NJPW New Japan Cup Night Three: Results and Analysis

YOSHI-HASHI (CHAOS) vs. Kota Ibushi (Bullet Club?)

I’m not sure what it is about YOSHI-HASHI, but I have a very hard time getting into his matches. They’re never terrible, but I just find it difficult to enjoy them. With that being said, Ibushi always has a good match, and by the closing sequence in this one, it definitely was.

YOSHI-HASHI went for a running blockbuster neckbreaker, but Ibushi back flipped and landed on his feet. He then hit YOSHI-HASHI with a Boma Ye (the NJPW name for Nakamura’s Kinshasa). Ibushi almost suplexed YOSHI-HASHI to the outside, but YOSHI-HASHI countered and suplexed Ibushi on the apron. That had to suck. It looked like Ibushi’s feet got caught in the ropes a little, so he hit at a higher angle that he was supposed to.

YOSHI-HASHI sent Ibushi crashing into the front row, and they battled at ringside for awhile. Of course, when Ibushi ends up in the crowd, he has to moonsault of something very high. So they brawled back to a balcony, and Ibushi climbed up and did a moonsault right onto YOSHI-HASHI. That was spectacular. Ibushi brought them both back to the ring and hit a springboard dropkick.

Ibushi nailed a German suplex, but YOSHI-HASHI kicked out. Ibushi went for the Kamigoye but YOSHI-HASHI hit a headbutt and stopped him. Both men started to exchange strikes, but that is really never a wise idea with Ibushi. Ibushi gets the best of it, but when he went for the Golden Star Powerbomb, YOSHI-HASHI pulled a Billy Kidman and hit a facebuster. YOSHI-HASHI then hit a Canadian Destroyer, but Ibushi kicked out. He followed this with a German suplex that saw Ibushi land right on his neck, but YOSHI-HASHI can’t finish him off. Even a western lariat was unable to keep Ibushi down.

YOSHI-HASHI hit a running powerbomb, and Ibushi kicked out again! Ibushi got locked up in the butterfly lock, but he refused to give up and made it to the ropes. YOSHI-HASHI hit a back stabber and running double knees, but Ibushi just won’t stay down. Ibushi blocked a Karma attempt from YOSHI-HASHI and hit a lariat of his own, leaving both men down. Kota went for the Kamigoye, but YOSHI-HASHI dodged. Ibushi hit a Tiger Suplex, but YOSHI-HASHI kicked out. Ibushi held on and hit the Kamigoye! He pinned YOSHI-HASHI to advance in the New Japan Cup.

Result: Kota Ibushi (4/5 on my round one predictions so far).

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

This was an absolutely excellent match. It might have been the best match of YOSHI-HASHI’s career. Both men looked great in this one. Ibushi had great chemistry with YOSHI-HASHI, and his selling helped the crowd believe that he was going to lose. Just fantastic stuff.