The field for the New Japan Cup is down to eight following Friday’s card at Korakuen Hall.
LIJ members Shingo Takagi and Hiromu Takahashi advanced on Friday and will have a rare singles match together in the next round.
In the main event of the show at Korakuen Hall in front of 1,019 fans, Takahashi pinned EVIL after hitting EVIL with his own finishing maneuver after overcoming the numbers disadvantage.
In the other tournament match, Shingo Takagi defeated Chase Owens after hitting Last of the Dragon and punching his own ticket to the “round of eight”, which begins on Sunday.
The following quarter-final matches will take place on Sunday & Monday:
Sunday in Niigata:
*Kazuchika Okada vs. CIMA
*Tetsuya Naito vs. Jeff Cobb
Monday in Niigata:
*Will Ospreay vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
*Shingo Takagi vs. Hiromu Takahashi
The semi-finals and final will take place on Saturday, March 26th, and Sunday, March 27th with both shows taking place at Osaka-jo Hall
