NOAH returned to Korakuen Hall for the first time in a while. Fans were back in attendance and there was a buzz around the arena. Check out the preview here.
The show aired free on Abema. The event will be free to view until next Saturday. After that, the show should appear on Wrestle Universe.
So how did NOAH’S first show with fans go? Let’s take a look.
Match 1:
Kinya Okada
vs
Yoshiki Inamura
Two of the most inexperienced members of NOAH’S roster had the honour of opening their first match back in front of fans.
This match was a good little showcase of the two men. Okada tried to target Inamura’s arms. That didn’t work see he switched to targeting his legs and he had more luck. Okada used some submissions which he is starting to implement into his style.
Inamura was using his power as he is the bigger of the two men. Using clubbing forearms to hit Okada in the chest.
In the end Inamura one with the Boston Crab and unfortunately for Okada he couldn’t last long against it
Okada continues to show great promise as he did during the New Hope series. Inamura also looks good here as he continues to grow.
Winner: Yoshiki Inamura via a Boston Crab
Match 2:
Katsuhiko Nakajima, Mohammed Yone, Shuhei Taniguchi
vs
FULL THROTTLE (Atsushi Kotoge, Hajime Ohara, Seiki Yoshioka)
Even during the entrances, you knew this was going to be a fun match. Kotoge came down and was his hyper self. While Nakajima couldn’t stop grinning as he made his way to the ring with the National title over his shoulder. I think he was over the moon that the fans were back.
Before the bell rung, Kotoge was winding up Yoshioka by proclaiming he was the leader before chanting it and getting the crowd on his side with him. There are still some growing pains with FULL THROTTLE like who is the leader. Once that is sorted then they should be a great addition to the junior power struggle.
The match its self was really good. We got interactions that we have seen maybe only glimpses of. In particular, Ohara vs Taniguchi was interesting. A match we wouldn’t normally see. Ohara did well using his technical skills to keep the more powerful Taniguchi on the ground.
One of the biggest talking points was when Yoshioka went for a springboard moonsault but overshot it and landed into the commentary team. He profusely apologized after getting a telling off by one of the commentators.
We also got a glimpse of Nakajima vs Yoshioka which was good. Both engaged in a kicking battle due to their training. It would be interesting to see them square off in a singles match.
In the end, Nakajima hit the Vertical Spike on Ohara for the win.
Winner: Katsuhiko Nakajima wins after the Vertical Spike
Match 3:
Elimination Tag
Stinger (HAYATA, Kotaro Suzuki, Yoshinari Ogawa)
vs
Daisuke Harada, Tadasuke, YO-HEY
A preview match to the title matches between the six men the next day.
The first elimination happened only 2 minutes into the match as Tadasuke rolled up Ogawa to get the quick elimination. Ogawa is naturally outraged and argued with the referee.
We then get a preview of Suzuki vs YO-HEY as both enter the ring. The two square off. We get a 5-minute preview of tomorrows GHC Junior heavyweight title match. Surprisingly YO-HEY manages to eliminate Suzuki after hitting the FACIAL G.
So after 7 minutes, it’s down to the former Ratels vs the traitor HAYATA.
They team up against HAYATA using the numbers to their advantage. Eventually, HAYATA manages to fight back. He eliminates YO-HEY via top rope elimination. He also eliminates Tadasuke via a roll-up to leave just HAYATA and Harada.
In the end Harada pins HAYATA after hitting the Katayama German Suplex.
After the match Ogawa throws a bottle of water at Harada and a brawl broke out. Tensions were high for the title matches the next day.
Winner. Daisuke Harada after Katayama German Suplex.
Match 4:
Sugiura Army (Takashi Sugiura, Kaz Hayashi, Kendo Kashin, Kazushi Sakuraba, NOSAWA Rongai)
vs
Kongoh (Kenoh, Masa Kitamiya, Hao, Nio, Manabu Soya)
A big 5 v 5 match here.
Kongoh enters all together while the Sugiura Army interestingly enter separately. Rongai, Kashin and Hayashi enter together. Sakuraba enter next before Sugiura enters last.
Kashin tries to gain Sugiura’s trust by holding the rope open for him but Sugiura still isn’t sure of him.
This match is chaotic as you would expect. We saw Sugiura square off against Masa Kitamiya. These two face on the January 4th show for the National title. Both men doing big shoulder tackles trying to knock each other down.
We had the juniors squaring off against each other. Kashin was causing chaos. He had thrown a chair in the ring during his entrance and wanted to throw more in. Hayashi and NOSAWA managed to hold him off. Sugiura had to tell NOSAWA to keep his eye on him.
We saw Sakuraba and Kenoh square off which was fun. Both have martial arts training and it made for some fun little moments between them.
In the end, Sugiura hit Nioh with the Olympic slam for the victory.
Winner: Takashi Sugiura after the Olympic slam
Main event:
Go Shiozaki & Katio Kiyomiya
vs
M Alliance (Naomichi Marufuji & Keiji Mutoh)
Main event time and a ton happened during and after the match.
Weirdly enough Marufuji enters then Kiyomiya, then Mutoh before Shiozaki enters last.
Kiyomiya only had eyes for Mutoh in this match. He started at Mutoh while he made his entrance.
Kiyomiya starts the match off with Mutoh. Mutoh managed to have the upper hand for a while. Kiyomiya took his time and got the upper hand eventually. Then he started to go to work on Mutoh. Not taking it easy on him.
Shiozaki saw very little ring time with Mutoh as Kiyomiya wanted him all to himself,
We saw Shiozaki vs Marufuji which is always good. A lot of really hard chops, knees and lariats between them. At the start, Shiozaki didn’t even flinch when Marufuji chopped him which was a great little moment.
At the end of the match, Mutoh had Kiyomiya in a leg lock using the ropes as leverage to inflict more pain. Marufuji debuted a new finisher called the True Tiger King and it was enough to put Shiozaki away.
Winner: Naomichi Marufuji after the True Tiger King
After the match Naomichi Marufuji challenged Shiozaki to a title match proclaiming he is the real NOAH. Kiyomiya also challenged Mutoh to a match on August 10th. Mutoh agreed as long as both test negative for Coronavirus.
Marufuji vs Shiozaki was made for NOAH DEPARTURE DAY 2. Which will take place on August 5th. This is the first time they have clashed for the GHC Heavyweight Championship.
Conclusion
A good show back in front of fans for NOAH. Two future matches were set up. Including a world championship match. None of the matches were too long. That was a complaint that some people had during the no fans shows. NOAH’S next show was the day after on Sunday. That shall air on the 26th of July, so I shall be back to review it soon.