It is time for the true March Madness with New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day Two and Three. 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. In addition, the New Japan Cup winner will get a title shot against Kazuchika Okada and his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at the upcoming Hyper Battle. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
These matches will occur on March 6th and 7th. Sadly, Kota Ibushi can not compete in the New Japan Cup despite originally being put into the tournament. Instead, Great-O-Khan will get a bye to the second round against Taiji Ishimori. Next, let us look at the rest of the New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day Two & Three match-ups.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day Two and Three
Yuto Nakashima vs. Aaron Henare
Yuto Nakashima, one of the three Young Lions in the tournament, will be competing in his first-ever New Japan Cup. Nakashima made his New Japan debut in February of 2021 when he suffered an elbow injury within the first minute of the match. It took him eight months to finally return to New Japan. In his biggest match to date, can Nakashima pull off a huge upset?
His opponent is Aaron Henare. Henare lost in the New Japan Cup first round in 2021 to Jay White. It wasn’t too long after that loss when Henare joined the United Empire. But an injury also derailed Henare for most of 2021. This first-round match has two competitors with a lot to prove. Can Henare’s experience prove to be the key on Sunday night? A second-round match-up with one of the favorites, SANADA, is the prize for the winner of Nakashima-Henare.
Ryohei Oiwa vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
Ryohei Oiwa made his debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling in August of 2021. He hasn’t had a lot of success but has to be excited to have a chance in the New Japan Cup after less than a year in the company. Sadly for Oiwa, his first-round opponent is Zack Sabre Jr.
Zack Sabre Jr. won the New Japan Cup in 2018. He will be looking to begin a run in the New Japan Cup yet again. It seems likely that the poor Young Lion will have to deal with a lot of painful submissions on Sunday night. A second-round match against the dangerous DOUKI awaits the winner.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day Two and Three
BUSHI vs. Will Ospreay
It is time for Will Ospreay to defend his New Japan Cup title. He turned his New Japan Cup crown into a victory for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship soon after. What can the leader of the United Empire do in 2022?
His first-round opponent is BUSHI. BUSHI is always a dangerous force in the Best of Super Juniors. But can he pull off a huge upset in the New Japan Cup? If he can, a match with El Phantasmo awaits in the next round.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day Two and Three Chase Owens vs. Jado
The Bullet Club Drama makes its way to the New Japan Cup in this interesting first-round match-up. Jay White double-crossed Guerrillas of Destiny at IMPACT’s No Surrender. Where does Chase Owens’ loyalties lie heading into the New Japan Cup?
Jado certainly isn’t above cheating his way to a surprise victory over even members of his own stable. It will be interesting if this first-round match-up increases the Bullet Club issues on Monday night. Regardless, a second-round match with Tiger Mask is the prize for the winner of this emotional match-up.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day Two and Three Ryusuke Taguchi vs. EVIL
EVIL won the 2020 New Japan Cup. He was a semifinalist in 2021. Can EVIL use that experience to begin another huge run in the 2022 New Japan Cup?
He will be facing the 42-year-old veteran Ryusuke Taguchi in this interesting first-round match-up. The Coach is one of the smarter competitors in all of New Japan. Can he use his knowledge to pull off a huge upset? The stakes are a date against the very angry Tama Tonga in a huge second-round match.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day Two and Three Hiromu Takahashi vs. SHO
Hiromu Takahashi has some unfinished business with his first-round opponent, SHO. Takahashi was cheated out of a victory against SHO in last year’s Best of Super Juniors. When SHO was eliminated from the tournament, he tried to ruin the Best of Super Juniors Final between Takahashi and YOH as well. It is time for the “Time Bomb” to get some revenge.
SHO is not above using underhanded tactics to pull off the upset. He will use members of the House of Torture to try to beat his rival. The “reward” for winning this personal match is a second-round battle with Minoru Suzuki.
New Japan Cup 2022 First Round Day Two and Three
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Shingo Takagi
The main event of Night Three is a huge one. Ishii and Takagi had a memorable brawl to open last year’s G1 Climax. It was one of the most physical battles in all of professional wrestling. What can they do for an encore in 2022?
Takagi is looking to regain his momentum after losing his IWGP Heavyweight Championship at this year’s Wrestle Kingdom. He certainly is given no favors to open the 2022 New Japan Cup against the “Stone Pitbull.” Whoever survives this war will get a second-round match against the dangerous Tanga Loa.
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