NJPW Announces New Japan Cup 2021
Back in it's traditional spring slot
Jan 13, 2021
New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced earlier today that the New Japan Cup will return in March.
The single-elimination tournament is scheduled to begin on March 5 at Korakuen Hall and will culminate on March 21 at Xebio Arena Sendai in Sendai, Japan. The tournament follows New Japan's 49th Anniversary Show on March 4 at the Nippon Budokan.
No other information about New Japan Cup 2021 was revealed.
The winner of the tournament usually earns a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Only 2014 winner Shinsuke Nakamura has decided to solely challenge for the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. Last year's victor EVIL challenged for the Double Title at Dominion and defeated Tetsuya Naito to capture the gold.
New Japan Cup is traditionally held in the spring, but the 2020 tournament was pushed back to June and July because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 2020 was also the first year the tournament was open to both heavyweights and junior heavyweights. If this will be the case in 2021 remains to be seen.
