(NOAH) 2nd September GHC Heavyweight Clash, Sugiura criticizes Masa Kitamiya

20th August 2018
Tokyo Sports

It is a lesson in tough love.
Noah's GHC Heavyweight Champion, Takashi Sugiura (48), dealt a serious below to the next challenger, Masa Kitamiya (29).

At the Kawasaki event on the 18th, Go Shiozaki (36) was defeated by an avalanche Olympic Slam at the end of the fierce battle, with Sugiura succeeding in the defense for the fourth time. After the match, Kitamita (the same as Go Shiozaki) came with the challenge to "fight me for the belt".

Sugiura accepted and it was decided that they would meet at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo on September 2nd, but the champion has a low opinion of Kitamiya "I don't have a recent impression (when you came out to the ring) there was a "huh" from the audience. This is the result you have built", he said sharply.

When Noah shifted to its new regime in November 2016, Kitamiya was confidently expected to be a central part. However, in December of that year, he challenged the GHC Heavyweight Champion, Katsuhiko Nakajima, and was defeated. After that he did not challenge again. In addition, he has been GHC Heavyweight Tag Champion three times, one which he lost without being able to defend once. He has not left a track record in this situation.

"Show me a good match. You have to turn this around. You can use me for that. I'm convenient" (Sugiura)

Because he feels a sense of danger for the next challenger, he puts in a tough word. As for the champion, he asks can The Prison Lock show himself to be reborn?

Please click here for original article from Tokyo Sports (in Japanese)