It is time for the real March Madness as we preview the New Japan Cup 2026 left bracket. It is time for the 22nd annual New Japan Cup!
The 2026 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 4th. Who will face Yota Tsuji in the Tokyo Ryogoku Sumo Hall?
Let us look at the New Japan Cup 2026 First Round match-ups on the Left Side of the Bracket. These matches will occur on March 4th and 5th. Let the New Japan Cup begin!
New Japan Cup 2026
Aaron Wolf vs. Don Fale
The opening match of the New Japan Cup has two wrestlers at different points of their careers. Aaron Wolf has had a grand total of two singles matches in his young New Japan Pro Wrestling career. In both of them, he has faced members of the House of Torture. That will not change on March 4th.
Don Fale will be his opponent in the first round. Fale is a two-time finalist of the New Japan Cup. And we know his House of Torture stablemates will be close by to interfere in the match. Will Wolf be able to overcome the odds?
The winner will face Shingo Takagi in the second round. Shingo Takagi is looking to get back to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
He hasn’t held the top prize in New Japan since 2021. Can he win his second round match on March 10? Takagi would like nothing better than a match against his Unbound Co. stablemate Yota Tsuji at Sakura Genesis.
New Japan Cup 2026
Yuya Uemura vs. Great-O-Khan
Yuya Uemura is at a bit of a crossroads. At New Beginning in Osaka, Uemura and Shota Umino lost to the Knock Out Brothers for the IWGP Tag Team Championship.
It was another heartbreaking loss for Uemura and he vowed to refocus on singles action. Can he improve on his quarterfinal performance in last year’s New Japan Cup?
Great-O-Khan is looking to finally break through in the New Japan Cup. This is his sixth appearance in the tournament and he has never gotten past the Round of 16. Is the sixth time finally the charm?
The winner of Uemura/Khan will face Drilla Moloney on March 10th. Moloney has recently re-signed with New Japan.
He has had most of his success as part of the War Dragons tag team. Can he improve on his quarterfinal performance from last year in singles action in 2026?
New Japan Cup 2026
Taichi vs. Ren Narita
This first round match-up has some history from 2025. Last year, Taichi reached the quarterfinals. He only did so because Ren Narita cost Taichi’s opponent Gabe Kidd in last year’s tournament. Taichi will be looking to reach the quarterfinals without an help from the House of Torture this year.
Ren Narita enters this year’s tournament with some momentum. He is now the leader of the House of Torture. He used the group’s underhanded tactics to win the NEVER Openweight Championship at New Beginning in Osaka. Can he make the next step in the New Japan Cup?
The winner will face Satoshi Kojima on March 12th in the second round. Kojima is a late replacement for Tomohiro Ishii. But looking past the 55 year old legend would be a bad decision for Taichi or Narita.
New Japan Cup 2026
El Phantasmo vs Boltin Oleg
El Phantasmo is coming into this tournament in disappointing fashion. He just lost the NJPW World Television Championship last Saturday night. Can he quickly rebound and be ready for quite the first round test?
His opponent will be Boltin Oleg. Oleg is coming into the New Japan Cup after winning the Strong Openweight Championship. He is now a Double Champion. Can he add a New Japan Cup to his collection?
The winner would face HENARE on March 12th. HENARE returned at Wrestle Kingdom 20 after missing a whole year of action. Whoever faces HENARE will be in for a physical second round match-up.
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