(NOAH) Event recap - Global Tag League 2018 Night 1 - Hakata Stalene, 18th March 2018

The Aggression (Katsuhiko Nakajima left and Masa Kitamiya right) and the GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions (whom either the league winners or the number one contenders in the finals should they win and it go to the second and third runners up) give a screaming promo

Takashi Sugiura, current GHC Heavyweight Champion, making an ultra rare appearance at the merchandise booth 

The opening ceremony was held for the teams participating in the tag league this year. 

One year, and I have no idea why they did it, Noah decided to hold the ceremony after a tag match had happened. KENTA and Taiji Ishimori (who was suffering) were not best pleased...

KENTA has his hands on hips pose, which usually means he is cross about something. Ishimori is a little disorientated and clutching the back of his head.

When the time came for everyone to leave, they didn't hang about.

MATCH 1

HAYATA vs Junta Miyawaki

HAYATA beat Junta Miyawaki in six minutes five seconds with the Michinoku Driver.

MATCH 2

Hitoshi Kumano vs Jay Bradley

Jay Bradley picks up the victory over Hitoshi Kumano with the Muso after five minutes 33 seconds. (Someone got his name wrong on Twitter and called him "Jason") 

MATCH 3

RATELS (Daisuke Harada & Tadasuke) vs Yoshinari Ogawa & Hajime Ohara

Hajime Ohara (right) and Yoshinari Ogawa (left)

Daisuke Harada and Hajime Ohara. Very technical and psychological wrestling when they meet in the ring. Not a man of many expressions, recently Harada has developed an expression of a shark looking like it has just smelled blood.

All four competitors have expressed in some form that they will be fighting in Sapporo for the vacant GHC Junior Tag Titles. Daisuke Harada has stated that although he does not have Ogawa's 30 years in wrestling, he will do this with Tadasuke, even if he has to return the belt. It would not surprise me if Ogawa now challenged for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Title.

Daisuke Harada pinned Yoshinari Ogawa after 12 minutes thirty two seconds. 

MATCH 4

Hi69 vs YO-HEY vs Minoru Tanaka

Hi69 remained in the XX costume. I think he is a little lost without Taiji Ishimori, who he was somewhat dependent on. 

Minoru Tanaka and Hi69 tried to gang up against YO-HEY, it didn't really work.

Hi69 doing the XX pose

Hi69 has confirmed that he will be looking for new tag team partner, and he will be victorious again. After the match he was seen talking with Minoru Tanaka, who patted him on the shoulder, hinting that they could team. 

Hi69 won with the Michinoku driver β on YO-HEY after 11 minutes, 19 seconds.

MATCH 5

Global Tag League

Maybach Taniguchi & Mitsuya Nagai vs Cody Hall & KAZMA SAKAMOTO

Mitsuya Nagai stretching out KAZMA SAKAMOTO

KAZMA decided it would be a good idea to imitate Nagai. Nagai, as ever, didn't take too kindly to it.

Winners: KAZMA & Cody (Cody with the rolling lariat after 12 minutes and 24 seconds)

MATCH 6

Global Tag League

GoKai (Go Shiozaki & Kaito Kiyomiya) vs Akitoshi Saito and Masao Inoue

I have no idea what Go Shiozaki has done to his hair. Abeshin-san commented that he thought it was probably better to shave it than to go bald. From the look of the picture below, Kiyomiya is probably hoping that after the matching outfits, they don't have matching haircuts.

"GoKai" (Go Shiozaki, left and Kaito Kiyomight, right)

Akitoshi Saito used Masao Inoue as shield against Go Shiozaki's machine gun chops.  Masao Inoue appears to have fixed the hole in his pants.

Kaito Kiyomiya wins with the Japanese Leg Roll Clutch on Masao Inoue after 13 minutes, 54 seconds.

MATCH 7

Global Tag League

Takashi Sugiura & Kenoh vs 50 Funky Powers (Mohammed Yone & Quiet Storm)

Kenoh and Sugiura bumped fists before the match, but I can imagine there is some tension between them. Sugiura seemed to think in a short interview the other day that all was well and good, I don't think Kenoh probably sees it that way and will see it less as time goes on. 

50FP hit the Funky Buster Bomb on Kenoh and got the win. Global Tag League 2018 has not started out particularly well for Kenoh & Sugiura. 

MATCH 8

The Aggression (Katsuhiko Nakajima & Masa Kitamiya) vs Naomichi Marufuji & Atsushi Kotoge

"There was a sense of tension between the two men who once fought for the GHC Heavyweight title" (Noah GHC)

The main event went to a draw after the thirty minute time limit expired. Match was said to be incredible by both fans and Noah wrestlers with harsh knee attacks from Masa Kitamiya. 

Noah announced 515 people attended today in Hakata Stalene on 18th March 2018. Full house!!

Samurai (channel 72 for FujiTV subscribers), will be showing the event on the 24th March at 10pm (Japan Standard Time)