New Japan Cup USA
New Japan Cup USA 2020 logo
PromotionsNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
First event2020
Event gimmickSingle-elimination tournament for a championship match

New Japan Cup USA is an annual professional wrestling tournament produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The tournament is a spin-off of NJPW's annual New Japan Cup introduced in 2020. The tournament was promoted under NJPW's North American branch, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America.

New Japan Cup USA is an eight-man, single-elimination tournament. Matches are contested through NJPW's weekly television show, Strong.

Tournaments

Year Tournament Aftermath
WinnerTimes won Participants Challenged forMatchResult
2020Kenta1 8 IWGP United States Championshipvs. Jon Moxley on Strong
February 26, 2021		Loss
2021Tom Lawlor1 Strong Openweight Championship vs. Brody King on Strong
April 23, 2021		Won

History

The New Japan Cup was first held in April 2005.[1] The event then became an annual tradition for NJPW and was held every year around mid-March to mid-April, with the winner receiving a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. After the 2020 edition of the New Japan Cup was delayed until June due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[2][3][4] it was announced during a press conference on July 31 that the New Japan Cup USA would take place from August 7 to August 21 of that year, with the winner receiving a shot at the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. It was also reported that the matches would be televised on NJPW's new television show, Strong.[5] The next day, the eight-man bracket was announced.[6]

Editions

2020

New Japan Cup USA 2020
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateAugust 7–21, 2020
CityPort Hueneme, California
VenueOceanview Pavilion
Attendance0[7][lower-alpha 1]
Event chronology
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Summer Struggle		 Next →
Summer Struggle in Jingu
New Japan Cup USA chronology
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First		 Next →
2021

It commenced on August 7, 2020 and concluded on August 21, 2020.

Round 1
August 7[8] 		Semi-finals
August 14[9] 		Final
August 21[10]
         
Karl Fredericks 9:59
Kenta Pin
Kenta Pin
Jeff Cobb 14:38
Jeff Cobb Pin
Tanga Loa 8:45
Kenta Pin
David Finlay 13:35
David Finlay Pin
Chase Owens 9:46
David Finlay Pin
Tama Tonga 7:10
Brody King 7:14
Tama Tonga Pin

2021

New Japan Cup USA 2021
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 9–23, 2021
CityPort Hueneme, California
VenueOceanview Pavilion
Attendance0[7][lower-alpha 1]
Event chronology
← Previous
Sakura Genesis		 Next →
Road to Wrestling Dontaku
New Japan Cup USA chronology
← Previous
2020		 Next →
—

New Japan Cup USA 2021 commenced on April 9 and concluded on April 23.[11] Eight qualifying matches were held from March 5–March 26 to determine the eight participants. The bracket was revealed after the eight participants were determined.[12] Originally, the winner of the tournament would receive an IWGP United States Championship title match, but this was changed when NJPW revealed the Strong Openweight Championship on April 2 and announced that the winner will become its inaugural champion instead.[13]

Qualifying
March 5, 12, 19, 26 		Round 1
April 9 		Semi-finals
April 16 		Final
April 23
        
Clark Connors Pin[14]
TJP 9:27
Clark Connors 9:57
Lio Rush Pin[15]
Rocky Romero 13:57
Lio Rush Pin[16]
Lio Rush 7:38
Brody King Pin
Brody King Pin[17]
Bateman 13:25
Brody King Pin[15]
Chris Dickinson 10:42
Blake Christian 8:53
Chris Dickinson Pin[14]
Brody King 20:05
Tom Lawlor Sub
Ren Narita Pin[17]
Misterioso 11:12
Ren Narita 13:19
Tom Lawlor Sub[15]
The DKC 9:13
Tom Lawlor Pin[16]
Tom Lawlor Pin
Hikuleo 8:58
Jordan Clearwater 7:57
Hikuleo Pin[18]
Hikuleo Pin[15]
Fred Rosser 6:22
Fred Rosser Pin[18]
J. R. Kratos 14:16

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The event was held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ↑ "New Japan Cup 2005". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  2. ↑ "【お詫びとお知らせ】3月1日（日）～3月15日（日）までの11大会を開催中止とさせて頂きます" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  3. ↑ NJPW. "NJPW events cancelled until Saturday March 21 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  4. ↑ NJPW. "New Japan Cup 2020 a NJPW World Special this June! | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  5. ↑ NJPW. "New Japan Cup USA announced for NJPW STRONG debut 【NJoA】 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  6. ↑ NJPW. "New Japan Cup USA Preview 【NJoA】 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  7. 1 2 "NJPW STRONG #1". Cagematch.net. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  8. ↑ "2020.08.07 NEW JAPAN CUP 2020 in the USA". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Bushiroad. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ "2020.08.14 NEW JAPAN CUP 2020 in the USA". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Bushiroad. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  10. ↑ "2020.08.21 NEW JAPAN CUP 2020 in the USA". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Bushiroad. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  11. ↑ NJPW. "LEC presents New Japan Cup USA bracket 【NJoA】 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  12. ↑ Renner, Ethan (March 26, 2021). "NJPW New Japan Cup USA 2021 tournament bracket set". WON/F4W. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ NJPW. "Strong Openweight Championship revealed | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  14. 1 2 "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Lambert, Jeremy (April 9, 2021). "NJPW Strong Results (4/9): New Japan Cup USA First Round Action". Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  16. 1 2 "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 6, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  17. 1 2 "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 20, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
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