(NOAH) Reconstruction

Weekly Pro 3rd October 2000

(Issue No. 997)

EXCEEDING OUR DREAMS 2000 

15th & 16th September, Differ Ariake (Tokyo)

The meaning and obligations. Takayama and Akiyama's tag team debuts in the main event on the first day. 

The main event on the second day was Akiyama and Takayama's post Four Heavenly Kingsism. 

What Noah needs right now is nothing less than something new. Considering the enthusiasm of the wrestlers who left All Japan to join this new promotion, it's only natural that the audience would expect something new. The innovative hardware that Misawa called "modern" had been present since the inaugural matches, so the issue of what was new in the ring, this could be, for example, the individual fighting styles or the lineup of the matches. It was Takayama who said, "The first two matches were good because Akiyama came out on top, but the matchups themselves lacked freshness". Since these wrestlers were just coming from All Japan, it's impossible to expect freshness from the lineup itself, and in that sense, Takayama's point was spot on. 

Takayama didn't just talk, he actually took action. At the last Ariake show, he unexpectedly shook hands with Akiyama. In order to change the times, those who had been somewhat at odds with each other until then joined forces. As Akiyama said, "We need to break the hierarchy".   

The opening card for the September series was supposed to have been drawn up based on the results of the first three shows. The main event wasn't a match to kick off Akiyama and Takayama's tag team, but rather a match featuring two of the former Four Heavenly Kings. In the end, Akiyama's argument prevailed on the day of the match, and the main event was switched, but the fact that the main event was between Misawa's team and Taue's team at the time of the announcement is significant, as it shows that the old-fashioned hierarchy still lies within Noah. Akiyama and Takayama must have felt the need to tear down the existing structure and build a new one with their own hands. It was only out of necessity that they ended up carrying out what is called "reconstruction" in philosophy. Dismantling what already exists and reassembling it anew is called reconstruction. If we take the disassembled parts and build something completely new, it will naturally usher in a new era.

Akiyama and Takayama immediately began dismantling Noah. Their first target was Kobashi. If they could completely defeat this wrestler, known as one of the Four Heavenly Kings, they could destroy the hierarchy in one fell swoop. However, things were not going to go so smoothly. The ones who resisted were none other than Kobashi himself and Kikuchi, who was fighting at the front, for the first time in a long time. Looking back, the bond between Kobashi and Kikuchi dates back ten years. From the end of the 1980s to the early 1990s, the two were part of the Super Generation Army, teaming up almost daily and facing off against top wrestlers such as Jumbo Tsuruta*. Such memories of the past might make this duo appear to be a tag team going against the times, but that is only when viewed from a chronological perspective. If they can present something positive, rather than just relying on nostalgia, a reunited tag team could still be an effective move in this day and age. 

There is no doubt that the battles they fought back then are fuelling their current form, and many fans emphasized with their openness. Kikuchi's appearance in his Hinomaru tights and the way he kept getting up no matter how many times he was knocked down certainly brought back memories of those days. However, Kikuchi's current desire to help Kobashi, who is being clearly pushed by Akiyama, is also present, and it is not just nostalgia that warms the hearts of fans who are unfamiliar with that era. The best proof of this was the huge cheers for Kobashi's team,  including Rikio, who was making his first appearance in the main event. And it was Kobashi's team that won the match. Kikuchi, who had shown his all from the start, delivered a Fireball Bomb, sending Kanemaru crashing to the mat. Akiyama and Takayama were completely surprised by this result. After the match, a tense exchange ensued, and Takayama quickly retreated to the waiting room, leaving Akiyama and Kanamaru behind.

Although Akiyama and Takayama originally shared the same aspirations, they were not completely in sync. If defeat could have led to a falling apart, and if things continued as they were, there was no way they could ever rebuild...

Kobashi's team, which had halted Akiyama's momentum since the inaugural match, loudly proclaimed their determination for the future, in contrast, to Akiyama and Takayama's comments. There was an uneasy atmosphere as the first match of the series came to an end.

Omori refuses to team up with Akiyama and Takayama!

The main event of the second night was lined up to be Akiyama & Takayama vs. Kobashi & Kikuchi. Beforehand, Kobashi had declared that he would win on the first day and then pull Akiyama and Takayama in on the second day. After the first day's match, he proposed this to President Misawa, who made it happen. Kobashi has truly lived up to his word, as a consecutive win here would not only completely halt Akiyama's momentum, but it would also give Kobashi control of Noah, making this a crucial match for him. For Akiyama, a losing streak would also create a significant rift in his relationship with Takayama, so this was a match he could not afford to lose. 

Let's start with the results. Akiyama and Takayama were the winners. You could feel the power of Kobashi and the spirit of Kikuchi, but Akiyama's team was overwhelmingly strong. In particular, the way the two alternated their skewering attacks and the resulting rush leading up to the finish was spectacular. With a complete victory over Kobashi's team, Akiyama and Takayama repaired their relationship. Their firm handshake in the ring after the match, seemed to confirm their determination to break Noah's hierarchy. 

And then it happened.

Just as Akiyama and the others were raising their hands to celebrate their victory over Kobashi, Takao Omori suddenly ran into the ring. He was calling out something to Akiyama and Takayama. It was hard to hear clearly because of the cheers, but it was immediately realized that it was a sign of his refusal to take part. Omori's team with Takayama, NO FEAR, is important to him, something he commented on immediately after his return match the day before. However, Omori also said that he would not accept teaming with Akiyama. Akiyama and Takayama continued to try to persuade Omori, who was expressing his disagreement right in front of them. However, Omori would not change his mind, and he turned his back on them. 

If Omori had simply walked away, his actions would have been predictable based on his previous comments. However, he clearly made eye contact with Kobashi, who was right in front of him, even if only for a moment.   For Akiyama and his team, who were pushing ahead with the post-Four Heavenly Kings philosophy, this must have been hard to believe. Omori, who, like them, believed himself to be on the same side as the rest of the team in achieving reconstruction, had communicated with Kobashi, the man they had to defeat.

"I told him to think it through, but he said he'd do whatever he wanted". Akiyama looked half amused as he commented backstage, "Go with them, once again Omori is Misawa and Kobashi's lapdog". Takayama also expressed his distrust for Omori (later it was announced that Kobashi and Omori would be teaming up on September 24th in Kyoto). 

Having defeated Kobashi's team, Akiyama and Takayama have finally begun to rebuild Noah. Omori has refused to join forces, but they cannot stop. From now on, they must embody post-Four Heavenly Kingsism, in other words, somewhere without the Four Heavenly Kings. 

"We need the executives to come out soon" 

Akiyama expressed his unwavering determination with these words. Kobashi and Kikuchi will not back down after this defeat, and the battle will only intensify. 

So, who will the current era, the 21st century choose? Kobashi and his men, or Akiyama and his men? Noah is currently in a state of great turmoil. 

Picture blurb notes

The Fireball Boy is back! Kikuchi returned to the ring in his Hinomaru tights

Weekly Pro noticed "the strange distance" between Takayama and Akiyama

Kikuchi's kick is the "Zero Fighter" 

This was Rikioh's first main event appearance

The relationship between Takayama and Akiyama became strained after the loss, and Takayama left Akiyama in the ring. Later Takayama said, "There's nothing to talk about". Akiyama made no comment. 

Omori refuses to co-operate with Akiyama and Takayama.

Weekly Pro remarked that looking at Kobashi's performance, it just seemed like Akiyama "added fuel to the fire". 

Notes

Hinomaru: The Japanese flag. The design he chose to go with was the Pre WWII flag with the rays, which he had worn in the days of the Super Generation Army (historical note, the American GIs used to call this design "the meatball")

Jumbo Tsuruta: Tsuruta seemed to be irritated by the sight of Kikuchi, and he (along with Stan Hansen) is credited with "beating the crazy" into him. 

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