(NOAH) Recap ~ "Who Is The Leader?" (1st August 2020, Noah Special Arena, Kawasaki)

This small event was held on the suggestion of the long suffering Hajime Ohara in an attempt to end the endless squabbling between Seiki Yoshioka and Atsushi Kotoge, over who the leader of their unit "FULL THROTTLE" is. Ohara suggested that they held three matches, with the winner being the toughest person, who would win the most matches. It sounded simple, but it didn't quite end up being so simple. It was also the first time that the three of them had singles matches with each other. 

Noah held the event at the "Noah Special Arena" (which is the name they give to Club Citta when they held shows there without an audience during the Coronavirus quarantine period), and it was streamed live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. The event will still be there if you click on the link as the videos will remain in perpetuity, but you must be a paid subscriber. 

Seiki Yoshioka and Atsushi Kotoge started (Hajime Ohara waited outside the ring) and had a somewhat desperate match, in which Atsushi Kotoge went for the quick pin at the beginning, Yoshioka did the same later as both where determined to get the pin quickly on each other. In the end after 7 minutes and 40 seconds, Kotoge stole the win with the Kid Clutch. Yoshioka threw a tantrum, and left the ring, slapping the mat as he went. 

No sooner had Yoshioka gone, then Ohara, who had been waiting at ringside, attacked. Ohara went old school on Kotoge using a choke, which he repeatedly combined into a pin. He also bought out his array of nasty moves which tied Kotoge up in knots, and unusually for Ohara even resorting to hair pulling and almost cheat tactics like pulling Kotoge's hand off the rope to stop him breaking the hold. The referee had to warn him repeatedly of this. Kotoge however, struck back with lightning speed and got the upperhand, even using a rare rop rope somersault. Ohara won in seven minutes and eleven seconds

with the Mui Bien clutch. 

Kotoge protested the loss, and went complaining to the referee saying that it was no way a loss, he had his foot on the ropes. The referee refused to budge, and Kotoge sulked, even telling the waiting Yoshioka to go away and refusing to leave the ring. 

The well rested Yoshioka immediately went on the attack, however the MMA experienced Ohara was not going to give into kicks, so Yoshioka tried submission moves, but Ohara got to the ropes. Yoshioka eventually got the win in seven minutes and thirteen seconds with the Oklahoma roll. 

So now here they were, nothing solved as everyone had now one win. Atsushi Kotoge got into the ring as they sat down to sort it out with everyone looking to Ohara to come up with a solution. After all, this event had been his idea and as he was the one who had suggested this show, he should be the one to sort it out. Ohara discussed with the referee that they would hold an elimination match, over the top rope, pin or submission.

Ohara started the match watching Kotoge and Yoshioka slug it out, although he did get involved from time to time. He went for a quick elimination by shoving Kotoge of the top turnbuckle, but Kotoge hung on and grabbed on to the rope. Yoshioka tried also to push him out of the ring, but the ref said to let Kotoge back in. 

Yoshioka was the first to be eliminated during a melee on the apron, when Kotoge knocked him off and to the floor, which left Ohara vs Kotoge, and while Ohara met crazy, Kotoge used The Killswitch to crown himself as the leader after eleven minutes and fourteen seconds. 

Kotoge then gave a kind of pep talk to his teammates, Yoshioka looked grim in realising he would now have to obey a crazy person who was rambling on about being the leader and pointing to the mat, but he was game enough (or sane enough) to admit defeat and accept Kotoge's hand when offered. Looking wild eyed, Kotoge gave a speech

"This is the perfect result! I am the leader! I think Ohara and Yoshioka are encouraging as teammates, so trust me and follow me! Lets make this the strongest unit in the Noah Jnrs! With the engine at full throttle, please enjoy watching us!"

Then supporting each other, Noah's new unit left to give an interview backstage. Kotoge said that next he wanted to aim for a belt. He didn't say which, but there are two junior belts (GHC Junior Heavyweight and the GHC Junior Tag belts), which are without challengers. 

GIFS taken from WRESTLE UNIVERSE

Picture credit: Seiki Yoshioka