(NOAH) Takeshi Morishima's presence was the main focus

Weekly Pro 31st October 2000

(Issue No. 1001)

The main event of the Okayama event, which also lacked Misawa and Ogawa, attracted the most attention with the first-ever Noah match between Akiyama and Vader. During this time, Akiyama and Vader both volunteered to start, but they only officially faced each other once at the beginning; after that, Akiyama and Vader never competed against each other in the ring again. 

If there wasn't much interaction between the two main contenders, one might expect the match to lack excitement. However, in reality, the valiant efforts of the young Morishima, who was chosen for the main event, actually raised the energy of the venue. 

Early in the match, Morishima knocked Rich* down with an elbow, and then retaliated by elbowing Vader off of the apron. This attack ignited Vader's fighting spirit. After this, Vader's target was Morishima alone. He unleashed more than a dozen Vader Hammers and even a body press from the second rope. Morishima was haunted by the misdeeds he committed in the opening match. However, he persevered from this point onwards. No matter how many times Vader knocked him down, he kept going for him, and in the final stages, he delivered a spectacular lariat, which sent the massive Vader flying.

I the end, he was defeated by a concentrated attack from the foreign team, but as Morishima left the ring, he received an applause many times louder than when he entered. Akiyama highly praised his efforts saying, "There would be no end to it if we started listing all the details, but I think he did a great job. The fans cheers are the most honest thing". 

The main event without veteran wrestlers, Morishima demonstrated his presence. That is precisely one of the new landscapes that Noah needs. 

Notes

Rich: Richard Slinger

Picture notes

Towards the end of the match, Morishima knocked out Vader with a lariat after Rich, and let out a roar, bringing the excitement of the arena to its peak.

Akiyama volunteered to start the match, and sent Vader tumbling out of the ring with a lariat.

Takayama was also on top form, showing no signs of being defeated. He was determined not to let Vader take the momentum. 

Vader's attacks on Morishima were relentless, however, Morishima refused to back down and fought back.