(NOAH) August 5th is Kenta Memorial Day


Weekly Pro
15th August 2000


On this day, two weeks before the inaugural Noah match, Kenta Kobashi has begun to make preparations to return to the hospital for the knee surgery he had in June, and resumed training in the ring for the first time since the Budokan on June 9th. Although his name was on the inaugural card, Kobashi said he had some concerns, but after actually moving his body in the ring he seemed to get a good feeling. At first, he said he would only do light movements to warm up his legs, but his knee was in better condition than expected, and as time went on he even started performing brain busters and body slams on Kobayashi*. During practice he was seen worrying about the condition of his knee, but it was just a check-up, and he didn't feel any discomfort, and he was seen smiling at the end of practice.
Kobashi is getting ready, and even during the Q&A session with reporters after the open practice, he only made very positive comments.

Interview with Kenta Kobashi

Q: Have you actually stepped into the ring?
KOBASHI: It was good that everyone came today and we had an open practice. I was worried about how far I could go, but I was able to run, so now I'm going to push myself.
Q: Knee rehabilitation? 
KOBASHI: Naturally, I need to train the muscles and the ligaments on the outside of my knee, but the doctor told me that it's not going to be easy for someone who weighs over 100kg. I feel like I'm not at a certain level of fitness yet, but I think I can do it. From now on, I'll just have to push myself as hard as I can, including sparring.
Q: When you first had surgery, they said it was unclear as to whether you would make it in time. 
KOBASHI: Yes. My doctor told me to wait two months, and when I told him that my inaugural match was on August 5th, he got mad at me (laughs). 
Q: Recovery is faster than expected? 
KOBASHI: Well, this is just the beginning. There is still a while until the inaugural match. I'll have to think about how I'll handle myself in that time. 
Q: The main event lineup for the opening day have not been decided yet, but what are your hopes? 
KOBASHI: Either way, if I'm going to be there on the first and second nights, I want to be there in the main event, or rather, I have to be there.
Q: Will you show that you are the driving force behind the promotion in these two inaugural matches? 
KOBASHI: I do feel that way, and in order to set the direction of the promotion in five or six days, it might be easier to understand if I team up with Jun* on the first day (and win, and then have a match on the second day). I don't know how the company will decide, but I leave that up to them. But for me, if I win on the first day, it's already decided that I'll be doing a singles match on the second day, so I think teaming up with Jun would be interesting, and I'd like to try it out.
Q: Tickets for the inaugural match sold out in a day, and fans have high expectations.
KOBASHI: Hearing that made me want to work hard and recover from my injury quickly, and right now I just want to get back in the ring. 
Q: The other wrestlers had competed in the four All Japan shows, so you did you feel any impatience? 
KOBASHI: My doctor watches pro wrestling, and he told me not to worry. It was unfortunate that I couldn't participate matches while everyone else was, but I wasn't in a hurry.
Q: Akiyama said he wanted to be 100% like Kobashi, but how much of a percentage is that at this stage?
KOBASHI: I don't know the numbers, but I want to be in good condition. I can't show an embarrassing appearance because I'm much better shape that I was before the surgery. 
Q: I think there are fans who want to see a new Kobashi in a new promotion.
KOBASHI: I won't be able to make a 180-degree change from the wrestling I've been doing up until now, but I think it would be interesting to show a different direction, even if only a little at a time.
Q: What will happen to BURNING? 
KOBASHI: I have a lot of things to think about, but I haven't reached that yet. My first priority is to show my skills in the ring, and right now, the most important thing is to get in the ring on the 5th and 6th. But, I am always thinking about BURNING...

Kobashi says he wants to be in perfect health for the inaugural match. He also said that he wanted to be in the main ring every day to show the direction of the promotion. Normally it would take two months for him to return, but he has already made it this far, so his rehabilitation must have been no easy feat. You can see how much Kobashi is committed to this group. With Kobashi changing to Kenta from this day onwards*, therefore August 5th is his anniversary, and Kobashi will be making thorough preparations. 

Notes
Kobayashi: KENTA. Who was about nineteen at the time of this article, and was still going by his given name of Kenta Kobayashi.  
Jun: Akiyama ("Uncle Jun")
Name change: Doesn't mean he changed the spelling, the kanji or the reading or anything like that, this just means that rather than be All Japan's Kobashi, he was now Noah's Kenta (understand the confusion now with young Kenta Kobayashi?)

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