(NOAH) EVENT RECAP: SUNNY VOYAGE 2022 (Yokohama Radiant Hall, Friday 24th June)

As Daisuke Harada had put it, the Noah Juniors had their night at Shinjuku FACE, it was now the turn of the heavyweights at Yokohama Radiant Hall. While the heavyweight night might not have been as chaotic as the juniors, nevertheless there were some similarities; the metal/stadium rock band playlist came out again, Kenoh and Satoshi Kojima got into a backstage argument and a heavyweight was replaced by a junior. Atsushi Kotoge was called up for the night to replace Rene Dupree. Dupree wasn't absent because of the fever that is affecting Daisuke Harada and Alejandro, he had gastroenteritis. Atsushi Kotoge took his place in the first match, and Shuhei Taniguchi took Rene Dupree's place against Go Shiozaki. 

You can watch today's event on WrestleUniverse, but you must be a subscriber to view. 

MATCH ONE

Funky Express (Mohammed Yone & Akitoshi Saito) vs Atsushi Kotoge & Kinya Okada

Kinya Okada and Akitoshi Saito quickly got into a kick fight, with Saito grabbing Okada by the hair, and turning it into a punch war. 

Atsushi Kotoge, who used to be a heavyweight, knew that he could no longer compete with their strength. He had to be clever, and although he knew he could never take Kotoge down in a test of strength, he took his knees out. Or at least tried to. Half serious, half playful, I think Kotoge took the opportunity to demonstrate this thinking against larger opponents to Okada. 

WINNER: Mohammed Yone with the Kinniku Meat Buster on Kinya Okada (12 minutes, 11 seconds)

After the match, Akitoshi Saito took a picture of the bruising on his neck which had been caused by his junior opponents, in both sense of the words. 

MATCH TWO

Daiki Inaba vs Simon Gotch

Straight down to the mat, no messing around in the initial lock up. Daiki Inaba tends to get frustrated, which I think Simon Gotch wanted to provoke in him, later he would term Inaba as a "mad dog" (no, not of Shimano, although Gotch is a big fan of that franchise). The match today stemmed from their interaction/altercation at CyberFight, and shows no sign of abating.  

WINNER: Simon Gotch with the Gotch Type Pile Driver (9 minutes, 55 seconds)

MATCH THREE

Manabu Soya vs El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr

A forerunner of the next match with its power fighters. There was a stand off, a circle between them, and then things got going with the far more agile El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr taking Soya out with aerial maneuvers. El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr had the advantage with agility and power, while Manabu Soya had only power to fall back. 

WINNER: El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr with the Wagner Driver (9 minutes, 37 seconds)

After the match, El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr put Kongoh on notice by practically declaring war on them. Today he had defeated Manabu Soya, but he would be coming for each of them, one by one. 

MATCH FOUR

THE TOUGH TRIO (Michael Elgin, Masa Kitamiya & Yoshiki Inamura) vs Takashi Sugiura, Hideki Suzuki & Timothy Thatcher

The best way to describe this match would have been as one massive power fight between every single person. 

It was nice though to see Takashi Sugiura have a bit of fun when he, Suzuki and Thatcher played "Rock-Paper-Scissors" to determine who would go first, even if understandably he didn't want to be involved too much in what came after the match, although he did give them his support. There was even a slight smile.

WINNER: Timothy Thatcher with The Fujiwara Arm Bar on Masa Kitamiya (18 minutes, 40 seconds)

Thatcher had defeated one of the GHC Heavyweight Tag Champions, and Hideki Suzuki was going to capitalize on that. Thatcher too, made belt motions as Suzuki got on the mic and said;

"It's easily understood, champion. Two people stand here, as the champion lost. We will challenge for the GHC tag title, and do it any time!"

The title challenge was accepted by the champions, who had been asking for a while for a team to step forward. Masa Kitamiya said he was delighted with the team of Hideki Suzuki and Timothy Thatcher ("Double T") as their first challengers. As for the challengers themselves, Hideki Suzuki said that "this man who has come from the United States" would be his partner, and that he had gotten good results too. Thatcher talked about the Fujiwara Armbar, and how they won with it. Match will take place at The Nippon Budokan on the 16th July.  

MATCH FIVE

Go Shiozaki vs Shuhei Taniguchi

In their last match, Shuhei Taniguchi had been "King Tany" and after it he had practically chased an exasperated Go Shiozaki backstage, his funky fist raised high. Shiozaki had little to say either before or after the match about King Tany, but he had plenty to say about Shuhei Taniguchi though, branding this match beforehand a "merciless collision". He wasn't to be disappointed, as today, Monster Taniguchi was back even lariating him which seems to be a new move for Taniguchi and of which Shiozaki could not help to grudgingly be impressed by. No doubt this new focused Taniguchi, impressed both his teacher (Kenta Kobashi) and his other seniors, for whom the issue of "What to do with Taniguchi", had even involved Jun Akiyama. Taniguchi almost pinned Shiozaki with the lariats. 

Winner: Go Shiozaki with the Gowan Lariat (13 minutes, 47 seconds)

Before getting up, Shiozaki lay with his head on Taniguchi. He looked almost like he was relieved to have him back. Shiozaki then did his chest tap thing on Taniguchi when he got up, and then bowed and left looking thoughtful. They will be tagging together on the 2nd July.

MATCH SIX

Satoshi Kojima & Kaito Kiyomiya vs Kenoh & Katsuhiko Nakajima

 

Kenoh and Satoshi Kojima started the match, but Katsuhiko Nakajima, who had no intention of being eclipsed by either his partner or the GHC Heavyweight Champion and their fight, kept a sharp eye on Kojima. Like Kaito Kiyomiya, Nakajima seems to have joined the queue of potential challengers, but is more open about it. He did his infamous slaps too. 

Kojima fought to prove that he belonged in Noah, and was deserving of the title. There is a strong bond between himself and Kiyomiya that continues to grow, it's almost like a mentorship. Kiyomiya is always looking to learn, and Kojima seems to be happy to teach, even if Kiyomiya knows all too well what it feels like to be battered by Kongoh. 

WINNER: Time out draw at 30 minutes, no resolution. 

Satoshi Kojima attempted, as the promotion champion, to close out the show but Kenoh wouldn't let him, telling him that as he hadn't won he had no right to do that, and this wasn't a New Japan ring, it was Noah's. Kojima and Kenoh then got into a argument which involved neither of them leaving, and then Kojima telling Kenoh as he was departing to go and do 1000 squats. Kenoh proved he could, loudly, as he knew everyone could hear him. Kojima, interrupted, went backstage where he and Kenoh got into another row and then a fight and then a row over who would pay over damaging equipment. 

It ended with Kenoh storming off, and Kojima pointing out that Kenoh too had come to Noah from elsewhere. 

Attendance: 202 (not sold out, the Noah Juniors sold out at 360 at Shinjuku FACE)

With thanks to: Gong EX

Noah's next event: SUNNY VOYAGE 2022, Saturday July 2nd, Fukushima Big Palette, Fukushima

GIF taken from WrestleUniverse