(NOAH): Asasko and Kakihara make their comeback at the launch. Now, let's let off some steam!

Weekly Pro

22nd August 2000 (Issue 991)

 When a new promotion is launched, one of the great things to look forward to is the change in the appearance of each individual athlete. In this respect, NO FEAR, was probably ahead of the pack.

As the entrance theme began, the crowd erupted in calls of "NO FEAR", and the three of them appeared on the runway wearing pure white costumes! This was the complete opposite of the black they had been wearing up until that point, and it was a spectacular display that captured the attention of the audience. The other team is Ogawa's. Ikeda*, who portrays the main character in his favorite "Beserk", holding an oversized sword, while Ogawa walks along the runway, talking with fans. The costumes were basically the same as before, but their simplicity contrasted strongly with NO FEAR, who had changed to a single color, white. 

 Kakihara in particular was not wearing a T-shirt, and looked very casual. His yellow leggings had the three letters "UWF" on them, just like before. However, the gloves on both hands were different from usual, and this decision had a great meaning. His attacks consisted of punches and kicks, and he doesn't pause, instead pounding on his opponent until he falls. Just like his simple entrance, his fighting style is stripped of all unnecessary elements, and is focused on striking. This was clearly not professional wrestling, and Kakihara's fight seemed to be a return to his roots as a wrestler. In the ring for the inaugural show, where everyone was expecting some kind of change, the sight of him continuing to shower down punches in the same yellow costume was quite different. But that is Kakihara's own style, and it is the style he will carry on in Noah from now on*. "I haven't participated in any matches, but I've been through some tough training. I wanted to show that I had put in some hard work, and the only way I could do that was with gloves. I didn't get any results from my training, but I think my punches will get better and better."

 Although it seemed as if Kakihara had changed, in reality he had undergone a dramatic transformation. He left Untouchables* and chose to fight alone, without belonging to any group in particular. "You can do it without teaming up with anyone. Just aim high. That's it." However, his resolution to "not team up with anyone" was too strong, and from the perspective of his tag partner*, Kakihara's disregard for

teamwork was nothing but selfishness. In fact, there was a lot of tension between him and Ogawa, and it was possible that he had ruined the tag match. Although this was prevented at the last moment, Ogawa's frustration was palpable. Noah is somewhere to do what you want, and Misawa responded to Kakihara's actions by saying, "If you have something you want to do, you are responsible". As Kakikhara has now embarked on a fight that he will take full responsibility for, I was looking forward to his next fight to see the extent of his resolve, but his name was removed from the card the next day. The reason given was said to be poor health*...  

      

Notes

Ikeda: Daisuke (left Noah in 2004, and bounced around the indies for a while. Last I heard, he was running a onsen).

Beserk: Manga set in a fantasy medieval period 

"Carry on in Noah from now on": No. He won't. 

Untouchables: To make this even more awkward, this had been the group of Mitsuharu Misawa & Yoshinari Ogawa.

Tag partner: Unfortunately for Kakihara, this was Ogawa, who was one of the most senior people on the roster. Beating up on Omori was one thing, but being disrespectful to your senior was quite another.  

Ill health: The truth was that Kakihara was having stresses in his private life, due to his father, and the unfortunate Omori was used as a valve to let off steam. Joe Higuchi encouraged Kakihara to make amends, but unfortunately a lot of the Noah roster did not want to talk to him, and hung up on him when he tried. Kakihara later expressed remorse for his behavior, reflecting that this was not the way a responsible member of society should act. 

Blurb notes

*Ogawa and Kakihara seemed to be akward with each other during the middle of the match. In the corner, Ogawa said something to Kakihara, but he did not respond. Even when Ogawa and Daisuke Ikeda worked together, Kakihara never joined them. Kakihara also left as soon as the match was over.  

*"Even though it was a tag match, it was as if he (Kakihara) was fighting alone". He had also landed "a powerful punch" on his opponents other than Omori. 

*Backstage, Omori complained to Misawa, saying that the rules should be made more clear, isn't wearing combat gloves a foul? Kakihara (when he overheard Omori talking to Misawa) said "Shut up! Those guys, No Fear, are really all talk. You all saw it and thought, No Fear is all talk."

*Asako had returned from injury, Weekly Pro noted approvingly that he hadn't missed a beat. 

*"Takayama takes issue with the inaugural match, "Misawa and the others are running away from fighting us"

Picture credits: Weekly Pro