(NOAH) EVENT RECAP: REAL OVERTURE 2022 in NIIGATA (Bandaijima Multipurpose Plaza Large Kama, Sunday April 17th)

Each time Noah come to Niigata, traditionally the winning team is given a bale of it. Niigata is the heartland for rice cultivation, and Yoshiki Inamura remarked that the last time they where here he grew heavy on it, and now he was returning...we will see more of this later, as even though he was not in the main event, Inamura was indeed involved. 

With a SixTONES concert across the street, the area was very crowded, but the Noah fans said they chose "SuperNova over Johnnys" (FYI Johnny's is a concert promotion company). Kaito Kiyomiya was on autograph/picture duties, and there was a couple of comical moments - one fan asking him his t-shirt size, and another hiding their STINGER T-shirt. Well. Hiding away is the STINGER way after all.

As the show was not broadcast (it will be on WrestleUniverse from 18:00 JST on the 20th April) and there was no live Twitter or Instagram feed, information is sparse. However, I am indebted to the fans who went for providing the information I have managed to gather. 

MATCH ONE

Seiki Yoshioka vs Kai Fujimura

Described as "a single with a nostalgic feeling", as both of them came from W-1. 

WINNER: Seiki Yoshioka with the Tornado Strike (7 minutes, 26 seconds)

Backstage, Yoshioka said he was confident that his Crash Driver finisher could take down even the toughest opponent. 

MATCH TWO

Perros Del Mal De Japon (NOSAWA Rongai & Super Crazy) vs Kongoh Juniors (Tadasuke & Hajime Ohara)

Because these two teams are volatile, and also owing to the fact that NOSAWA Rongai likened Kongoh Juniors as "100 yen wrestlers" (although this probably would have happened, even if NOSAWA hadn't said anything), Kongoh attacked before the bell and a mass brawl broke out. The words "You blonde pig" from NOSAWA about Tadasuke where heard. According to Tadasuke he also swore at him in Spanish, calling him "Cabron" (Bastard). Tadasuke later said that Perros where pretty worthless themselves. 

WINNER: Tadasuke with the Fuyuki Special on NOSAWA Rongai (8 minutes, 36 seconds)

Backstage, Tadasuke asked NOSAWA just who "the 100 yen wrestler" was now? 

MATCH THREE

Daisuke Harada vs Alejandro

WINNER: Daisuke Harada with the Katayama German Suplex (10 minutes, 39 seconds)

After the match, Harada raised Alejandro's arm. Backstage he sent a warning to Z-Brats, "Are you listening, we wrestle head to head"

MATCH FOUR

Funky Express (King Tany, Mohammed Yone & Akitoshi Saito) vs Daiki Inaba, Yoshiki Inamura & Kinya Okada

Mohammed Yone had to remove King Tany's necklace as the referees refuse to, and Akitoshi Saito isn't going to be doing that job. King Tany was thrown around the ring by Yoshiki Inamura, and by that I mean a 105kg man at a height of 6'5, was flipped as if he was a tire. 

Winner: Daiki Inaba with the DDD on King Tany (14 minutes, 59 seconds)

Typically polite post match interview from the winning team - Kinya Okada is aiming for his first victory, Inamura wants to show his strength at Sumo Hall and will go stronger in the meantime, and Inaba encouraging everyone to keep up their momentum.

MATCH FIVE

The Noah Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge, YO-HEY & Junta Miyawaki) vs STINGER (HAYATA, Yoshinari Ogawa & Yasutaka Yano)

Yoshinari Ogawa came out wearing a long leather jacket, which looked very Matrix style (he'd be The Architect, the one who controls everyone without them knowing it). Fans said they screamed!

Atsushi Kotoge charged before the bell even rang, this did not stop the attack on his left knee. YO-HEY either had his left wrist worked on, or else felt some pain during the match. I think it may have been the latter, as a picture taken seemed to indicate he was genuinely in pain and this was not just a work. However, upbeat YO-HEY seems to be planning to turn this minus into a positive at Sumo Hall. 

Kotoge got the pin, with YO-HEY at the same time covering Ogawa.

Winner: Atsushi Kotoge with the KillSwitch on Yasutaka Yano (17 minutes, 38 seconds)

Kotoge's knee is said to be not in a good way.

MATCH SIX

Naomichi Marufuji & Kotaro Suzuki vs Kaito Kiyomiya & Yuya Susumu

Kaito Kiyomiya and Naomichi Marufuji squared up soon after Marufuji got in the ring. 

Fans where looking to Yuya Susumu (or "Mususu" as Marufuji has nicknamed him) vs Marufuji, and it did not disappoint. Susumu was given his Noah welcome by the Vice President, which naturally involved Susumu getting chopped. Marufuji even did the one where he held his arm and chopped him so he couldn't fall.  

WINNER: Kotaro Suzuki with The Tiger Driver on Yuya Susumu (16 minutes, 32 seconds)

Marufuji and Kiyomiya had a face off on the apron after the match, while backstage Kotaro remarked about Susumu;

"You betray me to make a place for yourself in Noah, is that what you are trying to do here? A pathetic guy like you, can't beat me. At Sumo Hall, the picture you have in your head of me, I will fill in all the information"

MATCH SEVEN

Takashi Sugiura, Go Shiozaki, Masa Kitamiya & Haoh vs Kongoh (Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Manabu Soya & Nioh)

WINNER: Go Shiozaki with the Strong Arm lariat on Nioh (20 minutes, 13 seconds)

After the match Takashi Sugiura and Kenoh had a yelling match outside the ring. When all was calmer, Go Shiozaki spoke on the mic. 

"On April 30th, I will challenge the strongest GHC Champion, Kazuyuki Fujita. Whether it is from the venue or from Niigata, thank you for your support! You can't shout, but please scream with all your heart, I am NOAH...WE are NOAH!"

Shiozaki sent a message to Kazuyuki Fujita about his own latent strength, by lifting the bale of rice on to his shoulder and then handing it over the ropes to Yoshiki Inamura. Inamura, strolled off with it backstage. 

Nioh too had an announcement to make. Not managing to defeat Haoh in any of the pre matches, and today was the final event before Sumo Hall, he said he would bet both his name and his hair. Haoh responded that the fact that Nioh was willing to put his name on the line was enough, but if he wanted to bet both his name and his hair, then he would accept that. The match has now become loser loses both his hair and his name. 

Attendance: 547

With thanks to: Tamo3jo, Makuru, Kei, Metal-Noah, Saku_dragonfly

Picture credit: Noah Official Twitter, Tadasuke & PKDX

Noah's next event: "Majestic 2022", April 29th - Junior night at Sumo Hall.