(NOAH) Mochizuki & Marufuji on the Golden Ace "Pro Wrestling Award, Best Tag" will not be given up

Tokyo Sports
6th April 2020

Naomichi Marufuji (40) and  DragonGate's Masaaki Mochizuki (50), who hold the Noah's GHC Heavyweight tag titles, are accelerating for the position of becoming industry leaders.

In the official A Block match in "Global Tag League", which started on the 5th, they defeated Kaito Kiyomiya (23) and Shuhei Taniguchi (43) and earned the win. With a sideways glance at a "rival team" which was formed in another promotion, in 2020 they will run through the tag front.

In the opening tag league match, Mochizuki showed the advantage of being a veteran, as despite being knocked down by a strong lariat and being overwhelmed by the powerful fight of Taniguchi, Taniguchi could not lock him into the Wyvern Catch (modified camel clutch). At this Mochi switched the hold, and reversed it into the La Mahistral for the win.

At the GHC Heavyweight tag title match held on 4th April at the DragonGate Kobe event with no audience, they made their first defense by defeating Takashi Yoshida (37) and Diamante (28), the event had been suspended due to the spread of the coronavirus. Mochizuki said, "I will win everything, and take both the GHC Junior Tag and the Twin Gate (Unified Tag) for Dragongate". Partner Marufuji calmly joked, "If that is true, then please do your best".

As early as January 5th, when the GHC Tag was won, a "pre-order" was placed with "Pro Wrestling Grand Prix" Best Tag Award as established by Tokyo Sports. However, a strong rival has emerged in the mat world; the "Golden Ace" team of Hiroshi Tanahashi (43) and Kota Ibushi (37), who won the IWGP tag titles in New Japan on February 21st.
Mochizuki said about them, "that team is offensive just by getting together..." He said he would not give up on his earlier goals.

"Marufuji has come to Kobe, and I guess the reputation is the strength of "Mochimaru" as veterans. I think that is a strength. I want to actively chase my dream this year."

The domination of the tag league is a passing point for them to aim at the very heart of the industry. In the future, it will build a momentum in which they will increase their energies not tied to either promotion or weight class.

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