(NOAH) EVENT RECAP: MONDAY MAGIC - Episode 1 (Shinjuku FACE, Tokyo, Monday 9th October 2023)

Fans were not too sure of what to expect when they arrived at the venue today. Noah had released very few details about what this would be about, the information that they gave that it would be like a "serial drama". Details were so secret that not even a card was announced, wrestlers being introduced by theme music alone. The show is expected to run until mid December, after which time I guess Noah will review whether or not to renew for a second series. That said, tonight was very enjoyable and a success, so hopefully it will become a regular occurrence, and in the same manner of keeping things a watertight secret, Noah announced during the show that The Great Muta will be appearing in Episode 2. However, in what manner will only be known on the night. 

"MONDAY MAGIC" Episode 1, was broadcast live on WrestleUniverse. Noah have said that this was/is a free broadcast. Commentary is in Japanese. 

Funky Kato, the ambassador of the event, opened the show (coming out to very 1990s sounding music) admitted that he didn't know too much about tonight either, but said that NOSAWA Rongai (the assistant director) had promised that he would put on a show that everyone would enjoy and he would use all his knowledge, his experience and his connections (remember that last one as this will be relevant) going forward. Funky Kato then introduced NOSAWA. NOSAWA (who was looking far more

healthy than he had been when he was wrestling), came to the ring to his old Perros Del Mal De Japon music (which probably made some dogs at home bark once more), carrying a metal briefcase, in which he had the old defunct for the past thirteen years, Noah Hardcore title. NOSAWA announced that he was bringing the title back, which he was now calling "The GHC Hardcore title", and that anyone from any promotion, could challenge for it. This last rule was a change to the somewhat convoluted old rules the last time the title was active, in that anyone could challenge for it as originally it could only be challenged for by people in Noah alone. He didn't give any further details of any changes, but did say something along the lines of (and this does not translate well), how is that for attitude? The belt had also been dyed back to it's original white. Kenta Kobashi had dyed it purple. Then when he had gone, Kenoh appeared and started shouting loudly, thanking everyone ("all you mutherfuckers") for being here or watching at home, saying that he was in the main event, and that on this Monday night he was the one with the attitude.

MATCH ONE

Ninja Mack vs Terry Yaki

NOSAWA had said that he was going to use his contacts, and to give a taste of what we could and can expect, indie wrestler, Terry Yaki made his Noah debut. Yaki, a wrestler from Chicago, is twenty-one years old, and made his debut only two years ago for WWA in Georgia, USA. A quick check on the official Noah website reveals that he will be joining Noah for their October dates (I am not sure about November or December though)

Winner: Ninja Mack with the Ninja Bomb (5 minutes, 31 seconds)

In the ring Ninja Mack made a title challenge, and said that the honeymoon in Japan was over, and put NOSAWA on notice that he was challenging for the GHC Heavyweight (he meant GHC Hardcore) and made sure backstage to correct himself. No challenger came forward tonight, but whoever it is, will either make themselves known before the 23rd October (Episode 2) or be a mystery man on the night, but given the presence of women on today's show and in Noah now, fans are wondering whether the competitor will even be a man. 

MATCH TWO

Manabu Soya, Masa Kitamiya & Kai Fujimura vs Junta Miyawaki, Go Shiozaki & Kazuyuki Fujita

Kazuyuki Fujita came to the ring, handing out his RED VIPER tonic to fans, and one to the referee, who he told could put it in his pocket until later. Fortunately, given what happened last time, he did not give one to Manabu Soya, who looked like he really wanted one and was even pointing. As is traditional, Fujita gave one to each of his team, which included his former rival for the GHC Heavyweight (and the man he had the epic staring contest with), Go Shiozaki. Shiozaki gave Fujita the flower he keeps in his lapel in return. As they have never teamed before, this is the first time Shiozaki has tasted RED VIPER and he pulled a variety of faces from looking like he had steam coming out of his ears, to a grimace and then to nausea. 

During the match young Kai Fujimura, who had told fans that he was going to leave a mark in the Noah ring, made a point of provoking Fujita by attacking him, he later got his chance to face him, and despite ducking him once, got slammed. Let us hope that the mark that Fujimura wishes to leave in Noah, is not a Fujimura shaped hole in the ring. 

Winner: Junta Miyawaki with the Falcon Arrow on Kai Fujimura (14 minutes, 20 seconds)

Backstage, Shiozaki said he was enjoying teaming up with people he didn't normally get to team with.

MATCH THREE

Jake Lee & Anthony Green vs Ryohei Oiwa & LJ Cleary

LJ Cleary, an Irish wrestler, made his Noah debut tonight teaming with Ryohei Oiwa. Oiwa is minus Kaito Kiyomiya this evening, as Kiyomiya was wrestling in Canada this past weekend. Cleary and Anthony Green appeared to have an instant rivalry, while Oiwa challenged Jake Lee, and was taken down. Then, Cleary screwed Oiwa over and broke the pin. Oiwa asked him what he was doing, and Cleary attacked him which enabled Green to get the win. 

WINNER: Anthony Green pins Ryohei Oiwa (9 minutes, 17 seconds)

Cleary and Green shook hands, and with a smile on his face, Jake got in the ring and Cleary welcomed him with a bow. Jake spoke on the mic to welcome Cleary to both Noah and to Good Looking Guys (who number six people now), he got no further as Manabu Soya and Masa Kitamiya burst in and Good Looking Guys scattered. Backstage, Cleary said that he was an old friend of Jack Morris, who he had called before coming to Noah. Elsewhere, Oiwa swore revenge against Cleary and said he was going to destroy GLG, every single last one of them. Soya told him to calm down, as there was no way he could do it by himself...

MATCH FOUR

Takumi Ayaba & Mio Momono vs Yuu & Riko Kawabata

Winner: Takumi Ayaba with the Running Three on Riko Kawabata (14 minutes, 44 seconds)

Nothing more was said about creating a women's title or women's tag title, but with even more new faces (Kawabata, Ayama and Momono making their Noah debuts), surely this will be the eventual outcome some day. Kawabata said she was surprised at how warm the reception they got today was.  

MATCH FIVE

Hi69 & Atsushi Kotoge vs Good Looking Guys (Tadasuke & YO-HEY) vs Los Golpeadores (Dragon Bane and Alpha Wolf)

This match was wild as not only was it a three way, it was also going to be fought under the no touch tag rules. In the midst of melee fights and everyone fighting everywhere all at once, Los Golpeadores bought out tandem moves, which included Dragon Bane somersaulting off of his brothers shoulders and Alpha Wolf introducing an inventive submission on the ropes. The first to go out was the team of Atsushi Kotoge and Hi69, when Kotoge was taken out by Alpha Wolf with the Wolf Driver (7 minutes and 18 seconds), about four minutes later, Dragon Bane was tasting YO-HEY'S boots. 

Winner: YO-HEY with the Dropkick on Dragon Bane (11 minutes, 37 seconds)

You beat the champion, you get to challenge the champion, and YO-HEY did just this;

"Bane, Dragon...we will be the next challengers, and get our belts back"

Title match has been set for Fukuoka (which will also be Katsuhiko Nakajima's farewell) on the 28th October. 

MATCH SIX

Kenoh vs Great Mummy

The look on Kenoh's face was comical as he gaped in shock when his opponent lumbered to the ring, and half pointed at him. To make matters worse, Great Mummy also doused himself in powder, so each time Kenoh hit or kicked him, he gave off tomb dust. He was also a member of the undead, so he kept sitting up after Kenoh attacked him. Then Great Mummy started throwing some very familiar chops, and as soon as he had the upper hand, Kenoh went to rip his mask off. He didn't need to bother however, as Great Mummy did it himself, and was revealed to be Satoshi Kojima. For the newer fans, Kojima and Kenoh had a feud over the GHC Heavyweight a few months ago, (which involved karaoke and a push up competition), and have since then had a natural chemistry. 

Winner: Kenoh with the PFS on Great Mummy/Satoshi Kojima (8 minutes, 24 seconds)

After the match the two of them shook hands and Kojima left to go backstage where he gave vent to a mixture of being irritated that NOSAWA had "fooled" him and having to fight in this costume, but being happy that he got to fight "that bastard" Kenoh again, but he couldn't stand being fooled.

Meanwhile, in the ring, Kenoh went to do his usual pose, when Jake Lee entered from the curtain and stood on the ramp flanked by GLG (and their new member). Kenoh turned around slowly, Jake held the belt up, and Kenoh responded with the fist pose. Jake then pointed his finger and took aim, but Kenoh remained with his fist thrust out at him in defiance, he even followed Jake with it as he left. 

Noah's next event: SUNNY VOYAGE 2023, Saturday October 14th (Yokohama Radiant Hall) - live on WrestleUniverse.