Pro Wrestling NOAH 1/2/2024 The New Year
I saw 11 of the 13 matches:
Taishi Ozawa vs. Yu Owada
Ozawa gets out an armlock early and shoulders him over. Yu back rolls him for 2 then armdrags him. Oawa dropkicks him back then jumping elbows him. Ozawa hits slams then hits another dropkick. Ozawa boots him in the chest then Yu rolls him up out of the corner. Yu twisting crossbodies him off the 2nd buckle then gutwrench suplexes him for 2.
Yu fisherman suplexes him for 2 then hits boots. Ozawa back body drops him, slams him and vader bombs him. Ozawa springboard dropkicks him for 2 then Yu dropkicks him. Yu rolls him up with a bridge and wins it.
It was a young lions match. They let do a little more than usual here but there's only so much you can do with 5 minutes and a limited moveset.
Akitoshi Saito, Hajime Ohara, Hi69 & Kai Fujimura vs. Atsushi Kotoge, Mohammed Yone, Super Crazy & Terry Yaki
Yone and Saito get in. They shoulder battle and Saito uranages him. Saito delay suplexes him then Yone lariats him. Crazy and Ohara get in. Ohara armdrags him then Crazy armdrags and dropkicks him. Ohara russian legsweeps him into an armlock.
Kai gets in and back elbows then forearms Crazy in the corner. Kai 2nd rope dropkicks him. Kai rolls him up off the crucifix then Crazy does a corkscrew elbow drop. Kotoge hits back elbows on Kai and slips. He slams Kai. Kai takes a baseball slide then Kai rolls him up. Kai rolls him into a pin attempt for 2. Kotoge hits a side effect then a top rope moonsault to win it.
It was very short and not enough time for how many people were involved. Everyone got a little segment in and then got out.
GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Three Way Elimination Match - Alpha Wolf & Dragon Bane (c) vs. Alejandro & Ninja Mack vs. GLG (Tadasuke & YO-HEY)
Yo-Hey got the win over Mack here after a failed phoenix splash to eliminate his team then eliminated Bane with a top rope dropkick. It was a 100 MPH spotfest as you would expect with dives and big moves up until the first elimination. I think the fans and some of the wrestlers forgot this required double eliminators and the 2nd half ended up being a lot slower. It was still all flippy stuff though and not that good.
El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., Titus Alexander & Vinnie Massaro vs. GLG (Anthony Greene, Jack Morris & Jake Lee)
Doc and Jake start us off. Jake backs him up and clean breaks him. Jake offers a handshake then pulls his hand away. Doc poses then Titus and Jack get in. Titus hits a nice dropkick and up kicks him. Jack enzugiri's Titus as he tries to get in then plancha's him. Titus hits forearms on Jack then takes a pump kick. Jack falcon arrows him for 2.
Titus hurricanana's him off a tiger driver attempt. Titus then flying kicks him. Titus hits a fireman's carry into a reverse ddt. AG walks the top rope and twisting crossbodies Titus. AG chops Titus then dropkicks him into an STO from Jack. Titus hits a chaos theory german on AG and Jack breaks it up with a top rope frogsplash.
Vinny running forearms AG. Vinny dropkicks him then runs into a boot. Vinny exploders AG then hits a sitout half-nelson slam. Doc pulls Jake over the top then topes him. Jack 2nd rope moonsaults Doc outside hen Titus overshoots a tope con hilo on the outside. AG superkicks VInny then does a twisting reverse ddt to win it.
It was a short match with not enough time for Jake and Doc to even get much in here.
Tomohiro Ishii vs. Masa Kitamiya
Ishii and Masa charge at each other to start and shoulder battle. Masa shoulders him over then Ishii hits forearms. Ishii no sells some forearms then hits a chop and forearm combo in the corner. They trade chops and Ishii suplexes him. Ishii hits forearms then Masa samoan drops him. Masa sentons him and then clips him after forearms.
Ishii powerslams Masa then release germans him. Ishii corner lariats Masa then 2nd rope suplexes him. Masa drops Ishii on his knees then pushes his head into the mat. Masa prison locks him.
Ishii and Masa trade lariats then lariat each other down at the same time. They do it again and Masa prison locks him again. Ishii ropebreaks. Ishii backdrops him and pops back up. Masa brainbusters him for 1. Ishii enzugiri's Masa then lariats him over for 1. Ishii hits another lariat then is dropped with a shot.
Ishii no sells a piledriver, misses a sliding lariat then takes one. Masa spears him for 2. They trade headbutts then Ishii lariats him for 2. Masa's head is bleeding and he lariats Ishii down. Ishii headbutts him in the chest then sliding lariats him for 2. Ishii brainbusters him and wins it.
I liked the idea but there was a decent bit of no selling here and it felt like something was missing. I'm not sure what that was other than some more strikes. Don't get me wrong, it was still entertaining but not a classic.
Great Sakuya & Nagisa Nozaki vs. Luminous (Haruka Umesaki & Miyuki Takase)
The Great Sakuya is billed as The Great Muta's daughter and he's at ringside for it. Sakuya flips over a dropped down Haruka then takes a dropkick. Sakuya headscissors her out of the corner, kips up and teases the green mist.
NN and MT go at it. NN face kicks her then is dropkicked. NN double chops her and boots her in the gut. Nozaki hits a double chop flurry on her then NN takes a double dropkick. MT legdrops NN then NN takes a double basement dropkick.
Sakuya breaks up Luminous' pose then does the handspring back elbow in the corner. MT headbutts NN then NN hits a chop and forearm flurry. MT corner lariats NN then 2nd rope forearms her for 2. Sakuya kicks MT on the ropes then chokes her with something. Sakuya superkicks MT and NN puts her in a grounded choke. NN ripcord face kicks MT then flying kicks her.
MT powerslams NN then MT 2nd rope legdrops her. NN flying single leg dropkicks MT. Sakuya is tagged in and germans MT. Sakuya gets stopped up top and thrown off the top. Haruka top rope dropkicks Sakuya then MT lariats Sakuya on the ropes. Sakuya takes a fireman's carry into a 180 splash.
Sakuya puts the ref in the way of Haruka then spin kicks her. Haruka hits a cuty special for 2. NN dropkicks Haruka then Haruka takes a double boot. Sakuya TKO's Haruka for 2. MT 2nd rope dropkicks Sakuya then Sakuya hits a big lariat on Haruka. Haruka rolls up Sakuya for 2 then northern lights suplexe sher for 2.
NN pulls out the ref when he's counting a pin attempt. Haruka goes up top and Sakuya and MT fight over a chair. Sakuya chairs MT in the gut and MT blocks a chair shot. Sakuya red mists MT then throws a chair at Haruka. NN basement dropkicks both opponents. Sakuya and the ref fight over a chair. Sakuya and the ref fight over a chair and Sakuya chairs him. The ref then DQ's Sakuya. Sakuya top rope moonsaults both opponents and NN counts the pin for her.
It was a strange one. They didn't build up Sakuya coming into the match and just had her come in early. Then of course they did the odd DQ finish in her debut. We'll have to see where this goes from here but I expect joshi to become a more regular thing on the shows with this gimmick.
Takashi Sugiura vs. Ulka Sasaki
Ulka's an MMA guy. This is his official debut though he did an exhibition match. He wasn't that good at it as he lost 10 times but he has some charisma to him and is decent looking guy. Ulka blocks a takedown and does some amateur wrestling with Sugi. Sugi shoulders him over then Ulka armdrags him. Sugi chinlcoks him then Ulka hammerlocks him.
Sugi suplexes him and throws him out. Ulka is thrown into the rails. Sugi slams him on the floor. Sugi stomps him and they trade forearms. Ulka is dropped with a forearm. Sugi superplexes him for 2. Sugi puts him in the boston crab and Ulka ropebreaks.
Sugi hits running knees then Ulka hurricanrana's him. Ulka then hits a stunner. Ulka puts him in a sleeper. They trade germans. Ulka stunners him and is lariated. Sugi hits an olympic slam and wins it.
Ulka really got nothing in here but a hurricanrana and stunners and one of the stunners wasn't any good. It was basically a squash for the most part and while this isn't out of the ordinary for Japan, this is not how I would book someone who has name value in their debut.
Yoshinari Ogawa & Zack Sabre Jr. vs. HAYATA & Hiroshi Tanahashi
Zack and Tana start us off. Tana headscissors Zack on the mat then Zack flips out of it. Tana stomps Zack's foot, boots him out of the corner then 2nd rope crossbodies him. Haya gets in, grabs an arm then is tripped by Zack. Zack takes him over by the wrist. Ogawa gets in and double stomps Haya. Haya flips over him on the ropes, atomic drops him then flying boots him. Haya then kips up.
Tana plays guitar and wants Haya to do it with him. Haya does and they double elbow drop Ogawa. Haya flying dropkicks Ogawa in the corner then misses a 2nd rope moonsault. Zack knocks Tana off the apron then Haya's knees are banged on the mat. Haya's legs are split.
Ogawa ties up Haya's legs and guillotines him. Zack hits euros on Haya outside then Ogawa stomps Haya inside. Haya tornado ddt's Zack. Tana is tagged in and flying forearms Zack. Tana dropkicks Zack in the leg then dragon screws Ogawa on the ropes. Zack sleepers Tana then does an octopus variation. Tana puts him in an octopus and rolls him up for 2. Zack backslides him and pele kicks his arm. Tana dropkicks him in the leg. Ogawa stomps Tana's arm then Zack stomps Tana's arm too. Tana takes a double back elbow then has multiple body parts worked on at the same time. Ogawa double stomps Tana.
Haya hits kicks on Ogawa. Haya goes for a handspring but his leg gives out. Ogawa bangs Haya's leg off the mat. Zack running euros Haya for 2. Zack crabs Haya and Tana breaks it up. Tana and Haya hit stereo sling blades then Haya ddt's Zack. Haya enzugiri's Zack then 2nd rope dropkicks him. Haya rolls up Zack then short hurricanrana's him. Zack avoids it and ties up his legs. Zack then submits him.
I wasn't a fan of this one. It went long on a long show and just wasn't the right place or time. I didn't think this was the best use of Tanahashi either.
Twelve Man Tag Team Elimination Match - Daiki Inaba, Junta Miyawaki, Kaito Kiyomiya, Ryohei Oiwa, Shota Umino & Shuji Kondo vs. House Of Torture (Dick Togo, EVIL, Ren Narita, SHO, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & Yujiro Takahashi)
This match isn't necessary, but we're stuck with it. The heels attack before the bell rings. Evil works on Kaito outside and Ren sends Shota into the post. Junta is stomped 5v1 then hits forearms on Sho. Junta top rope double dropkicks Togo and Sho then corner dropkicks Sho. Junta falcon arrows Sho for 2.
Sho pushes the ref in the way on Junta then spears him. Yujiro hits Junta with a stick then Sho package piledrivers him. Junta is pinned and eliminated. Kaito hits shots on Sho then dropkicks him. Kaito hits corner punches then Yujiro trips Kaito. Kaito takes a double suplex on the concrete outside then YK suplexes him in the ring. Togo fist drops Kaito then Yujiro legdrop and elbow drops him.
Ren chinlocks Kaito then slams him. Togo 2nd rope chops Kaito in the nuts. Kaito flying neckbreakers Sho then Kondo gets in. Kondo hits forearms on YK and Sho then Kondo hits a bulldog + flying neckbreaker combo. Sho is thrown over the top by Kondo and eliminated. Kondo overhead throws YK. YK pulls him onto the apron and Inaba is thrown into Kondo to eliminate him from the apron.
Inaba running lariats YK then blue thunders him for 2. Inaba headbutts Yujiro then YK spits mist into his face. Inaba is then thrown over the top, getting like a whole minute of action here. Shota drops YK onto his chest then YK bangs Shota's knee off the mat. They fight on the apron and Shota slingshot cutters him over the top rope to eliminate him. Togo chokes Shota with a weapon. Shota dropkicks Evil. Togo rolls up Shota and Shota takes a headbutt to the crotch on accident.
Shota pop-up euros Togo then death rider ddt's him to pin and eliminate him. Yujiro headbutts Shota in the crotch. Ren puts Shota in a choke and they go on the apron. Ren sleepers him there and pulls Shota off the apron. Both are eliminated.
Yujiro hits knees to Oiwa's gut then face kicks him on the ropes. Yujiro hits a reverse ddt and Ren keeps the choke onto Shota to the back. Oiwa karelin's lifts Yujiro then splashes him for 2. Yujiro takes a double dropkick then Kaito is crotched on the top rope. Yujiro throws Oiwa over the top to eliminate him.
Kaito is 2v1'd, taking a suplex and baseball slide. Kaito foearms Evil then rolls up Yujiro to eliminate him. Evil stomps Kaito. Evil eye rakes him then Kaito throws Evil over the top. The ref doesn't see it though as he is busy with HoT. Kaito spears the post on accident then Evil hits darkness falls on Kaito. HoT rings the bell and Evil poses like he won. Junta is confused and Evil makes the ref raise his hand. Yujiro short ddt's Kaito.
Kaito flying knees Evil then tiger suplexes him for 2. Kaito throws Evil over the top and gets his eye poked. Kaito then enzugiri's Evil and wins it.
It was an interesting match for the commentary. They rightfully ripped the ref the whole time for being awful, saying he should be fired and weren't as knowledgeable about some of the move names as the NJPW crew was. I thought Kaito looked like a dork here in yellow shorts and I didn't like him getting beaten up on so much. There were too many people involved and not enough time here and we really only saw most of the faces get little offense in. It was more watchable than other HoT matches but the shenanigans brought things down as usual.
They had an awesome Kenoh vs Soya video with both guys dressed up as samurai.
GHC Heavyweight Title Match - Kenoh (c) vs. Manabu Soya
Soya grabs a wristlock, is put in a hammerlock then headlocks en on the mat. Ken face kicks him then is shouldered over. Soya snapmares and chinlocks him. Soya slams and kneedrops him. Soya dives at him and is kicked in the gut. Ken face kicks him against the rails outside then PK him against the rails. Ken 2nd rope double knees him in the ring. Ken then double knee drops him.
Ken spin kicks him in the gut then bodyscissors him. Ken hits kicks then takes a flying lariat. Soya bulldogs and suplexes him. Ken legsweeps him into a double stomp then flying knees him in the back of the head. Ken pele kicks him and germans him then takes a backbreaker.
Ken hits kicks to the body and is chopped. Soya slams him for 2. at 15 minutes. Ken face kicks him and ankle locks him. Ken kicks him in the body then PK's him. Soya spears him, dropkicks him out of the ring then topes him. Soya top rope lariats him then death valley drivers him for 2.
Ken dragon suplexes him then kicks him in the chest. Soya fires up and dragon screws him. Soya hits a knee to the head then a lariat for 2. Ken rolls him up for 2 then hits slaps. Ken is lariated they both fire up. Soya hits lariats then knocks him over with one. Soya dragon sleepers him then Ken crossfaces him. Soya death valley drivers him and takes a dragon suplex.
Soya 2nd rope death valley bombs him then hits a lariat. Ken drops him with a high kick then buzzsaw kicks him. Ken hits more then top rope double stomps him for 2. Ken goes for a top rope moonsault knee or double stomp but misses when he's not supposed to. Ken high kicks him then puts him in a crossface and wins.
The first 15 minutes were dull with nothing happening. The second half was much better. Soya busted out some bigger moves than usual here with the top and the dropkick and they both really stiffed each other. I thought they could have done more to put Soya over as the underdog here. I liked the match though and just wish the first half would have been as good as the second half was. Soya's one of the most underappreciated guys in the world and is basically the NOAH version of Tomohiro Ishii.
Naomichi Marufuji vs Kota Ibushi
Maru and Kota trade armlocks. Maru trips him and Kota keylocks him. Kota headlock takeovers him and Maru tries to pin him off of it. Kota side headlocks him again then Maru rolls ofrward and double boots him. Maru catches a kick and they stare down. Maru lets Kota's leg go then Kota clean breaks him. Maru hits a big chop then takes a chest kick. Kota's arm is sent into the post outside then Maru stomps it.
Maru hits some boots inside. Kota chops him back then takes a knee to the arm. Kota is supposed to go over the top to the apron but struggles. Kota then lays on the top rope for no reason and is pulled down. Maru boots him around and Kota hits forearms. Maru chops him then is forearmed down.
Kota headscissors him, snapmares him and kicks him in the back. Maru cartwheels out of an irish whip and dropkicks him. Kota powerslams him then struggles with a 2nd rope moonsault. Maru dropkicks him against the ropes then is back body dropped on the apron.
Kota is on the ropes and tries to pull him in. Maru kicks him in the head then emerald flowsion's him on the apron. Maru misses a move off the 2nd rope and Kota struggles to 2nd rope moonsault him outside. They trade kicks and Kota spinning lariats him.
They go up top and Kota knees him. Kota running knees him for 2 then sitout powerbombs him. Maru puts him in hammerlock variation, hook kicks him and pumping knees him. Maru knees him then hits a weird tiger driver that I believe is called the tiger flowsion. Kota hits a high kick and knees for 2. Kota kamigoye's him in the front and back and wins it.
This was so boring and so slow. The pace never picked up and there was no heat whatsoever for any of this. It legitimately nearly put me to sleep. Kota looked awful here, botching nearly every high flying move he tried. This was a super let down and would have been so much better a decade ago.
Kota is stred down by Jake Lee and Kaito after. Kota has trouble walking to the back and falls down. Normally, I'd say this was leading to future matches but I don't know who'd want to see either of those after this.
Overall thoughts: This was a very long show that went around 5 hours and had 13 matches. I saw 11 of those matches and almost all of them went 10 minutes. While it's great that Noah wanted to stack the card and give the fans their money's worth, it was work to sit through I would have saved Ishii/Masa and Go/Kojima (which I didn't cover here) for another show and I would have done more to build up some of the interpomotion matches.
The main was a disaster that was long and slow. Kota botched most of the things he tried. The Great Sakuya's debut was odd as she was DQ'd in it and it was not a NOAH style match with ref bumps and weapons. Kaito was not booked super strong in the House of Torture tag and Ulka was booked like a jobber in his big official debut. I liked Kenoh/Soya though it went longer than it needed to. Jake Lee was on the undercard in a nothing match after being pushed as this top star for a while.
While I appreciated the variety and effort, I wouldn't reccomend this one. It was just too much to sit through.
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