New Japan Cup 2014: Finals iPPV
Hyogo, Japan
March 23, 2014
Recap by: Jason Namako of Wrestleview.com
KUSHIDA & BUSHI vs. Captain New Japan & Sho Tanaka
Tanaka & KUSHIDA start. Clean break early by KUSHIDA. Chain wrestling with a series of reversals. Tanaka with a side headlock and a shoulder tackle. Hiptoss, but then KUSHIDA with a dropkick. KUSHIDA works over Tanaka’s arm, Tanaka reaches the ropes. BUSHI in, works over Tanaka’s arm. BUSHI gains a nearfall. KUSHIDA in, drives Tanaka’s arm across the top rope. Tanaka fights back with forearms, but KUSHIDA with a knee to the ribs. Cartwheel dropkick, but Captain breaks up the pin. KUSHIDA drives Tanaka’s arm into the mat. Hiptoss into a short-arm scissors. Tanaka tries to get free, but KUSHIDA maintains control. Tanaka lifts up KUSHIDA and slams him down to get free. Captain in, shoulder tackles and slams to both KUSHIDA & BUSHI. Captain runs into a KUSHIDA boot, but avoids a back handspring and hits a flying shoulder tackle. Captain applies the death grip, then hits BUSHI with a throat thrust. KUSHIDA with an enziguri from the apron, but Captain catches him off a springboard with an urnangi. Captain heads up top, but KUSHIDA avoids a diving headbutt. BUSHI & Tanaka in, Tanaka with a dropkick. Tanaka with a running elbow and a gutwrench suplex. Powerslam for a nearfall. Boston Crab applied, BUSHI reaches the ropes. BUSHI avoids a charge, hits a Pendelum Kick. BUSHI heads up top, hits a missile dropkick and a kip-up. Backbreaker, then BUSHI with a Boston Crab of his own. Tanaka crawls over to the ropes, but BUSHI pulls him back. Captain breaks it up, but KUSHIDA sends Captain to the outside. Tanaka fights back, hits a dropkick to KUSHIDA. BUSHI slips out of a slam, hits a Codebreaker, but Tanaka kicks out!
BUSHI heads up top, hits a Top Rope Codebreaker for the win.
Winners: KUSHIDA & BUSHI by pinfall (Top Rope Codebreaker)
8-Man Tag: Suzuki-Gun (The Killer Elite Squad (“The American Psycho” Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith Jr) TAKA & Taichi) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan, NWA World Champion Satoshi Kojima, Jushin “Thunder” Liger & Tiger Mask IV
Suzuki-Gun attacks the babyfaces to start. Taichi goes up with Liger and goes to unmask him. He almost has the mask off, but Liger gets him off. Taichi with a gut kick and removes his pants to show his tights, but Liger with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Tiger & TAKA in. Series of kicks by Tiger, but TAKA slips out of a German. Tiger with a kick, Tenzan in. Tenzan with the Mongolian Chops, followed by a spinning heel kick. Archer gets a shot in and KES knock the babyfaces off the apron. Taichi whips Tenzan into the barricade and nails him with a chair. Back in, Taichi mocks Tenzan with his own Mongolian Chops. Taichi then mocks Kojima with the machine-gun chops in the corner. Clothesline by Taichi and a running kick by TAKA. TAKA & Taichi get a visual three count and act like the match is over with. KES again knock the babyfaces off the apron. Double shoulder tackle and a legdrop/splash combo for a nearfall. Archer has words with the ref, then hits Tenzan with a short-arm clothesline. Slam for a nearfall. Another slam that drives Tenzan down so hard, it knocks TAKA off the apron. Funny. Archer with a series of right hands, but Tenzan comes back with the Mountain Slam. Kojima in, knocks the heels off the apron. Kojima avoids Archer, hits the Machine-Gun chops in the corner, ending at around 30 to 40. Running forearm in the corner, then Kojima heads up top. Archer stops him and slams Kojima off the ropes. Kojima slips out of a Chokeslam, but Archer with forearms. Kojima catches a boot, hits a DDT. Kojima removes his elbow pad, but Archer catches the Lariat with a sit-out full nelson slam. Taichi in, mocks Kojima, who hits him with an Ace Crusher. Tiger in, Tiger Driver to Taichi for a nearfall. Dropkick, then KES again knocks the babyfaces off the apron. Tiger avoids a charge, but Smith blocks a crucifix. Liger with a palm strike to take Smith down, but Suzuki-Gun breaks up the pin. Archer blocks 3D by Kojima & Tenzan, then Tiger gets out of a KES double team. Tiger goes for a crossbody, but KES catch him.
KES hit the Killer Bomb on Tiger and Smith gets the win.
Winners: Suzuki-Gun by pinfall (Killer Bomb)
6-Man Tag: CHAOS (Toru Yano, Takashi Iizuka & Jado) vs. GHC Champion Yuji Nagata, Kazushi Sakaruba & Manabu Nakanishi
Jado & Nagata start. Jado with chops and “Woooo” taunts. Nagata avoids a shot, hits a series of right hands, causing Jado to do a Flair Flop. Sakaruba in, knee strike, but Yano & Iizuka wipe out the babyfaces. Iizuka sends Sakaruba into the barricade, then into a bunch of chairs. Chairshot to the back by Iizuka to Sakaruba. Back clubs, then Sakaruba sent into the ringpost. Iizuka continues to stomp away. Sakaruba just gets in before the 20 count. Jado stomps away, tags in Yanao. Yano removes a bell hammer from his tights and nails Sakaruba with it multiple times. Sakaruba sent into an exposed corner. Iizuka in, chokes Sakaruba. Iizuka wraps a rope around Sakaruba and chokes him with it as Sakaruba is placed over the ropes. Sakaruba sent again into the exposed corner. Yano in, but Sakaruba comes back by applying a gulliotine. Jado breaks it up. Sakaruba comes back with a springboard crossbody. Nakanishi in, chops to Yano in the corner. Clothesline, then Nakanishi blocks a Yano whip and hits another clothesline. Nakanishi fires up and hits a lariat for a nearfall. Nakanishi locks Yano in the Torture Rack, then drops Yano onto Iizuka. Nagata in, series of kicks to Yano, but Yano takes him down. JADO in, series of clotheslines by CHAOS. Running kneelift by Jado, followed by a back suplex for a nearfall. Draping DDT by Jado for a nearfall. Jado fires up, but Nagata avoids a Punt Kick. Nakanishi with a Spear on Jado. Nagata with a running knee in the corner, followed by a brainbuster, but CHAOS breaks up the pin. Sakaruba wipes out Iizuka with a plancha.
Backdrop Driver by Nagata on Jado for the win.
Winners: GHC Champion Yuji Nagata, Kazushi Sakaruba & Manabu Nakanishi by pinfall (Backdrop Driver)
2014 New Japan Cup Semi-Finals: “The Underboss” Bad Luck Fale vs. Shelton “X” Benjamin
Fale got here by beating Togi Makabe & Tetsuya Naito in the first 2 rounds. Benjamin got here by beating Yujiro Takahashi & Katsuyori Shibata. Strike exchange early as both men slug it out. Fale with a knee to the ribs and a chop. Benjamin catches Fale off a charge with a superkick. Clotheslines knock Fale down to a knee, but then Fale with a clothesline of his own. Gut shots, but Benjamin fights out of a slam attempt and applies a sleeper. Fale drives Benjamin into the corner to get free, then catches him with a Samoan Drop. Fale with a running body block, followed by an avalanche in the corner. Fale goes for the Grenade, but Benjamin counters it with a DDT. Release German by Benjamin for a nearfall. Running Kneelift, then Benjamin heads up top. Fale catches him with a goozle and hits the Grenade.
Fale lifts up Benjamin, Bad Luck Fall for the win.
Winner and advancing to the Finals: “The Underboss” Bad Luck Fale by pinfall (Bad Luck Fall)
2014 New Japan Cup Semi-Finals: Minoru Suzuki w/Taichi vs. “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura
Suzuki got here by beating Toru Yano & Hirooki Goto in the first 2 rounds. Nakamura got here by beating Davey Boy Smith Jr & Prince Devitt. Feeling out process early. Nakamura with a takedown, but Suzuki goes to work on the arm. Suzuki switches to the leg of Nakamura, but Nakamura gets free. Nakamura with a leg kick and a series of forearms. Strike exchange with trash talk. Nakamura gains advantage with a Superman forearm. Suzuki goes to the apron, but Nakamura with more forearms. Suzuki then with a cross armbreaker while hanging upside down over the ropes. Nakamura sent over the barricade and into the crowd. Suzuki distracts the ref, allowing Taichi to choke Nakamura. Suzuki with a knee to the ribs and a right hand. Another knee, then Suzuki again distracts the ref, allowing Taichi to choke Nakamura with a chair. Suzuki then applies an armbar, wrapping Nakamura’s arm around the ringpost. The ref ejects Taichi, but while he does so, Suzuki with a chairshot to Nakamura’s arm while it was against the ringpost. Another chairshot to the arm, then Suzuki pulls at the arm while its inside the chair. Suzuki spits at the ref, then brings Nakamura back in. Suzuki continues to work over Nakamura’s arm, applying a double armbar. Taichi comes back to ringside as Suzuki with more shots to Nakamura’s arm. Another double armbar applied by Suzuki, then switches to a Fujiwara armbar. Nakamura reaches the ropes. Suzuki with stomps to the arm. Nakamura fights back, but Suzuki with a chest kick. Another chest kick, then Suzuki taunts the crowd. Nakamura comes back with a knee to the ribs. Suzuki avoids one head kick, but does not avoid the second. Nakamura avoids a boot and hits a flying kick for a nearfall. Knees to the ribs, but Suzuki blocks the reverse powerslam. Suzuki takes down Nakamura and applies a Kimura, but Nakamura reaches the ropes. Suzuki re-applies the Kimura and rolls Nakamura around the ring while in the hold. Nakamura is somehow able to reach the ropes to force a break. Series of kicks to the arm by Suzuki. Choke applied, but Nakamura gets free. Nakamura places Suzuki across the ropes and hits a running knee to the ribs. Taichi knocked off the apron, but Suzuki catches a Nakamura charge and re-applies the Choke. Suzuki takes down Nakamura and goes back to the Fujiwara armbar, but Nakamura again reaches the ropes. Ref asks Nakamura if he can continue, but Suzuki with another kick to the arm. Suzuki goes back to the arm, but Nakamura rolls through and hits a knee strike. Boma-Ye, but Suzuki kicks out!
2nd Boma-Ye!!! 1-2-3!!
Winner and advancing to the Finals: “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall (Boma-Ye)
Intermission
Hirooki Goto & “The Mad Dog” Katsuyori Shibata vs. YOSHI-HASHI & “Mr. Rated R” Yujiro Takahashi
Shibata & Yujiro start. Yujiro with a quick lariat. Yujiro with clubs and forearms, but Shibata fires back. Strike exchange with Shibata gaining advantage. Side headlock applied. Yujiro tries for a whip, but Shibata holds on. Big overhand chop sends Yujiro to the outside. Yujiro goes over to a female fan, but Shibata grabs him and gets him back in. Yoshi knocks Goto off the apron, but Shibata sends him into the corner. Goto in as Yoshi goes to the outside. Yoshi hits Goto with his walking stick, then sends him into the barricade. The two brawl on the outside while Yujiro with a dropkick to Shibata, sending him into the barricade. Yujiro stomps away at Shibata while Yoshi gets Goto back in. Yoshi with a boot, followed by draping Goto across the ropes. Sliding dropkick for a nearfall. Goto sent into Yujiro’s boot, Yujiro tags in. Yujiro talks trash, but Goto fights back with chops. Yujiro comes back with a back elbow. Goto goes off Yujiro’s blind side and hits a lariat. Shibata in, knocks Yujiro off the apron with a running boot. Hesitation dropkick in the corner on Yujiro by Shibata. Butterfly suplex for a nearfall. Another strike exchange, then Yujiro with a boot, but Shibata with a kitchen sink. Figure Four applied, but Yujiro with slaps. Shibata with a big slap, but Yoshi breaks it up. Shibata sends Yoshi to the outside. Series of chest kick to Yujiro. Yujiro catches another kick and hits a Fisherman’s Buster. Olympic Slam, but Shibata pops up! Shibata with a backdrop driver, but YUJIRO POPS UP and hits a Lariat!! Goto & Yoshi in, Goto with a Lariat. Series of chest kicks, followed by a spinning heel kick in the corner. Back suplex for a nearfall. Yoshi blocks a German with elbows, then slips out of a Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker and hits an Edge-O-Matic. Clothesline by Yoshi, running boot by Yujiro. Blockbuster by Yoshi for a nearfall. Goto blocks a powerbomb, then they have a strike exchange. Yoshi blocks a discus lariart, but Goto with a headbutt. Yoshi comes back with a lariat, powerbomb with a bridge, but Shibata breaks it up. Yujiro sends Shibata to the outside. Yoshi with a front slam, then heads up top, but Shibata stops him. Double Fireman’s Carry Neckbreaker by Shibata & Goto. Goto sends Yujiro to the outside.
Shibata hits Goto’s Shouten Kai, then Goto hits Shibata’s PK to get the win.
Winners: Hirooki Goto & “The Mad Dog” Katsuyori Shibata by pinfall (PK)
8-Man Tag: The Bullet Club (“The Real Rock & Rolla” Prince Devitt, IWGP Tag Champions “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson, Doc Gallows & Tama Tonga) vs. IWGP Intercontinental Champion “The Ace of the Universe” Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma & “The Unchained Gorilla” Togi Makabe
Bullet Club attacks as the bell sounds. Tonga sends Tanahashi into the barricade. Taguchi with a double springboard back elbow to Anderson & Devitt. Honma with chops to Anderson. Running forearm and a bulldog, but Anderson avoids a falling headbutt. Anderson stomps away at Honma. Pump kick to the ribs as Gallows chokes Makabe with his own chain. Devitt in, slingshot stomp to Honma for a nearfall. Tonga in, Honma fights back, but Tonga stomps away. Tonga gains a nearfall. Tonga chokes Honma, Gallows tags in. Gallows with a series of gut shots, followed by a throat thrust. Suplex and an elbow drop for a nearfall. Boot and another throat thrust. Devitt in, big chop to Honma. Running chop for a nearfall. Honma blocks a suplex and hits a delayed suplex. Taguchi in, series of kicks to Devitt. Taguchi avoids a charge, hits a dropkick. Guns & Gallows come in, Taguchi hits them with a double DDT. Taguchi rolls through a Devitt sunset flip, hits a basement dropkick. Devitt catches a kick, but Taguchi with an enziguri. Makabe & Gallows in. Both go for clotheslines, no one goes down. Makabe then with a lariat. 10 punches in the corner, but Gallows with a boot. Gallows Pole and he tells Makabe off. Anderson in, series of uppercuts and talks trash. Anderson avoids a clothesline, but Makabe with a left-arm lariat. Tanahashi in, series of forearms to Anderson. Flying forearm and a Dragon Screw. Anderson comes back with a dropkick. Tonga in, but Tanahashi avoids a charge. Devitt gets a shot in from the apron and Tonga with a headbutt. Gallows with an avalanche and Tonga with a Stinger Splash to Tanahashi, but the babyfaces breaks up the pin. Everyone brawls to the outside, leaving Tonga & Tanahashi. Tonga with a fireman’s carry flapjack for a nearfall. Tonga goes for a Double Arm DDT, but Honma breaks it up. Devitt takes care of him, but Taguchi with a missile dropkick to Devitt. Anderson hits Taguchi with a Gun-Stun. Makabe wipes out Guns & Gallows with a double clothesline. Tanahashi with the Slingblade to Anderson. Honma heads up top, but Tonga avoids the diving headbutt.
Tanahashi heads up top, High Fly Flow!!!! 1-2-3!!!
Winners: IWGP Intercontinental Champion “The Ace of the Universe” Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ryusuke Taguchi, Tomoaki Honma & “The Unchained Gorilla” Togi Makabe by pinfall (High Fly Flow)
Taguchi & Devitt get into it afterwards until the Bullet Club leaves.
6-Man Tag: “The Stardust Genius” Tetsuya Naito, IWGP Jr. Champion “The Golden Star” Kota Ibushi & El Desperado vs. IWGP Champion “The Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada, NEVER Champion “The Stone Pitbull” Tomohiro Ishii & Gedo
Ishii wants Naito to start. Series of forearms by Ishii, then they exchange strikes, slugging it out. Ishii gains advantage, but Naito with a shoulder tackle. Naito with forearms, but Ishii with a shoulder tackle. Naito with a dropkick, Desperado tags in. Ishii goes right back after Naito and they exchange again until Desperado & Gedo pull them back. Desperado takes down Gedo and sidesteps a backdrop. Victory roll into a Kondo Clutch, but Okada breaks it up. Everyone goes to the outside, then Ibushi & Desperafo with a series of kicks on Gedo for a nearfall. Gedo gets out of Guitarra de Angel and Okada with a boot. Okada sends Ibushi into the barricade and they begin brawling on the outside, along with Naito & Ishii. Desperado gets back in, but Gedo sends him into Okada’s boot. Okada in, running hip attack in the corner. Front slam and a Senton Atomico. Okada poses by standing on Desperado. Ishii in, Desperado with forearms, but they have no effect on Ishii and he hits a big one. Naito knocked off the apron by Ishii. Ishii with a series of chops, Gedo tags in. Snapmare and a basement superkick. Gedo kicks at Desperado, but Desperado fights back. Gedo with a throat thrust and a right hand. Snapmare, chinlock applied. Crowd wills on Desperado. Desperado fights out, but Gedo with a savate kick and an inverted atomic drop. Desperado comes back with a Power Driver. Ibushi & Okada in, Ibushi with a springboard dropkick. Series of kicks, followed by a standing shooting star press for a nearfall. Okada fights out of a suplex, but Ibushi avoids a boot and hits a German for a nearfall. Okada counters a Last Ride with an Emerald Frosion across the knee. Slam, Okada heads up top. Top Rope Elbow Drop, then Okada calls for the Rainmaker. Okada goes for it, but Ibushi counters it with a kick. Okada with a dropkick, Ishii tags in. Ibushi avoids a lariat, hits a Pele. Naito in, neckbreaker across the knee, followed by a sliding dropkick. Slingshot dropkick, followed by a running senton for a nearfall. Another strike exchange, more trash talk. Ishii gains advantage, but Naito with a Tornado DDT. Naito heads up top, but Okada stops him with a dropkick. Ishii goes up with Naito, delayed superplex, but Naito kicks out!! Ishii blocks an exploder, but Naito with a flying forearm. Naito goes up top with Ishii and hits a Super Rana, but Gedo breaks up the pin. Desperado avoids Gedo, sending him to the outside, as does Ibushi to Okada. Desperado wipes out Gedo with a tope con hijo, then Ibushi wipes out Okada with a Top Rope Moonsault! Ishii with a headbutt and a big lariat to Naito, but Naito kicks out again!! Naito gets out of the brainbuster twice and hits two enziguris. German, but now its Ishii who kicks out!! Naito hits the Gloria and heads up top.
Stardust Press for the win.
Winners: “The Stardust Genius” Tetsuya Naito, IWGP Jr. Champion “The Golden Star” Kota Ibushi & El Desperado by pinfall (Stardust Press)
Main Event in the Finals of the 2014 New Japan Cup (winner receives either an IWGP World Title or Intercontinental Title shot of their choosing): “The Underboss” Bad Luck Fale w/the Bullet Club vs. “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura
Nakamura comes out favoring his arm that was injured by Suzuki in the semis. Nakamura goes to work on Fale’s arm early, but Fale slams him down, then hits a shoulder tackle. Nakamura with a series of leg kicks, but Fale catches one and dumps Nakamura to the outside. The Bullet Club then attack Nakamura on the outside while Fale distracts the ref. Back in, Fale with a series of back clubs and gut shots. Big forearm knocks down Nakamura. Fale stands on his back in the ropes. Fale lifts up Nakamura and throws him into the corner, then chokes him with his boot. Fale taunts the crowd, but Nakamura fights back. Fale shoves him back into the corner and unloads with a series of forearms. Slam, but Nakamura avoids a splash. Series of chest kicks, but Anderson grabs Nakamura on the apron. Nakamura avoids a charge and Fale knocks Anderson off the apron. Nakamura with a running dropkick and an enziguri. Series of knee strikes, followed by a facewash. Nakamura places Fale across the ropes and hits a series of running knees to the ribs for a nearfall. More knee strikes by Nakamura, followed by a back heel kick. Series of knee strikes to the head from the ground by Nakamura. Front chancery applied, then Nakamura counters a suplex attempt with a backstabber. Chinlock applied. Fale tries to get to his feet, but Nakamura takes him back down and also applies a body scissors. Fale gets to his feet and gets free by dropping backward and landing on top of Nakamura. Nakamura sent to the outside where the Bullet Club again attacks while the ref is with Fale. The ref sees this and ejects the Bullet Club from ringside! Nakamura crawls back in, where Fale greets him with a delayed suplex and a big splash for a nearfall. Samoan Drop for a nearfall. Fale heads up top, but Nakamura avoids a Top Rope Splash! BOMA-YE, but Nakamura is too hurt to make a cover. Nakamura with a series of forearms, followed by a Superman version and a head kick. Nakamura goes for Boma-Ye, but Fale goozles him. Fale goes for the Grenade, but Nakamura counters with a flying armbar. Nakamura is bleeding badly from the around the eye and nose area as Fale gets to his feet. Fale lifts up Nakamura and powerbombs him to get free. Fale with an avalanche and a big lariat, but Nakamura kicks out!!! Fale hits the Grenade, but NAKAMURA KICKS OUT AGAIN!! Fale goes for the Bad Luck Fall, but Nakamura counters with a rana! Another BOMA-YE, but again cannot make a cover!!! Nakamura with a kick, then hits two middle rope BOMA-YE’s!!
Another BOMA-YE!! 1-2-3!!!
Winner of the 2014 New Japan Cup: “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura by pinfall (3 Boma-Ye’s)
Nakamura is presented with the Cup and the 5 million yen check afterwards. He grabs a mic and makes his decision. Nakamura will challenge for the IWGP Intercontinental Title at Invasion Attack in his third meeting with Hiroshi Tanahashi. Which means Bad Luck Fale, as the runner-up, will challenge Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Title.
Thanks for reading, folks, have a good one!