(NOAH/NEW JAPAN - G1 CLIMAX) "They have no choice but to follow me", Kaito Kiyomiya, who is on a winning streak, is aiming for an IWGP defense match in Noah.

19th July 2023

Tokyo Sports

He has shown the spirit of an ark warrior!

Noah's ace, Kaito Kiyomiya (27) defeated Chase Owens (33) in New Japan's midsummer festival, the G1 Climax in an A block match (18th July, Yamagata) and won two wins in a row in the opening. The winner of the tournament is usually given the right to challenge for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (the current champion is SANADA) at the Tokyo Dome event on January 4th of the following year, but Kiyomiya has his sights set on a match for the title in Noah. 

Kiyomiya, who defeated Yota Tsuji in the opening match (Sapporo) on the 15th, avoided the Package Driver when against experienced wrestler, Owens, and counterattacked with a Frankensteiner. He hit a strong jumping knee attack, and finally got the pin with a modified Shining Wizard from a modified Tiger Driver. Kiyomiya, who got off to a perfect start to both his first appearance and his win, said, "Good! Two straight wins at the opening. I will continue to play the leading role. I was able to pay back my Canadian debt, and next (Nagaoka, 21st) is Shota Umino. Three wins in a row, thank you". 

This year marks the 33rd year of the league of the pro wrestling world's highest peak. The only outsider to win is Satoshi Kojima, who was a freelancer at the time and won the 2010 tournament. If a wrestler belonging to another promotion wins, it would be the first in history. Over the past ten years the G1 champions have been given the right to challenge for the IWGP at the following years show at the Tokyo Dome, which was proposed by Kazuchika Okada, the champion of the 2012 tournament. However, there is no need for Noah to wait for that privilege for Kiyomiya in the home ring, as as an alternative, he has designated Noah as the stage for his title challenge. "I said that I would bring the championship back to Noah. I think the IWGP will be a little further in the future, but of course I have my eyes on it. Whether it's SANADA or Okada, if I defeat them and win the championship and return to Noah, I think they'll have no choice but to follow me."

In the first place, Kiyomiya is participating in the G1 because of the good cause of spreading the appeal of Noah to the outside world. Kenoh, who will participate in Noah's singles league, "N-1 VICTORY" (opens on August 6th in Yokohama), has promised a "Champion Showdown", but if Noah can also hold the IWGP World Championship match, which is New Japan's golden standard, it will be a hot topic. If their champion is in a Noah ring and fights me in a title match, I think it will help spread Noah. Of course to do that, I will throw all my strength into the battles before me." 

Noah's ace shoots to the lead role of the Midsummer festival. 

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports