6 Winners And 4 Losers From The New Japan Cup

Taichi, while not as strong as he was during his days in NOAH, is looking pretty stacked. He doesn't even have his full bag of tricks, making do with just his microphone and Iizuka's claw. He should be in full form once Miho returns.

While only making it to the third round, he picked up two wins over men who have both main evented the Tokyo Dome in Tanahashi and Ibushi, who also happen to be the IWGP heavyweight tag team champions. Both of these wins set he and his partner Zack Sabre Jr in the running for the belts. He fills a much needed role since NJPW's tag division is a little on the light side, but the possibility of a run with he and ZSJ as tag champions is an enticing one.

Suzuki-Gun needs a solid heavyweight tag team now that both Davey Boy Smith Junior and Lance Archer have both left the company. ZSJ's technical style helps bring credibility to teaming with Taichi, whose tactics revolve more around cheating, ref bumps, low blows, foreign objects and interference. All things considered, it gives two wrestlers who lacked direction a decent angle to work on for the foreseeable future.

If they do end up winning, that would actually make for the first IWGP title that Zack has held.