The structure is different this year in that they've spread out the tournament over ten days. I have mixed feelings about this layout - I get that they want to draw as much money from the bracket as possible, and by stacking the first round with big matches they can headline multiple shows throughout. But at the same time it does feel a little contrived; Kenny Omega vs. Tomohiro Ishii shouldn't be a first-round match. They're both top seeds and realistically ought to be facing each other later on. Ditto with Shibata and Suzuki. But I guess since those matches will be headlining or co-headlining their respective cards they'll get time to be great. It's just very odd to me that a big first-time match like Omega vs. Ishii is being thrown out there at the beginning of a tournament.
Anyway let's get to the participants....
Hiroshi Tanahashi
Justin: This two-time Cup winner is one of six believable winners this year, but I don't think there's a snowball's chance in hell of him taking this down. Okada vs. Tanahashi should probably never happen again except maybe in the G1. Tanahashi should make it to the semis and then probably lose to Michael Elgin.
Landon: Tanahashi’s lost in the first round two years in a row, to Fale and to Yano in 2016 and 2015, respectively. My gut feeling is that he’s gonna lose again this year, hopefully going on to have a higher caliber match with this opponent than the past two.
Evil
Justin: You know, there is a chance Evil pulls out a huge upset and knocks Tanahashi out in the first round. I could see that happening and it'd be a great feather in his cap. Then maybe he faces Elgin in the semis.
Landon: Well, Justin, I’ll go one step beyond that and say he could make it to the finals themselves, where he and Omega could have a great match. I have a lot of faith in EVIL (whacky gimmick excluded) and him going far in this tournament would be a great kickstarter
Justin: Honma sadly suffered a severe spinal injury last weekend off a botched draping DDT. Word is he is slowly regaining feeling in his arms and legs but it's still a very scary situation. I'll be relieved as long as he is able to walk again.
As for Nagata, I think he'll probably beat Roa but fall to either Evil or Tanahashi in the second round.
Landon: I like Yuji Nagata. He's the last of the third generation guys who could believably have a singles program or title run. Definitely a solid guy to be a replacement. Looking for him to beat Roa in the first round and lose to the winner of Tana/Evil.
Tanga Roa
Justin: Roa's losing to Nagata.
Landon: See above.
Michael Elgin
Justin: Elgin is a potential winner. He'll have a really fun big man match against Fale and eventually make the finals I think. Whether or not he wins the whole thing, this tournament should be a big moment for Big Mike. Even in a finals loss he'll be poised to make a run at the main event scene again.
Landon: I think the Intercontinental title is not Elgin's to gain anymore, and this tournament could be where he gets set on the path to an IWGP heavyweight title match. Although an idea runs through my head where he could run through three Bullet Club members to get to the finals. But that idea is much better in theory than in practice.
Bad Luck Fale
Justin: If he makes it past Elgin I'll be shocked. And kinda pissed. He's in this tourney to make Mike look good in the first round. Period.
Landon: I mean it’s Fale. Quarter Finals at best.
Toru Yano
Justin: The usual comedy stuff from Yano. No way he survives the first round.
Landon: Never say Never to Yano. I can see him unfortunately beating Tama Tonga…
Tama Tonga
Justin: Tonga could have a nice little two-match run with a decisive win over Yano and a show stealing match against Elgin where he looks good taking the loss. Tonga may make a star of himself yet.
Landon: …but I don’t WANT to see him beating Tama Tonga. I think that Tama has the potential to break out from the midcard mire as a member of Bullet Club, and a good showing in the Cup could bring that out in him like the G1 last year didn’t.
Katsuyori Shibata
Justin: Shibata has to be one of the favorites to win this thing. He's all done with the NEVER Title, which means he's moving up the card. I'd love to see Okada vs. Shibata for the big belt in April. At some point Shibata should get a run with the Heavyweight Title. Probably not in 2017, but perhaps next year. This could be a great step toward that end. At any rate I think either he'll get past Suzuki (after delivering a potential MOTY candidate), or it'll be such an insane war they knock each other out of the tournament.
Landon: I think if he can get past Suzuki he’s the favorite to win the whole thing. Shibata-Okada would probably be the better match than Shibata-Naito, though the idea of him challenging Goto for the NEVER Openweight title stands out. I do not, however, expect him to leap that Suzuki hurdle. It’s a shame.
Minoru Suzuki
Justin: Putting Shibata vs. Suzuki in the first round is just so odd to me. This match could co-headline Sakura Genesis, and I guess it's likely to do that. As I said, I could see this going to a draw, setting up a rematch next month. But either of these guys could reasonably win the tournament too.
Landon: I just like Suzuki too much. I don’t want to see him lose to Shibata, I also don’t want him losing to Ishii or Omega, BUT I don’t think he should win the Cup. Suzuki is just…beyond anything not a title match, or an important singles match. I guess a draw would be the best case scenario for these two.
Juice Robinson
Justin: Juice is on the rise after a solid showing at Tokyo Dome and a good NEVER match with Goto. If Shibata-Suzuki goes to a draw that would likely give Juice a bye into the semis, which elevates him in a roundabout way. He's not getting to the finals though.
Landon: Juice is over with me now, after the Dome and the NEVER match. If the previous match isn’t a draw, Juice is gonna die for Orlando.
Yujiro Takahashi
Justin: Takahashi is fodder for Juice. No more, no less.
Landon: I’ll get into why I don’t like Yujiro in greater detail one day.
Tomohiro Ishii
Justin: One of the company's MVPs is biding his time as a Tag Team Champion until another singles push comes his way. Ishii is a longshot tournament winner, should he survive his match with Kenny Omega. Regardless, this is probably gonna be the best match of the tournament. Again, it's a first-time-ever match that's in the opening round. Really odd.
Landon: Ishii is here to have a great match with Kenny. Why here? Why first round? Hell if I know, but we’re getting it. Super pumped.
Kenny Omega
Justin: Kenny has to be the odds-on favorite to win the whole thing. Okada-Omega II is obviously going to happen this year, it's just a matter of when. I'd save the bout till at least Dominion (if not WrestleKingdom 12), but I wouldn't be a bit surprised if he takes the Cup and gets his rematch at Sakura.
Landon: Omega wins, Omega hits the Sephiroth on Okada for the title, Okada gets the belt back at Dominion. We’ll see.
Yoshi-Hashi
Justin: Yoshi and Sanada are interchangeable in this tournament. One of them has to win the first-round match, but he will not be advancing past the second.
Landon: The continuation of the mini-feud from last year. It’s gonna be an okay match, probably not more than 12 minutes, and the winner falls to Omega. Moving right along.
Sanada
Justin: See above. Personally I'd pick Sanada to win in the first round, since he's got way more upside than Yoshi right now. Give him a decisive win and then feed him to either Omega or Ishii.
Landon: Yeah, I think YOSHI/Omega 2 is in the future more than Omega/SANADA. I agree SANADA has more of an upside, but here? I dunno.
Final Round Predictions
Justin: I think the likeliest Finals matchup has to be Michael Elgin vs. Kenny Omega. Omega's going to be the Champion at some point in 2017. There's no question about that. So him winning the tourney makes the most sense, but Elgin's such a hot commodity I could see him pulling an upset. Either way he deserves to be in the Finals and he'll look great even if he loses. I'm gonna be adventurous and say Elgin shocks the world and wins the Cup, then challenges Okada at Genesis. Meanwhile Omega gets a big win either at that show or Dontaku, thus catapulting himself back into contention for Dominion, where he finally beats Okada for the strap.
Landon:
Top Three Matches
Justin: I can't wait to see Shibata vs. Suzuki (which hasn't happened since 2004 I believe), and Omega vs. Ishii (which hasn't happened ever). Those are the top two, followed by my Finals prediction of Omega vs. Elgin.
Landon:
Omega vs. Ishii
EVIL vs Tanahashi
Shibata vs Suzuki
Well that's our take on the New Japan Cup. Should be a helluva fun tournament with some potential MOTY candidates. Comment below, and thanks for reading!
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