(NOAH CHRONOLOGY) HAYATA~ GHC JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
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| "I'm the Noah Juniors strongest. Anyone who wants this belt can come! Anyone in Noah! I'm the one who will make a new Noah" |
Won: ABEMA presents MAJESTIC 2022, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Friday 29th April 2022
Number of defenses: 6
Lost: [Muto Retirement Road] ABEMA presents Ariake Gaisen-THE RETURN-PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER . 3 ~TRIUMPH~ Sunday 30th October 2022
Total number of days held: 185
Challengers
1. Xtreme Tiger
2. Hajime Ohara
3. Seiki Yoshioka
4. Shuji Kondo
5. Chris Ridgeway (no pre match)
6. YO-HEY
7. Ninja Mack
VS XTREME TIGER
TITLE MATCH: DREAM ON 2022 FINAL, Ota Ward General Gymnasium, 21st May 2022
Dream on 2022 (Thursday May 5th 2022, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo)
STINGER (HAYATA, Seiki Yoshioka, Yuya Susumu) & Kai Fujimura vs Dragon Bane, Alpha Wolf, Xtreme Tiger & Alejandro
This match had two speeds; fast paced and lighting fast, in which ironically the youngest and most inexperienced person, Kai Fujimura, stood out as the star. Alejandro was probably watching his sibling with interest as he faced off against Dragon Bane and pulled out some high flying moves. Unlike Seiki Yoshioka, he actually accepted a handshake.
WINNER: Dragon Bane with Alas de Kebradora on Kai Fujimura (9 minutes, 27 seconds)
After the Lucha Tag had left the ring and STINGER where preparing to leave, Xtreme Tiger stayed in the ring and made belt motions at HAYATA, watching him from the top turnbuckle. HAYATA got into the ring and held the belt up to him, indicating that he accepted his challenge.
Backstage Xtreme Tiger said that HAYATA was prey he was hunting and that he was going to take the belt back to Tijuana. HAYATA (who seems to be more vocal recently) said that he would fight Xtreme Tiger anywhere and at any time for the belt.
N Innovation (Saturday May 14th 2022, Yokohama Radiant Hall)
HAYATA & Kai Fujimura vs Xtreme Tiger & YO-HEY
Champion and challenger started, Xtreme Tiger managing to catch HAYATA off guard by countering him in a different way than HAYATA is used to.
HAYATA tagged in Kai Fujimura when YO-HEY came in, YO-HEY gave a kind of nod as if to say he was expecting this and it was okay. Young Fujimura held his own in the match against three much more experienced wrestlers. HAYATA couldn't avoid YO-HEY forever however, and with a very Ogawa like mannerism he looked at Xtreme Tiger (complete with sadistic smile) as if to tell him to take a good look, as he would be next.
WINNER: Xtreme Tiger with the Boston Crab on Kai Fujimura (11 minutes, 15 seconds)
YO-HEY was loving taunting HAYATA over both the team loss and Xtreme Tiger's challenge. HAYATA butted heads with Xtreme Tiger, and held up the belt to him. He reserved a glare for YO-HEY.
Dream on 2022 FINAL (Saturday May 21st, Ota Ward General Gymnasium)
HAYATA worked out Xtreme Tiger to an extent, but was still caught by him. He was going to have to come back up with something quickly, the time for observation was over. This was the time for taking it as came and thinking on his feet. HAYATA had changed his style from aerial to ground based as Marufuji had commented, but he was going to need to mix both now and look for openings. HAYATA hadn't really had the chance much in his last defenses or really over the past few years to fight Luchadores, and so this was something very new. The majority of his challengers he knew well, even if they did evolve (i.e. YO-HEY). It was a match which demonstrated HAYATA'S evolution, as often he had to combine aerial with technical.
WINNER: HAYATA with the Headache (14 minutes, 53 seconds)
VS HAJIME OHARA
TITLE MATCH: N-INNOVATION, Shinjuku FACE, 23rd June 2022
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Korakuen Hall Night 2, Wednesday 8th June)
STINGER (Simon Gotch & HAYATA) & Kai Fujimura vs Kongoh Juniors (Tadasuke, Hajime Ohara & Hi69) (Hajime Ohara won with the Mui Bien on Kai Fujimura - 15 minutes, 44 seconds)
Despite Tadasuke's hint that he would be targeting HAYATA, it was more Hajime Ohara. Tadasuke was more concerned with having both a fight and a swearing competition with Simon Gotch, whose enthusiasm was infectious and even involved HAYATA. Gotch even made a point of looking for Tadasuke, over the top of Tadasuke's head, and then looking down to notice him. He also made Kai Fujimura (who was on fire, and rising to the challenge of this match) scoop slam him on to Tadasuke. The match was won by Hajime Ohara, who challenged HAYATA for the GHC Junior afterwards;
"Hey, HAYATA! Let me challenge! The next challenger is me!"
HAYATA accepted, and said backstage that Ohara's challenge was an easy victory, but he would accept it as he said he would accept any challenger. He was even looking ahead as to who would challenge after Ohara.
BACK IN THE KOBE! ~ Live 2022 ~ (June 19th, Hyogo / Kobe Sambo Hall)
HAYATA vs Hajime Ohara
"Virtual title match"
The match didn't go even five minutes. Hajime Ohara went for the Mui Bien soon into the match, which HAYATA countered for the win.
WINNER: HAYATA in 4 minutes and 5 seconds
Fans were left wondering what the hell was going to happen next week at Shinjuku Face if this happened in the one and only pre match. HAYATA shrugged it off saying, "Easy victory. Recruitment of next challenger. Champions of other promotions, overseas wrestlers, Ninja Mack. Whoever". Ohara called the loss "a mock exam"
N Innovation (Thursday 23rd June, Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo)
HAYATA wasn't quite so confident that this match would be over so easily as Hajime Ohara, who is an eternal student of anything he does (college, wrestling, teaching the elderly and studying dementia prevention through exercise, voluntary firework), studied and almost passed the exam. Ohara has a certain element of revenge in challenging HAYATA for the GHC Junior as he not only wants to be champion, he wants to take the belt from him as revenge for HAYATA ending his title reign a few years ago. HAYATA is not the HAYATA he fought then and unbelievably got the win via submission on one of Noah's premier technicians.
Winner: HAYATA with a deformed armlock (24 minutes, 8 seconds)
VS SEIKI YOSHIOKA
TITLE MATCH: DESTINATION 2022 (Saturday, July 16th, Nippon Budokan)
N Innovation (Thursday 23rd June, Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo)
Seiki Yoshioka wasted no time coming to the ring to challenge HAYATA for the GHC Junior.
"The next challenger is me. That is why I decided to leave STINGER and go it alone. I will take the belt without having rely on anyone"
As far as HAYATA was concerned, he and Yoshioka were still friends, right?
Wrong. He told Yoshioka he would happily accept his challenge and offered his hand. Yoshioka looked at it and just like he did earlier with Susumu, went to shake it and then turned and kicked. The title match will take place at the Nippon Budokan on the 16th July.
Backstage Yoshioka elaborated on his decision to leave STINGER. He said that this was because he wanted to be GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion and thus prove he belonged at the peak of the Noah Juniors, and the path in this case was unavoidable. It led through HAYATA.
SUNNY VOYAGE 2022 (Saturday July 2nd, Fukushima Big Palette, Fukushima)
STINGER (HAYATA & Yuya Susumu) vs Seiki Yoshioka & Kai Fujimura
Another W-1 combination, which was overlooked by the matter of the GHC Junior Heavyweight pre match. Yuya Susumu and Seiki Yoshioka glared at each other, then Yoshioka and HAYATA butted heads. HAYATA managed to bloody Yoshioka soon after the match started, I am not sure how though, I think he might have punched in him the face. Yoshioka retaliated with a new superkick, which HAYATA was quickly introduced to.
WINNER: Yuya Susumu with the Cross Face Lock on Kai Fujimura (12 minutes, 58 seconds)
After the match, Yoshioka attacked HAYATA after the match with the Crash Driver as they squared up over the title, which HAYATA held between them. Afterwards a wild eyed and bloodied Seiki Yoshioka, asked HAYATA how he liked his new move?
SUNNY VOYAGE 2022 (Sunday, July 3rd - Yamagata Big Wing, Yamagata)
Seiki Yoshioka and HAYATA did not have a singles match, Seiki Yoshioka intruded on the match that HAYATA was in and got it thrown out.
Yoshioka, after kicking HAYATA in the head a few times, spoke on the mic and said he was going to take the belt at the Nippon Budokan. He then made off with it as STINGER helped HAYATA out. HAYATA was too groggy to speak backstage and Ogawa and Yoshioka had to help him up. Yoshioka repeated that he was going to do anything to take the belt, and HAYATA could consider this his message that he was going to knock him out.
SUNNY VOYAGE 2022 - Sunday July 10th, Fujisan Messe, Shizuoka
STINGER (HAYATA & Simon Gotch) vs Seiki Yoshioka & Kai Fujimura
HAYATA held up the belt to Seiki Yoshioka. Yoshioka had said that Gotch was not going to either get in or stand in his way, and it appeared that he was able to knock them both out of the ring at some point as HAYATA was overheard asking Gotch how he was.
Winner: Simon Gotch with the Gotch Style Pile Driver on Kai Fujimura (11 minutes, 48 seconds)
Yoshioka's traditional parting shot was to again kick HAYATA in the head with another Buzz kick. Gotch carried HAYATA out, HAYATA still clinging to the belt.
ABEMA presents DESTINATION 2022 - Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Saturday 16th July
This wasn't really a STINGER argument, more one between the Hiroshima Boys. Yuya Susumu joined HAYATA at ringside and probably out of habit, was seen checking on both HAYATA and Yuya Susumu following Yoshioka's moonsault to the outside when he collided with the guardrail.
The match was not as easy as Yoshioka thought. HAYATA did manage to prevent the kicks, which probably stopped him from being knocked out too soon, but Yoshioka waged war on HAYATA'S head, finding different ways. The irony was that Yoshioka had given an interview saying that it would be a "critical strike" finisher that would win him the title, when it was HAYATA who won it in that way.
WINNER: HAYATA with The Headache (20 minutes, 45 seconds)
VS SHUJI KONDO
TITLE MATCH: DEPARTURE 2022, Friday 5th August
Shuji Kondo came to the ring to challenge for the title, and loomed over HAYATA. Fans have called this HAYATA'S most serious challenge so far. Kondo did not mince his words, asking HAYATA if he knew the significance of his coming to stand in the ring, but then again, HAYATA didn't speak, did he? He reminded HAYATA of the fact that he was once a GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion (September 2012) and he wanted that belt back.
HAYATA snatched the mic from Kondo and swore he would defeat him and raise the value of the belt. Backstage, Kondo said he was surprised that HAYATA could and did speak, while HAYATA (not looking into the camera but from side to side) said that he was happy that others had come from other promotions for the belt, but it would be himself who would defend and raise the value.
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Thursday July 21st, Korakuen Hall)
STINGER (HAYATA, Yoshinari Ogawa & Yuya Susumu) & Kai Fujimura vs Kongoh (Shuji Kondo, Tadasuke, Hajime Ohara & Hi69)
HAYATA let out a big sigh when entering the ring and looking at Shuji Kondo. Kondo has the advantage in almost everyway - he's bigger, he's stronger for starters. Kondo actually was initially quite friendly, offering HAYATA a handshake. He might be speaking now, but shaking hands is not something he is going to be doing. Just yet at least.
Kondo proceeded to no sell HAYATA, lifting his arms for him to chop him and even walking towards him arms outstretched, a butt of heads and HAYATA desperately trying to chop him. Kondo did not even break a sweat when he knocked him down. By the end of the match, HAYATA seemed to have worked Kondo out somewhat, in that kicks seemed to be the most effective in wearing him down.
WINNER: Shuji Kondo with the King Kong Lariat on Kai Fujimura (15 minutes, 59 seconds)
Kondo spoke on the mic and went to speak in HAYATA'S face, at that HAYATA snatched the mic from him and growled quietly that he was looking forward to the title match. Kondo agreed, he was too, and offering his hand suggested that they have a straightforward match. HAYATA shook his hand, but when Kondo went to walk off, HAYATA hung on and a fight broke out almost straight away with HAYATA'S sneak attack being dodged.
Kondo later said he would wage "mental warfare" on HAYATA.
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Friday July 22nd, Korakuen Hall)
Masato Tanaka & HAYATA vs Manabu Soya & Shuji Kondo
Shuji Kondo has vowed to wage this war against HAYATA using mind games. His first way to get inside HAYATA'S mind, was to simply and calmly deflect his attacks and toss him from the ring where he was thrown into the barriers by a wild-eyed Manabu Soya. Inside of it, he used his size and strength to his advantage, and again simply throwing HAYATA's attacks aside. HAYATA got his breakthrough when he utilized what he had learned yesterday i.e. kicks were effective, but again, Kondo's mind games of not being where HAYATA thought he was or putting HAYATA aside, worked.
WINNER: Masato Tanaka with the SLIDING-D on Manabu Soya (13 minutes, 32 seconds)
Mutually disappointed that neither had won the match over each other, HAYATA offered a handshake to Kondo when they were both alone in the ring, Kondo took it and HAYATA attacked and slid out of the ring.
It was a warning not to think that he could anticipate what HAYATA was going to do. If Kondo could play mind-games, then so could HAYATA. He took the mic and said growled quietly "To be continued, August 8th, Korakuen". Fans are wondering when he is going to start talking like Kenoh!
TITLE MATCH
DEPARTURE 2022 (Friday 5th August, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo)
Shuji Kondo wasn't going to fight this match psychologically, it didn't work. But he did find parts that did work and he could capitalize on, such as working on the neck, an element of surprise worked too by being not where HAYATA thought he would be. HAYATA took some pretty heavy blows, but his own strategy too, in a match with a lot of build, was to aim for the head. Even doing The Headache on the apron on Kondo, who was almost counted out. HAYATA couldn't rely on strength or size, so that left momentum and surprise. Kondo had called him a mystery, he had been called that his whole career, it was something he could use to his advantage.
No one knew how this match was going to end. Kondo countered the HEADACHE, people block it, they rarely counter it , that is when they see it coming and Kondo countered it twice, but there was not to be a third.
WINNER:HAYATA with The Headache (19 minutes, 3 seconds)
Quiet shy HAYATA, who had once not liked or wanted to speak, closed out the show by saying;
"I defended against Shuji Kondo, the strongest challenger. The one who will continue to win as the Noah Junior's champion, is me."
VS CHRIS RIDGEWAY
TITLE MATCH: WRESTLECARNIVAL (Portland Centre, Nottingham, UK - Sunday 7th August 2022)
As no challenger had appeared, HAYATA nominated his own. He was heading over to England for a week to appear in both WrestleCarnival on the 7th August (the match will be on WrestleUniverse) on and then he would be appearing for PROGRESS later in the week, so it made sense to nominate his challenger as Chris Ridgeway.
"England from tomorrow. If I have a singles match with Chris over there anyway, I will put this belt on the line. Spread Noah to the world. Even in England, STINGER takes the leading role"
You will be able to view the match on WrestleUniverse.
VS YO-HEY
TITLE MATCH: GRAND SHIP 2022 in NAGOYA PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER.2 ~ OUT BREAK (25th September)
N-1 VICTORY 2022 GRAND FINAL & GREAT MUTA OSAKA FINAL (Edion Arena Osaka First Stadium, Saturday September 3rd)
STINGER (HAYATA, Yuya Susumu & Kai Fujimura) vs The Noah Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge, YO-HEY & Seiki Yoshioka)
YO-HEY said he would be aiming for the champion in Osaka (which is pretty apt given their combined and entwined history there) and so he did just that. HAYATA had been ready to leave the ring, but he seemed to have second thoughts and he and YO-HEY started the match. This was not the YO-HEY vs HAYATA of before, and once again HAYATA found that his former partner was at times able to outfox him.
WINNER: Atsushi Kotoge with the Killswitch on Yuya Susumu (13 minutes, 13 seconds)
Fans waited to see what would happen, but the Noah Junior Regulars celebrated and YO-HEY said nothing, although it had been blatant to all that he had been aiming for the champion and HAYATA knew it. There was even a moment after the match when HAYATA was outside of the ring and he looked as if he expected something to happen.
Backstage, the Noah Junior Regulars were in the comment booth, and YO-HEY was saying that he wanted to challenge HAYATA for the belt, and therefore if HAYATA was listening, then...HAYATA walked in and shoved YO-HEY by the shoulder and said the next challenger was him. Then it was kind if like old times as there wasn't really any malice or hatred between them. YO-HEY thanked HAYATA for letting him challenge, and when HAYATA had gone (he had that look that he used to have when YO-HEY chattered on) Kotoge and Yoshioka agreed with YO-HEY, they too wanted belts.
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Thursday September 15th, Korakuen Hall)
STINGER (HAYATA, Yoshinari Ogawa & Chris Ridgeway) vs The Noah Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge, Seiki Yoshioka & YO-HEY)
STINGER came out in the usual fashion and contrasting strongly with their animated and colorful opponents, i.e. dressed in dark clothes, silently and entirely unanimated. The bell rung after hostilities had commenced i.e. a typical Noah Junior match where fights break out the moment the the two teams in the ring. In this case it was STINGER who were attacked by the Noah Junior Regulars. Their attack was so sudden, that the tag champions did not have time to even take their belts or their jackets off. During the match, HAYATA even lost a shoe and was wrestling in one sneaker and one black sock.
YO-HEY and HAYATA had very little interaction compared to the pre match of STINGER vs Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka. HAYATA seemed to take pleasure in preserving YO-HEY in mint condition and beating up on Kotoge and former friend, Yoshioka. Chris Ridgeway had said he was going to hurt them for interrupting the moment of their win in Osaka. Yoshioka got the brunt today.
WINNER: HAYATA with the 403 Impact on Atsushi Kotoge (16 minutes, 35 seconds)
The match ended inconclusive for everyone. YO-HEY attacked HAYATA after the match, enraged he did a dropkick to the side of HAYATA'S head.
He then took the belt and stood over him holding it. This was not the pranks of yesteryear when he challenged while they were teaming together, or even their last title challenge, there was no feeling either of the lingering closeness between then when HAYATA had nominated him his challenger. After a while YO-HEY folded the belt up and put it over HAYATA before leaving. He turned back and looked at the ring as he walked to the back, looking demonic.
YO-HEY later said that in attacking HAYATA, he felt like a switch had flipped. He didn't know if it was good or bad, only that "there will be no next time".
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Friday September 16th, Korakuen Hall)
STINGER (HAYATA, Yoshinari Ogawa & Chris Ridgeway) & Jack Morris vs The Noah Junior Regulars (YO-HEY, Seiki Yoshioka & Alejandro) & Naomichi Marufuji
The match unusually didn't start in an immediate brawl. The juniors squared up with Naomichi Marufuji and Jack Morris doing the same. Alejandro held back Seiki Yoshioka. YO-HEY stood looking unusually angry and glaring at HAYATA. He did not have long to wait to fight him, HAYATA was good enough to start the match. Unusually for HAYATA though, he started the match pretty brutally, and not with a lock up.
Yoshioka was once again the target, Ridgeway again attacking the bone by ripping off the bandages on his arm, and even choking him with them. Alejandro didn't escape either, Yoshinari Ogawa went to rip his mask off.
WINNER: HAYATA with a particularly vicious modified arm lock on Seiki Yoshioka (17 minutes, 41 seconds)
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Friday September 16th, Korakuen Hall)
STINGER (HAYATA, Yoshinari Ogawa & Chris Ridgeway) & Jack Morris vs The Noah Junior Regulars (YO-HEY, Seiki Yoshioka & Alejandro) & Naomichi Marufuji
The match unusually didn't start in an immediate brawl. The juniors squared up with Naomichi Marufuji and Jack Morris doing the same. Alejandro held back Seiki Yoshioka. YO-HEY stood looking unusually angry and glaring at HAYATA. He did not have long to wait to fight him, HAYATA was good enough to start the match. Unusually for HAYATA though, he started the match pretty brutally, and not with a lock up.
Yoshioka was once again the target, Ridgeway again attacking the bone by ripping off the bandages on his arm, and even choking him with them. Alejandro didn't escape either, Yoshinari Ogawa went to rip his mask off.
WINNER: HAYATA with a particularly vicious modified arm lock on Seiki Yoshioka (17 minutes, 41 seconds)
In a night when the heavyweights started acting like the juniors, Naomichi Marufuji made Jack Morris look at something he was pointing at in the balcony, there was nothing there, but when Morris turned to look, Marufuji attacked him and Yoshiki Inamura ran to break up the brawl that was going backstage.
Another one was about to break out in the ring when the juniors finished up their own (Ogawa knocking Alejandro down) and YO-HEY and HAYATA butting heads in the ring.
When it looked like everyone had left, YO-HEY jumped HAYATA and threw him back in the ring and gave him the GAMEN-G. He took the belt, stood over HAYATA gesticulating and then held it up before draping it back over HAYATA and leaving. Out of all of HAYATA'S challengers, this feud has been the most vicious, the most bitter and the most personal. YO-HEY even pulled a hand sign that he and HAYATA had once used to use.
N Innovation (Shinjuku FACE, Wednesday, September 21st 2022)
ELIMINATION MATCH
STINGER (HAYATA, Yoshinari Ogawa & Chris Ridgeway) vs The Noah Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge, Seiki Yoshioka & YO-HEY)
Up until now everything had been more lighthearted and happier, this was going to be a bitter, vicious, cruel and emotional match for everyone.
Seiki Yoshioka was the victim of STINGER. Yoshinari Ogawa was at his cruel best, mercilessly torturing Yoshioka's arm while staring at Atsushi Kotoge and even daring him to get into the ring and do something about it. HAYATA joined in as well, while Ogawa kept the ref distracted by arguing with Kotoge. It was to be Kotoge who went out first however, and for good measure, Ogawa beat him up before throwing him out of the ring.
Chris Ridgeway had spoken of Yoshioka's speed and now he demonstrated it by taking out STINGER in a lightning strike attack but Ogawa struck back and Yoshioka found it was now his arm and his knee that was being worked over, Ridgway even used a pipe chair. Yoshioka had a small measure of revenge for what happened over the past few weeks, by eliminating Ogawa and making the score even at two versus two. But he wasn't out of danger yet as Ridgeway loomed over Yoshioka and did not let him tag in YO-HEY, a dented Yoshioka somehow found the strength to counter him by slamming him, but in better condition, Ridgeway was able to get up and knock YO-HEY off of the ropes. Yoshioka's torture continued when Ridgeway took off Yoshioka's boot and attacked his bare foot, unable to take this torture anymore, he tapped.
It was now one on two and HAYATA threw YO-HEY to the wolves and STINGER did those alternating tags, with HAYATA looking delighted when YO-HEY kicked out, not because he cared, but because it was a chance to hurt him for longer, especially so soon before the title match. YO-HEY hung on in there, and broke through when he tipped HAYATA out of the ring by pulling down the top rope pinned Ridgeway by the FACE G, HAYATA arrived too late to save Ridgeway, and Kotoge told him sternly to get out of the ring.
It was now just the former "Blonde Couple". HAYATA was savage, hitting YO-HEY far harder than he ever had before. A feeling of hate and anger in each punch. YO-HEY was exhausted and dazed but he clung on.
WINNER: YO-HEY with the Dropkick on HAYATA (35 minutes, 36 seconds)
YO-HEY had a rare victory over HAYATA, and he had won the final pre match, but could he repeat it on Sunday? As STINGER slunk off, the Noah Junior Regulars huddled together in celebration, before YO-HEY spoke on the microphone to close out the show;
"Thank you very much for coming today. Thanks to everyone's support, we were able to win the all-out war against STINGER! With everyone's support the tag titles on the 25th will be Kotoge and Yoshioka's, and the single will be YO-HEY! I am convinced that we can take them, and we will win the belts and transform this Noah Junior into something even more wonderful!"
The three of them, looking battle damaged, posed together, YO-HEY making belt motions around not only his own waist but that of his opponents. As YO-HEY admitted backstage, he was going to have upgrade before the title match. Winning today was one thing, but the title match was going to be different.
GRAND SHIP 2022 in NAGOYA PRO-WRESTLING & KEIJI MUTOH RETIREMENT ROAD - LOVE FOREVER.2 ~OUT BREAK~ (Sunday September 25th, Dolphins Arena, Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, Nagoya)
GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship
Unusually for him, HAYATA wore the belt to the ring. I don't recall HAYATA ever doing this before as normally he's trailing it behind him or he has it over his shoulder. Then again, things are always different when YO-HEY is involved. YO-HEY had added a splash of purple (HAYATA'S color) to his hair, his tongue, his arm bands and even his underpants. Perhaps this was all the memory he wanted to carry of HAYATA into the match, letting the rest of him go.
The match started quickly, no circling, no lock up, just straight into the action. HAYATA was enjoying YO-HEY fighting back, as he found he could hurt him and hurt him he did by working on his arm in a variety of different ways, even twisting and pulling down, yanking YO-HEY'S shoulder over the ropes and following it up with a dropkick. Both went for a more ground based approach, which differed from their last title matches. There were a certain level of predictive moves between them i.e. YO-HEY knew HAYATA would go for a moonsault, and HAYATA knew how YO-HEY would follow it up when he countered, but there were things that neither could predict such as YO-HEY'S drop toe hold which tripped HAYATA to the barriers and the Facial G he followed it up with and the apron spot that followed. As the match progressed, HAYATA'S expression twisted from sadistic to demonic, and he went for heavy punches, just like in the pre matches, this was the hardest he had probably ever hit YO-HEY before. YO-HEY utilized kicks, something he had tended to use after matches to knock people down (namely HAYATA, Harada, RATELS when he turned on them), realizing that kicks and shots to the face seem to be something HAYATA is not very resilient against. HAYATA went for his bridging armlock, a move somehow impossible to escape from, fortunately, YO-HEY is one of the most agile of the Noah Juniors and so he managed to escape.
With each move, each kick out at the last second, each breath even, tension went up several notches, it felt like an explosion was about to happen. This was wrestling at a level of art, slow action building up to a grand finale, almost like a waltz and although he was partial to heavyweight wrestlers, I think Baba would have loved this. Misawa certainly would have done.
WINNER: HAYATA with the Headache (23 minutes, 45 seconds)
VS NINJA MACK
TITLE MATCH: Ariake Triumph-THE RETURN-PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER.3 ~TRIUMPH~ (Sunday 30th October, Ariake Arena)
Ninja Mack, made his long awaited challenge saying that it was finally time to make his challenge and would everyone care to "take a bet on that?".
Now YO-HEY isn't around, HAYATA has gone back to speaking, and said "Are you finally interested in this belt? Next is Ninja". Match has been set for the 30th October when Noah make their return to Ariake. To celebrate his challenge, Ninja Mack did backflips on the ramp.
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Friday October 7th, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo)
STINGER (HAYATA & Chris Ridgeway) vs Ninja Mack & Xtreme Tiger
HAYATA and Chris Ridgeway looked like they did when HAYATA came to the UK. HAYATA was dressed more simply this evening in a hoodie and a fabric mask, not his usual purple robe and decorated mask.
HAYATA started the match against Ninja Mack, as he wanted to scope out his opponent. HAYATA found he had a highly aerobic opponent, who twisted moves into ways that he was not used to and could not predict yet. While HAYATA was doing this, Ridgeway took care of Xtreme Tiger by tying his arm into knots and bending it into ways bones and cartilage do not allow. Ridgeway usually left Ninja Mack to HAYATA, but he did pull out a few moves of his own against him (leg swipe) and even pulled
the Crane Pose afterwards.
WINNER: HAYATA with the Schoolboy on Xtreme Tiger (12 minutes, 58 seconds)
After the match, HAYATA quietly (he hasn't spoken since Ninja Mack made his challenge) stood on the apron looking triumphant and held up the belt. Ninja Mack simply bowed.
STAR NAVIGATION 2022 (Saturday October 8th, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo)
Kaito Kiyomiya & Ninja Mack vs HAYATA & Jack Morris
HAYATA was dressed as normal today, I guess the hoodie and fabric mask is for when he teams with Chris Ridgeway. As he came to the ring, Ninja Mack was seen pointing to the GHC Heavyweight that was around Kaito Kiyomiya's waist and then pointing to HAYATA to indicate that he too would be a champion. When the referee checked him, he could be heard saying, "Always fine. I'm a Ninja".
The match was a rare one as it put the GHC Junior and the GHC Heavyweight Champions against each other. While Ninja Mack and HAYATA fought in the title pre match, Kiyomiya had a score to settle against Jack Morris.
Ninja Mack took out Morris and HAYATA with a backflip somersault over the top rope after which he told HAYATA loudly "Three weeks" which he accompanied by belt motions, however, showboating rarely does you any favors in the Noah ring and HAYATA countered, but much to his horror, Ninja Mack can counter the Headache, Morris saved him from the pin.
HAYATA stole the win and found the key, catch Ninja Mack unaware when he is playing his own game and pin him with momentum.
WINNER: HAYATA via rebound from The Ninja Bomb (15 minutes, 10 seconds)
HAYATA closed out the show;
"I'll prove it in Ariake. I'm the strongest Noah Junior"
SUNNY VOYAGE 2022 (Kumamoto Castle Hall Civic Hall, Friday October 14th)
STINGER (HAYATA & Chris Ridgeway) vs Ninja Mack & Alejandro
HAYATA held the belt up grimly to Ninja Mack. Ninja Mack worked at light speed, even walking at his hands at one point to dodge HAYATA, this made HAYATA slide out of the ring and complain to the referee. Whatever HAYATA was trying to do, Ninja Mack found a way round it, he even dodged The Headache by flipping forward on to his hands.
Chris Ridgeway has an upcoming match with Katsuhiko Nakajima on the 16th October in Fukuoka and as well as sending a message to Nakajima by doing the Shutter Chance, along with doing the "watching you" hand motion.
WINNER: Chris Ridgeway via ankle hold on Alejandro (13 minutes, 27 seconds)
Chris Ridgeway would not release the sub on Alejandro, despite the referee trying to pull him off. HAYATA had no intention of letting Alejandro go as he dragged him back into the ring and he and Ridgeway beat up on Ninja Mack. Ridgeway had him in the ankle lock as HAYATA threatened to pull of the mask, in the end, the two of them briefly posed for the cameras.
ABEMA presents DEMOLITION STAGE 2022 in FUKUOKA (Fukuoka International Centre, Sunday October 16th )
PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER .EX FUKUOKA FINAL ~TRANS MAGIC~
Keiji Mutoh, Satoshi Kojima & Ninja Mack vs Naomichi Marufuji, Jack Morris & HAYATA
I think to both HAYATA and Marufuji, it meant a lot to be in a retirement match with Mutoh as they both grew up watching Mutoh. Marufuji was a big Three Musketeers fan, and Keiji Mutoh/Great Muta inspired HAYATA a lot. As well as fighting Mutoh, HAYATA also had Ninja Mack to contend with. HAYATA worked on Ninja's arms, realizing that perhaps this and a combination of surprise might ne the best way round him, and he even did a few aerial techniques of his own. Mutoh was so fascinated by Ninja that he wandered away from his corner and stood in the middle of the apron watching him.
Mutoh also assisted Ninja Mack with the win, who did the Ninja Bomb on HAYATA after Mutoh had given HAYATA The Shining Wizard.
WINNER: Ninja Mack with the Ninja Bomb on HAYATA (14 minutes, 57 seconds)
Title Match: [Muto Retirement Road] ABEMA presents Ariake Gaisen-THE RETURN-PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER . 3 ~TRIUMPH~
Ninja Mack started with a loud "Ninja" chant and then went on to embarrass HAYATA (who started pulling his hair) by avoiding all of his initial moves with aerial techniques. No matter what HAYATA did he was humiliated as Ninja, like water, kept on finding a way through. HAYATA had fought opponents more powerful, those that had changed from what he knew, but rarely anyone who he couldn't pin down. The match went to the apron where Ninja did the Ninja bomb on HAYATA. HAYATA'S left elbow hit the concrete just beyond the crash mat, and after that he couldn't get to his feet (I think he may also have fainted for a few seconds before the pain kicked in).
The referee checked on him and then stopped the match. Ninja Mack became the next champion
NEXT CHAMPION: Ninja Mack
Links
vs Seiki Yoshioka
vs YO-HEY
GIF taken from WrestleUniverse
Pictures credit Noah Official Twitter
HAYATA vs Chris Ridgeway graphic credit WrestleUniverse
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