(NOAH) Kenoh advises GHC Champion Kaito Kiyomiya to retire, "shocked" by "forbidden words" after the battle with Okada

Tokyo Sports

10th March 2023

Kenoh, the leader of Noah's rebel group, "Kongoh", has made a ruthless statement to the GHC Heavyweight Champion, Kaito Kiyomiya (26). 

At the Tokyo Dome event on February 21st, Kiyomiya thoroughly took the blame for his crushing defeat to New Japan Pro Wrestling's IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada. Kenoh has urged the GHC champion to retire ahead of his fifth defense against Jake Lee (19th March, Yokohama Budokan).  

Regarding Kiyomiya's utter defeat in the championship showdown with Okada, Kenoh spat, "If that were me, no matter how much the company stopped me, I would give up the belt, because of my sense of responsibility as Noah's top. Isn't it better to retire, let alone being shown the difference in defeat?" What is particularly noteworthy is that after the battle with Okada, Kiyomiya uttered the "forbidden words" that he, "felt a difference in power". Kenoh's pride as a former champion, who lost the GHC championship last September, did not approve. Kenoh said, "No vitality". On top of this he said, "I think Noah wrestlers were taken aback by those words. Daisuke Harada, (who has a neck injury),  is retiring reluctantly, but he can say things he doesn't understand in such a favorable situation". That's why the GHC match between Kiyomiya and Jake in this situation is outrageous. "He (Kiyomiya) has been absorbed into the normal set up of the company. A GHC battle that doesn't get this exiting is a rare sight. So retire if you lose" he urged. He has said that the challenger is also responsible for the lack of topicality, even for Jake, a newcomer to the Ark mat he snarled, "You betrayed All Japan, and came to Noah for money right? It's going to be a disappointing GHC championship". Since he cannot expect them to play the role of the main at the Yokohama event, he has no choice but to stand in the center. At the same event, Kenoh will team up with Manabu Soya to challenge the GHC tag champions, Masa Kitamiya and Daiki Inaba. Moreover, Yuma Aoyagi and Naoya Nomura, who hold the All Japan World Tag Team Championship, came to Korakuen Hall on the 9th and nominated them as the next challengers at the All Japan event at the Ota Ward General Gymnasium in Tokyo on the 21st. Kenoh, who has a chance to win two tag titles, grinned and said "I will enrich All Japan. As a jab, I bought 38,700 yen worth of All Japan Pro Wrestling lottery tickets. I'm willing to make money, even if it costs me money". 

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit, Tokyo Sports