Voices of Wrestling · March 13, 2026 · 1h 54m

401 Super J-Cast New Japan Cup Opening Round Review

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New Japan backstage atmosphere

I suspect and believe that there might be a bit of jealousy from certain parts of the locker room towards Aaron Henare.

Joel

Aaron Henare/New Japan booking

The pushes are glacial. We thought we hoped after that Wrestle Kingdom win over Evil that this time it might be different and he might be booked consistently strongly, but look here we are, he's out of the cup, he's defeated by the lowest of the low.

Damon McDonald

I've not seen anything in the admittedly limited ring work from him that's causing me any sort of concern. I think he's perfectly fine in ring for where he is in his experience level. I don't think this is an Aaron Wolf problem, it's a New Japan booking crutch problem.

Joel

House of Torture

People were victory lapping when Evil was leaving saying oh yay House of Torture is done now, but they just going to put Ren in his place and Ren is not as good as Evil.

Damon McDonald

El Phantasmo

I feel ELP is getting exponentially worse as each year goes on and a lot of the time just feels like he's kind of wrestling in slow motion.

Joel

New Japan Young Lions

Taisei Nakahara is an interesting case because he's been in the dojo for ages. He's got very strong fundamentals. He's got that snap, he can grapple, he can pop, he can sell.

Joel

Great-O-Khan

I wonder how he feels about that. It's not like he's wrestling with any kind of fire or passion to get himself out of that spot. He almost seems resigned to it.

Damon McDonald

Yuto Nakashima

I don't know what you do with him, dude. I don't know. I don't think they do. I don't think they know what they want to do with him.

Damon McDonald

AEW exposure

I saw more AEW that I care to admit. Lots.

Damon McDonald

Manchester City/Football

I wanted City to beat Real Madrid so that they have to play Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals, but now that looks like it might be in jeopardy so hopefully they pull some kind of result from this away leg so they'd have to work really hard in the return because I want Man City to end up with nothing and then get punished for their 115 financial crimes.

Joel

Personal travel

I was upgraded at least three levels. These rooms go for twenty-five hundred dollars a night. I swear to god I kid you not.

Damon McDonald