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Csonka’s NJPW New Japan Cup Finals Review

March 15, 2015 | Posted by Larry Csonka
7.6
The 411 Rating
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Csonka’s NJPW New Japan Cup Finals Review  

Introduction
As a reminder, this will not be another traditional recap, but instead it will be a mash up of the Rs, Instant Analysis and my usual Twitter ramblings I would do during the shows; completely uncensored and as the ideas flow unfiltered to the old keyboard. Remember, this is a review; and I am here to review the show. As always, I encourage discussion and even disagreement, just do so in a respectful manner. I will be doing the review for Raw and most PPVs and iPPVs going forward.

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NJPW New Japan Cup Finals 3.15.15

OFFICIAL RESULTS
~ Mascara Dorada, Tiger Mask IV & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Jay White, KUSHIDA & Jushin Thunder Liger [***]
~ Yohei Komatsu & Satoshi Kojima defeated Sho Tanaka & Yuji Nagata [**½]
~ New Japan Cup Semifinal Match: Hirooki Goto defeated Togi Makabe [**¾]
~ New Japan Cup Semifinal Match: Kota Ibushi defeated Tetsuya Naito [****]
~ Tomoaki Honma & Katsuyori Shibata defeated Cody Hall & Tama Tonga [***¼]
~ Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Captain New Japan [**½]
~ Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke’s Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Bad Luck Fale, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson & Yujiro Takahashi [***]
~ New Japan Cup Final: Kota Ibushi defeated Hirooki Goto [***½]


Mascara Dorada, Tiger Mask IV & Ryusuke Taguchi defeated Jay White, KUSHIDA & Jushin Thunder Liger: This was a fun opening match from the juniors, just the kind of match that I like to open the show. It had good action, but wasn’t completely balls to the wall to set the bar too high for the rest of the show. KUSHIDA hit a sweet dive, and when left with young Jay White, finished him off with the Michinoku Driver. I continue to enjoy Jay White’s work, and while it isn’t obvious to some, he’s been featured well in these opening matches. With the juniors needing fresh faces in the mix, this is a good thing. This was a nice way to kick off the show.

Yohei Komatsu & Satoshi Kojima defeated Sho Tanaka & Yuji Nagata: The second match was a step down from the opener, it wasn’t bad in any way, but it was largely forgettable. This was another match that had named involved, but had more focus on the “Young Lions,” which I appreciate. Komatsu got the half crab to make Tanaka tap out. The action was solid, and I liked the result overall, it just lacked the sizzle of the opener.

Semifinal Match: Hirooki Goto defeated Togi Makabe: The first semifinal match featured Hirooki Goto defeating Togi Makabe in a solid, but unspectacular match. The match was enjoyable, but it had the feeling that they were holding back. This happens in tournament format shows sometimes. These two have had better matches, and while not bad, like the second match, lacked some of the enthusiasm of the opening match. Goto won with the Goto Shiki pin, and moves on to our main event for the cup.

Semifinal Match: Kota Ibushi defeated Tetsuya Naito: While the first semifinal match felt as if they were holding back, this felt the complete opposite. They just worked a balls to the wall, back and forth match that was a joy to sit through. Naito was particularly brutal at times, spiking Ibushi on a RANA and a jig and tonic variation for some great near falls. They did a good job of pulling me in and doubting the winner down the stretch, and this felt like the first big time match on the show. Ibushi won with the sit out last ride in a damn fine outing, which ended up being the best thing on the show. He moves onto the main event for the cup.

Tomoaki Honma & Katsuyori Shibata defeated Cody Hall & Tama Tonga: I had no real hopes for this match, because when I see “Cody Hall & Tama Tonga” I thing nWo B-TEAM to the extreme. But much too much surprise, this was damn entertaining. Hall and Tonga were perfectly fine, they worked hard and I felt that Shibata and particularly Honma brought the goods here. They ran wild early, until Honma accidentally clotheslined Shibata, allowing the heels to get the heat. Shibata and Honma would make their comeback, and after Shibata took out Hall with the penalty kick, HONMA WON WITH THE KOKESHI ON TONGA! BAH GAWD DO YOU BELIVE IN MIRACLES? That was way more fun that I ever thought it would be. Not that this was great, but I really love when a match completely exceeds my expectations.

Toru Yano & Kazushi Sakuraba defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi & Captain New Japan: Sakuraba and Tanahashi chain wrestled early, which was fun. The good Captain wanted some, and then got thoroughly owned by Sakuraba, which was solid fun in a different way. Overall the match was fine, with the heat on Captain, Tanahashi getting the hot tag but Yano scoring the cradle following a kick from Sakuraba to pin Tanahashi and set up another singles match. With the wins Yano has scored recently, they should be able to build to some great teases in their upcoming singles match. This was fine overall.

Kazuchika Okada, Shinsuke’s Nakamura, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI defeated Bad Luck Fale, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson & Yujiro Takahashi: In many ways this was your typical Bullet Club multi-man match, they had some good heat, good opponents and overall this was another good match. The real story and development was between Okada and Fale, to set up another singles match between the two where Okada presumably gets back on track. The finish saw Nakamura hit the boma ye on Fale, which allowed Okada to hit the rainmaker to score the win. I liked the finish on two fronts; one it protects Fale as it took two finishes to beat him and two, while Okada got the win and a small measure of revenge he needed help to defeat the man who has had his number recently.

New Japan Cup Final: Kota Ibushi defeated Hirooki Goto: Kota Ibushi defeated Hirooki Goto in the finals to win the 2015 New Japan Cup. Overall the match was good, but lacked that big time New Japan main event feel to it. They worked a good match, and I especially liked Ibushi getting a near fall on the last ride, since he had just won with that earlier in the evening. Ibushi finally won with the Phoenix splash to secure the match and the 2015 New Japan Cup. Post match he announced that he would challenge AJ Styles for the IWGP Title at Invasion Attack, which got a good reaction from the crowd. I was personally hoping for more, not that this was bad in any way, but NJPW has set an expectation for their main events and this just didn’t hit that special gear that those matches attain.

* End scene.

* Thanks for reading.

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“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”

7.6
The final score: review Good
The 411
Overall this was a strong event, with Ibushi scoring the big win and announcing his intentions to challenge AJ Styles at Invasion Attack. We also had good work to set up the Tanahashi vs. Yano and Fale vs. Okada rematches, on top of the good wrestling on the card. There is nothing ground breaking on the show, and no match of the year candidates, but the show is very enjoyable and an easy watch. New Japan keeps putting on consistently good events with a clear direction, which I appreciate.
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