The 2017 New Japan Cup has come to an end and we have a winner. My pre-tournament pick and someone that has become my second favorite wrestler in the world, Katsuyori Shibata, prevailed to pencil in his date with Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis on April 9th. To say I am excited for this match would be a gross understatement. Everything about Shibata makes me happy and Okada has an insane ability to adapt to every style he comes up against. This is bound and determined to be an instant classic. I would be surprised if this didn't make it into my list of "Match of the Year Candidates". That is, however, a preview for another day as this is about what has happened.
The New Japan Cup was filled with surprises and some fantastic matches with Shibata, Omega and Ishii leading the way. Ishii was easily the MVP of the tournament having put in three stellar matches including 2 that could very well end up being in contention for match of the year. His first round match against Kenny Omega was the best match of the tournament and even though it robbed us of one the best overall entertainers in wrestling, Ishii's victory was well timed and honestly the biggest surprise of the tournament. It wasn't big because Ishii doesn't deserve the win but more so because Kenny Omega was pushed to the moon and back in 2016 and into Wrestlekingdom.
Ishii got to the semi-finals by first having very good performances against Minoru Suzuki and Juice Robinson. However he came very close to stealing the show with his match against Ishii. There is something about Ishii vs Shibata that makes me hurt. But hurt in a good way. These two consistently beat the hell out of each other and each time I see them I seriously feel it every morning after. After prevailing in another hard fought victory over Ishii, Shibata found his way into the finals against Bad Luck Fale.
Fale found his way into the finals by much different means. After a big man versus bigger man win against Michael Elgin, he ran through an embarrassment in Toru Yano and then a very good match against EVIL.
Fale isn't really someone you would ever take as a major threat to a guy like Shibata however the match itself was phenomenal. Shibata was able to drag a four star match out of the monster Fale. Even though I was not in doubt of the outcome and almost didn't even watch the match, these two left me wondering if they would actually pull the plug and let Fale win the whole thing.
So we get "The Wrestler" vs "The Rainmaker" in what is sure to be a fantastic match and is pitting my second and third best wrestlers in the world against each other.
That's all for now, follow me and check back often for updates on everything from the world of Sci-fi, super heroes, sports and wrestling. I follow closely NJPW, ROH, WWE, TNA and Lucha Underground. And am constantly checking out the indy's. Right now I am watching Smash Wrestling, Rev-pro and WCPW so thoughts on some of those matches are coming soon.
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