(NOAH CHRONOLOGY) GHC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: MASAKATSU FUNAKI
Number of title reigns: 0
Number of defenses: 6
Lost: GLOBAL2days WRESTLE UNIVERSE presents Global Honored Crown (Thursday, November 10th)
Total number of days held: 293
Challengers
1. Masaaki Mochizuki
2. Hideki Suzuki
3. Simon Gotch
4. Masato Tanaka
5. Masa Kitamiya
6. Kazushi Sakuraba
7 El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr
vs Masaaki Mochizuki
TITLE MATCH: "STEP FORWARD", Thursday February 10th 2022 (Korakuen Hall, Tokyo)
HIGHER GROUND 2022 (THURSDAY JANUARY 27TH, KORAKUEN HALL, TOKYO)
Kongoh (Kenoh, Masakatsu Funaki & Manabu Soya) vs The M's alliance (Naomichi Marufuji, Masato Tanaka & Masaaki Mochizuki)
Masakatsu Funaki debuted his new red gear, which Kenoh said he thought was cool. Naomichi Marufuji started against his old teammate. There was no Kongoh style bitterness here, and if anything Funaki remained on friendly terms with M's alliance. He said that they were people he had always wanted to fight, and he gave them the perfect excuse by joining Kongoh. Kenoh and Manabu Soya, more in the Kongoh mindset than Funaki, remained on unfriendly terms with their opponents. Masato Tanaka and Kenoh baiting each other, so much so their fight got physical and went into the ring. Kenoh had the satisfaction of kicking Tanaka out on to the apron before returning to his corner. Manabu Soya seemed more awake than ever, screaming at one point and shaking the barrier. Kenoh had lightning speed interactions with Naomichi Marufuji.
WINNER: Masaaki Mochizuki with the Dragon Suplex Hold on Masakatsu Funaki (15 minutes, 57 seconds)
Using a pin with momentum, Masaaki Mochizuki had managed to pin the GHC National Champion. Kongoh couldn't believe it. He had pinned the champion and had the right to challenge, and so Mochizuki did just that;
"I was the champion of that belt before. Today, I won from Funaki-san in his first match in Kongoh. Can I challenge for this belt after winning?"
In a very un Kongoh like way, Funaki accepted the challenge by quietly saying "Let's do it! Double revenge".
TITLE MATCH: "STEP FORWARD", Thursday February 10th 2022 (Korakuen Hall, Tokyo)
Kongoh came out with Masakatsu Funaki. Katsuhiko Nakajima joined them, but as he looked sulky he refused to get on the apron and then stayed away from the ring standing near the steel barriers. With Kenoh (who was by far the most loud and animated) shouting encouragement, Masaaki Mochizuki immediately went on the attack. It was BattlArts Mochizuki vs UWF Funaki in a chop and kick and submission war. The culmination of a promise that Masaaki Mochizuki made six years and 535 kilometers away at a DragonGate show in Kobe, ended in his defeat.
Winner: Masakatsu Funaki via a Rear-naked choke hold (9 minutes, 1 second)
vs Hideki Suzuki
TITLE MATCH: JUST FINE! 2022 (Korakuen Hall, Thursday March 24th)
Great Voyage 2022 in Yokohama (Yokohama Budokan, Sunday March 13th)
GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Championship Tournament
Kongoh (Kenoh & Masakatsu Funaki) vs The Sugiura Army (Takashi Sugiura & Hideki Suzuki)
Hideki Suzuki returned to Noah today. Kenoh naturally gave him a warm welcome, marching to the ring and then verbally abashing him after posing with Masakatsu Funaki. Kenoh demanded that Suzuki start against him and then broke the hold on the ropes in usual manner. Funaki and Suzuki mat wrestled, with Funaki realizing Suzuki's power as soon as Suzuki stood up with Funaki wrapped around him, as if Funaki weighted nothing. Everyone in this match has some kind of background in MMA or a branch of it, and it showed. Kenoh and Takashi Sugiura, while fighting Suzuki and Funaki respectively in that form, didn't carry it through when it came to them and had a brawl of punches, kicks and throwing each other into the barriers.
In the closing stages of the match, Suzuki went to choke out Funaki, his hands were like a coil on a tightening rope, Funaki later did the same, but he had more of an impression of iron. Kenoh kept Sugiura away and as soon as Suzuki reversed (and Sugiura too reversed to keep Kenoh away), the tide of the match turned.
WINNER: Hideki Suzuki with the Double Arm Suplex Hold on Masakatsu Funaki (16 minutes, 24 seconds)
By virtue of his win over the champion, Hideki Suzuki later challenged for the GHC National.
Great Voyage 2022 in Fukuoka (Fukuoka International Centre, Monday March 21st)
The Sugiura Army (Takashi Sugiura, Hideki Suzuki, Kazushi Sakuraba & Kendo Kashin) vs Kongoh (Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Masakatsu Funaki & Manabu Soya)
In the ring Kashin started arguing with Kenoh, who is well aware of his claim (and Fuminori Abe's assistance in this matter) that he will get Funaki out of Kongoh. Kashin for some reason started flashing the M's alliance hand sign. Kenoh looked grimmer than usual, it probably hadn't escaped him either that Kashin was wearing a Kongoh like red, which was pattered similarly to theirs also. Kashin's antics over, the match got underway with Masakatsu Funaki and his GHC National challenger, Hideki Suzuki, who got into mat wrestling, MMA and a Catch wrestling mixture.
Katsuhiko Nakajima seemed to find some amusement in the match, a slight look of a laugh on his face when Kenoh was arguing with Kashin and then when he got the Kashin version shutter chance. As for Funaki, he took very little notice of his presence.
Kashin's antics were not over, sometime after Kongoh had done their elbow drop chain on him, he and Funaki disappeared. The cameras revealed that he and Funaki where fighting on one of the balconies and Kashin was trying to throw him off which he attempted twice. Fortunately, Funaki was rescued by Tadasuke, but because he wasn't in the ring, he wasn't there to prevent Hideki Suzuki from getting the win.
WINNER: Hideki Suzuki with the European Clutch on Manabu Soya (18 minutes, 22 seconds)
Kenoh was furious.
TITLE MATCH: JUST FINE! 2022 (Korakuen Hall, Thursday March 24th)
Very much mat wrestling, MMA, IGF and Catch-can style. This has come to characterize the GHC National as the majority of its owners (if not all) have had a background in MMA - even Kenoh's Nippon Kempo shares elements with MMA. It has also come to be signified by very short title defenses and also very long ones, in this case it was a short defense which Masakatsu Funaki won with submissions.
WINNER: Masakatsu Funaki with an ankle lock (8 minutes, 14 seconds)
It had been a good night for Kongoh - two belt challenges and a belt retained, for Hideki Suzuki his own belt had been challenged for. Kongoh got in the ring to celebrate with Funaki.
Funaki has a characteristic microphone after title defenses, which has bought a little rarely seen humor to Kongoh. He talked about the match, which included an epic burn that "I fought on behalf of Japanese Pro Wrestling, and wasn't going to lose to someone who had just returned from WWE."
He then handed the microphone to Kenoh.
Kenoh said to give the microphone to Tadasuke.
Even Tadasuke was confused, but he rose to the occasion and asked Funaki if he would support himself and Hajime Ohara in their title bid in Gunma.
Then things got a little strange in a way that can only happen around Tadasuke. Funaki mentioned that he wanted Tadasuke to close out the show was to do with Tadasuke and Funaki's telephone number...he did not elaborate on the story, but hinted that perhaps Kongoh are not as humorless as they make out themselves out to be. Nakajima had to show Funaki where to stand in the pose that followed, and then he did the same with Tadasuke backstage. Kongoh had another talk. Kenoh and Nakajima where challenging for the Junior Tag, Funaki is the GHC National Champion, and Tadasuke and Hajime Ohara where challenging for the GHC Junior Tag.
But what about Manabu Soya and Nioh?
Well, there is nothing for Nioh currently and Funaki didn't think he was going to challenge for the GHC National, but he hinted to Soya that he might consider it as he too should be thinking about chasing a belt. Soya looked a little surprised, but nothing has been said and that is how matters rest in Noah until their next show on the 3rd April.
vs Simon Gotch
TITLE MATCH: Majestic 2022 (Ryogoku Kokugikan, Saturday 30th April)
There was no pre match for this title challenge. The match was announced at Noah's press conference on the 13th April. The press conference between Simon Gotch and Masakatsu Funaki, took place on the 27th April 2022. To Masakatsu Funaki it's not so much his opponent (who crushed a figure of him under his fist at the press conference) who scares him. It's the name he carries.
Gotch.
Karl Gotch was Funaki's teacher, and even the mention of fighting someone with that name reawakens memories of him. Funaki said he can feel his spine tighten, and as a result he will fight this match as if his teacher where watching him from ringside. This means if he does not do well, he knows what will happen. For his opponent, Simon Gotch, he knows what type of opponent he is facing, and for him a loss tonight (should that happen) is no loss, the honor is being in Noah's ring.
WINNER: Masakatsu Funaki via referee stop (9 minutes, 47 seconds)
I think Masakatsu Funaki did his teacher proud, especially as he choked his opponent so spit was coming out of his mouth, but as Simon Gotch had said, win or lose, it was an honor to fight in Noah's ring. He will be staying on in Noah for a further few matches in May. Funaki said he was inspired by Gotch, (who he said had pulled out a technique he didn't know), and wanted a "Power Fighter" for his next challenger
vs Masato Tanaka
TITLE MATCH: BACK IN THE KOBE! - Live 2022 - Kobe Sanbo Hall, Kobe
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Korakuen Hall Night 1, 7th June 2022)
Kongoh (Kenoh, Masakatsu Funaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima) vs Masato Tanaka, Masaaki Mochizuki & Simon Gotch
Masato Tanaka defeated Masakatsu Funaki via submission in a match of kick fights and submission reversals (and Simon Gotch and Kenoh each using their feet to beat the other in the head, for all his grouchiness, Noah's own Oscar does love things like this) and therefore won the right to challenge for the GHC National Title. The match will take place on the 19th June.
BACK IN THE KOBE! ~ Live 2022 ~ (June 19th, Hyogo / Kobe Sambo Hall)
WINNER: Masakatsu Funaki via stranglehold (Referee stop, 12 minutes, 30 seconds)
It is unusual these days for wrestlers to be presented with a trophy on a successful title defense, but the award came from a sponsor. Backstage (and holding his trophy) Funaki talked about the match and said for his next challenger, he wanted to experience a foreign wrestler, preferably what he termed as a "power wrestler". Later in the N-1 he said he wanted to defend against the three people he had lost to namely Masa Kitamiya. Kaito Kiyomiya and Satoshi Kojima.
VS Masa Kitamiya
TITLE MATCH: SUNNY VOYAGE 2022 (Friday, September 30th)
N-1 VICTORY 2022 GRAND FINAL & GREAT MUTA OSAKA FINAL (Edion Arena Osaka First Stadium, Saturday September 3rd)
Kongoh (Masakatsu Funaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima & Shuji Kondo) vs Masa Kitamiya, Alejandro and Mohammed Yone
In a rare moment, Katsuhiko Nakajima actually joined in with a Kongoh pose. One of the commentators likened his gown to being something out of the underworld. He and Shuji Kondo had a stare off before slowly shaking hands and then finally looking away.
Nakajima is forever on the hunt, and basically hunted Masa Kitamiya, who had no time for such games, but whatever it was that Nakajima was up to and had hinted at, we weren't to find out in this match as the focus was very much on Masa Kitamiya and Masakatsu Funaki.
WINNER: Katsuhiko Nakajima with the Vertical Spike on Mohammed Yone (13 minutes, 14 seconds)
Despite his teammates trying to stop him, Funaki got in the ring to fight Kitamiya. Kitamiya gave him a Saito Suplex and a rare brawl broke out among the heavyweights with even Hajime Ohara running in to try and get Kitamiya off of Funaki. In the end, it took Nakajima and Kondo combined to subdue Kitamiya and throw him from the ring. Alejandro (of all people) had to handle him. Backstage, Kitamiya challenged for the GHC National.
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Thursday September 15th, Korakuen Hall)
Kongoh (Kenoh, Masakatsu Funaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima & Manabu Soya) vs Kaito Kiyomiya, Jack Morris, Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba
Masa Kitamiya and Masakatsu Funaki slapped the hell out of his other before Funaki took him down to the mat. Later after being slammed by Kitamiya, Funaki said backstage that he was never going to take another one.
WINNER: Kaito Kiyomiya with the Transformed Shining Wizard (20 minutes, 10 seconds)
TITLE MATCH: SUNNY VOYAGE 2022 (Friday September 30th, Bandaijima Multi-Purpose Square Ogama, Niigata)
Masakatsu Funaki made a small gesture when he entered the ring that moved fans, as he touched hands with them.
Masa Kitamiya bought out his talent for mat wrestling and took Funaki down in the early stages. He was ferocious in pursuit of the title, even gripping and bending Funaki's foot when he locked in the Prison Lock. He was dominant and determined, and had the taste of what he wanted in his mouth and with all the built up frustration over belts and singles career, he was not going to let it go. Funaki was basically cornered, until unfortunately for Kitamiya, he managed to break free.
WINNER: Masakatsu Funaki with sleeper hold (12 minutes, 35 seconds)
TITLE MATCH: ABEMA presents Ariake Gaisen-THE RETURN-PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER . 3 ~TRIUMPH~ (Sunday October 30th)
After receiving a winners gift from the sponsor, Funaki was attacked by a very familiar masked man, who burst into the ring and got him in a choke hold. Once he let Funaki go he took his mask off and revealed himself as being the person everyone thought, Kazushi Sakuraba and challenged for the GHC National, after apologizing to everyone for being so abrupt;
"Next time, let me try that belt"
Funaki agreed to his challenge (plus throwing in an "asshole" at Sakuraba for jumping him from behind) and this has been set for the 30th October in Ariake Stadium. This will be their first singles match in pro wrestling in fifteen years.
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Friday October 7th, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo)
Takashi Sugiura, Satoshi Kojima, Naomichi Marufuji & Kazushi Sakuraba vs Kongoh (Kenoh, Masakatsu Funaki, Katsuhiko Nakajima & Manabu Soya)
You would have thought that the focus of this match would have been on the GHC National Championship challenge that Kazushi Sakuraba made to Masakatsu Funaki, but the focus was actually on Kenoh and Katsuhiko Nakajima and their targeting of Takashi Sugiura and Satoshi Kojima. Sakuraba and Funaki started off with a technical mat style of wrestling, which gave Funaki an idea of what the title match would be like at the end of the match.
WINNER: Katsuhiko Nakajima with the Vertical Spike on Takashi Sugiura (22 minutes, 30 seconds)
Funaki had a special idea for the title match, he had initially intended to do it under wrestling rules, but he proposed to Sakuraba that they make it a no pinfall win, with the win only being obtained by knock out or submission. Sakuraba agreed.
ABEMA presents DEMOLITION STAGE 2022 in FUKUOKA (Fukuoka International Centre, Sunday October 16th )
DOUBLE BOUT RULE
Kongoh (Kenoh & Masakatsu Funaki) vs Kazushi Sakuraba & Hideki Suzuki
The pre match graphics presented like an old reel from Showa era, with the whirr of a projector, it was very effective (at least to aesthetes like myself).
The rules of this match were as follows; Winning is by KO, TKO or submission only with no pinfall. No referee stops as long as you can stand. The match will be stopped by three strikes in leaving the ringside area (I believe the referee may present yellow cards), crotch kicks, eye rakes, use of belt, biting & breaking opponents submissions.
(I believe that both Kenoh and Hideki Suzuki were given yellow cards, Suzuki certainly was)
Very much mat and technical wrestling as the four bought their backgrounds into play. After a long exchange, Funaki went to choke Sakuraba out and changed the way he did it, which Sakuraba commented on later. However, Suzuki interfered and Kenoh attacked him.
Kenoh had often spoken about provoking the Kazushi Sakuraba who had been called "The Gracie Killer", and he was probably a lot happier with the Sakuraba he saw today, compared to the Sakuraba he complained was just a playful old man.
WINNER: Kazushi Sakuraba with The Scorpion Leglock on Masakatsu Funaki (25 minutes, 36 seconds)
The second and last pre match ended with Sakuraba making Funaki tap. Whereas Kenoh looked as if he was shouting in disbelief, Suzuki was overjoyed with the win. Backstage, Kenoh reserved all his ire for his own title match for the GHC Heavyweight Tag Titles, and Sakuraba said that Funaki was hard to read and Suzuki, with his usual humor, managed to get him to pay for dinner.
Title Match: [Muto Retirement Road] ABEMA presents Ariake Gaisen-THE RETURN-PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER . 3 ~TRIUMPH~
The GHC National was fought under GHC Martial Arts rules (i.e. no pins, only submissions or TKO, being outside the ring would mean a foul was awarded as was eye gouging and three such fouls would forfeit the match). For this, Masakatsu Funaki even wore shorts that adhered to UWF specifications. The man who had refereed their match fifteen years ago, Yuji Shimada, came back to do this one. Noah had warned that you needed to watch as it could end very suddenly, and the match ended in 3 minutes and 19 seconds via the Ninja Choke (which Kazushi Sakuraba had spoken of being aware of) and the title was retained by Funaki. Funaki had now cleared his debt to himself fifteen years ago, and had surpassed Sakuraba.
WINNER: Masakatsu Funaki with the Ninja Choke (3 minutes, 19 seconds)
GLOBAL2days WRESTLE UNIVERSE presents Global Honored Crown, Thursday November 10th 2022, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
[Muto Retirement Road] ABEMA presents Ariake Gaisen-THE RETURN-PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER . 3 ~TRIUMPH~
His next opponent came forward backstage. It was El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Junior. He does not speak much Japanese, and Funaki does not speak much Spanish, so El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Junior simply motioned to the belt, pointed to himself and the two shook hands. Title match will take place on the 10th November at Korakuen Hall. Funaki called Wagner Junior's challenge "Japan vs Mexico". He would like to fight all the challenges like this, but, he understood that the rules weren't going to be understood by everyone. There was no pre match for this title challenge.
GLOBAL2days WRESTLE UNIVERSE presents Global Honored Crown, Thursday November 10th 2022, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Masakatsu Funaki vs El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr
Masakatsu Funaki had been right to fear El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr's challenge. He had said that Wagner Jnr had everything that he didn't - size, strength, youth and a different style, Lucha. Funaki couldn't even predict what kind of match this would be, but in the event of things nothing really worked for him as even taking Wagner Junior down to the mat. Wagner did dive on him too, which was something that Funaki had been also cautious of, but it wasn't outside of the ring like he had feared.
WINNER: El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr with the Moonsault Press (13 minutes, 3 seconds)
Next Champion: El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr
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