NOAH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER VOL.165 ~ 25TH MARCH 2022

Published

2 years ago

March 26, 2022

Hi5ame

NEWS

It’s been an eventful week in NOAH.

“I AM NOAH!” Kazuyuki Fujita retains against Masato Tanaka, challenged by Go Shiozaki

Following an epic stare down at the title match signing, which ended with Masato Tanaka snapping Fujita’s glasses and walking off after just over 33 minutes, Kazuyuki Fujita defended the GHC Heavyweight in a brutal match on the 21st March in Fukoka. Go Shiozaki defeated the returning Katsuhiko Nakajima on the 23rd, and following an epic cry of “I AM NOAH”, he called Fujita to the ring to challenge him.

Fujita’s response was what fans are now saying is standard when being challenged for the title, with “I’m NOAH“. Fujita bowed and left the ring. The title match has been set for the final night at Sumo Hall, the 30th April. Kendo Kashin, however, believes a sinister force is at work behind the scenes that is influencing Fujita’s unusual behavior.

The Shampoo Incident

After an incident in which eternal enemies, Daisuke Harada and Yoshinari Ogawa clashed in Kumamoto and Ogawa made belt motions, both fans (and Eita) believed that Ogawa was going to challenge for the GHC Junior Heavyweight.

Ogawa came to the ring in Fukuoka carrying a box, which he emptied to reveal was full of water bottles. He waited impatiently on the ring apron, motioning for Eita to hurry up and get in, as Eita was stalling for time and posing for pictures. When he did eventually get in the ring, the match was thrown out after 9 minutes as Eita hit Ogawa with the belt. With Ogawa down and dazed, Eita turned his focus to HAYATA. After being beaten up by Eita and Super Crazy, they dumped HAYATA in a chair and proceeded to humiliate him, not only by pouring water on him but also by giving him an an impromptu shampoo session.

One fan commented that he wondered whether they were using Dove! Afterwards, they forced HAYATA to the cameras, before throwing him aside and walking off laughing. Backstage Eita again lamented he had no challenger.

He did not have to wait for long.

HAYATA is quiet for several reasons, naturally (and painfully) shy he uses this to his advantage by incorporating a character who does his talking in the ring. HAYATA’S revenge came when like a dark shadow rising out of the floor, he attacked Eita from behind getting the match he was having with YO-HEY thrown out. Fans were a little disappointed, as was YO-HEY who had seen the advantage winning would bring, but he has other things to think about now. The ref was thrown aside, and bloodied by the GHC Junior belt, Eita was thrown in the ring. HAYATA’S beat down continued until both Perros Del Mal had come in to rescue Eita, and STINGER also came in. Yuya Susumu taking HAYATA’S arm and pulling him away as if to say that enough was enough.

HAYATA then challenged for the belt in the usual manner saying simply “Next, me”. The title match has been set for the NOAH Junior night at Sumo Hall on the 29th April.

Eita got another taste of HAYATA’S silent vengeance in their first pre match on the 24th March at Korakuen Hall. No messing around on entering, and wearing a bandage over the wound, Eita entered scowling. The match escalated into a melee brawl when Yoshinari Ogawa threw a bottle of water at Kotaro Suzuki, and then HAYATA pinned Eita with the devastating Headache in only one minute and forty-four seconds. After posing briefly with the belt and draping it over Eita, STINGER returned to the shadows. Eita later commented on social media that it had not been a good week.

Kongoh and the “Red Belts”

Kongoh made a double title challenge at Korakuen Hall on the 24th March when The Kongoh Juniors (Tadasuke and Hajime Ohara) challenged for the GHC Junior tag titles, and Kenoh and Katsuhiko Nakajima challenged for the GHC Heavyweight tag titles. Ironically, both matches had ended in submissions with Atsushi Kotoge tapping out, and the referee stopping the match when Kenoh choked out Takashi Sugiura.

By the skin of their teeth, the team of YO-HEY and Atsushi Kotoge had defended the tag titles against Perros Del Mal de Japon (NOSAWA Rongai and Kotaro Suzuki) in Fukuoka, and where challenged by The Kongoh Juniors. Tadasuke demanded the title match for NOAH’s next show, which will be the 3rd April in Gunma. Apparently the belt also spoke to him too…

With Hideki Suzuki in the main event, it fell to Takashi Sugiura to accept the challenge of the Kongoh heavyweights. In traditional style, Kenoh gave vent to his feelings about “old men” in NOAH carrying all the belts and how he does not find that entertaining in any way shape or form. Kongoh where here to stop that, and they were going to take the belts from them. “They” being Kenoh and Katsuhiko Nakajima.

Unlike the Kongoh Juniors, Kenoh could be patient and in any case, he wasn’t going to pass up a title match at Sumo Hall. For Katsuhiko Nakajima, this might not be the GHC belt he wanted, but it was a championship belt. Stating repeatedly before the match with Go Shiozaki that he had no interest in fighting him, Nakajima was forced to taste bitter fruit afterwards when he found himself walking Shiozaki’s path in losing a belt and returning from injury. Nakajima’s path is different from the one Shiozaki took back to the GHC, but it is certain that their paths will cross over NOAH’s highest belt sooner or later.

Z-Brats invade NOAH, challenge to the NOAH Junior Regulars

Somehow a match between The NOAH Junior Regulars and Perros Del Mal De Japon had started off peacefully. All was going well, Daisuke Harada was about to destroy his opponent, when three masked and hooded men stormed the ring and attacked him, Alejandro and Junta Miyawaki.

Standing over Harada, the leader with his boot on Harada’s face, they revealed themselves to be the DragonGate Z-Brat unit of Shun Skywalker, KENTo and H.Y.O. Further complicating the issue of their presence in NOAH is the fact that the current GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion, Eita, was formerly a member of the R.E.D unit, which they had kicked him out of. Eita was not the reason why they were here, although KENTo said he couldn’t believe that he of all people was the champion, they where here because they had heard the NOAH Juniors where holding an event at Sumo Hall and they had come to prevent them from “polluting the ring” there. Backstage, taking off their masks and giggling, they elaborated. The N-Innovation (no one knew what that was) should be the Z-Innovation, 0 points for Eita being the junior champion, they knew who Harada and Alejando where…but who was Miyawaki? Oh right, he was the one with no presence and was therefore no one to be afraid of. This last point rankled with Miyawaki, as H.Y.O will appear in a singles match with him on the 8th April. The invaders where granted their match by an angry Daisuke Harada, who used the expletive statement “We will show you the awesomeness of the NOAH Juniors, mutherfuckers.”

Masakatsu Funaki vs Hideki Suzuki, LINE and Manabu Soya?

Hideki Suzuki was defeated by Masakatsu Funaki in 8 minutes and 14 seconds, Funaki retaining the GHC National. GHC National matches, probably because all the title holders have had a background in MMA in some shape or form, has come to be characterized by swift short matches, mainly involving mat wrestling. What made this match different though was what happened after it as Funaki gave one of his characteristic speeches on the microphone, which for him means he can let off a little steam by a little humor. After the match today he handed the microphone to Kenoh, who handed the microphone to a bemused Tadasuke. Tadasuke asked for Funaki’s support in the upcoming junior title match, which Funaki readily gave and then Funaki said that Tadasuke had asked for his phone number…as curious as this sounds, Kenoh elaborated on this later and explained that Tadasuke hadn’t been asking for Funaki’s number, but had been asking him to join Kongoh’s LINE chat group. LINE is a Japanese social media platform, and as Funaki is unfamiliar with such things, he thought Tadasuke wanted his number. Kenoh says he will enroll Funaki on it when Kongoh win the two sets of tag belts.

Regarding Funaki’s next challenger, no one has come forward yet. Funaki had mentioned backstage that pretty much everyone in Kongoh was challenging for a belt. There where no junior belts for Nioh to challenge for, and either Funaki forgot that the GHC National was created as a belt that anyone could challenge for, or else he didn’t think he would want to, and so he focused on Manabu Soya asking him when and if he was going to chase a belt?

Soya was non committal and no challenge was made, Funaki said maybe a chance would come or maybe it wouldn’t. Soya is as Go Shiozaki summed up, someone who betrays no emotions, and so Funaki may be challenged when he least expects it.

Fukuda’s retirement

Referee Akihiko Fukuda will referee his last match on the 3rd April in Gunma. Part of the walkout from All Japan with Mitsuharu Misawa in 2000, he has been with NOAH throughout all the ups and downs of the past twenty-two years. He is retiring from refereeing, but not from NOAH. Fukuda will remain with the promotion as a backstage agent.

Old Friends & New Return to NOAH

NOAH made a massive announcement regarding the two nights at Sumo Hall in April. Now that travel is less restricted, the following will be returning; Rene Dupree, El Hijo De Dr Wagner Junior, Dragon Bane and Alpha Wolf. Also coming to NOAH for the first time would be Ninja Mack, confirmed to be participating in a Lucha three way at Sumo Hall with Dragon Bane and Alpha Wolf.

When talking about a foreign wrestler he wanted to bring over, Daisuke Harada said he couldn’t say much, but it would be someone who “made everybody happy”. Fans had guessed it would be Chris Ridgeway, and this was confirmed on the 23rd March. Ridgeway says he will be fighting as part of STINGER.

NOAH had some further announcements, although these were not made via video presentation. Don Fuji would be participating at Sumo Hall, teaming with Masaaki Mochizuki. Slex, who was last in NOAH in 2013 will be returning as will Extreme Tiger, who was in NOAH in 2010. NOSAWA (who said he was going to announce it as he is in a bad mood) announced that Texano Jnr will be the new member of Perros Del Mal De Japon. Texano Jnr was/is an original member of Perros Del Mal, alongside Super Crazy.

Note: Alpha Wolf, NOAH fans knew as “El Hijo de Canis Lupus”, and playfully shortened his name to “Cani”, which ironically meant “Crab” in Japanese.

Daisuke Harada’s training camp

When discussing Sumo Hall, Harada mentioned that he wanted to create a special training camp which would harness the “power of nature”. Japan with it’s mountains, seas, and varying terrain of the tropical warm south and the cold snowy north (snow remains in some parts until May), is ideal to do this in. Harada did not say whether this would be just NOAH Junior Regulars or not, but he did hint that foreign wrestlers where welcome to join in if they wanted.

EVENT RECAPS AND POST MATCH INTERVIEWS

“JUST FINE 2022!”

Sunday March 20th, Kumamoto

Event recap

Post match interviews

Wednesday March 23rd, Korakuen Hall

Event recap

Post match interviews

Thursday March 24th, Korakuen Hall

Event recap

Post match interviews

“GREAT VOYAGE 2022 in FUKUOKA”

Event recap

Post match interviews

ELSEWHERE IN NOAH

– Daiki Inaba has now joined NOAH as an official roster member.

– Following his singles match with Yasutaka Yano, Naomichi Marufuji said he has very high hopes for him as a NOAH Junior. Marufuji had to force him into a handshake.

– Yuya Susumu has announced that he is leaving FREEDOMS. Fans expect that he will sign full time with NOAH.

– Kendo Kashin seems to be making a point of scuffling with King Tany before matches, usually by dragging him out of the locker room and to ringside.

– Kazushi Sakuraba’s seconding stint did not go well. He was scolded for not holding open the ropes for Hideki Suzuki, and a comical picture was taken backstage of him being berated by Suzuki and Takashi Sugiura. It was comical though when Sugi handed his three belts to him, and Suzuki his one too.

– Akitoshi Saito said on commentary that he thought that deep down, there is still friendship somewhere between Shiozaki and Nakajima. Fans echo this by saying they feel Shiozaki is not only challenging Fujita for himself, but also to avenge Nakajima.

– Naomichi Marufuji wore a red Hayabusa mask to the ring at Kumamoto as he had promised. Fans said “The falcon has returned”. Marufuji said afterwards he felt his “older brother” (non biological, and non sibling student but more in the way of an elder who he was close to), was watching him from heaven.

– Due to earthquake damage to the venue, NOAH will be cancelling their Fukushima date in May.

CURRENT CHAMPIONS

GHC Heavyweight Champion: Kazuyuki Fujita
Challenger: Go Shiozaki, “MAJESTIC 2022”, Sumo Hall, Saturday 30th April
GHC Junior Champion: Eita
Challenger: HAYATA, “MAJESTIC 2022 – N-Innovation”, Sumo Hall, Friday 29th April
GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions: The Sugiura Army (Takashi Sugiura & Hideki Suzuki)
Challengers: Kongoh (Kenoh and Katsuhiko Nakajima), “MAJESTIC 2022”, Sumo Hall, Saturday 30th April
GHC Junior Tag Champions: The NOAH Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge & YO-HEY)
Challengers: Kongoh Juniors (Tadasuke & Hajime Ohara), REAL OVERTURE 2022, G Messe Gunma, Sunday April 3rd
GHC National Champion: Masakatsu Funaki
No challenger as of yet

THIS WEEK IN NOAH

(April schedule)

Sunday March 27th: Kenta Kobashi (55)

Tuesday March 29th: Kai Fujimura (27)

LINKS

“Donmai! Donmai!” Mitsuharu Misawa’s diary, which gives a fascinating insight into NOAH’s “Golden Era”.

With thanks to: Metal-NOAH

GIF taken from WrestleUniverse

Picture credit: NOAH.co.jp

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

Related Topics:Chris Ridgeway Featured Featured Big Go Shiozaki HAYATA Kazuyuki Fujita Pro Wrestling NOAH Rene Dupree Super Crazy Z-Brats

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(NOAH) NOAH NEWSLETTER VOL.200 ~ 7TH MAY 2023

New alliances, MMA challengers and the return of a beloved tag team!

Published

12 months ago

May 8, 2023

Hi5ame

NEWS

AXIZ reunite

Go Shiozaki lost in his return match at MAJESTIC (4th May at Ryogoku Kokugikan) to Katsuhiko Nakajima’s Vertical Spike. While he was lying on the mat, with a worried Kaito Kiyomiya and Yoshiki Inamura looking on, Katsuhiko Nakajima got on the mic and said, “What is this, Go Shiozaki? This awkward state? Is this “I AM NOAH?” Where did that strong Go Shiozaki go? Shall we do it again? Stand up!”, Everyone, including Shiozaki, thought that Nakajima wanted to fight him again and so Shiozaki used Nakajima to pull himself up. Nakajima had his usual devilish smile on, and grabbed Shiozaki by the hair as if he was going to strike him.

What he actually did was offer him his hand, which Shiozaki took, and to the wild screaming of the crowd, AXIZ reformed and the two would not let go of each other.

Kenoh was outraged and demanded to know what was going on. Manabu Soya later left the ring shaking his head. Backstage, Nakajima confirmed that yes, AXIZ were back and the reason why he had left was because (and this sounds familiar) Kenoh didn’t need him, Kongoh didn’t need him, and he didn’t need them. Kenoh growled that he would destroy anyone who got in his way and that included All Japan, All Japan’s Suwama, Dragon Gate (probably the whole roster) and Katsuhiko Nakajima. Kenoh remarked that usually Kongoh didn’t punish people who left (he probably doesn’t mean the chaotic juniors), but it seems that he himself will have another singles match with Nakajima on the 31st May at Shinjuku FACE. Kenoh has also branded AXIZ as a “thief and traitor duo” and has warned elderly AXIZ fans not to make any bank transfers. He has also claimed that while he was injured, Go Shiozaki is a “salary thief” for doing nothing for NOAH during that time, and not even updating his Twitter.

Related articles

Kongoh’s leader, Kenoh, denounces Go Shiozaki and Katsuhiko Nakajima’s AXIZ reunion as a “thief and traitor duo”

NOAH promise more women’s matches

Following the four woman tag at MAJESTIC, Ryo Mizunami hinted afterwards that NOAH will be holding more and she (and others) want to be a part of this. Nothing more has been said about the possibility of a women’s GHC Championship though.

N-1 VICTORY 2023 Announced

NOAH have announced that the N-1 VICTORY 2023 will make a return in August 2023, and as is tradition, will have the final night held in Osaka in early September. No names have been announced as of yet, but the league will head up for a couple of dates in Sapporo, Hokkaido (NOAH have not been to Hokkaido since before the pandemic when they would traditionally share a ring with Big Japan and then get drunk together over a lost weekend). No names have been announced as of yet.

Masakatsu Funaki challenges Josh Barnett

Following his victory over Shinya Aoki at MAJESTIC, Masakatsu Funaki challenged Josh Barnett, who was sitting at ringside to a match. Barnett accepted, but NOAH are yet to state the date when the match will take place. Funaki also seems to be hinting that his career is now winding down, and he wants to tie up any loose ends; such as the Aoki match and the challenge to Barnett, who he has never faced before, but seems to have always wanted to. Mutoh told Funaki to keep going until he is sixty, but Funaki, who makes no pretense about the fact that he is approaching his mid fifties, seems to think that this is unlikely.

Eita alone, Daga joins “the new STINGER”. HAYATA not welcome either.

During the STINGER vs I guess the last of Perros Del Mal De Japon, Eita and Daga, Eita caught Daga with the Imperial Uno, which meant that Yoshinari Ogawa could capitalize, and he went to pin Eita. However, Ogawa broke the pin and got to his feet slowly, dragging Eita up by his hair. He looked across the ring to Daga, and Daga turned on Eita. Eita, now utterly alone, was beaten up after the match, and no one at all came out to help him as there is now no one left. Backstage, Eita on all fours, said that from now on he would be trusting no one and didn’t believe in friends (NOSAWA posted “…..” to this) and demanded a singles match with both Ogawa and Daga. As for STINGER, Chris Ridgeway said that from now on he, Daga and Ogawa were the new STINGER. Daga gave no reason for his turning on his old friend, STINGER rarely give reasons anyway, and Ogawa said that HAYATA and Eita were no longer considered “friends”. Eita will get his singles matches on the 14th May at Korakuen Hall, and with Daga on the 21st in Kobe. Fans are wondering if Eita and HAYATA will team up, but HAYATA seems to be more preoccupied with the GHC Junior at the moment.

Ring intruder at Korakuen Hall

At NOAH’s Korakuen Hall event on the 29th April, a young woman intruded into the ring at the start of Kaito Kiyomiya, Sean Legacy & AMAKUSA vs Kongoh, and started imploring Kiyomiya to “show us a stronger NOAH” because he was “the savior of NOAH”. She was gently expelled from the ring by Referee Nishinaga, Kiyomiya and the young rookie, Taishi Ozawa. No further information has come from NOAH or any news outlets as to who this young woman was or what the consequence of her intrusion was, and it is rare in Japanese wrestling that a fan should intrude into the ring, but NOAH took the precaution to check bags at their fan event and MAJESTIC, and extra wrestlers were seen at ringside, which fans said felt like security. The very real threat was that she could have had a knife. New Japan’s Toru Yano has also spoken out about fan behavior. He didn’t mention fan invasion specifically, but more wrestlers being harassed by fans when at baggage claim at airports, at convenience stores etc. Kenoh kind of saved the situation by telling Kiyomiya that if he was stronger, then strange people wouldn’t do things like this!

Shinjiro Otani

At an event held on the 6th May to help with his hospital bills, Shinjiro Otani made an appearance. Takashi Sugiura bought him some flowers and Otani thanked him for not giving up wrestling due to the injury that Otani sustained during the title match. He also warned Sugiura, that he would see him in the ring again. Sugiura said he was waiting for that day.

Voodoo Murders vs Kongoh

SUWAMA broke into NOAH’s event at Korakuen Hall on the 29th April and gave Kenoh, a massive Last Ride powerbomb. Shrieking that he was going to take the All Japan World Heavyweight Tag back to where it belonged, i.e. All Japan, he was prepared to come and have a match in NOAH (with Kono his partner) to retrieve them. There then followed a comical scene involving the infamous lifts, where a quaking old man appeared and was told by Suwama to hold the doors. The match has been set for NOAH’s Kobe event on the 21st May. The event will not be broadcast live, but I would imagine this match will be through NOAH’s official Instagram. Suwama got further revenge on Kenoh at All Japan’s show on the 7th when Kongoh and Voodoo Murders had a pre match. Kenoh was given another powerbomb, shoved into a body bag and Voodoo Murders posed with their boots on him, before carrying him backstage on their shoulders. Half in and half out of the bag and dumped on the floor, Suwama told him that now he was in hell, those titles were theirs.

TITLE NEWS

GHC Heavyweight

In a match that saw Naomichi Marufuji pull out old moves (Shiranui and Shiranui Pole Shift, plus a rope bounce that he hasn’t used for a while) and moves that he has worked on, Jake Lee retained the GHC Heavyweight at MAJESTIC. However, no challenger came forward, and fans were expecting to see Go Shiozaki come out. Jake thanked Marufuji and ran down what he had felt in his past title defenses; Kiyomiya was the future, Nakajima the strength and Marufuji the history. Jake wondered what was next and predicted that on the 14th May at Korakuen Hall, things would start to happen. Jake’s match then is himself teaming with Good Looking Guys (including YO-HEY and Tadasuke) against two NOAH Juniors (Seiki Yoshioka and Atsushi Kotoge) against Kaito Kiyomiya and Takashi Sugiura. Fans think that it will be Sugiura who challenges.

“Half the guys don’t think about it”, the real intention of outside invader Jake Lee’s cut down of the Ark warriors

“I can’t win in a direct match anymore”…Naomichi Marufuji aims to surpass his teacher, Mitsuharu Misawa, in recapturing the GHC

“It’s like a dream” – Jake, “Full speed for the first time in a while”, Marufuji

“Naomichi Marufuji must do his best here and now”, Mutoh speaks! 4th May Ryogoku Kokugikan, the direction of Jake vs Marufuji

GHC Junior Heavyweight

HAYATA was forced into doing some light comedy, when at the title match signing/press conference, Ninja Mack told him that he didn’t want him to be injured in their title match, and handed him a gift of bandages and athletic tape. HAYATA tried to keep a straight face. However, Ninja Mack found nothing to laugh about when HAYATA beat him and went to hand him his presents back. Apparently, HAYATA kept the bandages, as he only tried to give back the athletic tape. Ninja Mack knocked them to the floor and walked off. The GHC Junior Heavyweight is the only one with a challenger out of all the championships at the time of writing, as HAYATA has nominated Dante Leon as opponent. Dante Leon took the belt from Ninja Mack, but HAYATA feels he has to defeat everyone who held it while he was injured. Dante says he is coming back to take his belt back. Pre matches will take place, with the title match on the 17th June in Nagoya.

GHC Junior signing ceremony: Ninja provokes the champion with first aid supplies, HAYATA “excellent”

GHC National

El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr continues to cement himself as one of the greatest GHC National Champions, by defeating Hideki Suzuki at MAJESTIC to retain in an epic match. Suzuki was even booed as he knocked Wagner Jnr down with a punch early on after Wagner Jnr had yelled “Arriba Mexico!”. Suzuki didn’t look as if he was too bothered, and fought most of the match with a cool hard expression. El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr isn’t on any cards for the rest of May 2023, so it looks as if the title will probably be challenged for some time in June.

“Real” Suzuki emphasizes “Real Deal” to take over the GHC National, match signing ceremony

GHC Heavyweight Tag

Monster Taniguchi, which his seniors try so hard to awaken, sat dormant at the match signing as Saxon Huxley overturned the table, (which Takashi Sugiura, no stranger to trashing tables during press conferences, helped put back), but then turned his own over with a roar and made off with the tag belts. Sugi very politely helped the staff put the tables back. The team of Sugiura and Taniguchi gave very close to retaining, but they lost the belts when Saxon Huxley pinned Taniguchi with the Hanging Neck Bombs. The new champions celebrated by yelling loudly into the camera, and Huxley repeatedly head-butting his belt. Two new tags arose that night at MAJESTIC; AXIZ, and a new team of Masato Tanaka and Kazuyuki Fujita.

Huxley and Taniguchi go berserk overturning tables, Sugiura apologizes

GHC Junior Tag

YO-HEY and Tadasuke (Good Looking Guys Unit) defended the GHC Junior Tag against Alpha Wolf and DragonBane at Korakuen Hall on the 29th April. The lucha brothers came very close to taking the titles, but YO-HEY saved the team by pinning DragonBane. No challengers have come forward, but it does seem likely that they will be challenged by the people that YO-HEY dumped to join GLG; Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka at Korakuen Hall on the 14th May, which is NOAH’s next event. However, Kotoge and Yoshioka may not be the most stable team, as Yoshioka did catch him with a kick accidentally.

EVENT RECAPS & POST MATCH PROMOS

STAR NAVIGATION 2023

(Saturday April 29th, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo)

Event recap

Post match interviews

ABEMA PRESENTS MAJESTIC 2023

(Thursday 4th May, Ryogoku Kokugikan)

Event recap

Post match interviews

NOAH Fan Event Recap

ELSEWHERE IN NOAH

– Atsushi Kotoge posted a picture of himself when he came to NOAH eleven years ago. He says he is “slightly embarrassed” about seeing himself back then.

– Mohammed Yone and Super Crazy almost left via the wrong gate at MAJESTIC. The trainee standing there tried to tell them, but they seemed insistent, eventually he had to almost stand in their way before they realized.

– Xtreme Tiger returned to the NOAH ring following his concussion

– Most people down the old man VIPER tonic, Masato Tanaka opened it, poured it down his throat and chugged it.

– Keiji Mutoh told Kazushi Sakuraba that he should fight a bear on PPV. Sakuraba said no, he would be killed, and suggested that Mutoh do it. Mutoh said he was an old man who was enjoying retirement by sitting at home and watching historical dramas on NHK.

– Ray Escorpion made his NOAH debut, which involved heel tactics and stalking Dralistico.

– Jake Lee regretted his choice of costume, i.e. his gloves and cape, at the NOAH Fan Event. He said he felt like he needed an icepack under his armpits.

– Eita hid under the ring to jump Yoshinari Ogawa at Korakuen Hall on April 29th. When he crawled out he stretched and yawned, meaning that he fell asleep under there!

– Alejandro was sitting at the commentary table when it got trashed by the Luchadores at MAJESTIC.

CURRENT CHAMPIONS

GHC Heavyweight Champion: Jake Lee
Challenger: TBA
GHC Junior Champion: HAYATA
Challenger: Dante Leon, GREEN JOURNEY 2023 in NAGOYA (Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall – Saturday, June 17th)
GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions: REAL (Saxon Huxley & Timothy Thatcher)
Challengers: TBA
GHC Junior Tag Champions: Good Looking Guys (YO-HEY & Tadasuke)
Challengers: TBA
GHC National Champion: El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr
Challenger: TBA

THIS WEEK IN NOAH

(May 2023 schedule)

– STAR NAVIGATION 2023

Date: Sunday May 14th

Venue: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo

Start times: Doors 17:30 JST, Bell 18:30 JST

Broadcast: ABEMA

Birthdays & anniversaries

May 8th 1961: Akira Taue birthday (62)

May 13th 2000: Jumbo Tsuruta memorial (23)

*NOTE ABOUT ABEMA BROADCASTS

For the overseas fan a subscription to WrestleUniverse is recommended instead of a subscription to ABEMA. You can only watch ABEMA shows live (you cannot watch replays should you miss the show), but these always get uploaded to WrestleUniverse a few minutes after the broadcast finishes. I do not recommend that overseas fans subscribe to ABEMA due to the time consuming and expensive issues around finding a VPN that is compatible with their firewall, and ABEMA do not broadcast any other NOAH shows aside from the live broadcasts, they do not show much exclusive content and they do not show vintage or older events.

LINKS

“No matter how many times you fall down, you get back up, that’s pro wrestling” – Kaito Kiyomiya vs Reiwa’s “Pu-Girl”

“I want to fight” Aoki’s first NOAH participation, Funaki “challenge”. Press conference for the first showdown in six years

“Isn’t that a stupid question?” Shiozaki, returning for the first time in eight months, emphasizes “perfection” like AMAKUSA

26 year old wrestler Kaito Kiyomiya talks about the importance of the dojo and generational view

NOAH FROM THE VAULT

“Donmai, Donmai” – Mitsuharu Misawa’s diary….he’s being obscene!

With thanks to: Metal NOAH

Picture credits: NOAH.co.jp

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

(NOAH) NOAH NEWSLETTER VOL.199 ~ 25TH APRIL 2023

Lots of Championship news! Does Jake Lee have what it takes to captain the ark?

Published

12 months ago

April 26, 2023

Hi5ame

NEWS

“I made you all wait”, Go Shiozaki announces his return

Go Shiozaki made a surprise appearance at NOAH’s Sendai event on the 16th April, and announced that he would return to the ring at “MAJESTIC” at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Thursday May 4th. In an interview done soon afterwards, Shiozaki said that of course his goal was to “get my belt back as soon as possible” and naturally, his target is the current champion, Jake Lee. He is very excited about NOAH now with the influx of foreign wrestlers, and of course, Jake Lee whom he knew from being in All Japan. Shiozaki’s return match will be against Kongoh’s Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Manabu Soya. Shiozaki says he will not only be fighting against his opponents, but also the younger generation of NOAH, who he says are “a threat”. NOAH’s generational wheel continues turning.

The theme of return is “New Go Shiozaki”, “Fight with five people”, thrilled by the new NOAH scenery

“I have to get my belt back”, Go Shiozaki vows to return early to the title front

Junta Miyawaki returns from Mexico

Junta Miyawaki announced (bilingually as he also announced this in Mexican), that he would be returning from Ultimo Dragon’s training camp, and would make his first match back at Korakuen Hall at STAR NAVIGATION on the 29th April. His opponent will be HI69, who has been on a roll recently. Before he left, Junta Miyawaki said that he would “sip muddy water”, (which basically means to hit rock bottom and crawl you way back up), before he returned to NOAH. HI69 was unimpressed with this statement, saying that Junta had no idea what he was talking about, but he would soon make him realize it.

Women’s matches

NOAH continue to book women’s matches on their bigger shows. Sendai saw Maya Yukihi and Sumire Natsu fight in a singles match, and afterwards mention was made (even fleetingly) of a woman’s GHC championship. The next women’s match will be a four way at “MAJESTIC” on the 4th May between

Maya Yukihisa & SAKI vs Sumire Natsu & Ryo Mizunami.

Xtreme Tiger concussed & Luchadore’s trash the commentary table

Very sadly Xtreme Tiger sustained (probably) a concussion during the match in Sendai and was stretchered from the ring. Fortunately, he could still move as he was seen to be sitting up and sliding himself on to the stretcher. The remaining Luchadores (Doralistico, Dragon Bane, Alpha Wolf, Alejandro & Lanzelot) decided to continue the match, and as they are NOAH Juniors, didn’t bother to tell the ref. They just carried on and during this, Dragon Bane trashed the commentary table by moonsaulting through it. Then everyone else joined in, fighting in the wreckage. Akitoshi Saito (who had been sitting at the table) was seen looking on blankly. Later he made the comment that the table was not made of a material that was meant to be broken.

Yasutaka Yano and Kinya Okada taken off the Sendai card at the last moment

Yasutaka Yano and Kinya Okada were announced to have been taken off the Sendai card at the last moment, meaning that Anthony Green and Akitoshi Saito (who wrestled by taking his shirt off and in his normal clothes) had to fill in for them. NOAH have not announced the issue (illness, injury, etc) but fans think that they may have gone to Mexico for training, albeit why this should be so sudden is a mystery.

Title news

GHC Heavyweight

Jake Lee retains, Naomichi Marufuji challenges

Jake Lee retained the GHC Heavyweight against Katsuhiko Nakajima, and was challenged that same night by Naomichi Marufuji. The nautical references continued, as Marufuji said that Jake’s steering was making him “seasick” and used a term that he says he came up with before he made his challenge, by saying that “Even if it is rotten, it is Marufuji” (the full saying is “Even if it is rotten, it is still a sea bream”, which basically is like saying “white cat, black cat, as long as it catches mice, then it is a good cat” i.e. quality is quality). Title match has been made for “MAJESTIC” on the 4th May.

The two pre matches have taken place at shows not broadcasted live, Hamamatsu (which was put on WrestleUniverse on the 25th April) and Kyoto KBS Hall (which will be streamed on WrestleUniverse on the 26th April from 18:00 JST). Neither the champion or the challenger scored the direct win over the other, but Jake was seen to hold the belt over Naomichi Marufuji as he, Jake, stood on the turnbuckle and held it even higher.

The new champion gives NOAH a warning! Is it okay to stay as NOAH = Marufuji?

“After all, I’m the man who’s been with NOAH for a long time” – Naomichi Marufuji, on the 25th anniversary of his debut who named himself as the one to overthrow Jake, talks about his thoughts!

GHC Heavyweight Tag

Masa Kitamiya and Daiki Inaba lost the GHC Heavyweight Tag Championship to Takashi Sugiura and Shuhei Taniguchi in Sendai. Shuhei Taniguchi, much to his seniors delight, got the win but there was no chance to celebrate for very long as a new fearsome tag team, who were part of a new unit (and therefore a new power in the heavyweights) appeared on the scene to challenge. Hideki Suzuki announced that himself, Timothy Thatcher and Saxon Huxley, were breaking away from The Sugiura Army, which he said was “over” (fans have long felt that the unit simply fizzled out) and the three of them were breaking away on their own.

Suzuki challenged for the GHC Heavyweight Tag belts on behalf of his partners, whom both came across as having chemistry akin to an old school American tag team (Saxon I know is from England, but you know the vibe I am talking about). Backstage, Hideki Suzuki said their new unit was called “Real”. In their first pre match in Hamamatsu, Suzuki refused to shake hands with Takashi Sugiura and Sugiura was defeated by Saxon Huxley. The next night in Kyoto, Sugiura defeated Huxley, which was Huxley’s first NOAH loss, with the Olympic Slam and labelled himself as “Beastmaster”. There was also some slight friction appearing between Takashi Sugiura and Shuhei Taniguchi, as Taniguchi did the same “I heard you lost today?” kind of comment back to Sugiura, and once again refused to shake hands with him when Sugiura offered and just walked off when Sugi asked, “Did you win?”.

GHC National

In an epic match, El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr defended the GHC National against Jack Morris, and the two of them shook hands afterwards and patched up their friendship. Backstage, Hideki Suzuki appeared in the comments booth when Wagner Jnr was in it, clapping sarcastically and saying that he was coming for his belt. Suzuki also made a very poetic comment about the challenge.

“Because Wagner Jnr is the sun of Mexico, I will take him deep into the ocean. We will sink together, and only I will rise”

Their two pre matches so far have been inconclusive as they head towards the title match at “MAJESTIC” on the 4th May at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

GHC Junior

AMAKUSA did not do well in the pre matches against HAYATA, and HAYATA ran him into the ground in the title match in Sendai, winning in thirteen minutes and four seconds. In order to forestall anyone who thought they were going to challenge, he was picking up where he left off, and his next challenger would be Ninja Mack. Ninja Mack had challenged HAYATA in late 2022 for the belt, but he had won it when HAYATA was injured, and the belt was awarded to him. To HAYATA, he needed to defeat Ninja Mack first before dealing with anyone else. The two pre matches have not gone well for HAYATA, although Ninja Mack hasn’t got the win over him directly, he has still gotten the win for his team at one point, even if one of the matches was won by someone else, which for him counts as a victory over HAYATA.

GHC Junior Tag

Fans knew that Yoshinari Ogawa and Eita were going to fall apart. YO-HEY knew this too, but knew enough about his opponents, to be wary. In the end, a misfire by Eita, who caught Ogawa in the face with a kick, letting Tadasuke get the win, made the team implode. Ogawa might have come to the ring ignoring Eita’s very existence, but by the end of the match the two were brawling and the fight went backstage. After kicking Ogawa in the crotch, Eita announced that the only person he trusted was Daga. Daga will return to NOAH at “MAJESTIC”, with the one person who hasn’t turned on Ogawa (although he was wary of his aligning with Eita), Chris Ridgeway, who is returning to NOAH at Korakuen Hall on Saturday 29th April.

The new GHC Junior Champions, Good Looking Guy’s YO-HEY and Tadasuke, were challenged backstage by Dragon Bane and Alpha Wolf, who told them they were going to be taking the belts back to Mexico. The brothers have run riot on the junior tag champions, defeating them in the pre matches, Alpha Wolf in a singles against Tadasuke. Title match will take place this Saturday at Korakuen Hall.

EVENT RECAPS & POST MATCH PROMOS

ABEMA presents GREEN JOURNEY 2023 in Sendai (Sunday April 16th)

Event recap

Post match interviews

Act City Hamamatsu (Saturday, April 22nd)

Event recap

Post match interviews

Kyoto KBS Hall (Sunday, April 23rd)

Event recap

Post match interviews

ELSEWHERE IN NOAH

– Because they were both champions facing their challengers, YO-HEY offered HAYATA a handshake in Kyoto. HAYATA reacted in usual fashion (he refused) but the two were seen to work together…

– Kongoh appeared in a short Kenoh Channel video, where each of them ate one of Shuji Kondo’s financiers and talked about the merch table. Katsuhiko Nakajima very neatly put back a packet of Naomichi Marufuji’s curry, which Kenoh had thrown.

– Although he is no longer appearing in the ring, NOSAWA Rongai was seen watching at the Hamamatsu show. He’s not a member of the audience however, as he seems to be travelling with them – Kenoh said that he was glad Go Shiozaki had returned as he could not “wait to beat the shit” out of him.

– Atsushi Kotoge has revealed his beloved Shiba is called “Chikuwa”. When he left for NOAH’s weekend shows, he told him he was leaving him as watchdog to guard the family.

– Mercedes Monet said she wanted a match with “Marufugi”. “Marufugi” said he wanted one with her too.

– YO-HEY and Yoshiki Inamura will appear on “All-Star Chorus Battle” on May 14th for Fuji TV. The premise of the show is that they will team with five other people, sing the hit songs of the Reiwa era and compete as a chorus for a championship.

– A picture taken by NOAH’s official photographer in Kyoto was captured at precisely the moment that Seiki Yoshioka was diving off the top turnbuckle. The angle of his body made him look as if he was leaping out of the stained glass behind him. Ironically, he seemed to be leaping from the roof of the Ark. Also photographed against The Ark was Yoshiki Inamura, who put a Dove above his head.

CURRENT CHAMPIONS

GHC Heavyweight Champion: Jake Lee
Challenger: Naomichi Marufuji, ABEMA presents MAJESTIC 2023, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Thursday May 4th
GHC Junior Champion: HAYATA
Challenger: Ninja Mack, ABEMA presents MAJESTIC 2023, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Thursday May 4th
GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions: Takashi Sugiura & Shuhei Taniguchi
Challengers: REAL (Saxon Huxley & Timothy Thatcher), ABEMA presents MAJESTIC 2023, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Thursday May 4th
GHC Junior Tag Champions: Good Looking Guys (YO-HEY & Tadasuke)
Challengers: Dragon Bane & Alpha Wolf, STAR NAVIGATION 2023, Korakuen Hall, Saturday April 29th
GHC National Champion: El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr
Challenger: Hideki Suzuki, ABEMA presents MAJESTIC 2023, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Thursday May 4th