japan Cup 2017 1st round
Tomohiro Ishii defeated Kenny Omega
Scheduled Quarter-Final Matchups:
Evil vs. Yuji Nagata
Bad Luck Fale vs. Toru Yano
Katsuyori Shibata vs. Juice Robinson
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Sanada