(NOAH) EVENT RECAP: THE LEAVE presents N Innovation U-CUP (Night 1 - Yokohama Radiant Hall, Thursday January 6th 2022)

Heavy snowfall meant that Yokohama Radiant Hall was not as busy as it usually is when Noah come town and as a result only 109 people came for the inaugural night of the new Noah Junior event, the N Innovation. Unusually for anything that Daisuke Harada does, Yoshinari Ogawa is too in favor of the event as it promotes the Noah Juniors and gives them a chance to compete against the heavyweights. 

I also noted today that alongside the three boys who are training for their debut and Yoshiki Inamura (who doesn't have to second, but I think has set an example of someone who likes to do it, can teach the new boys and has the strength to carry anyone from the ring) there was a new boy. Kaito Kiyomiya did mention an open training session a few weeks ago. 

The event is a two day one with the unit, not the individual, scoring points. You can view the event on WrestleUniverse (static cam, no commentary), but you must be a subscriber. 

MATCH ONE

Yasutaka Yano & Kai Fujimura vs Perros Del Mal De Japon (Super Crazy & Ikuto Hidaka)

The presence of Super Crazy is good for the young boys as Noah have not had too many people (especially gaijin wrestlers) around for the past couple of years. Yasutaka Yano could not match his size or power, although Kai Fujimura tended to do a little better, which is probably due to being a little taller. In terms of ability Yano is still ahead, but Fujimura is creeping up. The match ended in a double submission, with Fujimura tapping out. 

WINNER: Super Crazy with the Tapatia on Kai Fujimura (9 minutes, 59 seconds)

MATCH TWO

N-Innovation

Perros Del Mal De Japon (Eita & NOSAWA) vs Noah Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge & Daisuke Harada)

Daisuke Harada was a little more wary of his opponents than Atsushi Kotoge, and entered the ring more cautiously. Perros as usual bought them down with a variety of tricks that they know the Noah Junior Regulars in particular do not approve of. Eita taunting Harada and grabbing a chunk of his hair that got him told off by the referee. As usual when it comes to Perros and what they call "the paper cup wrestlers" (i.e. plain, uniform and somewhat boring) they got the quick win. 

WINNER: Eita with the Vibria (5 minutes, 56 seconds)

There was a horrified gasp from the crowd, with a horrified Daisuke Harada no doubt echoing it. It was humiliating for Harada to have not picked up any points in the first match of the tournament he had organized. 

Scores

Perros Del Mal De Japon: 2

Noah Regulars: 0

MATCH TWO

N-Innovation

STINGER (Yoshinari Ogawa & HAYATA) vs Kongoh Juniors (Haoh & Nioh)

Yoshinari Ogawa had said in a rare interview that the tournament would revolve around them, and it did. STINGER hold all the junior championship belts and naturally the champions were the dominant team. Haoh was worn down by their quick tags in and out. Ogawa was typically nasty, throwing Haoh headfirst into the turnbuckles repeatedly. Haoh found that their attack was so effective that escape was quite impossible. They were not above double teaming him either. This was probably the most chaotic match of the evening, with Ogawa intruding constantly and breaking pins and HAYATA at one point I think may have been briefly knocked out. Even if it is only four juniors, the ref still has trouble keeping order.

WINNER: HAYATA with the schoolboy on Nioh (9 minutes, 20 seconds)

Scores

STINGER: 2

Kongoh Juniors: 0

MATCH THREE

N-Innovation

Kongoh Juniors (Tadasuke & Aleja) vs Noah Regulars (Junta Miyawaki & Hajime Ohara)

In the third match, unit pride was very much definitely on the line. The Noah Juniors were embarrassed by having no scores, as where the Kongoh Juniors. Hajime Ohara went to work on Tadasuke's arm and shoulder, sapping him of his heavyweight strength. The Noah Juniors even had a tandem move for this purpose. Junta Miyawaki was wild in attack, he has found his niche as a technician and was capable of getting Tadasuke to almost quit. The crowd where furiously behind Miyawaki, but unfortunately Tadasuke got to the ropes. Aleja too found himself in the same predicament when he was stretched out by Ohara. Despite the attacks on his arm, wild Tadasuke's cannot be broken.    

WINNER: Tadasuke with the Jidanda Lariat on Junta Miyawaki (14 minutes, 7 seconds)

Scores

Kongoh Juniors: 2

Noah Regulars: 0

So far the tournament had been dismal for its creators. It could get better though? Couldn't it? 

MATCH FOUR

N-Innovation

Perros Del Mal De Japon  (Kotaro & YO-HEY) vs STINGER (Yuya Susumu & Seiki Yoshioka)

Crunch time for the high scorers. Both teams by now were on two points, a win tonight would put one ahead with four, and the chance of a further two should they win the Noah Junior rumble later in the evening. The stakes were high. 

This match was less chaotic than the others. Yuya Susumu and Kotaro Suzuki were very technical (Ogawa must love Susumu) and YO-HEY did some very inventive wrestling, a dropkick on Yoshioka turned into a backflip on Susumu for a pin attempt. However, these matches only last twenty minutes and the win must be quick, and Yoshioka with five minutes to spare cracked YO-HEY with two very stiff kicks and then went for the Crash Driver. 

WINNER: Seiki Yoshioka with the Crash Driver on YO-HEY (15 minutes, 25 seconds)

Scores

STINGER: 4

Perros Del Mal De Japon: 2

This was a big important win for Yoshioka both for the unit and for himself. His 2022 had initially not gotten off to a good start, but he had defeated an enemy who he had significant issues with, and picked up a score for the unit too. 

With STINGER leading the way on the scoreboard, Kongoh Juniors and Perros tied at two and the Noah Junior Regulars sulking over no points, there was a brief intermission as Kaito Kiyomiya and Daiki Inaba had a singles match. 

MATCH FIVE

Kaito Kiyomiya vs Daiki Inaba

This is their third singles match, and the only one to have taken place outside of Tokyo. The Kiyomiya vs Inaba matches first took place during Kaito Kiyomiya's produce shows "NEW HOPE" when Daiki Inaba showed up one day after the main event. Baba and Misawa would have been proud of Kiyomiya's selling/passivity when he milked an injury, used it to block a move and then struck back. Inaba came close to the win a few times, but Kiyomiya still remains the wall he cannot get round. 

WINNER: Kaito Kiyomiya with the Stretch Plum Type Face Lock (12 minutes, 52 seconds)

JUNIOR RUMBLE

N-Innovation

Participants (in order of entry)

Atsushi Kotoge (Eliminated by YO-HEY via YO-ROLL pin. 16 minutes 49 seconds)

Aleja (Eliminated by Hajime Ohara's Finnish Forearm. 14 minutes, 54 seconds)

Yuya Susumu (Eliminated via pinfall by Atsushi Kotoge. 11 minutes, 13 seconds)

YO-HEY (Over the top rope elimination by Seiki Yoshioka. 20 minutes)

Seiki Yoshioka (Eliminated by Kotaro Suzuki via Tiger Driver. 20 minutes, 20 seconds)

Tadasuke (Over the top rope elimination by Junta Miyawaki.11 minutes, 59 seconds)

Junta Miyawaki (Eliminated by Haoh via Figure Four Suplex Hold. 16 minutes, 20 seconds)

NOSAWA Rongai (Over the top rope elimination by Yoshinari Ogawa. 6 minutes, 51 seconds)

Yoshinari Ogawa (Over the top rope elimination by Daisuke Harada. 7 minutes, 42 seconds)

Eita (Accidentally pushed off the apron by NOSAWA Rongai. 6 minutes, 49 seconds)

Daisuke Harada (Event winner. 24 minutes, 30 seconds)

Kotaro Suzuki (Pinned via Katayama German Suplex by Daisuke Harada. 24 minutes, 30 seconds)

Haoh (Over the top rope elimination by Daisuke Harada. 18 minutes, 18 seconds)

Nioh (Pinned by Junta Miyawaki. 14 minutes, 59 seconds)

Hajime Ohara (Pinned by Seiki Yoshioka. 17 minutes, 33 seconds)

Rumble observations

HAYATA was sitting at ringside next to the ring announcer

YO-HEY was still a little groggy from earlier having taken the Crash Driver and then a rest period of only about fifteen minutes or so. The moment Seiki Yoshioka entered the ring, YO-HEY made a beeline for him. Yoshioka attempted another crash driver but fortunately was unsuccessful. 

Eita and Yoshinari Ogawa attacked on sight the moment Eita entered. Eita was accidentally eliminated by NOSAWA. When NOSAWA was eliminated a few moments later, they had an argument outside the ring, and when Ogawa was eliminated thanks to being thrown over the ropes by Daisuke Harada and then being pulled off the apron by NOSAWA, the three got into a brawl. Ogawa was everyone's target almost, naturally Daisuke Harada went for him. Eita says he wonders what will happen when they, that is he and Ogawa, team together on the 10th...

Kotaro Suzuki dared intrude on Kongoh's elbow drop celebration by trying to pin Junta Miyawaki.

Junta Miyawaki eliminated Tadasuke, eliminated Nioh and probably would have got even more had Haoh not put a stop to him. Crowd applauded loudly. 

It came down to Kotaro Suzuki, Seiki Yoshioka, YO-HEY and Daisuke Harada. HAYATA was probably hoping that it wouldn't be YO-HEY or Yoshioka because of the complications YO-HEY tends to bring (that neither HAYATA or Ogawa want stirred up as much as the fans do) and there has already been one falling out in STINGER over the GHC Junior, although it did mean that STINGER would pick up more points. He was lucky then that it came down to Daisuke Harada and Kotaro Suzuki. Harada was desperate for the win and for some points, a lot was on the line now. Unit pride and a chance at the title. 

WINNER: Daisuke Harada with the Katayama German Suplex on Kotaro Suzuki (24 minutes, 30 seconds)

HAYATA got up on the ring apron and silently held up the belt. Harada addressed him on the microphone. Here he was again standing before him, and this time he would defeat him. HAYATA has been termed the "Absolute Champion" by Daisuke Harada, and whoever takes the belt from him, will be the certified ace of the division and they will break STINGERS hold on the titles. Title match will take place on the 10th January. 

After HAYATA had gone, the Noah Junior Regulars posed together. They didn't look overly happy with one of their own winning the rumble, picking up two points for the unit and getting a title shot. It was the same story, Harada had won again and they hadn't. Kotoge in particular seemed very distant and looked glum. Once again Harada was getting this chance. The others seemed to mirror this, but to a lesser extent. Harada, of course, didn't notice anything.

With thanks to: Metal-Noah

GIF taken from WrestleUniverse

Noah's next event: N-Innovation Night 2 (7th January 2021, Yokohama Radiant Hall)