New Japan Cup USA is an annual professional wrestling tournament produced by New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). The tournament is a spin-off of NJPW's annual New Japan Cup introduced in 2020. The tournament was promoted under NJPW's North American branch, New Japan Pro-Wrestling of America.

New Japan Cup USA
New Japan Cup USA 2020 logo
PromotionsNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
First event2020
Event gimmickSingle-elimination tournament for a championship match

New Japan Cup USA is an eight-man, single-elimination tournament. Matches are contested through NJPW's weekly television show, Strong.

Tournaments

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Year Tournament Aftermath
Winner Times won Participants Challenged for Match Result
2020 Kenta 1 8 IWGP United States Championship vs. Jon Moxley on Strong
February 26, 2021
Loss
2021 Tom Lawlor 1 Strong Openweight Championship vs. Brody King on Strong
April 23, 2021
Won

History

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The New Japan Cup was first held in April 2005.[1] The event then became an annual tradition for NJPW and was held every year around mid-March to mid-April, with the winner receiving a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. After the 2020 edition of the New Japan Cup was delayed until June due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[2][3][4] it was announced during a press conference on July 31 that the New Japan Cup USA would take place from August 7 to August 21 of that year, with the winner receiving a shot at the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship. It was also reported that the matches would be televised on NJPW's new television show, Strong.[5] The next day, the eight-man bracket was announced.[6]

Editions

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2020

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New Japan Cup USA 2020
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateAugust 7–21, 2020
CityPort Hueneme, California
VenueOceanview Pavilion
Attendance0[7][a]
Event chronology
← Previous
Summer Struggle
Next →
Summer Struggle in Jingu
New Japan Cup USA chronology
← Previous
First
Next →
2021

It commenced on August 7, 2020 and concluded on August 21, 2020.

Round 1
August 7[8]
Semi-finals
August 14[9]
Final
August 21[10]
         
Karl Fredericks 9:59
Kenta Pin
Kenta Pin
Jeff Cobb 14:38
Jeff Cobb Pin
Tanga Loa 8:45
Kenta Pin
David Finlay 13:35
David Finlay Pin
Chase Owens 9:46
David Finlay Pin
Tama Tonga 7:10
Brody King 7:14
Tama Tonga Pin

2021

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New Japan Cup USA 2021
PromotionNew Japan Pro-Wrestling
DateApril 9–23, 2021
CityPort Hueneme, California
VenueOceanview Pavilion
Attendance0[7][a]
Event chronology
← Previous
Sakura Genesis
Next →
Road to Wrestling Dontaku
New Japan Cup USA chronology
← Previous
2020
Next →

New Japan Cup USA 2021 commenced on April 9 and concluded on April 23.[11] Eight qualifying matches were held from March 5–March 26 to determine the eight participants. The bracket was revealed after the eight participants were determined.[12] Originally, the winner of the tournament would receive an IWGP United States Championship title match, but this was changed when NJPW revealed the Strong Openweight Championship on April 2 and announced that the winner will become its inaugural champion instead.[13]

Qualifying
March 5, 12, 19, 26
Round 1
April 9
Semi-finals
April 16
Final
April 23
        
Clark Connors Pin[14]
TJP 9:27
Clark Connors 9:57
Lio Rush Pin[18]
Rocky Romero 13:57
Lio Rush Pin[15]
Lio Rush 7:38
Brody King Pin
Brody King Pin[16]
Bateman 13:25
Brody King Pin[18]
Chris Dickinson 10:42
Blake Christian 8:53
Chris Dickinson Pin[14]
Brody King 20:05
Tom Lawlor Sub
Ren Narita Pin[16]
Misterioso 11:12
Ren Narita 13:19
Tom Lawlor Sub[18]
The DKC 9:13
Tom Lawlor Pin[15]
Tom Lawlor Pin
Hikuleo 8:58
Jordan Clearwater 7:57
Hikuleo Pin[17]
Hikuleo Pin[18]
Fred Rosser 6:22
Fred Rosser Pin[17]
J. R. Kratos 14:16

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b The event was held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ "New Japan Cup 2005". Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved 2010-03-17.
  2. ^ "【お詫びとお知らせ】3月1日(日)~3月15日(日)までの11大会を開催中止とさせて頂きます" (in Japanese). New Japan Pro-Wrestling. February 26, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  3. ^ NJPW. "NJPW events cancelled until Saturday March 21 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-03-10.
  4. ^ NJPW. "New Japan Cup 2020 a NJPW World Special this June! | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  5. ^ NJPW. "New Japan Cup USA announced for NJPW STRONG debut 【NJoA】 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  6. ^ NJPW. "New Japan Cup USA Preview 【NJoA】 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2020-08-01.
  7. ^ a b "NJPW STRONG #1". Cagematch.net. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "2020.08.07 NEW JAPAN CUP 2020 in the USA". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Bushiroad. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  9. ^ "2020.08.14 NEW JAPAN CUP 2020 in the USA". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Bushiroad. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  10. ^ "2020.08.21 NEW JAPAN CUP 2020 in the USA". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Bushiroad. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  11. ^ NJPW. "LEC presents New Japan Cup USA bracket 【NJoA】 | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  12. ^ Renner, Ethan (March 26, 2021). "NJPW New Japan Cup USA 2021 tournament bracket set". WON/F4W. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  13. ^ NJPW. "Strong Openweight Championship revealed | NEW JAPAN PRO-WRESTLING". NJPW. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
  14. ^ a b "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 6, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 20, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  18. ^ a b c d Lambert, Jeremy (April 9, 2021). "NJPW Strong Results (4/9): New Japan Cup USA First Round Action". Retrieved April 9, 2021.
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