The second round of the New Japan Cup began on Wednesday and featured IWGP heavyweight champion Kazuchika Okada headlining the card from Korakuen Hall.
In the main event of the show, Okada advanced to the third round after besting Master Wato with the Rainmaker in 18 minutes and 34 seconds.
The win sets up a match between Okada and Taichi, who received a bye in the second round after the withdrawal of Hiroyoshi Tenzan.
There were three tournament matches on Wednesday including CIMA defeating Yoshinobu Kanemaru. The Suzuki-gun member entered through the crowd and jumped CIMA from behind before working over his knee throughout the match. After pouring whiskey onto CIMA, the member of the Stronghearts popped up and made his comeback that climaxed with Meteora and pinned Kanemaru in 14 minutes and 47 seconds.
In the first tournament match on the card, Hirooki Goto defeated Dick Togo after using the set-up for the Gotoshiki but transitioning to a Fujiwara armbar for the submission in 9 minutes and 51 seconds. Kevin Kelly observed that it was the same submission that Goto used to defeat Giant Bernard to win the New Japan Cup in 2009.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Taichi and CIMA vs. Hirooki Goto will take place next Monday with the two winners meeting on March 20th in the quarter-finals.
The New Japan Cup continues on Thursday with Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Bad Luck Fale, Jeff Cobb vs. Satoshi Kojima, Tetsuya Naito vs. Gedo, and YOSHI-HASHI vs. Kosei Fujita.
The New Japan Cup wraps up with back-to-back shows at Osaka-jo Hall on March 26 & 27.
