(NOAH) "I'll take the belt and let him rest" Jake Lee to Kiyomiya, the GHC champion who lost to Okada

4th March 2023

Tokyo Sports

Jake Lee (34) the leader of the "Good Looking Guys" who will challenge Kaito Kiyomiya (26), the GHC Heavyweight Champion at Noah's Yokohama Budokan event on the 19th March, will win the belt and extend a helping hand to the champion. 

Kiyomiya, who was utterly defeated by Kazuchika Okada, New Japan's IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, at Keiji Mutoh's retirement event at the Tokyo Dome in February, announced his challenge after pressing him to rest. He spoke eloquently about the true meaning of these words, and the need for him to wear the belt in order for Kiyomiya to overcome the impact of defeat. 

Immediately after Kiyomiya's crushing loss to Okada in the championship showdown, he told the disappointed champion, "You should rest now. Nothing more will come from you having the belt, so I will challenge". He explained the meaning of his words as, "By not giving up, the weight of the belt has increased, but for him it's a burden to be holding the belt, right? If that is the case, it's my good will to take the belt and let him rest for now."

Kiyomiya won the GHC Heavyweight Championship for the first time in December 2018, just three years after his debut. At the age of 22, he broke the record for being the youngest wrestler ever. After that, Kiyomiya continued to struggle as the face of the group. Jake said, "He has run like a Shinkansen so far, so he always has a furrowed brow and looks like he's about to be crushed by the pressure. Little children won't come to the champion if that's the case, and even if they want to cheer their feelings of pity will become stronger."

There were also voices saying that, "the value of the GHC Championship has fallen" with Kiyomiya's loss this time. Jake, who left All Japan at the end of last year and appeared in Noah on New Year's Day said, "Many people see which belt is the top or the bottom, but based on history, I don't think the GHC is bottom." However, "But (Because Kiyomiya lost), people will go to New Japan to see the strong and the cool. For me, it's bad for business, and is going to interfere with my life". He is keenly aware of the inevitable impact on the Noah mat. Emphasizing that is important to wear the belt himself in order to regain the fans who are leaving, and to start acquiring new supporters. He showed his willingness to do this saying, "I will hold the belt and madly promote Noah to people who not come to see it before now. If I wear this belt, then I am sure that many wrestlers will come to challenge me in earnest..."

With a fearless smile, Jake builds a new era with on the ark's mat.

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credits: Tokyo Sports