(NOAH) GHC Heavyweight Championship by Hikaru Inoue

20th February 2019
Noah.co.jp
Translated from an article by Hikaru Inoue


The main event of the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium on 10th March 2019, for Noah this will become a big turning point in wrestling history.
Kaito Kiyomiya, who has become the youngest GHC Heavyweight championship in history at the age of 22 years and 5 months, has been challenged by Naomichi Marufuji, the symbol of The Ark.

If you have been watching professional wrestling for a long time, you will remember the battle between Mitsuharu Misawa and Naomichi Marufuji for the GHC Heavyweight Championship at the Nippon Budokan on the 10th December 2006.


On the 9th September 2006, Marufuji defeated Jun Akiyama, and became the 10th GHC Heavyweight champion.
He was the youngest to hold the championship, and at 26 years and 11 months, it was a record at the time. This was coupled with the fact that Kenta Kobashi, a backbone of the company, was missing with kidney cancer. Everyone was expecting the arrival of a new era, and it was thought that the generational change of Noah had arrived right away.


With such high expectations, Marufuji responded in the best possible form.
For the first time in history, his first defense was made in the United States of America, in the same year at the 29th October, Nippon Budokan show, he welcomed KENTA as challenger, and for the first time in history the juniors had a peak heavyweight match.
The match also won "Best Bout" in "Pro Wrestling's Grand Prize".
Noah's new look spread one piece at a time.


To ensure the coming of the new era, Marufuji, in his third defense, met the Ace & President, Mitsuharu Misawa as challenger.
The result: defeat.
The new era saw the curtain fall within three months, and after that the older generations stature became the center axis of Noah.

Misawa had a title reign for about a year and three months until March 2008; but in September 2007, Marufuji got the opportunity to get revenge, but he was defeated once again. Looking back it, Marufuji acknowledged that his two defeats had a huge impact on the future of Noah.

What would have happened in Noah, had not Misawa taken the belt from Marufuji? The generation turnover immediately progresses, but without going crazy as a group, perhaps it could have been said that it was an "industry leading power".
But of course, "if, and" is a premise to the story.
However, when we examine it now, on December 10th 2006, Marufuji vs Misawa for the GHC Heavyweight championship, it can be said that a heavier thing was hanging than the belt.
It is the GHC Heavyweight championship this time, that is done in a situation that is very similar to that match.
For Kiyomiya, Marufuji is not his teacher, but its meaning lies in New Face vs Symbolism, and in that sense it is the same.
Kiyomiya took the belt from Takashi Sugiura, he repelled the challenge of Kenoh and Masa Kitamiya and announced the arrival of a new era in Noah. This overlaps Marufuji twelve years ago.


Kiyomiya said, "the face of Noah is now me. I will definitely not turn the cloak back.".
He pledges defense, but he may not have met a more powerful enemy in Marufuji, but the strength of the young champion comes from the power of the cheering of the fans. He demonstrated this last December in the match against Takashi Sugira, in an extraordinary boost as the stage grows bigger.
Moreover, the stage of the match, is strangely the same as the battle with Takashi Sugiura in Yokohama, another interesting thing is the past record of Marufuji at this venue at 2 wins and 5 losses out of seven matches here.
The two wins come from the All Japan Junior World Championship in September 2008, New Japan's G1 in August 2012 and various other promotions.
With Noah, it stands at four wins and four losses. Blood was shed in June 2007 against Kazunari Murakami​, in March 2012 and October 2017, he was defeated for the GHC Heavyweight Championship. It is a venue where the home record of the Genius of the Ark is poor.

Meanwhile, there is also an urban legend that Marufuji is stronger after returning.
In March 2009, he was missing for nine months due to the rupture of a right knee ligament, and on his return he won the "5th Super J-CUP" which was sponsored by New Japan, plus the IWGP Junior Championship.
In July 2010, he missed four months due to "cervical spondylotic radiculopathy" and became GHC Heavyweugt champion.
It is "significance".
For Kiyomiya, just like the challengers before him, must compete against the history that Marufuji has built, and the symbol of Noah fans, and have a match full of memories.


On the 10th March in Yokohama, this will be an important day for Noah, which became a new business in February this year, and it will start anew with "leaving behind Misawa". The Ark will be born again in various aspects, such as the refreshing the logo (which has been in use since the company was created), and separation from the green ring mat. Marufuji is the present symbol and the young champion, Kiyomiya, who is leading Noah as the face.
The title match is not just for the GHC Heavyweight belt, it is the bigger picture that like Marufuji vs Misawa twelve years ago, is the fate of the group that is being honored.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the path of the newly revitalized Ark will be decided on March 10th the main event of the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium.

About the author (Hikaru Inoue) 
Born in Ota Ward, Tokyo, on March 12th 1981. 
He joined Baseball Magazine Co Ltd in April 2003, from 2004 he has served as head of the Wrestlers Directory. Since 2007 he has been responsible for Noah.


Link to original article from Noah.co.jp
Picture credit ~ Noah.co.jp

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