NEWS

Takashi Sugiura challenges Naomichi Marufuji for the GHC Heavyweight title

Takashi Sugiura won the right to challenge Naomichi Marufuji after making him tap out to the front neck lock at the Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial event at Korakuen Hall on the 13th June. Sugiura challenged by telling Marufuji (who had dragged himself to the corner) that

“For the first time in five years, congratulations on the GHC. But, you understand the circumstances, right? I want to challenge for the GHC belt that Naomichi Marufuji has”

Marufuji has accepted Sugiura’s challenge, and set it for the event in Sendai on the 11th July. It will not be title vs title as Marufuji has no interest in the GHC National for now and wants to concentrate on defending the GHC Heavyweight. Backstage, Sugiura said he didn’t apologize for “ruining Marufuji’s” first match as champion, but the simple fact was that he wanted two belts, and Marufuji had one. He also admitted that neither of them were any younger, and he did not know how much longer they would be able to do it.

As for Marufuji, he confirmed that he was concentrating on the GHC Heavyweight and was not interested in the GHC National, and that the match would not be title for title. Takashi Sugiura was the perfect challenger to make his first defense against. He also admitted that there was no middle ground with Sugiura, he was either with him and when he thought he was on his side, Sugiura would stand in his way. Marufuji also admitted, there was the up and coming new generation of NOAH to consider too.

Great Muta chooses his challenger

We discovered exactly who Great Muta had in mind for his challenger at the Mitsuharu Misawa memorial show. Kenoh (after destroying Masao Inoue in 4 minutes, 53 seconds) got the microphone and looked to start a typically long angry rant. Half way through about growling about it being a year since NOAH started empty arena matches, he stopped as he suddenly got the feeling that something or someone was watching him. Turning around slowly he saw Great Muta had materialized in the ring (and here NOAH worked the empty arena to their advantage by having a camera angle that made it look like he had appeared suddenly), Kenoh jumped and got a face full of green mist. After that Muta decided to spit red mist at the new camera drone, which sank slowly to the floor.

Backstage, Muta said he was going to make Kenoh bleed, while a grumpy looking Kenoh (no change here, except he was covered in green), growled he would take on Muta’s challenge. The match will take place at “MUTA THE WORLD” on the 27th June.

DragonGate’s Eita comes to NOAH

After hinting he had met a “Luchadore”, NOSAWA made good his promise and bought Eita into NOAH. All the cards at the Misawa Memorial show were surprise, so it was the perfect time to do it. Eita (looking a far better fit into what is unofficially known as “The NOSAWA Army” than YO-HEY), had his first clash with STINGER (HAYATA, Seiki Yoshioka and Yuya Susumu), which ended with Eita beating Susumu. Then Eita was welcomed into the NOAH Junior division in traditional manner; a mass brawl. Eita would later confirm that he would be entering the NOAH Junior rumble, and this was nothing to do with his division in DragonGate (R.E.D), where he would remain active and come to NOAH as a freelancer. Where this leaves YO-HEY, will remain to be seen.

NOAH THE HOME

With Coronavirus causing both empty arena and a lack of shows, NOAH have begun to broadcast what is known as “NOAH THE HOME”, which are dojo matches with mainly the younger roster. There is no theme music, lighting etc, only a static cam trained on the ring. You can find these on NOAH’s official YouTube, and they will continue for seven days from Friday the 18th.

At the end of each show, fans are asked to vote for a match MVP, which so far has been won by Yasutaka Yano and Kai Fujimura, with the winners getting small prizes at the end of the series. Fans can contribute money while they watch the live feed, proceeds will go to maintaining the dojo, the dormitories and towards awards for the MVP winners.

“LEGACY”

To celebrate 70 years of Pro Wrestling in Japan, the Japanese Wrestling Hall of Fame (headed by LEONA, Tatsumi Fujinami’s son, and featuring Genichiro Tenryu), a two day super show has been planned for September 14th & 15th at Korakuen Hall. The event will take place to commemorate the anniversary of the “Father of Pro Wrestling”, Rikidozan’s debut. Further details such as card, broadcast have naturally not been announced, but what is known is that the event will feature pretty much every promotion in Japan from what was once known as “The Big Three” of NOAH, New Japan and All Japan to DragonGate, DDT, Big Japan, ZERO1 etc. Indie promotions and even small local groups will be invited to attend.

Naomichi Marufuji commented on behalf of NOAH,

“It has been 70 years since the pro wrestling of the master Rikidozan, the father of Japanese wrestling, took root in Japan. I have only been involved in pro wrestling for a small part of it’s long history, receiving direct guidance from Giant Baba, and for a little while Jumbo Tsuruta and Mitsuharu Misawa, who founded Pro Wrestling NOAH. I would like to pass on what I have inherited from many great seniors to the next generation and further enliven Japanese pro wrestling. That is why both myself and Pro Wrestling NOAH would like to co-operate with the “70th Anniversary of Japanese Pro Wrestling” event. Pro wrestling fans, pro wrestling NOAH fans, please look forward to it.”

NOAH Junior Rumble Participants

Ten NOAH Juniors will take part in the Junior Rumble to confirm the number one contender to Atsushi Kotoge’s GHC Junior Heavyweight title on the 26th June at “CAGE WAR”, they are; Daisuke Harada, Hajime Ohara, Junta Miyawaki, Seiki Yoshioka, Haoh, Nioh, Tadasuke, NOSWA Rongai, Ikuto Hidaka and Eita.

The challenger will meet the champion on the 27th.

EVENT RECAPS & POST MATCH PROMOS

EVENT RECAP: “That day will never be forgotten” ~ Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial (13th June 2021)

POST MATCH PROMOS: “That day will never be forgotten” ~ Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial (13th June 2021)

ELSEWHERE IN NOAH

~ An article in Yahoo Japan revealed that Mitsuharu Misawa was full of plans for his retirement. He was drawing up blueprints for a “NOAH Building”, which would have been multistory, an Izakaya (where he would drink with his old friends and tell of color stories), and even have a gym\bar.

~ Masa Kitamiya has said very little about the upcoming cage with loser loosing hair match, but Katsuhiko Nakajima has been theatrically maudlin about it, saying that he was delighted when Masa Kitamiya made his debut, and how hurt he has been about Kitamiya’s recent behavior.

~ Atsushi Kotoge said that “NOAH at HOME” has been good for the seniors as well as the youngsters, as he can see what bad habits he himself is falling into.

~ Takashi Sugiura is back to posting rude food with sexual connotations (this means he’s had to behave himself at some point)

~ Daisuke Harada omitted any mention of Naomichi Marufuji in the match at the Misawa Memorial, concentrating only on Takashi Sugiura and Atsushi Kotoge. When Marufuji said that Harada had put up such a fight he couldn’t get past him, Harada replied frostily “thank you for your hard work”. Marufuji responded with the expressionless emoji.

~ The new Sugiura Army member will be revealed at Korakuen Hall on the 30th June. NOAH will be returning to an audience then (hopefully).

CURRENT CHAMPIONS

• GHC Heavyweight Champion: Naomichi Marufuji
  Challenger: Takashi Sugiura (11th July 2021, Sendai Sunplaza Hall)
• GHC Junior Champion: Atsushi Kotoge
  Challenger: TBA following the NOAH Junior Rumble on the 26th June
• GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions: The AGGRESSION (Katsuhiko Nakajima & Masa  Kitamiya)
  Challengers: TBA
• GHC Junior Tag Champions: Daisuke Harada & Hajime Ohara
  Challengers: TBA
•  GHC National Champion: Takashi Sugiura 
  Challenger: TBA

THIS WEEK IN NOAH

Saturday 26th June: “CAGE WAR” (19:00 JST)

Sunday 27th June: “MUTA  the WORLD” (19:00 JST)

*Both events will be broadcast on WrestleUniverse and ABEMA. Subscribers will be able to watch the WrestleUniverse broadcasts, but I am unsure as to whether ABEMA will be broadcasting the events free and worldwide, or due to the use of “Premium” in their names, they will be for subscribers only. If you are outside of Japan I do not recommend that you subscribe to ABEMA due to the difficulties in getting a VPN that works, please subscribe to WrestleUniverse which is a guaranteed VPN free worldwide service.

CAGE WAR

• WrestleUniverse
• ABEMA

MUTA the WORLD

• WrestleUniverse
• ABEMA

LINKS

The young ace who supports NOAH wanders off course, deserted by rivals of the same generation, will he escape from the bottom?

Excerpt from “Inheritance of the soul of Misawa-ism”

Lifting the 350kg tire! The challenge of a “strong and big body” ~ Yoshiki Inamura’s strongman training (part 1)

Tires are the origin of German Suplexes without bumps ~ Interview with Yoshiki Inamura (part 2)

For Mitsuharu Misawa, Naomichi Marufuji was “the only attendant who he was never angry with”

“It’s best to take the belt from Naomichi Marufuji, who has returned to be the face of NOAH” ~ Takashi Sugiura’s special battle in Sendai on the 11th July

At the tip of the retirement plan…”Legendary Man” Mitsuharu Misawa’s thirteenth anniversary

Nine promotions including New Japan, All Japan and NOAH will participate in the “Japanese Pro Wrestling 70th Anniversary Event”

Naomichi Marufuji’s comment on “LEGACY”, the 70th anniversary of Japanese Wrestling event.

Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Masa Kitamiya, 26th June Cage Match with loser loses hair underlies a ten year drama

With thanks to: Metal-NOAH

Picture credits: Pro Wrestling NOAH, Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakajima.