(NOAH) EVENT RECAP: ABEMA presents DEMOLITION STAGE 2022 in FUKUOKA (Fukuoka International Centre, Sunday October 16th )

Today's event is available to view on WrestleUniverse. You must be a subscriber to view. Attendance was announced as 1195 people. Due to restrictions, Noah did not sell out the whole hall but the era of silent crowds is drawing (thankfully) to a close as cheering will be allowed from the 30th October. although this does depend on the venue. 

The Fujimura brothers (Alejandro and Kai) made their return to their hometown, while Naomichi Marufuji was on autographs, I will get to what Kazuyuki Fujita was doing in due course. 

MATCH ONE

Manabu Soya vs Taishi Ozawa

It says a lot when the most experienced person in the match (Manabu Soya, who sustained a cut to the eye during the match), goes for repeated momentum pins as the rookie keeps kicking out. Soya eventually won by wearing Taishi Ozawa down, and putting him in a bearhug. 

WINNER: Manabu Soya with a body slam (5 minutes, 55 seconds)

MATCH TWO

Masa Kitamiya & Shuhei Taniguchi vs Funky Express (Mohammed Yone & Akitoshi Saito)

The match started in the only way it could with four heavyweights, with Akitoshi Saito and Shuhei Taniguchi charging at each other. The match was typical after this with loud roaring, shoulder tackles (Masa Kitamiya was like a freight train, knocking down Mohammed Yone who had attempted to halt him with the Disco Fever pose) big boots, punches, slams and nothing overly technical. Not that anyone expected that from this. 

It was when Mohammed Yone fought Shuhei Taniguchi that the monster awakened, and Yone knew it as he watched Taniguchi's normally poker faced expression twist into a mask, but despite all the Disco silliness, Funky Express can be formidable and they worked together for the win.

WINNER: Mohammed Yone with the Kinniku Buster (11 minutes, 20 seconds) 

MATCH THREE

STINGER (Yoshinari Ogawa & Yasutaka Yano) & Kai Fujimura vs Perros Del Mal De Japon (NOSAWA Rongai, Eita & Super Crazy)

Perros Del Mal De Japon made a display of unity on the ramp, while when it was his turn, Yoshinari Ogawa took his time coming to the ring and unusually for him when facing Perros with two rookies, he walked in a slow and relaxed manner. Even raising his arms on the ramp when he was announced. 

Ogawa strolled to the ring leisurely, and in a slow and deliberate manner, took Eita's arm as if he were an old friend. This immediately caused friction as he had intended.  Ogawa offered another handshake to Eita later on after locking up, and NOSAWA and Super Crazy rushed into the ring. NOSAWA was furious with Eita, and even threw him back to Ogawa at one point. Ogawa stood back and watched his puppets dance. NOSAWA remained angry with Eita, shoving him and taking his fury out on Fujimura. When Super Crazy was tagged in, Ogawa had ringside seats to their apron argument. After this, Ogawa turned his attention back to teaching and let the rookies do the work and so the second half of the match passed as an "Ogawa Classroom" as fans would say. 

WINNER: Eita with the Imperial Uno on Yasutaka Yano (13 minutes, 19 seconds)

Ogawa threw Yano out of the ring, and then offered Eita his hand as outside of the ring NOSAWA and Super Crazy, begged him dramatically not to do this. Eita took notice, and Ogawa was like "Don't fuck with the Jedi Master, son" but Eita was playing Ogawa at his own game, kicked him in the crotch and reunited with his friends. The Ogawa beatdown was prevented by Kai Fujimura, who scared them all away. Outside the ring, Eita spoke on the microphone as NOSAWA and Super Crazy cackled. 

"It's a shame, isn't it Ogawa? I have no reason to team up with you! I'm Perros! Ogawa, you will be there in Ariake, right? I will destroy you there. I am looking forward to it"

STINGER retreated and Eita and Super Crazy left, but NOSAWA remained in the ring. He had his own announcement to make. Fans wondered if perhaps he was going to announce he was bringing in a new member of Perros, a produce show, even the card (or a card) for the Tokyo Dome or Yokohama. His announcement was to do with the Tokyo Dome, but not in a way anyone expected;

"When I have the microphone, I usually only say random things, but on the 21st of February at The Tokyo Dome, professional wrestler NOSAWA Rongai will retire."

Backstage, a sad looking NOSAWA elaborated a little more on the latest news. NOSAWA had been wrestling for 28 years (from about the age 16 or 17), and his physical condition had worsened over time and had now reached a point when the doctor had called a stop to his career. He didn't want to stop and felt frustrated as unlike Keiji Mutoh who had described wrestling as a "marathon without a goal" and had crossed the finish line, NOSAWA felt like he had fallen short. He said he would announce further details in due course, but for now, the number of matches he was having would be cut down. But in those matches, he would "continue to beat up" Yoshinari Ogawa. 

MATCH FOUR

Katsuhiko Nakajima vs Chris Ridgeway

It's rare for a Noah Junior to take on a Noah Heavyweight in a singles, but Chris Ridgeway has said previously that he was planning to challenge for the GHC National someday and bring it to his division, so I guess this match with Nakajima is the first step towards it. 

Chris Ridgeway has been using Katsuhiko Nakajima's Shutter Chance, and Nakajima full well knows this, and that he has been ramping up his use. Nakajima commented that he was looking forward to the match, but I don't think he was prepared for just how good Ridgeway is at reversals, which he used to catch Nakajima off guard and wear down those dangerous feet. It probably also helps that because he is a member of STINGER, he knows how to hurt people. And enjoys it. Nakajima's face was red and twisted in pain. It's rare the opponent, (even more so the junior), who has Nakajima shaking the rope and screaming "Break! Break!"

WINNER: Katsuhiko Nakajima with the Vertical Spike (13 minutes, 3 seconds)

Nakajima left indicating that there would perhaps be a further interaction between them.

MATCH FIVE

Kaito Kiyomiya, Daiki Inaba & Yoshiki Inamura vs Kazuyuki Fujita, Takashi Sugiura & Masato Tanaka

Kazuyuki Fujita turned fifty-one today, and before the event was presented with a cake by Rina Matsui. Fujita the gentleman thanked her politely for it, but as soon as she was gone turned back into The Beast he is, and proceeded to tear into it. He even licked the tray it was on with icing all over his face.

As this was the last pre match between them, Kaito Kiyomiya and The Birthday Beast, started the match. Kiyomiya had learned a few times how to dodge Fujita's soccer ball kicks and how to wear him down, but Fujita almost beat him into the mat reversing some punches and then pulling the boy to his feet and slapping him, Kiyomiya screamed back and told him to come on. However, he didn't dodge the kicks the third time or the fourth time and then Fujita prolonged the torture by breaking the pin before slamming him into the mat. 

WINNER: Kazuyuki Fujita with the Powerbomb on Kaito Kiyomiya (16 minutes)

Pulling Kaito Kiyomiya up, Fujita once again gave him a hug and then nuzzled into him. Groggily, Kiyomiya pushed him away and Fujita rolled out of the ring, grinning as he walked away. Later he described Kiyomiya as his "prey". 

MATCH SIX

ELIMINATION MATCH

The Noah Junior Regulars (Atsushi Kotoge, Seiki Yoshioka, YO-HEY & Alejandro) vs Kongoh (Shuji Kondo, Tadasuke, Hajime Ohara & Hi69)

Usual chaos, and despite the top rope elimination rule that meant no one could throw themselves over the top ropes, it didn't stop them from rushing the ring and Tadasuke almost eliminated Atsushi Kotoge very early on. This would come back for Tadasuke later, and not in such a helpful manner. 

Alejandro eliminated Hajime Ohara (Pinfall, 7 minutes & 5 seconds)

Hi69 eliminated Alejandro (Stuka Splash, 8 minutes & 52 seconds)

Tadasuke eliminated Seiki Yoshioka AND Shuji Kondo (Over the top rope, 16 minutes & 27 seconds)

Tadasuke eliminated YO-HEY (Over the top rope, 17 minutes & 42 seconds)

Atsushi Kotoge eliminated Tadasuke (KillSwitch, 18 minutes & 10 seconds)

Atsushi Kotoge eliminated Hi69 (Pinfall, 20 minutes, 26 seconds)

Winner: Atsushi Kotoge

MATCH SEVEN

PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER .EX FUKUOKA FINAL ~TRANS MAGIC~

Keiji Mutoh, Satoshi Kojima & Ninja Mack vs Naomichi Marufuji, Jack Morris & HAYATA

Old battlefield, fresh with spring flowers again

(Matsuo Basho)

Fans demanded that Keiji Mutoh have a last match in Fukuoka and so this match was not originally meant to happen. Mutoh was meant to do commentary and sign autographs only. The reason why the fans were so vocal was because it was at the Fukuoka Dome that Keiji Mutoh defeated Shinya Hashimoto for the IWGP Championship in 1995, and Fukuoka was also the location of the "Greatest 18 Club" Championship match between The Great Muta and Masahiro Chono, which took place in a bloody match (Muta hit Chono with a beer bottle) at tonight's venue in 1991. You can see why the fans wanted to see Mutoh one last time. Naomichi Marufuji (who will be partnering him on the 30th) started the match with Mutoh, who put him in the Figure Four, which was broken up by Jack Morris (who got a loud applause for fighting Satoshi Kojima). Mutoh seemed to be in better condition than he has been for a while, and was moving a lot better than he was in his last match, which is ironic as this match was something he didn't have as much time to prepare for, and he was able to to exchange fast kicks and Shining Wizards with Marufuji. 

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)

Mutoh bade farewell to the ring in Fukuoka, leaving memories for a new generation of both fans and wrestlers. 

MATCH EIGHT

DOUBLE BOUT RULE

Kongoh (Kenoh & Masakatsu Funaki) vs Kazushi Sakuraba & Hideki Suzuki

The pre match graphics presented like an old reel from Showa era, with the whirr of a projector, it was very effective (at least to aesthetes like myself). 

The rules of this match were as follows; Winning is by KO, TKO or submission only with no pinfall. No referee stops as long as you can stand. The match will be stopped by three strikes in leaving the ringside area (I believe the referee may present yellow cards), crotch kicks, eye rakes, use of belt, biting & breaking opponents submissions.

(I believe that both Kenoh and Hideki Suzuki were given yellow cards, Suzuki certainly was) 

Very much mat and technical wrestling as the four bought their backgrounds into play. After a long exchange, Funaki went to choke Sakuraba out and changed the way he did it, which Sakuraba commented on later. However, Suzuki interfered and Kenoh attacked him. 

Kenoh had often spoken about provoking the Kazushi Sakuraba who had been called "The Gracie Killer", and he was probably a lot happier with the Sakuraba he saw today, compared to the Sakuraba he complained was just a playful old man. 

WINNER: Kazushi Sakuraba with The Scorpion Leglock on Masakatsu Funaki (25 minutes, 36 seconds)

The second and last pre match ended with Sakuraba making Funaki tap. Whereas Kenoh looked as if he was shouting in disbelief, Suzuki was overjoyed with the win. Backstage, Kenoh reserved all his ire for his own title match for the GHC Heavyweight Tag Titles, and Sakuraba said that Funaki was hard to read and Suzuki, with his usual humor, managed to get him to pay for dinner. 

GIF taken from WrestleUniverse

Noah's next event: [Muto Retirement Road] ABEMA presents Ariake Gaisen-THE RETURN-PRO-WRESTLING LOVE FOREVER . 3 ~TRIUMPH~ (Sunday October 30th, Ariake Arena)