(NOAH) 70 years of pro wrestling broadcast history, "THE Nippon Television Pro Wrestling", match provided by Noah: Naomichi Marufuji, Takashi Sugiura, Yu Owada vs Go Shiozaki, Mohammed Yone & Atsushi Kotoge...9th February Korakuen.

January 26th 2024

Hochi News

Nippon Television will hold a professional wrestling show on the 26th to commemorate the 70th anniversary of professional wrestling broadcasts. The entire match card for "70 Years of Professional Wrestling Broadcast THE Nippon Television Pro Wrestling" (February 9th, Korakuen Hall) has been announced. The show will commemorate the 70th anniversary of pro wrestling broadcasts. 

In August 1953, Nippon Television, opened as Japan's first commercial television station. The following year on February 19th 1954, the match between Rikidozan, Masahiko Kimura and the Sharp brothers, was broadcast live from Kuramae Kokugikan*. Since then, the station has been broadcasting live coverage of Japanese pro wrestling All Japan and Noah, until March 2009. 

February 19th of this year marks the 70th anniversary of this historic match in the history of television and professional wrestling, and to commemorate this milestone, on February 9th, the station will look back at many of the great matches of the past at Korakuen in the archives. Furthermore, we will hold an unprecidented hybrid professional wrestling event, where current top wrestlers will have live matches. 

The cards announced for this time are two cards of a highly anticipated six man tag, presented by All Japan and Pro Wrestling Noah, in which top wrestlers from both promotions will participate. Noah's match will look back on the "history of special moves*" on the 70th anniversary of Nippon Television Pro Wrestling, and then embody today's Pro Wrestling Noah in a man tag match with Naomichi Marufuji, Takashi Sugiura and Yu Owada clashing with TEAM NOAH'S Go Shiozaki, Mohammed Yone and Atsushi Kotoge. Commenting on his participation on Nippon Television Pro Wrestling, Marufuji said, "This is my first time working with Nippon TV in a long time, so I hope everyone enjoys today's Noah". Owada, who is in his first year since his debut, enthusiastically said, "I will do my best to show you the power of being the youngest Noah born!". Their opponent, Go Shiozaki said, "Pro Wrestling on Nippon Television...truly, how many years has it been? We are pro wrestling Noah, and when you speak of Noah, Noah was Nippon Television. Please look forward to Pro Wrestling Noah's professional wrestling from Team Noah!"

The show will be broadcast (Kanto local time) from 1.50am on February 18th.

Translated from Hochi News

Picture credit: Hochi News

Notes

Kuramae Kokugikan: There have been three Sumo Halls. The first was torn down following bomb damage from the second world war, the second was where the Rikidozan match was held, that was later torn down, and the third is the Ryogoku Kokugikan that we know today. 

History of special moves: I am expecting to see a Emerald Flowsion 

Note about the Rikidozan match

Japan's economic miracle came after the hard years of war and occupation when they took their place in overseas commerce by delving into the growing electronics market. It had the added bonus of bringing the fledgling puroresu scene into people's homes. However, commercial televisions were not as universally available as they are today, and so people watched the match from shop windows with people climbing trees and lampposts to get a better view. The reason why the match was so important, was that not only did it give some excitement in Japan's grim postwar years, so marked by starvation, chaos and privation (the war didn't really end for Japan until the 1960s), but it also bought hope to a shattered country and a shattered, demoralized and exhausted people. Since this first match in 1954, Puro has always tried to transmit the message, there is hope and you can rise up above your difficulties. In short, Puroresu was born in the rubble.