(NOAH CHRONOLOGY) NAOMICHI MARUFUJI ~ GHC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Won: "CyberFight Festival 2021", Saitama Super Arena (6th June 2021)

Number of title reigns: 4

Number of defenses: 2

Lost: "GRAND SQUARE in Osaka 2021", Osaka Edion Arena, 10th October.

Total number of days held: 126 days

CHALLENGERS

1. Takashi Sugiura

2. Kazushi Sakuraba

3. Winner of the N-1 VICTORY: Katsuhiko Nakajima

VS Takashi Sugiura

11th July 2021, Sendai Sunplaza Hall

The GHC Heavyweight and the GHC National are rivals, the belts were created as rivals and whoever holds them is the rival of the other champion. Once in the ring at the Misawa Memorial on the 13th June, both Naomichi Marufuji and Takashi Sugiura held up their belts to each other. Neither of the juniors in this match were in any difficulty against the heavyweights; Kotoge was once a heavyweight and so he knew how to wrestle them, and Harada (who looked kind of like Jun Akiyama in the blue and the white), is experienced in handling them. Despite this match up, the heavyweights tended to pair off, and there was a handshake between Marufuji and Sugiura at the start. Marufuji had once called Takashi Sugiura "a weapon", and today he discovered again just how much a weapon Sugiura was and is, right up to the point that he tapped to him after being caught in the dreaded chokehold.

After the match, Sugiura challenged Marufuji for the GHC Heavyweight title;

"For the first time in five years, congratulations on the GHC. But, you understand the circumstances, right? I want to challenge for the GHC belt that Naomichi Marufuji has"

Marufuji has accepted Sugiura's challenge. It will not be title vs title as Marufuji has no interest in the GHC National for now and wants to concentrate on defending the GHC Heavyweight. 

Naomichi Marufuji had said that Takashi Sugiura is in a better condition than the young of Noah and after his match he had eaten chicken. He might have joked about finding out the secret of it, but at the match at "MUTA the WORLD" on the 27th June,  he looked as if he was on a scouting mission to see how he could best get past Noah's "Killing Machine", who he had once described as "a weapon". Sugiura vs Marufuji is never straightforward as both continue to evolve and both are aware that the other is likely to bring something new. 

Kazushi Sakuraba spent some time trying to avoid being trapped in a corner by Marufuji, who he knew was going to chop him given half the chance, and so much to his relief was able to concentrate on Masato Tanaka, who he wrapped up in a submission that looked as if he had many legs wrapped around him. Later Sakuraba used an interesting attack when Tanaka was dangling off the turnbuckles upside by using a jab combined with a squat movement. Tanaka and Sugiura (the former "Bullet Yankees") had an elbow war which you could almost see sparks flying off from and inevitably, Sugiura found himself in a chop battle with Marufuji. During one of their title feuds a few years ago, Marufuji had called Sugiura an "Octopus" each time he chopped him, with Sugiura retaliating with "Girl" due to Marufuji's ponytail hairstyle at the time.

WINNER: Naomichi Marufuji with a reversal of the front neck lock on Takashi Sugiura (19 minutes, 8 seconds)

Marufuji had gotten the win, but it was a flash victory which had taken Sugiura by surprise. He still had a lot of work to do on the drawing board. 

On the 30th June at "UP TO EMOTION 2021" at Korakuen Hall, Naomichi Marufuji's intense study of this form of Takashi Sugiura he was facing bore fruit at first, Marufuji being able to dodge his attacks and read what he is going to do next and even goad him into being angry, but it wasn't enough, Sugiura was not going to be pinned by the Shiranui and Marufuji found to his horror that Sugi could even find a way through him from that. Surprise has often been an element of Takashi Sugiura, and today he had another one to pull out of the box that Marufuji had not seen and could not see coming.

WINNER: Takashi Sugiura with the Yoneman Lift (20 minutes, 10 seconds)

Marufuji, after holding the belt up to the M's alliance and pointing out he was champion, stamped off backstage angry. It was back to the drawing board to tear it all down and start again, and the drawing board included a fifteen minute match, which would be their final one before Sendai. Marufuji said that was all he needed to work Takashi Sugiura out.

Despite the rivalry between them because of the title challenge, Takashi Sugiura offered Naomichi Marufuji a handshake before the match, which Marufuji accepted. Niceties over, it was back to business ~ namely the business of beating the hell out of each other in fifteen minutes. Takashi Sugiura later looked back on the match and said that it was not long enough, and he was right, it was not. A match liked this between two veterans, needed to go sudden death, there was no time for anything but a quick win. In many ways it was a scouting match ~ Marufuji bringing out a new submission involving the hands and elbow of the opponent, which he incorporated his knee attacks into. Sugiura retaliating with a Boston Crab hoping to make Marufuji submit by making sure he had a hard time going to the ropes. A chop\elbow was was borne out of frustration. 

Time was running out, it went to knees, boots and a bulldog by Sugiura which knocked them both to the floor. Sugiura dodging Marufuji's knee attacks, desperation pins and submissions, and Sugiura had just locked in the front neck lock, Marufuji was caught and began to wilt, but there was no time left, and no more pre-matches. Sugiura pointed at the belt when they had both got to their feet. Marufuji was in disbelief. The pre-matches would continue with Takashi Sugiura having the advantage. 

The story of Naomichi Marufuji vs Takashi Sugiura closed out its current chapter on the 11th July in Sendai, and it started with a handshake. No malice or hatred between the two, just mutual respect with an underlying pull of a power struggle for dominance in Noah and as if to symbolize that this match was about the GHC Heavyweight, and the GHC Heavyweight and Takashi Sugiura only, Sugiura came to the ring without the GHC National Championship. Both had something they desperately needed to surpass, for Sugiura it was the streak of beating Marufuji, for Marufuji it was the streak of being beaten by Sugiura. He did not once describe him as a “weapon” once for nothing.

 The match was brutal, both wore each down. Marufuji working on Sugiura’s arm and elbow, pulling out moves he doesn’t generally do anymore (rope flip for example), Sugiura wearing Marufuji down by vicious elbows, his corner flurry and even at one point ripping up the mats outside the ring and driving him into the concrete. Marufuji was always looking for ways to get through Sugiura’s seemingly impenetrable armor, and he found it as Sugiura concentrated on defense, and he managed to break through during the linked chop\punch war, which he bought to exhaustion and then took his chance.  

WINNER: Naomichi Marufuji with the Pole shift type Emerald Flowsion on Takashi Sugiura (32 minutes, 19 seconds)

 Marufuji spoke on the microphone after the match, thanking Sugiura for all the support he had offered both himself and Noah over the past turbulent twenty-one years.

 "If I look back on 21 years with Sugiura, there are really more painful and sad memories than good ones. However, if I continue to endure and do my best, then one day the day will come when I can look back and laugh on those memories". 

Later he spoke more on those years and how they had protected Noah together while their younger wrestlers grew up, so there would be a Noah for them. 

VS Kazushi Sakuraba

1st August Hiroshima Sunplaza

Marufuji and Sugiura bowed to each other deeply from the ring and the ramp. No challenger had come forward while Marufuji was in the ring, but he did backstage as Kazushi Sakuraba said he had watched the match and found a way to get past Marufuji. Marufuji accepted his challenge saying he was looking forward to it, and the title match was set for the 1st August in Hiroshima. Marufuji stated that he didn't want to face the Kazushi Sakuraba who played around in The Sugiura Army, he wanted the Kazushi Sakuraba who was "The Gracie Killer". 

Due to Sakuraba's outside schedule they only had two pre-matches, both which took place at Korakuen Hall on the 22nd and the 23rd July. Neither match, however, it ended with a defeat over each other  it was Yuko Miyamoto tapping which ended the match on July 22nd 2021, and Masato Tanaka defeating Takashi Sugiura on the 23rd. The match signing (which didn't involve any Sugiura Army hijinks of chugging beer to seal the deal), took place on the 30th July. Marufuji acknowledged that this was an opponent whose pace was different, and who he couldn't read well, and it was going to be a difficult match. He also got irritated with a reporter who bought up Mitsuharu Misawa and his association with Hiroshima, and put him very firmly in his place. 

Kazushi Sakuraba is one of the more safer people to accept a handshake from, and there was no reason for Naomichi Marufuji to have been so hesitant when he offered in Hiroshima on the 1st August, but after this it was down to business with the joking, happy-go-lucky, slightly bumbling Sugiura Army Kazushi Sakuraba left at the door. Marufuji said at the match signing that Sakuraba is different to other challengers, and its hard to keep pace with him. It was an MMA style match to begin with as that is Sakuraba's style. Before he got into wrestling, Marufuji wanted to do MMA and while he only really got as far as training at an MMA gym and sparring with Takashi Sugiura and Yoshihiro Takayama, it is this background he loves to delve into from time to time. Sakuraba's strategy was to work on Marufuji's arm with elbow submissions and keep him from doing those dreaded chops. 

Marufuji managed to do something that had eluded Kenoh, and provoked the "Gracie Killer" Sakuraba, as the match grew vicious with kicks and chops, and Marufuji's mouth being busted open. Sakuraba, who said he wears a shirt because of his fragile skin, ripped his shirt off and challenged Marufuji to chop him. He seemed more element like this, and Marufuji did too.

WINNER: Naomichi Marufuji with the Tiger King Zero (21 minutes, 29 seconds)

There was a handshake, and a deep bow of respect and a fist bump. Sakuraba was helped from the ring, and Marufuji spoke to the crowd, 

"It was hard to do, but it was really fun. I want to defend this belt nationwide. How many years have the people who supported me, waited for me? I will show you a face of Noah that everyone will recognize!"

He also apologized to Mitsuharu Misawa. Looking to the heavens he admitted he borrowed both the rolling elbow and the Emerald Flowsion in an attempt to defeat Sakuraba. 

After speaking, Marufuji showed the belt to all four corners of the ring before walking back up the ramp and going backstage. No challenger had come forward, and with the N-1 Victory starting in September it wasn't surprising. 

VS Katsuhiko Nakajima

10th October, Edion 1st Arena, Osaka

Naomichi Marufuji announced on the 1st August after the match against Kazushi Sakuraba that he would not be entering the N-1 Victory this year. He would still compete against the wrestlers who entered though, but in a different way. He would surpass them while they fought to fight him in the finals. His advice to anyone who had a problem with him not entering was for them to win the tournament and therefore their title shot. 

Katsuhiko Nakajima won the N-1 VICTORY 2021 (and making history by being the first person to win it twice in a row), and called out Naomichi Marufuji who was sitting in the ABEMA commentary box, making him come down to the ring;

"I won it this year too! Naomichi Marufuji, after winning the harsh league called the N-1, at last I have come to you. I am not going to finish there. On the 10th October, I am going to take Naomichi Marufuji's belt in Osaka."

Marufuji congratulated Nakajima on his win, but warned him that he was going to "break you into small pieces". 

Title match, Sunday 10th October 2021

Katsuhiko Nakajima was in full hunt mode, never taking his eyes off Marufuji, watching every move, making slow and cautious movements of his own to test the water. He could unleash his ego when he wins, for now, he had to remain focused. This was better said than done, and Nakajima is starting to get a grip on it during matches at least, but Marufuji let Nakajima think he was in control enough to let the ego inflate and the grin naturally come back. Marufuji's strategy paid off as Nakajima cannot resist "The Shutter Chance" when he gets to both wind up his opponent and play to the cameras, the ref tells him to stop it and then he does it again. There is always an opening here as Nakajima gets told off by the ref, and Marufuji took advantage of that to strike back. Nakajima was dog eared into the corner and then chopped, worn down by various submissions, winded by knees to the sternum and dropped twice on to the apron. Nakajima was worn down from the N-1 and worn down by this match, Marufuji was fresh, but whatever Marufuji did, Nakajima knew he had no choice but to scrape himself up and get back up. But, while "The Shutter Chance" creates an opening, The Shiranui can also offer an opening too and Nakajima narrowly squeezed into the gap, but Marufuji changed it to a standing one and after Nakajima had kicked out of the pin, worked on his arms and not his knees to cut out a lot of the swift movements Nakajima makes. You could see a lot of Ogawa in these. 

This was a match with a story, a story of the past, of shared experiences, of the future and as the Japanese sports media once put it, "Pro Wrestling has always had an eternal theme of a generational struggle" and this was that too - Go Shiozaki had tried for years to beat Naomichi Marufuji, which he did, and now it was Katsuhiko Nakajima's turn to bring the younger generation to lead the promotion and to do this he drew on the shared experience that he and Marufuji had by anticipating a move, catching him on his shoulders and turning it into a Vertical Spike with a long hangtime. 

NEXT CHAMPION: Katsuhiko Nakajima 

LINKS

Aiming to be the "Uma Masume in Pro Wrestling" interview with new GHC champion, Naomichi Marufuji