New Japan Cup USA

New Japan Cup USA
New Japan Cup USA 2020 logo
Promotions	New Japan Pro-Wrestling
First event	2020
Event gimmick	Single-elimination tournament for a championship match

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

Tournaments

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

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

2020

New Japan Cup USA 2020
Promotion	New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Date	August 7–21, 2020
City	Port Hueneme, California
Venue	Oceanview Pavilion
Attendance	0[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

New Japan Cup USA 2021
Promotion	New Japan Pro-Wrestling
Date	April 9–23, 2021
City	Port Hueneme, California
Venue	Oceanview Pavilion
Attendance	0[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

• New Japan Cup

Notes

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

References

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. "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. "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
15. "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 6, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
16. "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 20, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
17. "Road to STRONG STYLE EVOLVED". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
18. Lambert, Jeremy (April 9, 2021). "NJPW Strong Results (4/9): New Japan Cup USA First Round Action". Retrieved April 9, 2021.

External links

• Official New Japan Pro-Wrestling website