Top 8 New Japan Cup 2022 Matches

4. Tetsuya Naito v Zack Sabre Jr

When it comes to underrated feuds, none is more overlooked than Tetsuya Naito and Zack Sabre Jr. Over the years, the duo has had wars stemming from their contrasting styles and personalities. With the stakes higher in this match, it isn’t surprising they put in 110%.

Surprisingly, the match started at a very slow pace. Both men seemed to want to wear each other out. In particular, Naito was staying very close to the mat and to Zack and vice versa. It seemed as if both wrestlers knew their game plan going in and, for Zack, he wanted a much quicker ending after the war against Shingo the previous day.

Yet, the wear and tear could be seen after a grueling tournament. While Naito’s knees continued to cause problems, ZSJ showcased pain in his ribs, impacting his breathing. Despite all of this, both continued fighting for their lives. In particular, the final moments were dynamic with a series of attempted finishers, reversals, and submissions.

For the first time in the tournament, Zack Sabre Jr got the win with the Zack Driver. For many, it was deserved and is bringing ZSJ back to the top of the singles division after focusing on the tag team action with TAICHI. A sign of respect from both men wasn’t surprising, but it’s not the end of their rivalry.

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3. Kazuchika Okada v Tetsuya Naito

Merely a month after their last meeting for the title, Kazuchika Okada and Tetsuya Naito met in the semi-final of the New Japan Cup. Okada was determined to win the tournament as champion and only Naito was blocking his path to the final. After losing to Naito and the last few years riddled with bad luck in tournaments, this was Naito’s chance to cement a place at next year’s Wrestle Kingdom.

Naito and Okada are both extremely strong, agile, and technical. Their match was full of different layers, combining all their specialties. One minute, they would be flying across the ring, then they would slow things down and execute submissions before throwing forearms.

The final moments of the match were extremely dynamic. Both Okada and Naito went for their finishing moves multiple times. However, their experience and familiarity with each other meant they expected each move and could counter it. In particular, as Naito headed to the top rope for his iconic Stardust Press, Okada predicted it and managed to move out of the way.

After an epic bout, Tetsuya Naito again managed to beat his opponent with a roll-up. This time, it was the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. It didn’t matter that Naito didn’t win the tournament as he avenged his loss last month and secured a shot at the title. The rivalry between Okada and Naito will never be over, and this was another amazing chapter to add to their story.

• Tetsuya Naito
• New Japan Cup
• Zack Sabre Jr
• Kazuchika Okada
• NJPW

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