14 Ups & 4 Downs From NJPW's New Japan Cup 2019

12. Always The Bridesmaid (Night 4)

SANADA Hirooki Goto Dragon Sleeper
NJPW

Hirooki Goto was put on this planet to lose the big one. It’s what he does. A 0-7 record in IWGP Heavyweight Title matches, plus a career-long habit of working his way into advantageous situations, only to fall at the final hurdle, make him one of the finest Goobers to ever Goober*, and his losing habit continued in the New Japan Cup.

Night four saw Goto fall to SANADA, LIJ’s stoic Moonsault merchant, in a fine main event. It was another hilarious failure in a career full of them. Lest we forget the 47th Anniversary show, when Goto joined Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada, and Hiroshi Tanahashi in facing off with Jay White, as if he was their equal in this competition? Sit down, pal.

Another night four highlight saw veterans Satoshi Kojima and Minoru Suzuki go to battle in a fight every bit as heated as their earlier tag interactions teased, with MiSu, the craftier of the two, emerging victorious. Elsewhere, ROH’s Colt Cabana eked by sentimental WhatCulture office favourite Togi Makabe in a considerable upset, while banter merchant Toru Yano frustrated Davey Boy Smith Jr. in the tournament opener.

* not to be harsh on Goto, who is a tremendous wrestler with some of the hardest-hitting offence in the sport, but he’ll always be the bridesmaid in this promotion. That’s not a problem, either: it’s just how it is.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.