(NOAH) EVENT RECAP: ABEMA presents GREEN JOURNEY 2023 in SENDAI (Sunday April 16th, Xebio Arena Sendai)

Noah announced an attendance of 1277 people for their first visit to the Xebio Arena, Sendai. Somewhat last moment they announced that Kinya Okada and Yasutaka Yano were not appearing on the card tonight, and therefore the first and second matches had been changed, Akitoshi Saito was put into the second match and it looks as if he wrestled in his daily clothes. Noah have not explained why they have been pulled, and neither are on the card announced for MAJESTIC at Ryogoku Kokugikan in May. 

Local boy Kenoh (who is from Sendai based promotion, Michinoku Pro, not Sendai himself), came out to open the show, asking if "all you Sendai bastards, where ready to get excited?", he spoke of his own excitement that he would be teaming with his teacher, Jinsei Shinzaki, and Kongoh member Katsuhiko Nakajima's GHC Heavyweight title match, so he was "more fired up than usual". 

Event can be viewed on WrestleUniverse (English commentary is available)

MATCH ONE

"Opening Journey"

Anthony Green vs Taishi Ozawa

Winner: Anthony Green with the M-83 (4 minutes, 59 seconds)

MATCH TWO

"No Holding Back"

Hideki Suzuki, Timothy Thatcher & Saxon Huxley vs Yoshiki Inamura, Akitoshi Saito & Sean Legacy

Timothy Thatcher and Saxon Huxley seemed to form an instant team the moment they stepped into the ring with Hideki Suzuki. Akitoshi Saito, knowing he had waded into a storm, let Yoshiki Inamura and Sean Legacy decide who would start. It was Suzuki and Inamura, while Huxley paced around on the outside like a caged beast. 

Winner: Saxon Huxley with the Diving Knee Drop (note Weekly Pro called this the "King Kong Knee Drop") on Akitoshi Saito (8 minutes, 13 seconds)

Somehow the match ended without a count out, and the trio left. We would see more of each of them later. As soon as the ring was clear, the familiar strains of Go Shiozaki's theme, "Enforcer" began to play. Shiozaki came to the ring to make an announcement. Given his long absence, and the news about Daisuke Harada having to retire, fans were at first worried. Fortunately, Shiozaki (looking tanned and well), had good news to give; 

"I made you all wait! Go Shiozaki returns on May 4th at Ryogoku Kokugikan! Everyone, please look forward to it! I AM NOAH!"

Backstage Shiozaki spoke about the Noah he was returning to; there was a lot to interest him, the influx of foreign wrestlers and Jake Lee as GHC Heavyweight Champion. Shiozaki's return match was later announced to be himself teaming with Yoshiki Inamura and Kaito Kiyomiya against Kongoh's Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Manabu Soya. Kenoh has been typically welcoming, saying on his YouTube channel after the show that he "couldn't wait to beat the shit out of Shiozaki again". I guess this is one up from the last time Shiozaki came back from injury, and Kenoh accused him of lazing around at home.

MATCH THREE

"Wild & Free"

Sumire Natsu vs Maya Yukihi

The crowd reacted well to history in the making as Noah held their very first women's singles match on a Noah show (not SEM, and not a Mutoh/Muta retirement show). 

Winner: Maya Yukihi via Whiteout submission (6 minutes, 31 seconds)

Backstage they spoke about their hopes for doing this again, how they thought the crowd perceived it, and Sumire Natsu said she wants to go to Ryogoku Kokugikan with Noah next. The subject of the GHC women's was again bought up, but Noah have made no announcement so far. Natsu got her wish as Noah announced an eight woman tag between Maya Yukihi & Saki Saki vs Sumire Natsu & Ryo Mizunami for Ryogoku Kokugikan. 

MATCH FOUR

"Might Makes Right"

Naomichi Marufuji, Kaito Kiyomiya & The Noah Junior Regulars (Ninja Mac, Atsushi Kotoge & Seiki Yoshioka) vs Jinsei Shinzaki & Kongoh (Kenoh, Shuji Kondo, Hajime Ohara & HI69)

This was the first in two absolutely insane matches (although this one was without damage to equipment). Jinsei Shinzaki started against Ninja Mack, going for the Prayer Rope Walk, which Ninja Mack somersaulted out of. While this was going on, Seiki Yoshioka and Kaito Kiyomiya seemed to be really excited about something, with Kiyomiya giggling at something Yoshioka was saying. This was a fun match with with the usual junior chaos, and Shinzaki kind of joining in with Kongoh. He did an elbow drop on Naomichi Marufuji (who was more interested in fighting Shuji Kondo than Shinzaki) when Kongoh did their tandem move, and responded with a prayer when Kongoh did their usual show of strength. When Kongoh did their rope pose (Hi69 and Hajime Ohara), Shinzaki was encouraged to join in by Shuji Kondo, but again he responded with a quiet prayer. 

WINNER: Jinsei Shinzaki with the Nembetsu Powerbomb on Atsushi Kotoge (14 minutes, 21 seconds)

(Note, as a pilgrim monk the name of Shinzaki's move "Nembetsu" relates to Amida Buddha)

Later, Kenoh two (three) belts, who seems to be collecting tag titles with different partners, asked Shinzaki if he wanted to team up! Shinzaki it seemed was more interested in keeping up with Kenoh, not holding championships with him. 

MATCH FIVE

"Lalapalooza Fiesta"

Dralistico, Dragon Bane & Alejandro vs Xtreme Tiger, Alpha Wolf & Lanzelot

This was the last light hearted match before the five title matches began, and it was very aerial. Unfortunately it ended in worry as the referee stopped the match after Xtreme Tiger was unable to carry on following a Dralistico moonsault. Fortunately, he was seen to be moving his hands and his limbs, and he was able to sit up and slide on to the stretcher. 

The others decided to carry on albeit as a handicap match, without consulting the referee (as is the Noah Junior way) and went wild. Bodies flew everywhere, and in the case of Dragon Bane, through Akitoshi Saito's commentary table. 

Comically, Saito (who had changed clothes) stood there and watched the chaos of the junior division unfold at his feet. He remarked dryly that "this table is not for breaking, this is not a breakable table."

Winner: Dralistico with La Mystica on Alpha Wolf (2 minutes, 22 seconds)

Backstage, Dralistico, Dragon Bane and Alejandro (who looked to be having the time of his life) said that when Xtreme Tiger was better, they wanted to do this again. 

Go Shiozaki was not the only person to make an announcement regarding returning to Noah. Junta Miyawaki (who also spoke in Mexican too) also announced that he would be coming home on April 29th at Korakuen. 

Noah also announced that Shinya Aoki would fight Masakatsu Funaki at MAJESTIC (Ryogoku Kokugikan), under Noah's GHC rules. 

MATCH SIX

"Volcanic Explosion"

GHC Heavyweight Tag Championship

Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba (Champions) vs Takashi Sugiura & Shuhei Taniguchi

The monster that his seniors (and grand seniors) have always hoped that Shuhei Taniguchi would be reawakened. Takashi Sugiura pretty much stayed out, letting Taniguchi shine, although Taniguchi did use him as weapon twice. Masa Kitamiya and Daiki Inaba were like a brick wall, but the night belonged to Taniguchi, who won his first title under his real name. 

WINNER: Shuhei Taniguchi with the Half Nelson Suplex on Daiki Inaba (15 minutes, 23 seconds)

Earlier in the evening, fans had noted the chemistry between Saxon Huxley and Timothy Thatcher, and now led by Timothy Thatcher, they were back as a team and had come to challenge for the GHC Heavyweight Tag Titles. Hideki Suzuki said that The Sugiura Army wasn't working and was over (later he would suggest that the new unit were called "Real") and he was here to challenge for the belts on behalf of his companions. Fans had known for a long time that The Sugiura Army was done. They had never fallen apart and turned on each other, they had just fizzled out. Sugi backstage was of the opinion that The Sugiura Army were far too rambunctious to ever have "worked".  The title challenge has been set for MAJESTIC on the 5th May. 

MATCH SEVEN

"Time For A Change"

GHC Heavyweight Junior Tag Championship

Yoshinari Ogawa & Eita (Champions) vs Good Looking Guys (YO-HEY & Tadasuke)

Fans at first thought that Eita was coming out by himself as Yoshinari Ogawa appeared a long time after him. Ogawa walked to the ring without even looking at his partner, Eita tried a show of unity but this was to Ogawa's back, as he never turned around once. He only ever really interacted to tag in. YO-HEY was on his guard however, as he knew that Eita and Ogawa would work together if they had to, and the time when Ogawa did work with Eita (otherwise he was doing things like throwing YO-HEY into Eita and knocking him off the apron, when he should have been throwing YO-HEY into Tadasuke), YO-HEY dodged Eita's kick and Ogawa was caught in the face by it, meaning that Tadasuke pinned Ogawa and won them the titles. 

WINNER: Tadasuke with the lariat on Yoshinari Ogawa (13 minutes, 34 seconds)

Eita came over to Ogawa who shoved him away. Eita helped him to his feet and the two fell out in a massive way. The referee tried to separate them but was shoved aside. The sad fact was that neither had anyone who cared enough to run in for the other. The brawl went to the ringside, Eita even hitting Ogawa with a bottle of water. The fight then went along the walkway and went backstage.  Chris Ridgeway, possibly Ogawa's only ally left in the Noah Juniors, returns to Noah for MAJESTIC and they will be teaming together against Eita and Daga. Eita said backstage (after a fight with Ogawa) that Daga was the only person he could trust now. We shall see. 

As for the new champions, they were challenged by Alpha Wolf and Dragon Bain. Dragon Bain says they will take the belts back to Mexico. Due to the short window of time that Alpha Wolf and Dragon Bain have in Japan, the title match will take place on the 29th April at Korakuen Hall. No title match has been set for MAJESTIC. 

MATCH EIGHT

"Sky's The Limit"

GHC National Championship

El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr (Champion) vs Jack Morris

This match had a story of a broken friendship and revenge. While El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr enjoyed punishing Jack, Jack was of the same mind when he got a table out from under the ring and loudly told the protesting ref that, "he put staples in my head!". He later dived from the top turnbuckle on to El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr who was laying on it. El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr is not part of a unit, so he was unaccompanied, and therefore subject to Anthony Green's interference at times. Green caused a distraction at one point, and even pulled Jack out the way in another. 

Tables, Tiger Drivers were not enough to beat El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr, who at one point inched his way up the turnbuckle with Jack on his shoulders and slammed him. Jack, who seemed barely conscious, kicked out. Following this, Wagner even gave Jack two Wagner Bombs, but still he rallied. It took The Three Step Moonsault to get the win, and their friendship was made up with a handshake. 

WINNER: El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr with the Three Step Moonsault (23 minutes, 4 seconds)

Hideki Suzuki had challenged for a belt for his friends, now it was time for a belt from him. Friendship was out of the window as far as he was concerned, as he told El Hijo Del Dr Wagner Jnr that now The Sugiura Army didn't exist anymore, he was coming for his belt. Title match has been set for MAJESTIC on the 4th May. 

MATCH NINE

"Rise And Fall"

GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship

AMAKUSA (Champion) vs HAYATA 

Just like in the pre matches, AMAKUSA stood very little chance against "Absolute Champion", HAYATA. AMAKUSA might have been given a match to "resound to the heavens", but sadly it was not one that he had much chance of winning. HAYATA breezed in, and although AMAKUSA resorted to using his size and his speed, to HAYATA this was all so easy and he took the belt back. 

WINNER: HAYATA with The Headache (13 minutes, 4 seconds)

Now that he was GHC Junior Heavyweight champion again, HAYATA nipped any thoughts anyone had about coming to challenge him in the bud, by announcing on the microphone (he's getting better at this), that he was "the junior ace" and "next is Ninja Mack". Ninja Mack was the opponent who HAYATA lost the belt to, through no fault of his own though as he was injured during the match and the belt was given to Ninja Mack. HAYATA wants to start where he left off, and the title match has been set for MAJESTIC on the 4th May. 

MATCH TEN

"The Lunatic Gate"

GHC Heavyweight Championship

Jake Lee (Champion) vs Katsuhiko Nakajima

For two people with considerable egos, the first challenge before even locking up was to whip up the crowd by making them chant their names at signal. 

Jake just as sadistic as Katsuhiko Nakajima, he even went for the Cobra Twist again, which Nakajima had been furious with the ref for stopping the match about before. He powered out by attacking Jake's knee. Both where able to predict the other to a certain extent i.e. Jake reversing the Vertical Spike, and Nakajima catching Jake when he did his move, but in the end Jake's power and size was on his side. 

WINNER: Jake Lee with the Front High Kick (22 minutes, 58 seconds)

Jake was half way through saying that as he had defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima, didn't that make him Noah...when Naomichi Marufuji's music sounded. Marufuji came to the ring and told Jake (who was towering over him)

"Jake Lee, there are a lot of guys stronger than me on this ship right now. Great guys. But, even if it rots, it's still Marufuji. Besides, I think I will get seasick on the boat that you are steering. I think I will teach you how to really "steer".

Jake responded

"Hey, Vice President, you had better get used to seasickness then because that seasickness is going to get better and better. Because if seasickness bothers you, what kind is it? Everyone will come and see you if you are worried about it, no matter what your kind, and they will be captive in no time. How can I be so assertive? That's because I'm at the helm of Noah now".

The title match, (which will also take place in Naomichi Marufuji's 25th anniversary year) will take place at MAJESTIC on the 4th May. 

After the event, there was a big treat for fans, as Go Shiozaki joined in with most of the rest of the roster in posing for photographs and signing autographs. 

With thanks to: Metal Noah

Picture credits: PKDX (aside from the ones I have screenshotted) 

Noah's next event: Sunny Voyage 2023 (Saturday April 22nd, Act City, Hamamatsu)