(NOAH) CARD ~ STEP FORWARD 2021 (February 24th, Korakuen Hall)

Noah return to Korakuen Hall for their final event before GREAT VOYAGE 2021 in YOKOHAMA on the 7th March, (the next event is technically FULL THROTTLE'S produce at Yokohama on the 6th March, but that doesn't count as a proper Noah show). This will be the last event in which some pre-match scores are settled, namely THE AGGRESSION vs Takashi Sugiura & Kazushi Sakuraba, and Kenoh vs Kendo Kashin (or rather Kashin, himself and his delusion). It should also be noted that the GHC Junior Heavyweight tag titles are still unchallenged for.  

The event will be streamed live through ABEMA on a free worldwide broadcast, from 17.30 JST. If you cannot catch the show at the time it happens, you can watch it at your leisure for seven days afterwards. After this time it will be put on WrestleUniverse, which you will need to subscribe to in order to view the show (and any past or future Noah shows as not all are streamed through this platform).  

MATCH ONE 

Hajime Ohara vs Yasutaka Yano

This is a rivalry building for the future, as Hajime Ohara seems to both be teacher and adversary for Yasutaka Yano, and although it is too early in his career for him to be pinning his seniors, Yano has come in the past very close to pinning Ohara.

MATCH TWO

Mohammed Yone, Shuhei Taniguchi & Yoshiki Inamura vs Kongoh Juniors (Haoh, Nioh & Tadasuke)

This is a very heavyweight match for the likes of little 5'4 70kg Haoh, Nioh will probably find it marginally easier, with Tadasuke probably coming off the best, although I have a feeling that NOSAWA Rongai will probably materialize at ringside again to irritate Tadasuke. As far as the team of Mohammed Yone, Shuhei Taniguchi and Yoshiki Inamura goes, I'm not expecting any jigging or disco dancing from Inamura. 

MATCH THREE

FULL THROTTLE (Seiki Yoshioka & YO-HEY) vs Kotaro Suzuki & Ikuto Hidaka

Chaotic junior match, with Hajime Ohara keeping a close eye on things from the sidelines. 

MATCH FOUR

STINGER (Yoshinari Ogawa, HAYATA & Susumu) vs Momo No Seishun (Daisuke Harada & Atsushi Kotoge) & Kinya Okada

Old scores are to be settled as STINGER take on Momo No Seishun, and the lingering hatred between Daisuke Harada and STINGER (in particular HAYATA and Yoshinari Ogawa). This will also be a chance for Ogawa to assess Okada. As Kotoge is challenging for the GHC Junior Heavyweight, I don't think Harada will make a tag challenge (he has no partner), but it will be interesting to see who does, and whether it will be tonight. 

MATCH FIVE

The Sugiura Army (Takashi Sugiura, Kazushi Sakuraba, Kazuyuji Fujita & Kendo Kashin) vs Kongoh (Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Masa Kitamiya & Manabu Soya)

In his usual demonic way, Katsuhiko Nakajima hinted that the reason why Takashi Sugiura and Kazushi Sakuraba didn't have a pre-match against THE AGGRESSION, was because they had something to hide. Well, all cards are on the table tonight. 

The last time Kazuyuki Fujita and Manabu Soya clashed, it was way too short, and fans were left disappointed. Now we get round two. 

Kenoh is going to be firing on all angry red cylinders to get Kendo Kashin back for attacking him under various disguises in both Maebashi and Sendai. However, I wouldn't put it past Kashin to create a few more decoys and play a few more tricks to get the upper hand in the last pre match.

MATCH SIX

The M'S Alliance (Keiji Mutoh, Naomichi Marufuji & Masato Tanaka) vs Kaito Kiyomiya, Go Shiozaki & Daiki Inaba

"Keiji Mutoh, who became the 34th GHC Heavyweight Champion, is finally here! This is the only pre-match before the championship match against Kaito Kiyomiya on the 14th March. What kind of fight will Kiyomiya, who has been called "Without Risk" by Mutoh, challenge the champion with?"

Also in this match, Go Shiozaki and Naomichi Marufuji continue their eternal quest to outdo each other in their "Chop Competition", both as stubborn as the other, neither is going to admit any kind of defeat. On the more serious side, Go Shiozaki vs Masato Tanaka should be a stiff fest, and Daiki Inaba will be looking to even a score with Naomichi Marufuji as a rivalry is building. 

Link to original article from Noah.co.jp

Picture credit: Noah.co.jp