It is time for the true March Madness as we preview New Japan Cup 2025. It is time for the annual New Japan Cup!
The 2025 tournament has the makings of a fun one. This year’s tournament is a loaded field with 24 of the best in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
They will be facing each other in single-elimination tournament action over the course of two grueling weeks. The New Japan Cup winner will get a title shot for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on April 5th. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Let’s look at the New Japan Cup 2025 first-round match-ups. These matches will occur on March 7th, 8th, and 9th. Let the New Japan Cup begin!
New Japan Cup 2025
Yota Tsuji vs. EVIL
The opening match of the New Japan Cup is a big one. Yota Tsuji defeated EVIL in last year’s semifinals on his way to winning the 2024 New Japan Cup.
EVIL, who made his shocking return at The New Beginning in Osaka, will certainly be out for revenge. Will he bring other members of the House of Torture with him? Knowing that group, it seems quite likely.
The winner will face David Finlay in the second round. Finlay has an issue with both competitors. Finlay lost his IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship to Tsuji at Wrestle Kingdom 19 on January 4th.
And EVIL claimed at New Beginning that Finlay’s War Dogs “no longer belong” in Bullet Club. It seems we will have fireworks whomever faces Finlay on March 11th.
New Japan Cup 2025
Yuya Uemura vs. SANADA
Yuya Uemura was doing quite well in the 2024 G1 Climax. That is until he got injured with just one match to go in B Block. He was out of action for nearly six months.
He made his return at New Beginning in Osaka to save Just 4 Guys stablemate Taichi from an attack from former member SANADA. And of course, SANADA will face off with Yuya Uemura on the first night of the New Japan Cup.
The winner of Uemura/SANADA will face YOSHI-HASHI on March 11th. YOSHI-HASHI has unfinished business with SANADA having lost to him in the second round of the New Japan Cup just last year. Will he get a shot at revenge in 2025?
New Japan Cup 2025
Ryohei Oiwa vs. Chase Owens
Ryohei Oiwa is waiting for his breakthrough. Since rejoining New Japan Pro Wrestling and the TMDK stable in September, Oiwa has had multiple title opportunities but has come up empty every time.
Can he get that big breakthrough against the veteran Chase Owens? The time is certainly now for Oiwa if he is going to be a big star in NJPW.
If Oiwa wins, he will face his TMDK stablemate Zack Sabre Jr. on March 11th in the second round. Sabre Jr. is likely in a foul mood after losing the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at New Beginning in Osaka. Will he get the chance to take his anger out against Oiwa?
New Japan Cup 2025
Gabe Kidd vs Ren Narita
Ren Narita might be in some serious trouble. At New Beginning in Osaka, Narita hit a Double Cross on Gabe Kidd.
Kidd was furious backstage as he helped Narita during excursion to the United States only to be betrayed by Narita and the rest of House of Torture.
Gabe Kidd gets his hands on Narita in the first round of the New Japan Cup. It might be quite the brawl on March 8th. Can Narita possibly survive the match and advance to the second round?
The winner would face Taichi on March 12th. Taichi has been in quite the slump recently. He hasn’t won a match in 2025. Can he get back on track in the New Japan Cup?
New Japan Cup 2025
El Phantasmo vs. Great-O-Khan
El Phantasmo is certainly riding high. He won the NJPW Television Title at Wrestle Kingdom 19 and has defended it twice against Jeff Cobb in recent months.
He will even attempt to defend his title just three days before his opening New Japan Cup match-up. Will El Phantasmo’s momentum carry him in this single-elimination tournament?
He will face Great-O-Khan in the first round. Great-O-Khan won his big singles match at New Beginning in Osaka.
And he even defeated El Phantasmo multiple times in 6-Man Tag Team action in recent weeks. Can Great-O-Khan carry that to a deep tournament run?
The winner of this match will face Shota Umino on March 12th. Umino is having a rough 2025. He lost in the main event at Wrestle Kingdom 19.
And at New Beginning in Osaka, he lost to Great-O-Khan in a Hair vs. Hair match. He even shaved his own head post-match. Can he begin to turn it around in the New Japan Cup?
New Japan Cup 2025
Tetsuya Naito vs. Callum Newman
Testuya Naito’s 2025 is off to a promising start. He defeated long-time friend Hiromu Takahashi at Wrestle Kingdom 19.
Then, the two worked together to win the IWGP Tag Team Championships at New Beginning in Osaka. Can Naito ride this wave of momentum to another New Japan Cup win like he did in 2016?
He will be facing Callum Newman who will be in his 2nd New Japan Cup. Newman hasn’t wrestled since getting injured in World Tag League in early December. Can he possibly be ready for a challenge like the legendary Naito?
The winner gets a rested Jeff Cobb on March 14th. Will Cobb face Naito, who ended his most successful New Japan Cup in 2022?
Or will Cobb get a chance against his fellow United Empire member Callum Newman. There are certainly some interesting story possibilities.
New Japan Cup 2025
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Drilla Moloney
It is the ultimate battle of the seasoned veteran versus the newcomer in this interesting first round match-up. Tomohiro Ishii is entering his 17th New Japan Cup.
He came so close to becoming a Double Champion at Wrestle Dynasty. Can Ishii carry that momentum into the New Japan Cup?
Drilla Moloney will be in his first ever New Japan Cup. Drilla is certainly in a good place as he defeated Shingo Takagi at New Beginning in Osaka. Can he carry the momentum into another huge victory on March 9th?
The winner gets TJP in the second round. TJP has fought neither of these competitors in the singles action. But TJP has fought Moloney in tag team action. It will be an interesting second round match regardless of the outcome on March 9th.
New Japan Cup 2025
Boltin Oleg vs. Bad Luck Fale
It is certainly a battle of giants in the final first round match-up. Boltin Oleg had an impressive G1 Climax in 2024 and has come so close to singles gold in the past few months. Can he go on a run in the 2025 New Japan Cup?
He will face Bad Luck Fale in the first round. Fale has not wrestled in Japan since October 2024. But Fale was a New Japan Cup finalist in 2014 and 2017. It would be best to not dismiss him here.
The winner faces Shingo Takagi on March 14. After some recent losses, Takagi will certainly be motivated to turn around his 2025. It should all lead to another fun New Japan Cup.
