(NOAH) The trail of Marufuji vs KENTA

1st July 2018
Boku-Pro

At a time when I was working in professional baseball, a man told me this story "If you are writing about wrestling, you should know about Kenta Kobayashi who has joined All Japan Pro Wrestling..."
I think that was in September 2002.
I answered, "Oh, his name has changed to KENTA, and he now belongs to Noah. I went to see him at the Budokan at New Japan (against Wataru Inoue on August 29th 2002), he was with Kobashi".
The man seemed to be unfamiliar with wrestling, nevertheless he said, "I belonged to the same baseball clun as KENTA during High School. He always said he was going to become a professional wrestler from that time. I remember he was cutting out the clippings of Kobashi from the paper and putting them inside his locker." The fact that one of the reasons why he loved wrestling was the fact that there was "a wrestler whose name differed by one letter from myself"*
This was prove decisive, as Misawa (when interviewing during the introductory All Japan interview) put it like this:

"You are recommended for Kobashi..."
"?!"
Because there was a one letter difference in the name, Kobashi, with no prior acquaintance, took him on as student.

KENTA (now "Hideo Itami") will return to "Japan's ring" for the first time in a long time! On the 1st September it has been arranged for him to face Naomichi Marufuji at 20th anniversary memorial, "Flight". The participation for this match is for one night only as WWE have approved this as a special case.
There is no doubt that this is the hottest card. In this column I want to return to KENTA vs Marufuji.

May 24th 2000, All Japan debut, General Athletic Gymnasium, Aomori

The first encounter between KENTA & Marufuji was the introductory test at All Japan, which KENTA received on entry. This entry match, (in which All Japan collaborated with "The Human Academy", who are a business who run schools for people acquiring qualifications and career advancement), was partially broadcast on terrestrial television.
Marufuji recalled that KENTA showed "the most beautiful bridge". Six other people passed with KENTA, but Marufuji says he remembers only that bridge.
It sounds good, but for Marufuji, the new disciple was mischievous. (It doesn't translate well, but apparently KENTA made some kind of prank call).

KENTA'S debut match was against Marufuji, it only took 11 minutes and 27 seconds, and he lost to a Boston crab, but Misawa thought highly of it by saying that it was better than his own debut. Marufuji commented that there was a mutual encouragement to work hard.

After this they both moved to Noah together, and by 2002 had a total of six single matches. Although the result was overwhelming for Marufuji, there came the event "Roppongi Wrestling" (September 26th 2002). While organised by DDT, with the Tokyo Shock Boys on the card, KENTA vs Marufuji was offered by Noah.
It depends on the policy of individual publications as to whether this match remains on the record or not, and in any case, Marufuji won by the Shiranui. It was his 22nd birthday, and the battle record so far was Marufuji's 9 wins and 3 losses.

These two were bringing many female fans into Noah, and there was no doubt that this caused excitement in the well established club of Professional Wrestling.

Taue vs Akiyama, Akebono appears in Noah and combat in January 2006.

By this time, things were noticeable than in November 2004. They were of course growing up, but as the first GHC Junior Tag Team, the interest was increased by having a "partner confrontation". Naturally it was a good match, and in January 2006, KENTA welcomed Marufuji as challenger at the Nippon Budokan.
This became a huge battle, and eclipsed Taue vs Akiyama (as KENTA had his first victory). In September of that year it was Marufuji who took the GHC Heavyweight Championship from Akiyama, and nominated KENTA as his first challenger. This took place on October 29th, main eventing at the Nippon Budokan.
Before the match, Misawa asked, "Do you think that Marufuji vs KENTA can be Misawa vs Kobashi? I think it can be, and there will be trouble if it is not."
He need not have worried. The match surpassed the last one. Marufuji jumped on the top rope to KENTA, who fell back to the corner, and was hit with a face crusher. Marufuji went for a double arm suplex and threw him into the opposite corner. Marufuji with the dropkick to the apron, and the Shiranui.
Then came the spot with the iron fence. The camera caught that the distance between the iron guardrail and the ring was shorter than usual. Marufuji banged his throat on the iron rail, ("I thought my neck had broken"). Marufuji's feet hit KENTA, and there was a lot of blood, but it didn't affect the intensity of the match. Marufuji triumphantly screamed into the microphone, "Do you have any complaints about us as two heavyweights? We will be leading Noah from now on, and so we thank you!"
KENTA, spent from desperate effort, and although a presence in the ring, made no comment. Afterwards Marufuji grabbed his hand and praised him by saying, "This is my favorite wrestler. Even without saying anything, and just by grasping your hand, it is transmitted." Regarding the topic of Kobashi vs Akiyama he said that he thinks they lost nothing, they had just as good as match, and there were no complaints as they were at the top of Noah.

December 2010, KENTA is Marufuji's opponent for his return

In October 2008 following the match at the Nippon Budokan (which is the only sixty minute match in Noah to date), an exhausted KENTA was interviewed in the ring, "I have given 100%, but for the next opponent? Please forgive me..I cannot think of that right now". Marufuji was also being asked about a rematch to which he said with a smile, "That's a little unfair. Wait a bit".

In June 2010, KENTA became injured, and they faced each other in the return fight. KENTA's victory speech was to say into the microphone, "I have returned, asshole". However afterwards Marufuji said, "KENTA is the top, and he is the best wrestler, I think he is the best, whatever he says, however I cannot respect that guy's bad language much", and suddenly changing he said, "I heard what he said, but well, basically I do not agree, but I will accept it as his call."
However, in July 2013, when KENTA overcame his challenge for the GHC Heavyweight Championship and was asked about his impression of Marufuji he said, "I regret saying it, but it was good."

Although that was the last match between them for now, Marufuji spoke of it smilingly when asked about the above question, "we will do it again", the reason he said was "We make the best matches. We cannot avoid this. Besides, there is no other."

It is no lie. I am looking forward to the best match.

Link to original article from Boku Pro (in Japanese)

*KENTA'S real name is Kenta Kobayashi and his teacher is of course Kenta Kobashi.