New Japan Cup 2019 Predictions

If you know me, you know that I love tournaments in pro wrestling. I think that tournaments are some of the most exciting things to watch. You have underdog stories, you have the big names showing off just how good they are, and you have the lovely upsets. So I decided to try my luck and predict the entire tournament. Were going to start with the 16 first round matches.

Yuji Nagata Vs. Tomohiro Ishii

We could be in for a war in one of the very first matches of the tournament. Nagata has so much history in New Japan and Ishii has been poised for a big run in New Japan for a few years now. I think we have the beginning of a big push for Ishii and is starts with a win over Nagata

WINNER: Tomohiro Ishii

Tomoaki Honma Vs. Taichi

I think that these two have a very interesting dynamic. You have Taichi who is the very mean and dastardly heel, then there is Honma who has always been a solid worker for New Japan. I think that these two will work well together, but this is a match to get Taichi over big. It would be the biggest win for him since he won the NEVER Openweight Championship, and is someone that I think many people are behind in the company. I expect a big year for Taichi in 2019, and unfortunately for Honma, it comes at his expense.

WINNER: Taichi

Manabu Nakanishi Vs. YOSHI-HASHI

This is a bit of a tough one. You have Nakanishi who has had his time in the sun, and YOSHI-HASHI who can’t seem to get any momentum behind him. The only thing i’m basing this prediction on is how often they show up for the promotion. We don’t see Nakanishi nearly as much as we used to. I think YOSHI-HASHI wins this one by the skin of his teeth.

WINNER: YOSHI-HASHI

Juice Robinson Vs. Chase Owens

When this was announced as a first round match, I looked at it from the perspective of us seeing how Chase Owens can hang with a big name in New Japan. I am someone who has always been a fan of Owens, and a believer in him. I think you look at this match being New Japan saying ‘here is your chance Chase, lets see what you can do’. I fully expect Juice to win, but I am excited to see what Chase can do in a big time match.

WINNER: Juice Robinson

Kazuchika Okada Vs. Michael Elgin

This may be the most physical first round matchup that we are going to see. You have Big Mike, someone who has been champion all throughout the world, and The Rainmaker who has been the cornerstone for New Japan. These two matched up in the G1 Climax last year, and I think that was the best I had seen Elgin look in a long time. Elgin is now fully healed from that Bicep injury he had during the G1, so he could look even better here. But I would be a foolish man to not take Kazuchika Okada here. He is the face of New Japan and it would be a shock if he didn’t get out of the first round.

WINNER: Kazuchika Okada

Mikey Nicholls Vs. Hikuelo

I think it is safe to say that this is the least anticipated match in the first round. If you think that Nicholls looks familiar, that’s because he is the former Nick Miller from NXT. Nicholls is the newest member of CHAOS, while Hikuleo has joined his family members Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa in Bullet Club. Since it is his debut match, I am taking Nicholls here, but with little confidence since it has been a while since we have seen him as a singles wrestler.

WINNER: Mikey Nicholls

Will Ospreary Vs. Bad Luck Fale

This is the biggest mismatch based purely on size. The big question is how does a man the size of Will Ospreay take down a mammoth of a man that is Bad Luck Fale. Ospreay has all the momentum in the world right now, and it would be more of a shock than anything to see him bow out in the first round. I think Ospreay may be the benefactor of a disqualification due to Bullet Club, and there is a story to watch for the tournament. How can Ospreay overcome all these men that are bigger than him? Just have to watch and find out.

WINNER: Will Ospreay

Toa Henare Vs. Lance Archer

This is another weird one, as neither wrestler really has much momentum in the singles department.On one hand, I’ve been a fan of Archer’s since his time in WWE and would love to see him have a singles run in New Japan. On the other hand, you have a 26 year old up and comer in Toa Henare who has been improving a lot in New Japan all throughout 2018. I am going with Henare here simply because I feel like since he is already established as a singles wrestler, him winning makes more sense to me.

WINNER: Toa Henare

Hiroshi Tanahashi Vs. Shota Umino

This one is the matchup that is the biggest mismatch across the board. You have the man who has been the face of the promotion for so long, and the most recent IWGP Heavyweight Champion going up against a kid who is just starting out in the wrestling business. Shota Umino is a Young Lion, meaning that he is just starting his wrestling journey. All the wrestlers who start in New Japan are at this level. Tanahashi, Okada, Naito, and everyone else is at this level. It is clear that Shota is the leader of the class, but I think it is high time he went on excursion to discover himself as a wrestler. Tanahashi is going to win this one, but expect a great showing from Unimo.

WINNER: Hiroshi Tanahashi

Hiroyoshi Tenzan Vs. Ryusuke Taguchi

I think if Tenzan were 10 years younger, he would be one of the big stars in New Japan right now. I think that he is great in the ring, but he has a similar issue as Beth Phoenix. They were born in the wrong era. Taguchi comes into this match as the replacement for the injured David Finlay. One of the things you see most often in New Japan is that the heavyweights beat the Junior Heavyweights. Tenzan is the heavyweight, so he gets the win.

WINNER: Hiroyoshi Tenzan

Kota Ibushi Vs. Tetsuya Naito

To me, this is the hardest first round match to predict. You have two of the best wrestlers on the planet today facing off in such an early stage of the tournament. I can see scenarios for both of these men making deep runs in the tournament, but I am hesitant to pick a winner. It is Ibushi’s first match back since the concussion he suffered at Wrestle Kingdom 13 in his match against Will Ospreay. Naito is the current IWGP Intercontinental Champion and it will be very interesting to see just how far he goes in this tournament. I’m taking Tetsuya Naito, but it is a very hard choice.

WINNER: Tetsuya Naito

EVIL Vs. Zack Sabre Jr.

This match is a very interesting match, as these two have very differing styles. EVIL is very big on striking while Sabre is a submission specialist. Both men can also copy the others offense as well with EVIL having the Banshee Muzzle in his arsenal and Sabre having that brutal PK. This one comes down to some booking that I have worked out in my head for the second round, but I am taking ZSJ to win here.

WINNER: Zack Sabre Jr

Togi Makabe Vs. Colt Cobana

I was very surprised when I saw Colt Cabana’s name in the bracket for this tournament. This is a matchup of two guys with very similar builds and only slightly different offenses in the ring. Makabe is someone who loves to brawl, but he can also wrestle with the best of them, and that is why I think he will beat Colt Cabana. Cabana is semi retired, and in my personal opinion, has lost a step in the ring. That is where Makabe will capitalize and get the win.

WINNER: Togi Makabe

Toru Yano Vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

On paper, this should be an easy win for Smith. You have a guy that is in peak physical condition, facing off against Toru Yano. But Yano is known for getting wins out of nowhere. I expect the Sublime Master Thief to pick up a very sneaky win via roll up, after a match where we see just how good Smith is in the ring.

WINNER: Toru Yano

Satoshi Kojima Vs. Minoru Suzuki

When watching film, you can see that Kojima is a step behind in his in ring work. I think that Suzuki is going to win, and I don’t expect it to be pretty.

WINNER: Minoru Suzuki

Hirooki Goto Vs. SANADA

It surprises me how long these two have been in New Japan, yet they first faced off one on one in the G1 Climax last year. Looking at this matchup, I think that we may see the match of the tournament here. Both men just seem to get wrestling, and their styles clash beautifully. You have Goto who is slow and methodical, and SANADA, who wants to quicken the pace and get the match moving. Picking a winner is very difficult here, but with someone who is as talented in the ring as SANADA, a first round exit is something that would surprise a lot of people. I expect SANADA to win here, setting up a very interesting match with Minoru Suzuki.

WINNER: SANADA