(NOAH) Kaito Kiyomiya's Pro-Wrestling World. The true face of Noah's long-awaited next generation star wrestler.

Yahoo.co,jp
February 2018

Now in Japan, of you pick up a sports paper and read about "Kiyomiya", it is about it is about professional baseball's Kotarō Kiyomiya. If you are not a professional wrestling fan, there are few people in the general public who have heard of a professional wrestler called Kiyomiya.

Like in football, there was a player named Roberto Baggio in Italy. He was a global superstar who had been active since the late 80s, but one day another Baggio appeared. He was called Dino Baggio, and was a bigger man than Roberto, he played for Juventus and Italy, and scored a goal in an important game. One day...an English commentator announced on television that he remembered once he called Dino "Another Baggio".

Mitsuharu Misawa and Kaito Kiyomiya

Noah's professional wrestler, Kaito Kiyomiya, debuted two years ago, and is a twenty-one year old green boy. However, fans at ringside have watched him from the undercard with secret hope and expectation.
Is it because he has a beautiful dropkick?
Even though he may have, is it the emotion in the way he keeps getting up, no matter how damaged?
It may because the green tights are a concious symbol of Pro-Wrestling Noah.
Channelling Misawa now with Noah singing "regeneration", there is a small light of hope.
There was a presence in Kiyomiya who had just debuted, which made me feel these things for some reason.

Like Nobuhiko Takada for a new era

Kiyomiya has been a fan of Mitsuharu Misawa since he was a child, and when he graduated highschool he joined Noah without any hesitation. He made his debut in December 2015 at the age of 19. And although he is still young, he seems to have the aura of the Showa era*. After his debut of only a few months, he was pulled up to the main event. At that time Minoru Suzuki, the leader of the Suzuki Army, was rampaging all over Noah's ring. The wrestlers ranking were very different, but Kiyomiya kept on fighting against them. Within less than a year of his debut, as if he were taking trials, he was also entered into Global League 2016. Naturally the result was seven fights, no wins, and seven losses. I got the impression that it was almust like when Nobuhiko Takada was put in the main event during the infancy of New Japan Pro Wrestling.
In any case, since then a quiet year and a half from his debut has passed.

Kiyomiya's overseas training

Kiyomiya left for Canada and remained there for half a year from July to December of 2017. I do not know what wrestling he was doing, but he grew by harsh training and eating thoroughly and regularly. He had the opportunity to work on enlarging his body, as it was only a small promotion and there were less chores.

His weight which was 90 kilos, rose to 105.

Just before Christmas 2017, when Kiyomiya arrived at Korakuen Hall and walked to the ring, there were many fans who thought "who is that?" Kiyomiya looked like a different person.

The dream match of returning to capture the title vanishes 

The current Noah GHC Heavyweight Champion is Kenoh.
To Kenoh's throne, Kiyomiya challenged on January 6th. He expected to be champion at 21, but this did not come true.

Kiyomiya showed a new technique to the audience, a reverse DDT variation. His main skill was the Tiger Suplex Hold. However, the champion fought for 22 minutes, kicking Kiyomiya and getting the KO. Kiyomiya's dream of returning to the title match has disapeared.
However, it does seem that Kiyomiya has set for himself a realistic goal to take the championship within a year, and he feels there is a possibility at that time. He does not know if it was the fatigue of the fight or he conciously lost weight, but it has fallen to 100 kilos.

"He will be able to go to the top within three years"

Naomichi Marufuji, who he fought at Korakuen Hall on February 2nd, is one of the wrestlers who highly rate Kiyomta.
"He will be able to go to the top within three years, he has plenty of skills, far more than he had." That said, he had not wrestled the match yet. There were chops and knees, and then finally the "Shiranui".
In the end even Kiyomiya could not go beyond the wall, although he said "I will destroy everything and exceed".
Immediately after the battle with Marufuji, Kiyomiya collapsed on the floor of the interview room.

"I will destroy all obstacles, and I will be the face of Noah"

However, it is unusual to have such a young wrestler declare that "I will destroy all obstacles, and I will be the face of Noah".
Kiyomiya is young, and he is fighting with violence.
As for his body, it is better to get bigger.
He knows that it was not that easy for Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, KENTA and Marufuji to win the GHC Heavyweight title.

Like the fans I am expecting that the timescale Kiyomiya has set, will come within one year, because I am one of them. Like the "Berlin Wall", which collapsed and broke, the time will come when he destroys all obstacles.
Everyone is longing for the day when he introduces "Kiyomiya's era"

Link to original article from yahoo.co.jp (in Japanese)


*the years 1926–1989 in Japanese history (the late eighties were the time of the "bubble" or the Japanese economic miracle")