We’ve finally arrived at the New Japan Cup final, and after yesterday’s great show, I’m really looking forward to this one. Instead of going right to the final, however, let’s check in on the TV title and see what Konosuke Takeshita is up to.

NJPW World TV Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. X

Takeshita gets a big reaction, naturally. The “EVIL got cheers because he’s a full-timer” thing was always a tempest in a teapot, and I tend to think they threw out the baby with the bathwater by busting the biggest star in the company (arguably, I guess) down to the TV title level. So, both Chase Owens and Yujiro Takahashi answer the challenge. They play rock paper scissors for the shot, and Takahashi wins, which gets a good reaction because Nagaoka is in his home prefecture of Niigata. As you’d imagine, Takeshita took the advantage early, but while Takahashi took the ref on the apron, Owens came in and hit a neckbreaker, and Takahashi took the advantage. After a long segment outside the ring where Takahashi almost won by countout because Owens had a hold of Takeshita’s foot, Takahashi hits an Angle slam and Miami Shine for near-falls. Takeshita counters a piledriver attempt into a knee strike and a Raging Fire attempt, but Takahashi bites his hand and shoves him into the ref, followed by a low blow and Pimp Juice for another near-fall. Takahashi tries to hit Takeshita with the cane, but Takeshita blocks it. Owens runs in and takes the Blue Thunder Bomb, and then Takahashi hits a lariat, but his follow-up is blocked and Takeshita wins with Raging Fire. After the match, Takeshita challenges Shota Umino in an attempt to avenge his loss to Umino in last year’s G1. As I recall, that match was great, so bring it on. This is a smart thing to do with Umino, because the last thing he needs to be doing now is try to jump the line for the IWGP title. He’s so close to being a top guy – they just have to be sure they don’t fumble at the goal line.

New Japan Cup: Callum Newman [United Empire] vs. Yuya Uemura

They start off with a long mat wrestling sequence. Newman is selling the neck after taking about 50 DDTs from Umino yesterday. After a big armdrag out of Newman’s “prince of pace” sequence, Newman baits Uemura out to the floor, but Uemura takes control and begins working on Newman’s left arm after he gets him back in the ring. Newman hits a knee strike to turn the tables and hits a kick to the back for two. Uemura misses a cross body and begins selling his right elbow, which Newman viciously attacks. Newman takes Uemura outside and beats him up in front of Hiroshi Tanahashi, who is on commentary at ringside, then spits on Tanahashi. Newman tries for a countout, but Uemura gets back at 15; Newman then pounces and tries for Prince’s Curse, but Uemura slips out the back and hits a cross-body to turn the tables. After a flurry of offense, Uemura goes for a dragon suplex, but Newman fights out and hits a tiger suplex for two. Both guys hit stiff offensive moves into a double-down, which is followed by a striking battle. Newman baits Uemura into a strike that he blocks, then kicks him in the head and hits Firebolt for two. Newman goes for something off the top, but Uemura hits an armdrag off the top for two, then applies a double wristlock; Newman makes the ropes quickly, however. After more striking, Newman hits a nasty-looking lariat for a near-fall. Newman goes for another lariat, but Uemura counters with a butterfly lock, which Newman escapes. Newman hits a poison rana and Excalibur, but only gets two. Zane Jay tosses a chair in the ring and takes the ref, and Newman goes for Excalibur on the chair, but Uemura avoids it and essentially gives Jay the Van Daminator. Uemura gets a hurricanrana and goes for the cross armbreaker, which Newman blocks. After a long struggle, Newman shoves Uemura into Red Shoes, fouls him and hits Prince’s Curse for a near-fall. Newman hits Excalibur and another Prince’s Curse, but Uemura kicks out again. Newman goes for an elbow strike, but Uemura hits a German suplex for two, followed by the dragon suplex for two. Uemura gets the Deadbolt and a High Fly Flow for two, but a second High Fly Flow attempt is countered by a kick to the midsection and Kiss the Crown for two. Newman then hits a swinging side-slam from the fireman’s carry position for the win. This match was great, certainly on par with Newman’s awesome match with Umino on yesterday’s show. Tanahashi presents Newman with the trophy, which clearly breaks Uemura’s heart. Yota Tsuji comes to the ring for a brief staredown and promo for the Sakura Genesis match, but the other members of the United Empire make their presence known, and Tsuji peaces out, leaving Newman and the Empire to celebrate the tournament win.

So, what’s next? I’d expect the card announcement for Sakura Genesis on Monday, if not sooner, along with card announcements for the Road to Sakura Genesis shows. In addition to Tsuji vs. Newman, I’d expect the Knockout Brothers vs. Zack Sabre Jr. and Ryohei Oiwa for the tag title, Ren Narita vs. either Boltin Oleg or Aaron Wolf for the NEVER title, and possibly Takeshita vs. Umino for the TV title. It seems like something was being set up for the trios titles between the Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and Boltin Oleg and a Taichi-led team that would presumably include Satoshi Kojima and maybe El Desperado, but that might be on ice now that Kojima is hurt.

I’ll probably be back sometime next week for a news dump, and then the following weekend for the “Junior Genesis” show at Korakuen on April 2 and Sakura Genesis at Ryogoku on April 4. See you then!