(NOAH/DRAGONGATE): GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag title challenge and YO-HEY'S homecoming

5th November 2021

Korakuen Hall, Tokyo 

The day before the title match at DRAGONGATE (NOSAWA Rongai & Eita vs Kota Minoura and Jason Lee), NOSAWA has hinted on his Twitter that all of Perros De Mal Del Japon would be accompanying them, which meant the exiled YO-HEY. Fans were asking this question as to whether or not he would appear. On the day, NOSAWA, Eita, Kotaro Suzuki and Ikuto Hidaka came out of the curtain. Hidaka paused and looked back, and a slightly nervous YO-HEY (not something we often see in Noah) came out to what was described as a "warm applause". People admitted they were crying to see one of the "Dragon Kids", which is the name given to DRAGONGATE native talent return after almost twelve years (YO-HEY left in December 2009, returned to his hometown and took a job in an office before returning to wrestling). 

This is not the first time that the junior tag belts have been defended in DRAGONGATE. DRAGONGATE and Noah have had a long history together, specifically during what was known as Noah's "Golden Era". The tag belts were twice defended in 2007 and then again twice in 2008. Kotaro Suzuki had been the champion in 2007 when he had teamed with Ricky Marvin to defend against Yoshino and Doi. 

Eita started the match with the usual antics, tagging in NOSAWA as soon as he could. NOSAWA, who was loving being an invading heel, loved no selling his opponents and as ever was antagonizing the long suffering Noah referee, who told him the match was being conducted by Noah rules and therefore no, he couldn't punch with a closed fist. Then of course he started being silly about tagging in Eita when the opponents managed to hurt his ribs. Eita knew Minoura and Lee better than NOSAWA, and it must be said that they did come close to bringing the belts to DRAGONGATE, but it was NOSAWA who got the win with the La Magistral. Despite their threats, the Noah Junior Regular army did not come to the ring and challenge for the titles, although they were undoubtedly watching the result. 

As the two teams faced each other, NOSAWA spoke on the microphone first and said to Eita that as no one was going to be coming out to challenge them, he was going to nominate Real Hazard (disbanded March 2010), which he changed to Muscle Outlaw'z (broke up 2008, who NOSAWA had been associated with in the past, although never a member). Eita told NOSAWA that no, that was no good, it was too long ago and things have progressed until then. NOSAWA said he liked the DRAGONGATE fans better, they applauded him. Despite the fact that Eita had earlier put his opponents on blast by calling them "shit challengers" who had never made any kind of fighting words towards him, he was kinder when he spoke to them after the match, saying he was grateful that they had challenged for the belts. Kota and Lee later hinted that this wasn't over, they would be making a further challenge along the line. 

Eita then turned to YO-HEY and said;

"After a long time, YO-HEY is back in this ring. Have you guys been waiting?  Those who want YO-HEY rather than me to close this show, give an applause"

YO-HEY, understandably a little nervous*, said;

"DRAGONGATE fans, it's been a long time. I never thought I would return to this ring in this way. Is it more than a dozen years? There have been many things, but with all this emotion, is it okay to say the last word? DRAGONGATE is the best!"

Fans had long thought that the day would come when YO-HEY returned to Noah, the Noah fans thought he would have had HAYATA with him. The DRAGONGATE fans commented that YO-HEY'S return might not have been possible had the people who had been involved in the incident were still there, but like the people who had caused Noah's own exile from The Budokan, they were no longer there. Today's was YO-HEY'S own Budokan homecoming. 

Backstage NOSAWA commissioned Eita to find another team (he said he wanted Real Hazard, but again Eita explained that was too long ago and was not possible), preferably a young team with dreams and a future he could crush. As fans left Korakuen Hall, both Noah GHC and DRAGONGATE trended in Tokyo.

*He tripped over his words and said he was happy to be back in Noah

WITH THANKS TO: Metal-Noah, Rembrandt KBS, Flame286

GIF taken from Noah's official Twitter