(NOAH) NOAH NEWSLETTER VOL.193 ~ 5TH MARCH 2023

After the retirement of NOSAWA and Keiji Mutoh, it seems someone else is being forced to retire for health concerns! Hisame brings us all of the Emerald Updates!

NEWS

Daisuke Harada announces retirement

NOAH held a press conference/title match signing on the 2nd March, in which Daisuke Harada announced that due to the neck injury that has seen him away from the ring since August 2022, he would be retiring. The decision sadly was come to when investigations in August revealed that Harada was in danger of developing what is known as spinal cord compression (cervical atlantoaxial subluxation), which can cause paralysis, respiratory failure and even death. Harada had no symptoms at all and was still training as much as he could (and with the usual weights he used), although for three months he had to wear a neck brace. Sadly, nothing did any good, and the issue failed to resolve. The specialist called Harada and NOAH’s trainer into his clinic and told them the sad news, Harada would have to retire. Unsurprisingly after an emotional press conference in which Harada announced he would wrestle his final match on Thursday 9th March at Korakuen Hall against his oldest friend and eternal rival, Atsushi Kotoge, he went home and couldn’t stop crying. The other two juniors at the press conference, Hi69 and AMAKUSA, were both visibly moved. Hi69 in particular never attempted to hide the fact and AMAKUSA was lost for words when asked about Harada’s news.

Harada’s final match will be a one minute exhibition match, with the doctor at ringside. The match needs to be short in duration as very sadly now, Harada cannot take any further bumps, so don’t be expecting any top turnbuckle Katayama German Suplexes. Harada himself said he is disappointed to have to retire, but preserving his life is more important. Very sadly he will not be staying on in NOAH, although he was offered the position of a coach or backstage agent. Harada says he had to decline as he knew that it would be hard for him to watch the NOAH Juniors and not be able to join in, but he won’t be abandoning them entirely, he will be watching as a fan. However, President Zeus of the new Osaka Pro, has wondered if Harada might like to come and do some guest commentary, and it is known that (unofficially) Harada did want to make an appearance there, but what Harada will do after retirement remains to be seen.

Related articles

Daisuke Harada, from becoming a professional wrestler until retirement at NOAH’s 9th March Korakuen

“I will write about Harada’s absence up until now” – note by Pro Wrestling NOAH trainer, Kento Nagahama

Daisuke Harada shock retirement, Doctor stop due to neck injury, 9th March retirement match with Kotoge at Korakuen

Kenoh’s fifteen year anniversary

“Maybe every five years; debut as a newcomer, ten years to be fully fledged, 15 years is your mid career, twenty years to be a veteran, and thirty years a legend. There is such an image in pro wrestling.”

Kenoh’s chronology of a pro wrestler.

Kenoh celebrated fifteen years in Pro Wrestling on March 2nd. His goal for his fifteenth anniversary was to celebrate it as GHC Heavyweight Champion, which sadly he was not able to do. As is customary for a “mid career” anniversary, Kenoh will be holding his own show, which will take place in his hometown of Tokushima, Shikoku (aka “this fucking countryside”) on 24th June. No card has been announced as of yet, and Kenoh has hinted he will give details on his YouTube channel. But when asked about the handshake with his Michinoku Pro rival, Hayato “Jnr” Fujita, who has been calling for a match with Kenoh, Kenoh said coyly that he is “still waiting to hear from him about that”

Kitamiya no show, enter Inamura

Following on from the friction between the Kensuke Office boys (Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kento Miyahara and Masa Kitamiya), Miyahara demanded that Masa Kitamiya come to All Japan’s event on the 27th February, dressed in a suit and apologize formally to him for not greeting him. Kensuke Office was very strict on this, and his former “errand boy” broke the rules. It may be best that Miyahara doesn’t know what Kitamiya was saying about him on commentary. Anyway, the 27th came and Masa Kitamiya did not show up.

But, whenever someone throws down for NOAH, Yoshiki Inamura will answer the call, and that is exactly what happened. Inamura came to the ring and told Miyahara (loudly) that time had moved on and the new generation of NOAH wasn’t just Kitamiya, it was himself, Yoshiki Inamura and if Miyahara wanted a fight then Inamura would give him one. Miyahara (calling Masa Kitamiya by his real name “Mitsuhiro”) said that Kitamiya didn’t show up because he was scared, and therefore he had sent Inamura in his place. Inamura said he came of his own accord. Miyahara kind of liked this, and said that Inamura sure did know who to attack in All Japan and as he had come here on his own accord, he would give him a match. But, he had his own stipulation, Masa Kitamiya comes with him as a second. Miyahara had earlier said that Kitamiya had grown conceited and needed to be taken down a few pegs. The match has been set for March 14th in Shinjuku. Miyahara said sarcastically after their confrontation that this could turn into “NOAH vs Miyahara”, although probably he basically wants revenge on Katsuhiko Nakajima and Masa Kitamiya above all.

Related articles

Inamura makes a sudden appearance, and requests a match against Miyahara. One on one match in Shinjuku on 14th March decided.

Inamura makes a sudden appearance, and requests a match against Miyahara. One on one match in Shinjuku on 14th March decided.

ELSEWHERE IN NOAH

– Kaito Kiyomiya revealed in a recent interview that his post title match treat is to go out and basically eat whatever he wants. He listed ramen, hamburgers and candy, which he would stuff himself with to the point of “not being able to move”.

– Since his retirement, Keiji Mutoh is feeling a lot better and his injury has gotten a lot better. He ran into Tomoaki Honma in a local gym, and then said he fled quickly from him when he heard that Honma had been cheering for him until he was hoarse at his retirement match.

– Kenoh says that he and Manabu Soya will no longer he challenging for the All Japan World Tag Titles thanks to President Suwama bursting in and attacking one of the champions with a chair and demanding that the Voodoo Murders come before Kongoh. Suwama said Kenoh was “talking stupid”

– Junta Miyawai has returned to Mexico following his loss at the Mutoh retirement show. He says he will swallow down that bitter pill and return stronger.

– Naomichi Marufuji and the now retired NOSAWA Rongai made one of their annual road trips to Shizuoka to attend a physiotherapy treatment clinic. Marufuji posted a picture to his Instagram with an arrow pointing to NOSAWA saying, “Retired, but still in need of maintenance”. NOSAWA at that time was photographed smoking and looking out of the window following their traditional stop over meal of eel.

– Satoshi Kojima has left NOAH for the time being. Takashi Sugiura demanded to know if “our love was just a contract” and then likened himself to being “Koji’s gigolo” in that case.

CURRENT CHAMPIONS

• GHC Heavyweight Champion: Kaito Kiyomiya
  Challenger: Jake Lee, Great Voyage in Yokohama, Yokohama Budokan, 19th March
• GHC Junior Champion: AMAKUSA
  Challenger: Hi69, Star Navigation 2023, Korakuen Hall, 9th March
• 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: TBA

THIS WEEK IN NOAH

Thursday 9th March

STAR NAVIGATION 2023

Start time: 18:30 JST

ABEMA (free, but no replays in viewing. Overseas fans please do not subscribe to ABEMA, WrestleUniverse is a far better investment)

WrestleUniverse (subscribers only, English commentary)

ARTICLES

“I’ll take the belt and let him rest” Jake Lee to Kiyomiya, the GHC champion who lost to Okada

Pro Wrestler Kaito Kiyomiya, “I even got a tomaro funamori on my birthday” (laughs) – the gap between strength and pure face is cute. Showing episodes of bonds with fans.

Kaito Kiyomiya, who lost against Okadam reveals his intentions! Change in social media that was full of slander.

GHC Junior match signing ceremony: AMAKUSA’S tears at Harada’s retirement reveal determination to “reach a new peak”, Hi69 declares realization of “two great desires”

“You are talking stupid”, SUWAMA about Kenoh’s declaration of a break, the tyrant boasts of Mutoh-ism

Kenoh declares a break with All Japan, “All Japan’s business doesn’t go up because Managing Director Suwama does things like this”

NOAH FROM THE VAULT

Transcript of NOAH’s very first press conference (July 2000)

“Donmai, Donmai” – Mitsuharu Misawa’s diary

With thanks to: Metal-NOAH

Image credits: NOAH.co.jp, BBM Sports, Pro Wrestling DX, Naomichi Marufuji