Round 1 Match: Yuji Nagata v. Minoru Suzuki
New Japan Cup History
- This will be the first of seven first round match-ups featuring wrestlers who have both competed in previous New Japan Cups.
- This will be Nagata’s 13th New Japan Cup, Suzuki’s sixth.
- Only Hiroshi Tanahashi, Hirooki Goto, and as of last night, Tomohiro Ishii have logged more total New Japan Cup Ring Time than Yuji Nagata (5:06:24)
- Nagata previously won the tournament in 2007 and 2011 and he appeared in the finals in 2006.
- Suzuki’s best finish was in 2014 when he lost in the semi finals to Shinsuke Nakamura.
- There is some head to head New Japan Cup history between these two. In 2012 and 2013, Suzuki eliminated Nagata in the first round of the tournament.
Recent History
- Over the past 365 days, Yuji Nagata has had singles two singles matches: A victory over Yuya Uemura and a loss to Lance Archer
- Over the past 365 days, Minoru Suzuki has had three singles matches: A victory over Jyushin Thunder Liger (King of Pro Wrestling) and losses to Kazuchika Okada (Royal Quest), and Jon Moxley (New Beginning)
Head To Head
- Nagata and Suzuki have faced eachother 10 times in singles matches dating back to 2003, including 2 New Japan Cup Matches, 4 G1 matches, and three Wrestle Kingdom matches. Their all-time series is tied at 5-5. Suzuki has the situational edge here, as he is 2-0 against Nagata in the New Japan Cup.
Round 1 Match: Kazuchika Okada v. Gedo
New Japan Cup History
- Believe it or not, this is only Kazuchika Okada’s fourth New Japan Cup. He has been successful in two of the three tournaments he has competed in.
- This will be Gedo’s first New Japan Cup Match.
Recent History
- Okada’s average singles match length in 2020 is a whopping 35:17, the longest in New Japan Pro Wrestling. It’s likely that this particular match will bring his average down as Gedo hasn’t had a singles match longer than 14 minutes since 2015.
- Gedo’s last singles match in NJPW was 12/14/2018 vs. Okada on the Road To Wrestle Kingdom 13.
Round 1 Match: Yuya Uemura v. Yoshinobu Kanemaru
New Japan Cup History
- This will be both competitor’s first New Japan Cup Match
Recent History
- Gabriel Kidd continues to seek his first singles victory in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
- Taiji Ishimori’s two singles victories in the past 365 days have been against Kidd’s Young Lion peers. He’s defeated Yuya Uemura and Ren Narita.
Round 1 Match: Gabriel Kidd v. Taiji Ishimori
New Japan Cup History
- This will be both competitor’s first New Japan Cup Match
Recent History
- Gabriel Kidd continues to seek his first singles victory in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
- Taiji Ishimori’s two singles victories in the past 365 days have been against Kidd’s Young Lion peers. He’s defeated Yuya Uemura and Ren Narita.
