(NOAH CHRONOLOGY) GHC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: KAZUYUKI FUJITA

Won: March 21st 2021, "NOAH THE INFINITY", Korakuen Hall, Tokyo

Number of title reigns: 0

Number of defenses: 0

Lost: April 29th 2021, "NOAH THE GLORY"

Total number of days held: 40

Challengers

1. Takashi Sugiura

VS TAKASHI SUGIURA

Title match: 29th April 2021, Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall

Takashi Sugiura challenged Kazuyuki Fujita for the title on the 21st March 2021 at Korakuen Hall, immediately after Fujita's win over Kenoh, saying;  

"Congratulations! Kazuyuki Fujita is wearing a Noah belt. It's fun, isn't it?! However, I want to fight the strong Kazuyuki Fujita. I want to fight with all my heart for that GHC belt."

Then Sugiura offered his hand, and he and Fujita had a burning hot stiff handshake. The title match will take place in Takashi Sugiura's hometown of Nagoya, with a pre-match taking place on the 18th April. This is the first time that anyone in The Sugiura Army has challenged another for the belt. 

The only and only pre-match between them took place at Korakuen Hall on the 18th April 2021. Prior to this Sugiura had been treating all his other matches (particularly his singles with Yoshiki Inamura,which he dubbed "Virtual Fujita"), like pre-matches. The two parodied the stare between Go Shiozaki and Fujita for comedy purposes, once glaring at each other from the ring apron while Kazushi Sakuraba and Kendo Kashin fought in the ring, and another time in the ring while outside of it, Sakuraba had plastic sheeting held over his face. This was the end of any comedy though as after a vicious punch exchange between the two, which Sugi bounced back from with a roar, only to be taken out by a clothesline, the match finished in 9 minutes and 15 seconds after Fujita aimed the soccer-ball kicks at Sugiura's head. 

After the match, Fujita said nothing more than "Nagoya is next", and Takashi Sugiura while fortunately not concussed, came away with a developing black eye and a swelling on the side of his face.

As this was a fight between a unit, The Sugiura Army gathered round, Kazushi Sakuraba was put on Kendo Kashin control duty as he was seen to be taking a firm hand with him and leading him away from the action. Given half the chance he would have gotten involved. Katsuhiko Nakajima was on commentary, and sat looking on as Kazuyuki Fujita and Takashi Sugiura had the traditional stare down, which has become standard in Fujita title matches. Sugi said he didn't like it, wasn't going to do it, and attacked after a few seconds with a big boot. The two beasts then proceeded to tear up Nagoya. There was nothing very much technical in this match, just two guys fighting over a belt with slams, elbows, punches, kicks and the occasional suplex and Sugi clinging on to Fujita's ankle to make him submit.

Fujita however made it to the ropes.

When the course of the match turned back to Fujita, Sugiura had a plan, and this worked well. Pretending to be knocked out, he played the part enough for the ref to bend down and check on him. Sugi kept the ref engaged long enough in this for Fujita to become annoyed, and shove the ref aside. Fujita then went for the Soccer Ball kick, and Sugi rolled out of the way and caught him in a slam using his momentum. A vicious elbow war followed, and then a slap war. The match finished with Sugiura punting Fujita's head almost to the roof, and then hitting the Olympic Qualifying Slam. 

NEXT CHAMPION: Takashi Sugiura

LINKS

Fujita and Sugiura chug beer at the match signing