(Noah) Kenoh, the champion who did not know Misawa, is leading Noah's new era

2nd January 2018
Nikkan Sports

Kenoh (32) is the 30th GHC Heavyweight Champion of Pro-Wrestling Noah.

Eddie Edwards was defeated after a fierce battle in the main event at Korakuen Hall on December 22nd. After the match, Kenoh grabbed the microphone and declared, "I have had nothing to do with Mitsuharu Misawa, and I have put on the Heavyweight GHC, I will usher in a new era of Noah".

After Kenoh's victory speech, Noah's chairman Masayuki Uchida said, "We have achieved "Noah the Reborn" in the final event, the symbol of which is Kenoh. Daisuke Harada, the junior champion and the other athletes, who we can entrust the company emerged today. The new generation has come out, and I want to watch over it stage by stage". President Uchida, who was at the forefront of the turmoil of the transfer of business on 11th November, was looking at relief at the rise of the young generation who are the pillars of the organization.

Noah, which was founded by Mistuharu Misawa, had sluggish management after his death due to the repeated withdrawal from the company by the top athletes. In addition to the transfer of business in November 2016, in February the company fell into a difficult situation such as entering bankrupcy proceedings. President Uchida ended the relationship with New Japan that had been lending wrestlers, and Noah tried to rebuild with their own athletes alone. Meanwhile they watched the rapid rise from junior to heavyweight of Kenoh in January.

"Kenoh has a solid background in Nippon Kempo, and his stature is consistent. At first he was teamed with Sugiura, but while Sugiura was injured and out of action for a while, he solidly stood out" President Uchida said.
In July Kenoh went to the Zero One Fire Festival, he did not get the championship, but left a good impression after the fierce fight with the champion Masato Tanaka.
"After the Fire Festival we did not want the momentum to stop, and it was time for him to take the belt" President Uchida said evaluating the situation.

"Noah the Reborn" is the goal of President Uchida, who appealed for the return to the Budokan. As if to respond to this Kenoh has said, "I will take you to the Nippon Budokan". President Uchida has said, "in the future there will be generations that have not known Misawa like Marufuji and Sugiura who have inherited Misawa's will, but it will be reborn in the ideological battles of the youngsters who will inherit that DNA." We expect further things from Noah.

Noah at the Budokan in Misawa's era is a symbol of the golden age of pro-wrestling. "Although we cannot go to the Budokan yet, I'd like to hold events not only at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium, but also at the Sumo Hall and realize it around the 20th Tokyo Olympic Games," President Uchida said.

At the event at Korakuen Hall on January 6th, Kenoh will have his first defensive game against Kaito Kiyomiya.
It is the begninning of Noah's new era.

Link to original article (in Japanese)