(NOAH) Go Shiozaki "Energize Japan with my chop"

27th March 2020
Tokyo Sports

Can you become Reiwa's Rikidozan?
Noah's GHC Heavyweight Champion, Go Shiozaki (38) gives courage and hope to Japan as it is rocked by the spread of the coronavirus. At the Korakuen Hall event on the 29th, he will be challenged by The Beast, Kazuyuki Fujita (49) at a first ever event with no spectators. Before the unusual title battle, what came to the champion's mind was "that sight" from the 1950s, and the deep scars of defeat that remain.

In response to a request from the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike (67), for people to refrain from unnecessary and urgent travel this weekend, the Korakuen event on the 29th will be held as an empty arena, but will be distributed live on "DDT Universe". I feared that the shock would be great for Shiozaki, who loves the heat and the cheering of the venture more than anyone, but the situation was the opposite.
"Frankly, I can only look forward and accept it (rough). I hope this can be a plus. The first thing that came to my mind was the black and white images on the street TV. On the screen Rikidozan encouraged tens and thousands of people who wanted to see the match, but could not go to the venue. I guess the only thing I can do now is professional wrestling."

Rikidozan, the father of Japanese Pro Wrestling, switched from sumo to pro wrestling in 1951. Shortly after the first international match on February 19th 1954, the television broadcast started, and the popularity exploded all over Japan. When Nippon Television set up TV sets in various places, it is said that more than 10,000 large crowds gathered everywhere, and sent cheers to Rikidozan, who punished the Sharp brothers with karate chops.
"Isn't it possible to bring courage to Japan from a small screen? I think it is a good opportunity to return to the starting point of Pro Wrestling. The times have changed a lot since Showa, but I believe that the excitement of the match and the dynamism of the wrestlers can be conveyed through the screen of a PC or smartphone.

Shiozaki's opponent is his strongest challenger, Fujita. There is no end to the burning.
"He is the strongest enemy I have to defeat. Because Japan is in such an uneasy situation, I want to have a match where my passion echoes in the heart of each and every person who watches the video stream. With the explosive sound of my chop, the smartphone speaker will explode. A powerful blow that Japan will regain energy from".

For the unprecedented crisis in Japan and for Noah, he will head to the ring and into the battle, with the determination never to quit.

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