New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day One
It is time for the true March Madness. It is time for the annual New Japan Cup!
The 2022 tournament is literally the biggest one yet. This year’s tournament is a loaded field with a record 48 competitors. They will be facing each other in single-elimination tournament action over the course of 25 grueling days. At the upcoming Hyper Battle, the New Japan Cup winner will get a title shot against Kazuchika Okada and his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Let us look at the New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day One match-up. These matches will occur on March 2nd. So let the New Japan Cup begin!
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day One
CIMA vs. TAKA Michinoku
It is a battle between two veterans in the opening match of New Japan Cup 2022. The former Dragon Gate veteran, CIMA, shocked New Japan fans with his arrival in the New Japan Ranbo at Wrestle Kingdom. He made it to the final four of that match. What will he do for an encore in his first-ever New Japan Cup?
His opponent is TAKA Michinoku. After a two-year absence, he returned to New Japan to be in the World Tag League 2021. The 48-year-old veteran is a loyal member of Suzuki-Gun and more than willing to cheat to advance in the New Japan Cup. A second-round match-up with the dangerous YOSHINOBU KANEMARU is a “reward” for the winner of this exciting opening match.
Tomoaki Honma vs. YOSHI-HASHI
The 45-year-old Tomoaki Honma fought a grueling singles match against Great-O-Khan on the February 19th New Year’s Golden Series show. He lost the day but did it motivate Honma for a run in the 2022 New Japan Cup? In his 10th New Japan Cup appearance, he certainly has experience.
YOSHI-HASHI will be Honma’s first-round opponent. YOSHI-HASHI had a successful 2021 helping hold the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship in a record-breaking reign. They lost that title, but he won the IWGP World Tag Team Championship at this year’s Wrestle Kingdom. Can YOSHI-HASHI continue his hot streak against Tomoaki Honma? A second-round match against the Young Lion Kosei Fujita awaits the winner on Wednesday night.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day One
Hirooki Goto vs. Yuji Nagata
It is a battle of two of the most decorated New Japan Cup competitors in history in this colossal match-up. Hirooki Goto is the only three-time winner of the New Japan Cup. But he hasn’t won the Cup since 2012. He has recently won the IWGP World Tag Team Championship? Can he continue his momentum on Wednesday night?
Yuji Nagata is a two-time winner of the New Japan Cup himself. But he has never defeated Goto in three tries in this tournament. Can the legendary 53-year-old break that streak in 2022? If he can, a match with Dick Togo awaits in the next round.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day One
Togi Makabe vs. Jeff Cobb
It should be one of the most brutal hitting matches of the entire tournament. Togi Makabe is entering his 14th New Japan Cup and his first Cup in two years. He is a two-time finalist of the New Japan Cup as well. But at 49 years old, can Togi Makabe make one more run in this grueling tournament?
Jeff Cobb has to be one of the favorites of this year’s tournament. In last year’s G1 Climax, he won eight matches in the B Block, falling just short of the finals. He has proven he can succeed in tournament action, but can he get off to a good start in 2022? The winner of this grueling match will get the legendary Satoshi Kojima in the second round.
Toru Yano vs. Taichi
Toru Yano is coming into the tournament with a lot of momentum. He recently regained his precious KOPW trophy over Minoru Suzuki in a Dog Cage Match. Can the trickster of New Japan steal some victories in his 17th New Japan Cup?
Taichi is coming into this tournament in a far different place. He recently lost the IWGP World Tag Team Championship at Wrestle Kingdom. Can he get his momentum back at the New Japan Cup? Because of an injury to Hiroyoshi Tenzan, the winner of this match will get a bye to the third round. The stakes are high for Yano and Taichi.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day One
Hiroshi Tanahashi vs YOH
Hiroshi Tanahashi is coming off a heartbreaking loss. He lost the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship to SANADA on a recent New Japan show. Can “The Ace” win a third New Japan Cup and get back on track for 2022?
His opponent is former tag team specialist YOH. YOH seemed to have moved on from his feud with SHO. Can YOH pull off the most significant victory of his career against one of the all-time greats in New Japan? A second-round match with the dangerous Bad Luck Fale awaits if he does.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day One
Tetsuya Naito vs Yujiro Takahashi
Tetsuya Naito is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Can he get back on track in a hurry in the grueling New Japan Cup? If he is going to, he will have to defeat a long-time rival he has a huge losing streak against.
Yujiro Takahashi has an 18-3 singles record against Naito. A lot of those losses date alt the way back into the mid-2000s. Can Yujiro strike once again and pull off the shocking upset? If he does, Gedo awaits the winner in the second round.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day One
Kazuchika Okada vs El Desperado
The main event of Night One is a huge one. Usually, the traditional main event of the NJPW Anniversary Show is the Heavyweight Champion versus the Junior Heavyweight Champion. That match will occur in the first round of the New Japan Cup instead. It is Okada versus El Desperado, and the stakes couldn’t be any higher.
“The Rainmaker” is hoping to win the New Japan Cup and be able to pick his opponent for the upcoming Hyper Battle show. El Desperado fought the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion on last year’s Anniversary show. He lost on that day. Can he redeem himself in the first round of the New Japan Cup 2022? If he does, he will get a match with Master Wato in the second round as a reward.
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