(NOAH\DDT) Event recap ~ Jun Akiyama, Kenta Kobashi & Naomichi Marufuji talk battles (9th August 2020)

Jun Akiyama had two "Talk Battles" today in Tokyo, one with Kenta Kobashi and the other with Naomichi Marufuji. I am afraid that I don't have much information about either of them (Akiyama vs Kobashi slightly more), but Akiyama as ever, was on top form and was sarcastic about and to Kenta Kobashi. 

The two "Talk Battles" (basically a sit down chat, with the MC choosing the winner at the end), consisted of "Talk Battles" Part 1 and 2, fan questions, autographs and pictures. As this is the era of Corona (which Akiyama spoke about life in), Akiyama and Kobashi and Akiyama and Marufuji sat with a perspex screen between them, and the fan pictures were held with the fan sitting in front of them at the edge of the stage. 

Kobashi once said in an interview that even from his first day in the All Japan dojo, Jun Akiyama has marched to the beat of his own drum, the fans would probably agree with this, especially since Akiyama turned up in a sparkly mask for the first part of the talk battle with Kobashi, which he later changed into a green Super Sasadango Machine mask. The mask wearing is apparently what Akiyama does in a "Talk Battle" with Kobashi. When asked about the Super Sasadango Machine mask, Akiyama said that he always kept it on him! 

Fans made the comment that Akiyama does not seem to see Kobashi as his senior. No wonder when Akiyama asked Kobashi why he didn't bring presents with him (Kobashi looked weary in response) and later when they played "Rock-Paper-Scissors", Akiyama told Kobashi that since he, Kobashi, was an old man of 70, he would go first (Kobashi is only 53). Kobashi did make the comment afterwards that Akiyama was now the oldest person out of himself, Misawa, Baba and Jumbo Tsuruta to still be wrestling at 50 years old. 

Akiyama did make the comment about Marufuji that as soon as he entered (All Japan) that he knew there was no one like him. Marufuji said that Akiyama if the person you could rely on to give you a proper answer had he asked. Marufuji later said that he is still terrified of Akiyama, and perhaps he should start smoking cigars too. Yoshinari Ogawa was also discussed. He's Noah's mystery man, and even they know nothing about his personal life, they don't know whether there is a Mrs. Ogawa, children or even grandchildren. One thing they do know is that Ogawa can't really drink like he used to, and there is no way that he could ever be lured away overseas to be a trainer. For all their billions, they simply couldn't afford him.   

With thanks to: Kaorun77, Abulasumai, Metal Noah. 

Picture credit: Noah GHC