(NOAH) "Right now...I'm worrying a lot", Katsuhiko Nakajima gives a heartfelt monologue following his shock exit from Noah. Will he be in America? New Japan? Or...

3rd October 2023

Tokyo Sports

Where on earth will the man who left the ark, go? 

Katsuhiko Nakajima (35), who suddenly left Pro Wrestling Noah, became a freelance wrestler from the 1st October. The departure of a key wrestler, who has supported Noah for nearly fifteen years , including during his Kensuke Office (Diamond Ring) era*, has caused a huge stir, and attention has focused on his future destination. So what was behind the sudden announcement? Does he have any desire to take on the rumored New Japan? And does he have any desire to challenge in America on mats such as WWE and AEW? We spoke to him directly about his intentions. 

Q: Fans were surprised by the sudden announcement of your departure.

NAKAJIMA: I'm also surprised, but grateful for the response. There are comments flying around, but 80% and 90% of them are encouraging me to do my best. I'm glad that I worked very hard at pro wrestling with Noah, but right now...I'm worrying a lot.

Q: When did you start thinking about it?

NAKAJIMA: I think it was around last year that I felt anxious. As this year approached (he turned 35 on March 11th of this year), my 20th anniversary will be in sight, right? Perhaps it's a guy thing, but no matter what job you're doing, in time you reflect. Haven't I been protected for a long time because I had a contract with Noah? I think once this is removed, the scenery will change even more. This is the final battle at my age. 

Q: What kind of scenery do you want to see?

NAKAJIMA: Scenery that can't be seen or felt in Noah. For example, if it's already been announced that I'm going to WWE or AEW, then I think if I do that, then I can graduate in style. Nothing has been decided yet, so there will be no press conference or announcement on social media. I think it's a tough decision for me, because I'm the one who is the most nervous. 

Q: Did you report to your teachers, Kensuke Sasaki and Akira Hokuto?

NAKAJIMA: As always Sasaki-san said, "Do your best. Don't get hurt". He's like my father, isn't he? Hokuto-san scolded me and said, "Think carefully about it! What are you going to do?". They both worried about me. 

Q: What are your hopes for America? 

NAKAJIMA: Certainly, if you want to talk about. Last year (November), I went to New York and San Francisco with Marufuji-san (Naomichi) and it was a great experience. It was a scene that Noah didn't have. I went to Ring of Honor in America when I was in my twenties, but it has been more than ten years since I went there and I felt the possibility of expanding my range. If I can do that, then I think it's worth fighting for. 

Q: What is the appeal of WWE? 

NAKAJIMA: I guess it's the atmosphere. I only see it on Twitter, but I know quite a bit of information about Japanese wrestlers. Recently Iyo (Iyo Sky) and Asuka had a singles match, and in AEW, Claudio Castagnoli, who I once had a match with, is appearing. Also there is Kenny (Omega) and Ibushi (Kota), who debuted in the same year. I think the rumored WWE, AEW, New Japan and All Japan are all sights that can't be seen in Noah, so I think it's worth it if I can go there, but if there's no meaning to it, I won't do it. 

Q: Many people are predicting New Japan

NAKAJIMA: Just Somehow Some Guys? (Just 5 Guys)? (Laughs) Kanemaru-san (Yoshinobu) left, right? As a wrestler, I'm happy to hear that kind of feedback. If I can get that kind of attention, I think it's meaningful. New Japan is my teacher's (Kensuke) old home, and I was there during my first year. I still remember it. After joining Kensuke Office my debut match there was against Liger (Jushin Thunder) at the Tokyo Dome on May 3rd 2004. I was sixteen years old.

Q: You joined Noah in January 2016. It was at a time when the promotion was in a slump.

NAKAJIMA: The reason why I was able to join in the first place was because I was able to have singles matches with Misawa-san. The year before he passed away, we fought at Hakata Star Lane* (July 13th) and at the Nippon Budokan (December 7th). At that time, Misawa was in poor health, so he rarely did singles matches, so I don't know why he decided to do those two. At that time, I was an outside wrestler who worked for Kensuke Office, so there was no reason for him to go out of his way and do singles. 

Q: Were you able to repay that favor?

NAKAJIMA: I don't know, it's not something I can decide for myself. However, since I have decided to leave at this time, and 80 to 90% of the fans are supporting me, I think I have found an answer. 

Q: In October you will participate in your last two matches in Noah. At the Fukuoka Internal Centre event on the 28th, you will compete against Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura in AXIZ with Go Shiozaki.

NAKAJIMA: It was a necessary card to talk about Noah with, so I asked the company for it. I am thinking that for AXIZ this is a break, but this is not the end. I think that in professional wrestling, you never know what's going to happen, and so I have decided to put my feelings towards to Noah into these two matches and graduate, so that's really all there is to it. 

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports

Note

Kensuke Office era & Noah: Both Kensuke Sasaki and Katsuhiko Nakajima were in Hiroshima the night Misawa died. 

Hakata Star Lane: Venue closed down due to old construction work being too costly to fix due to damage caused by seismic activity. Daisuke Harada swiped one of the famous bowling pins.