The 2025 New Japan Cup kicked off but faced cancellations due to a broken ring post. The anticipated matches involving EVIL vs. Yota Tsuji and Yuya Uemura vs. SANADA were cancelled for safety reasons. President Tanahashi announced the decision, emphasizing wrestler safety. Despite this, wrestlers engaged with the crowd in light-hearted moments following the announcement.
The 2025 New Japan Cup commenced today, featuring two opening round matches in the single-elimination format. The main event showcases EVIL competing against Yota Tsuji, representing a clash between Bullet Club House of Torture and Los Ingobernables de Japon. The winner will progress to face David Finlay at the event scheduled for March 11. Additionally, Yuya Uemura and SANADA are set to face off in a semi-main tournament bout, with the victor advancing to challenge YOSHI-HASHI in the second round on the same day.
Several wrestlers including Finlay, YOSHI-HASHI, Zack Sabre Jr., Taichi, Shingo Takagi, TJP, Jeff Cobb, and Shota Umino received first-round byes in this year’s 24-man tournament. The overall winner of the New Japan Cup will secure a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion during the Sakura Genesis event on April 5. Currently, Hirooki Goto holds the IWGP World title and is scheduled to defend it against Yuji Nagata on March 15.
Today’s undercard was filled with five tag team matches. The event was streamed live from Korakuen Hall, commencing at 4:30 AM Eastern time. Unexpectedly, a special announcement from President Hiroshi Tanahashi interrupted the matches. Addressing the crowd, he revealed that the scheduled New Japan Cup matches were cancelled due to the damage of a ring post, prioritizing the safety of both wrestlers and crew.
Following Tanahashi’s address, TAKA Michinoku briefly engaged the crowd before introducing Yuya Uemura, who, adorned in full wrestling attire, smiled and waved at the audience despite being unsure of what to do next. Additionally, TMDK members Hartley Jackson and Ryohei Oiwa made a light-hearted appearance, with Jackson joking about his weight being the cause of the ring destruction and both expressing gratitude to the audience before leaving the ring.
In summary, the opening night of the 2025 New Japan Cup was marked by unexpected cancellations due to safety concerns arising from a damaged ring post. Fans anticipated two significant tournaments matches featuring popular wrestlers, but these were unfortunately called off by President Hiroshi Tanahashi. The event highlighted the importance of safety in wrestling, showcasing both resilience and camaraderie among the wrestlers during the unforeseen circumstances.
Original Source: www.f4wonline.com
