(NOAH) "It's best to take the belt from Naomichi Marufuji, who has returned to be the face of Noah" ~ Takashi Sugiura's special battle in Sendai on the 11th July.
ABEMA Times
At the main event of "Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial 2021 - I will Never Forget This Day", which was broadcast on June 13th (the 12th anniversary), in the main event the Pro Wrestling of Naomichi Marufuji had defeated Keiji Mutoh at "CyberFight Festival 2021" at the Saitama Super Arena on June 6th and became the GHC Heavyweight Champion for the first time in five years and five months, and there was also Takashi Sugiura, the GHC National Champion, the two are the founding members of Pro Wrestling Noah. Marufuji teamed with GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion, Atsushi Kotoge, and Sugiura with the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Champion, Daisuke Harada in a match between the heavyweight and the junior champions. It was a spectacular offense and defense suitable as a dedication to Noah's founder, Misawa.
It was Sugiura who won the match when Marufuji, in his first match as GHC Heavyweight Champion, tapped out to the front neck lock.
After the match, Sugiura said, "Congratulations on the GHC. But you understand this situation? I want to challenge for that belt. I want the GHC belt that Naomichi Marufuji has. I want to fight with Naomichi Marufuji for the GHC belt. Thank you". The important point is emphasized that "Marufuji has" and "with Marufuji", and after all, they have a special story.
Their meeting dates back to 1997, 24 years ago. At that time, Marufuji, who was a third year student at Saitama Sakae High School and belonged to the Wrestling Club, participated in a joint training camp at Daito Bunka University for the Osaka National Athletic Meet, and there was a special defense official there, 27 year old Sugiura. Incidentally, Sugiura had won the Greco-Roman 82kg class of the Osaka National Athletic Meet.
"There were more than 100 people, and one of them said "That person is scary". The person was Takashi Sugiura. At the time, Marufuji didn't know his name, but he remembers thinking, "He looks dangerous. I thought I would I would be killed if we sparred (laughs)"
When Marufuji graduated from High School in 1998, he entered All Japan. Two years later Sugiura joined, and he immediately realized he was "the scary guy" from that time!.
Marufuji is two years the senior, but Sugiura is nine years older, and with the history of the two, it is correct to call them comrades in arms.
The two of them took the GHC tag from D'Lo Brown & Buchanan at the Nippon Budokan on October 27th 2007, which was Sugiura's first heavyweight belt. On the 27th November 2001, at the Ariake Coliseum Marufuji nominated Sugiura for his second return from cervical vertebrae injury, because he thought of Sugiura as being "the last if something happens."
After winning a single match at the Mitsuharu Misawa Memorial Night on June 13th 2013, Marufuji said, "Over the last few years, I have missed time repeatedly with serious injuries and honestly, I have lost confidence in myself. I think I was able to beat Takashi Sugiura and regain my original appearance."
The situation in Noah changed rapidly when at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium on January 31st 2016, Takashi Sugiura, who turned to The Suzuki Army, robbed Marufuji of the GHC Heavyweight Championship and this is Marufuji's first time since then. On May 29th 2018 at Korakuen Hall, after rejecting Marufuji's challenge, Sugiura said "There may be various opinions about the past and the future, but I am proud to have wrestled at Korakuen today in front of everyone with Marufuji. Through Noah's good times and Noah's bad times, Marufuji and I have fought here as comrades. Thank you Marufuji!" Sugiura's words were moving.
In recent years, it has been the official "N-1 Victory" match that the two met in a single in 2019, and Sugiura won with the front neck lock. In 2020 the thirty minute time limit expired. In the comment booth, Sugiura said "It is best to take the belt from Naomichi Marufuji, who has returned to being Noah's face after putting the belt on for the first time in years. How many years Marufuji and I will be able to do this, neither of us know. I think it is important in this situation that we are both wearing belts and do it together".
Yes, the GHC Heavyweight Championship match between Marufuji and Sugiura is special. Marufuji's first defense, which will be against Takashi Sugiura, will take place on July 11th at the Sendai Sunplaza Hall event.
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