Stardom Gold Star Results & Review (5/23/2018)

Published

5 years ago

June 12, 2018

Welcome back to Stardom as the last time we were here, Io Shirai defeated Kagetsu to set a new record with the Wonder of Stardom Championship. It was her tenth title defense and it adds another record to strengthen her legacy in the company.

Her next challenger is the winner of this year’s Cinderella Tournament and fellow Queen’s Quest member, Momo Watanabe. Will Io still retain her championship to keep her reign going or will Momo finally come out of her shell and get a big win in her career? Let’s not waste time and…dive right in.

Six Man Tag Team Match
Candy Floss, Hanan & Starlight Kid vs. Kaori Yoneyama, Leo Onozaki & Ruaka

Review: We get Team Jungle starting off the show with Kaori leading the team with our younger girls, Leo and Ruaka as they fight fellow STARS members, Starlight Kid lead by Hanan and Candy Floss. On the May 6th show, Starlight had her second successful defense of the Future of Stardom Championship against Ruaka in an average match, but now it looks like her next title defense will be against AZM at a future date.

Team Jungle would start off by doing their pose on top of Hanan while the other two held her arms in place, but STARS would get payback and have all three members between the ropes and stood on top of them to do their STARS taunt. The match was okay at best with Starlight and Kaori being the better two of the match and that’s very weird for me to say, but Kaori has been used quite frequently and well ever since the draft happened and I can’t be mad at that while Starlight Kid is great as always in the ring. Team Jungle picked up the win by rolling up Hanan even though she tripped mid-roll up.

Recommended: Average, but not mandatory.

Singles Match
Martina vs. Zoe Lucas

Review: We get Martina in singles action this time…I can hardly hold my excitement on this one. But, she takes on Zoe Lucas who is known to be a freelancer and is no stranger to Stardom as she has done a few shows for them last year and earlier this year also. In the pre-match interview, Zoe would talk about how she always wanted to fight Martina and how she was one of the biggest names in the UK scene, but I still don’t see it and I’m sorry for that, but she just doesn’t impress me at all.

Soon as the bell rings, Martina would just roll around the ring for being drunk until she falls down and has another beer while Sumire calls for a timeout. I get that the crowd loves her due to her character and making them laugh, but I don’t know what it is for her to not have me fully back her up and if you somehow like her, more power to you. I will give her credit though that she can throw a mean forearm when she wants to. The match was sloppy and Martina would throw Zoe over her shoulders, but it looked like Zoe didn’t jump in time and almost landed horribly if Martina didn’t help guide her, so I will give her points on that one. There was also a moment where Zoe did a Scissor Kick variation and Martina would fall down a bit early before Zoe would even touch her. Anyway, Martina would hit the Codebreaker from the second rope to get the pin.

Recommended: Skip it.

Tag Team Match
Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora vs. AZM & Konami

Review: We get more Team Jungle action, but we now know they changed their name to JAN or Jungle Assault Nation, which sounds so much better, and this time, they’ll be taking on two members of Queen’s Quest, AZM and Konami as it looks like these two will be paired up in tag team action for the time being. AZM would taunt Jungle and Momo by saying she wanted to fight the fat one in which both of them leave the arena, then AZM told them she wanted to fight the cute one instead, which then made both of them come back in the ring and cause a fun little argument between the two as both AZM and Konami took advantage of that to attack them.

I don’t know what it is with Team Jungle, they have been stepping up quite a lot lately and specially Kyona since she’s been showing more of herself this year and I’m glad for it because I talked about before how underrated she is in the ring, but the gimmick she has can only get her so far. It seems like both Konami and AZM were doing a mean girls thing with bullying the two members of Jungle and I like that side of them since it just gives them more character for themselves in their matches. The match was fun and did its purpose as Natsuko would get the surprise pinfall over AZM.

Natsu is winding up… only to get crushed by @junglekyona! #StardomWorld 🌟 #スターダム

➡️ https://t.co/jniqaHHrua pic.twitter.com/FyDc3BvlAr

— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) May 30, 2018

Recommended: I thought it was fun and worth a viewing.

Best Two Out Of Three Falls Eight Woman Tag Team Match
Mayu Iwatani, Saki Kashima, Shiki Shibusawa & Tam Nakano vs. Hana Kimura, Hazuki, Kagetsu & Natsu Sumire

Review: No pre-main event involving STARS and Queen’s Quest? Why I haven’t seen that in eons. Joking aside, We got Oedo Tai taking on STARS in a Two out of Three Falls match in an eight-woman tag match with four of their top females of each faction. A win by STARS could possibly give two of the members a future shot at the Goddesses of Stardom Championship, but if Oedo Tai wins this match then it could maybe lead Kagetsu to future opportunities, so this could definitely benefit either unit. Oedo Tai came out with a little toy puppy with Hazuki walking it, it was adorable and guess because of Nao Yamaguchi being injured.

.@0929_hazuki and @SMR_sptmber_luv prepare for the match by spending some quality time with Oedo Pupper. #StardomWorld 🌟 #スターダム

➡️ https://t.co/jniqaHHrua pic.twitter.com/rAhRkFe9JI

— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) June 2, 2018

The two teams would brawl to the outside with Mayu and Kagetsu fighting till they reached the top of the stairs in the crowd and I thought Kagetsu was gonna try to hang her off of the balcony again, but this time she kicked Mayu causing her to roll down the steps kinda like how Hiromu did when he fought Taiji Ishimori in the Super Junior Final (Which you should totally check out if you didn’t).

.@doranyanpa and @hanadayo0903 bring havoc with them everywhere they go. #StardomWorld 🌟 #スターダム

➡️ https://t.co/jniqaHHrua pic.twitter.com/UBzBrwYuxR

— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) June 2, 2018

Sumire and Shiki appear to be starting off the match once they got back into the ring and Sumire, of course, does her little antics with the flogger to whip her opponent while the referee wasn’t looking until the end of the beating. Tam would get a chance into the ring as she applies the Dragon Sleeper on Sumire until Kagetsu tries to break it up only to get caught by Tam so she can hit her with a DDT while giving Sumire a Reverse DDT at the same time, that was awesome. Kagetsu and Mayu would eventually get in the ring, and things start to pick up between with the back and forth fast paced action, Mayu hitting her Springboard Armdrag and would quickly go into a Slingblade to top it off. Mayu and Tam would work together for a moment with Tam kicking Kagetsu which caused her to roll back into a Wheel Barrel and Mayu slams her down face first for a two count. Hana would help come into the aide of Kagetsu to make her hit a Chokeslam on Mayu for only a two count. Hana would then hold Mayu up for a Suplex for Kagetsu to grab her from the top turnbuckle and hit a Powerbomb before going back up to the top rope again to hit her Oedo Coaster to give her team the first fall.

Kagetsu wouldn’t have time to celebrate as Shiki would Dropkick her down until Hazuki and Sumire came in to try and help Kagetsu, but only for them to both get hit with a Bulldog. Kagetsu was by the corner as STARS would throw Mayu’s unconscious body over to the corner to pretty much flop on Kagetsu before the other members would hit their own moves on her. Kagetsu would then try to hit a German on Mayu only for Hazuki to try and knee Mayu but misses and hits Kagetsu instead, giving Mayu him to hit a German Suplex hold for a two count. Kagetsu was gonna try to end it early, but Mayu would push Kagetsu off to make her eat Sumire’s flogger by accident and hits another German. Mayu would then hit her Dragon Suplex Hold to get the win as they are now tied 1-1.

Their respective members would drag their unconscious bodies over to their corners so the two could rest up after that battle and tag someone else in as we get Hazuki and Tam starting it off for a moment and then things start going a bit chaotic with the reversals and kicks til Hazuki got the advantage to knock Tam down as she attempts to hit the Atomic Bombs Away only for her to miss and eat a Superkick by Mayu. The two would then attempt to kick her in the head, but Hazuki ducked to make them kick each other, but Mayu attempts a Superkick again for her to hit Tam by mistake and Mayu gets Dropkicked out as Saki is now tagged in. Saki and Hana would be the two fighting now as Hana applies a deadly Black Widow to try and make her tap out, but it won’t last long as the hold breaks. Mayu had Hana up in the Gory Bomb position as Saki jumped off the rope to Bulldog her and nice teamwork by these two. Saki would then hit her Killswitch with Sumire breaking the pinfall just in time. Kagetsu held Saki up and gave Hana their sign for her to hit Saki with, but it backfires with her hitting Kagetsu as there has been a lot of miscommunication attacks in this match, but Saki would then roll Hana up to give STARS the win.

Recommended: Very entertaining match, worth a watch.

Wonder Of Stardom Title Match
Io Shirai (c) vs. Momo Watanabe

Review: We have arrived at our main event of the evening as Io is set to defend her Wonder of Stardom Championship for the eleventh time as she now sets to defend against Momo Watanabe as this was the request Momo made when she won the 2018 Cinderella Tournament. They have fought for the championship before, but Io came out on top as Momo would then look to prove herself that she can defeat her, which is why she was determined to win the previous tournament and wants to not only defeat Io but take her championship away from her in the process. Can she do it again or will lightning strike twice with Io being on top as usual? We shall see.

The crowd is pretty even as they both chanted both of their names while the two would start to chain wrestle for a bit and Io uses her veteran experience to outsmart Momo during the match as she should since she is better and smarter than her in the ring, so it makes sense for her to control the majority of the match. Io would, however, throw Momo into the turnbuckle only for Momo to jump up and Dropkick Io into the corner with Momo running towards her with another Dropkick.

One small opening is all it takes for @shirai_io to take control! #StardomWorld 🌟 #スターダム

➡️ https://t.co/jniqaHHrua pic.twitter.com/8by7KhVqv0

— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) June 2, 2018

Momo would attempt to hit her Cradle Piledriver on the ring apron, but Io crossed her legs on her arms to make sure she lost her grip on her which was smart thinking by the champ and she would top it off to hit a German Suplex on the ring apron to give herself control of the match once more. I’m loving the story here with Io establishing her dominance as not only the champion but as the leader of Stardom in general as she wasn’t ready to give up that crown fully just yet. Momo would eventually get this boost of adrenaline and kick Io in the head, give her a Running Cradle Piledriver, and topped it off with the Tequila Sunrise, but Io would slowly kick out at two and it wasn’t enough to put her away. Io would ruin Momo’s comeback with her signature palm strikes and delivers a Tombstone Piledriver onto Momo as she now looks to end it quickly with her Moonsault Press, but she would miss and get hit with the Somato for a two count again! Momo went to go for another cradle only for Io to reverse it and attempt to hit the Last Ride, but Momo would counter with another Somato and it looked amazing to see and try to find that clip or GIF so you can see for yourself. Momo hits another Tequila Sunrise as Io would weakly kick out at two again, but Momo isn’t done since she stayed on Io hit one more Tequila Sunrise, but she would clutch her wrist this time and soon as she hits it, it was a three count and we have a new Wonder of Stardom Champion!

The Wonder of Stardom title is on the line! It's Io Shirai vs Momo Watanabe on Stardom World now! https://t.co/q8dHnF58vW pic.twitter.com/VE4gW7SeUw

— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) June 2, 2018

This is how you help elevate someone right here, you get a well-established wrestler like Io to carry one of their bigger titles next to the World of Stardom Championship, give it much needed prestige, and then when the time is right you put someone over worthy of it and that woman was Momo tonight. After Io lost the title, there have been rumors about her future until it was confirmed a few days later that Io Shirai has signed with the WWE and this was gonna be her last appearance in Stardom as the champion as she would pass the torch to one who has a bright future in Stardom and it was the right call. As I said before, Momo has come a long way for the past couple of years that she’s been with the company and her hard work paid off here with the biggest wins in her career this year and it’s well earned. What will be next for Stardom once Io leaves the company, well if you go to one of my previous articles, I try to tackle down some possible people that will lead Stardom as the new top woman in the company. This match though had an incredible story and I love these passing of the torch type ordeals if done right and it most certainly delivered at the end result for sure.

Recommended: Highly recommended.

Overall: A couple of weak matches in the beginning, but the last two matches make the show worth watching and we saw one seed planted for Stardom’s future and now we must see how things go here as the Io Shirai farewell tour will begin soon as she leaves on June 16th.

Favorite Match: Io Shirai vs. Momo Watanabe

Least Favorite Match: Martina vs. Zoe Lucas

Score: 7.5/10

See you all next time!

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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(NOAH) NOAH NEWSLETTER VOL.195 ~ 22ND MARCH 2023

New champions, All Japan interactions, new debuts and Joshi in NOAH! NOAH is heating up in 2023!

Published

6 days ago

March 23, 2023

Hi5ame

NEWS

YO-HEY & Tadasuke join GLG

During Kongoh vs The NOAH Junior Regulars at Great Voyage in Yokohama 2023 on the 19th March, Tadasuke inadvertently knocked down Shuji Kondo, which allowed Atsushi Kotoge to get the win over him (Tadasuke). The NOAH Juniors left the ring, which left Kondo and the others, Hajime Ohara and Hi69 advancing menacingly on Tadasuke. Kondo it is well known does not like him, Hi69 has a simmering jealousy, and Ohara will do whatever Kondo does. YO-HEY ran in to save Tadasuke, and just when it looked as if Tadasuke would be welcomed by the NOAH Junior Regulars, YO-HEY was seen whispering something to him, and the two took out Kotoge, Seiki Yoshioka and Alejandro. Backstage, while Kotoge et al wondered what had happened, YO-HEY said “No Comment”. Fans were hopeful of a RATELS reunion (Daisuke Harada had been signing autographs), but YO-HEY and Tadasuke came out in the main event as members of GLG (Jake Lee’s “Good Looking Guys” unit).

Saxon Huxley debuts in NOAH

The 203cm Saxon Huxley (which makes him taller than even Jake Lee at 192cm), made his NOAH debut at “Great Voyage in Yokohama”. Very reminiscent of Bruiser Brody, his first match was fittingly a match teaming with Hideki Suzuki and against Yoshiki Inamura and Mohammed Yone. Huxley won the match and backstage said that he didn’t come to Japan to look at the Cherry blossoms, he came here to fight!

The problem with Shuhei Taniguchi, Takashi Sugiura takes a hand

Shuhei Taniguchi emerged from his slumber and the monster reawakened against Takashi Sugiura in a match in Yokohama (“Great Voyage”) where Taniguchi had one of the best matches of his in a long time. He won via repeated soccer ball kicks to the head, which made a nasty thudding sound. Backstage, Takashi Sugiura urged him to seize this chance, Taniguchi asked him for another match, but Sugi told him he had to seize the opportunity by himself. Later (and with Sugiura looking on, hands behind his back and standing in the background in teacher mode), Taniguchi challenged Daiki Inaba and Masa Kitamiya for the GHC Heavyweight Tag titles they had just retained against Kongoh. Masa Kitamiya grimly told Taniguchi that he would accept their challenge, but he would “teach him” when to “leave NOAH forever” and that there was no future for him. Title match will take place on April 16th in Sendai.

Jack Morris challenges for the GHC National

The Yokohama Budokan has always been good to Jack Morris, he made his NOAH debut there (which he won) and on the 19th, he defeated El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr and therefore won the opportunity to challenge for the GHC National. Morris picked up the belt and silently held it over El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr, who was lying spread out on the mat. Title match has been set for April 16th in Sendai.

SUWAMA, Kenoh, Soya & All Japan

Following Kenoh’s labelling All Japan as a “pigsty” (I am trying to imagine how that would have gone down in the Baba era) and walking out of the press conference saying that the whole venue chosen for it was like an old fashioned mayoral meeting in Tokyo with the close press of bodies, Kenoh and Manabu Soya succeeded in winning the All Japan World Heavyweight titles on the 21st March. I have never seen Kenoh so happy on winning a title, the GHC has history, but not as long a history as All Japan, the promotion it flowed from and I think despite his disparaging, Kenoh was overcome to be holding the belts that the legends of All Japan once did. Suwama got in the ring after their victory to challenge for the titles on behalf of Voodoo Murders, Kenoh basically told him to beat it. He wanted nothing to do with him, he was insulted by his not turning up to Great Voyage in Yokohama, where Kenoh had prepared a special seat for him at ringside, and their next challenge (and probably any subsequent challenges) would take place in NOAH as he told everyone pointedly in the ring and then backstage, along with more jumping and cheering with Soya. No challengers have come forward yet, but Kenoh looks to be adding to his collection of belts as on the 1st April when he and Shuji Kondo will challenge DragonGate’s Natural Vibez (Big Boss Shimizu and Kzy) for the Open the Twin Gate Championship. Media outlets are wondering whether Kenoh will once again attempt to unify the GHC and All Japan belts.

Kenoh “All Japan, Aoyago disappointing”. Aoyagi demands a double title match and orders Kongoh to win the GHC, World Tag Press Conference

Seriously? Managing Director Kohei Suwama sends a thank you letter to Kenoh, “If it’s full, I’ll give you a monetary reward”

Kenoh & Soya win the World Tag, notice of defense in NOAH, re-notification of “break” to Suwama

Kenoh’s “pigsty” ruthlessly inflames Suwama, lambasts Triple Crown Champion Yuji Nagata!

No love lost, Masa Kitamiya & Kento Miyahara

Furious that Masa Kitamiya was ignoring his demands for a three man tag in All Japan and irritated even more over Kitamiya’s not greeting him as his senior, Kento Miyahara appeared in NOAH to confront his unrepentant junior following Kitamiya & Inaba’s successful tag defense against Kongoh. Miyahara, who danced his way to the ring, told an unimpressed “Mitsuhiro Kitamiya” that he was getting way ahead of himself (he said it was by one hundred years) calling himself “Masa” and that he had come to finally get an answer out of him about the match. Kitamiya told him that there was no benefit, but since Miyahara had come all the way down here just to shame his junior for not responding, then fine, he would fight him. There was no love lost in Ota Ward, at least not on Masa Kitamiya’s part, and while Miyahara might have had a change of heart after the match, Kitamiya didn’t. The match itself was won by Yoshiki Inamura (against whom Ryo Inoue in particular has sworn revenge and says he will win the All Japan tag league to do it) and was followed by Miyahara speaking on the microphone to Kitamiya. He told him that with the “Masa” name Kitamiya had no choice but to go to the top of NOAH and having seen for himself how he was now, he was no longer “Mitsuhiro Kitamiya”, which was hard for him to say, and he could stop worrying about him. Kitamiya (who hates both of his older brothers/sibling students) told him that he wanted nothing more to do with him, he hated him then and he hated him now. Miyahara, however, seemed to think that they would meet in the ring again although Kitamiya made it very clear that it was unlikely.

Kitamiya gets irritated with “Irresponsible comments”, “Not thinking about unnecessary things”. Kenoh once again declares “GHC World Tag Team”. GHC tag signing ceremony.

“Pathetic”, Miyahara asks Kitamiya to quickly determine the three wrestlers who will be on the NOAH side

NOAH’s Kitamiya wins the match, an announcement of “Never getting involved”, Miyahara cheers “Get to the top!”

STINGER war, outcast Eita

To the surprise of no one, Yoshinari Ogawa (and Eita) did not attend the match signing. Chris Ridgeway and HAYATA did, and while Ridgeway did most of the talking, HAYATA was vocal enough to state that losing the pre matches could be an Ogawa trick. He also likened him to an “Amanojaku” (天邪鬼, lit “Heavenly evil spirit”) which is a demon in Japanese folklore, which urges people to wicked deeds by preying on their darkest desires. HAYATA’S description is apt, because the demon is tricky and never does what anyone expects as their nature is contrary. There was no way to try and outmaneuver such a demon with tricks, so HAYATA said there was no strategy other than to destroy him. In the title match, Ogawa stole the win and then appealed for peace between himself, HAYATA and Ridgeway. HAYATA shook hands, Ridgeway was a little apprehensive and when it came time to leave the ring, hung back without shaking hands, despite the fact that both Ogawa and HAYATA where urging him to come walk with them.

What about Eita?

Eita and Ogawa got into a shoving match when Ogawa shook hands with HAYATA, which ended with Ogawa slapping Eita, who thought that like his squabbles with NOSAWA, it would blow over in a matter of seconds. What he forgets is that Ogawa forgives when he wants.

It was hard not to feel sorry for Eita as he did look so alone when he left the ring, gathering up his belt sadly and slinking backstage with hunched shoulders and holding the side of his face. Like Eita said, STINGER are a notoriously silent group, two don’t have social media, the third doesn’t use his much, and it is only Eita who talks online. Eita’s last post was sad, he said he still believed in Ogawa…after all, they were the GHC Junior tag champions. So far, no one has come to challenge for the belts.

Related articles

Yoshinari Ogawa declares dissolution of STINGER!? (Interview, Part 2)

“Stop waking up Ogawa”, HAYATA declares a parting? GHC Junior tag signing ceremony

Lanzelot challenges AMAKUSA

Lanzelot challenged AMAKUSA for the GHC Junior title following his (Lanzelot’s) win over him at the Yokohama Budokan. Title match will take place in Aomori on March 26th. This will be broadcast at a later date.

Joshi matches announced on a NOAH show

NOAH continue to test the water in putting on Joshi matches, this time outside of a special show (i.e. Great Muta and Keiji Mutoh’s retirement) by putting on a women’s match for the first time ever on an official NOAH show. Nothing as of yet has been announced regarding a women’s division or a GHC Women’s Championship, but it would not surprise me if an announcement was made on the 16th April following Maya Yukihi vs Sumire Natsu.

Jake Lee wins the GHC Heavyweight title

Jake Lee defeated Kaito Kiyomiya following a brutal match where Kiyomiya was worn down but did not have the energy to keep wearing down Jake, which he almost succeeded in doing, at Great Voyage in Yokohama and became the 42nd GHC Heavyweight Champion. He was immediately challenged by Katsuhiko Nakajima, who told him that he would show him what the real NOAH is, and he used the phrase “I’m NOAH”, which made fans wonder if there was a double meaning here as Nakajima started using this in response to Go Shiozaki’s, “I am NOAH”. Jake Lee, after looking stunned, commented that Nakajima was one of the wrestlers he had always wanted to fight. Title match has been set for the 16th April in Sendai.

Related articles

GHC Champion Kaito Kiyomiya dismisses the recommendation to retire, and will “turn everything upside down” in the match against Jake

“I think I will dominate” Jake Lee reveals his ambition in his first GHC challenge to Kaito Kiyomiya in an exclusive interview

Jake “Get the symbol of freedom”, Kiyomiya smiles and says, “Spring in full bloom”. GHC Heavyweight signing ceremony.

“Kiyomiya, take a rest!” The strongest black ship appears in the new era of NOAH! Getting to the bottom of Jake Lee’s heart.

“There are still some diamonds in the rough that I am curious about”, the new GHC champion Jake Lee expresses his beliefs to increase his power

EVENT RECAPS & POST MATCH INTERVIEWS

Post match interviews

Sunny Voyage 2023 (Tuesday March 14th)

Great Voyage in Yokohama 2023 (Sunday March 19th)

Event recaps

Great Voyage in Yokohama 2023 (Sunday, March 19th)

ELSEWHERE IN NOAH

– Naomichi Marufuji picked a few hairs off of Anthony Green’s chest before chopping him

– Very sadly with the defection of YO-HEY and the retirement of Daisuke Harada, the NOAH Junior Space recorded its last session this past week.

– Naomichi Marufuji posted two short InstaLive videos of himself and a drunk Tadasuke. Who had a white towel over his head for some reason in the first, and then had the grin and the eyes half closed and half open in the second.

– A sports news outlet based in Nigeria, reported that Chris Ridgeway had passed away on March 30th 2021! I mean STINGER might be reclusive, and one fan drawn cartoon depicted HAYATA living inside of Yoshiki Inamura’s tires as it was a dark place to hide, but come on! I doubt the 1,308 fans at the Yokohama Budokan were all having a mass hallucination.

– Eita has now become a freelancer. DragonGate said that with his activities in NOAH and Eita also wanting to expand, that this was the best and easiest option all round.

– Manabu Soya announced himself as the mystery wrestler who would enter Champions Carnival Block B

– Kenta Kobashi will be running Fortune Dream (8) again at Korakuen Hall on the 14th June.

– The Great Muta will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, alongside Keiji Mutoh. Akitoshi Saito wondered whether Muta had a passport.

CURRENT CHAMPIONS

GHC Heavyweight Champion: Jake Lee
Challenger: Katsuhiko Nakajima, ABEMA presents GREEN JOURNEY 2023 in SENDAI (Xebio Arena Sendai, Sunday April 16th)
GHC Junior Champion: AMAKUSA
Challenger: Lanzelot, SUNNY VOYAGE 2023 (Aomori Mutsu Maeda Arena, Sunday March 26th)
GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions: Masa Kitamiya and Daiki Inaba
Challengers: Shuhei Taniguchi & Takashi Sugiura, ABEMA presents GREEN JOURNEY 2023 in SENDAI (Xebio Arena Sendai, Sunday April 16th)
GHC Junior Tag Champions: Yoshinari Ogawa & Eita
Challengers: None at the time of writing
GHC National Champion: El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr
Challenger: Jack Morris, ABEMA presents GREEN JOURNEY 2023 in SENDAI (Xebio Arena Sendai, Sunday April 16th)

THIS WEEK IN NOAH

– Friday March 24th

SUNNY VOYAGE 2023

Akita Selion Plaza

Starts: 18:30 JST

Broadcast: TBA

– Saturday March 25th

SUNNY VOYAGE 2023

Iwate Morioka Gymnasium

Starts: 17:00

Broadcast: TBA

– Sunday March 26th

SUNNY VOYAGE 2023

Aomori Mutsu Maeda Arena

Starts: 15:00

Broadcast: TBA

– Monday March 27th

SUNNY VOYAGE 2023

Aomori Hachinohe Yutori 1st floor multi-purpose large hall

Starts: 18:30 JST

Broadcast: TBA

Birthdays

March 27th: Kenta Kobashi (56)
March 29th: Kai Fujimura (28)

NOAH FROM THE VAULT

“Donmai, Donmai” – Mitsuharu Misawa’s diary

With thanks to: Flame286 & Metal NOAH

Picture credits: Weekly Pro (Kitamiya & Miyahara)

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

(NOAH) NOAH NEWSLETTER VOL.194 ~ 12TH MARCH 2023

Pre-matches, retirements and cross promotion challenges! NOAH keeps things interesting going into Spring!

Published

2 weeks ago

March 13, 2023

Hi5ame

NEWS

Daisuke Harada’s retirement

Daisuke Harada wrestled his last match at Korakuen Hall on the 9th March, bringing a seventeen year career to a close. The match was only a minute, and Harada took no bumps and took no damage to his neck. The last move of his career was Misawa’s Rolling Elbow, although he did set up The Katayama German Suplex. Fortunately, time ran out then and the referee looked as if he had to hold Harada back from continuing. His opponent, Atsushi Kotoge (who he calls his “eternal rival”) had come to the ring highly emotional and had buried his face in the turnbuckle when Harada’s music sounded, he was in tears again when Harada made his speech;

“Are you kidding me, aren’t I the one who wants to cry the most? My pro wrestling life started with you, and I’m really happy that it ended with you. Because of you, I was able to come to NOAH and continue wrestling because you were here, and because of you I was able to wrestle for one last minute. I am really grateful to you. From the day I entered Osaka Pro Wrestling, I was cocky junior, but until today have been indebted to you. Thank you for your help today!”

Kotoge left soon after, and Harada addressed the crowd thanking everyone and hoping that they would be happy with the match (the fans were just as emotional as Kotoge), he thanked NOAH, the medical team and everyone who came today. There was to be no ten count bell or ceremony (Harada finds them a little gloomy) but he wanted to end his career with a bang. Harada left the ring for the last time, raising the arm of the person he said had saved his life (NOAH’s trainer, Nagahama) and shaking hands with the wrestlers at ringside, which included Hitoshi Kumano, before he disappeared one final time behind the curtains. In the lobby, Harada had been sent flowers from Osaka Pro, HUB, Zeus (they sent flowers in his colors of blue and white), Meiko Satomura, THE LEAVE, GLEAT, DDT, Satoshi Kojima – the list went on. Harada hasn’t decided what he is going to do next, but he has vowed to support NOAH as a fan, and has referred to himself as becoming a “Wrestling Genie”. However, he doesn’t seem to be ready to leave NOAH behind just yet, as he still has one final NOAH Junior Space to do.

“Don’t end up like me” – Daisuke Harada, who has announced his retirement, thinks about the unexpected doctor stop without subjective symptoms, the retirement match is a one minute exhibition with a doctor present

“My past matches will be streamed. Please receive Daisuke Harada’s pro wrestling! – free matches released on YouTube that Daisuke Harada has chosen himself

“What to do with Taniguchi?” Takashi Sugiura to “retrain” him

The question of “What to do with Taniguchi” is one that NOAH have wondered periodically over the years, and now the question has arisen again following his six man match when he teamed with Naomichi Marufuji and Masaaki Mochizuki against The Sugiura Army of Takashi Sugiura, Kazuyuki Fujita and Hideki Suzuki. Suzuki had said that he wanted to see Maybach Taniguchi, but instead they got apathetic Shuhei Taniguchi, who ended the match by getting choked out by Takashi Sugiura and the ref called for the bell. After the match Sugiura, stood over Taniguchi, and then left the ring. Marufuji and Mochizuki were a little kinder, Marufuji rolling him out, but they both exchanged knowing glances and Marufuji gave him a weary look as they walked to the back. Takashi Sugiura vented about Taniguchi’s performance, and said he would “retrain him” in their singles match in Yokohama.

All Japan World Heavyweight Tag Challenge accepted

After winning the first pre match against the GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions, Masa Kitamiya and Daiki Inaba, Kenoh and Manabu Soya where confronted in the ring by the All Japan World Heavyweight Tag Champions, Yuma Aoyagi and Naoki Nomura, who (throwing off Managing Director SUWAMA’s threat) accepted the challenge of Kongoh for the belts. Kenoh said that when Kongoh win them, having already won the GHC Heavyweight Tag Titles, they would unify them into what they had named “GHC World Tag”. Title match will take place on the 21st March at All Japan’s show at the Ota Ward General Gymnasium.

STINGER all out war; Eita bloodied, Ogawa taps

Following the emotion of Harada’s retirement and the frustration of Taniguchi’s performance, STINGER went to war. Eita faced off in a singles match against HAYATA, and Chris Ridgeway and Yoshinari Ogawa fought in the match after. Eita had threatened HAYATA that he would make him feel the same pain he caused him the night he bloodied him up and took the belt back at NOAH Junior Night at Ryogoku Kokukigan, but in the event of things, HAYATA jumped him, bust him open by using the belt on him and then attacked him savagely afterwards. The ref was shoved down by HAYATA three times, and on the fourth shove away, he stopped the match. HAYATA gave Eita the 403 Impact on the belt, and shoved his boot into his face as he held the championship up. Backstage, HAYATA (who ironically was the only person out of STINGER, ex STINGER or whatever the tag with Eita is called), said that he had no intention of teaming with Eita, and that in Yokohama, Ogawa will come to his senses. Eita later posted on Twitter a picture of HAYATA standing over him and asking whether HAYATA was proud of himself (I would imagine he was) and saying that if he thinks that Ogawa is going to “come to his senses”, then that’s what HAYATA needs to do, so “get real”.

Ogawa and Ridgeway had a match that Ogawa had both predicted would be different from HAYATA vs Eita (he doesn’t give Eita much credit in using his brain, while he did admit he has to work hard when it’s Ridgeway) and would be “technique vs technician”. Ridgeway called it “master vs pupil” and demonstrated that Ogawa’s teaching had taught him not only how to attack, but also how to deceive and like a latter day Charlemagne, how to make everything around you into your army. Ridgeway won the match by doing something that very few people have done; he made Ogawa tap. The war between STINGER has just gone up another notch.

“Let me be clear” – crowned tag with Eita, Yoshinari Ogawa breaks the silence on the HAYATA & Ridgeway interception (part 1)

Kaito Kiyomiya loses the first pre-match against Jake Lee

Kaito Kiyomiya’s woes continued when he lost the first pre match to Jake Lee. However, that being said, Kiyomiya was not the person pinned, it was Atsushi Kotoge. Jake Lee had been making comments about Kiyomiya’s somewhat worried demeanor ever since he came to NOAH, back then it was he looked so glum he would probably scare little children, and now it had developed into making exaggerated smiles on his face using two fingers to prop up his mouth (in the manner of “turn that frown, upside down”) and then motioning at Kiyomiya to do this. Kiyomiya wore a faint smile, but Jake even took it one step further, and rearranged Kiyomiya’s lips and cheeks into a grin when he did a rope break. After the match, Jake took the mic and told Kiyomiya that “Kiyomiya, for you, that (GHC Heavyweight) is a bit of a burden I guess. Boo, applause, whatever. Come and see the 19th March, I’ll change NOAH”.

AMAKUSA retains

AMAKUSA retained the GHC Junior Heavyweight title against Hi69. Hi69 let loose in the match, and he looked as if he was wild eyed and drunk on revenge. Fans said that this was one of the best matches that they had seen out of him for a while, although he does tend to be very good in singles matches, especially title ones with a backstory as in depth as the one against AMAKUSA. No challenger has come forward yet, but AMAKUSA has promised that he will “guide this junior treasure to the heavens”

EVENT RECAPS & POST MATCH INTERVIEWS

Star Navigation 2023 (Thursday March 9th, Korakuen Hall)

Post match interviews (Thursday March 9th, Korakuen Hall)

ELSEWHERE IN NOAH

– Naomichi Marufuji had a Twitter conversation with Satoshi Kojima about a lost phone. He said he had lost his phone once and “everyone was searching for it”. From Kojima’s reaction that suggested that he was there and remembered this, I wonder if “everyone” was the roster at one point.

– Katsuhiko Nakajima held his 35th birthday fan event, “Team Katsu” on the 12th March. The event included photos of Nakajima in his two most favorite ring-wear (his current red one and his wolf skin), homemade Chanko, autographs, a chat with Nakajima and fans could even wear one of the costumes if they won a competition. A lot of reviews contained the phrases “when I came around” or “when I regained consciousness”, which refer to Nakajima’s presence.

– Keiji Mutoh took part in Japan’s version of “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?” It turned out that he wasn’t and went home without the money he hoped to use for his retirement. He says that next time he goes on the show, he will bring Riki Choshu.

– Lanzelot, Super Crazy’s nephew, made his NOAH debut on the 9th March at Korakuen Hall.

– Kenoh said he doesn’t remember the name of Naoki Nomura, as his presence was insignificant.

– Tadasuke wrist flicked Kinya Okada away when he got into the ring. Not that Okada was in his way or had any intention of being in the Kongoh pose.

CURRENT CHAMPIONS

GHC Heavyweight Champion: Kaito Kiyomiya
Challenger: Jake Lee, Great Voyage in Yokohama, Yokohama Budokan, 19th March
GHC Junior Champion: AMAKUSA
Challenger: None at the time of writing
GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions: Masa Kitamiya and Daiki Inaba
Challengers: Kongoh (Kenoh and Manabu Soya), Great Voyage in Yokohama, Yokohama Budokan, 19th March
GHC Junior Tag Champions: Yoshinari Ogawa & Eita
Challengers: HAYATA & Chris Ridgeway, Great Voyage in Yokohama, Yokohama Budokan, 19th March
GHC National Champion: El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr
Challenger: None at the time of writing

THIS WEEK IN NOAH

SUNNY VOYAGE 2023

Date: Tuesday, March 14th

Venue: Yokohama Radiant Hall

Start time: 18:00 JST

Broadcast: WrestleUniverse (you must be a subscriber to view)

Yoshiki Inamura will be having the singles match against Kento Miyahara on this day at Shinjuku Face. The All Japan event starts half an hour after NOAH’s does, and while Masa Kitamiya is on the card he is in the second match, so I guess there is plenty of time for him to get to Shinjuku.

ARTICLES

Kenoh advises GHC champion Kaito Kiyomiya to retire, “shocked” by “forbidden words” after the battle with Okada

Fan event recap – Kenoh gives a talk in Hachinohe

NOAH FROM THE VAULT

“Donmai, Donmai” – Mitsuharu Misawa’s diary