(NOAH) Kaito Kiyomiya's declaration of war on New Year 4th January

16th December 2019
Tokyo Sports

This does not end with a one sided match.
Noah's Kaito Kiyomiya (23), who won the second consecutive Fighting Spirit award in the "2019 Pro Wrestling Grand Prix" as established by Tokyo Sports, is contemplating the "direct confrontation" with New Japan at the Tokyo Dome on January 4th and 5th next year.

Noah is scheduled for the second round of Korakuen Hall on the same day, and Kaito Kiyomiya who will make his 7th defence as GHC Heavyweight Champion, is already frank about the matter.
Kaito Kiyomiya, who will meet strong arm Go Shiozaki (37) for the GHC match at the start of the promotions 20th anniversary year on January 4th, says "This is the first championship match of 2020. I am not going to drop the belt, as I am preparing for the Pro Wrestling Grand Prix awards ceremony (January 16th)".

At the same time, the industry leader New Japan Pro-Wrestling, is aiming to mobilize more than 80,000 people in their second night at the Tokyo Dome. For Noah, their second night at Korakuen is an aim for 3,500 people, even if it is overpacked. The number of spectators alone makes a big difference, but Kiyomiya says "the victory is a win by 1:1 or 2:1. The size of the venue is unavoidable, considering the current state of the promotion, but Noah and I are still developing".
There is an intent to make it either a win-win, or a dramatic victory with the content.

His remark is full of confidence, this is probably because is only 23 years old and thinking about the future of the promotion who he has grown as a champion to embody the new Noah.
Takashi Sugiura (49), who holds the record for most defenses (14 times), has also stated that Kiyomiya is "a different person from two years ago, and different from a year ago. To be honest, I think its amazing. There is no hesitation in carrying matches, and doubt in how to act has gone. He is a wonderful champion who has led Noah for the past year, well, his shine as a star wrestler isn't as a good as me."

Kiyomiya himself, is not going to end with just the seventh defence and the Fighting Spirit Award, he wants to win both MVP and best bout.
"That is my next goal. I am conscious of MVP as a target for next year, not the future".

In this milestone year, he aims to push the promotion to a higher level.

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