New Japan Cup

New Japan Cup
New Japan Cup
PromotionsNJPW
First eventNew Japan Cup (2005)
Event gimmickSingle-elimination tournament for a championship match

The New Japan Cup (NJC) is an annual single-elimination professional wrestling tournament held by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) since 2005. It is considered the second most prominent heavyweight tournament in NJPW, after the G1 Climax which follows a round-robin format.

Since the 2006 edition, the winner of the tournament, like with the G1 Climax, would receive a championship match, originally, for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. However, unlike with the G1 Climax, the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion could not participate in the tournament (in the case of the champion winning the G1 Climax, he would get to pick the next challenger for his title). In 2014–2018, the winner could choose to challenge for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship instead, while in 2015–2018, the NEVER Openweight Championship was also an option; only the 2014 winner Shinsuke Nakamura chose not to compete for the Heavyweight Championship, challenging for the Intercontinental Championship instead. In 2020, due to Tetsuya Naito being both the Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion, the winner received a match for both titles, and in 2021, after the Heavyweight and Intercontinental Championships were unified into a new championship, the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, the latter became the title the winner of the New Japan Cup would automatically challenge for; like previously with the Heavyweight title, the World Heavyweight Champion cannot compete. However, in 2022, it was once again an openweight tournament and featured all the champions from both the heavyweight and junior heavyweight divisions including the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. The first night of the 2022 tournament saw the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion take on the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion in the first round, a match that usually happens at NJPW's anniversary event.

The number of participants in the New Japan Cup has varied over the years, from a lowest of 14 in 2007 and 2009 to a highest of 48 in 2022; the 2021 tournament features 30 entrants. It is considered a heavyweight tournament, although the 2005, 2008–09, 2020, and 2022 editions were openweight tournaments instead, also featuring junior heavyweights; in 2020, NJPW premiered the New Japan Cup USA, a version of the tournament taking place in the United States to determine a contender for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

Hiroshi Tanahashi is both the inaugural winner of the New Japan Cup, and the first wrestler to have won it twice; Hirooki Goto, Yuji Nagata, Kazuchika Okada, and Zack Sabre Jr. have since also become two-time winners. Goto is both the only three-time winner and the only person to have won the tournament two years in a row.

Tournament Finals

[edit]
# Event Date City Venue Attendance Final
1 New Japan Cup (2005): New Japan Openweight Tournament April 24, 2005 Osaka Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium 5,800 Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Manabu Nakanishi
2 New Japan Cup 2006 April 30, 2006 Amagasaki Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium 5,200 Yuji Nagata vs. Giant Bernard
3 35th Anniversary Tour~ Circuit 2007 New Japan Evolution ~ New Japan Cup 2007 March 21, 2007 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 1,450 Yuji Nagata vs. Togi Makabe
4 Circuit 2008 New Japan Cup ~Who Is The Highest~ March 23, 2008 Amagasaki Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium 5,200 Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Giant Bernard
5 Circuit 2009 New Japan Cup ~Soul On The Ring~ March 22, 2009 Amagasaki Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium 5,300 Hirooki Goto vs. Giant Bernard
6 Circuit 2010 New Japan Cup ~ The Perfect Generalist ~ March 22, 2010 Amagasaki Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium 5,500 Togi Makabe vs. Hirooki Goto
7 39th Anniversary Tour ~ New Japan Cup 2011 ~ March 20, 2011 Amagasaki Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium 5,500 Yuji Nagata vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
8 40th Anniversary Tour ~ New Japan Cup 2012 April 8, 2012 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 2,040 Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Hirooki Goto
9 New Japan Cup 2013 March 23, 2013 Tokyo Korakuen Hall 2,015 Hirooki Goto vs. Kazuchika Okada
10 New Japan Cup 2014 March 23, 2014 Amagasaki Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium 5,800 Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Bad Luck Fale
11 New Japan Cup 2015 March 15, 2015 Hiroshima Hiroshima Sun Plaza 5,120 Hirooki Goto vs. Kota Ibushi
12 New Japan Cup 2016 March 12, 2016 Aomori Maeda Arena 2,919 Hirooki Goto vs. Tetsuya Naito
13 New Japan Cup 2017 March 20, 2017 Nagaoka City Hall Plaza Aore Nagaoka 4,079 Katsuyori Shibata vs. Bad Luck Fale
14 New Japan Cup 2018 March 21, 2018 Nagaoka City Hall Plaza Aore Nagaoka 3,996 Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
15 New Japan Cup 2019 March 24, 2019 Nagaoka City Hall Plaza Aore Nagaoka 3,991 Kazuchika Okada vs. Sanada
16 New Japan Cup 2020 July 11, 2020 Osaka Osaka-jō Hall 3,318 Kazuchika Okada vs. Evil
17 New Japan Cup 2021 March 21, 2021 Sendai Xebio Arena Sendai 2,299 Shingo Takagi vs. Will Ospreay
18 New Japan Cup 2022 March 27, 2022 Osaka Osaka-jō Hall 2,987 Tetsuya Naito vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
19 New Japan Cup 2023 March 21, 2023 Nagaoka City Hall Plaza Aore Nagaoka 3,384 Sanada vs. David Finlay
20 New Japan Cup 2024 March 20, 2024 Nagaoka City Hall Plaza Aore Nagaoka 3,003 Hirooki Goto vs. Yota Tsuji

Tournaments

[edit]
Year Tournament Aftermath
Winner Times won Participants Challenged for Match Result
2005 Hiroshi Tanahashi 1 16 —
2006 Giant Bernard 1 IWGP Heavyweight Championship vs. Brock Lesnar at New Japan Cup 2006 Special Lost
2007 Yuji Nagata 1 14 vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi at 35th Anniversary Tour~ Circuit 2007 New Japan Brave Won
2008 Hiroshi Tanahashi 2 16 vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at New Dimension[1] Lost
2009 Hirooki Goto 1 14 vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestling Dontaku Lost
2010 Hirooki Goto 2 15 vs. Shinsuke Nakamura at New Dimension Lost
2011 Yuji Nagata 2 16 vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi at New Dimension Lost
2012 Hirooki Goto 3 vs. Kazuchika Okada at Wrestling Dontaku Lost
2013 Kazuchika Okada 1 vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi at Invasion Attack Won
2014 Shinsuke Nakamura 1 IWGP Intercontinental Championship vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi at Invasion Attack Won
2015 Kota Ibushi 1 IWGP Heavyweight Championship vs. A.J. Styles at Invasion Attack Lost
2016 Tetsuya Naito 1 vs. Kazuchika Okada at Invasion Attack Won
2017 Katsuyori Shibata 1 vs. Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis Lost
2018 Zack Sabre Jr. 1 vs. Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis Lost
2019 Kazuchika Okada 2 32 vs. Jay White at G1 Supercard[2] Won
2020 Evil 1 IWGP Heavyweight Championship &
IWGP Intercontinental Championship		 vs. Tetsuya Naito at Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall[3] Won
2021 Will Ospreay 1 30 IWGP World Heavyweight Championship vs. Kota Ibushi at Sakura Genesis[4] Won
2022 Zack Sabre Jr. 2 48 vs. Kazuchika Okada at Hyper Battle '22 Lost
2023 Sanada 1 24 vs. Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis Won
2024 Yota Tsuji 1 28 vs. Tetsuya Naito at Sakura Genesis Lost

Results

[edit]

2005

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2005
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 19–24, 2005
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Osaka, Osaka, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
— 		Next →
2006

The 2005 New Japan Cup was held from April 19 to April 24. The first two rounds were held on individual nights, with round one taking up the entire card on April 19.[5]

Round 1
April 19 		Round 2
April 21 		Semifinals
April 24 		Final
April 24
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi DQ
Yuji Nagata 24:12[5]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Koji Kanemoto 17:38[5]
Koji Kanemoto Pin
Ryushi Yanagisawa 8:19[5]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 19:45[5]
Minoru CO
Osamu Nishimura 16:47[5]
Osamu Nishimura† Sub
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 20:47[5]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Jushin Thunder Liger 15:54[5]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 19:21[5]
Kendo Kashin Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 8:55[5]
Kendo Kashin Pin
Yutaka Yoshie 15:48[5]
Yutaka Yoshie Pin
Scott Norton 9:07[5]
Kendo Kashin Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 10:20[5]
Tiger Mask Pin
Masahiro Chono 10:29[5]
Masahiro Chono Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 14:16[5]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 7:34[5]

† Minoru was forced to pull out before his Round 2 match, due to suffering severe dizziness, and was replaced by Osamu Nishimura, who he beat in Round 1.[5]

2006

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2006
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 16–30, 2006
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Memorial Park Gymnasium
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2005 		Next →
2007

The 2006 New Japan Cup was held from April 16 to April 30.[6] Giant Bernard, the winner of the tournament, went on to fail in his challenge against IWGP Champion Brock Lesnar on May 3.[7]

Round 1
April 16, 20, 21, 22 		Round 2
April 23,25,26 		Semifinals
April 28,29 		Final
April 30
        
Giant Bernard Pin
Toru Yano 8:19[6]
Giant Bernard Pin
Riki Choshu 9:11[6]
Black Strong Machine Pin
Riki Choshu 6:46[6]
Giant Bernard Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 16:43[6]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Takashi Iizuka 11:31[6]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Ryoji Sai 14:56[6]
Ryoji Sai Pin
Naofumi Yamamoto 13:59[6]
Giant Bernard Pin
Yuji Nagata 19:40[6]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Masahiro Chono 25:12[6]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 14:27[6]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Scott Norton 12:30[6]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Yuji Nagata 18:49[6]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tatsutoshi Goto 1:24[6]
Togi Makabe Pin
Yuji Nagata 10:50[6]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 9:57[6]

2007

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2007
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 3–21, 2007
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Tokyo, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Korakuen Hall
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2006 		Next →
2008

The 2007 New Japan Cup was a 14-man tournament held from March 3 to March 21.[8] Giant Bernard and Hiroyoshi Tenzan received byes to the second round, due to their victories in the 2006 New Japan Cup and G1 Climax respectively. Shinsuke Nakamura was injured in a non-tournament match on March 13, giving Tenzan an additional pass to the semifinals. The winner, Yuji Nagata, went on to defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi for the championship on April 13, beginning his second reign with the title.[9] He also became the first person to reach the NJC final twice, and the first to win both the New Japan Cup and G1 Climax.

Round 1
March 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 		Round 2
March 13, 15 		Semifinals
March 18 		Final
March 21
            
Togi Makabe Pin
Travis Tomko 9:29[8]
Togi Makabe Pin
Takashi Iizuka 11:32[8]
Tomoaki Honma Sub
Takashi Iizuka 14:06[8]
Togi Makabe DQ
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 12:27[8]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Toru Yano 10:16[8]
Shinsuke Nakamura Forfeit[8]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan N/A
Togi Makabe Pin
Yuji Nagata 20:05[8]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Yuji Nagata 12:12[8]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Masahiro Chono 17:25[8]
Masahiro Chono Pin
Riki Choshu 8:44[8]
Yuji Nagata Sub
Giant Bernard 18:22[8]
Shiro Koshinaka Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 10:03[8]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Giant Bernard 13:05[8]

2008

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2008
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 9–23, 2008
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2007 		Next →
2009

The 2008 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from March 9 to March 23.[10] The winner, Hiroshi Tanahashi, became the first two-time winner of the NJC and went on to fail in his challenge against IWGP Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on March 30.[11]

Round 1 Round 2 Semifinals Final
        
Tomohiro Ishii Sub
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 13:03[10]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin1
Togi Makabe 18:07[10]
Takashi Iizuka Pin
Togi Makabe 10:27[10]
Togi Makabe Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi 12:11[10]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi 20:32[10]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Ryusuke Taguchi 13:42[10]
Jushin Thunder Liger Pin
Ryusuke Taguchi 11:33[10]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Giant Bernard 18:24[10]
Koji Kanemoto Sub
Karl Anderson 9:05[10]
Koji Kanemoto Pin
Giant Bernard 9:45[10]
Giant Bernard Pin
Tomoaki Honma 10:43[10]
Giant Bernard Pin
Toru Yano 10:44[10]
Milano Collection A.T. Pin
Toru Yano 11:25[10]
Toru Yano Pin
Rhino 11:21[10]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Rhino 10:17[10]

1This match originally ended in a double countout at 2:35, but it was restarted with Makabe winning via pinfall in 14:49.[10]

2009

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2009
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 8–22, 2009
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2008 		Next →
2010

The 2009 New Japan Cup was a 14-man tournament held from March 8 to March 22.[12] Giant Bernard and Yuji Nagata, the winners of the Cups of 2006 and 2007, received byes in the first round of the tournament. The eventual winner of the tournament, Hirooki Goto, went on to lose the IWGP Heavyweight Championship match to Hiroshi Tanahashi on May 3 at Wrestling Dontaku 2009.[13]

Round 1
March 8 		Round 2
March 15 		Semifinals
March 22 		Final
March 22
            
Hirooki Goto Sub
Karl Anderson 11:10[12]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 19:00[12]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Togi Makabe 15:32[12]
Hirooki Goto Sub
Yuji Nagata 14:51[12]
Yuji Nagata DQ
Takashi Iizuka 14:49[12]
Takashi Iizuka Pin
Tomoaki Honma 10:53[12]
Hirooki Goto Sub
Giant Bernard 18:18[12]
Milano Collection A.T. Pin
Toru Yano 09:50[12]
Milano Collection A.T. Pin
Giant Bernard 9:13[12]
Giant Bernard Pin
Yutaka Yoshie 08:56[12]
Yutaka Yoshie Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 20:29[12]
Yutaka Yoshie Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 13:38[12]
Tomohiro Ishii CO1
Wataru Inoue 12:33[12]

1This match originally ended in a double countout at 3:18, but it was restarted with Ishii winning via countout in 9:15.[12]

2010

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2010
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 14–22, 2010
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2009 		Next →
2011

The 2010 New Japan Cup was a 15-man tournament held from March 14 to March 22.[14] As the previous winner of the Cup, Hirooki Goto received a bye in the first round of the tournament. With his victory, Goto became the second two-time winner of the tournament and the first to win it back-to-back. Goto went on to challenge the IWGP Heavyweight Champion Shinsuke Nakamura on April 4, but would once again fail in his attempt to win the title.[15]

Round 1
March 14 		Round 2
March 20 		Semifinals
March 22 		Final
March 22
            
Hirooki Goto Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 15:04[16]
Yujiro Takahashi Pin
Yuji Nagata 13:41[14]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Masato Tanaka 11:15[17]
Wataru Inoue Pin
Giant Bernard 7:39[14]
Wataru Inoue Pin
Masato Tanaka 13:05[16]
Masato Tanaka Pin
Manabu Nakanishi 18:01[14]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Togi Makabe 21:42[17]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 11:46[14]
Togi Makabe Pin
Toru Yano 14:26[16]
Toru Yano Pin
Tomoaki Honma 10:34[14]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tetsuya Naito 15:52[17]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Strong Man 8:37[14]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 23:17[16]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Karl Anderson 9:52[14]

2011

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2011
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 6–20, 2011
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2010 		Next →
2012

The 2011 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from March 6 to March 20. The winner, Yuji Nagata, went on to unsuccessfully challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship on April 3.[18]

Round 1
March 6
March 13 		Round 2
March 19 		Semifinals
March 20 		Final
March 20
        
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 9:50[19]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 8:49[21]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 13:45[19]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Togi Makabe 9:55[22]
Karl Anderson Sub
MVP 12:20[19]
MVP Pin
Togi Makabe 10:41[21]
Togi Makabe Pin
Satoshi Kojima 16:01[19]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Yuji Nagata 14:44[22]
Wataru Inoue Pin
Toru Yano 10:17[20]
Toru Yano Pin
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 11:09[21]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Sub
Takashi Iizuka 12:50[20]
Toru Yano Sub
Yuji Nagata 7:27[22]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Masato Tanaka 13:03[20]
Masato Tanaka Pin
Yuji Nagata 16:33[21]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Giant Bernard 11:32[20]

2012

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2012
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 1–8, 2012
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Tokyo, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Korakuen Hall
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2011 		Next →
2013

The 2012 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from April 1 to April 8.[23] With his win, Hirooki Goto, became the first three-time winner of the tournament.

Round 1
April 1 		Round 2
April 5 		Semifinals
April 8 		Final
April 8
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Toru Yano 17:25[24]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 18:21[25]
Satoshi Kojima Pin
Tetsuya Naito 17:53[24]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Karl Anderson 12:36[26]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Karl Anderson 8:00[24]
Karl Anderson Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 15:22[25]
MVP Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 9:45[24]
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Hirooki Goto 25:25[26]
Togi Makabe Pin
Lance Archer 8:47[24]
Togi Makabe Pin
Minoru Suzuki 13:34[25]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Minoru Suzuki 15:31[24]
Togi Makabe Pin
Hirooki Goto 9:22[26]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 9:55[24]
Hirooki Goto Pin
La Sombra 9:51[25]
La Sombra Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 9:41[24]

2013

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2013
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 11–23, 2013
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Tokyo, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Korakuen Hall
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2012 		Next →
2014

The 2013 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from March 11 to March 23.[27] The winner of the tournament, Kazuchika Okada, went on to defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Invasion Attack on April 7.

Round 1
March 11 		Round 2
March 17 		Semifinals
March 23 		Final
March 23
        
Togi Makabe Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 10:45[28]
Yujiro Takahashi Pin
Davey Boy Smith Jr. 11:43[29]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Davey Boy Smith Jr. 13:06[28]
Davey Boy Smith Jr. Pin
Hirooki Goto 8:14[30]
Satoshi Kojima Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 13:37[28]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Hirooki Goto 18:46[29]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Tama Tonga 9:37[28]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Kazuchika Okada 23:52[30]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Karl Anderson 8:42[28]
Karl Anderson Pin
Kazuchika Okada 15:27[29]
Kazuchika Okada Sub
Lance Archer 10:14[28]
Kazuchika Okada Sub
Toru Yano 10:42[30]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Minoru Suzuki 10:24[28]
Minoru Suzuki Pin
Toru Yano 10:14[29]
Manabu Nakanishi Pin
Toru Yano 6:18[28]

2014

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2014
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 15–23, 2014
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Amagasaki Memorial Park Gymnasium
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2013 		Next →
2015

The 2014 New Japan Cup took place between March 15 and 23.[31] The winner of the tournament got to choose whether to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight or the IWGP Intercontinental Championship.[32]

Round 1
March 15 		Round 2
March 22 		Semifinals
March 23 		Final
March 23
        
Togi Makabe Pin
Bad Luck Fale 9:36[33]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Tetsuya Naito 11:29[34]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 12:55[33]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Shelton X Benjamin 4:13[35]
Katsuyori Shibata Sub
Karl Anderson 9:14[33]
Katsuyori Shibata Pin
Shelton X Benjamin 10:06[34]
Yujiro Takahashi Pin
Shelton X Benjamin 6:21[33]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 15:20[35]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Doc Gallows 6:59[33]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Minoru Suzuki 12:27[34]
Toru Yano Pin
Minoru Suzuki 8:01[33]
Minoru Suzuki Pin
Shinsuke Nakamura 13:12[35]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Davey Boy Smith Jr. 14:59[33]
Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
Prince Devitt 10:23[34]
Prince Devitt Pin
Lance Archer 7:57[33]

2015

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2015
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 5–15, 2015
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Hiroshima Sun Plaza
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2014 		Next →
2016

The 2015 New Japan Cup took place between March 5 and 15.[36] The winner of the tournament got to choose whether to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight, IWGP Intercontinental or the NEVER Openweight Championship at Invasion Attack 2015 on April 5.[37]

Round 1
March 5 		Round 2
March 8 		Semifinals
March 15 		Final
March 15
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Toru Yano 2:47[38]
Toru Yano Pin
Kota Ibushi 2:44[39]
Kota Ibushi Pin
Doc Gallows 8:49[38]
Kota Ibushi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 14:14[40]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Karl Anderson 12:10[38]
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Bad Luck Fale 12:51[39]
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Bad Luck Fale 16:34[38]
Kota Ibushi Pin
Hirooki Goto 17:31[40]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tomoaki Honma 10:10[38]
Togi Makabe Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 10:13[39]
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 8:02[38]
Togi Makabe Pin
Hirooki Goto 8:11[40]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Hirooki Goto 11:24[38]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Katsuyori Shibata 17:18[39]
Satoshi Kojima Pin
Katsuyori Shibata 8:53[38]

2016

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2016
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 3–12, 2016
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Aomori, Aomori, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: New Aomori Prefecture Sports Park Maeda Arena
Event chronology
← Previous
Lion's Gate Project 1 		Next →
Road To Invasion Attack
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2015 		Next →
2017

The 2016 New Japan Cup took place between March 3 and 12.[41] The winner of the tournament would once again get to choose whether to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight, IWGP Intercontinental or NEVER Openweight Championship at Invasion Attack 2016 on April 10.[42]

Round 1
March 3 		Round 2
March 4 		Semifinals
March 12 		Final
March 12
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Bad Luck Fale 13:55[43]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Michael Elgin 10:10[44]
Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
Michael Elgin 8:22[43]
Michael Elgin Pin
Hirooki Goto 9:28[45]
Togi Makabe Pin
Tama Tonga 7:40[43]
Tama Tonga Pin
Hirooki Goto 9:24[44]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Hirooki Goto 11:28[43]
Hirooki Goto Pin
Tetsuya Naito 20:15[45]
Tomoaki Honma Pin
Satoshi Kojima 11:50[43]
Satoshi Kojima Pin
Toru Yano 5:41[44]
Toru Yano CO
Yujiro Takahashi 1:13[43]
Toru Yano Pin
Tetsuya Naito 2:32[45]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Evil 15:20[43]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Tetsuya Naito 16:21[44]
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 13:42[43]

2017

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2017
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 11–20, 2017
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Aore Nagaoka
Event chronology
← Previous
Anniversary Show 		Next →
Road To Sakura Genesis 2017
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2016 		Next →
2018

The 2017 New Japan Cup took place between March 11 and 20.[46] Unlike previous years, this tournament was held across eight events in 10 days.[47] Tomoaki Honma was originally announced for the tournament, but was pulled out and replaced with Yuji Nagata after suffering a spinal cord injury.[48]

Round 1
March 11, 12 		Round 2
March 13, 14, 15, 17 		Semifinals
March 19 		Final
March 20
        
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Evil 22:55[49]
Evil Pin
Yuji Nagata 13:33[51]
Yuji Nagata Pin
Tanga Loa 11:45[49]
Evil Pin
Bad Luck Fale 12:20[55]
Michael Elgin Pin
Bad Luck Fale 10:32[49]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Toru Yano 8:33[52]
Toru Yano Pin
Tama Tonga 3:46[49]
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Katsuyori Shibata 18:48[56]
Katsuyori Shibata Pin
Minoru Suzuki 19:44[50]
Katsuyori Shibata Pin
Juice Robinson 11:23[53]
Juice Robinson Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 10:21[50]
Katsuyori Shibata Sub
Tomohiro Ishii 22:32[55]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Kenny Omega 29:45[50]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Sanada 14:02[54]
Yoshi-Hashi Sub
Sanada 13:57[50]

2018

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2018
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 9–21, 2018
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Aore Nagaoka
Event chronology
← Previous
Anniversary Show 		Next →
Strong Style Evolved
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2017 		Next →
2019

The 2018 New Japan Cup took place between March 9 and 21.[57] The winner of the tournament, Zack Sabre Jr., challenged Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Sabre also became the second non-Japanese wrestler, after Giant Bernard, to win the New Japan Cup.

Round 1
March 9, 10, 11, 12 		Round 2
March 14, 15 		Semifinals
March 16, 18 		Final
March 21
        
Michael Elgin Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 29:02
Michael Elgin Pin
Juice Robinson 17:04
Juice Robinson Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 16:08
Juice Robinson Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi 29:53
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Taichi 23:53
Hiroshi Tanahashi CO
Bad Luck Fale 14:36
Bad Luck Fale Pin
Lance Archer 11:02
Hiroshi Tanahashi Sub
Zack Sabre Jr. 34:02
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Kota Ibushi 22:23
Kota Ibushi Stop
Zack Sabre Jr. 21:02
Tetsuya Naito Sub
Zack Sabre Jr. 22:43
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Sanada 26:36
Toru Yano 12:52
Davey Boy Smith Jr. CO
Toru Yano Sub
Sanada 4:51
Chuckie T. Pin
Sanada 21:31

2019

[edit]
New Japan Cup 2019
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateMarch 8–24, 2019
CityVarious, Japan
Final: Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
VenueVarious
Final: Aore Nagaoka
Event chronology
← Previous
Anniversary Show 		Next →
G1 Supercard
New Japan Cup chronology
← Previous
2018 		Next →
2020

The 2019 New Japan Cup took place between March 8 and 24.[58] Unlike the previous year, the tournament featured 32 wrestlers instead of 16 and marks the New Japan Cup debut of 7 wrestlers. After David Finlay was pulled out of the tournament due to an injury, Ryusuke Taguchi was announced as his replacement.[59]



Round 1
March 8, 9, 10, 11 		Round 2
March 13, 14, 16, 17 		Quarterfinals
March 20, 21 		Semifinals
March 23 		Final
March 24
               
Yuji Nagata 21:34
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Taichi 22:55
Tomoaki Honma 17:54
Taichi Sub
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 20:25
Manabu Nakanishi 12:26
Yoshi-Hashi Sub
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
Chase Owens 14:10
Juice Robinson 24:36
Chase Owens Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 21:10
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Michael Elgin 24:06
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Mikey Nicholls 17:25
Mikey Nicholls Pin
Hikuleo 08:55
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Will Ospreay 20:10
Will Ospreay Pin
Bad Luck Fale 11:30
Will Ospreay Pin
Lance Archer 18:08
Toa Henare 11:11
Lance Archer Pin
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Sanada 33:07
Hiroshi Tanahashi Sub
Shota Umino 16:48
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Ryusuke Taguchi 17:18
Hiroyoshi Tenzan 12:08
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Zack Sabre Jr. 21:11
Kota Ibushi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 20:38
Kota Ibushi 16:07
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Evil 15:33
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Hiroshi Tanahashi 24:11
Sanada Sub
Togi Makabe 07:26
Colt Cabana Pin
Colt Cabana Pin
Toru Yano 7:47
Toru Yano Pin
Davey Boy Smith Jr. 05:30
Colt Cabana 14:56
Sanada Sub
Satoshi Kojima 13:43