(NOAH) EVENT RECAP: GAIN CONTROL 2022 in NAGOYA (Aichi / Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall, Wednesday February 23rd)

Today's event from a snowy Nagoya was attended by 643 people, some of whom came out from Tokyo. The show did not disappoint with new beginnings in both the heavyweight and the junior divisions, which made it an emotional and at times shocking evening. There where no betrayals however, but plenty of drama as champions fell and other rose, new teams were born, alliances threatened and one champion remains dominant. You can catch up with this event on WrestleUniverse. All it requires to view is a subscription. 

MATCH ONE

Funky Express (Mohammed Yone & King Tany) vs Funky Express (Akitoshi Saito & Masao Inoue)

Far more than any other unit in Noah, it is Funky Express who have matches against each other. It's both a win and a loss for them, and as Akitoshi Saito said, they may be his friends but he's not going to go easy on them. Saito gave a slight snarl on entry, and then started dancing to Mohammed Yone (whose birthday it is today) and King Tany's music when in the ring.  

Referee Tsukagoshi, who has been absent for a while, returned to Noah today and was not going to let Tany get away with wearing his crown. The look on Tany's face when told to remove it was priceless. Yone removed the golden chains, probably knowing that the ref was not going to do it. Then the four shook hands, Tany grinning at poor old Masao Inoue, who was going to get punished, but before that Saito and Yone got down to shoulder tackles, which became an ongoing theme. Saito wasn't going to lie still while Tany slammed Inoue into him, and so he rolled away, but he had no problems being slammed onto Inoue though. He also had no problems kind of joining in with the Funky Photo Shoot on him. Inoue later tried to steal the win, and Yone dealt him before he could try it again.

WINNER: Mohammed Yone with the Kinniku Buster on Masao Inoue (11 minutes, 58 seconds)

It was a bittersweet victory, but perhaps this was what whoever books these matches intended; Funky Express hadn't beaten anyone but each other. Yone and King Tany didn't seem to mind, dancing to the camera, which danced along with them. 

Saito gave Inoue a pep talk as they left the ring, Inoue clutching his head.  

MATCH TWO

Nioh vs Kinya Okada

Kinya Okada came running to the ring, almost colliding with one of the staff at ringside. Nioh, looking chiseled and more motivated, used kicks and moves that he hasn't for a while, a lot of these being submissions. It was a swift match with Nioh on fire. 

Winner: Nioh with the Stuka Splash (9 minutes, 58 seconds)

MATCH THREE

Yoshinari Ogawa & Yasutaka Yano vs STINGER (NOSAWA Rongai & Kotaro Suzuki)

Yoshinari Ogawa came marching to the ring quickly, and then once in it complained to Kotaro Suzuki about NOSAWA Rongai. 

Throughout the match Ogawa would continue to provoke Kotaro, his mind games working well. Ogawa knew that as soon as he called Kotaro "Dogsbody" that Perros would pick up on it, and all he had to do now was increase the friction between them by dodging so that NOSAWA hits Kotaro, or pushing NOSAWA into Kotaro and it worked. They had disagreements. He was like a whirlwind in doing this. Yasutaka Yano (who was not at all out of place in a match with three veterans) also played his part, dodging NOSAWSA so hit hit Kotaro, and he even did the same when NOSAWA held him. STINGER worked the pair of them, Ogawa pulling the strings tightly. 

WINNER: Kotaro Suzuki with the Excalibur on Yasutaka Yano (6 minutes, 42 seconds)

I don't think Ogawa really cared too much about winning or losing, he just wanted to sow discord, so he let Kotaro pin Yano, and then left as NOSAWA was hunting under the ring for something. NOSAWA pulled out a blue plastic box, but it wasn't for Yano, it was for Kotaro as the two shoved each other and butted heads. 

NOSAWA smiled and offered a handshake, and then it seemed that all was well as he raised Kotaro's arm in victory and with a fist bump and smile, the two left the ring. NOSAWA stating they were Perros and showing off his t-shirt. Backstage at the interview booth, Ogawa randomly attacked and threw water at NOSAWA before slapping Kotaro and walking off.

MATCH FOUR

Haoh, Junta Miyawaki & Kai Fujimura vs Kongoh (Tadasuke, Hajime Ohara & Aleja)

Fans were disappointed to see that Hajime Ohara hadn't changed his costume, and was still wearing white/silver. His only concession to the Kongoh colors was the red t-shirt. His demeanor however was completely different than from what it had been; he was darker, angrier. This was not the warm Ohara who had taught and nurtured, this was a cold Ohara made of stone and out to hurt. Junta Miyawaki was determined to show his anger to his old stablemate, and kicked things off with one big slap. Ohara was not going to take this, and Miyawaki found his knee wrenched and his arm grabbed to prevent him from getting to the ropes. 

Kai Fujimura did not fail in being put in the fourth match on the card. He has suddenly bloomed, and like Yasutaka Yano before him, fitted well into the match and even almost pinned Tadasuke. 

WINNER: Tadasuke with the Fuyuki Special* on Kai Fujimura (14 minutes, 42 seconds)

Ohara, looking somewhat more petulant than angry joined the others in celebration. Never once during the match did we see him smile. Afterwards, Fujimura got lariated by Tadasuke again, but Aleja intervened. Not that it means anything. I think he just felt that Fujimura was such small fry, he wasn't worth it.

*Tadasuke uses a lot of moves from Kodo Fuyuki. Fuyuki, towards the end of his life, was associated with Noah. An old friend of Mitsuharu Misawa, when Fuyuki discovered he had terminal cancer, Misawa arranged for both his retirement match and for Noah to pay him a pension to cover his health expenses. 

MATCH FIVE

Masato Tanaka vs Kendo Kashin

Masato Tanaka was not taking any chances with Kendo Kashin and watched him warily. Kashin did his slow motion chops, which Tanaka soon tired off and felled him. Tanaka offered a handshake later on, and Kashin gave him a finger. Not the finger. A finger to shake with. 

Tanaka was generally wise to Kashin's tricks, preventing him from rolling out of the ring and then not wanting to be out of the ring for too long, as it is there when Kashin is in his element. Unfortunately for Tanaka, he couldn't stay out of the ringside and although Kashin didn't find what he was looking for under the ring and got no further than the curtain the first time, he was still thrown into the steel barriers. Although this was nothing compared to his halcyon FMW and ECW days. Tanaka couldn't avoid this forever, and after Kashin attempted to throw him off the balcony, he gave him a Sliding D and then a taste of his own medicine. Which included throwing Kashin off the balcony. He didn't fall far however. 

RESULT: Time out draw at 11 minutes and 1 second, but in all fairness, Masato Tanaka probably won.

Kashin limped back to the ring, as did Tanaka and a scuffle broke out on the walkway. The ref, no doubt wondering why the heavyweights were acting like juniors, explained that the match was over to a complaining Tanaka. 

MATCH SIX

Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura vs THE TOUGH (Masa Kitamiya & Yoshiki Inamura)

To show a united front against their younger roster, the veterans made their way to the ring together. Naomichi Marufuji and Yoshiki Inamura started the match, Marufuji stunned by Inamura's strength as Masa Kitamiya shouted encouragement from the apron. When it came to strength (especially when competing with Inamura's), the seniors were at a disadvantage, but they could work with that, they could wear these behemoths down, especially Inamura who was chopped, had his arms held as Marufuji stamped his face into the floor after dragging him up and then dogeared him into the corner. When the seniors were back in control, the younger guys were treated as if they shouldn't have thought they could overcome them and where punished for their hubris

WINNER: Takashi Sugiura with the Olympic Qualifying Slam on Yoshiki Inamura (20 minutes, 22 seconds)

In the interim between the title matches starting and this match ending, the monitor flickered and Hideki Suzuki appeared on screen to make an announcement. He delivered a brief message, confirming he would be returning to Noah, The Sugiura Army (he says he is embarrassed that he could not have done more in America, not that he is ashamed to have to return to The Sugiura Army) and as Takashi Sugiura's partner to chase the vacant GHC Heavyweight tag titles on the 21st March at "Grand Voyage 2022 in Fukuoka". He also warned on his social media, "I will bring new problems and lots of troubles to Japan and Noah."

MATCH SEVEN

GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Championship

The Noah Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge & YO-HEY) vs STINGER (HAYATA & Yuya Susumu)

YO-HEY started against HAYATA. HAYATA was the one, even more than Yuya Susumu, who YO-HEY needed to overcome more than anything, seldom having beaten him before and they know, or perhaps once knew each other very well. More than the title, perhaps more than any other titles they had ever fought for, tonight was YO-HEY'S arc in an adrenalin churning fast paced exciting and emotional match. To add to the drama, YO-HEY'S head opened again which HAYATA and Susumu helped to open a little more. Fortunately, YO-HEY did not bleed like he did when he was originally given the cut. 

HAYATA and Yuya Susumu were merciless in attack. HAYATA using Ogawa tactics, distracting the ref by making out that Atsushi Kotoge was up to something when he wasn't. Yuya Susumu (with his own eerie grin on inflicting pain) softened up YO-HEY with kicks, and used a vicious chokehold on Kotoge and the face lock that YO-HEY had tapped out in one of the pre matches. Worn down and smeared with blood, YO-HEY refused to give up. 

WINNER: YO-HEY with the Super Face G on Yuya Susumu (26 minutes, 58 seconds)

YO-HEY couldn't believe it, and even counted it on his fingers. He was still to defeat HAYATA (and that will come in due course), but for now he and Kotoge had won the titles, and this was the true start of raising the Noah Juniors. He hadn't defeated HAYATA however, but he had taken the championship from him. It was a start. But, before they could celebrate properly, new challengers arrived on the scene. YO-HEY'S old teammates, NOSAWA Rongai and Kotaro Suzuki. NOSAWA deliberately bumped YO-HEY as he got into the ring. 

Kotaro's challenge (part challenge, part threat) was short and simple;

"YO-HEY, I am going to destroy you. Kotoge, I'll destroy you at the same time"

The title match has been set for "Great Voyage in Fukuoka 2022" on the 21st March. 

MATCH EIGHT

GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship

Daisuke Harada vs Super Crazy

Super Crazy launched straight into attack, throwing Daisuke Harada around. Super Crazy knew he had the weight advantage (he is a junior, but borders on being a heavyweight, something Keiji Mutoh also questioned) and used this to the full which made Harada slow and stagger at time. Harada's own attacks seemed to bounce off Super Crazy. He was completely at his mercy. Being no match for his weight or his strength, Harada was going to have to come up with something quickly. Either bring him down and wear him down, or win with momentum. Harada was visibly irritated with himself each time he was caught, but he needed to end this match and he went with momentum.

WINNER: Daisuke Harada with the Huracan rana (18 minutes, 57 seconds)

With this win, the wheel had once again turned in the Noah Juniors, The Noah Junior Regulars were the dominant unit. 

MATCH NINE

Go Shiozaki, Kaito Kiyomiya & Daiki Inaba vs Kongoh (Kenoh, Masakatsu Funaki & Manabu Soya)

Kaito Kiyomiya and Kenoh immediately started arguing. Normally the very sight of Kaito Kiyomiya is enough to set Kenoh off, but it rises to another level whenever a belt is involved. Kenoh was not interested in Daiki Inaba, Kiyomiya's partner. Another reason why Kenoh was so enraged was that Kiyomiya dared to deliberately stand near Kongoh when they were doing their pose. 

Despite their friction, Kiyomiya and Kenoh did not start, Inaba managed to somehow persuade a Noah Born to leave it for now and Masakatsu Funaki, who was his enemy this evening, mat wrestled him to the floor.

Go Shiozaki took a silent role in the match. Not involved in chasing the GHC Heavyweight Tags he concentrated on fighting the other odd man out, Manabu Soya, who is also not involved and the two had a massive chop war. Soya practically burst into flames. 

Although Katsuhiko Nakajima had other things on his mind tonight, Masakatsu Funaki took his place in doing the tandem kicks with Kenoh. I wonder if in light of subsequent events and Nakajima's reaction to Funaki joining, if this will have any bearing one day in any form. Kiyomiya wanted some of Funaki too, even causing a Kongoh brawl on the apron.  The rough evening of the referees continued, as Nishinaga was manhandled by Kenoh, who was determined to get in a few shots at Kiyomiya. 

WINNER: Kaito Kiyomiya with the Double Arm Lock on Manabu Soya (21 minutes, 21 seconds)

Kenoh went to check on Soya, Kiyomiya shoved him aside and the four tag championship challengers squared up. Funaki shoving Inaba and Kiyomiya. Kiyomiya and Kenoh yelling at each other. 

MATCH TEN

GHC Heavyweight Championship

Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Kazuyuki Fujita

Kazuyuki Fujita came out wearing his Bane like mask, accompanied by The Sugiura Army. Kendo Kashin was clutching a white plastic bag in anticipation of Fujita's win. Kenoh was at ringside being vocal as ever, yelling at Kazuyuki Fujita while trying to encourage Katsuhiko Nakajima. This was Katsuhiko Nakajima's biggest challenge yet and he had to use his head. Ignore the crowd, ignore the cameras, ignore the photographers, ignore his ego and concentrate solely on Fujita. This was not Shiozaki, Marufuji, Sugiura, Kenoh or anyone else. This was the man they called "The Beast" and was capable of living up to that name. Nakajima had seen and experienced Fujita firsthand, he knew what he was capable of. 

The match was torture to watch. For Nakajima there seemed to be no way out. Perhaps he knew he was beat, each time had Fujita down, he got back up. He allowed himself a moment of free reign with his ego at one point. He had deserved it, but it cost him. Fujita was able to recover and fought back, hitting Nakajima half way across the ring each time he punched him. Fujita had the advantage in the vicious slap war too, the chokes which almost turned Nakajima blue. When finally he did have Fujita down and the referee was checking on him, Nakajima threw him to the side and punched Fujita again in rapid succession. Perhaps he should have pinned him then, or even let the ref decide to end the match but whatever the reason, Fujita was given time to recover. He was groggy, but managed to slam Nakajima and then kick him in the head. To drive home the point he went to pin him, dragged him up and then finished with another huge bomb for the win.

WINNER: Kazuyuki Fujita with the Power Bomb (21 minutes, 11 seconds)

Fujita's first challenger was on the scene very quickly. Masato Tanaka, who had fought Fujita to a draw, came out and made his challenge by pouring beer on Fujita's head and saying 

"Next is me, let's continue from our draw last year"

When Tanaka had gone, Fujita celebrated his win with Asahi beer, even pouring some on to the belt and licking it off. After the match Fujita bought back the old ways backstage. Not in a long while has Noah had a title celebration that involved so much beer - beer poured over Fujita, beer drunk by Fujita, The Sugiura Army and Junta Miyawaki who was standing nearby...although no one could quite work out why. Fujita commented that "I am convinced that Noah is a place to truly savor". Nakajima has vowed to once more rise again. 

With thanks to: Metal-Noah

GIF taken from WrestleUniverse, Noah Official YouTube & Noah Official Twitter

Noah's next event: STEP FORWARD 2022, Friday 25th February - Yokohama Radiant Hall