(NOAH CHRONOLOGY) HAYATA ~ GHC JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP REIGN (3RD)

Won: 27th June 2021, "MUTA the WORLD"

Number of title reigns: 2

Number of defenses: 8

Lost: THE LEAVE presents N-INNOVATION Night 3

Total number of days held: 198

Challengers

1. Ikuto Hidaka

2. YO-HEY

3. Kotaro Suzuki

4. Daisuke Harada

5. NOSAWA Rongai

6. Aleja

7. Tadasuke

8. Yoshinari Ogawa

9. The winner of the N-Innovation Junior Rumble: Daisuke Harada

VS IKUTO HIDAKA

22nd July 2021, Korakuen Hall

30th June 2021, Korakuen Hall

There was the usual Noah Junior brawl after the match, after which Ikuto Hidaka challenged HAYATA for the GHC Junior Championship. HAYATA has found now that he doesn't have to say anything to give a response to his challengers (he only ever said one word anyway and now he's not even going to say that and the last time he said a sentence was New Year 2021), and so he attacked Hidaka to give his consent. HAYATA by this time had completely given up speaking. 

Naturally, no one waited for the bell on July 3rd in Yokohama. The referee wandering around the ring trying to keep some order, back inside it was Seiki Yoshioka and YO-HEY, and when order was restored as much it could be, the reclusive GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion (HAYATA) faced his challenger. YO-HEY knowing for now, he had no interest him, and tagging Ikuto Hidaka in. The match itself was back and forth between the two teams, with HAYATA getting the win over Ikuto Hidaka. The match in Sendai on July 11th ended with no contest between the two as their teammates got the win, and HAYATA retained against Hidaka on the 22nd July via the 403 Impact after 13 minutes and 59 seconds. NOSAWA, who had threatened to kick Hidaka out of the group should he lose denied any such knowledge, but for HAYATA another member of the group was about to rear his head, and a far more personal one that Hidaka.

VS YO-HEY

1st August 2021, Hiroshima Sun Plaza

Fans had been waiting for YO-HEY to challenge HAYATA. Noah had teased it a few weeks before when YO-HEY and Seiki Yoshioka (then part of FULL THROTTLE) challenged HAYATA & Yoshinari Ogawa for the junior tag championship, but nothing ever came of it because Yoshioka turned on YO-HEY and Hajime Ohara, and joined STINGER. YO-HEY challenged HAYATA on the 27th July, telling him that he would make his 15th debut anniversary in Hiroshima "a nightmare". 

With the short passage of time between the 27th July and the 1st August, there was only one pre-match. Thank Tadasuke for getting the match thrown out, as he came storming into the ring during it, knocked down NOSAWA and made an announcement of a new Kongoh member. 

HAYATA hasn't turned up to a press conference since late 2020, famously citing "illness" and "traffic", and then Noah not bothering to even advertise STINGER were attending after that, but he turned up today for YO-HEY. He might not have said a word (as stated he no longer speaks), and as ever left it to YO-HEY. YO-HEY said that this match was personal for him, and while he thought it was important for El Perros De Mal Del Japon to get a belt, he was doing this for himself. There was no one who knew HAYATA better than he did in Noah, and he was devising countermeasures. This time his ability was different he said, and he would defeat HAYATA with that.

This was a very special match to celebrate HAYATA'S 15th anniversary in wrestling, and in Noah and in Hiroshima, HAYATA could only have one opponent, YO-HEY. YO-HEY might not have the WRESTLEGATE background and Hiroshima debut that HAYATA shares with Yoshioka and Susumu, but he and HAYATA share a common background in Dove, which makes Hiroshima a special place for him and them, and to a marginal extent both Susumu and Yoshioka share this too. Fan excitement was so intense for this match that it served to eclipse the main event with an outpouring of fan art online and high anticipation about what would happen. 

Title match

It was an emotional, but short match and was the shortest of the title matches (and special tag match) that evening. YO-HEY said he had bought out new abilities to combat HAYATA with, but he hadn't reckoned with HAYATA knowing him so well he lured him into desperation where he wrestled using adrenalin and not his head, and the devastating Headache out of nowhere that YO-HEY knows only too well. 

WINNER: HAYATA with the Headache (15 minutes, 27 seconds)

After seeing to YO-HEY, Perros Del Mal left himself and HAYATA alone in the ring. Fans wondered what would happen, but HAYATA bent down and they butted heads, before HAYATA stood up got the belt, bent down and held the belt up to YO-HEY. When YO-HEY had gone, STINGER got into the ring, and the three posed with their belts, Susumu herding HAYATA to the centre of the ring so he couldn't vanish. HAYATA semi hid behind his belt when he did hold it up, later he was not going to pose alone, even if Yoshioka did leave him for a second and look back to see what he was doing. 

VS KOTARO SUZUKI

3rd September, Yokohama Radiant Halls

Kotaro Suzuki challenged HAYATA for the title on the 6th August at Korakuen Hall ("DEPARTURE Day 2"), he came out after a six man tag between Kongoh Juniors and STINGER, and said; 

"Hey, HAYATA. I need the belt as a junior to appear in the N-1. Accept my challenge"

HAYATA took the mic, but didn't speak as expected but simply tapped it and threw it aside. He gave his consent by holding up the belt to Kotaro (and hiding behind it).

There wasn't going to be any pre-matches between the two as the cards of the 15th, 28th and 29th August were changed due to roster members having COVID or shielding for COVID, but this didn't stop Kotaro from storming the ring after the STINGER tag match in Toyama on the 28th with others in Perros De Mal, and beating HAYATA down. Kotaro grabbed the belt and stood with his foot on HAYATA'S chest, HAYATA reached for the belt but Kotaro snatched it out of his way, before he laid it across him and left. 

HAYATA got his revenge the next day, attacking Kotaro when he was in the interview area. HAYATA knocked him to the floor, and did the same thing to him, stand over him with the belt in his hand and with his foot on Kotaro's chest, and (after an awkward moment of staring at the camera), for the first time in a long time, he was actually seen to speak. 

Title match

Kotaro Suzuki was merciless. He has a special facial expression for when he wants something and is determined to get it, and he worked calm, calculated and methodical to wear HAYATA down. Kotaro was going to need to beat heavyweights, he was going to get the chance to face the GHC Heavyweight Champion, but to do that he had to first beat the GHC Junior Champion. HAYATA though wasn't as helpless or as worn down as Kotaro would have liked and eventually struck back, you could see mentally that Kotaro was going back either to the drawing board or plan B, and whatever he went with it worked for a time. Kotaro thought he was going to use the same trick as HAYATA used on YO-HEY, wear him into a state of desperation where he stops thinking and goes with whatever he thinks will work. But HAYATA was not going to make it that easy, he had his own tricks and used it at moment that was devastating in effect to retain.

WINNER: HAYATA by reversal of the Tiger Driver (14 minutes, 12 seconds)

VS DAISUKE HARADA

10th October, Edion Arena Osaka 1st Stadium

As Kotaro was rolled out and taken away by the seconds, Daisuke Harada rolled into the ring to challenge HAYATA for the title;

"I can't keep silent after watching such a great match. My challenge is dokan! Please accept it. On the 10th October, a big match in Osaka. A match in a special place for us!!"

HAYATA gave his consent by holding up the belt to him, Harada pointed to indicate he was a marked man, and slowly made the title belt motion around his waist. 

The title match has been set for the 10th October in Osaka like Daisuke Harada said, it will take place on the same night that the winner of the N-1 faces Naomichi Marufuji for the GHC Heavyweight Championship. Harada is right, Osaka is a special place for both HAYATA and himself, Osaka is not only associated with HAYATA'S days in Dove, and his and Harada's shared days in Osaka Pro, it was also the spiritual home of RATELS. 

The first pre-match took place on the 6th September at Shinjuku FACE when STINGER (HAYATA, Yuya Susumu and Atsushi Kotoge) took on their challengers, Daisuke Harada, Atsushi Kotoge and Hajime Ohara. With the tag championship being closer the focus was naturally on the GHC Tag Champions and their challengers. As Daisuke Harada and HAYATA have a singles pre-match on the 15th September at Club Citta, Noah did not wish to ruin it too much. However, when HAYATA was in the ring he was even more coldly sadistic than ever. Harada once said that HAYATA going over to STINGER turned him into someone he didn't know, this must have been a stranger then to Harada who has had countless battles with HAYATA since. Even by Noah Junior matches this was a hard, fast and chaotic match with STINGER making lightning fast attacks on opponents, striking hard and fast and looking like a bolt of static energy in the night sky. The match was eventually won by Yuya Susumu.

Note: Harada's "Dokan" expression doesn't really translate well into English, it's like saying "the thunder crashed", "the fireworks exploded". It's more of a word indicating a sound like "bang" or "boom". 

"This isn't Osaka, but it's amazing"

"Epoch making pre-match"

"HAYATA has become the successor to Ogawa-ism"

This technical match at Club Citta on the 15th September got going quickly. HAYATA has progressed, and now uses a lot of submissions, more than usual and which he can be very inventive with, so much so Daisuke Harada was favoring his arm by the end of the match. Needless to say, this was not the HAYATA that Daisuke Harada once knew, his face alternating between a cold sneer and sadistic smile, but that said there were still some parts that Harada was still able to predict (such as when he dodged The Headache_, although he did himself admit there were parts he couldn't and would be working on new measures. Harada's vicious emerged by using chokes and pulling HAYATA'S arms tight around his neck. Harada had to be be both inventive and manipulative as he had to equally be winding HAYATA up so he went for the desperation moves, and fooling him into thinking he could anticipate him. Both spent by the end of the match, physically and mentally, but neither were going to let go and give anything to the other

WINNER: Neither, 30 minute time limit draw 

After the match they had a stare off and held up their fingers to indicate "one" to each other, before HAYATA left the ring and slowly made his way up the stairs and to the back. Harada followed after bowing to the audience. Everyone is wondering just what will happen in Osaka. 

The final pre-match happened at the N-1 finals night on the 3rd October at Korakuen Hall. Harada knew he was facing the strongest HAYATA, someone he didn't know well anymore, and someone who the fans said was the true heir of what they call "Ogawa-ism", and so he has said he is working on strategies, and one of these seems to be to wear HAYATA down, but the match today ended in a draw as both had their shoulders down. 

Winner: Draw (8 minutes, 6 seconds)

The referee judged it a draw and because this is the Noah Juniors, everyone started arguing over who won. Harada, knowing that this was an explosive situation and he didn't want Perros Del Mal De Japon storming the ring (or in fact any other of the Noah Junior roster who were lurking around), he said that he and HAYATA were going to continue the match now, one on one, sudden death, only them. HAYATA played along with it to a point, and then decided to leave and this being the Noah Juniors, the fight went backstage with Harada and Junta chasing after them and the ref following on. The next match will be the title match. 

Title match

It was not without a tinge of jealousy on Daisuke Harada's part that he said should HAYATA win then HAYATA will be the "absolute champion" of the Noah Junior division, and that is why he had to stop him. Harada started by wearing HAYATA down initially, but he found that HAYATA reversed it and rolled him off.  HAYATA enjoying torturing Harada's arm, inventive reversals in a very Ogawa style, he seems to have almost shed Gunso's mannerisms and picked up Ogawa's, introducing a more submission based style which he had never used before. Harada had a struggle to get to the ropes at some points, but with Kotoge and Ohara losing the belts earlier, he knew it was all down to him. 

There were still some parts of the new HAYATA which were easy to read, but Harada's arm made him a target and even simple things like a jab to it was enough for HAYATA to get out of some moves. In the end, HAYATA used a simply brutal  bridging submission on Harada which effectively prevented him from getting to the ropes, there was no where at all that Harada could go and nothing he could do so he did the unthinkable, something that Harada has never done before in a title match or in any match recently. He tapped. 

WINNER: HAYATA with the modified armlock (19 minutes, 9 seconds)

VS NOSAWA Rongai

"LEC Cleanup! presents DEMOLITION STAGE 2021 in FUKUOKA", Fukuoka International Centre, Sunday 30th October

Like coyotes, Perros Del Mal De Japon swarmed the ring, everyone jeering and pointing at HAYATA. 

HAYATA got up and grabbed the microphone, speaking for the first time in more than a year and nominating NOSAWA who was standing at the forefront as his next challenger. 

"Next...NOSAWA Rongai"

NOSAWA deiced he didn't want it and pointed at Eita. His moment in the spotlight done, HAYATA left. No one is letting NOSAWA out of this. Backstage NOSAWA said that if he was going to be the next challenger, then everything was going to be done his way - he would choose the pre-matches, he would choose the title match place. One problem with this NOSAWA, HAYATA really doesn't care what you do. NOSAWA got his own way by booking a pre-match that would see him team with Yoshinari Ogawa and Naomichi Marufuji against HAYATA, YO-HEY and Kaito Kiyomiya on the 17th October, but before that there was a scuffle in Yokohama on the 15th when STINGER invaded the tag elimination match that Perros had won.

HAYATA (flanked by Yuya Susumu and Seiki Yoshioka) pointed at NOSAWA, who then offered a handshake. HAYATA after a quick glance around (which included YO-HEY who nods when he glances at him), actually somehow accepted his handshake. The same HAYATA who doesn't like to talk, doesn't like to shake hands and wouldn't let YO-HEY do it when they tagged. 

You can imagine what happened next as it is a rule in Noah that you should accept a handshake from a heavyweight, but you should never accept one from a junior...especially if that junior is called NOSAWA or Tadasuke (or even Ogawa). A fight broke out between the roster, to which Kongoh joined in with and threw everyone out of the ring.

17th October, Club Citta, Kawasaki

NOSAWA constructed a house of cards by putting himself with Yoshinari Ogawa and Naomichi Marufuji, and pitting himself (and them) against HAYATA, YO-HEY and Kaito Kiyomiya. Everything soon fell apart when the usual Noah Junior chaos took over, NOSAWA attacked teammate Ogawa and everyone (except YO-HEY and Naomichi Marufuji) beat up on NOSAWA with HAYATA getting the win by playing NOSAWA at his own game and kicking him in the crotch. After the match there was a further beat down on NOSAWA who seemingly fell unconscious, his tongue rolling out of his mouth as they pulled him up by the hair or the arm. 

24th October, Aore Nagoka 

NOSAWA kept everyone guessing as he appeared to be up to something. He offered HAYATA a handshake, and HAYATA, who is wise to the ways of the Noah Juniors and doesn't like shaking hands anyway, waved him away. NOSAWA was insistent, and found out the best he was going to get was a kind of flick of the fingers. 

There was an element of fury to HAYATA'S wrestling today, which is unusual for him, but then again NOSAWA is one of the three people who can wind HAYATA up. As for NOSAWA (who had his arm twisted out of its socket practically), he showed that he can do more than brawl and can do technical wrestling very well. It wasn't just NOSAWA'S arm that was worked on, HAYATA systemically took him apart bit by bit, working on his knee and even somersaulting on it at one point. Despite everything HAYATA put him through, NOSAWA refused to quit as he knew that either a draw or a loss would rattle HAYATA.

 

WINNER: Neither, time out draw of 20 minutes 

NOSAWA had accomplished his goal and left laughing. HAYATA stalked away the ring looking irritated. Backstage, NOSAWA said that a draw was good, he didn't win and he didn't lose and in the title match he was going to get the title at 59 minutes and 59 seconds after wrestling a match that Noah fans (who he hated) would hate. 

28th October, Kumamoto Castle Hall

The final pre-match between NOSAWA and HAYATA was an eight man tag which went completely off the rails as STINGER were out to fight with Perros Del Mal De Japon, and even the ref was caught in the face. STINGER had satisfaction of the ultimate humiliation on NOSAWA Rongai as he was pinned by twenty one year old rookie, Yasutaka Yano, who was celebrating the anniversary of his first debut. NOSAWA was furious, gaping in disbelief and then throwing a metal barrier outside of the ring which damaged a video camera. Backstage NOSAWA said the weakest in Noah (himself) was going to be challenging for a belt the day after tomorrow...and he was angry. 

Title match

"Hakata will finish in 59 minutes, 59 seconds. I will wrestle a match that every hated Noah fan will hate"

NOSAWA Rongai

It wasn't quite 59 minutes and 59 seconds, and not all Noah fans hated it, but it was certainly a deviation from the norm as far as GHC Junior Heavyweight title matches go, the last time there was a junior heavyweight title match that went hardcore (or was in that case hardcore) it was when Daisuke Harada took on Hi69 in 2018, but lets start at the beginning. 

Perros came out in a pack as they accompanied NOSAWA to ringside. NOSAWA had broken a camera in Kumamoto by throwing a steel barrier at it, and today he felt he had to attempt to trash another by kicking at one from the ramp and then another from the ring. Despite the use of muscle at ringside, everyone kept to the title defense rules of Noah (Baba) which prohibits outside interference. HAYATA knew this full well when he waded into their midst, and even kicked out at YO-HEY.  While outside the ring, NOSAWA hit HAYATA with the ring bell and then he went for a chair, which HAYATA caught and threw back and then used on him. NOSAWA bled from this, and later HAYATA would also bleed, staining the ring a rusty red color. Naturally, NOSAWA gouged the wound. 

NOSAWA said that he had found HAYATA'S weakness, and HAYATA had said that before each match he took time to assess his opponent and get to know their personality and weaknesses. Whatever it was that NOSAWA had discovered about HAYATA, it seemed to be in the form of playing suspiciously dead, HAYATA was not convinced and was cautious. He was right to be as NOSAWA recovered and struck back with some submissions, once upon a time it might have been easy to defeat HAYATA this way but instead, NOSAWA found he was growing frustrated and went for quick pins, even once blocking The Headache and dragging the ref into his schemes. It didn't matter however, as HAYATA'S win was going to be the highlight in a dismal evening for STINGER. 

WINNER: HAYATA with the Moonsault Press (22 minutes) 

VS ALEJA

WRESTLE UNIVERSE presents DEMOLITION STAGE 2021 in YOKOHAMA, Yokohama Budokan, Saturday, November 13, 2021

With Perros now out (unless you are Ogawa), it was time for Tadasuke (complete with aviator shades) to come to the ring with Aleja. Aleja is much the same as HAYATA, but whereas HAYATA may occasionally speak, Aleja does not even do that, and so Tadasuke made the challenge on his behalf, saying that he didn't know or care who won, but Aleja (or "Aleja Aleja Aleja" as Tadasuke called him), would be challenging for the title next. 

Backstage, Tadasuke said Aleja who he calls their “Ultimate Weapon, Lethal Weapon, Nuclear Warhead” and what roughly translates as “Pride of heaven and earth” (very Zen of Tadasuke), will take the belt in one shot.

3rd November, Yokohama Radiant Halls

The first pre-match took the form of a four man tag between HAYATA and Yasutaka Yano (who seems to be strongly affiliated with STINGER at the moment, although not a member) and Aleja and Aleja's tag partner/mouth piece Tadasuke. The interactions between Aleja and HAYATA were lightspeed, with HAYATA realizing that rather than keep up with Aleja he needed to keep him grounded. The pre match itself was inconclusive with Aleja making Yano submit and not HAYATA. Tadasuke spoke on the microphone afterwards;

"HAYATA! Why did Yano take over at the end? Are you afraid and running away from Aleja? Pathetic. Do your best to run, but there is no escape or hiding. I know the man who will take the belt next, that is Aleja! Aleja! Aleja!"

There was a kind of non-canon pre match after this on Tuesday 9th November at Noah The Universal Vol. 2, but as these were pre-taped, it's hard to know whether this was done before or after Aleja's title challenge. In any case, HAYATA won the four way between himself, YO-HEY, Aleja and Hajime Ohara.

10th November, Korakuen Hall

Final pre-match

Tadasuke walked out into the hall as if he was strolling on to stage after his drummer and bass player, and then motioned back to Aleja, who was following on behind. There was the usual Tadasuke camera spot, it seems that he now ignores Nioh photobombing him. When STINGER got in the ring the silent champion, HAYATA and his silent challenger, Aleja, stared at each other briefly. In true STINGER style, HAYATA immediately started being irritating by tagging in Seiki Yoshioka. Tadasuke could be heard protesting. Aleja was not to be denied however, and soon struck back at HAYATA with a top rope plunger and then he played him at his own game and tagged Nioh in. For Yoshinari Ogawa, his fight is with Perros De Mal Del Japon, and he remained pretty much in the background, yanking Tadasuke's hair to hold him in their corner. 

With the presence of eight Noah Juniors in the ring, naturally it disintegrated into a brawl. The ref could only sigh and try to get the two legal men back in the ring and leave the others to drift back eventually, but the last pre-match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight title suddenly went beyond a belt challenge between warring units, when HAYATA got it into his head to take an interest in Aleja's mask. Namely pulling Aleja's mask off. He didn't succeed at first thanks to Haoh, but Haoh was not going to be to protect Aleja from what ultimately was going to happen.

WINNER: HAYATA with the 403 on Haoh (13 minutes, 29 seconds)

HAYATA went back to attempting to rip Aleja's mask off while the bell rang in vain for all action to cease. With STINGER keeping Kongoh away, HAYATA (who had also thrown the ref out of the ring for attempting to stop him) succeeded and Aleja covered his face with his hands. Tadasuke even kept the camera away!

HAYATA posed with his foot on Aleja's chest while Aleja covered his face, and left clutching Aleja's mask and the belt. In the ring, Aleja left with a t-shirt over his head (Inamura's I believe), as a shirtless Inamura appeared to be the only person who remembered Haoh as everyone else had run off after Aleja. Backstage Tadasuke looked like airport security guiding a celebrity past journalists saying "No pictures! No comment!" On Twitter he wrote that HAYATA didn't have to rip Aleja's mask off. The whole issue with the mask has taken this match to another level. In the case of HAYATA and Aleja who do not speak, actions have spoken louder than words. 

Title match

WRESTLE UNIVERSE presents DEMOLITION STAGE 2021 in YOKOHAMA - Saturday November 13th, Yokohama Budokan

HAYATA bought the mask he had ripped from Aleja with him to the title match, and then in a new malicious act, ripped it up. This is a new evil side of HAYATA. Aleja of course wanted revenge and spent the first few moments of the match rage wrestling and not really using his head, this played into HAYATA'S hands as when the match swung back to his favor he had that vicious looking smile as he started baiting Aleja to do something. Aleja got it together and started to pose a threat, but this is something that HAYATA actually seems to like, even when his opponents kick out. This gives him the chance to come up with something worse. Aleja used some very clever moves, including one which is a move very similar to the Headache and this almost won him the match. 

WINNER: HAYATA with the 403 Impact (17 minutes, 41 seconds)

VS TADASUKE

THE WARROAD 2021 in NAGOYA

Aichi / Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall, Sunday, December 5th

WRESTLE UNIVERSE presents DEMOLITION STAGE 2021 in YOKOHAMA - Saturday November 13th, Yokohama Budokan

From one Kongoh member to another, Tadasuke challenged HAYATA for the title;

"HAYATA! Well, our Aleja! Aleja! Aleja! You did it again! Accept my challenge next!"

HAYATA by this time was ready to go, but Tadasuke provoked by telling him not to run off, which caused him to come back. HAYATA as usual accepted the challenge silently, holding the belt up to Tadasuke and pointing it at. Title match has been set for the 5th December in Nagoya. All the other title matches stemming from tonight will take place in November in a couple of weeks, HAYATA vs Tadasuke has been given a longer build. 

PREMIUM PRELUDE 2021 - Niigata / Bandaijima Multipurpose Plaza Large Kama (Tuesday 23rd November)

Tadasuke had his usual camera moment, making belt gestures, cutting throat motions and typical wild gesticulations towards Aleja. HAYATA entered the ring and held up the belt to Tadasuke, who made finger pointing motions as in the "see you" double finger pointing motion. 

During the match HAYATA viciously attacked Tadasuke, throwing him into the barrier and hammering his knee with kicks before throwing him into the ring post. The match ended with a classic huge lariat from Tadasuke, but it wasn't on HAYATA. 

WINNER: Tadasuke with the Jidanda Lariat on Seiki Yoshioka (12 minutes, 5 seconds)

HAYATA, who had been kept outside the ring by Aleja, got up to find Tadasuke dangling the belt over the ring apron. Tadasuke then put it in the middle of the ring and did the Kongoh pose over it before leaving. 

THE WARROAD 2021 in NAGOYA (Aichi/Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall, Sunday December 5th)

Title match

In epic Rockstar Tadasuke fashion, he strolled across the ring looking at HAYATA, and slowly took his aviator shades off. 

The match wasted no time getting going, there wasn't even a lock up before they both charged. Yoshinari Ogawa appeared at ringside to watch HAYATA torture Tadasuke. It's rare that Ogawa appears like this, and it usually means something. Tonight it was going to.  

Tadasuke's heavyweight strength meant nothing when he went for moves that HAYATA could predict and one of the ways HAYATA docked this strength was by taking Tadasuke's knee out, another way was to lure Tadasuke in to getting carried away to make him start showboat and strike back during the gap. 

HAYATA employed all of these tactics, but it wasn't going to be that easy. Tadasuke could also play the comeback card, and I don't think it was something HAYATA was expecting, but it did play into his hands when Tadasuke started getting wild. The crowd were also behind Tadasuke, who once called himself an underdog for good reason.

Tadasuke dished out huge devastating lariats, but unfortunately for him, HAYATA kicked out of all of them, and it was the terrible move that comes out of nowhere that finished the match and kept HAYATA the title. 

WINNER: HAYATA with the Headache (18 minutes, 54 seconds)

VS YOSHINARI OGAWA

ABEMA presents NOAH "THE NEW YEAR" 2022

Nippon Budokan, Saturday 1st January 2022

After defeating Tadasuke, Yoshinari Ogawa and Seiki Yoshioka came and posed with HAYATA. I think HAYATA probably knew something was going to happen. Ogawa went to pull the belt off of HAYATA'S shoulder, and HAYATA held on to it as Ogawa pointed to it and then to himself to indicate he was challenging and then left the ring. 

Backstage, HAYATA was in the interview booth when Ogawa walked in, offered a handshake and then attacked HAYATA, throwing him into a wall and leaving after putting him in a submission. HAYATA scraped himself off of the floor and said, "Next....Ogawa"

Noah have arranged a complicated pre-match on the 7th December where YO-HEY teams with HAYATA, and Daisuke Harada teams with Yoshinari Ogawa. Ogawa is challenging HAYATA for the GHC Junior (title match to take place on the 1st January at the Nippon Budokan) and YO-HEY and Daisuke Harada will clash on 25th December in a number one contenders match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag titles, that are held by Ogawa and HAYATA. 

MAN CRUSH 2021 (TUESDAY 7TH DECEMBER, KORAKUEN HALL)

YO-HEY & HAYATA vs Yoshinari Ogawa and Daisuke Harada

No one entered with their "partners", and while YO-HEY and HAYATA were a tag for a long time, it is the first time that Daisuke Harada and Yoshinari Ogawa have probably tagged like this. HAYATA ignored YO-HEY and immediately attacked Ogawa. The two Noah Juniors left in the ring, just looked at each other, shrugged and went to their corners. Each time HAYATA fell (or rolled) outside the ring, Harada threw him back in. Ogawa was surprised that Harada would help him like this, but Ogawa later discovered that Harada's doing this was a way to irritate him and keep the match from disintegrating. 

As for YO-HEY and HAYATA, they pretty much ignored each other, although YO-HEY did look at him thoughtfully. Which he had done the last time they tagged. 

Then the moment, a tandem move. 

Fans clapped loudly in anticipation and they managed half of one before HAYATA threw YO-HEY into Ogawa as Ogawa halted on the ropes knowing what they were going to do. 

The match fell apart when Ogawa decided he wasn't interested however in Harada tagging him in against YO-HEY and walked off allowing YO-HEY to get the upper hand. Harada then forcibly tagged Ogawa in and they started fighting, HAYATA took advantage and YO-HEY pinned Ogawa in the melee. The three of them had just worked together to defeat Ogawa. It was just like old times.

WINNER: YO-HEY with the Facial G on Yoshinari Ogawa (18 minutes, 19 seconds)

Daisuke Harada stood over Yoshinari Ogawa furious as YO-HEY and HAYATA had their arms raised. Fans were on an emotional rollercoaster at this point, as YO-HEY turned and kicked HAYATA down before he was punched out by Harada's Rolling Elbow. Harada collected up the tag belts and held them up before draping one over Ogawa and one on HAYATA and then standing with a demonic look on his face, one fist raised in triumph before leaving. 

YO-HEY would later post another cryptic post on Twitter, saying that yes he had gotten the win today and asking HAYATA, just what had happened between them...

MAN CRUSH 2021 - SHIZUOKA / KIRA MESSE NUMAZU (SUNDAY DECEMBER 12TH 2021)

HAYATA, Masao Inoue & Kai Fujimura vs Yoshinari Ogawa, King Tany and Yasutaka Yano

The tag champions and now rivals over the GHC Junior Heavyweight, HAYATA and Yoshinari Ogawa started the match, both managing to outwrestle each other at points. It was going to be a busy evening for Ogawa; he was seen giving instruction to Kai Fujimura (no match for King Tani) and Yasutaka Yano (who moves as if he's been doing this for years), and stamping on Masao Inoue's gouty toes, plus booting King Tany's crown out of the ring. While Inoue wasn't slapped around by idols/unit bosses this evening, he was a target for every single one of his opposition, Tany dealt with him very firmly when he attempted to aid Fujimura and even Yano beat him up! Inoue got his own back on Tani though by stamping on his toes as Tani also suffers gout. As ever Inoue thought he could outsmart Ogawa. 

Because this match was dominated by juniors, things went off the rails and in the midst of Ogawa and HAYATA fighting, of which HAYATA culminated with The Headache, and Inoue being attacked by Yasutaka Yano outside the ring, King Tany got the win over Kai Fujimura. 

WINNER: King Tany with the Funky Press on Kai Fujimura (15 minutes, 17 seconds)

HAYATA briefly posed with the belt over Ogawa before leaving. Good pupil that he is, Yano helped Ogawa out.

MAN CRUSH 2021 (Saturday December 25th, Yokohama Radiant Halls) 

The final pre-match

The match got off to a false start as ref counted three after just a few seconds when Ogawa pinned HAYATA by sneak attack, but HAYATA had his foot on the ropes and much to Ogawa's rage, the match was restarted. The restarted Match only lasted a few seconds afterwards as HAYATA sneak pinned Ogawa.

WINNER: HAYATA with the Crossfix (1 minute, 10 seconds)

Ogawa (never a good loser) went berserk and threw the ref out of the ring by his hair and then beat up on HAYATA. He put him in a submission, the bell was screaming, and Seiki Yoshioka came to the ring to pry them apart, which took him a while as it is after all Ogawa in a towering rage. Ogawa eventually let go and shoved Yoshioka aside before leaving the ring.

Title match: ABEMA presents NOAH "THE NEW YEAR" 2022 (1st January 2022, Nippon Budokan)

There was no big lead up to this match in the way of a video package or anything, it was old school in that both came to the ring and when the bell sounded it was straight into the fight. Yoshinari Ogawa was furious in attack. He is not one who forgives easily, and when he's angry with someone, it tends to stay that way until he decides otherwise. HAYATA was going to discover this. 

Despite his countering of Ogawa, HAYATA found that everything he did was seemingly set up by Ogawa who waited for an opening and wore him down. Each time HAYATA escaped, Ogawa was round the next corner waiting for him. In Ogawa's case putting HAYATA in a constant lock and working on his hand/elbows was more than just trying to get him to submit or cause pain, although Ogawa probably enjoys that as much as HAYATA does, Ogawa knew this would wear HAYATA down and in the long run provide him with another opening. It did as HAYATA could not sustain the handspring elbow, but in the end it was irrelevant as Ogawa discovered he had created a monster as HAYATA played him at his own game when Ogawa blocked the headache and HAYATA reversed. 

WINNER: HAYATA via reversal (20 minutes, 54 seconds)

VS DAISUKE HARADA

THE LEAVE presents N-INNOVATION U-CUP

Yokohama Radiant Hall, 10th January 2022

THE LEAVE presents N-Innovation U-Cup Night 1

Yokohama Radiant Hall, Thursday January 6th 2022

The N-Innovation junior rumble came down to Kotaro Suzuki, Seiki Yoshioka, YO-HEY and Daisuke Harada. HAYATA was probably hoping that it wouldn't be YO-HEY or Yoshioka because of the complications YO-HEY tends to bring (that neither HAYATA or Ogawa want stirred up as much as the fans do) and there has already been one falling out in STINGER over the GHC Junior, although it did mean that STINGER would pick up more points. He was lucky then that it came down to Daisuke Harada and Kotaro Suzuki. Harada was desperate for the win and for some points, a lot was on the line now. Unit pride and a chance at the title. 

WINNER: Daisuke Harada with the Katayama German Suplex on Kotaro Suzuki (24 minutes, 30 seconds)

HAYATA got up on the ring apron and silently held up the belt. Harada addressed him on the microphone. Here he was again standing before him, and this time he would defeat him. HAYATA has been termed the "Absolute Champion" by Daisuke Harada, and whoever takes the belt from him, will be the certified ace of the division and they will break STINGERS hold on the titles. They will have only one pre-match.

THE LEAVE Presents N-Innovation U-Cup Night 2

Yokohama Radiant Hall, Friday January 7th 2022

There wasn't really too much of a noteworthy interaction between HAYATA and Daisuke Harada aside from an opening skirmish. To be honest their title match doesn't really need a build as it doesn't have the emotion behind it as say for example HAYATA vs YO-HEY or HAYATA vs Ogawa or even HAYATA facing someone new (i.e. Haoh, Nioh etc), and this is the second time in HAYATA's title reign that Harada has challenged. The match can stand alone and Noah chose to focus on the N-Innovation. 

Title match

THE LEAVE presents N-Innovation U-Cup Night 1

Yokohama Radiant Hall, Thursday January 6th 2022

Daisuke Harada worked on wearing HAYATA out, but HAYATA as ever gave nothing away. Like YO-HEY said, it is impossible to guess what he is thinking. HAYATA worked on taking out Harada's arms as this meant no throws or punches, and it would make the rolling elbow (which Harada has adopted) and the Katayama German more difficult. These were the moves that HAYATA expected Harada to do, Harada had something different in mind. HAYATA was often inventive (and merciless) in the way he attacked Harada, but no matter how difficult he made it, Harada somehow always got to the ropes. Both where aware of Harada being made to tap to HAYATA once. There where still some elements of the old HAYATA that Harada was able to anticipate, such as the dropkick to the face when he did the Handspring Elbow, but it wasn't enough he needed to both wear him down and catch him off guard. No one had ever said this was going to be an easy match, it was grueling and the fans at the arena could not help gasping at the counter of the Headache, HAYATA'S kick to face or the final unexpected ending when Harada bought out his new move after a series of desperation pins. 

Winner: Daisuke Harada with the DOKAAAN!! (27 minutes, 2 seconds) 

The crowd screamed. No one at all had thought the title would change on a small show at Yokohama Radiant Halls. But that is Noah for you. They will always do the unexpected. As STINGER were not at ringside, HAYATA was taken off by Yoshiki Inamura. He sat in the shadows as Harada spoke on the microphone. Although the two have been enemies since HAYATA betrayed RATELS for STINGER, Harada has grudgingly praised him for being the "Absolute Champion." 

"I have caught this belt after a long time, but it has got a lot heavier since you have had it. HAYATA! Let's do it again when the value of both the belt and the Juniors rises again! In the near future, lets overturn the heavyweight and the junior positions!"

NEXT CHAMPION: Daisuke Harada

LINKS

Quiet Ambition: Interview with HAYATA

Yoshinari Ogawa, "I went because there are no other challengers" (1st January 2022, Nippon Budokan)