New Japan Pro Wrestling: New Japan Cup Finals Report – March 15, 2015

New Japan Pro Wrestling: New Japan Cup Finals
March 15, 2015 – Sun Plaza Hall, Hiroshima, Japan

And then there were four.

From Hiroshima via NJPW World (via tape delay), it’s the 2015 New Japan Cup Finals! Lest we forget, a title shot for the Heavyweight title of the winners choice is at stake for the winner, and with four men left the pressure is truly on as a career-making chance at the precipice in sight. In one semi, former IWGP Heavyweight Champ and former NEVER Openweight Champ Togi Makabe vs Three-time NJC winner Hirooki Goto will square off in what promises to be a stiff showcase of strong-style at its best. On the other half of the bracket, the high-flying Golden Star Kota Ibushi will face 2013 G1 Climax winner Tetsuya Naito in a match which carries big expectations. Who will have the fortitude to win twice tonight? Who will capture the New Japan Cup 2015? A winner will be crowned… tonight!

PWMania will be providing comprehensive NJPW coverage, so for those who haven’t or can’t subscribe to NJPW World, PWMania has you covered. Now onto the show:

(note: all match ratings out of *****)

The introduction video hypes all four finalists in the NJC, starting with highlights of Goto’s three previous Cup wins. Makabe’s reel was out next, highlighting him as the man who never lost the NEVER Openweight title (Makabe was stripped of the title due to illness). Kota Ibushi was next, then finally Tetsuya Naito, highlighting his past G1 success and his road past the Bullet Club in this current NJC.

(Kean Note: Good buildup video after lackluster efforts in the past two events. With the culmination of the NJC, NJPW is finally aiming to get out of first gear in 2015 and set every spring feud that would presumably run from now until May/BOSJ in June)

 

The event kicks off with the routine multi-man tag. Dorada, Taguchi, and Tiger come out to Tiger’s music. Dorada has a new mask which lets his hair out. The announcers play up Tigers challenge for the NWA Junior Heavyweight Championship, currently held by his old comrade Liger.

Ligers team comes out next to his music.

Match 1: Mascara Dorada/Ryusuke Taguchi/Tiger Mask vs KUSHIDA/Jushin Liger/Jay White

Liger and Tiger start the match and the crowd is already hot. The crowd chants ‘Liger!” as the two lock up and start chain wrestling. After the customary draw, White and Dorada tag in. White gets a shoulder block which Dorada sells with a flip, then White gets a dropkick and seemingly surprises Dorada with his tenacity. The two tag out and now Taguchi and KUSHIDA are in. KUSHIDA goes for an armdrag but Taguchi fakes out of it and hits KUSHIDA with his jumping butt attack. KUSHIDA comes back with an armbar attempt, which Taguchi has to use the ropes to break. KUSHIDA gets up and mocks Taguchi’s signature hip gyration taunt. KUSHIDA tags in Liger, who then puts Taguchi in a surfboard.

Liger continues to work over Taguchi and then tags in White. White focuses on Taguchi’s left arm before tagging KUSHIDA back in. KUSHIDA with a cartwheel into a dropkick for a two-count. Rapid tag brings Liger back in, but Taguchi counters him with a pair of butt attacks and hot-tags Tiger Mask. Tiger Mask clears both KUSHIDA and White off the apron but cant get Liger with a Tiger Suplex. Liger turns it around and hits a backbreaker on Tiger Mask. The two recover only to double clothesline each other. Dorada and KUSHIDA are tagged back in. KUSHIDA catches on the ropes with a enzigiri, but springboards right into a dropkick. Team Tiger comes in to triple KUSHIDA. Taguchi hits a top rope butt attack on KUSHIDA, but Dorada misses a senton as White and Liger come back in.

The action spills outside as first Dorada, then Liger, then Tiger Mask, then Taguchi, do diving moves on the men outside. KUSHIDA joins in with his corner senton to the outside. This leaves White and Dorada in the ring. White hits a missile dropkick for a two-count. White tries to power up, but eats a superkick from Dorada. Dorada goes up top, walks the top Old-School style, and then jumps into a moonsault on White. Dorada doesn’t go for the cover, but instead scoops up White for a firemans carry into a Michinoku Driver. Thats enough for the three-count.

Post-match, Liger takes the mic and talks up his upcoming match with Tiger Mask. The two legends shake on it and then leave the ring.

Winner: Mascara Dorada(pinfall)/Ryusuke Taguchi/Tiger Mask

Kean Rating: *1/2 – Unremarkable multi-man opener, but the rookie White got too much offense on Dorada in my view despite Dorada getting the pin in the end. Dorada is supposed to be the next challenger for the IWGP JHW title but didn’t look credible as he couldn’t get the better of White for long stretches.

Match 2: Satoshi Kojima/Yohei Komatsu vs Yuji Nagata/Sho Tanaka

The bell rings as Kojima and Nagata start. The two trade strikes and kicks mid ring before Nagata gets Kojima in his corner and tags in Tanaka. Kojima quickly turns it around on Tanaka and tags Komatsu in. Komatsu and Tanaka take turns clearing Nagata and Kojima from the apron respectively before Tanaka tags Nagata back in. Surprisingly, Komatsu gets the first knockdown on Nagata with elbows, drawing a “Komatsu!” chant from the crowd which is hilariously silenced when Nagata gets up uses a single elbow to level Komatsu. Nagata proceeds to work over Komatsu with knees and elbows before settling into an abdominal stretch.

Nagata tags in Tanaka, who continues to submissions with a Camel Clutch to Komatsu. Nagata tags back in and lands a stiff kick to Komatsu, who writhes on the mat. Komatsu tries to power up, no sells a Nagata kick and hits a twisting elbow. Kojima hot tags in and goes off with machine gun chops on Nagata. An elbow drop gets a two-count as the crowd now chants for Kojima. Kojiima goes for his lariat but Nagata blocks its with a kick and a German Suplex. Kojima no-sells the German and hits a lariat anyway. The two recover on the mat and tag the two Young Lions back in.

Tanaka gets the better of Komatsu and hits a gut-wrench Suplex for a two-count. Tanaka settles in with a Boston Crab on Komatsu before Kojima breaks it up. Tanaka charges, but Komatsu levels him with an elbow and then an arm-in Suplex which Nagata breaks up. Komatsu ejects Nagata and rolls into a sunset flip on Tanaka, which draws a two-count. Komatsu then hits a low switch on a charging Tanaka and grabs a half-crab, which leads to Tanaka tapping.

Post-match, Kojima instructs Komatsu to milk the cheers in the ring as Nagata helps Tanaka out.

Winner: Kojima/Komatsu(submission)

Kean Rating: ** – Another solid showcase of Young Lions Komatsu and Tanaka, who may finally be graduating to the main roster soon after two years as rookies. Komatsu got the win in their match at the NJC quarter finals as well, making it two wins in a row over Tanaka at feature shows.

Hirooki Goto comes out for the first NJC Semi Final. The continued lack of crowd reaction Goto draws compared to other similarly-tenured wrestlers in NJPW is disappointing. Togi Makabe comes out next.

Match 3: New Japan Cup Semi Final: Togi Makabe vs Hirooki Goto

The bell rings as the crowd chants for Makabe. They take turns trying to shoulderblock each other, with Makabe getting the first knockdown. The action goes outside the ring, and there Goto reverses Makabe into the guardrail and starts working over Makabe’s knee. Goto reenters the ring and the ref starts the 20-count, which Makabe breaks at 15. Goto continues to work on Makabe’s knee with kicks before putting on a half-crab until Makabe can get a rope break.

The crowd is solidly behind Makabe as Goto continues to target the knee. Goto then kicks to the body, which Makabe shrugs off and demands Goto give him more. The two go for a strike exchange, and Goto is knocked back by Makabe’s strength. Makabe hits a Norther Lights Suplex for a two-count. Goto tries to come back with a clothesline but is floored by a lariat. Makabe hits a swinging Samoan Drop for another two-count. Makabe then goes for the King Kong Knee, but Goto stops him on the top rope and turns it into an Ushikoroshi. Goto can’t capitalize though, as Makabe floors him again with a lariat.

Makabe signals for the Spider German and sets Goto up in the corner for it, but Goto elbows out of it and reverses the position. Goto then hits a hanging neckbreaker for a two-count. The crowd is still chanting for Makabe as Makabe gets out of a suplex attempt with a chop to the head and a German Suplex on Goto. Makabe charges, but Goto rolls him into the Goto Shiki (a cross-legged cradle) for the shock pin and the win.

Post-match, the crowd goes silent as Makabe fumes on the outside. Goto leaves the ring and acknowledges supporters on the ramp as he quickly makes his way to the back.

Winner: Hirooki Goto (pinfall)

Kean Rating: ** – Surprisingly quick match which should telegraph that Ibushi will win the NJC, as Goto’s style is a much better fit to have a long match against Ibushi. Clearly the match intent was to save up Goto for a long finals match, but the lack of crowd reaction for Goto (understandable since he hasn’t been built up prior to this run) would really make me question NJPW’s booking if Goto were to win the NJC despite having zero momentum.

Kota Ibushi is out quickly for the last semi. Tetsuya Naito is out next and the two are raring to get it on.

Match 4: New Japan Cup Semi Final: Tetsuya Naito vs Kota Ibushi

The two men acknowledge the crowd chants (Kean note: couldn’t make out what the crowd was chanting) before locking up. The two go for a dropkick at the same time and the standoff continues to the crowd’s approval. Naito gets the better of the ensuing chain wrestling by working Ibushi’s wrist and then making Ibushi airball a dropkick. Naito snapmares Ibushi and hits a running senton for the first two-count. Naito then settles in for a modified Indian Deathlock on Ibushi, turns it into a neckbreaker, then continues to crank his knee into Ibushis back.

Ibushi fights out of the hold, but Naito tricks him into committing on a backdrop, leading to Naito kicking him in the chest. Ibushi finally turns it around with a springboard dropkick before landing a beautiful twisting standing moonsault for a two-count. Ibushi tries to follow up in the corner, but Naito counters him and hangs Ibushi up for a neckbreaker. Naito sweeps out Ibushis legs in the corner and hits a slingshot dropkick for two. Ibushi tries to recover with a lariat, but Naito counters him again into a German Suplex. Naito transitions into a Dragon Suplex attempt, but Ibushi breaks out and goes for a Pele Kick, which looks like it whiffed but Naito sells anyway. Naito comes back with an enzigiri, but charges right into a big Dragon Suplex by Ibushi.

Ibushi tries to set Naito up for the Pheonix Splash, but Nait cuts him off and follows him up. Naito then hits a big reverse Frankensteiner on Ibushi for a close two-count. The crowd is hot as the two men recover on the mat. The two go for the mid-ring forearms and elbows, with Naito getting the upper hand momentarily before charging into a lariat from Ibushi that flips Naito inside out. The crowd chants for Ibushi as Ibushi goes for a Last Ride, but Naito reverses into a Dragonrana for another close two. Naito follows up with a Dragon Suplex for a very close two-count. Naito wants the Stardust Press, but Ibushi fights off Naitos attemps to set him up in the corner Naito misses a flying forearm and tries to wheelbarrow Ibushi, but Ibushi stops the attempt and simply drops Naito down onto his shoulders reverse-powerbomb style.

Ibushi is all fired up as Naito continues to sell being spiked on his collar. Ibushi floors Naito with a high kick and nails a huge Last Ride, and its good for the pin and the win as the crowd pops.

Post-match, Ibushi makes a quick exit as Naito continues to sell the effects on this neck and back. Young Lions Jay White and Sho Tanaka eventually help Naito out of the ring.

Winner: Kota Ibushi (pinfall)

Kean Rating: ***3/4 – Great match which lived up to the hype. The best match of the 2015 NJC so far as well, even though relatively short length kept it from entering ****+ territory. The story they told early of the veteran Naito outfoxing Ibushi at his own game of speed and guile was great, and both mens psychology and facial expressions shone through as the match went on, leading to believable nearfalls. Shame they didn’t have 17-20 minutes to go into top gear. On this showing, it would be absolutely stupefying if Ibushi doesn’t go over in the final.

The show goes into intermission, with a recap of all the matches so far.

After the break, Tomoaki Honma is out first for the next tag match. Honma gets a good reaction, a better one than Shibata as Shibata enters. Bullet Club is out next, with Cody Hall wearing trunks that say “Kliq” on them.

Match 5: Katsuyori Shibata/Tomoaki Honma vs Bullet Club (Tama Tonga/Cody Hall)

Homna tries to talk strategy, but the ever-intense Shibata blows him off. The two get in a shoving match trying to decide who will start against Hall. At seems that Tonma will start, but as the bell rings, Shibata tosses his own partner out of the ring so that he can start. Interesting. Hall shows off his size advantage over Shibata, which Shibata tries to neutralize with a wristlock. Shibata gets Hall into a headlock that Hall tries to power out of but can’t, forcing Hall to get a rope break. Tongo signals he wants in, and Hall tags him in. Tonga doesn his knee-slides around the ring, and while the two circle, Honma blind-tags himself in. The crowd chants for Honma as he and Shibata jaw at each other.

Honma gets the better of Tonga and (of course) ends up missing the first Kokeshi headbutt he goes for. Outside the ring, Hall and Shibata go at it, but Tonga exits to help out Hall. Tonga tags Hall back in, and Hall works over Honma. A data bar introducing the Japanese audience to Cody Hall is shown on the screen at this point. Hall continues to methodically assault Honma, before tagging Tonga and front Suplexing Tonga onto Hall. Tonga takes too long though and Honma chops him down, but another Kokeshi misses and gives the momentum back to Tonga. Homna, however, dead-lift Suplexes Tonga. Shibata reaches out for the tag, but Honma refuses to tag him, furthering the tension in the makeshift team. Honma is set upon again by Bullet Club. Hall then hits a huge discus clothesline on Honma, but Shibata breaks up the pin.

Tonga and Shibata brawl to the outside, leaving Hall with Honma in the ring. Hall hits a reverse DDT, but Honma kicks out at a close two. Hall poses for the crowd and signals for the Razors Edge, but Shibata reenters and kicks Halls legs out. Shibata holds Hall, who ducks when Honma comes charging in. Honma hits Shibata instead and the two argue again, allowing Hall to clothesline them both. Hall misses a corner splash, then Shibata and Honma finally find their teamwork for a Honma to first hit a Shibata-aided flying Kokeshi and then a second one which Tonga has to break up. Shibata gives Tonga and STO and ejects him from the ring. Shibata holds Hall again, and Honma hilariously takes his time to explain to Shibata what his attentions are. Hall kicks Honma as he charges, but Honma gets the Kokeshi on the second attempt. Shibata chokes Hall and then swings him down for a huge PK, and then boots Tonga off the apron. Honma goes up for the top rope Kokeshi on Hall, and gets the pin as the crowd pops.

Post-match, Honma and Shibata talk a little face to face but nothing comes to blows. Honma is all smiles as he celebrates in the corners.

Winner: Katsuyori Shibata/Tomoaki Honma (pinfall)

Kean Rating: *** – Good tag match with the added intrigue between Honma and Shibata. Is this building up to a feud between the two, or a tag-team of two hard-asses? Either scenario is something I would want to see. Match-wise, Honma and Shibata combined well with their offense, while Cody Hall looked alright doing his big-man moves, better than his showing last week.

Yano and Sakuraba are out first for the next match. Tanahashi and Captain New Jobber, I mean, Japan, are out next.

Match 6: Hiroshi Tanahashi/Captain New Japan vs Toru Yano/Kazushi Sakuraba

The bell rings as Tanahashi and Yano start. Tanahashi is fired up, no doubt still remembering how Yano got one over him in the NJC. Yano avoids Tanahashi and quickly tags out to Sakuraba. Sakuraba engages Tanahashi in MMA-style grappling, which Tanahashi is game for. CNJ asks for the tag and gets it from Tanahashi, who is still glaring at Yano.

CNJ and Sakuraba grapple, and this goes on for a couple of minutes. CNJ eventually does his ‘stop!’ pose to get Sakuraba to stop, but Sakuraba gets him in an armbar which Tanahashi comes in to break up. The action then spills outside as all four men get into it near the guardrails. Yano dumps Tanahashi out into the crowd and goes to once again expose a turnbuckle. CNJ goes back in the ring and immediately eats kicks from Sakuraba. Yano tags in and shoots CNJ into the exposed turnbuckle, and then gets Tanahashi the same way. Yano tags back Sakuraba, who kicks at CNJ as Tanahashi goes back into his corner. Yano continues to antagozine Tanahashi by charging the corner, but Tanahashi reverses Yano and saves CNJ from a Sakuraba guillotine choke. Sakuraba goes for a kimura after ejecting Tanahashi but gets suplexed.

CNJ “hot tags” Tanahashi, but theres no pop as the crowd Is simply not into the action at this point. Sakuraba catches Tanahashi in a triangle attempt, and then Yano interferes. Tanahashi throws Yano out of the ring but runs into a kimura from Sakuraba. Tanahashi gets a rope break, but Yano tags in and tries to keep working the arm. Tanahashi comes back with a flying forearm and a second-rope senton which finally gets a crowd pop. Yano tries to throw Tanahashi out of the ring, but Tanahashi skins the cat and hits a Slingblade. Tanahashi clears Sakuraba off the apron and goes for a High Fly Flow, but Yano gets his knees up. A rollup by Yano gets a two, then Yano blows Tanahashi for another close two. CNJ tries to help, but Yano and Sakuraba mess his mask up so he cant see. Yano tries to slingshot Tanahashi into Sakuraba, but cant get enough leverage, making the spot a bad-looking botch. Sakuraba eventually has the wherewithall to step up and kick Tanahashi. Yano then grabs Tanahashi by the hair and pins him.

Winner: Toru Yano(pin)/Kazushi Sakuraba

Kean Rating: * – Pretty bad match which should probably have been half as long, max. They were trying to play up the story of Yano continuing to use cheating to frustrate Tanahashi, but Sakuraba is so limited in the ring in terms of offense and what kind of bumps he can take that the match just dragged without to carry the action alongside Tanahashi. The final spot was botches badly and summed up the mess of a match well.

YOSHI-HASHI is out first, then Okada with Gedo. The commentators talk up Okada trying to get revenge on Fale for knocking him out of the NJC. NEVER Openweight Champion Ishii is out next. Nakamura is out last, and takes his sweet time strutting and shaking down to the ring. Bullet Club comes out together next, with Gallows and Anderson painted like juggalos again.

Match 7: CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura/Kazuchika Okada/Tomohiro Ishii/YOSHI-HASHI) vs Bullet Club (Karl Anderson/Doc Gallows/Bad Luck Fale/Yujiro)

The two teams face off, with no Bullet Club cheap shots this time… because CHAOS decides to rush them. The bell rings and everyones brawling outside except for Fale and Okada in the ring. Okada gets Fale off his feet, but Fale bullies him into the Bullet Club corner. Okada escapes, much to the fury of Fale, but the ref informs him Gallows has already tagged in. Ishii comes in for CHAOS, and he and Gallows exchange strikes and shoulderblocks mid-ring, with Gallows finally knocking Ishii down. Gallows continues to use his size to dominate Ishii before taggin in Yujiro. Ishii quickly turns the tables on Yujiro before tagging in YOSHI-HASHI.

Yujiro gets the jump on YOSHI before YOSHI hits a head scissors and a running neckbreaker. Ishii holds Yujiro on the ropes for YOSHI, but Anderson trips YOSHI and the action breaks down as both teams charge the ring. Outside, Fale again grabs the accouncers tie and chokes Okada with it. Yujiro is left in the ring along and wants the countout win, but YOSHI returns to the ring at 18. Yujiro tags in Fale, who pummels YOSHI and poses to the crowd. Anderson tags in and gets in on the posing before putting YOSHI in a headlock. Okada runs in to save YOSHI, and YOSHI gets a neckbreaker on Anderson.

Nakamura gets the hot tag and finally gets in. He clears the Bullet Club corner and gives Anderson the vibration boot in the corner before a corner knee charge into Andersons gut. The crowd cheers for Nakamura as he continues to work over Anderson, but Anderson dodges a corner charge and gives Nakamura a big powerbomb for a two-count. Bullet Club clear out CHAOS, but Nakamura reverses a Gun Stun attempt into a reverse suplex. Nakamura calls for a Boma Ye but Anderson counters into a Spinebuster. Gallows tags in, only to eat an enzigiri from Nakamura, who then tags in Ishii. Ishii charges Gallows a few times but cant bring him down. Gallows reverses into sidewalk slam for a two-count. Backbreaker on Ishii by Gallows. Ishii finally hits a headbutt on Gallows and gets him up for the long-awaited suplex and then knocks down Gallows with a lariat.

Okada tags in and hits Gallows with a DDT. Okada charges, but Gallows levels him with a superkick and tags in Fale. Okada recovers and engages Fale mid-ring with strikes, which Fale tries to shrug off. Fale misses a splash, and Okada gets him up for the reverse neckbreaker. Okada goes up top for an elbow, but Yujiro stops him long enough for Fale to get up and throw Okada down. The Bullet Club gang up on Okada, with Fale splashing Okada for a pin that all of CHAOS come to break up. The crowd chants for Okada as Nakamura saves Okada from a Samoan Spike. Ishii stop a Magic Killer attempt by Gallows and Anderson and German Suplexes Gallows. Okada and Fale are left in the ring, and Okada hits FAle with the elbow and pops the arena with the Rainmaker pose, but Fale smashes him with the Samoan Spike after a failed Rainmaker attempt for a close two. Fale goes for the Bad Luck Fall but Ishii and YOSHI save Okada. Okada goes for the Rainmaker again, but Fale powers out, only to eat a Boma Ye from Nakamura. Okada picks up Fale and finally hits the Rainmaker for the pin and the win.

After the match, Bullet Club jaw at CHAOS from the outside as CHAOS poses in the ring. Anderson yells at Okada that it isn’t over between Okada and Fale.

Winner: CHAOS (Shinsuke Nakamura/Kazuchika Okada[pinfall]/Tomohiro Ishii/YOSHI-HASHI)

Kean Rating: **1/2 – serviceable match with a lot going on. The effort to get everyone from CHOAS a shine led to a level of no-selling which brought the match grade down. In terms of work-rate, I would say Gallows was surprisingly the MVP of this match. The feud between Okada and Fale rumbles on.

The main even and New Japan Cup Finals are next. Kota Ibushi is out first selling excitement and nerves on his face at being in the final. Goto is out next with full ring entrance. The ring announcer does full introductions, where Goto finally gets a decent pop but not to the level of Ibushi.

Match 8: New Japan Cup Final: Hirooki Goto vs Kota Ibushi

The bell rings as the crowd chants “Ibushi! Ibushi!” to start. The two lock up, with Goto winning the battle of strength and then slapping Ibushi off a clean break. Goto goes to work with elbows, but Ibushi fires back with kicks. Ibushi knocks Goto out of the ring, but as he goes for a Triangle Moonsault, Goto gets on the apron and clotheslines Ibushi inside out. Goto goes to work on Ibushi outside as the 20-count starts. Goto returns Ibushi into the ring at 13 and follows up with a top rope elbow for a two count.

The crowd is chanting for Ibushi again as Goto transitions from a chinlock to a leg scissors. Ibushi gets out of it and engages Goto in a battle of strikes, which Goto wins. Ibushi, however, turns it around with a Frankensteiner and finally gets the Triangle Moonsault on Goto, who had rolled to the outside. Ibushi returns Goto to the ring and hits a springboard dropkick for a two. Ibushi goes for a flurry of kicks on Goto which floors Goto, then a standing moonsault for a two-count. Ibushi tries to set up for a Dragon Suplex, but Goto breaks out and flips Ibushi with another lariat. Goto drops Ibushi with a Saito Suplex for a two-count.

Goto lifts Ibushi for a firemans carry, but Ibushi counters into a Dragon Suplex hold. When Goto goes up to block it, Ibushi switches the grip down and smashes Goto with a German Suplex. Goto no-sells it and charges in for a lariat to Ibushi, but Ibushi follows with a Pele Kick. Great sequence. Ibushi puts Goto in the corner, but Goto headbutts out of Ibushis idea and knocks Ibushi off the corner with a forearm. Ibushi pops right back up for a springboard Frankensteiner for another close two. Ibushi goes for the Last Ride, but Goto punches out of it and nails Ibushi with an Ushikoroshi. The two go at each other with forearms mid ring while on their knees, with the crowd baying both men back and forth. Goto again wins the strike exchange, but as the men get up, neither of them can knock the other down. Goto finally rolls into a discus clothesline which levels Ibushi, but its only good for two. Goto follows up with an Ura Shouten Facebuster, but that only gets him another two.

Goto, looking frustrated, picks Ibushi up and calls for a Brainbuster, but Ibushi wiggles out and flips Goto inside out with a big lariat of his own. Ibushi sets up for the Last Ride again, but Goto blocks and hangs on. Goto tries to twist out, but as he does Ibushi smacks him with an open palm strike. Ibushi smiles at his good hit, but Goto comes right back and drops him with a headbutt. Goto goes for his Shouten Kai finisher, but Ibushi counters it into a two-count, and then drills Goto in the head with a high kick. Last Ride connects, but Goto kicks out at two-and-a-half. The crowd is going delirious, and gets even louder as Ibushi goes for the Pheonix Splash and connects. 1, 2, 3, and Kota Ibushi gets the pin. Kota Ibushi is the 2015 New Japan Cup Winner!

Post-match, happy fans are shown in the crowd as Goto slowly rolls out of the ring and is helped to the back. Ibushi soaks in the cheers and is presented with the 5 million Yen prize money check and the gold New Japan Cup.

Winner: Kota Ibushi (pinfall)

Kean Rating: **** – Great match.  Ibushi’s mastery over his facial expressions and the psychology behind his moveset is what will make him a main-eventer for years to come in Japan and perhaps beyond. His storytelling and ability to mix up his spots makes him a great matchup with anyone who can bump well, and the consummate workhorse Goto was a great foil for Ibushi to work with. Overall, a good conclusion to the NJC, and a superior match to last years Nakamura/Fale final in my book.

One of New Japan’s commentators comes in to interview Ibushi. Ibushi sells tears as an arena-wide “Ibushi!” chant picks up. The announcer asks Ibushi which belt Ibushi will choose to challenge for. The crowd yells out suggestions. Ibushi puts over the NEVER and IC belts, but Ibushi then says he wants to challenge AJ Styles for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, to shrieks of approval from the crowd. Another “Ibushi!” chant picks up as the announcer hands Ibushi the mic and leaves. Ibushi reaffirms his resolve to be IWGP Champion and thanks the crowd for their support. Confetti comes down (surprisingy, in Ibushi’s trunk colors, what a coincidence~) and Ibushi poses with the Cup before exiting to the media area.

EVENT REAX: In the end, the right man won the 2015 New Japan Cup, and if WK9 didn’t already confirm it, the next main eventer in New Japan Pro Wrestling will be Kota Ibushi. His match against Styles immediate makes Invasion Attack on April 5th must-see viewing for all wrestling fans. With Okada and Tanahashi working midcard feuds and Nakamura not feuding with anyone at all, the stage is set for Ibushi to be pushed to the top, something which arguably may have happened sooner had Ibushi not missed the 2014 G1 Climax due to a concussion.

Overall, the New Japan Cup featured many solid matches which definitely picked up today in the semis and in the final. More importantly, however, is that the Cup fulfilled its purpose of refocusing the storylines that NJPW will continue through in the spring. From Okada/Fale, Tanahashi/Yano, and Shibata/Honma, that’s enough midcard feuds that can sustain a card where Styles, Nakamura, Ishii and now Ibushi will find themselves at the top of. People who are currently not locked into feuds (Makabe, Goto, Naito) were all booked to have strong runs in the NJC to keep them credible and able to be plugged wherever needed in the future to start a new feud or to shore up any given card. NJPWs “B” tournament behind the G1 Climax could well give NJPW a “A” grade outcome if everything they’ve set up falls into place.

What do you think of the 2015 New Japan Cup? Leave your comments below and stay tuned to PWMania for more in-depth NJPW coverage. Questions for the author of this article can be left in the comments section or emailed to emailstevekean@gmail.com.