(NOAH/DDT): Naomichi Marufuji gives Saki Akai a warning, "Instill fear at the very end, and force you to graduate".

5th October 2023

Tokyo Sports

Noah's Naomichi Marufuji (44), who will be Saki Akai's (36) opponent in her retirement match at Ryogoku Kokugikan on November 12th, revealed his feelings*. The event will be Marufuji's first and last match against Akai, who will be bringing her ten year career as a wrestler to an end. Marufuji will face Akai, Yukio Sakaguchi, and Hideki Okatani in a three person tag with Kazusada Higuchi and Miyu Yamashita (Tokyo Women's Pro Wrestling). 

"Actually, I had a chance to meet her before she became a wrestler, and when she debuted, I was watching her from the sidelines." Revealing his relationship with Akai, Marufuji boasted, "It's strange to say that DDT'S wrestlers are being neglected, but I would like to stand in the ring with a clear understanding of what that means."

Even so, it's amazing to be both the opponent in The Great Muta and Saki Akai's retirement matches in one year...and of course, when he steps into the ring, he is determined to do his best to crush them. 

Marufuji declared war, saying "How does she want this to end? Are you going to come and beat me? Will you win with the help of your friends, or do you just want to end it? If you don't want to get bruises on your chest from kicks from me and Yamashita and chops from me and Higuchi, please feel free to wear a costume with padding. In this way, I'm not going to end it on a happy note, nominating me and saying, "I'm glad I finally got to fight Marufuji," so I'm going to instill fear in you at the very end and force you to graduate.*" In response to this, Akai responded clearly, "I'm excited. I believe that those who enjoy the tension and fear of professional wrestling will win, and once again I have felt how much fun professional wrestling can be".  

What kind of outcome awaits this one time encounter at the ring at Ryogoku?

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports

Note

Reveals his feelings: Original Japanese article used the word "介錯人" (Kaishaku), this means the samurai who performed the coup-de-grace by taking off the head of the Samurai who is committing seppuku. There is no equivalent in English, and it does not translate well, so I have had to omit it.

Tokyo Sports cut out Marufuji's speech about kicks from Yamashita and chops from Higuchi, so this is me adding it in to what is not part of the original article.