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The New Japan Cup (often abbreviated NJC) is an annual single-elimination tournament held by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) promotion since 2005. Originally intended for every April, it was rescheduled to March in 2007.

The tournament is considered the second most prominent tournament in NJPW, after the G1 Climax, which is held in a round-robin format. Since 2006, the winner, receives an opportunity at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Since 2024, the winner can challenge for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. However, unlike with the G1 Climax, the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight and Global Heavyweight Champions do not participate in the tournament. Between 2014 and 2020, the winner of the tournament could also choose to challenge for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship; in 2015, the winner could also challenge for the NEVER Openweight Championship. The tournament usually featured sixteen participants, before extending to thirty-two participants from 2019 onwards. Although it previously featured almost exclusively heavyweight wrestlers, the 2020 edition of the New Japan Cup began allowing junior heavyweight wrestlers, becoming an openweight tournament. That same year, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, NJPW held the American version of the tournament, with the winner of the tournament, being given the right to challenge for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

Hiroshi Tanahashi, is the inaugural winner of the tournament, being the first wrestler to win in two times. Hirooki Goto holds the records for most wins of the New Japan Cup with three, and the only wrestler to win back-to-back New Japan Cup in 2009 and 2010. All past winners have chosen to challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, with the exception of 2014 winner Shinsuke Nakamura, who challenged for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship; the 2020 winner EVIL, due to Tetsuya Naito also being both IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion, with the winner of the New Japan Cup would automatically challenging for both championships.

Tournaments[]

Year Tournament Aftermath
Winner Runner-up Total won Participants Championship[Note 1] Match Result
2005 Hiroshi Tanahashi Manabu Nakanishi 1 16
N/A
2006 Giant Bernard Yuji Nagata 1 IWGP Heavyweight Championship Faced Brock Lesnar at New Japan Cup Special Loss
2007 Yuji Nagata Togi Makabe 1 12 Faced Hiroshi Tanahashi at Circuit 2007 New Japan Brave Win
2008 Hiroshi Tanahashi Giant Bernard 2 16 Faced Shinsuke Nakamura at New Dimension[1] Loss
2009 Hirooki Goto 1 14 Faced Hiroshi Tanahashi at Wrestling Dontaku Loss
2010 Hirooki Goto Togi Makabe 2 15 Faced Shinsuke Nakamura at New Dimension Loss
2011 Yuji Nagata Shinsuke Nakamura 2 16 Faced Hiroshi Tanahashi at New Dimension Loss
2012 Hirooki Goto Hiroshi Tanahashi 3 Faced Kazuchika Okada at Wrestling Dontaku Loss
2013 Kazuchika Okada Hirooki Goto 1 Faced Hiroshi Tanahashi at Invasion Attack Win
2014 Shinsuke Nakamura Bad Luck Fale 1 IWGP Intercontinental Championship Faced Hiroshi Tanahashi at Invasion Attack Win
2015 Kota Ibushi Hirooki Goto 1 IWGP Heavyweight Championship Faced A.J. Styles at Invasion Attack Loss
2016 Tetsuya Naito 1 Faced Kazuchika Okada at Invasion Attack Win
2017 Katsuyori Shibata Bad Luck Fale 1 Faced Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis Loss
2018 Zack Sabre Jr. Hiroshi Tanahashi 1 Faced Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis Loss
2019 Kazuchika Okada SANADA 2 32 Faced Jay White at G1 Supercard[2] Win
2020 EVIL Kazuchika Okada 1 IWGP Heavyweight Championship
IWGP Intercontinental Championship
Faced Tetsuya Naito at Dominion in Osaka-jo Hall[3] Win
2021 Will Ospreay Shingo Takagi 1 30 IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Faced Kota Ibushi at Sakura Genesis Win
2022 Zack Sabre Jr. Tetsuya Naito 2 48 Faced Kazuchika Okada at Hyper Battle Loss
2023 SANADA David Finlay 1 24 Faced Kazuchika Okada at Sakura Genesis Win
2024 TBD TBD TBD 28 TBD N/A

Results[]

2005[]

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.

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
   Hiroshi Tanahashi DQ  
   Yuji Nagata 24:12  
     Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
 
     Koji Kanemoto 17:38  
   Koji Kanemoto Pin
   Ryushi Yanagisawa 8:19  
     Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
     Hiroyoshi Tenzan 19:45  
   Minoru CO  
   Osamu Nishimura 16:47  
     Osamu Nishimura† Sub
 
     Hiroyoshi Tenzan 20:47  
   Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
   Jushin Thunder Liger 15:54  
     Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
     Manabu Nakanishi 19:21
   Kendo Kashin Pin  
   Shinsuke Nakamura 8:55  
     Kendo Kashin Pin
 
     Yutaka Yoshie 15:48  
   Yutaka Yoshie Pin
   Scott Norton 9:07  
     Kendo Kashin Pin
     Manabu Nakanishi 10:20  
   Tiger Mask Pin  
   Masahiro Chono 10:29  
     Masahiro Chono Pin
 
     Manabu Nakanishi 14:16[4]  
   Hirooki Goto Pin
   Manabu Nakanishi 7:34  

† 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.

2006[]

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

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
   Giant Bernard Pin  
   Toru Yano 8:19  
     Giant Bernard Pin  
 
     Riki Choshu 9:11  
   Black Strong Machine Pin
   Riki Choshu 6:46  
     Giant Bernard Pin  
     Manabu Nakanishi 16:43  
   Manabu Nakanishi Pin  
   Takashi Iizuka 11:31  
     Manabu Nakanishi Pin
 
     Ryoji Sai 14:56  
   Ryoji Sai Pin
   Naofumi Yamamoto 13:59  
     Giant Bernard Pin
     Yuji Nagata 19:40
   Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
   Masahiro Chono 25:12  
     Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
 
     Hiroyoshi Tenzan 14:27  
   Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
   Scott Norton 12:30  
     Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
     Yuji Nagata 18:49  
   Togi Makabe Pin  
   Tatsutoshi Goto 1:24  
     Togi Makabe Pin
 
     Yuji Nagata 10:50  
   Yuji Nagata Pin
   Tomohiro Ishii 9:57  

2007[]

The 2007 New Japan Cup was a 14-man tournament held from March 3 to March 21. 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. He also became the first person to reach the NJC finals twice, and the first to win both the New Japan Cup and G1 Climax.

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
   Togi Makabe Pin  
   Travis Tomko 9:29  
     Togi Makabe Pin  
       Takashi Iizuka 11:32  
   Tomoaki Honma Sub
   Takashi Iizuka 14:06  
     Togi Makabe DQ  
     Hiroyoshi Tenzan 12:27  
   Shinsuke Nakamura Pin  
   Toru Yano 10:16  
     Shinsuke Nakamura Forf
       Hiroyoshi Tenzan  
   
     
     Togi Makabe Pin
     Yuji Nagata 20:05
   Tomohiro Ishii Pin  
   Yuji Nagata 12:12  
     Yuji Nagata Pin
       Masahiro Chono 17:25  
   Masahiro Chono Pin
   Riki Choshu 8:44  
     Yuji Nagata Sub
     Giant Bernard 18:22  
   Shiro Koshinaka Pin  
   Manabu Nakanishi 10:03  
     Manabu Nakanishi Pin
       Giant Bernard 13:05  
   

2008[]

The 2008 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from March 9 to March 23. 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.

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

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

2009[]

The 2009 New Japan Cup was a 14-man tournament held from March 8 to March 22. 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.

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Hirooki Goto Sub  
 Karl Anderson 11:10  
   Hirooki Goto Pin  
 
   Shinsuke Nakamura 19:00  
 Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
 Togi Makabe 15:32  
   Hirooki Goto Sub  
   Yuji Nagata 14:51  
 Yuji Nagata Bye  
   
   Yuji Nagata DQ
 
   Takashi Iizuka 14:49  
 Takashi Iizuka Pin
 Tomoaki Honma 10:53  
   Hirooki Goto Sub
   Giant Bernard 18:18
 Milano Collection AT Pin  
 Toru Yano 09:50  
   Milano Collection AT Pin
 
   Giant Bernard 9:13  
 Giant Bernard Bye
   
   Giant Bernard Pin
   Yutaka Yoshie 08:56  
 Yutaka Yoshie Pin  
 Manabu Nakanishi 20:29  
   Yutaka Yoshie Pin
 
   Tomohiro Ishii 13:38  
 Tomohiro Ishii Countout1
 Wataru Inoue 12:33  

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

2010[]

The 2010 New Japan Cup was a 15-man tournament held from March 14 to March 22. 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.

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Hirooki Goto Bye  
   
   Hirooki Goto Pin  
 
   Yujiro Takahashi 15:04  
 Yujiro Takahashi Pin
 Yuji Nagata 13:41  
   Hirooki Goto Pin  
   Masato Tanaka 11:15  
 Wataru Inoue Pin  
 Giant Bernard 7:39  
   Wataru Inoue Pin
 
   Masato Tanaka 13:05  
 Masato Tanaka Pin
 Manabu Nakanishi 18:01  
   Hirooki Goto Pin
   Togi Makabe 21:42
 Togi Makabe Pin  
 Tomohiro Ishii 11:46  
   Togi Makabe Pin
 
   Toru Yano 14:26  
 Toru Yano Pin
 Tomoaki Honma 10:34  
   Togi Makabe Pin
   Tetsuya Naito 15:52  
 Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
 Strong Man 8:37  
   Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
 
   Tetsuya Naito 23:17  
 Tetsuya Naito Pin
 Karl Anderson 9:52  

2011[]

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.

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Manabu Nakanishi Pin  
 Yujiro Takahashi 9:50  
   Manabu Nakanishi Pin  
 
   Shinsuke Nakamura 8:49  
 Hirooki Goto Pin
 Shinsuke Nakamura 13:45  
   Shinsuke Nakamura Pin  
   Togi Makabe 9:55  
 Karl Anderson Sub  
 MVP 12:20  
   MVP Pin
 
   Togi Makabe 10:41  
 Togi Makabe Pin
 Satoshi Kojima 16:01  
   Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
   Yuji Nagata 14:44
 Wataru Inoue Pin  
 Toru Yano 10:17  
   Toru Yano Pin
 
   Hiroyoshi Tenzan 11:09  
 Hiroyoshi Tenzan Sub
 Takashi Iizuka 12:50  
   Toru Yano Sub
   Yuji Nagata 7:27  
 Tetsuya Naito Pin  
 Masato Tanaka 13:03  
   Masato Tanaka Pin
 
   Yuji Nagata 16:33  
 Yuji Nagata Pin
 Giant Bernard 11:32  

2012[]

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

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
 Toru Yano 17:25  
   Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
 
   Tetsuya Naito 18:21  
 Satoshi Kojima Pin
 Tetsuya Naito 17:53  
   Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
   Karl Anderson 12:36  
 Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin  
 Karl Anderson 8:00  
   Karl Anderson Pin
 
   Shinsuke Nakamura 15:22  
 MVP Pin
 Shinsuke Nakamura 9:45  
   Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
   Hirooki Goto 25:25
 Togi Makabe Pin  
 Lance Archer 8:47  
   Togi Makabe Pin
 
   Minoru Suzuki 13:34  
 Yuji Nagata Pin
 Minoru Suzuki 15:31  
   Togi Makabe Pin
   Hirooki Goto 9:22  
 Hirooki Goto Pin  
 Yujiro Takahashi 9:55  
   Hirooki Goto Pin
 
   La Sombra 9:51  
 La Sombra Pin
 Yoshi-Hashi 9:41  

2013[]

The 2013 New Japan Cup was a 16-man tournament held from March 11 to March 23.

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Togi Makabe Pin  
 Yujiro Takahashi 10:45  
   Yujiro Takahashi Pin  
 
   Davey Boy Smith Jr. 11:43  
 Shinsuke Nakamura Pin
 Davey Boy Smith Jr. 13:06  
   Davey Boy Smith Jr. Pin  
   Hirooki Goto 8:14  
 Satoshi Kojima Pin  
 Tomohiro Ishii 13:37  
   Tomohiro Ishii Pin
 
   Hirooki Goto 18:46  
 Hirooki Goto Pin
 Tama Tonga 9:37  
   Hirooki Goto Pin
   Kazuchika Okada 23:52
 Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin  
 Karl Anderson 8:42  
   Karl Anderson Pin
 
   Kazuchika Okada 15:27  
 Kazuchika Okada Sub
 Lance Archer 10:14  
   Kazuchika Okada Sub
   Toru Yano 10:42  
 Yuji Nagata Pin  
 Minoru Suzuki 10:24  
   Minoru Suzuki Pin
 
   Toru Yano 10:14  
 Manabu Nakanishi Pin
 Toru Yano 6:18  

2014[]

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

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

2015[]

The 2015 New Japan Cup took place between March 5 and 15. 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.

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
 Toru Yano 2:47  
   Toru Yano Pin  
 
   Kota Ibushi 2:44  
 Kota Ibushi Pin
 Doc Gallows 8:49  
   Kota Ibushi Pin  
   Tetsuya Naito 14:14  
 Tetsuya Naito Pin  
 Karl Anderson 12:10  
   Tetsuya Naito Pin
 
   Bad Luck Fale 12:51  
 Kazuchika Okada Pin
 Bad Luck Fale 16:34  
   Kota Ibushi Pin
   Hirooki Goto 17:31
 Togi Makabe Pin  
 Tomoaki Honma 10:10  
   Togi Makabe Pin
 
   Yujiro Takahashi 10:13  
 Yoshi-Hashi Pin
 Yujiro Takahashi 8:02  
   Togi Makabe Pin
   Hirooki Goto 8:11  
 Yuji Nagata Pin  
 Hirooki Goto 11:24  
   Hirooki Goto Pin
 
   Katsuyori Shibata 17:18  
 Satoshi Kojima Pin
 Katsuyori Shibata 8:53  

2016[]

The 2016 New Japan Cup took place between March 3 and 12. 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.

  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
 Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
 Bad Luck Fale 13:55  
   Bad Luck Fale Pin  
 
   Michael Elgin 10:10  
 Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
 Michael Elgin 8:22  
   Michael Elgin Pin  
   Hirooki Goto 9:28  
 Togi Makabe Pin  
 Tama Tonga 7:40  
   Tama Tonga Pin
 
   Hirooki Goto 9:24  
 Yuji Nagata Pin
 Hirooki Goto 11:28  
   Hirooki Goto Pin
   Tetsuya Naito 20:15
 Tomoaki Honma Pin  
 Satoshi Kojima 11:50  
   Satoshi Kojima Pin
 
   Toru Yano 5:41  
 Toru Yano Countout
 Yujiro Takahashi 1:13  
   Toru Yano Pin
   Tetsuya Naito 2:32  
 Tomohiro Ishii Pin  
 EVIL 15:20  
   Tomohiro Ishii Pin
 
   Tetsuya Naito 16:21  
 Yoshi-Hashi Pin
 Tetsuya Naito 13:42  

2017[]

The 2017 New Japan Cup took place between March 11 and 20. Unlike previous years, this tournament was held across eight events in 10 days. On March 7 it was announced that due to Tomoaki Honma's injury he was unable to compete and Yuji Nagata was set to be his replacement.


  Round 1
March 11, 12
Round 2
March 13, 14, 15, 17
Semifinals
March 19
Final
March 20
                             
 Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
 EVIL 22:55[5]  
   EVIL Pin  
 
   Yuji Nagata 13:33  
 Yuji Nagata Pin
 Tanga Roa 11:45[5]  
   EVIL 12:44  
   Bad Luck Fale Pin  
 Michael Elgin Pin  
 Bad Luck Fale 10:32[5]  
   Bad Luck Fale Pin
 
   Toru Yano 8:33  
 Toru Yano Pin
 Tama Tonga 3:46[5]  
   Bad Luck Fale Pin
   Katsuyori Shibata 18:48
 Katsuyori Shibata Pin  
 Minoru Suzuki 19:44  
   Katsuyori Shibata Pin
 
   Juice Robinson 11:23  
 Juice Robinson Pin
 Yujiro Takahashi 10:21  
   Katsuyori Shibata Sub
   Tomohiro Ishii 22:32  
 Tomohiro Ishii Pin  
 Kenny Omega 29:45  
   Tomohiro Ishii Pin
 
   SANADA 14:02[6]  
 Yoshi-Hashi Sub
 SANADA 13:57  


2018[]

The 2018 New Japan Cup took place between March 9 and 21.[7] This tournament featured the heavyweight debut of Taichi, as well as the returning Hiroshi Tanahashi, who returned from an injury.

  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 29:52  
 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 Sub
 
   Zack Sabre Jr. 21:02  
 Tetsuya Naito Sub
 Zack Sabre Jr. 22:43  
   Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
   SANADA 25:35  
 Toru Yano CO  
 Davey Boy Smith Jr. 12:52  
   Toru Yano Sub
 
   SANADA 4:51  
 Chuckie T. Pin
 SANADA 21:31  


2019[]

The 2019 New Japan Cup took place between March 8 and 24. The winner of the tournament would challenge for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at G1 Supercard on April 6.[8] Unlike the previous year, the tournament featured 32 wrestlers instead of 16 and marks the New Japan Cup debut of 7 wrestlers. On February 23, Finlay injured his shoulder, NJPW would later announce that Finlay would hat to forfeit his place at the tournament. On March 4, NJPW announced that Ryusuke Taguchi would replace Finlay in the tournament.

  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 Pin  
 Tomohiro Ishii 21:34  
   Tomohiro Ishii Pin  
   Taichi 22:55  
 Tomoaki Honma Pin
 Taichi 17:54  
   Tomohiro Ishii Pin  
   Yoshi-Hashi 20:25  
 Manabu Nakanishi Sub  
 Yoshi-Hashi 12:26  
   Yoshi-Hashi Pin
   Chase Owens 14:10  
 Juice Robinson Pin
 Chase Owens 24:36  
   Tomohiro Ishii Pin  
   Kazuchika Okada 21:10  
 Kazuchika Okada Pin  
 Michael Elgin 24:06  
   Kazuchika Okada Pin
   Mikey Nicholls 17:25  
 Mikey Nicholls Pin
 Hikuleo 8:55  
   Kazuchika Okada Pin
   Will Ospreay 20:11  
 Will Ospreay Pin  
 Bad Luck Fale 11:30  
   Will Ospreay Pin
   Lance Archer 18:08  
 Toa Henare Pin
 Lance Archer 11:11  
 Kazuchika Okada Pin
 SANADA 33:07
 Hiroshi Tanahashi Sub  
 Shota Umino 14:48  
   Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
   Ryusuke Taguchi 17:17  
 Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin
 Ryusuke Taguchi 12:08  
   Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
   Zack Sabre Jr. 14:56  
 Kota Ibushi Pin  
 Tetsuya Naito 20:38  
   Kota Ibushi Sub
   Zack Sabre Jr. 16:07  
 EVIL Sub
 Zack Sabre Jr. 15:33  
   Hiroshi Tanahashi Sub
   SANADA 24:11  
 Togi Makabe Pin  
 Colt Cabana 7:26  
   Colt Cabana Pin
   Toru Yano 7:47  
 Toru Yano Pin
 Davey Boy Smith Jr. 5:30  
   Colt Cabana Sub
   SANADA 21:11  
 Satoshi Kojima Pin  
 Minoru Suzuki 13:43  
   Minoru Suzuki Pin
   SANADA 28:45  
 Hirooki Goto Pin
 SANADA 20:47  

2020[]

The 2020 New Japan Cup was supposed to take place between March 4 and 21. Like the previous year, the tournament would have featured a 32 participants format and would have marked the New Japan Cup debut of Jeff Cobb, Will Ospreay, Shingo Takagi, KENTA, David Finlay, who last year had to forfeit his place due to a torn labrum, and Young Lions (Alex Coughlin and Karl Fredericks). On February 26, following recommendations by the Japanese Ministry of Health regarding the coronavirus outbreak, NJPW canceled the events between March 1 and March 15 including the first and the second round of the tournament. On March 10, NJPW announced that the remainder of the tournament would be canceled as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, under the recommendations of the Japanese Ministry of Health. On June 8, during an online press conference, NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi announced that the promotion of the return of the 2020 New Japan Cup between June 16 and July 11, with all, shows being held behind closed doors, except for the finals would allow fans into the arena, but only a third of the venue's normal capacity, after the Japanese Government lifted some restrictions in many regions in Japan.

On July 31, during an online press conference, NJPW of America CEO Takami Obari announced the New Japan Cup USA, the American version of the New Japan Cup, to be held between August 7 and August 21, featuring the foreign talent working in NJPW, with the winner receiving an opportunity for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

  Round 1
June 16, 17, 22, 23
Round 2
June 24 and July 1
Quarterfinals
July 2
Semifinals
July 3
Final
July 11
                                               
   Togi Makabe Pin  
   Yota Tsuji 8:41  
     Togi Makabe Pin  
     Tomohiro Ishii 13:28  
   Tomohiro Ishii Pin
   El Desperado 20:17  
     Tomohiro Ishii Pin  
     Hiromu Takahashi 19:12  
   Toru Yano Pin  
   Jado 9:07  
     Toru Yano CO
     Hiromu Takahashi 9:17  
   Tomoaki Honma Pin
   Hiromu Takahashi 18:45  
     Hiromu Takahashi RS  
     Kazuchika Okada 27:00  
   Kazuchika Okada Pin  
   Gedo 15:30  
     Kazuchika Okada Sub
     Yuji Nagata 20:14  
   Yuji Nagata Pin
   Minoru Suzuki 20:35  
     Kazuchika Okada Sub
     Taiji Ishimori 16:52  
   Yuya Uemura Pin  
   Yoshinobu Kanemaru 9:32  
     Yoshinobu Kanemaru Pin
     Taiji Ishimori 9:18  
   Gabriel Kidd Sub
   Taiji Ishimori 8:53  
   Kazuchika Okada Pin
   EVIL 31:50
   Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin  
   Taichi 21:51  
     Taichi Pin  
     Kota Ibushi 18:08  
   Kota Ibushi Pin
   Zack Sabre Jr. 15:15  
     Taichi Pin  
     SANADA 22:50  
   Ryusuke Taguchi Pin  
   SANADA 15:47  
     SANADA Sub
     Sho 14:43  
   Sho Pin
   Shingo Takagi 17:06  
     SANADA Pin
     EVIL 20:13  
   Hiroyoshi Tenzan Sub  
   Yoshi-Hashi 17:35  
     Yoshi-Hashi Pin
     BUSHI 10:22  
   Yoh Pin
   BUSHI 15:42  
     Yoshi-Hashi RS
     EVIL 2:00  
   Satoshi Kojima Pin  
   EVIL 20:08  
     EVIL Pin
     Hirooki Goto 18:25  
   Hirooki Goto Pin
   Yujiro Takahashi 16:40  

2021[]

The 2021 New Japan Cup took place between March 4 and 21. The winner of the tournament would challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on April 4. Unlike the previous year, the tournament featured 30 wrestlers instead of 16. EVIL and Hiroshi Tanahashi progressed to the second round, due to EVIL being the winner of the 2020 New Japan Cup and Tanahashi holding the NEVER Openweight Championship. Two matches of the tournament took part on March 4 at NJPW's 49th anniversary event.

  Round 1
March 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10
Round 2
March 11, 13 14 and 15
Quarterfinals
March 16 and 18
Semifinals
March 20
Final
March 21
                                     
   EVIL Pin  
   Jeff Cobb 23:08  
 Satoshi Kojima Pin  
 Jeff Cobb 15:50  
   EVIL Pin  
   Toru Yano 7:54  
 Tetsuya Naito Sub  
 Great-O-Khan 20:20  
   Great-O-Khan Pin
   Toru Yano 13:02  
 Toru Yano CO
 Bad Luck Fale 5:50  
   EVIL Pin  
   Shingo Takagi 22:43  
 Hirooki Goto Pin  
 Taichi 22:43  
   Hirooki Goto Pin
   Shingo Takagi 23:51  
 Kazuchika Okada Pin
 Shingo Takagi 23:58  
   Shingo Takagi Pin
   KENTA 23:47  
 Tomoaki Honma Pin  
 Minoru Suzuki 14:54  
   Minoru Suzuki Pin
   KENTA 16:50  
 Juice Robinson Sub
 KENTA 14:54  
 Shingo Takagi Pin
 Will Ospreay 30:06
 Hiroyoshi Tenzan Pin  
 Will Ospreay 13:37  
   Will Ospreay Pin  
   Zack Sabre Jr. 21:23  
 Gabriel Kidd Sub
 Zack Sabre Jr. 17:21  
   Will Ospreay Pin  
   SANADA 18:56  
 Yuji Nagata Pin  
 Yota Tsuji 13:42  
   Yuji Nagata Pin
   SANADA 18:18  
 Tomohiro Ishii Pin
 SANADA 25:18  
   Will Ospreay Pin
   David Finlay 21:04  
 David Finlay Pin  
 Chase Owens 11:20  
   David Finlay Pin
   Yoshi-Hashi 16:12  
 Yoshi-Hashi Pin
 Yujiro Takahashi 15:50  
   David Finlay Pin
   Jay White 19:24  
 Jay White Pin  
 Toa Henare 24:46  
   Jay White Pin
   Hiroshi Tanahashi 20:01  

2022[]

The 2022 New Japan Cup took place between March 2 and 27. The winner of the tournament would challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Hyper Battle on April 9. Unlike the previous year, the tournament featured 48 wrestlers instead of 16 which included wrestlers from both heavyweight and junior heavyweight divisions. On February 28, NJPW announced that Kota Ibushi would be forced to forfeit his match against Great-O-Khan, due to his recovery from a shoulder injury. Meanwhile, it was also announced that Hiroyoshi Tenzan would also forfeit second match, due to being sidelined with a knee injury.

Round 1
March 2, 6, 7
Round 2
March 9, 10, 12, 13
Round 3
March 14, 15, 17, 18
Quarterfinals
March 20, 21
Semifinals
March 26
Finals
March 27
                  
Kazuchika Okada Pin
El Desperado 16:21
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Master Wato 18:34
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Taichi 24:17
Toru Yano Pin
Taichi 6:25
Taichi Forf
Hiroyoshi Tenzan N/A
Kazuchika Okada Pin
CIMA 20:52
Yuji Nagata Pin
Hirooki Goto 12:37
Hirooki Goto Pin
Dick Togo 9:50
Hirooki Goto Pin
CIMA 17:20
CIMA Pin
Taka Michinoku 9:48
CIMA Pin
Yoshinobu Kanemaru 14:46
Kazuchika Okada Pin
Tetsuya Naito 27:42
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Yoh 16:50
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Bad Luck Fale 15:01
Hiroshi Tanahashi Pin
Tetsuya Naito 18:48
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 18:11
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Gedo 14:18
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Jeff Cobb 19:04
Togi Makabe Pin
Jeff Cobb 8:10
Jeff Cobb Pin
Satoshi Kojima 15:36
Jeff Cobb Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 17:22
Tomoaki Honma Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 9:45
Yoshi-Hashi Sub
Kosei Fujita 9:20
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Zack Sabre Jr. 24:43
Kota Ibushi Forf
Great-O-Khan N/A
Great-O-Khan Pin
Taiji Ishimori 16:43
Great-O-Khan Sub
Zack Sabre Jr. 20:03
Ryohei Oiwa Sub
Zack Sabre Jr. 10:35
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
DOUKI 15:03
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Will Ospreay 23:04
Yuto Nakashima Pin
Aaron Henare 8:40
Aaron Henare Pin
SANADA 25:07
SANADA Stop
Will Ospreay 16:56
BUSHI Pin
Will Ospreay 12:48
Will Ospreay Pin
El Phantasmo 17:31
Zack Sabre Jr. Sub
Shingo Takagi 19:24
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Shingo Takagi 23:32
Shingo Takagi Pin
Tanga Loa 12:31
Shingo Takagi Pin
Chase Owens 16:41
Chase Owens Pin
Jado 7:13
Chase Owens Pin
Tiger Mask 10:33
Shingo Takagi Pin
Hiromu Takahashi 23:43
Ryusuke Taguchi Pin
EVIL 7:26
EVIL Pin
Tama Tonga 14:21
EVIL Pin
Hiromu Takahashi 15:52
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Sho 15:45
Hiromu Takahashi Pin
Minoru Suzuki 19:27

2023[]

The 2023 New Japan Cup was announced on January 7, 2023 and took place between March 2 and 21. The winner of the tournament would challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on April 8. Unlike the previous year, the tournament featured 24 wrestlers instead of 48. During the second round, Will Ospreay suffered a shoulder injury against his United Empire stablemate Mark Davis, this led to Davis announcing in an interumptum press-conference that Ospreay would be forfeiting the tournament, with Davis being his replacement.

Round 1
March 5, 6, 8, 10
Round 2
March 11, 12, 13, 15
Quarterfinals
March 17, 18
Semifinals
March 19
Final
March 21
               
KENTA 29:12
SANADA Pin
SANADA Pin
Taichi 24:27
SANADA Pin
Tetsuya Naito 24:41
Chase Owens 18:07
Tetsuya Naito Pin
Tetsuya Naito Pin
El Phantasmo 17:32
SANADA Pin
Mark Davis 13:20
Jeff Cobb 17:42
EVIL Pin
Ren Narita 18:44
EVIL Pin
EVIL 15:30
Mark Davis[Note 2] Pin
Will Ospreay Pin
Mark Davis 20:01
Toru Yano 12:33
Mark Davis Pin
SANADA Pin
David Finlay 19:56
Hirooki Goto Pin
Kyle Fletcher 20:43
Yoshi-Hashi 20:06
Kyle Fletcher Pin
Hirooki Goto 16:38
Tama Tonga Pin
Tama Tonga Pin
Aaron Henare 16:34
Shingo Takagi 20:46
Aaron Henare Pin
Tama Tonga 18:27
David Finlay Pin
Great-O-Khan 13:07
David Finlay Pin
David Finlay Pin
Tomohiro Ishii 18:40
David Finlay Pin
Shota Umino 17:50
Zack Sabre Jr. 26:12
Shota Umino Pin
Shota Umino Pin
Yujiro Takahashi 9:47

2024[]

The 2024 edition's schedule was announced on December 27, 2023, and the tournament ran from March 6 until March 20. Unlike the previous year, the tournament featured 28 wrestlers instead of 24.

Round 1
March 6, 7, 8, 10
Round 2
March 11, 12, 13, 15
Quarterfinals
March 16, 17
Semifinals
March 18
Final
March 20
               
SANADA Pin
Yoshi-Hashi 23:51
Yoshi-Hashi Pin
KENTA 10:55
SANADA Pin
Jack Perry 16:02
Shota Umino Pin
Jack Perry 12:20
Jack Perry Pin
Toru Yano 8:28
Toru Yano CO
Yujiro Takahashi 2:56
SANADA Pin
Hirooki Goto 19:04
TJP Pin
David Finlay 16:17
David Finlay Pin
Tanga Loa 16:42
Tanga Loa Pin
Great-O-Khan 15:50
David Finlay Forfeit
Hirooki Goto [Note 3]
Tomohiro Ishii Pin
Chase Owens 16:20
Chase Owens Pin
Hirooki Goto 21:36
SANADA
Yota Tsuji
EVIL Pin
Hikuleo 15:12
Hikuleo Pin
Oleg Boltin 9:21
EVIL Pin
Shingo Takagi 17:33
Shingo Takagi Pin
Yuya Uemura 23:22
Shingo Takagi Pin
Gabe Kidd 18:20
Callum Newman Pin
Gabe Kidd 14:10
EVIL Pin
Yota Tsuji 16:50
Yota Tsuji Pin
Jeff Cobb 21:41
Yota Tsuji Pin
El Phantasmo 21:56
El Phantasmo Pin
Mikey Nicholls 13:21
Yota Tsuji Pin
Ren Narita 18:08
Taichi Pin
Ren Narita 18:54
Ren Narita Pin
Zack Sabre Jr. 23:08

Gallery[]

Notes[]

  1. From 2006 until 2013, the winner of the tournament would always earn a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. From 2014 onwards, the winner could decide between challenging for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. In 2015 only, the winner could also choose to challenge for the NEVER Openweight Championship. In 2019, the winner would faced Jay White at G1 Supercard and in 2020, due to Tetsuya Naito being both the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Champion, the winner would received a match against him for both titles, instead of choosing a title challenge of their choise.
  2. Ospreay withdrew from the tournament due to a shoulder injury suffered during his match with Davis, whom replaced Ospreay on his behalf.
  3. Finlay forfeited his match due to suffering an illness.

References[]

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