New Japan Cup Night One: Tournament Launch and Unexpected Cancellation

The 2025 New Japan Cup opened with EVIL vs. Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura vs. SANADA. The tournament faced a cancellation due to a broken ring post, prioritizing safety. Upcoming matches are highly anticipated, especially at Sakura Genesis.

The 2025 New Japan Cup commenced with two opening round matches in a single-elimination format. The main event featured EVIL against Yota Tsuji, representing Bullet Club House of Torture and Los Ingobernables de Japon, respectively. The winner will face David Finlay at the March 11 event.

In the semi-main, Yuya Uemura faced SANADA, with the victor advancing to compete against YOSHI-HASHI in the second round on March 11. Notably, first-round byes were granted to several wrestlers, including Finlay, YOSHI-HASHI, Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi, Shingo Takagi, TJP, Jeff Cobb, and Shota Umino, making this a competitive field in the 24-man tournament.

The New Japan Cup champion will earn a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion during Sakura Genesis on April 5, with Hirooki Goto currently holding the title and set to defend against Yuji Nagata on March 15. Additionally, five tag team matches are part of today’s undercard, with the event streaming live from Korakuen Hall starting at 4:30 AM Eastern time.

In a special announcement, President Hiroshi Tanahashi addressed the audience at Korakuen Hall, dressed in full gear. He informed the crowd that the scheduled New Japan Cup matches were canceled due to a broken ring post, prioritizing the safety of wrestlers and crew. Members of the roster came to greet the crowd, showing support despite the cancellations.

The New Japan Cup’s first night faced an unforeseen cancellation due to safety concerns, yet showcased the excitement around upcoming matches and tournaments. Fans await future events, including matchups involving EVIL, SANADA, and potential championship bouts at Sakura Genesis.

Original Source: www.f4wonline.com