CURRENT TOUR RECAP

The Hooligans continued baiting Naomichi Marufuji and Akitoshi Saito (well, Marufuji in particular), and ran roughshod over them on the 13th October; at the end of the match when the ref counted three, Mitsuya Nagai got down and counted with him, hand slapping the mat and all, and they later stood over them with Maybach Taniguchi with his foot on Marufuji, and he and Cody Hall holding the belts.

On the 14th, the day of the title match, NOAH held the signing ceremony on the 14th for the GHC Heavyweight Tag Championship. For the match, Naomichi Marufuji refused the offer of any seconds, being confident that he and Saito could easily deal with The Hooligans, despite the tricks they got up to during the match.

The belts were successfully defended, with Saito getting the pinfall on Maybach Taniguchi. Afterwards, Mitsuya Nagai got on the microphone and said this ain’t over and left screaming that he and KAZMA were the other two Hooligans, and that he was going to whip them both during Global League.

Marufuji told him to come back when he grows hair to his shoulders.

Daisuke Harada and Kotaro Suzuki turned their conflict up a few notches.

On the 14th October, young Junta Miyawaki, who was teaming with Harada, was swiftly dealt with, leaving Harada alone in the ring with Suzuki and Ogawa. Suzuki took the belt, and hit Harada in the head with it causing him to bleed heavily, which Ogawa took advantage of by gouging the wound. The referee stopped the match due to the vicious combined attack of Suzuki and Ogawa. After the match, Suzuki stood over the fallen Harada, and held the blood splattered belt up high.

Junta Miyawaki later said he was angry with himself for not being able to protect Harada better.

Fortunately, Harada was not concussed, and he didn’t need anyone to help him on the 15th October, as he went absolutely insane, a melee fight broke out before the bell, which happened again after the bell, with Harada beating down Suzuki.

In an ultimate heel move, Kotaro Suzuki didn’t turn up to the GHC Junior Heavyweight signing ceremony which was held on the 18th in Yokohama on the final night, and a message arrived from him saying that he was too busy to attend.

Harada, humiliated, said that he was going to beat the hell out of Suzuki on the 30th October.

When they clashed that evening, Kotaro Suzuki was even more of a heel towards Harada (and the belt that Misawa made), by punching Harada, and then trampling the belt in order to hit him some more. A brawl broke out after the match, and then another one during the interview period afterwards.

Suzuki commented that Harada was a puppet, he didn’t even know who was working the strings, and he was playing right into his hands. All Korakuen Hall would be when he visited on the 30th, would be a holiday.

Kenoh and Katsuhiko Nakajima started their feud towards Global League. Their last match ended in a draw, and Kenoh didn’t appreciate Nakajima smirking at him, and later said in his post match interview that it was “absurd” that Nakajima returned “his skills” (he means his kicks). On the 15th, Kenoh told Nakajima he was going to “beat you black and blue at Global League”, and a kick fight broke out.

Nakajima later laughed at Kenoh’s threat and said, “he is an obstinate man!”.

Despite the fact that Kenoh is being annoyed by Nakajima, Marufuji still remains his main obsession, and he said in a mini interview ahead of Global League that his plan is to beat Marufuji, win Global League, defeat Sugiura for the belt, and then force Marufuji to challenge him for it, and beat him up again. He said that, “the thought of it is making me shiver”.

Kaito Kiyomiya is still insisting that he will win Global League 2018, and Takashi Sugiura is still dismissing him, and he and Marufuji suggested that he return to Canada to find the lost momentum he bought with him when he first arrived home in January 2018.

Go Shiozaki has also started gunning for Sugiura, and stood and watched him silently as he made his way to the ring on the last night of Autumn Navigation 2018. He later addressed the crowd and thanked them for coming, he said he would win Global League, and urged everyone to come and see the show. Atsushi Kotoge has turned his sights to Go Shiozaki, and told him that he will headbutt him and “split your forehead” in their first match. Kotoge (who had YO-HEY hiding behind him making him do the “Revolutionary Fist Pose”) was warned by Shiozaki to, “watch it”.

Koji Kanemoto has challenged Minoru Tanaka and Hi69 for the GHC Junior Heavyweight tag belts, with an open invitation to any wrestler who wanted to partner with him, he recieved four offers,Hiroshi Yamato, Kouki Iwasaki, Seiya Morihashi and Nobutaka Moribe, but chose Yamato on the 19th October.

No date as yet been set for the challenge.

NOAH were so tired after four days, no one talked on the bus on the way back to Tokyo, and Mohammed Yone said he sat down and fell asleep almost immediately.

Autumn Navigation 2018 is now wrapped up, and the heavyweights gear towards Global League 2018, which will start on October 30th 2018.  Whoever wins, will need to go two or three times, through this man…

NEWS

“Wrestling All Star Battle”
Putting their grievances with each other aside (at least until the reality of the situation sets in), New Japan, All Japan, NOAH, Big Japan (Great Kojika says that if he lives long enough he will attend, whether he is invited or not), and W-1 will come together to commemorate 20 years since Giant Baba’s death, and the founding of Tokyo Sports. Commemorating the death of Baba was the wish of his late wife, Motoko Baba. Abdullah The Butcher, will also hold his retirement ceremony at the event.

It will be being held at Sumo Hall on the 19th February 2019.

Cards to be announced, but I would caution you not to expect to see New Japan and NOAH face off; its a very bitter bridge which water is yet to flow fully under.

GHC BELT NEWS

Current champions

• GHC Heavyweight Champion: Takashi Sugiura
• GHC Junior Champion: Daisuke Harada
• GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions: Naomichi Marufuji & Akitoshi Saito
• GHC Junior Tag Champions: Minoru Tanaka & Hi69

The winner of Global League 2018 will earn the right to challenge Takashi Sugiura for the GHC Heavyweight title, if he himself wins, Sugiura says that he will nominate Masato Tanaka as his challenger.

Daisuke Harada will defend the GHC Junior Heavyweight title against Kotaro Suzuki on the 30th October at Korakuen Hall.

The GHC Heavyweight titles have not had a challenger as of yet, and probably won’t until after Global League wraps up.

The GHC Junior Tag Championship will probably be challenged for by Koji Kanemoto and Hiroshi Yamato. No date has been set as of yet.

TOUR TIDBITS

• Atsushi Kotoge caught his cloak on the rail in Shimada (wasn’t broken this time, unlike Hamamatsu), and Hajime Ohara very neatly folded it for him. Speaking of Kotoge, he woke up on the morning of the 13th not able to move, was advised to go to hospital and rest, but was helped to move by the trainers.
• Takeshi Morishima turned 40 on October 15th, Maybach Taniguchi turned 42 and Atsushi Kotoge 33 on the 18th.
• Both Tadasuke, YO-HEY and Kaito Kiyomiya have debuted new moves, Tadasuke’s is the “Jidanda Lariat” which appears to have been inspired by the anime, Naruto, YO-HEY has something called “Yaw”, and Kaito Kiyomiya debuted a chicken wing crossface.
• Mohammed Yone was hit by a bicycle while outside of a shop while on tour; he is fine though.
• YO-HEY wore Atsushi Kotoge’s cape inside out, and as if he were dressing a small child, Kotoge had to rearrange it for him
• At some point during “Autumn Navigation” Kenoh had both Takashi Sugiura and Kaito Kiyomiya in an ankle lock at the same time.
• Minoru Tanaka got biffed in the nose by a streamer
• LEONA was spotted at his father’s recent Dradition show; I am afraid there is no news on when he is going to return to the ring, if ever. Personally, it would not surprise me if he did not and concentrated on studying law instead.
• Hajime Ohara, assisted by Yoshiki Inamura and Kimiya Okada, will be holding a gymnastic class on Saturday 10th October.

KING SHAMLESS’S CORNER
None this week, he’s managed to behave himself.

BROADCASTS
18th October 2018 will be broadcast on the 25th October at 10pm (Nicopro)
8th November 2018, live show at 6.30pm (Samurai TV)

EVENT RECAPS
The full guide to Autumn Navigation 2018

LINKS
Enjoy what I do? Want to help me do it full time? Please consider donating to me on Patreon
For those outside of Japan, IPW are now the official sellers of Noah merchandise
“Heir to The Ark” ~ Chapter One has now been translated fully into English
Opening night card of Global League 2018