(NOAH) "On New Year's Day 2022, I will set it up in the coolest way": Interview with Narihiro Takeda, former Pro Wrestling Noah representative and current Cyber Fight Director.
Ticketpay.Abemaownd.com
Pro Wrestling Noah became a subsidiary of CyberAgent on January 29th 2020, and became CyberAgebt's pro wrestling business subsidiary "Cyberfight Co., Ltd" from September. There has been no shortage of topics, such as February 15 2021 Keiji Mutoh joins the promotion, and 2022 New Year's Day at The Budokan.
Q: After joining CyberAgent, I got the impress you went on the attack?
TAKEDA: It's been a very short period of time, hasn't it? But with Corona, the number of years just flew from my memory (laughs) as it came so soon after the press conference with CyberAgent in January 2020. The media environment is really good now. ABEMA plays the role of NTV's TV Asashi in the Showa Era*, and there is also the WrestleUniverse distribution. There is no impairment in the media environment. The rest is the problem of how we spread it.
Q: If a broadcast is missed, then it can be followed later. The fans are very happy. Since becoming part of CyberAgent, I have the impression that the aspects of both visual and image aspects are different.
TAKEDA: I did think that I wanted to do that, but I was in a state where I couldn't share it well because I didn't have enough know-how. But from visual production to costumes and make up, professionals can get together for shooting etc and once on that level it can be maintained and shared. It could be said that that level can be maintained sufficiently by ABEMA'S supervision.
Q: There is also a sense of solidarity by saying "We are making this together"
TAKEDA: I think there are still some parts of the old system that have been discarded (laughs) but it's getting better rapidly. I think there was a critical moment as to whether we were going to be commercialized or be a mere pro wrestling promotion, and I think it is important that we turned to commercialization. The staff must also follow the mindset change.
Q: As for social media, there is the issue of sense of speed that is demanded by the customers.
TAKEDA: We will focus on Social Media. However, increasing the number of staff does not make much sense unless the number of customers increases, so I want to make it work together properly. Communication with customers is difficult under corona, but I want to expand it.
Q: As a fan, it's frustrating that when at events, we cannot cheer at the venue.
TAKEDA: After two years I have managed to get used to it, but at first it felt strange to support only by applauding. In the past, cheering was a like a rumble, but there are some staff and customers who did not know that time, and there are also wrestlers. Digitally, things are evolving, but we have to make sure we don't get bogged down.
Q: There are some venues where the full capacity is okay.
TAKEDA: Noah is scheduled to expand to full capacity from February 2022, but since eating, drinking, alcohol and cheering are not good, customers may be taken aback by the situation of someone sitting next to them for the first time in a long time. But, if you change your mind and feel that it is safe, it would be nice for you to come back again.
Q: Noah continues the attack, and next year will attack from New Year's Day
TAKEDA: With the New Years Eve fighting sports and New Japan on the 4th January, I wanted to do something. Rather than the 3rd of the 3rd or the 5th of the 5th, I chose the 1st of the 1st as the date was intuitive. It's nice to know what day it is. The image is going to be different from the previous Budokan, and so I am going to set it up in the coolest way!
Q: Then, please tell us the highlights of each card of the 1st January Budokan event!
MATCH ONE
JUNTA KIYAWAKI & KINYA OKADA vs KAI FUJIMURA & YASUTAKA YANO
TAKEDA: Suddenly at The Budokan, this is now "Miyawaki's return match!" He was injured before the last Budokan. I am looking forward to it!
MATCH TWO
Funky Express (King Tany, Mohammed Yone & Akitoshi Saito) vs Kongoh (Manabu Soya, Tadasuke and Nioh)
TAKEDA: I want to see the New Year's version of Tadasuke's sunglasses, with the three of them coming out being showy. Heh, I think it would be funny to spray Tadasuke with something like steam from the camera (laughs).
MATCH THREE
STINGER (Seiki Yoshioka & Yuya Susumu) vs Kongoh (Haoh and Aleja)
TAKEDA: Yoshioka and Susumu are very similar, so I'd like to see more of them like The Headhunters* (laughs). Haoh is a handsome man, and Aleja is agile.
MATCH FOUR
Ultimo Dragon, Daisuke Harada, Atsushi Kotoge & Hajime Ohara vs PERROS DE MAL DEL JAPON (NOSAWA Rongai, Eita, YO-HEY & Kotaro Suzuki)
TAKEDA: The theme song of Principal Ultimo fits The Budokan here. One of the real thrills of pro wrestling is listening to the theme song, isn't it? This is attention right from the entrance!
MATCH FIVE
The Sugiura Army (Kazuyuki Fujita & Kendo Kashin) vs Masakatsu Funaki and Ikuto Hidaka
TAKEDA: I think it's going to be a match where both Fujita and Funaki will be scary. Kashin will run wild, but how will Hidaka behave?
MATCH SIX
GHC JUNIOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
*This is HAYATA'S 8th defense
TAKEDA: It's not a breakup, but how much is this Ogawa's obsession with the belt? HAYATA will be aiming to beat the highest number of defenses of 10*, so this is a battle to decide who wants the belt more.
MATCH SEVEN
GHC HEAVYWEIGHT TAG CHAMPIONSHIP
*This will be the first defense of the GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions
TAKEDA: How this match was decided was astounding, Mutoh let Jurina Matsui decide (laughs). Fans who witnessed the scene have high expectations. It should also be noted that Mutoh, who has achieved the "Grand Slam" of winning titles in singles and tags over three promotions will be aiming upwards and just where he is aiming for!
MATCH EIGHT
Takashi Sugiura, Kazushi Sakuraba & KENTA vs Masa Kitamiya, Daiki Inaba & Yoshiki Inamura
TAKEDA: This is indeed KENTA, isn't it? How will Noah's fans react? Some female fans were crying. But is there anyone who will reject him? How will he look to people who have been watching since back then? Also, KENTA'S Reversal t-shirt is cool, isn't it? Will there be a collaboration between The Sugiura Army and Reversal? I want to buy it when it comes out (laughs).
MATCH NINE
GHC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
*This will be Kenoh's 2nd defense
TAKEDA: This is the signboard card of the new Noah, and two people who have led it. Kenoh's entrance is cool, and while Kiyomiya is indifferent to his entrance recently. I want him to be dynamic at the entrance here. Isn't that the real thrill of pro wrestling? Kiyomiya will be at the Yokohama Arena soon on the 8th January, so I want him to do his best to monopolize both.
MATCH TEN
GHC HEAVYWEIGHT
*This will be Katsuhiko Nakajima's 3rd defense
TAKEDA: This is a battle full of destiny, isn't it? A super popular unit called AXIZ released a photo book, and soon after they split up and Nakajima entered Kongoh. Shiozaki lost the belt to Keiji Mutoh, had major surgery and missed time. The title match was decided on even before he had a return match, and unless this was the cause the champion wouldn't say he would do this. On November 28th, Kenoh did a lariat on Nakajima didn't he? That may have been meaningful too. It's in Go Shiozaki's matches that you can enjoy Noah's style, which even old customers can embrace. This is a fight to decide the face of 2022!
Q: Lastly, please give a message to the fans!
TAKEDA: Not to mention the intense matches, there is Funky Kato's theme song, which is also good. It has concert specifications, and you will be able to hear it live! You should be able to hear all the entry songs with lioto*! Let's start New Year 2022 with Pro Wrestling Noah
*NTV is "Nippon Television" of which "TV Asahi" is a channel. The Showa Era (1926-1989) where the years when electronics started to play a role in peoples lives. Television was first broadcast in Japan in 1939 (although there had been experimentation in the 1920s), with regular broadcasting beginning in 1950. TV Asashi made a name for itself by breaking away from educational programs and broadcasting anime, Kamen Rider etc which made it hugely popular.
*Pro wrestling tag team who were identical twin brothers
*Held by Taiji Ishimori who holds the record for 405 days in his first reign alone and made ten defenses. HAYATA is currently on his seventh defense and is not approaching 405 days yet at only 173 at the time of writing.
*lioto are what we would call a production management company, in this case they specialize in audio.
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