(NOAH) Memories of the Yokohama Bunka Gym: It was good to see one final GHC match (Kuniko Yamada's Variety of Life)

18th August 2020
Yahoo Japan\Nikkan Gendai.com 

(Note, I have changed the title slightly as she put she saw a tag match in Yokohama, but there were no tag titles defended in Noah on the 10th). 

Wrestling is interesting. 

There is a favorite wrestler to support in each promotion, but Go Shiozaki of pro wrestling Noah is especially amazing. He is strong, and probably has the best looks of all promotions, with a good personality too. I didn't pick him by looks alone, he is also my personal trainer for my weakened muscles. He is also the current GHC Heavyweight Champion.

The other day in the main event held at the Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium, he had a double title match with GHC National Champion Kenoh (currently serving as the director of the Nippon Kempo Ogama dojo.) Whoever won the 60 minute match, would become double GHC champion. 

It might sound odd to say this, but thank you for the limited number of visitors. In addition to the temperature measurement, the disinfectant, the masks and the prohibition on drinking, what is the most difficult was the fact that there was "no cheering" allowed, and by full time the result of the match was a draw with the palms of the customers where all bright red thanks to the fierce fighting. 

It was amazing. 

During the match I thought "they are dead" about three times, so when the bell rang for the draw rather than be disappointed, it was a satisfied applause that sounded out. 

Shiozaki was born in Kumamoto, and was the 4th ace* in youth baseball as a child. He was also in the best four in Basketball, which he continued to play throughout Middle and High school. Hearing Mitsuharu Misawa (Noah's founder) on TV during his favorite pro wrestling broadcast say, "People can do anything depending on their efforts!", he watched the onscreen text for information about how to apply as a trainee, and then trained his body in earnest, applied and passed and became the attendant of the much admired, "Strong Arm", Kenta Kobashi.

Yokohama Bunka Gym was broadcast live on ABEMATV, with the number of views by fans who could not come to the venue being 243,000 and more than 20,000 comments were received. Kobashi also participated in ZOOM and watched over his pupil, but it seems that Shiozaki, although being a powerful man was, "very nervous". 

I was on commentary on the day, but in the later half I was nervous and making rapid fire comments. I like Kenoh, but my commentary was inclined towards Shiozaki. But on reflection, this year there will be the singles league match the "N-1 VICTORY" by Noah's heavyweight wrestlers. With "I AM NOAH. I want wrestling to make everyone feel better". 

With other sports and events, the Yokohama Bunka Gym, which was once full of memories with the concert by BOØWY, will close on September 6th. Thank you for your 58 years, it was nice to see something good there for one last time. 

Link to original article from Yahoo Japan\Nikkan Gendai.com 
Picture credit: Yahoo Japan\Nikkan Gendai.com   

4th Ace: Batting order, roughly means he was one of the best batters on the team.