Sunday’s New Japan Cup card took place in Yamanashi with two more opening-round matches featured.
In the main event, Will Ospreay pinned Hiroyoshi Tenzan with a spirited effort from the 49-year old.
The two went nearly fourteen minutes as Ospreay attacked Tenzan’s neck early with a neck breaker off the ropes followed by a jumping knee as Tenzan was draped on the apron.
Tenzan continues to use the Mongolian chops without any issue from the referees. He utilized all his key maneuvers beyond just the chops with the Calf Branding, Anaconda Vice, and TTD (Tenzan Tombstone Driver) that Ospreay kicked out from.
The match climaxed with Tenzan getting to kick out of the OsCutter, avoided a Storm Breaker before absorbing a forearm to the injured neck, and falling to the Storm Breaker.
It was Tenzan’s best singles performance in ages while acknowledging the limitations he exudes at this stage of his career. He was given far more to show a competitive balance with the favorite Ospreay.
The other match featured Zack Sabre Jr. defeating Gabriel Kidd in a terrific technical match.
This one was all about technique with constant reversals, wrist control, counters each other showcased, and a targeted attack on Kidd’s arm.
This was a big match for Kidd, who went over seventeen minutes with an established star in the company with the story that he was competitive but ultimately, fell to the more experienced technician.
Kidd hit a brainbuster and got the best of Sabre during a forearm battle sending the Suzuki-gun member to the canvas with strikes.
After using an Octopus, Sabre applied a triangle and did the Nate Diaz-inspired taunt by flexing his arms as Kidd submitted.
This was a great match for both, but the goal was establishing Kidd as a future player and was a very strong match.
Will Ospreay and Zack Sabre Jr. will face off in the second round next Sunday, March 14th.
The New Japan Cup resumes Tuesday with the final opening matches as David Finlay takes on Chase Owens, Yujiro meets YOSHI-HASHI, and Jay White faces Toa Henare.
Here are the full results from Sunday’s card in Yamanashi:
*Yota Tsuji over Yuya Uemura
*Jeff Cobb & The Great O-Khan over Satoshi Kojima & Tomoaki Honma
*Hiroshi Tanahashi, Juice Robinson, Toa Henare & Ryusuke Taguchi over Jay White, EVIL, KENTA & Dick Togo
*Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, SANADA & BUSHI over Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, Tomohiro Ishii & SHO
*New Japan Cup Opening Round: Zack Sabre Jr. over Gabriel Kidd in 17:22
*New Japan Cup Opening Round: Will Ospreay over Hiroyoshi Tenzan in 13:37
