Semifinals set for New Japan Cup 2025

Originally posted on F4WOnline.com | By Ian Carey | Last updated Mar 15, 2025 10:53 AM ET

The 2025 New Japan Cup is down to four wrestlers.

The tournament quarterfinals took place today in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.

Shingo Takagi secured his spot in the semifinals by defeating Drilla Moloney in the first tournament match of the show. He will face Shota Umino in the next round, after Umino picked up a win over Jeff Cobb in the second quarterfinal match.

David Finlay advanced by defeating Yuya Uemura in the third quarterfinal. He will take on two-time tournament winner Zack Sabre Jr., who defeated Taichi in the final quarterfinal match.

The semifinals begin tomorrow in Shizuoka with Zack Sabre Jr. vs. David Finlay. Shota Umino vs. Shingo Takagi is set for Monday in Fukushima. The finals will take place on Thursday in Niigata, with Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Satoshi Kojima also scheduled for the show.

The tournament winner will earn the right to challenge IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto at Sakura Genesis on April 5 at Ryogoku Sumo Hall in Tokyo. Goto successfully defended his title today against Yuji Nagata.

The stage is set for the New Japan Cup Semi-Finals, with the final four ready!#njcup report:https://t.co/XN1XsfmdOI

Watch the replay! https://t.co/QOLXVyDsTr #njpw pic.twitter.com/tjZbooTlTV
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) March 15, 2025