NOAH GHC Championship first defence, Edwards thoughts of "Emperor" Takayama (2nd October 2017)

Eddie Edwards (33), succeeded in defending the championship against Naomichi Marufuji (38) in his first defence of the title. Edwards, who dresses in the green costume like the respected Mitsuharu Misawa (46) won the match and then demonstrated the respect Noah have back to Marufuji. It was the thought of another challenging wrestler, Yoshihiro Takayama (51), that supported the champion.

"I want to tell Takayama, who wore this belt, "there is no impossible". Edwards, who succeeded in defending following a fierce battle, held the belt on in hands and said that he felt the "Emperor's" presence was supporting him.

In the battle with the strongest challenger, the fight with Marufuji became a literal death battle. The apron was pierced with a pile driver and he received an avalanche type Shiranui from the top rope. He got up and fought back with a frankensteiner before hitting the Diehard Flowsion (a modified version of Misawa's Emerald Flosion) from a tiger driver; it took three counts of reversal.

Marufuji took the overwhelming advantage and showed an indomitable fighting spirit. It is one of the strengths of the champion that he kept standing desperately despite all this, but that is what he has learned from Takayama. Edwards, who was introduced to Noah in 2005 as a trainee, had an era in Japan when he was young.

"I watched Takayama fight and I studied him, I was impressed by his attitude of facing up without giving up. I practiced and wanted to be like that."

Although Takayama suffered a stroke in 2004, he returned in 2006 and returned to Noah's front. Edwards, who had just debuted at that time was nicknamed "Big Boy" and said he loved it. "Takayama gave it to me because I resembled a famous hamburger restaurant character and I was always encouraged by it. Everything was "Big Boy", even in e-mails" Edwards said with tears in his eyes.

While Takayama is currently diagnosed as having a "complete cervical spinal cord injury", he is undergoing rehabilitation. Edwards said, "My motto "there is no impossible", so I do not want to give up on Mr. Takayama and I will do my best."

As for the future as GHC champion, "Big Boy" said as "I want to defend in the US and Canada as it is a global belt. It is my determination to repeatedly defend to give back to my mentor who gave me courage."

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Link to original article: https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20171002-00000038-tospoweb-fight