OCW Next Cup 2026

[Mr.Sensation]

ONE AND DONE!

[Junko Jiirota]

What a great way to bring in 2026! Excellent matches and segments. Amped to see what you filthy animals cook up for the rest of the year! #HOOPIN' 

[Sammuel Omen]

One of the few moments I've had to sit down and give a thorough review of this card.  It was tremendous.

AC Cobra is paid for his spot in the tournament

So, with AC Cobra winning the title right before the Next Cup, Cobra would have to be replaced. And the story of paying off for the spot is great.  I do think if the eventual winner of the tournament is from that spot, I think they'd have to respectfully not take a shot at them while champion, right? Seems a double win for Cobra.

Armado jinx counter:
Hada vs Bishop - I I I
Jackson vs Beatrix - Didn't hear any.
Omen vs Lovelace - I I I 
Junko vs Tre - I I 

Kamedo Hada vs ????

A Key note on this match, watching the on air chemistry of Jay and Armado start to form was hilarious.   This was a very solid match. It was 2 very similar in ring competitors, height, weight, etc. So, this match was going to be a good solid technical match up and it was. Both showcased a lot in the match, which I loved. Bishop stepping over Hada multiple times, Hada with the mist and the fake dive attempt.  Good opener.

Mad Dawg and Marissa Soft Core Pt 1

In a theme that keep growing, the 1st part of the soft core advertisements. There was some nice attention to detail in the videos. But, this promo, I feel awkward watching it twice. I feel it puts me on some sort of registry. 

Jackson vs ???

 

I thought I was crazy when I heard the smoke alarm went off, but it going off twice, gotta be intentional, right?  Perl vs Jackson would've been amazing start.  But, we instead get Beatrix.  The back and forth between Armado and Jay steals the match.  This match gave me a feel of desperation from Jackson.  Greg showing that he doesn't care about Rope Breaks with this match.  Question of the night:  "Jay does it hurt more if the guy giving you the headbutt is bald?"   SOOO Great.   Good win. Love the respect shown from the two at the end.  

OCW Action Figures

 

GREAT use of AI.  This got me excited.  Great job on this one.  I loved it, so much.

Lovelace vs Omen

 

This was my favorite of the opening matches, not because I won, but because I genuinely thinks this match up was the perfect example of what the intergender match ups should've been.  Omen threw her around from the start, displaying the bigger person. Shianne plays smaller faster wrestler perfectly.  The moveset Shianne came out with the counter the size of Omen was great, despite her getting reverse.  I think the best part of the night, but specifically this match, came from when Shianne jumped on Omens back and started scratching his face. It was perfect. Would 100 % work with Shianne again. Great chemistry. 

Mad Dawg and Marissa Soft Core Pt 2

 

My only gripe with this segment was it was like 4-5 segments in one.  Other than that, it was good.  

Junko vs Tre

 

I was looking forward to this match up almost as much as I was looking forward to Jackson vs Perl.  With the users having a lot of connection between them, I expected  really even match up. Training Day Jay mid match gets me going.  Too bad this was the last time these two worked together of the night. Armado FINALLY showing life during this match.  Just took some Spanish enthusiasm.  Greg apparently will look at the rope if a male is getting pinned by a woman. 

Quartz and Sheldon w/ Cort Marshall
 

I will admit, I don't have any context of Cort Marshall, but this was a good promo.  With Sheldon hitting Hot Topic in 2005 and stealing Omen's hair dye, this looks like a cry for help for those times.  That being said, I'm wondering what's next.

Golden vs Omen

 

I won't touch much on this match.  I liked this match, but I think it was the 3rd best match of mine for the night.  It was a good solid matchup and Tre and Omen do produce good matches together. 

Bishop vs Jackson

What got me out of this match immediately, was this might be the 1st match I've ever seen with Jackson not doing a pre match shit talk. That kinda gave me a feeling that 'this won't turn out well.'  I'm not gonna harp on the needing your opponent stunned to hit a sig. You do you.   Kicking out of a pin and losing still, it def set up the finals.  I can't complain. 

Soto v Dragana

 

With Perl gone, there really is only 2 big options for Soto at the moment. And I can't wait to see this turns out.

Omen vs Bishop

The finals of the first cup.  If you were going to find a match that the essence of describes wrestling, it would be this match. You got a smaller baby face, whos defeating the odds and making it to the end. You got the big nasty heel that is just menacing.  As a fan of wrestling, it doesn't get any better than that idea.  That being said, the match was very close to not delivering.  But, it flipped and it flipped quickly.  This was an amazing match and Bishop was the right winner. 



Behind the scenes thoughts
 

I will say, having all the intergender matches in the 1st round, I hate that idea from the beginning. I was worried that all men or all woman were gonna win 1 round and the excitement of the possible matches would fizzle. If you guys did this again, I would def look at a 1 male 1 female and 2 intergender matches in the first round, to guarantee we'd get at least 1 more intergender match in the tournament.  

Jay going training day on Armado in the opening round, debating Omen's origins, if he shares some stuff with Jackson before the match, asking how to say shit in spanish, for all the hiccups that happened early on in the tournament, the stride was hitting at the end, I hope they do get more chances. 

Jim and I had predictions on who the last people were, and being that my side of the bracket had no mysteries, The anticipation was great.  We both generally agree Bishop was the guy for the men.  So, good choice for Cobra's replacement. 

I will say this, for me, 2k25 has been generally pretty successful.  I went into the tournament with 2 mindsets, I either a, NEEDED to win, or b, make it finals and make the eventual winner look great.  I think a lost vs Shianne would've been great though.  But, when I woke up to a DM from Bishop, the one guy who had pinned me one on one this season, I definitely got goose bumps.  I cannot stress enough how much I thought for sure, if it's Bishop in the mystery spot, it would only makes sense.  

I think the Next Cup was one of the best ideas I've seen.  I wouldn't normally get a chance to talk to or even work with a Shianne, or Junko, or Cobra (at this moment, at least) and seeing these matches that aren't JUST matches, made this a lot of fun to participate in.  I'm hoping Omen gets invited back in, but it was a great mix of people that cared.   

I'm sure there is a lot I missed.