{"id":40657,"date":"2017-03-31T17:38:32","date_gmt":"2017-03-31T22:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=40657"},"modified":"2017-03-31T17:38:32","modified_gmt":"2017-03-31T22:38:32","slug":"njpw-rookie-andrews-reviews-new-japan-cup-2017-njpw-world-streaming-service-pt-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/03\/31\/njpw-rookie-andrews-reviews-new-japan-cup-2017-njpw-world-streaming-service-pt-1\/","title":{"rendered":"NJPW ROOKIE: Andrews reviews of New Japan Cup 2017 from NJPW World streaming service (pt. 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-4082610859\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3><b>New Japan Cup 2017<br \/>\n<\/b><b>NJPW World<br \/>\n<\/b><b>By R.W. Andrews<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><b>Post-review Note<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Okay, full disclosure.\u00a0 This is going to be long.\u00a0 Really, really long.\u00a0 But congratulations, you\u2019ve made it to the very last long-form review I will ever do.\u00a0 Well, maybe from time to time I might bust one out for very specific matches.\u00a0 This tournament has taught me a valuable lesson.\u00a0 There are only so many ways you can describe the same artillery splurge of a forearm to the face and guy getting slammed to the mat.\u00a0 So enjoy.\u00a0 It will be\u2026 taxing to say the least.<\/p>\n<p><b>Actual Review<\/b><\/p>\n<p>This is my first New Japan tournament and I wanted to really get a feel for it.\u00a0 So, in order to do that, I\u2019m going to type my ass off and try to cover it all.\u00a0 I have no idea who has won in prior years, no clue if there have been any classic matches that still resonate with fans to this day, and no idea how in the hell Bad Luck Fale got into this tournament.\u00a0 Speaking of which, did New Japan\u2019s sorting hat get tweaked on white lines before seeding this f****ng thing?\u00a0 In the east you\u2019ve got Suzuki, Omega, Shibata, Ishii, and SANADA.\u00a0 In the west you\u2019ve got Elgin, Tanahashi and EVIL &#8211; who are meeting in the first round &#8211; with Bad Luck Fale, Nagata, Yano, and the Guerillas of Destiny milling about.\u00a0 One path is harder than the other to say the least.<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Round 1<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Tanga Roa vs. Yuji Nagata<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Marty gets the call to christen the tournament.\u00a0 Roa has doubled-down on his stance that face paint makes the man, choosing a Twisty the Clown inspired paint job that is actually kind of cool.\u00a0 Ok, so he spends time getting dolled up, but the artistic flare has shifted me over to his side.\u00a0 Nagata is all business, rocking his normal blue trunks with matching boots.\u00a0 Man, sometimes you just can\u2019t stray from the classics.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3626181431\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Nagata and Roa exchange waistlocks until the old pro snags an armlock.\u00a0 Roa shows off a little finesse to his game by reversing with a hammerlock.\u00a0 He transitions to a side headlock takeover, with Nagata peacocking his limberness to the ladies by popping those hips to get Roa into a headscissors.\u00a0 Roa manages to break free and hop to his feet, bending that hammerlock back into place.\u00a0 Nagata drives his elbow back to catch Roa, but finds a head bobbing in and out of range.\u00a0 He chooses the path of least resistance, reaching out to clutch the ropes.<\/p>\n<p>They reunite in the middle of the ring, with Nagata transitioning an arm-wringer into a side headlock \u2013 his arms clamped tightly to Roa\u2019s head in order to work him to his knees.\u00a0 Roa shoves Nagata into the ropes, his body never wilting under the force of a shoulder tackle brought back to him.\u00a0 Nagata kicks him in the gut, garnering a \u201cHey, Man!\u201d out of Roa, before flipping him to the mat with a hip toss.\u00a0 Roa smacks the mat out of frustration and lunges at Nagata, who counters with a heel trip transitioned quickly into an armbar that forces Roa to crawl to the ropes.\u00a0 As Roa gets back to his feet, Nagata begins to clap condescendingly \u2013 a gesture Roa acknowledges with a sheepish grin and a nod.<\/p>\n<p>They tie up again, with Roa pushing Nagata into the ropes.\u00a0 Marty calls for a clean break, his words falling on deaf ears as Roa jabs Nagata\u2019s chin before clubbing him in back.\u00a0 \u201cNo clean breaks, Bruh,\u201d barks Roa as he whips Nagata to the other side of the ring.\u00a0 Nagata hooks his arms into the ropes as Roa droops over for a back body drop.\u00a0 He takes a hop-step forward, juking on an enzuigiri before hitting a basement dropkick to Roa\u2019s left knee.\u00a0 He points to his head and smiles, flashing those panty peeler pearly whites towards the females in his peripheral scope.<\/p>\n<p>Nagata bounces off the ropes, racing right into a scoop-slam that sends him rolling outside.\u00a0 Roa slides out and tosses him into the guardrail, huffing \u201cTryin\u2019 to embarrass me in front of all these people?\u201d between deep inhales.\u00a0 He punts Nagata in the chest before smooshing a boot against his throat.\u00a0 Marty finally decides to get off his ass and intervene, backing Roa away as Nagata pops to his feet and blots Roa\u2019s chin with a forearm.\u00a0 Roa fires back, dazing Nagata long enough to roll him back into the ring.\u00a0 He hits a backdrop, followed with a legdrop before covering for two.\u00a0 Roa tells Nagata to give up.\u00a0 \u201cI never give up!\u201d Nagata screams, the decree tested by a forearm to the mouth.\u00a0 Nagata continues to rise, defiantly yelling \u201cNever!\u201d before Roa sends him backpedaling to the corner with another forearm.\u00a0 Nagata marches back to Roa, who tilts his head at the sight and utters, \u201cWhat the\u2026\u201d before a NEVER Openweight caliber forearm cracks him in the jaw.\u00a0 As does the three follow-ups.<\/p>\n<p>On the defensive, Roa drives his head into Nagata\u2019s chin before scooping him up and trotting him around the ring for a running powerslam.\u00a0 He climbs up top, leaping off with a diving headbutt that Nagata rolls out of the way of.\u00a0 As Roa gets to his feet &#8211; his eyes picking up the sight of Nagata charging &#8211; he screams, \u201cahh s-\u2026ah s-!\u201d, before three stiff kicks bang into his chest.\u00a0 He backs away from Nagata, the turnbuckle pad tapping him on the shoulder as a reminder that he\u2019s out of room.\u00a0 Nagata whips Roa\u2019s head sharply to the left with a nasty looking right forearm.\u00a0 He delivers two more, each landing with increasingly blunt thuds, before sending Roa to the opposite corner and catching him with a boot to the face.\u00a0 Roa fights out of an exploder suplex, but another swift forearm sends him ricocheting off the ropes and right into Nagata\u2019s awaiting arms to complete said exploder.\u00a0 Nagata covers, finding only a two count from Marty.<\/p>\n<p>They swap boots to the face, with Roa catching Nagata\u2019s second attempt and spinning him around to hit a bridging German suplex for two.\u00a0 Roa rushes Nagata with a splash in the corner, the impact causing Nagata to stumble forward and into a spinebuster.\u00a0 Roa chuckles as he watches Nagata struggle to get up.\u00a0 He reaches down to gather him off the mat, a decision countered by a seated armbar dead center of the ring.\u00a0 With the hold locked in tight, Nagata\u2019s eyes begin to roll back, a look that gets a roar from the crowd.\u00a0 Nagata switches from a seated armbar to the traditional laydown application, with Roa taking the momentum to get to his knees while Nagata tries to maintain control.\u00a0 Roa tips Nagata to his shoulders, forcing Nagata to release his grip and kick out.<\/p>\n<p>As Roa labors to his feet, Nagata is up and circling around to find a clear pathway to smack his arm with a kick.\u00a0 He pulls Roa to his feet, whipping him into the corner but running right into a shoulder block.\u00a0 Roa drives him right back where he came, racing to the opposite corner where Nagata gives chase to boot him in the face.\u00a0 Nagata hits a brainbuster, covering for two.\u00a0 Roa rises and screams, a sound dead on the vine as a leaping enzuigiri tags the back of his head.\u00a0 Nagata wraps his arms around Roa\u2019s waist to hoist him into the air and drive him to the mat with a backdrop suplex, once again flaunting his limberness with a float-over for the pinfall.<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Yuji Nagata, advancing to the second round to meet the winner of Tanahashi\/EVIL<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3157924037\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 Although Nagata won rather easily, Roa put up a fair enough fight to show that he is above average in singles competition.\u00a0 His offense doesn\u2019t seem quite yet ready for primetime, but he\u2019s the type of athlete who could probably take it there.\u00a0 Nagata didn\u2019t have to really flip through the playbook to get past Roa, so hopefully he\u2019ll have a little more in store for us in the second round.)<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Tori Yano vs. Tama Tonga<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t know how fresh Yano\u2019s shtick is to longtime viewers, but I absolutely love it.\u00a0 I love the entrance video, I\u2019m a fan of the obsession with untying turnbuckle pads, and I\u2019m smitten with the little things that he does \u2013 like snagging an opponent\u2019s hair just to stall them from hitting the ropes and therefore hitting him.\u00a0 I\u2019m very interested to see my first Yano singles match.\u00a0 Smooth mat wrestling?\u00a0 Yeah, probably not.\u00a0 But using his uncanny knack for survival to find a roll-up victory?\u00a0 I\u2019ll take it.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget, he\u2019s always one cup-check away from victory.<\/p>\n<p>The deep bass of the GoD theme hits once more, bringing out Tonga who moves slowly down the ramp.\u00a0 He came prepared to make a splash \u2013 his face goat-skull painted and his lower body wrapped in camouflage.\u00a0 And then there\u2019s Yano.\u00a0 The lights flicker with a purple strobe as he skitters down the ramp with a DVD, a bottle of water, and a chair.\u00a0 He sets the chair near the stash spot, rolls into the ring, takes a gulp of water, spits it into the air, and leaves his neck wide open for Tonga\u2019s clothesline to put him flat on his back.<\/p>\n<p>As Tonga is busy stomping on Yano\u2019s chest, Red Shoes wakes up and calls for the bell.\u00a0 Tonga gets the DVD and smacks Yano on the top of the head with it.\u00a0 Thus far, the case is proving to be a much tougher opponent than Yano, as it proves impenetrable to Tonga\u2019s prying fingers.\u00a0 Thoroughly one-upped by an inanimate object, Tonga flips it to the crowd as a collection of girls at ringside gasp.\u00a0 Tonga sends Yano screaming into the ropes.\u00a0 Yano holds on for dear life, refusing to bounce off of them as Tonga prepares for a backdrop.\u00a0 Tonga realizes that Yano is a no-show and charges towards him.\u00a0 Yano ducks under a clothesline, the momentum of the whiff carrying Tonga over the top ropes.\u00a0 As Yano finally gets a moment to disrobe, Tonga slides back into the ring and dives for his feet.\u00a0 Yano flees, clutching the ropes for dear life while bellowing out, \u201cBreak, break, break!\u201d\u00a0 He is granted the break and promptly escapes to the floor.<\/p>\n<p>Tonga reaches over the top after him, with Yano rolling under his hand to get back in.\u00a0 He begins screaming again as Tonga\u2019s boot is driven down on his chest.\u00a0 Tonga hits an elbow, transitioned into a choke that Red Shoes\u2019 reprimands him for.\u00a0 Tonga ships Yano into the corner, where the untying of pads can commence.\u00a0 Tonga races after him and dives out with a splash that stuffs Yano into the pad.\u00a0 He whips Yano from one pad to the next, the follow-up splash finding nothing but air as Yano jogs back to the original corner to continue untying the pad.\u00a0 He finally gets it free, holding it in place as he catches Tonga charging out of the corner of his eye.\u00a0 Tonga takes to the air for another splash, but Yano, and the pad, are hoofing it in the opposite direction.\u00a0 Tonga pumps the brakes at the corner, spinning around to dropkick Yano as the pad goes flying.<\/p>\n<p>Tonga hits a Stinger Splash in the corner, sending Yano staggering to the center of the ring.\u00a0 Tonga takes off for the ropes, but Yano reaches out and snags his hair, dragging him down to the mat.\u00a0 Yano does his signature pose, his thumbs pointed out as he waves his arms about.\u00a0 He senses the rumble of waffle stompers marching behind him, ducking as Tonga\u2019s body flies over his back.\u00a0 Tonga tries to blow out Yano\u2019s ACL with a chop block, but Yano manages to spins out of the way. He ducks down again as Tonga flies over his back.<\/p>\n<p>Yano hits the ropes, his plodding steps unable to get out of the way of a Tonga spear.\u00a0 Tonga goes for a cutter, but Yano shoves him towards Red Shoes.\u00a0 As Red Shoes braces for impact, Yano tries to uppercut Tonga\u2019s crotch, but Tonga turns into the backswing and takes a swipe that Yano has to ducks under.\u00a0 Tonga reverses behind him, causing Yano to reach for Red Shoes.\u00a0 As Red Shoes flinches out of the way, Tonga drives Yano to the mat before his groin falls victim to a mule kick to the dangles.\u00a0 He headbutts Yano back, sending him shuffling into Red Shoes\u2019 embrace.\u00a0 Yano uses Red Shoes as a human shield against Tonga\u2019s rush.\u00a0 He stutter-steps, freezing Tonga for a beat to throw Red Shoes at him.\u00a0 Tonga evades Red Shoes and runs past Yano as the ref hits the deck.\u00a0 Yano spins around and drops low to hit a ball-tap roll up Tonga for the win.<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Tori Yano, advancing the second round to face the winner of Elgin\/Fale<\/p>\n<p>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 This match &#8211; besides getting to watch Yano \u201csprint\u201d from corner to corner &#8211; will probably be the worst of the tournament.\u00a0 It was basically just a collection of missed splashes and low blows.\u00a0 I honestly expected Tonga to win, thinking that the company was looking into these guys as singles wrestlers down the road.\u00a0 But alas, Yano once again thwarted the jaws of defeat.\u00a0 If you\u2019re a Yano fan, you\u2019ll love watching him run from one corner of the ring to the next.\u00a0 If you\u2019re not, stay far away from this match.)<\/p>\n<p><b>Michael Elgin vs. Bad Luck Fale<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Here we go.\u00a0 The new and improved Bad Luck Fale, sporting a brand new\u2026\u2026ahh f-.\u00a0 Nothing has changed.\u00a0 Same spaced-out, far away expression.\u00a0 Same Gonk Droid gait.\u00a0 Same bloated figure insulting the integrity of the stitches holding his shirt together.\u00a0 Well at least we know what he did during the break &#8211; dumpster diving at Eddie Lacy\u2019s old Green Bay home for those P90X discs.\u00a0 Hell, he hasn\u2019t even reconciled his issue with the ring announcer.\u00a0 Same old, Fale.\u00a0 Actually, hang on a second.\u00a0 Upon closer inspection it looks like he\u2019s grown a soul patch and dyed it ginger.\u00a0 Hmm, maybe this son of bitch is serious.<\/p>\n<p>Red Shoes gets the call, having successfully shaken off his near death experience of getting blown up by Tonga.\u00a0 After frisking the combatants, he calls for the bell \u2013 the sound met by a very loud \u201cElgin\u201d chant.\u00a0 Elgin and Fale have a staredown in the middle of the ring before slowly creeping back towards their respective starting blocks, creating enough distance to race back and collide with shoulder tackles.\u00a0 Fale doesn&#8217;t budge, but Elgin buckles just a smidge.\u00a0 They back up and repeat the process, multiple times over.\u00a0 Elgin finally manages to connect with enough force to send Fale tumbling outside to the floor.<\/p>\n<p>Elgin goes out after him, running across the apron and leaping into Fale\u2019s arms.\u00a0 Fale rams his back into the ring post before tossing him into the guardrail and clubbing his back for good measure.\u00a0 Fale whips Elgin into the guardrail a second time with a little more gusto as Red Shoes finally begins to count.\u00a0 Fale ambles back inside at two, while Elgin inches in at nineteen.\u00a0 Fale stands on his back before pulling him to his feet and delivering another club to the back.\u00a0 Fale once again stands on Elgin as the crowd falls deafly silent.<\/p>\n<p>Fale picks up Elgin\u2026and clubs him in the back.\u00a0 Elgin fires back with an elbow, which Fale answers with\u2026more clubs to the back.\u00a0 Fale lifts Elgin onto his shoulders, which Elgin manages to shimmy down Fale\u2019s wide frame for a sunset flip.\u00a0 Fale\u2019s hands wave wildly in the air before deciding to let gravity take over as he kicks his legs out and tries to sit on Elgin.\u00a0 Elgin rolls out of the way, recovering to fire a forearm at Fale before hitting an enzuigiri and a front kick.\u00a0 He hits another front kick before wowing the audience, and me, with a beautiful vertical suplex for two.\u00a0 Elgin is strong.<\/p>\n<p>With Fale on his back, Elgin scoots outside and climbs to the top turnbuckle.\u00a0 He spends too much time fidgeting around with his footing, allowing Fale to chase him down and wrap his hand around Elgin\u2019s throat.\u00a0 Elgin forearms him away, dropping down to the mat just in time to duck out of the way of a charging Fale who barrels over the top rope and onto the floor.\u00a0 Elgin runs to the opposite end of the ring, bouncing off the ropes as if\u2019s he\u2019s charging up for takeoff, but Fale slides back in and counters with a Samoan Drop.\u00a0 Both men arise simultaneously, with Fale charging Elgin and missing a splash in the corner.\u00a0 Elgin hits two running clotheslines \u2013 the forever edition \u2013 leaving Fale teetering on his feet.\u00a0 After fighting off a boot to the face, Elgin bounces off the ropes and sickles the s- out of Fale with a lariat that sends that wide body into the air before crashing to the mat.<\/p>\n<p>Elgin points to the turnbuckles and stuffs Fale\u2019s head between his legs for a buckle bomb.\u00a0 He gets nowhere with his decision, opting for smacking Fale in the face before trying a German Suplex.\u00a0 Fale gets on his horse, his feet hoofing it to corner with Elgin on his back to drive him into a turnbuckle pad.\u00a0 He hits a splash in corner, shoves Elgin to the mat, and hits a standing splash for two.\u00a0 Fale latches his hand to Elgin\u2019s throat, but misses the Grenade.\u00a0 Elgin moves around Fale\u2019s back and hits a release German Suplex!\u00a0 Elgin IS strong!\u00a0 Elgin hits the ropes for a lariat, but Fale shows some impressive hops to dive out and spear him for two.\u00a0 He picks up Elgin, who is barely keeping himself upright on two very shaky legs, and leashes his hand around his throat.\u00a0 He manages to power Elgin into the air\u2026and connects with the Grenade!\u00a0 Are you kidding me?\u00a0 He covers.\u00a0 1, 2\u2026are you kidding me\u20263!\u00a0 Bad Luck Fale, through the grace of God, has just beaten Michael Elgin!<\/p>\n<p>Winner:\u00a0 Bad Luck Fale, advancing to the second round to face Tori Yano<\/p>\n<p>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 How in the hell did that just happen?\u00a0 This match was atrocious, and not just because of the outcome.\u00a0 Besides one spear, Fale did nothing more than stand on Elgin and club him on the back.\u00a0 Hell, that\u2019s worth repeating because God knows Fale sure did.\u00a0 ALL he did was stand on Elgin and club him on the back.\u00a0 Most, if not all of you, have far more experience with New Japan, but is this the biggest upset in New Japan Cup history?\u00a0 I thought for sure that Elgin was going to run through the West Wing.\u00a0 My bracket is f***ed!\u00a0 And may I just say again \u2013 and this is not coming from a place of anger \u2013 the match was bad.\u00a0 Yano vs. Tonga bad.<\/p>\n<p>That being said, Bad Luck Fale has just beaten Michael Elgin.\u00a0 So, my terrible decision to start rooting for Fale must continue.\u00a0 F-!)<\/p>\n<p><b>Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. EVIL<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Ok, now that the shock has worn off, it\u2019s time to get to the first bigtime match of the tournament. \u00a0 EVIL\u2019s short trip to the ring begins with a slow emergence from behind the NJPW curtain, sickle in one hand as the other glows with green laser-pointer power to light a silhouette masked in phantasm.\u00a0 Tanahashi is out next, air guitaring to what is slowly becoming a rather pleasing new theme.\u00a0 It\u2019s a slow burn, but somehow achieves earworm status.\u00a0 He slaps hands with anyone wanting to press palms with him \u2013 the topper being when he pats a kid on the head who is decked out in championship McFly\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>When the bell rings, what has become such a classic B-side to Tanahashi\u2019s themes begins to erupt from the crowd \u2013 the sound of his name being chanted louder than anything that could permeate from the house speakers.\u00a0 EVIL jukes a tie-up to start the match, driving a kick aimed at Tanahashi\u2019s stomach that winds up in the Ace\u2019s grasp.\u00a0 Tanahashi leans closer to connect with a forearm to the face, his body parrying into position to wrap up EVIL\u2019s head with side headlock.\u00a0 EVIL tries to shove him off, but each time Tanahashi holds on tight, riding EVIL\u2019s momentum all the way to a retreat into the ropes.\u00a0 EVIL tries to dirty up the break, but misses a wild swing and gets head-locked and taken to the mat.<\/p>\n<p>Slowly working his way back to his feet, EVIL grabs Tanahashi\u2019s hair and goes for a side headlock of his own.\u00a0 Tanahashi shoves him away, with EVIL racing to the ropes and coming back with a shoulder tackle that plows him to the canvas.\u00a0 He steps on Tanahashi\u2019s head before heading to the ropes, once again falling victim to a side headlock.\u00a0 Both men earn some serious points with me, with EVIL raking Tanahashi\u2019s eyes to get loose only to have Tanahashi counter right back with an eye rake.\u00a0 Red Shoes decides to scold Tanahashi about it, demanding that he release his fingertips from EVIL\u2019s sockets.\u00a0 Tanahashi obeys, but casts a pissed-off gaze upon the authority.<\/p>\n<p>Tanahashi gets a forearm\/European Uppercut combo before heading the ropes, chased down by EVIL who catches him with a knee to the side of the head before clotheslining him outside.\u00a0 EVIL heads out after him, shooing the camera crew away so he can whip Tanahashi into the guardrail.\u00a0 Tanahashi reverses, flinging EVIL into the rail instead.\u00a0 Now it\u2019s Tanahashi\u2019s turn to shoo the camera crew out of the way &#8211; the guys barely able to get out of their own way as they back into one another &#8211; so he can whip EVIL into the next section of rails.\u00a0 He charges in, but EVIL is a step quicker and scores with a lariat.<\/p>\n<p>With Tanahashi holding his head on the floor, EVIL visits TWO stash spots \u2013 both of which supplying a chair.\u00a0 He wraps the first chair around Tanahashi\u2019s neck as Red Shoes comes outside to protest.\u00a0 EVIL grabs the other chair, his sights set on takin a homerun cut, but Red Shoes latches on and they enter a tug-of-war contest.\u00a0 Red Shoes naturally comes up short, his feet dancing backwards before tripping him to the floor.\u00a0 EVIL lines up his shot and tees off with a swing that connects so clean that it spins the chair a full rotation around Tanahashi\u2019s neck before going yard.\u00a0 Touch em\u2019 all.<\/p>\n<p>Red Shoes reappears into the camera shot, his finger pointing towards the ring as he demands that EVIL gets back inside.\u00a0 And it works!\u00a0 EVIL rolls in as the cameraman zooms in on the chair.\u00a0 Red Shoes rolls in after him, giving EVIL an earful before lightly pushing him on the shoulder and shaking his head at him.\u00a0 With about five minutes elapsed, and multiple rules broken right in front of his face, Red Shoes begins his count.\u00a0 Tanahashi gets in at nineteen.<\/p>\n<p>It is at this point that a question must be presented.\u00a0 Is Red Shoes an LIJ operative?\u00a0 Seriously, how many times have they benefited from his haphazard approach to upholding the law?\u00a0 Actually, you know what, let\u2019s just put our cards on the table and cut the bulls-.\u00a0 Is Red Shoes actually pulling the strings on the whole movement?\u00a0 I don\u2019t have hard evidence to back it up, nor soft evidence, but I say this.\u00a0 What lies beneath that absent-minded, Verbal Kint-ish demeanor is in actuality New Japan\u2019s Keyser Soze.\u00a0 Hey, maybe it\u2019s just flights of fancy.\u00a0 Hell, maybe it\u2019s just my mind still lost in the static of witnessing Fale pin Elgin clean in the middle of the ring.\u00a0 All I know is that the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the wrestling world that Red Shoes is just a referee in an oversized, disheveled striped shirt.<\/p>\n<p>Back from the rabbit hole, we find EVIL hunched over Tanahashi\u2019s back, grinding a forearm across his eyes.\u00a0 He wishbones Tanahashi\u2019s arms back before pressing a boot to the back of his head.\u00a0 EVIL switches to a cravat &#8211; which is always a pleasure to see \u2013 which Tanahashi escapes after jabbing him in the gut.\u00a0 EVIL whips Tanahashi into the ropes, but runs into a back elbow.\u00a0 Tanahashi tries to capitalize, hopping onto the second turnbuckle and flying off with a crossbody that EVIL bails out of the way of.\u00a0 He follows up hits a senton and covers for two.<\/p>\n<p>EVIL goes back to the cravat, twisting Tanahashi\u2019s neck until another jab to the gut backs him off.\u00a0 He retaliates with an eye rake, which Tanahashi answers with an eye rake right back.\u00a0 Your stock keeps rising, Gentlemen.\u00a0 EVIL rakes his eyes again, but his attempt to charge Tanahashi is thwarted by a low dropkick to the knee.\u00a0 EVIL goes back to the ropes, coming back with his boot aimed at Tanahashi\u2019s stomach.\u00a0 Tanahashi catches it and delivers a dragon screw leg whip.\u00a0 He punches EVIL into the corner, but EVIL reverses an Irish Whip attempt to send Tanahashi in.\u00a0 Tanahashi uses the turnbuckle pad as a bumper, springing back with a flying forearm.<\/p>\n<p>Tanahashi hits an elbow\/senton combo, covering for two.\u00a0 He scoop-slams EVIL and hops onto the second rope, flipping forward with a Harlem Hangover that EVIL evades.\u00a0 He darts after EVIL for possibly a Slingblade, but EVIL catches him mid-air and counters with a side slam.\u00a0 With Tanahashi rising in the corner, EVIL closes the gap with a running back-elbow before cradling Tanahashi\u2019s leg and landing a Fisherman\u2019s Buster.\u00a0 Very pleasant offense from EVIL.<\/p>\n<p>EVIL heads up top, leaping off and actually hitting Tanahashi with a flying clothesline.\u00a0 He covers, but Tanahashi escapes at 2 \u00bd.\u00a0 EVIL lifts Tanahashi into a fireman\u2019s carry pickup, but stumbles towards the ropes where Tanahashi lands safely on the apron.\u00a0 They share a mini-Batsu between the ropes that EVIL wins decisively, though his post-Batsu celebration is cut short by a shoulder to the gut.\u00a0 Tanahashi tries to reenter the ring, but a sidekick to the head keeps him outside.\u00a0 Tanahashi snakes EVIL\u2019s leg through the ropes and out with him, popping those ligaments like a snapback with a dragon screw leg whip from the apron.<\/p>\n<p>EVIL scoots outside, rolling on the floor while clutching his knee.\u00a0 Tanahashi sprints to the corner and climbs to the top turnbuckle, the crowd piping up as he settles himself up high and dives out to hit a High Fly Flow on the floor.\u00a0 The flight path is captured expertly, with the camera shooting from right under him as he achieves Ospreay levels of hangtime.\u00a0 Red Shoes chooses this time to count, with Tanahashi rolling EVIL in at sixteen as he runs to the corner and climbs up top.\u00a0 Pure LIJ excellence is on full display as EVIL shoves Red Shoes into the ropes &#8211; the tightrope wobbling wildly to trip up Tanahashi and crotch him on the top turnbuckle.\u00a0 Two young lions come to the apron as Red Shoes rolls onto his stomach, but both back away as Red Shoes rolls another quarter of a rotation and falls straight to the floor.<\/p>\n<p>EVIL slams Tanahashi off the top rope and rolls outside where he collects one of the chairs.\u00a0 He brings it in amidst a barrage of boos from the crowd.\u00a0 With Red Shoes wiped clean out of camera view, EVIL smacks Tanahashi across the back with it.\u00a0 His head swivels around the ring, finding Red Shoes still missing in action, so he pastes Tanahashi again with the chair.\u00a0 Tanahashi pops back to his feet, kicking EVIL in the stomach as the chair is thrust in his direction.\u00a0 He recovers it and strikes EVIL across the back as Red Shoes\u2019 head pops into view from over the apron\u2019s horizon.\u00a0 He rolls in as Tanahashi forearms EVIL in the corner.\u00a0 Red Shoes tries to pry Tanahashi off of EVIL, but an understandably furious Tanahashi shoves him to the canvas.\u00a0 And Red Shoes is down, once again rolling unassisted into a treacherous spill to the outside.<\/p>\n<p>Tanahashi Dragon Screw Neck Whips EVIL onto the chair and follows up with a Slingblade as Red Shoes rolls back in.\u00a0 For those who don\u2019t know yet, I like to use Dragon Screw \u201cfill in the blank\u201d Whips anytime the opportunity presents itself in a Tanahashi match.\u00a0 Tanahashi heads up top, taking flight with a High Fly Flow that gets so much air that EVIL has more than enough time to get his knees up.\u00a0 The landing sends Tanahashi bouncing right off of EVIL while grabbing his stomach.\u00a0 All three men are down!\u00a0 In the race to get up, EVIL forearms Tanahashi, traded in kind by The Ace, before a double-chop to the chest stuns Tanahashi long enough for EVIL to try his luck at the ropes.\u00a0 He whiffs on a lariat, as does Tanahashi in return before spinning right into a lariat that cracks against his sternum.\u00a0 EVIL covers, but Tanahashi lifts his left shoulder off the mat at the last possible millisecond.\u00a0 EVIL quickly lifts Tanahashi onto his shoulders and drives him to the mat with Darkness Falls, covering for two!\u00a0 The camera crew is on point in this match, providing us with a magnificent shot of Red Shoes\u2019 face staring up at the lights, with Tanahashi flat on his back behind him and EVIL flat on his stomach deep in the background.<\/p>\n<p>Tanahashi shoves EVIL into the ropes, but can\u2019t defend against a rebound superkick.\u00a0 EVIL locks in \u2013 please forgive my move-set ignorance for a moment \u2013 a mounted rear wristlock crossface chicken wing combo.\u00a0 I know I\u2019m not even remotely in the right neighborhood with that call, so let that description serve as my Sussudio to the wrestling lexicon.\u00a0 Pulling back on Tanahashi\u2019s head, EVIL begins to make The Ace fade.\u00a0 As Red Shoes comes in for closer inspection, EVIL decides to dump Tanahashi out of what looked like a damn effective submission and go for the cover.\u00a0 Tanahashi once again escapes at two and some change as opposed to being Zip-locked tightly in that incredible submission.\u00a0 EVIL goes for EVIL (the move), but Tanahashi counters with a full nelson, which EVIL counters out of with a back elbow.\u00a0 Tanahashi reaches back and smacks him across the face.\u00a0 EVIL spins 360, whipping around with his arm planked out wide for a lariat, but gets smacked in the face again.\u00a0 Tanahashi reverses another EVIL attempt with a Slingblade and once again both men are down!<\/p>\n<p>Tanahashi beats EVIL to his feet and tries for a tiger suplex.\u00a0 EVIL deadweights him, then catches Red Shoes wandering too close to the cage.\u00a0 He shoves Red Shoes into the turnbuckle before spinning around and spewing green mist in Tanahashi\u2019s face.\u00a0 Oh my God, it\u2019s the BUSHI special!\u00a0 EVIL hits EVIL (the move) and covers, his body in prime position to block Red Shoes from getting a good look at Tanahashi\u2019s face as he scores the pinfall victory.<\/p>\n<p>Winner: EVIL, advancing to the second round to face Yuji Nagata<\/p>\n<p>After the match, EVIL stomps a young lion for trying to help out Tanahashi.\u00a0 He grabs the mic, and has what appears to be a strongly worded diatribe aimed at his opponent.\u00a0 He finishes with, \u201cThis is Evil!\u00a0 Everything is Evil!\u201d before slamming the mic down and posing with his foot on Tanahashi\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: Did Red Shoes have this coming, once again forgetting what happens every single time he gets within spitting distance of an LIJ member?\u00a0 Or is there something a little more sinister afoot?<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>The match was such a showcase for EVIL, with the win against Tanahashi no doubt serving as a huge pat on the back from the higher-ups.\u00a0 He looked terrific &#8211; managing to not only pull from a deeper than normal pool of moves, but also match Tanahashi\u2019s uncanny knack for keeping the crowd invested from start to finish.\u00a0 Tanahashi is Tanahashi, so you know his effort was at a certain level of excellence no matter the opponent.\u00a0 I\u2019m a little bummed to see him cast aside so early, but that\u2019s what I get for coming into New Japan so late in the game.\u00a0 I\u2019m sure there were years upon years of him winning damn near every match and being a constant fixture deep into tournaments.\u00a0 I assume he will not lose the slightest bit of cred for the loss.\u00a0 At least with me he won\u2019t.\u00a0 Again, what a win for EVIL.\u00a0 He worked his ass off against Tanahashi and I wouldn\u2019t mind if his post-match dressing down of The Ace sparks a longer feud.)<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Amagasaki City Memorial Park Gymnasium<\/b><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not entirely sure if NJPW World is adding Gymnasium instead of Gym, but I love it.\u00a0 And might I add, the switch in venues is a welcome change for one reason and one reason only.\u00a0 We\u2019re back to the parade of crossbeams &#8211; six in total, three to either side of the entranceway where a large screen is stationed above it.\u00a0 Not their finest work, but an acceptable configuration nonetheless.<\/p>\n<p><b>Yujiro Takahashi vs. Juice Robinson<\/b><\/p>\n<p>A purple haze bathes the ring as the crossbeams permeate with equal effect.\u00a0 Takahashi makes his way to the ring, sporting a black fedora and black vest, showing the world that hairless prepubescent chest.\u00a0 His right hand is wrapped around a cane, his left caressing the waist of a gorgeous woman wearing a black thong with matching bra and bunny ears.\u00a0 She has no issue with bending over right in front of the camera, causing the cameraman\u2019s finger to stroke the trigger of the zoom button and track the shot closely.\u00a0 I\u2019m not a parent, so the Dad Protocol on this one baffles me.\u00a0 Are we pretending not to have an erection as we lie to our children that the woman with barely any clothes on is doing exactly what she dreamt of when she was their age?\u00a0 Or are we mum on the issue, sharing the uncomfortable silence and bashful half-chubs of the other dads?\u00a0 Juice comes out to a little less pomp and circumstance than Takahashi, his arm raised to the crowd before pointing to God knows where high up in the stands instead of looking at what\u2019s in the ring.\u00a0 Maybe he\u2019s a Column B guy.<\/p>\n<p>Takahashi gets the jump on a tie-up, chopping Robinson in the chest before pulling on his dreads in the corner.\u00a0 Robinson gets fed up with the follicle strain, reversing positions to belt Takahashi with a clothesline that makes the crowd \u201cooooh\u201d at the sound of the smack.\u00a0 He hits him repeatedly with said clothesline, each time making Takahashi\u2019s body bounce off the turnbuckle pad.\u00a0 Robinson sprints to the opposite corner, his 40 time far and away the fastest in the tournament, and races back to the sight of Takahashi getting right the hell out of there.<\/p>\n<p>Takahashi steals a moment to brush up against his lady of the night, which Robinson breaks up by jumping over the top rope.\u00a0 He\u2019s greeted by a clothesline from Takahashi, who picks him up and gives him a god damn Fisherman\u2019s Buster on the floor!\u00a0 Jesus Christ, Takahashi!\u00a0 Marty checks to make sure Robinson is still breathing, ushering Takahashi into the ring before beginning his count from the apron with a hand hovering above Robinson.\u00a0 Robinson gets in a fifteen to a round of applause that probably sounds distorted through those burst eardrums.<\/p>\n<p>Robinson slaps him for the Fisherman\u2019s Buster, but gets snapmared back to the mat before Takahashi hits a running legdrop.\u00a0 I gotta say, Takahashi is looking far faster than what I\u2019ve seen in previous outings.\u00a0 He goes for a neckbreaker, but there is something seriously f-ed up about it.\u00a0 Robinson goes one way, while Takahashi goes the other, producing something that could have seen Robinson have his spine rip right through his skin.\u00a0 It looked nasty.\u00a0 Takahashi decides to opt for a rear chinlock instead of trying that neckbreaker again, with Robinson fighting back to his feet and whipping Takahashi into the ropes.\u00a0 Robinson goes for a dropkick, but Takahashi hangs on and smacks a downed Robinson with a sliding kick.<\/p>\n<p>Takahashi hits a running boot to Robinson in the corner, and whips him into the opposite corner before Robinson counters with an axe kick.\u00a0 Robinson hits a right hand\/right chop combo before Takahashi boots him in the gut.\u00a0 He heads to the ropes, but Robinson counters with a backbreaker transitioned into a Russian leg sweep.\u00a0 Very smooth.\u00a0 Robinson hits a jumping senton, covering for two.<\/p>\n<p>He hoists Takahashi up for a vertical suplex, but Takahashi drops behind his back and hits a facebuster.\u00a0 Takahashi hits another sliding kick to Robinson\u2019s face and another Fisherman\u2019s Buster, pinning for two.\u00a0 Robinson squirms out of a Fireman\u2019s Carry Pickup and goes for Pulp Friction, but Takahashi slides his arms free and counters with a reverse DDT.\u00a0 Well done, Bub.\u00a0 Robinson runs into Takahashi\u2019s boot, but ducks a follow-up clothesline before missing an axe kick.\u00a0 Takahashi gets him back onto his shoulders and hits Miami Shine, again pinning Robinson for two.<\/p>\n<p>Takahashi lifts Robinson up by the hair and goes for the Tokyo Pimp, but Robinson flips off of his shoulders and drives him back-first into the turnbuckle pad.\u00a0 As Takahashi slumps in the corner, Robinson falls exhaustedly to his knees, their heads pressed together.\u00a0 Robinson gets to his feet and whips Takahashi into the corner, hitting a running clothesline that dumps Takahashi to his rear.\u00a0 Robinson goes corner to corner, building up speed to hit a cannonball, but Takahashi rolls out of the way.\u00a0 Takahashi tries to kick Robinson in the face while he\u2019s on his knees, but Robinson catches it, rises, and jabs him in the face.\u00a0 Takahashi counters with a boot to the face before bouncing off the ropes and running right into a lariat.\u00a0 Robinson lifts Takahashi up and throws him down with a f****ng bone-chilling powerbomb!\u00a0 Son of a bitch!\u00a0 Takahashi is left in a crumpled heap of limbs!\u00a0 Robinson stacks up the scraps of Takahashi and covers, but the scraps slip away!\u00a0 Robinson quickly gathers them up and hits Pulp Friction, ending the match and possibly Takahashi\u2019s career with that powerbomb.<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Juice Robinson, awaiting a death sentence in the second round against the winner of Shibata\/Suzuki<\/p>\n<p>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: So far, the second best match of the tournament.\u00a0 That\u2019s not saying much though.\u00a0 That neckbreaker attempt really could have altered the quality of Robinson\u2019s life forever.\u00a0 Hell, same goes for that powerbomb. Whatever they were trying to prove, son of a bitch we get it!\u00a0 I was initially looking forward to seeing how far Juice could go in the tournament until I saw the aftermath of the sorting hat\u2019s binge.\u00a0 The winner of this match is in a sh***y spot regardless of who came out victorious.\u00a0 You never know I suppose.\u00a0 Just ask Michael Elgin.)<\/p>\n<p><b>SANADA vs. Yoshi-Hashi<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you the dark horse of the tournament.\u00a0 SANADA: a bat wielding, leather jacketed, full of promise, hell of a finisher, bad mother****r.\u00a0 I\u2019ve even come around on the coif of hair swooping to the sky.\u00a0 As he walks to the ring, you can see a guy \u2013 a grown ass man holding a child in his arms no less \u2013 wearing a SANADA skull mask.\u00a0 His Q-Rating is skyrocketing and I\u2019m reveling in it.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi comes out to a surprising amount of people clapping to his theme song \u2013 about three in total.\u00a0 I\u2019ve only seen one good Yoshi-Hashi match and have been waiting for another, so if anyone can help him it has to be SANADA.\u00a0 Right?<\/p>\n<p>And of all the refs for this match?\u00a0 Red Shoes.\u00a0 As Yoshi-Hashi disrobes, SANADA paces in the corner &#8211; his mind no doubt concocting the best use of Red Shoes\u2019 service.\u00a0 When the bell rings, Yoshi-Hashi immediately gets SANADA in a side headlock.\u00a0 SANADA shoves him away, only to return the favor with his own headlock.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi shoves SANADA into the ropes, who comes back with a shoulder tackle.\u00a0 SANADA whips Yoshi-Hashi into the ropes, but the trade-offs continue with Yoshi-Hashi getting a shoulder tackle followed by a back elbow and a hurricanranna that sends SANADA outside to regroup.<\/p>\n<p>Yoshi-Hashi thinks better of the break in action, so he takes off for the ropes.\u00a0 SANADA slides in after him to hit a dropkick that forces Yoshi-Hashi outside.\u00a0 Clever.\u00a0 SANADA flings his body over the top rope, connecting to put Yoshi-Hashi on his back.\u00a0 Red Shoes stays far away from the wreckage, opting instead to stay inside and wave his hand for them to bring the action his way.\u00a0 SANADA ignores the request and whips Yoshi-Hashi into the guardrail.\u00a0 He stays on the attack, hoisting Yoshi-Hashi onto his shoulders to drop him neck-first across it.\u00a0 This prompts Red Shoes to count, with SANADA rolling in early.<\/p>\n<p>Yoshi-Hashi beats the count, coming in to a back-elbow from SANADA.\u00a0 SANADA locks in a rear headlock, with Yoshi-Hashi slowly making his way to his feet and elbowing out of the hold.\u00a0 SANADA counters a forearm with a rake to the eyes.\u00a0 Delightful!\u00a0 SANADA shifts out of a tilt-a-whirl attempt, landing perfectly in position for the Dragon Sleeper.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi manages to spin his body around and hoist SANADA up for a vertical Suplex, but SANADA bends his body backwards to land on his feet, with Yoshi-Hashi countering the escape with a neck breaker.\u00a0 It was all terrific, and all SANADA.\u00a0 Amazing.<\/p>\n<p>Yoshi-Hashi chops SANADA at the ropes, runs to the other side of the ring and comes back with a flipping neck breaker that sends SANADA backtracking to the corner.\u00a0 He connects with a running chop before lifting SANADA up in a suplex and hanging him on the top rope.\u00a0 He hits a dropkick to the back of the head, covering but only getting a two.\u00a0 SANADA escapes out of a scoop-slam, but gets chopped in the chest and whipped into the corner.\u00a0 He does the Ric Flair flip over the top rope, landing on his feet before springboarding back in with a missile dropkick!\u00a0 So impressive.<\/p>\n<p>SANADA gets to his feet and punts Yoshi-Hashi in the chest.\u00a0 They trade forearms in a Batsu flurry of forearms, which Yoshi-Hashi actually manages to win.\u00a0 SANADA sneaks in a European Uppercut after the game is called, but Yoshi-Hashi slaps him in the face for the unsportsmanlike conduct.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi hits the ropes as SANADA hunches over \u2013 a calculated feign of exhaustion as he pops Yoshi-Hashi onto his shoulders and into the air for a super stunner!\u00a0 He covers.\u00a0 1, 2, Yoshi-Hashi kicks out!\u00a0 The kid\u2019s got heart!\u00a0 He\u2019s also gotten himself into a dragon sleeper, with SANADA slamming their bodies to the mat and trapping him in the hold.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi tries to fight out, his legs flailing for the ropes as SANADA continues to bend him backwards.\u00a0 With his foot inches from the ropes, he kicks his leg out and just manages to drape it aboard for the break.<\/p>\n<p>SANADA gets off the mat, strips off his shirt to an audible \u201coooh\u201d from the crowd, and locks the Dragon Sleeper right back in while lifting Yoshi-Hashi to his feet.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi spins his body free, with SANADA rolling away from whatever offense was coming his way.\u00a0 He ducks Yoshi-Hashi\u2019s clothesline and rolls him up, going an extra rotation to get him back into the dragon sleeper.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi victory-rolls SANADA, but the pinfall attempt is for naught.\u00a0 SANADA boots Yoshi-Hashi, but his momentum comes to a screeching halt by a lariat.<\/p>\n<p>Yoshi-Hashi picks SANADA up for a powerbomb, but SANADA punches his way out of it.\u00a0 He rushes Yoshi-Hashi, twirling onto his shoulders before ending up caught in a tombstone shoulder-breaker!\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi lifts SANADA off the mat and sticks him to the canvas with a powerbomb, flipping over his body for a near-fall.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi slams SANADA to the mat and heads up top, swantoning onto a pair of knees awaiting his arrival.\u00a0 SANADA tries to whip Yoshi-Hashi into the ropes, but Yoshi-Hashi trips him and applies a Butterfly Lock which puts SANADA fighting to scoot his legs to the ropes.\u00a0 He kicks wildly as Red Shoes inches ever closer.\u00a0 SANADA manages to reach the ropes, but Yoshi-Hashi forgoes the break and rolls SANADA away with the lock still intact.\u00a0 With Yoshi-Hashi screaming as he tries to bend SANADA\u2019s arms back, SANADA begins to fade before making a desperate swing at the ropes with his legs, narrowly missing Red Shoes as his foot touches the ropes.\u00a0 As the crowd applauds SANADA\u2019s effort, Red Shoes is on his knees shaking his head at him.<\/p>\n<p>Yoshi-Hashi smacks SANADA with a sliding kick to the back of the head before slamming him to the mat near the corner.\u00a0 He heads up top, this time successfully landing the swanton.\u00a0 Red Shoes dives in for the count, but SANADA kicks out.\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi hits an enzuigiri and goes for Karma, but SANADA shifts his body in the windup to put himself in position for the Dragon Sleeper.\u00a0 He begins dragging Yoshi-Hashi towards the corner, but Yoshi-Hashi armdrags SANADA off of him.\u00a0 SANADA rolls to the corner, rising to the sight of Yoshi-Hashi barreling towards him.\u00a0 He smacks him with a back-elbow before turning to the corner and hoping off with a springboard backflip into the Dragon Sleeper \u2013 once again dragging Yoshi-Hashi to the center and entombing him in the hold with his legs vised around his body!\u00a0 Yoshi-Hashi is forced to submit seconds later.<\/p>\n<p>Winner: SANADA, advancing to the second round to face the winner of Omega\/Ishii<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: Ok, so I got a good Yoshi-Hashi match, but let\u2019s be honest about it.\u00a0 This was all SANADA.\u00a0 I am continually mesmerized by the mind-blowing offense he can generate from damn near any position.\u00a0 The man is a f****ng star.)<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Katsuyori Shibata vs. Minoru Suzuki<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Holy s-, its Shibata AND Suzuki.\u00a0 It\u2019s the finals in the first round!\u00a0 I can\u2019t believe this is about to happen.\u00a0 The crowd claps along to Suzuki\u2019s theme as he emerges with a black towel draped over his head, his arms leisurely dangling in a confident stride as Taichi follows behind him.\u00a0 He gets on the apron and claps with the crowd, waving them on until he enters right as \u201cKaze Ni Nare\u201d is sung loudly by all in attendance.\u00a0 Once in the ring, Red Shoes makes sure to avert his eyes from his presence, trying to look as if something in the rafters has his attention.<\/p>\n<p>And then it hits.\u00a0 That glorious strum of notes welcoming us to what might very well be the best match this tournament has to offer.\u00a0 Right as the strings are plucked on Shibata\u2019s theme, the camera stays on Suzuki, who gives Taichi a look as if to say, \u201cCan you believe this guy bothered to show up?\u201d\u00a0 Shibata enters the ring, toweling off beads of sweat with a two word tagline.\u00a0 The Wrestler flings the towel behind him and takes center stage, his eyes zeroed in on Suzuki as Taichi stares at him with only inches separating their faces.\u00a0 Shibata\u2019s eyes never leave Suzuki\u2019s as Taichi finally backs away to bump fists with the boss.<\/p>\n<p>As the bell rings, the crowd roars with an overwhelming loud \u201cShibata\u201d chant that\u2019s broken up when Suzuki makes his first step towards him.\u00a0 They paw at each other\u2019s hands, both fidgeting for an advantage on a potential tie-up.\u00a0 Suzuki steps back, a smug expression shifting to one of annoyance.\u00a0 They circle around one another, both slowly making contact before Shibata shifts gears and disappears behind Suzuki\u2019s back with a waistlock.\u00a0 Suzuki is more than happy to give it to him, taking his opponent\u2019s left arm and twisting it into a hammerlock.\u00a0 Shibata powers Suzuki\u2019s arm off of him and spins him into the ropes.\u00a0 He pats Suzuki on the chest and slowly retreats, a speed that allows Suzuki to reach out and turn him into the ropes.\u00a0 He too gives his opponent a pat on the chest, and he too suffers the consequences of a slow backpedal.\u00a0 Shibata makes contact with a kick to the chin, backing Suzuki out of reach.<\/p>\n<p>They exchange a rapid-fire five count of forearms in the middle of the ring before Suzuki uncorks an open palm combo that puts Shibata on the defensive.\u00a0 Suzuki clutches the back of Shibata\u2019s head, driving his knee straight into his gut to dump him to the mat.\u00a0 They exchange sweeps aimed at dislodging the other\u2019s head before Suzuki snapmares Shibata to the canvas and rifles a kick across his back.\u00a0 Shibata pops right back to his feet, knees Suzuki in the gut, then snapmares him to the mat and sends a kick to Suzuki\u2019s back that makes him scream as his body stiffens.\u00a0 Shibata tries for, struggles to get, and then locks in a god damn figure four!\u00a0 You bet your motherf****ng ass Shibata is bringing his A-game against Suzuki.\u00a0 Suzuki scoots to his left in order to grab ahold of the rope and free himself.<\/p>\n<p>While using the ropes to pull himself back up, Suzuki finds himself under fire by repeated boots to the body.\u00a0 He gets to his feet, displaying a ghoulish smile while steading for the incoming forearm.\u00a0 He fires one right back, starting a mini-Batsu that\u2019s broken up by a Shibata uppercut and boot combo that sends him rolling to the other side of the ring.\u00a0 Shibata unleashes two forearms that leave Suzuki intertwined between the top and middle ropes, his upper torso dangling outside.\u00a0 Suzuki steps to the apron as Shibata reaches out to grab him.\u00a0 He snatches Shibata\u2019s long limb, twirling his body upside-down to apply an armbar as Red Shoes slides out to the apron and smacks him on the arm to release the hold.<\/p>\n<p>Suzuki takes Shibata outside, whipping him back-first into the guardrail.\u00a0 As Suzuki drives his forearm into Shibata\u2019s chin, Red Shoes steps in and grabs him.\u00a0 He follows the flow of Red Shoes\u2019 push, bringing the ref far from view of Taichi stepping in to stomp on Shibata\u2019s chest.\u00a0 Suzuki returns, once again whipping Shibata into the guardrail before punting him in the ribs.\u00a0 And once again Red Shoes takes him away as Taichi stomps and chokes Shibata.\u00a0 Red Shoes finally catches on, ordering Taichi away as Suzuki grabs a water bottle and smacks it over Shibata\u2019s head.\u00a0 He kicks open the gate to level two and throws Shibata into a row of chairs.\u00a0 Instead of counting, Red Shoes takes the long walk to retrieve Suzuki as Shibata writhes on the floor.\u00a0 Suzuki isn\u2019t done with him, tearing apart a section of the guardrail and ramming it against Shibata\u2019s ribcage.\u00a0 Finally satisfied with the advantage gained, Suzuki peels Shibata off the floor and drags him back into the ring.<\/p>\n<p>Suzuki transitions a hammerlock into an armbar, with Shibata fighting to keep his right arm from being hyperextended.\u00a0 Shibata manages to reach the ropes and escape, sitting up in the corner as another wave of forearms come crashing down on him.\u00a0 He reverses an Irish Whip attempt, chasing Suzuki down with a boot to the face.\u00a0 Shibata launches a salvo of forearms, so crisp in their delivery, that absolutely pelt Suzuki\u2019s jaw.\u00a0 Each one connects solidly, two of which make the announcer exhale \u201cUssh!\u00a0 Ussh!\u201d with each smack of flesh.\u00a0 Suzuki pops to his feet and flips Shibata into the turnbuckle pad, firing off a succession of undefended forearms.\u00a0 Shibata turns Suzuki into the pad, driving a deluge of forearms right back.\u00a0 Suzuki roars in Shibata\u2019s face before a forearm smacks him hard enough to drop him.\u00a0 Shibata hits the floating dropkick, leaving Suzuki grimacing in the corner.<\/p>\n<p>Shibata hauls in Suzuki for a snap suplex, floating over for a two count.\u00a0 Suzuki starts showing signs of life, driving his forearm into Shibata\u2019s face.\u00a0 He tries for a snapmare, but is countered into an Octopus Hold.\u00a0 Shibata stretches his leg over the back of Suzuki\u2019s head to push down and add a little more pressure to the hold.\u00a0 Suzuki fights for the ropes, his steps labored as he reaches out to scrape the rope and force the break.\u00a0 Suzuki spins around and fires off a forearm before whipping Shibata into the turnbuckle pad and connecting with a boot to the face.\u00a0 He snapmares Shibata and heads to the ropes\u2026coming back with a PK!\u00a0 He covers, but Shibata shoves him off at two.\u00a0 Holy s-!\u00a0 A figure four by Shibata?\u00a0 A PK from Suzuki?\u00a0 Incredible!<\/p>\n<p>Suzuki swats Shibata\u2019s with a forearm and reverses an Irish Whip into an Octopus Hold!\u00a0 Incredible!!\u00a0 Adding to the beauty being displayed in the ring, Red Shoes is lying on the mat like he\u2019s posing for a nude photo, his eyes staring up at Shibata while his body shimmies with each step towards the ropes for the break.\u00a0 Everyone is pulling out all the stops!\u00a0 Suzuki forearms Shibata in the temple, rocking him ever so slightly.\u00a0 He hits another, then smacks Shibata REALLY God damn hard in the chest!\u00a0 Twice!\u00a0 He headbutts him, which is answered by a forearm from Shibata.\u00a0 They go nose to nose\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Batsu Game!\u00a0 Forearm by Suzuki, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Suzuki, forearm by Shibata, Suzuki grabs the back of Shibata\u2019s head a pats him on the shoulder before drilling him with a forearm, Shibata slowly circles around Suzuki before grabbing the back of his head and unleashing a forearm, forearm by Suzuki followed by a scream, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Suzuki, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Suzuki, forearm by Shibata that wobbles Suzuki to his right, Suzuki steadies himself by grabbing Shibata\u2019s hair and forearms him, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Suzuki as the crowd joyously screams \u201cHey!\u201d, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Suzuki, forearm by Shibata that makes Suzuki visibly grind his teeth, five more even exchanges before Shibata hits a double, forearm by Suzuki, forearm by Shibata that causes Suzuki to stumble back with a twisted smile on his face, forearm by Suzuki \u2013 a shot that whips Shibata\u2019s head back so fast that it looked like the screen glitched, forearm by Shibata that has Suzuki stumbling back into the ropes, forearm by Suzuki that releases a gob of spit from Shibata\u2019s mouth, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Suzuki, forearm by Shibata, forearm by Suzuki after kicking his leg out like a pitcher entering his wind-up, forearm by Shibata that stumbles Suzuki once again as the announcer gushes into the mic, they exchange another round before Suzuki feigns a forearm and smacks Shibata in the face, Shibata ducks a second slap and counters with a smack to Suzuki\u2019s cheek, both men boot each other in the face, they separate briefly and charge &#8211; colliding with another double-boot that drops both men!\u00a0 The crowd erupts as the marathon Batsu is called a draw!<\/p>\n<p>The cameraman catches Suzuki on his knees, smiling as he watches Shibata in the background clinging to the top rope in order to get back up.\u00a0 Suzuki beats Shibata to his feet and scores with a boot to the face, transitioning into a sleeper hold.\u00a0 Shibata drops to one knee as Suzuki squeezes to cut off his air supply.\u00a0 Shibata reaches for the ropes, but Suzuki drags him back to the middle of the ring as the crowd breaks into a \u201cShibata\u201d chant.\u00a0 Suzuki glares at the crowd as Shibata falls to the mat.\u00a0 He pulls Shibata back up, spinning his body around for the Gotch-Piledriver.\u00a0 Shibata blocks it, forcing Suzuki to let go and knee him in the gut.<\/p>\n<p>Suzuki lunges towards Shibata with a forearm, his momentum used by Shibata to trip him to the mat.\u00a0 Shibata scurries to his feet, picking Suzuki off the mat to hit a release German Suplex.\u00a0 He sits Suzuki up and hits the ropes for the PK, but Suzuki lays back as the kicks flashes before his eyes.\u00a0 He rolls to his feet and gets popped in the jaw by a forearm.\u00a0 Shibata dashes behind Suzuki\u2019s back and goes for a sleeper, but Suzuki reverses and sinks in his own sleeper.\u00a0 Shibata reverses, hoisting Suzuki onto his shoulders for a Death Valley Driver!\u00a0 Oh my God, this is war!\u00a0 Shibata\u2019s eyes grow wild as Suzuki begins to rise.\u00a0 He takes a hop-step and slaps Suzuki back to the canvas.\u00a0 Shibata hits the ropes\u2026PK!!!!!\u00a0 He covers as Red Shoes slides into view.\u00a0 1, 2, 3!!!<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Katsuyori Shibata, advancing to the second round to face Juice Robinson<\/p>\n<p><i>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis: Yep, this was the finals.\u00a0 What a tremendous match!\u00a0 These are the two guys I wanted to see the most, and the one branch of the bracket that I knew \u2013 I just knew \u2013 was going to deliver the match of the tournament.\u00a0 Granted, I am a huge fan of both men, and the tournament is still young, but come on.\u00a0 These guys delivered a must-see match that was everything I was hoping for and then some.\u00a0 What\u2026a\u2026war.)<\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kenny Omega<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Pay homage.<\/p>\n<p>Kenny Omega is out first, and god damn it\u2019s good to see him.\u00a0 I can honestly say that the odds of me following him to WWE would have been slim.\u00a0 He rides a cocky swagger to the ring, soaking in all the adulation that comes with being so damn good.\u00a0 When he gets into the ring he extends a finger-gun towards the camera and fires, leaning in close to say, \u201cI just might be the crowd favorite today.\u00a0 We\u2019ll see how it goes.\u201d\u00a0 And then the sirens sound.\u00a0 Ishii is let loose on the arena, stomping towards the ring as a Batsu highlight reel plays high above his head.\u00a0 He cares not for the arms reaching out to touch him, his eyes never losing focus on the ring as he rolls his neck with a twitch and snarl.<\/p>\n<p>Omega steps close, hiking his hand above his eyes and peering over Ishii\u2019s head.\u00a0 That, Kenny, is not wise.\u00a0 The camera zooms in on Omega\u2019s sly grin before switching to Ishii\u2019s death glare that can only be summed up with one word \u2013 redrum.\u00a0 When the bell rings, Ishii steadies himself for the tie-up, quickly swatting Omega\u2019s head down and into a side headlock.\u00a0 Omega shoves him into the ropes and quickly plants his feet to the mat in order to take the charge.\u00a0 Ishii hits him with a shoulder tackle at top speed, with Omega still standing and flicking away trickles of sweat from his chest.\u00a0 He decides to take his turn at a shoulder tackle, one leaving him the victim of a flatback spill to the mat.<\/p>\n<p>Omega orders Ishii to try another shoulder block, one that is accepted but ultimately leads to a boot to the face.\u00a0 Omega shoves him before hitting the ropes, a flight path that crashes and burns as Ishii trucks him over.\u00a0 Omega speed walks in a circle before slapping Ishii in the face.\u00a0 A forearm responds in kind.\u00a0 They engage in a Batsu, consisting mostly of Ishii never flinching while Omega flees the moment his bravado gets tested.\u00a0 Ishii wins handily, driving home the point with three headbutts that send Omega bailing outside for safety.<\/p>\n<p>As Ishii steps out to the apron, Omega glides towards him &#8211; his body riding the apron as he connects with a sliding kick that buckles Ishii\u2019s left knee.\u00a0 Omega uses Ishii\u2019s position on the apron to get him on his shoulders for the One Winged Angel, but Ishii hops off and whips Omega into the guardrail.\u00a0 Omega blocks it with his boot, spinning quickly around to superkick Ishii in the stomach.\u00a0 He drives Ishii\u2019s head into the guardrail before hopping onto it and hitting a moonsault.\u00a0 Omega gets to one knee and throws up the Wolfpac sign to an older lady \u2013 a gesture that receives a wide grin and a wolf\u2019s head thrown right back at him.<\/p>\n<p>Omega tosses Ishii back in the ring &#8211; which I\u2019m not sure why because Red Shoes damn sure wasn\u2019t counting \u2013 and gets shoulder tackled into the guardrail as he hops onto the apron.\u00a0 Ishii tries for a vertical suplex on the floor, but Omega escapes and clubs him on the back.\u00a0 Oh hell, Fale is having an influence.\u00a0 Omega rams Ishii\u2019s back against the apron before scooping him up and lobbing him onto the corner of it.\u00a0 Nasty stuff, but that\u2019s what it takes to beat Ishii.\u00a0 Now Red Shoes in on the count.\u00a0 Both are back in with plenty of time to spare.<\/p>\n<p>Omega stays on the attack, stomping Ishii before driving an elbow to the back of his head.\u00a0 Ishii is unimpressed, chopping Omega in retaliation.\u00a0 Omega rakes his eyes to slow him down, taking the time to shove Red Shoes.\u00a0 Red Shoes is also unimpressed, noted by his reaction of pinching his ref\u2019s shirt and shaking it at him.\u00a0 Omega ignores the power play and chops the s- out of Ishii\u2019s chest!\u00a0 He hit him so hard that Ishii\u2019s upper torso snapped back.\u00a0 Omega slams him to the mat and hits a diving elbow before covering for two.\u00a0 Ishii rises and forearms Omega until Omega grabs him by the head and slams it into the turnbuckle pad.\u00a0 It nets the result you\u2019d expect, with Ishii turning towards Omega and growling at him.<\/p>\n<p>Another nasty chop by Omega.\u00a0 Ishii headbutts him in the gut, but the comeback is a short one after another sharp hack of the chest puts him back down.\u00a0 Watching Omega take off for the ropes, Ishii pops back up and counters with a powerslam \u2013 his body rotating inches off the mat.\u00a0 His forearm\/chop combo causes Omega to hunch over, allowing him to speed back and forth from the ropes with a shoulder tackle that not only pops Omega into the air, but ragdolls him to the point that his limbs flail at his sides as he spins.\u00a0 Ishii tries for a backdrop suplex, but Omega flips over his shoulder and is forced to duck out of the way of a lariat.\u00a0 He hits the ropes, coming back with a basement dropkick that clips Ishii to the mat.\u00a0 By the time Ishii can begin to rise, the launch code to a leapfrog legdrop has already been sent and he\u2019s sandwiched back to the canvas.<\/p>\n<p>Omega tries to whip Ishii into the ropes, but he\u2019s met by dead weight on the other end.\u00a0 Two punches to the face loosens his grip, but he fights through the pain to haul Ishii onto his shoulders to hit a rolling slam before springboarding off the second rope for a moonsault.\u00a0 A lazy cover nets Omega a two.<\/p>\n<p>Omega sends out another loud chop to Ishii\u2019s chest &#8211; a broad bullseye that has begun to turn pink from the constant dilation of blood vessels helping it heal.\u00a0 But he\u2019s dealing with a Jedi master in Batsu, one roaring right back in his face.\u00a0 Ishii unloads a pent up chop waiting to pop off, causing Omega to hunch over.\u00a0 He waits for Omega to stand up straight before hammering his chest with another chop.\u00a0 Omega fires back, finally denting Ishii\u2019s armor, albeit slightly as the game of tag continues with one that dents him back.\u00a0 Ishii cocks back and chops Omega\u2019s neck before heading for the ropes.\u00a0 As he stampedes back, Omega leaps up and counters with a Frankensteiner, stuffing Ishii\u2019s head to the mat.<\/p>\n<p>Omega rolls to the apron and heads up top, his eyes widening at the sight of Ishii nimbly chasing up after him.\u00a0 He clubs Ishii on the back and steps onto the top turnbuckle\u2026as does Ishii.\u00a0 Omega tries for a top rope powerbomb, undoubtedly facing a murder rap if not for Ishii blocking it and stepping back down to the safety of the second rope.\u00a0 Omega lowers into a perched position on the top rope and tries to crack into the top of Ishii\u2019s skull with a forearm.\u00a0 He steps up to the top rope again for the powerbomb, but again Ishii blocks it.\u00a0 Omega clubs him in the back, but gets caught by the crown of Ishii\u2019s head driven straight up at him.\u00a0 Ishii climbs up again\u2026and hits a top rope Frankensteiner!!!\u00a0 Jesus f****ng Christ!\u00a0 He moves swiftly to lift Omega up for a powerbomb, extending his arm into Last Ride territory, planting him to the mat and folding him up for the pin!\u00a0 1, 2, Omega is alive!<\/p>\n<p>Ishii rushes towards the ropes, sprinting back with a lariat that Omega ducks.\u00a0 Ishii spins around and waistlocks Omega, bending back for a German Suplex that Omega flips out of.\u00a0 Omega rushes Ishii, who is already up and racing forward to connect with a lariat that sends Omega spinning on his back!\u00a0 Ishii falls atop Omega as Red Shoes slides in for the count.\u00a0 1, 2, Omega kicks out again!<\/p>\n<p>Omega is sit up, left powerless as he watches Ishii sprint to the ropes.\u00a0 That big body comes racing back, sliding into eye level with a clothesline.\u00a0 Omega ducks out of the way and rolls to his feet, but a forearm bangs right into him.\u00a0 He blocks a suplex attempt and tries to counter with one of his own, but a knee to the gut stops him cold.\u00a0 Wrestling for leverage on a suplex, Omega gets kneecapped but manages to counter with a DDT that spikes Ishii\u2019s head to the mat with his legs sticking straight up in the air!<\/p>\n<p>Omega pries Ishii off the mat and into a suplex position, reaching down to grab Ishii\u2019s left leg and cross it over his right.\u00a0 He hoists Ishii up and drops him across his knee!\u00a0 Ishii rolls outside as Omega lowers to one knee with the crowd\u2019s thunderous T2 claps filling the arena.\u00a0 Omega flips over the top rope and wipes out Ishii to the floor.\u00a0 Red Shoes begins his count, with Omega in at eighteen and Ishii in at nineteen.\u00a0 Omega rolls outside and heads up top, leaping off with a missile dropkick to Ishii\u2019s back.\u00a0 He covers, but Ishii kicks out at two.<\/p>\n<p>Omega tries for a Tiger Suplex, then a German Suplex, but Ishii tries to fight out with a chop to the side of his shoulder.\u00a0 Omega absorbs it all to hit a release German Suplex, leaving Ishii in a daze as he stumbles into a superkick that sends him backpedaling to the ropes.\u00a0 Ishii shoots back with a lariat that Omega ducks under, spinning around to hit Ishii with a flying knee to the face.\u00a0 Omega goes for the pin, but Ishii kicks out at one!\u00a0 Omega hits a gut-wrench powerbomb, holding for the pin, and again Ishii kicks out!<\/p>\n<p>Omega, huffing in exhausted gasps of air, points a finger-gun at Ishii for the kill shot.\u00a0 He hits the ropes, as does Ishii who tries to counter with a lariat, but he ducks out of the way.\u00a0 He tries for a tiger suplex, but as Ishii swings back to escape, Omega ducks and lifts Ishii up for the One Winged Angel.\u00a0 Ishii punches his way out and goes for\u2026a One Winged Angel!\u00a0 Omega punches his way out, booting Ishii in the stomach as he drops down before hitting the ropes.\u00a0 Ishii catches him, turning it into a German Suplex that leaves both men flat on the mat!<\/p>\n<p>As both men struggle to their feet, they trade forearms before Omega sends a gob of spit at Ishii.\u00a0 He lands three forearms, answered only by a loud scream.\u00a0 Omega keeps firing, working Ishii to the mat with clubs to the back.\u00a0 Omega charges up for a running knee, but his progress is halted by a headshot swab of spit fired from Ishii.\u00a0 Ishii forearms Omega, headbutts him, and hits a running knee to Omega\u2019s head!\u00a0 Ishii hits the sliding clothesline and covers, but Omega manages to escape with his body draped over Red Shoes\u2019 knees!\u00a0 My God this is awesome!<\/p>\n<p>Ishii builds up speed against the ropes, zeroing in on a lariat, but Omega kicks him in the gut.\u00a0 Ishii rotates around, bringing a lariat with him, but again Omega boots him away.\u00a0 Omega jumps up and lands a flying knee to Ishii\u2019s jaw!\u00a0 He removes his kneepad and heads to the ropes, sprinting back for a flying knee that is intercepted by a lariat!\u00a0 Ishii covers, but Omega slips away!<\/p>\n<p>Ishii grabs Omega off the mat and powers him up for a brainbuster, but Omega rotates away before spinning into an Ishii forearm.\u00a0 Ishii scores with a succession of forearms before taking off for the ropes, his trail hunted down by Omega who connects with a flying knee!\u00a0 Omega gets Ishii up for the One Winged Angel, but Ishii punches and rakes Omega\u2019s eyes to get loose.\u00a0 As Ishii drops, Omega catches him and hits a bridging German Suplex!\u00a0 1, 2, Ishii kicks out!\u00a0 This is incredible!\u00a0 So many exclamation points!<\/p>\n<p>Omega lifts Ishii to his feet and connects him with a forearm.\u00a0 Ishii tries to counter with a lariat, but Omega teleports behind his back and hits a tiger suplex that sends Ishii tumbling to the ropes.\u00a0 Omega mows him down with a running knee to the back of the head!\u00a0 He gets Ishii onto his shoulders and goes for the One Winged Angel, but Ishii spins around and drops down with Omega\u2019s head yoked up for a brainbuster.\u00a0 He lifts Omega into the air, who knees out and drops to the mat before jumping onto Ishii\u2019s shoulders to hit a reverse Frankensteiner!\u00a0 1, 2, ISHII KICKS OUT!<\/p>\n<p>Omega again attempts the One Winged Angel, with Ishii hoisted high atop his shoulders.\u00a0 Ishii flips off his shoulders and hits a f****ng stunner!\u00a0 \u201cStunner!\u00a0 Stunner!\u201d screams the announcer!\u00a0 Ishii hits a leaping enzuigiri, sending Omega to the ropes.\u00a0 Omega spins back and tries for a running knee that Ishii catches and drives his head into Omega\u2019s jaw.\u00a0 Ishii heads to the ropes and IMPLODES Omega\u2019s insides with a lariat!\u00a0 He covers.\u00a0 1, 2, Omega kicks out!\u00a0 He quickly picks up Omega and hoists him into the air, driving his skull to the mat with a brainbuster.\u00a0 He covers again.\u00a0 1, 2, 3!!! \u00a0 Pay homage!!!<\/p>\n<p>Winner: Tomohiro Ishii, advancing to the second round to face SANADA<\/p>\n<p><em>(Andrews\u2019 Analysis:\u00a0 Well f- me.\u00a0 Forget everything I wrote about Shibata-Suzuki being the match of the tournament.\u00a0 This was an instant classic.\u00a0 I am spent after watching it \u2013 drained from my adrenaline surging with every sequence of action presented for our approval.\u00a0 Job well done, Sirs.\u00a0 This is a true gem.\u00a0 And the match wasn\u2019t held up solely on the shoulders of Omega either.\u00a0 Ishii put together an outstanding performance, besting even his wars with Makabe and Shibata.\u00a0 He busted out some s- I\u2019ve never seen him even attempt before.\u00a0 He looked every bit the guy ready to break away from the tag team title scene and into the top tier of singles stars.\u00a0 Because that\u2019s what this guy is.\u00a0 He is a star.\u00a0 His look is unique, his combination of speed and power is unique, and his knack for the dramatic is up there with the best of them.\u00a0 Pay homage.)<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-4078248967\"><div id=\"pwtor-619946397\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>New Japan Cup 2017 NJPW World By R.W. Andrews Post-review Note Okay, full disclosure.\u00a0 This is going to be long.\u00a0 Really, really long.\u00a0 But congratulations, you\u2019ve made it to the very last long-form review I <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2017\/03\/31\/njpw-rookie-andrews-reviews-new-japan-cup-2017-njpw-world-streaming-service-pt-1\/\" title=\"NJPW ROOKIE: Andrews reviews of New Japan Cup 2017 from NJPW World streaming service (pt. 1)\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4953,27],"tags":[404],"class_list":["post-40657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-new-japan-rookie","category-specialists","tag-njpw"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/NJPWdark_3x2.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40657"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40659,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40657\/revisions\/40659"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}