(NOAH) EVENT RECAP: GREAT VOYAGE 2024 in NAGOYA (Saturday 2nd March, Nagoya International Conference Center, Aichi)
Attendance today for a "GREAT VOYAGE" (Noah's bigger shows) was not great at only 809 people. Then again, the card isn't really what a "GREAT VOYAGE" usually is - the GHC Heavyweight Champion hasn't returned to Noah yet, the GHC Heavyweight Tag is tied up in a tag league, the GHC National hadn't been challenged for by the time the show came round, and the GHC Junior Tag will be defended in Kumamoto on the 10th March, so that left the GHC Junior, with the main event being a tag league match. The show was enjoyable, but sadly it felt more like a "SUNNY VOYAGE" at Korakuen instead of a grand event elsewhere.
Today was also Kenoh's 16th debut anniversary. He celebrated in his usual way - scowling while clenching his fist before blue balloons and flowers.
Event can be viewed on WrestleUniverse with either English or Japanese commentary. You must be a subscriber to view.
MATCH ONE
Ninja Mack vs Alejandro
Fans had been worried (some quite upset) when it looked like there was going to be a breach between Ninja Mack and Alejandro, but they didn't need to worry as today's match was amicable and started with a handshake, and ended with them both walking to the back with their arms around each other. They opened the show with an energetic match, which wasn't entirely aerial, and with some comedy moments such as when Ninja Mack did a double take when Alejandro jumped to his feet after doing a similar move to his.
WINNER: Ninja Mack with the Ninja Bomb (7 minutes, 35 seconds)
MATCH TWO
TEAM NOAH (Akitoshi Saito & Hi69) vs Hajime Ohara & Junta Miyawaki
This was a big test for Junta Miyawaki as he was not only facing one of Noah's ultra-heavyweights, he was also facing one of Noah's seniors. Although Akitoshi Saito (the senior/ultra-heavyweight) in question, initially no sold Junta and then gave him an uppercut, Junta did get some offense in, even kicking out of a Bison Smith finisher.
Winner: Akitoshi Saito with the Death Scythe on Junta Miyawaki (10 minutes, 52 seconds)
MATCH THREE
Good Looking Guys (Jack Morris, Anthony Green & YO-HEY) vs Naomichi Marufuji, Yoshinari Ogawa & Super Crazy
As said, the main focus of the match was the GHC Junior Tag pre match, and unfortunately for YO-HEY, he was the main focus. He found himself thrown on to concrete, tortured by all three of his opponents, and slammed into by his own team when Ogawa pulled him in the way when GLG had him (Ogawa) on the turnbuckle. This was a grueling match for poor YO-HEY, and no wonder he eventually tapped.
WINNER: Yoshinari Ogawa via submission on YO-HEY (15 minutes, 21 seconds)
The referee had to pry Ogawa off, but even then the torture wasn't over as YO-HEY had his hair pulled and Ogawa posed for the win with his foot on YO-HEY'S chest. Sadly for YO-HEY, there would be a round two later in the evening.
MATCH FOUR
HAYATA vs LJ Cleary
HAYATA came to the ring smirking. He was well aware that LJ Cleary had called him out for this match, and for his cheating to win in their last match. Cleary had said he wasn't going to do that, he was going to win fait and square. However, after outmaneuvering HAYATA somewhat, he did try and grab the ropes to win, but was caught by the ref. While he was arguing with him, HAYATA struck back as he crept up and rolled Cleary up. He didn't cheat, he won fairly, he just waited for his moment.
WINNER: HAYATA (7 minutes, 50 seconds)
HAYATA smirked again, holding up three fingers and tapped his head, he even got back on the apron and clapped three on the way out. Backstage, he intimated a challenge for the GHC National, but nothing has been announced at the time of writing.
MATCH FIVE
Victory Challenge Tag League
Kenoh & Yu Owada vs Los Golpeadores (Dragon Bane & Alpha Wolf)
Los Golpeadores attacked before their opponents by diving on them before they even got in the ring. Kenoh's music was still playing, he was still in his robe and one of the commentators (Rina Matsuki, who sometimes gets flirted with) stated that Kenoh was barely off of the entryway.
When everyone had calmed down, Kenoh stood on the apron, mouthing off to Los Golpeadores and shouting encouragement to Yu Owada, who he was desperate to make the tag. The crowd were vocal (maybe the most) for Owada and Kenoh joined the noise by gesticulating and shouting. Owada almost got the win by winding Dragon Bane on a moonsault, but the lucha brothers weren't going to be scuppered by this mere boy, and as he fought hard and even kicked out of the Santa Maria, the crowd rose to a crescendo, it seemed unlikely he would win, but there was the thrill of hope.
WINNER: Dragon Bane with the TwisterBane on Yu Owada (12 minutes, 37 seconds)
MATCH SIX
Victory Challenge Tag League
Masa Kitamiya & Daiki Inaba vs Manabu Soya & Shuji Kondo
Pure hoss fight which started with Masa Kitamiya and Manabu Soya (naturally) charging at each other. This set the tone of the match with it mainly being kicks, lariats, slams, elbows etc. The most technical elements usually came from Daiki Inaba. The count ran out when Soya went to pin Inaba.
Time out draw at 20 minutes
MATCH SEVEN
GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship
Daga vs Tadasuke
The pre matches had been wild and ended in no contests, with Daga attacking Tadasuke and Tadasuke returning the favor. Tadasuke came to the ring with both his and YO-HEY'S GHC Junior Tag belts, not only to signify that he/they were the champions, but also to signify that this was also a pre match as well as a title match. Daga bought both his ego and Yoshinari Ogawa, and while as Tadasuke was alone initially (YO-HEY did join him later), this did seem like advantage Daga. However, Ogawa didn't get involved. As Tadasuke started the match in usual maniacal fashion with his big grin, waving his fist around and nodding wildly, the commentators wondered if he was going to sing on winning. Tadasuke may well have done had the ref not been taken out, and Daga (to boos) delivered a low blow to Tadasuke, knocked him out with the belt and then gave him the Diablo Wings.
WINNER: Daga with the Diablo Wings (14 minutes, 49 seconds)
The crowd were hardly jubilant for Daga's win, they were if anything shocked, Daga however thought he was smart and tapped his head.
There was more abuse in store for YO-HEY too as Daga and Ogawa decided to tie a nice bow on what had been (so far) a pretty dismal evening for GLG, and once again after a beat down, Ogawa posed with his boot on YO-HEY, this time holding one of the tag belts.
MATCH EIGHT
Victory Challenge Tag League
TEAM NOAH (Go Shiozaki & Atsushi Kotoge) vs REAL (Saxon Huxley & Timothy Thatcher)
(Akitoshi Saito described REAL today as looking like "a couple of psychopathic Santa Claus")
Atsushi Kotoge had described himself as exhausted after the last league match, and this is unsurprising when you consider that as both a junior and the smallest member of the team, he gets targeted, and today was no exception. Go Shiozaki came to his rescue and threw a lot of chops, the one he threw at Timothy Thatcher (who had cleverly turned Kotoge's attempted headbutt into the Fujiwara armbar), was heard clearly on the audio. The fight between Thatcher and Kotoge was so intense, that when both were down, both Shiozaki and Huxley had to get in the ring and drag their partners (at the same time) back to their corners so they could tag them in.
WINNER: Go Shiozaki with the Strong Arm Lariat on Saxon Huxley (13 minutes, 28 seconds)
Despite his exhaustion, Kotoge said he didn't think that (teaming with) "someone like me" would mean that two matches had been won in the league. It went unsaid that TEAM NOAH where now in the lead. Shiozaki told him not to call himself , "someone like me", he was a proper partner and if Kotoge continued to set them up, he would knock them down.
MATCH NINE
GREAT VOYAGE Special Singles Match
Jake Lee vs Kazuyuki Fujita
Kazuyuki Fujita was his usual generous self, even the young trainee at ringside was given some Viper tonic. Confident of victory, Fujita tucked a bottle under the ring for later. Jake made his entry as usual too, pausing to spray himself with cologne. Maybe he should have saved himself the bother, as Fujita took a mouthful of RED VIPER, opened Jake's coat and spat it down his chest. Jake took this in his usual gentlemanly way, but Fujita wasn't quite finished with him, and even went so far to shade his eyes and look at the ceiling to ask what Jake was pointing at.
Jake's shoulder had been touted as an issue (and one he wished to avoid) before the match, and no doubt he will blame the fact that the match came to a draw on it, especially as after the match finished, he was seen walking away angrily, tearing the taping off. Whatever Jake's condition, he and Fujita fought to exhaustion.
Time out draw: 30 minutes
Both Fujita and Jake refused to have their arms raised. Jake (as noted previously) left angrily, while Fujita did an advert by kissing the RED VIPER tonic bottle he had set aside before downing it, doing a lap of honor through the crowd on his way back and slapping hands, and then raising his arms in victory when he was back on the ramp and indicating that he was going go and drink. Backstage Jake said that this wasn't over, when he won the belt, he was nominating Fujita as his first opponent.
MATCH TEN
Victory Challenge Tag League
Kaito Kiyomiya & Ryohei Oiwa vs Takashi Sugiura & Ulka Sasaki
The normally polite Ryohei Oiwa, threw his t-shirt at Ulka Sasaki and then squared up to him, he even pushed Kaito Kiyomiya into the corner so he could start the match. With Takashi Sugiura mentoring Ulka, and Kiyomiya mentoring Oiwa, the ambiance felt like a master-student tag at times with Oiwa and Sasaki fighting and Kiyomiya and Sugiura fighting. Kiyomiya made a sustained concentrated effort to attack Sugiura's knees, and this paid off when Sugiura made a rare tap.
WINNER: Kaito Kiyomiya with the Figure 4 (17 minutes, 15 seconds)
Afterwards, both Kiyomiya and Oiwa (whose home prefecture this is), spoke on the mic. Kiyomiya spoke of the young people in the league and how unless they advanced, then it wouldn't be interesting (backstage he did admit that beating Sugiura had to become the norm). He spoke of how they had challenged the champions once before already, and so they would win the league, and then return as champions. Sentiments that Oiwa echoed.
With thanks to: Karin
Picture credit: BBM Sports
Noah's next event: SUNNY VOYAGE 2024 (Sunday March 3rd, Takaoka Ecours, Toyama) - this will be streamed at a later date.
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