(NOAH) Kenoh intensifies his ambitions in 2020...recapturing the GHC, returning to The Budokan, and "I will build Reiwa's pro wrestling"

Hochi News
1st January 2020

The most intense movement in Pro Wrestling this year, came from Pro Wrestling Noah.
The promotion that Misawa founded in August 2000, changed its parent company to "LIDET ENTERTAINMENT" in March, which redid the promotions colors and logo under the banner, "Leaving Misawa".
Big matches were held at the Edion Arena Osaka No.1 Stadium in September, and at Sumo Hall in November. Above all, it was Kenoh (34), who formed the rebel group "Kongoh" who shook the ring.
"Web News" has an exclusive interview with Kenoh on the first day of the year, revealing further ambitions and commitments in 2020.

Kenoh failed to capture the GHC championship from Kaito Kiyomiya last year at Sumo Hall. In 2020, he stated first and foremost, to regain the lost belt.

"If you think that on November 2nd at Sumo Hall, this was the last episode of the drama, this was not the case. It was about the sixth. I fell in the first match, climbed up again on my own, and fell down again. Now I only have to rise from there again. This year, I want to conclude it".
Kenoh continued, "Even if it is concluded, the drama will not end there. I will show you more interesting ones."

Taking back the championship is the least of his commitments, on taking it back Kenoh depicts a "new world" from that point onwards.
Last year, the new GHC National Championship was created, and Takashi Sugiura defeated Michael Elgin in the first championship match at Sumo Hall, to become the champion.
"What is this National? I don't want such a thing at all. Noah's best belt is the GHC Heavyweight. Take that belt, complete one drama, and move on to the next".

The next committment after regaining the GHC, is the return to the Nippon Budokan.
Mitsuharu Misawa resigned from All Japan and created Noah in 2000, with big events being held at the Budokan since the All Japan era, with The Budokan called Noah's "Hold Land". However, in recent years the sad reality that events cannot be held at "the sacred place" has continued, but last year, on December 14th at ShinKiba 1st Ring, at the Kongoh produce, the parent company LIDET ENTERTAINMENT, promised "If you sell out the house, we will apply for that place". An overcrowded venue was achieved, so the second commitment is the "return to The Nippon Budokan".

"I got the promise to apply. Then, do I take the belt there, or do I take the belt before that? I want to look forward to it."

Noah will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, and the start dash begins with both the 4th and 5th January shows being held in a row at Korakuen Hall. This has generated a lot of contraversy among fans, with comments such as "madness" on social media, as the box office overlaps the Tokyo Dome events of New Japan.

"I think LIDET did well in that regard. There is nothing to criticize, I mean there is no denying it. That kind of feeling is good. There is a chance to win when it comes down to victory or defeat, and there may once have been a time when Noah was above the promotion at the dome. So, I want to recognise such a bullish attitude, and nothing is born without a live or die one."
Live or die? Last year he stood on a cliff edge in the ring, and this year it looks to be the same.

"Kongoh" have increased to five members, with the participation of of Hao and Nio, who entered on December 14th last year.
"It is a shining impression with five people. I want to add more and more originality to a unit that can be used in the world of professional wrestling".

Taking back the GHC, returning to The Budokan, and the unique personality of "Kongoh", Kenoh has starkly revealed his ambitions for 2020, finally, he confessed his ultimate aim;
"The most powerful promotion in Japan uses modern style right now. That was made in the era of Heisei, but Noah still has the scent of the wrestling of The Four Heavenly Kings that was made by Misawa and the others. If the old and the new are fused, then it can make a better world. Isn't that the wrestling of Reiwa* Yes, so I Kongoh and I will make a new Reiwa professional wrestling. We will build Reiwa style."

Link to original article from Hochi News (picture credit, Hochi News)

(Reiwa is the new regnal era in Japan)