New Japan Cup – Semi Final: Tetsuya Naito vs. Toru Yano
Wrestling can use more two and a half minute matches that do something. Yano attacks pre-bell, Naito fights back and does THE POSE, Yano removes the turnbuckle pad, a few great near falls off of Naito going into the exposed turnbuckle, Naito cradles and wins. Could see some purist issues with this being the semis, but we’re long past that. This was absolutely everything Tetsuya Naito vs. Toru Yano needed to be. **
New Japan Cup – Semi Final: Hirooki Goto vs. Michael Elgin
These two just went at it! 10 minutes of ACTION~! What the kids would call a sprint. Elgin’s deadlift super falcon arrow is a wonder of the world. **3/4
New Japan Cup – Final: Tetsuya Naito w/ BUSHI vs. Hirooki Goto
God damn, pal – this had the feeling of the tournament final it was, two competitors laying it all on the line. Big drama, big near falls, big spots. EVIL interference. The last few Goto matches are the first Goto I’ve seen in 12 years, when he was a young lion and having kickass matches with the guy who became Yoshitatsu. Putting on the bulk has turned him into a guy that is kind of a drag to watch, but it’s not like he can’t go. Here, he goes. Naito is world class, too… crazy athletic, he reminds me in a weird way of Ricky Steamboat as far as a guy who’s every movement makes you think you are watching at athletic contest. The shouten kai counter with the Destino was INCREDIBLE. Sidenote, though – those shoulders were NOT down for the 3!!! ***1/2
Naito mocking Goto for meditating under a waterfall in preparation for the New Japan Cup and now being a subordinate to Okada – HA!
