NJPW Cup Brackets, Golden Lovers vs Young Bucks Confirmed for Long Beach
Posted: Feb 26th, '18, 10:29
Source: f4wonline.com
NJPW has announced the lineup for the 2018 New Japan Cup tournament, which will set up a title match for Sakura Genesis in April.
The left side of the bracket has Michael Elgin vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Juice Robinson vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taichi, and Bad Luck Fale vs. Lance Archer. The tour will be the first time Tanahashi has wrestled since January after being written out for a bit when he lost the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to Minoru Suzuki.
On the right side of the bracket, YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kota Ibushi, Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Toru Yano vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr., and Chuck Taylor vs. SANADA are set. Taylor tweeted that he's a replacement for Trent Barreta, who was injured in a match with Taylor for PWG on February 16th.
The winner of the New Japan Cup will challenge for either the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. IWGP Intercontinental Championship, or NEVER Openweight title at Sakura Genesis on April 1st, with the storyline being that they get to choose which belt to go after.
The tournament will begin at Korakuen Hall on March 9th and conclude in Niigata on March 21st. Here's the schedule for it:
March 9th -- Elgin vs. Ishii, Robinson vs. Takahashi
March 10th -- Tanahashi vs. Taichi, Fale vs. Archer
March 11th -- Naito vs. Sabre Jr., YOSHI-HASHI vs. Ibushi
March 12th -- Chuck Taylor vs. SANADA, Yano vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
March 14th -- Two quarterfinal matches
March 15th -- Two quarterfinal matches
March 16th -- First semifinal
March 18th -- Second semifinal
March 21st -- Finals
-- A match between Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi and The Young Bucks appeared to be inevitable coming out of the NJPW/ROH Honor Rising tour, and now a date and location for it has been set.
Omega & Ibushi will face Matt & Nick Jackson at NJPW's Strong Style Evolved show at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California on March 25th. The announcement comes after The Young Bucks confronted Omega & Ibushi at Honor Rising night two, with the Bucks taking exception to Omega calling himself and Ibushi the best tag team in the world.
While confronting them, The Young Bucks also announced their move up to NJPW's heavyweight tag team division. Omega asked if their comments were a challenge and mentioned it being a dream match. In his post-show remarks, Omega said he's still best friends with the Bucks and would have wanted to speak with them in private about this, but Omega reiterated that he believes he and Ibushi are the best team in the world.
Jay White defending his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Hangman Page has also been confirmed for Strong Style Evolved. That match became apparent at Honor Rising night two as well, with Page pinning White in a six-man tag.
With the two additions to the card, there are now three matches official for Strong Style Evolved. Rey Mysterio vs. Jushin Thunder Liger was confirmed earlier this month when Mysterio appeared in a video at the New Beginning in Osaka and challenged Liger. The show will air live on AXS TV.
NJPW has announced the lineup for the 2018 New Japan Cup tournament, which will set up a title match for Sakura Genesis in April.
The left side of the bracket has Michael Elgin vs. Tomohiro Ishii, Juice Robinson vs. Yujiro Takahashi, Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Taichi, and Bad Luck Fale vs. Lance Archer. The tour will be the first time Tanahashi has wrestled since January after being written out for a bit when he lost the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to Minoru Suzuki.
On the right side of the bracket, YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kota Ibushi, Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr., Toru Yano vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr., and Chuck Taylor vs. SANADA are set. Taylor tweeted that he's a replacement for Trent Barreta, who was injured in a match with Taylor for PWG on February 16th.
The winner of the New Japan Cup will challenge for either the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. IWGP Intercontinental Championship, or NEVER Openweight title at Sakura Genesis on April 1st, with the storyline being that they get to choose which belt to go after.
The tournament will begin at Korakuen Hall on March 9th and conclude in Niigata on March 21st. Here's the schedule for it:
March 9th -- Elgin vs. Ishii, Robinson vs. Takahashi
March 10th -- Tanahashi vs. Taichi, Fale vs. Archer
March 11th -- Naito vs. Sabre Jr., YOSHI-HASHI vs. Ibushi
March 12th -- Chuck Taylor vs. SANADA, Yano vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
March 14th -- Two quarterfinal matches
March 15th -- Two quarterfinal matches
March 16th -- First semifinal
March 18th -- Second semifinal
March 21st -- Finals
-- A match between Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi and The Young Bucks appeared to be inevitable coming out of the NJPW/ROH Honor Rising tour, and now a date and location for it has been set.
Omega & Ibushi will face Matt & Nick Jackson at NJPW's Strong Style Evolved show at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California on March 25th. The announcement comes after The Young Bucks confronted Omega & Ibushi at Honor Rising night two, with the Bucks taking exception to Omega calling himself and Ibushi the best tag team in the world.
While confronting them, The Young Bucks also announced their move up to NJPW's heavyweight tag team division. Omega asked if their comments were a challenge and mentioned it being a dream match. In his post-show remarks, Omega said he's still best friends with the Bucks and would have wanted to speak with them in private about this, but Omega reiterated that he believes he and Ibushi are the best team in the world.
Jay White defending his IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Hangman Page has also been confirmed for Strong Style Evolved. That match became apparent at Honor Rising night two as well, with Page pinning White in a six-man tag.
With the two additions to the card, there are now three matches official for Strong Style Evolved. Rey Mysterio vs. Jushin Thunder Liger was confirmed earlier this month when Mysterio appeared in a video at the New Beginning in Osaka and challenged Liger. The show will air live on AXS TV.