(NOAH) Marufuji vs Kotaro, fate's rematch

Tokyo Sports
3rd August 2019

"Older brother and younger brother", announced their reunion match after about 17 and a half years.
At Noah's 19th anniversary event (4th August, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo) the favorite pupils of the late promotion's founder, Mitsuharu Misawa, Naomichi Marufuji (39) and Kotaro Suzuki (41), will have their second singles match since March 19th 2002.

"At first, Misawa-san's commemoration (June 13th) was considered to be the best. However, as a result, the positive stage of the anniversary was arranged. I think Misawa-san guided me to this," Kotaro Suzuki says.

Marufuji has a similar feeling.
Despite being younger, he debuted as an All Japan wrestler in August 1998. Kotaro Suzuki, who is three years older, debuted with Noah in December 2001. As Misawa's assistant, he witnessed the turbulent times of the era.

Naomichi Marufuji commented, "After he left Noah, he returned after being top at various groups of juniors. We are no longer the people we were back then. The best stage has been arranged for us to collide with each others amount of accumulated experience. This is not going to be an emotional match. This is not going to be a match that will run out of power." Immediately after this serious speech he said, "I will smile, even though I am not exhausted" (rough).

In the singles match of 2002, Kotaro (who wore blue tights), was defeated with a trace kick.
"He is ten times stronger than that time. He has been fighting various heavyweights for over ten years. I felt this sense of weight in Kawasaki after a long time, and my chest was torn in one shot", Kotaro said. "It is going to be a hell of a match. I want him to feel the growth of the bad son and the younger brother."

The two wrestlers will meet again at Noah's anniversary event, and bring their history together in the ring of the new Noah.

Link to original article from Tokyo Sports
Picture credit: Tokyo Sports