Participants and Opening Round Matches Revealed for Inaugural Universe Cup at UNIVERSE MAGIC 2026 on Mar. 9th

By: Ian McCord

The participants and first round matches for the inaugural Universe Cup were announced Feb. 9th at the final episode of Pro Wrestling NOAH’s MONDAY MAGIC RISING SUN SEASON at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo. 

The single elimination tournament was announced back in January and will kick off on Mar. 9th at UNIVERSE MAGIC 2026 at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo, the homebase for MONDAY MAGIC. The bracket will be filled with representatives from Wrestle Universe promotions PRO WRESTLING NOAH, DDT, Michinoku Pro, ZERO1, BASARA, Ganbare Pro, Uptown, and MONDAY MAGIC. 

Great Mummy, Hayabusa, Isami Kodaka, Kuroshio Tokyo Japan, Naomichi Marufuji, Sanshiro Takagi, The Great Sasuke, and Yumehito Imanari were the 8 competitors announced as representatives for their respective promotions in this first time tournament.  

Universe Cup 2026 First Round on 3/9:

• Sanshiro Takagi (DDT) vs Great Mummy (Monday Magic)
• Naomichi Marufuji (NOAH) vs Kuroshio Tokyo Japan (Uptown)
• Isami Kodaka (BASARA) vs The Great Sasuke (Michinoku Pro)
• Hayabusa (ZERO1) vs Yumehito Imanari (Ganbare Pro)

After the participants were announced, KENOH of Pro Wrestling NOAH, went on X and wished his tag team partner Naomichi Marufuji luck in the inaugural tournament.

 KENOH via X:

 “Maruto-kun, do your best! If you match up with that guy, I want you to beat him black and blue.”

It’s possible KENOH is referring to Great Mummy, who he faced in the main event of the first ever NOAH MONDAY MAGIC back in October of 2023. 

First round of the Universe Cup 2026 will air live on Wrestle Universe streaming service on March 9th.