Mitchell's Talking Smack Report! (1/2/21)
The first Talking Smack of the new year!
The first Talking Smack of 2021 is GLORIOUS!
After wrecking the Street Profits' New Year Smoketacular, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode want to talk some smack! What will they say about their 2021 plans?
Kayla Braxton welcomes us back to the show!
A Happy New Year to us all, and SmackDown had a great start to 2021! Paul Heyman's handkerchief- Um, no, this is a pocket square. Sorry, the pocket square matches Kayla's lipstick so this show is already off to a great start, too. Kayla doesn't understand male fashion sometimes. Women's suits don't have things like pockets. Did she get hers from the Freddie Blassie estate? Does she not like Blassie? Does she know who he is? Kayla moves on to the show, and talks New Year's Resolutions. Has Heyman made any?
What an interesting question. Heyman is oddly surprised, but says he has made resolutions. "More ambitious opponents for the Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, unlike Kevin Owens, because Kevin Owens is handcuffed, pun intended, to mediocrity." That will be Kevin's legacy: mediocrity. And he has no one to blame but himself! Kevin could've been great, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and a legend in the business, but he messed with the wrong Big Dog and got bit. "Kevin Owens just doesn't learn."
Heyman uses an old saying that's pretty much everywhere, and one of the best lines not written by Heyman. To paraphrase, "If you come at your Tribal Chief, you best not miss. Kevin Owens missed. Whiffed. Struck out." And now Kevin will learn his legacy is not as a great, not as a legend, though it should've been. Kevin's legacy will be as someone who came up against Roman Reigns and learned the most painful lesson of all: The Island of Relevancy belongs to Roman Reigns, and Kevin Owens is just not welcomed. Powerful words, and another powerful ending to SmackDown. Kayla is hoping Kevin makes a speedy recovery. Kayla knows Jey Uso is a guest tonight and she has some hard-hitting questions. Is she saying Jey's not man enough to answer them? We'll have to wait and see.
Now, Carmella pinned Sasha Banks on SmackDown and could get another title shot, while Daniel Bryan and Otis beat Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura. Bryan is planning to win the Royal Rumble, is a fan favorite at this point, but perhaps he could take it all. Heyman says everyone wants to win and take on Roman Reigns. The Rock, Daniel Bryan, whoever. In or out of WWE, you are paying attention to the single biggest star in this industry. If you're not zeroing in on Roman during WrestleMania season, then you're not ambitious enough. But use Kevin Owens as an example of what could happen if you try to take from the Tribal Chief. Time will tell, but now it's time for our first guests!
Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode join Talking Smack!
The Dirty Dawgs are back on Talking Smack, and Heyman accuses Kayla of using Ziggler's ringtone joke. But Kayla says that while there was a brutal attack to end SmackDown, Roode & Ziggler also brutally attacked the Street Profits. They said that they're going after the tag team titles one way or another. Kayla is breaking the news right here, the Profits have accepted the challenger, and the title match is happening next Friday! Ziggler says this is very deserved. And Ziggler apologizes for how intense he and Roode were in that backstage interview because they were angry with the Profits.
The Profits have been skating by. They're well liked and entertaining. But say you were at some other job, like a regional manager at some company, and you were being told you were the best, you want to move up, but they can't lose you at the position you're in. So that means you need to do something on your own, out of the box, what you're "destined" to do. That is what they did to the Profits tonight. Roode says that what happened tonight was deserved. How many times do the Dirty Dawgs have to be the butt of the joke? It's all about fun and putting smiles on faces. The Profits are one of the best teams at that.
But that's not what Roode and Ziggler are about. They're about being the best, being the top of the card. The attack was well-deserved. Kayla apologizes for her wording of saying it was "unprovoked." She is a fan of the Profits, but she can understand the jokes they were making at Ziggler's expense would be upsetting. Of course. Shawn Michaels has been compared to Ziggler a lot in their careers, and ever since Ziggler invented the Superkick, that doesn't just mean the character they live their lives upon any less. "If you're awesome at something, you get compared." Maybe one day when Ziggler is retired and feeble, working behind the scenes, people will compare others to Ziggler.
But that's not now. Right now, Ziggler and Roode do what they want when they want. And this wasn't unprovoked. They're sick of being the butts of jokes, they're here to show everyone how damn good they are. Kayla brings up how Heyman admires and respects the Profits, but with Ziggler & Roode going after the titles, what predictions will he make? Heyman does not make predictions, he gives spoilers, but there are no spoilers here because he has no inside word.
But Heyman is a fan of the Profits, and with respect to Roode & Ziggler, the attack was neither provoked or deserved, but it was successful. It got the Profits to give Ziggler & Roode the championship match, which is what they wanted. If you want to complain about it, don't blame them, blame Adam Pearce or whoever makes matches around here for rewarding the ruthlessness of the challengers. And now the Profits are going to be on the downside of another beating because they only have six days to prepare for a very capable tag team.
Kayla asks what the New Year's Resolution is for Ziggler & Roode, but it's obvious that it's to be tag team champions. Ziggler says Kayla steals milk, jokes, resolutions, maybe she'll be taking the titles instead. Maybe Heyman will be her tag partner. Ziggler says it's always a treat being on this show, and they head out.
Billie Kay joins Talking Smack!
The Femme Fatale has her resume and headshot as she scoots in next to Mr. Paul Heyman. They shake hands, she wishes everyone Happy New Year's, and then hands her resume over. How many of those has she printed out? Careful having that on camera, people might see that. Billie has a pen from Corey Graves that she'll use to update some things, too. Kayla asks about the confusion on SmackDown. Billie couldn't/didn't find a tag team partner for her match but Tamina and Natalya teamed up instead. Somehow this was part of her plan? But then she switches sides to be with the winners, the Riott Squad. What is the plan?
First off, great recap. Then, Billie says she has experience as both a tag team partner and a manager, so she wanted to offer help wherever she can. Whether that's Riott Squad, Natty & Tamina, or someone else entirely, that's what she'll do. Does she know what "hopping on the bandwagon" means? That's what that felt like. Oh, right, okay. But NO, and Billie doesn't appreciate what Kayla is implying, as well as the tone of how she's saying it. So sassy in 2021! New year, new Kayla, apparently. But Billie shows off her new shirt, Shades of Kay. Zoom in, get this on WWE Shop. Numerous quantities to Heyman. Kayla says Billie is great and is excited to see what 2021 holds, so what is her resolution?
Billie has a few in the works. But first, she wants to be a two-time Women's Tag Team Champion and that would solidify her. She wants to work towards that, and she just signed up for gymnastics lessons to learn how to do the splits. She might be even more agile and flexible now. Well that's great! Wasn't another resolution being on WWE's The Bump? That's happening, not that Kayla knew, but Matt Camp made it happen. Billie will thank Camp, not Kayla. But they can talk about this more on The Bump. Billie is in high demand, and has to get going.
Jey Uso joins Talking Smack!
Heyman and Jey shake hands and bring it in, and Heyman tells Jey how proud he is of him. Jey takes his seat and Kayla asks if it's alright, she wants to dive into the pretty serious questions she has, and she is sure the fans have. This is a warning that some questions might not be to their liking, but she hopes they answer the best that they can. Did she write these herself? Yes. Jey says fire away. Kayla starts with, "Every time Roman Reigns has successfully defended his Universal title, it's because you've interfered." The question is, does the credit of this reign go to Roman or to Jey? Jey says that that's a very simple question to answer.
But Heyman wants to say his part as just the cohost, not as the Special Counsel to Roman Reigns, he is an associate and friend with the entire family since he was 15 years old. He's known the family longer than Roman and Jey were born. So though Heyman isn't Special Counsel, but if he was, he would advise Jey that with that question, respectfully plead the fifth. The fifth? Wow, yeah, that's smart. Fifth Amendment! Heyman apologizes to Kayla and promises to sit the rest of these out. He also apologizes to the rest of the Talking Smack crew, this is Kayla's moment and we have 51 more weeks to do. Heyman will stay quiet.
Kayla asks Jey answer this next one then. "On SmackDown, Kevin Owens clearly got the upper-hand over you until Roman came out. Do you truly believe that your individual success is because of your talent? Or by the power yielded by your cousin, Roman Reigns?" Jey says "coming up from the sandbox," this is real. Heyman breaks his promise and speaks up, praising how great of a question that was from Kayla. Heyman pokes fun but damn it, Kayla, Charly, the other lady who isn't here anymore, all of them together, Kayla is the best! How Kayla isn't District Attorney somewhere…! Oh, and plead the fifth.
Kayla says this should probably just stop if this is going to continue. Jey apologizes, and promises Paul won't speak this time. Jey puts it on his family, he is here to answer questions. But Kayla is going to address them both. She respects them both, and wishes they would do the same. Heyman apologizes and takes his earpiece out. Kayla just wants to do her job with the best questions she can come up with and hopes for answers. She is a professional, so maybe they'll just cut this short. Jey says everyone needs to chill. Heyman turns around and Kayla asks her third question. But we're running short on time…
Jey says that was excellent! Why do they call Jey "Main Event Uso?" Call McIntyre, because Jey got him! Call Bryan, because Jey got him! Call Kevin, because if you watched SmackDown, "GOTEEEEM!"
A pretty fast moving Talking Smack with a very good ending. Ziggler and Roode showing up seemed like a formality, there wasn't much more that needed to be said, but it was great to have breaking news in that segment. I feel like if there's any time for the Dirty Dawgs to take those titles, it's this next attempt, or else they don't look like a strong tag team at all. You can only come close to winning so many times, so they need to win to help bring things further along into the year and towards the Royal Rumble. Billie's segment was fun, but not much was said other than Billie has some strange master plan that she probably hasn't even fully created.
Jey's segment was probably the best, because nothing much was said. Heyman was of course going to keep Jey from answering those prying questions Kayla had, not that Jey would speak ill against Roman at this point anyway. This segment did a lot to add to Jey's character given his interaction with Heyman, and how fired up he was listing off who he went after on behalf of Roman. I feel like they should have Jey Uso enter the Rumble just so he can make sure someone from SmackDown doesn't win. And he can just shout "GOTEEE!" with every elimination he pulls off, until whoever it is that will win throws him out. It could even be Jey and Bryan as the last two to tease it being between Finger Poke of Doom 2021 or a real match of Roman VS Bryan.
Related Topics:Billie KayDirty DawgsDolph ZigglerFeaturedFeatured BigJey UsoKayla BraxtonPaul HeymanRobert RoodeTalking SmackWWE
News From Cook's Corner 1.4.21: NDCQ
Mitchell's Raw Talk Report! (12/28/20)
NOAH ends November with some big announcements! Returns, new debuts and surprising challenges!
Hi5ame
Masa Kitamiya challenges Masato Tanaka
Following the tag match against Masato Tanaka and Shoki Kitamura in ZERO-ONE on the 20th November, Masa Kitamiya challenged Masato Tanaka for the ZERO-ONE World Heavyweight. Kitamiya said he wanted the belt for two reasons – one was because Masato Tanaka had the belt, and secondly because he felt that his eleventh year in wrestling had been a sad one. The match will take place at Korakuen Hall on the 1st January, the same day that NOAH at the Nippon Budokan, so Kitamiya will be wrestling two matches that day with ZERO-ONE taking place before NOAH. Kitamiya is determined to enter The Nippon Budokan as champion.
Akitoshi Saito remembers Bison Smith
Akitoshi Saito made a touching tribute to his old partner on the anniversary of his passing, by winning the match with the Iron Claw slam. Backstage he remembered "the blue eyed samurai" by recalling their last conversation, and saying that he felt Bison was with him and had given his approval for Saito to team with Yone.
Perros Del Mal De Japon Farewell
Perros Del Mal De Japon made their final appearance as a unit in Yoyogi on November 23rd. They were accompanied to the ring by Kotaro Suzuki (who may not be appearing in NOAH following The Tokyo Gurentai produce due to his contract expiring) and Ikuto Hidaka. Neither of them got involved too much in the match.
Yoshinari Ogawa came to the ring with a Singapore cane slung over his shoulder, while his partners also brandished weapons, Kai Fujimura had a baseball bat and Yasutaka Yano carried a trash can. The match was as you would expect; the first time everyone got counted out, the second time ended in a count out when the young boys got Perros counted out (Ogawa had left in disgust by this time) and when he came back, the match lasted 11 minutes and 36 seconds, and ended when NOSAWA decided to assault the referee. Ogawa took everyone out with a trash can lid before leaving. He had also managed to hit Kotaro on the head earlier, but concentrated his attack on NOSAWA and Eita. When Ogawa had gone, Perros bade farewell to each other, but their war with Ogawa wasn't over as both Eita and NOSAWA will have singles match with him. NOSAWA'S match will be on the 14th in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, while Eita's will be on the 23rd at the N-INNOVATION. Kotaro Suzuki was a little irritated that he didn't get a singles match, which NOSAWA completely ignored, but he will have a singles match himself against Eita on the 20th.
MaruKen reunite to challenge for the GHC Heavyweight Tag Titles
Naomichi Marufuji pinned Takashi Sugiura in Yoyogi and therefore won the right to challenge the tag champions. With Masakatsu Funaki and Masaaki Mochizuki hanging over the ropes offering their hands as partners, Marufuji announced to the uproar of the crowd and the disbelief of Takashi Sugiura (whose reaction was akin to "Who? Are you fucking kidding me?") that he would be challenging with KENTA. Backstage, Marufuji was not too sure that KENTA would accept the offer, but he did and the match has been set for the Nippon Budokan on New Year's Day.
To explain for the newer fans, during their NOAH Junior days, KENTA and Marufuji were in a much beloved junior tag team known as MaruKen, they hold the record for the longest title reign as a junior team and they also broke down the rules for juniors fighting heavyweights as Misawa allowed them to challenge for the GHC Heavyweight Tag Titles. As a team they never had a falling out that led to their split, they just drifted apart as Marufuji noted in "Heir To The Ark" and went to do their own things and over time they became rivals. Now they reunite as heavyweights.
AMAKUSA challenges Dante Leon
AMAKUSA made a silent challenge to Dante Leon for the GHC Junior Heavyweight following their match in Yoyogi. The way the match went gave fans the impression that Alejandro might be the one to challenge, but in the end it was Amakusa who pointed silently at the belt. Title challenge will main event the N-Innovation on the 23rd December.
Kenoh & Kaito Kiyomiya
Kaito Kiyomiya overcame Kenoh in their second pre match, and taking the microphone he stood over him and said that Kenoh had just been overcome by the guy who he was saying "was just trying his best", and what did that say about Kenoh? Kiyomiya told him it meant he "was all mouth". Their next pre match is on the 14th December.
It has been announced that the team of Great Muta, Sting and Darby Allin will team together at Great Muta's final match on the 22nd January at the Yokohama Arena. Allin had been tagging with Sting when Muta materialized on the 23rd September to save Sting from Buddy Matthews. There has been no mention as to who will be their opponents, but it is thought that Matthews may be involved as he has a score to settle.
YO-HEY & Kzy challenge for the GHC Junior Tag Titles
Tag championships can be volatile belts and tend to suffer more backwards and forwards than singles belts do at times. This was the story when Atsushi Kotoge and Seiji Yoshioka managed to take the belts back from The Kongoh Juniors in Yoyogi. This was the Kongoh Junior's first defense, and Hajime Ohara and Shuji Kondo, had only held the belts for thirteen days. Following their title win, the next threat came from their own unit, as YO-HEY challenged for the belts with DragonGate's Kzy as his partner.
"I'm in a disappointing situation with no results to speak of at all. To overcome this situation, I want the belt. With the belt in hand, I can reach even higher heights. I want to do this, so please let me challenge for the tag belt next".
Title match will take place on the 23rd December at the N-Innovation.
Yoshiki Inamura fails to capture his first singles belt, but succeeds in other ways
Yoshiki Inamura failed to win his first singles gold when El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Junior used his experience (the part which he and Inamura were not well matched in, and I doubt Wagner Jnr has ever had anyone throw him around after catching him following a dive) to retain the gold. Inamura had wanted to win this belt to usher in his own era of NOAH, which would be separate to Kiyomiya's (yet I think would also rival his, as Inamura would kind of be more the leader of the younger generation, which Kiyomiya knows is rising up to threaten him), and he would stand next to him and not below him as champion. Inamura might have failed in his attempt to win his first singles belt, but as Tokyo Sports said, he most definitely gave birth to his era.
ELSEWHERE IN NOAH
– Shuhei Taniguchi had his best match in a long time when he and Hideki Suzuki fought to a referee stop in Yoyogi. Fans want to see a round two.
– For some reason the wrestling promotions (and not the MMA companies) were told to come to Antonio Inoki's memorial on the 24th November at 11am instead of 1pm, someone said this could be a prank that Inoki had set up. Prank or not, in something practically unheard of NOAH (Kenoh, Yoshiki Inamura, Satoshi Kojima, Kaito Kiyomiya, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Takashi Sugiura), New Japan and All Japan, plus some staff members, went to have something eat and drink and all sat down and talked for two hours. Inoki's final wake will be held on March 7th at Ryogoku Kokugikan, what form this will take has not been announced, but it will be a fan event. In Shinto, the deceased are mourned and funeral services are held for forty-nine days following death, the final day is a day of celebration and farewells, when the mourning period is over and the deceased can finally leave earth and cross to the afterlife. It has been said that Inoki will be sharing a beer with Giant Baba.
– Takashi Sugiura's pants stayed on when he met up with Kenta Kobashi and had some drinks…which is more than can be said about when he visited Akira Taue's restaurant, and got drunk with Go Shiozaki.
– Kazuyuki Fujita said in his Weekly Pro yearbook profile, that he liked drinking highballs on the Shinkansen.
– Yoshiki Inamura and Kaito Kiyomiya summon Alejandro
EVENT RECAPS AND POST MATCH PROMOS
NOAH THE BEST 2022 – WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23RD, NATIONAL YOYOGI STADIUM 2ND GYMNASIUM
Post match interviews
CURRENT CHAMPIONS
GHC Heavyweight Champion: Kaito Kiyomiya
Challenger: Kenoh, ABEMA presents NOAH "THE NEW YEAR" 2023 (Saturday January 1st, Nippon Budokan)
GHC Junior Champion: Dante Leon
Challenger: AMAKUSA, N Innovation (Friday December 23rd, Shinjuku Face)
GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions: KojiSugi (Satoshi Kojima & Takashi Sugiura)
Challengers: MaruKen (Naomichi Marufuji and KENTA), ABEMA presents NOAH "THE NEW YEAR" 2023 (Saturday January 1st, Nippon Budokan)
GHC Junior Tag Champions: The NOAH Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge & Seiki Yoshioka)
Challengers: YO-HEY & Kzy, N Innovation (Friday December 23rd, Shinjuku Face)
GHC National Champion: El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr
Challenger: TBA, NOAH the BEST 2022 (Wednesday November 23rd National Yoyogi Stadium 2nd Gymnasium)
THIS WEEK IN NOAH
(December 2022 schedule)
Wednesday, December 7th: Kinya Okada debut anniversary (4 years)
"Inside of me there is a "good" Keiji Mutoh and a "bad" Keiji Mutoh" – enthusiasm and conflict for Keiji Mutoh's last run
"It was a sad eleventh year…" momentum to seize the belt in the Zero-One New Year's Day title match
"We can make it a connection", Kondo is "Marmalade brother?!" – Interview with Hajime Ohara just before the Junior Tag Defense match
GHC Junior Tag Match Signing: Ohara "Thigh Raise & Anya Words". Yoshioka emphasizes that, "If I lose, hit rock bottom"
GHC National Match Signing: Japan-Mexico same generation clash: Wagner Jnr "Create A New History", Inamura "Create A New NOAH"
"Take the belt and stand in the same position as Kiyomiya!" – Interview with Yoshiki Inamura before his challenge for the GHC National Championship
Recapture for the first time in two weeks with "Baggio Spirit", Interview with Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka ahead of the Yoyogi Junior Tag Match
WEEKLY PRO ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS
Coach points out! What is the current situation of young people as seen by Ogawa through the "Mauritius Cup?"
"Donmai, Donmai" – Mitsuharu Misawa's diary
GIF credit: WrestleUniverse
With thanks to: Metal-NOAH
NOAH coverage still going strong! A few title changes and defenses keeps things interesting heading toward the end of the year!
Kongoh Juniors finally win gold, Atsushi Kotoge demands a rematch
Shuji Kondo and his perpetually terrified partner, Hajime Ohara, ended a long losing streak for the Kongoh Juniors and finally won a title for their unit, when Seiki Yoshioka tapped to Hajime Ohara's Muy Bien. Ohara's reward from Kondo was to be kicked in the head repeatedly. When Ohara did get to his feet, Atsushi Kotoge was asking for a rematch, something the champions later granted, although Ohara did initially shove the belt in Kotoge's face and tell him to beat it. The titles will be defended on the 23rd November at the National Yoyogi Stadium 2nd Gymnasium. There will be no pre match.
Dante Leon wins his first Noah title, the GHC Junior
In a match which was half American style and half Noah style, Dante Leon beat Ninja Mack for the GHC Junior, and won his first title in Noah. Unfortunately, due to HAYATA'S injury Ninja Mack's reign was not as it should have been, so I would imagine that at some point in the future he will be given a longer run. No challenger has come forward as of yet to challenge Dante Leon.
Funky fail, but respect earned
Funky Express lost their challenge for the GHC Heavyweight Tag titles when Takashi Sugiura choked Akitoshi Saito out and the referee stopped the match. It was a heartbreaking loss for the challengers who were visibly moved. They have may have lost in their attempt, but in the eyes of fans, they gained something far more important, respect. Long seen as a comedy unit who worked the openers, Disco Dancing, Funkiness, King Tany, discussions of a giant belt made for four (funded by Masao Inoue's piggybank according to Aki), things have changed with the departure of members and Saito and Yone managed to turn themselves into credible challengers.
Funaki's warning comes true, El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr becomes the GHC National Champion
When El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr, Masakatsu Funaki had foreboding about the challenge. Kazushi Sakuraba he could handle as Sakuraba was known to him, it was also the case with his previous challengers as while he may not have known Simon Gotch prior to the match, he was aware that Gotch was of a similar skillset. El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Junior was not. Funaki spoke of other difficulties too aside from him being a luchadore in that he also outweighed him and was younger than him too. All these factors combined on the night with Wagner Jnr's ability, for the title to change hands. Wagner Jnr was laying out the Mexican flag in the ring to add the belt to it, when his next challenger, Yoshiki Inamura appeared at ringside. Inamura got straight to the point, saying he was here to challenge. El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr accepted, and the two will fight on the 23rd November at the National Yoyogi Stadium 2nd Gymnasium.
Yoshiki Inamura gave a small interview about his challenge, and he touched on the subject of Kaito Kiyomiya. Inamura stated that although Kiyomiya is younger than him, he is still his senior, which has been a factor in Inamura wanting a singles belt too. Inamura says this will be "standing next to Kiyomiya, not beneath him".
Kaito Kiyomiya retains against Thatcher, Kenoh back again
In a match that was to atone for the title match against Kazuyuki Fujita, (which I don't think Kiyomiya was very happy with), he faced a trial by fire when the GHC Heavyweight was defended against Timothy Thatcher. In his previous title reign, when he was being challenged by Naomichi Marufuji, Marufuji had told him that he was going to take him apart bit by bit, which was what Thatcher did. Kiyomiya had to get the win on momentum by dropping a few Transformed Shining Wizards, because everything he did Thatcher reversed into the dreaded armbar. Kenoh had been on commentary and as soon as he saw the result, removed his headset, and came down to the ring to challenge.
"Hey, Kiyomiya, you did your best in today's title match too. Just! You "just" tried your best. Even elementary school students can "just" do their best. So, what are you left with today? What can you create? What can Noah create? On January 1st at the Nippon Budokan, The Great Muta vs Shinsuke Nakamura has taken the subject from the champion, and what are you doing? Working hard? You can't win with just that! Muta vs Shinsuke Nakamura…who can win in terms of the subject…Brock Lesnar, Dwayne Johnson…The Rock. No, it's The Rock and me, Kenoh! Well, I know that I'm no match for Rock, but I have that kind of will! I will save Noah from danger. It's not Muta vs Nakamura. I will challenge you for your belt, and I'll take away the topic!"
Kiyomiya responded,
"Maybe, I am just trying my best. But what will you create? I will create a new Noah! So you and I, let's fight for real! I don't want to lose anything on social media or by transmission, so please, fight all out against me."
Kenoh
"January 1st, Nippon Budokan, you are not the one who will surpass Muta vs Shinsuke Nakamura. I will exceed by myself, and the one who will take this belt is me, Kenoh!"
*Title match has been set for The Nippon Budokan on the 1st January 2023.
The first pre match took place at the Noah/Dragon Gate event the next day. The main event was not as wild as the rest of the show had been, but it did culminate in Kiyomiya being pinned by Kenoh, and a picture of that moment appearing on the front cover of "Weekly Pro".
Noah vs Dragon Gate
Aside from the main event as mentioned above, the event saw;
– NOSAWA Rongai getting pinged by plastic
– Satoshi Kojima as the mystery opponent of Hollywood Stalker Ichikawa. Kojima said the match was for HAYATA, who he hopes gets well soon and returns to Noah.
– Kenoh describing partner Kouta Minoura as "cute". Which is probably the first time Kenoh has ever described anyone ever as that.
– H.Y.O said he wants a singles match with Ninja Mack. Otherwise he was not impressed with Noah overall.
– Shun Skywalker finally snap when teaming with Tadasuke. In usual frenetic style, Tadasuke tried to get Shun to do his corner camera spot, and ended up dragging him over. Things steadily went downhill from there.
– YAMATO beat Seiki Yoshioka, but was full of praise for him.
– YO-HEY danced with Natural Vibes on entry, and although dancing cannot have been easy in that heavy coat, he loved it. Daisuke Harada says he is obsessed and cannot stop watching!
Noah Tryouts
Katsuhiko Nakajima and Naomichi Marufuji (alongside Xtreme Tiger) have appeared in both New York and San Francisco for Pro Wrestling Revolution and King of The Indies 2022. They stopped over in San Jose, California, to hold tryouts. Two lucky wrestlers were chosen, who will now come to Japan and train in the dojo and appear in Noah. Marufuji said they were very overcome, and he saw tears. I am afraid I do not have the names of the winners.
– Kenoh will appear at the Yokohama Corsairs game on the 19th November to fire a t-shirt gun (bazooka).
– Kaito Kiyomiya has posted some, shall we say, steamy pictures on his Instagram. One involved him bare-chested and toweling his hair, the other one was being naked save for a necklace while sitting in a bath. Fortunately, he did not reveal all, but the picture was certainly close to being south of the border.
– Yoshiki Inamura celebrated his 30th birthday on the 18th November. Work never stopped during the day as he was giving interviews on his upcoming title challenge, but in the evening he was taken to the Ribera Steakhouse, and given a green jacket.
– Kaito Kiyomiya had an audition for Ninja Warrior.
– During the title match, Dante Leon stole ring announcer G-Man's chair from under him. G-Man got his revenge by posting a picture of Leon sitting and watching TV, his back to the camera and completely unaware, as G-Man's hand advanced on him threateningly.
– Satoshi Kojima said their team name was now "Takajima" because he had given "Satoshi" to Mohammed Yone. Sugi said it was kind of hard to pronounce.
– Kaito Kiyomiya has parted with the "Supernova" nickname and gotten new theme music, "REGENERATION" and is now "Galaxy View".
– GLOBAL2DAYS WRESTLE UNIVERSE PRESENTS GLOBAL HONORED CROWN (Thursday November 10th, Korakuen Hall)
Event recapPost match interviews
Challenger: TBA
Challengers: TBA
GHC Junior Tag Champions: The Kongoh Juniors (Hajime Ohara & Shuji Kondo)
Challengers: The Noah Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge & Seiki Yoshioka), NOAH the BEST 2022 (Wednesday November 23rd National Yoyogi Stadium 2nd Gymnasium)
Challenger: Yoshiki Inamura, NOAH the BEST 2022 (Wednesday November 23rd National Yoyogi Stadium 2nd Gymnasium)
(Full November schedule)
NOAH the BEST 2022
Date: Wednesday, November 23rd
Venue: National Yoyogi Stadium 2nd Gymnasium
Start time: Doors open 13:30 JST, event starts 15:00 JST
Broadcast: WrestleUniverse (English commentary available)
Saturday 19th November: HI69 debut anniversary (22)
Friday 25th November: AMAKUSA (37)
Title match removal of Supernova, champion Kaito Kiyomiya declaration of change and resolution!
Noah/DragonGate: Press conference for the youngsters match: Inamura declares "Overwhelming", Mochizuki Jnr "Absolutely Win The Fight"
Noah/DragonGate: GM Saito "Help Me!" in a "1 vs 5" crisis. NOSAWA & Horiguchi already declare betrayal
Noah/DragonGate: Tadasuke & Shun burst into the press conference, attacking AMAKUSA & Fujiwara
Noah/DragonGate: Kenoh cuts Yuki Yoshioka in half, calling him a "Pathetic champion, carried by the company"
THE TOUGH comment on their ZERO-1 Participation
Noah/DragonGate: Realization of Noah and DragonGate Champions at the joint show…Kenoh completely demolishes Kiyomiya with a strong pre-emptive strike towards the New Year's Day Budokan
Noah/DragonGate: Satoshi Kojima backstage comments – "Get Well Soon HAYATA"
Noah/DragonGate: GM Saito is in trouble, break up with friends & unreasonable rap request…victory for rare trio of KZY & YO-HEY
Noah/DragonGate: YAMATO comments on Seiki Yoshioka
G-MANS Note Vol 2: In charge of Pro Wrestling Noah's English YouTube & English Announcement
Hiroshi Tanahashi's Dragon Note – Tanahashi discusses Keiji Mutoh's retirement
"Follow Me You Bastards" – Kenoh's column (4th October 2022)
GIF taken from WrestleUniverse
Picture credit: Kaito Kiyomiya, Weekly Pro