(NOAH/WWE) "Who is next?" Naomichi Marufuji kicks off the "War" with WWE

14th July 2024

Tokyo Sports 

At Noah's Nippon Budokan event on 13th July, Naomichi Marufuji (44) lost to AJ Styles (47), but he kicked off the "war" with the American WWE in style. 

This match was made possible by the nomination of a WWE superstar, as the first step in strengthening the relationship between the two promotions. The two rivals engaged in a heated battle that far exceeded expectations, sending the arena into a frenzy of excitement. When AJ jumped onto the top rope, and attempted a Phenomenal Forearm, Marufuji knocked him down by dropkicking him frim the ropes, sending him falling. Outside the ring, he struck the back of AJ's head with a Shiranui over the iron frnce, and showed his "innovator" side today as well. Ultimately, AJ pinned him with the Styles Clash, but as AJ said, "He brought out the best in me". 

After the match, Marufuji sighed, "Damn, so this is world famous. As expected, he's amazing." Then he added, "I want to do it one more time. Let me do it one more time...well, today was the day that WWE and Noah started, right? Like I said before, I'm fine for today, but who's next? Whoever makes the loudest noise, might win". 

He was able to raise his voice because he felt that he had been able to kick off the fight against the world's biggest promotion as the first. Marufuji encouraged the next wrestlers to appear, saying, "Today is the chance! Go! Noah wrestlers, go, this is your chance. You don't know when it will be over". 

Who will be the next wrestler...?

However, Marufuji recalled with a wry smile that the cheers for AJ at the venue were louder than his own and said, "I seriously thought I was in an away match. Please! This is Noah, here at The Budokan, in Japan...there were more cheers for him than there were for me. But that just goes to show how many people were looking forward to WWE and AJ Styles" Then, perhaps feeling the bitterness of defeat welling up in him, he said "AJ Styles, let me do it one more time...I will win next time".  

Translated from Tokyo Sports

Picture credit: Tokyo Sports