New Japan Cup semifinals results: EVIL-Shingo, Ospreay-Finlay
The New Japan Cup semifinals took place today in Sendai.
Here are full results for the show and a report on the Cup matches.
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Report —
Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb defeated Juice Robinson & Yuya Uemura (8:44)
Cobb pinned Uemura after hitting a Tour of the Islands.
YOSHI-HASHI, Toru Yano & SHO defeated Bad Luck Fale, Chase Owens & Jado (7:58)
Yano won a terrible match, rolling up Jado for the pin after a low blow.
Tetsuya Naito, SANADA & BUSHI defeated Taichi, Zack Sabre Jr. & DOUKI (11:19)
This was a fun sprint. SANADA tapped out DOUKI with Skull End.
Kota Ibushi, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Kazuchika Okada defeated Jay White, KENTA & Yujiro Takahashi (w/Gedo) (10:26)
This was the match with the earthquake break in the middle of it. Ibushi pinned Yujiro after a Kamigoye.
They teased tension between Okada and Ibushi, and Tanahashi and Ibushi during the match.
New Japan Cup semifinal: Will Ospreay (w/Bea Priestley) defeated David Finlay (w/Juice Robinson) (21:04)
This was a good match with good psychology.
They traded hammerlocks to start, then did some basic drop-downs, tackles and simple spots. Finlay hit a dropkick. Ospreay rolled outside. Finlay hit a backdrop on the floor.
Back in, Ospreay briefly got the upper hand. They went back to the outside and Finlay got sent into the fence. Finlay was back on top after another backdrop.
Ospreay hit Pip Pip Cheerio for a near fall and began to go to work. He teased his Chelsea Grin, but Finlay blocked and hit a superplex. Finlay used a series of cradles for near falls. Finlay blocked Stormbreaker and hit a uranage backbreaker. Ospreay came back with a Spanish Fly.
Finlay hit an ushigoroshi. He went for an Acid Drop, but Ospreay tossed him over the top rope to the floor. Finlay sold like he had broken his ankle. A medical attendant checked on Finlay. They teased a countout, but Finlay made it back in.
Ospreay hit a dropkick and a stack powerbomb for a two count, then applied a figure four. Ospreay removed the boot on Finlay’s injured ankle while he kept the figure four applied. Finlay forced a rope break.
Ospreay hit some Kawada kicks. Ospreay hit a hook kick. Finlay blocked an Oscutter with a jaw breaker. Finlay tried an Acid Drop, but his ankle gave out. Finlay turned a Stormbreaker attempt into a victory roll for a two count.
Finlay went for the Acid Drop, but Ospreay blocked. Ospreay nearly dropped Finlay on is head as they tried to set up a powerbomb, but hit the move safely.
Ospreay then hit Stormbreaker for the pin.
New Japan Cup semifinal: Shingo Takagi defeated EVIL (w/Dick Togo) (22:43)
This was a good match that never reached a higher gear. The usual Bullet club shenanigans didn’t help. Shingo did a masterful job of selling his back, though.
EVIL stalled at the outset. Togo interfered from the outside to allow EVIL to hit a lariat. Togo exposed a buckle and took the ref. EVIL whipped Shingo into the buckle.
Shingo came back with some power spots, but sold the damage to his back from the buckle. EVIL blocked an early Last of the Dragon attempt and hit a backbreaker. EVIL hit a drop toehold into the exposed buckle. EVIL continued to work on the back with a superplex.
EVIL went for Everything is EVIL. Shingo blocked and hit a short lariat. They traded lariats, then traded strikes. The crowd started to really get into it here. Togo slid EVIL a chair and took the ref. EVIL hit a chairshot to the head for a two count.
EVIL hit Darkness Falls for another two count. Shingo blocked Everything is EVIL and hit Made in Japan for a two count. EVIL bumped Shingo into the referee.
Togo entered and hit Shingo with right hands. EVIL hit a low blow to Shingo. EVIL and Togo hit a Magic Killer. Togo used a ligature to choke Shingo. Shingo came back with a double lariat to knock Togo outside. Shingo blocked a low blow and hit a pumping bomber.
Shingo revived the ref, then hit Last of the Dragon for the pin.
Ospreay made an appearance during Shingo’s show-closing promo. Ospreay hit a series of strikes. Shingo blocked a Stormbreaker and sent Ospreay packing with a clothesline.