(NOAH) The day the cross was taken down
4th December 2024 (No. 2329)
"I heard him say, "You've worked really hard for so long". Akitoshi makes a tearful entrance carrying Misawa's gown.
Akitoshi Saito's life changed on June 13th 2009, when he became Mitsuharu Misawa's final opponent. That day, after spending the night with Misawa's body at a hospital in Hiroshima, the first thoughts that crossed his mind as he stood by the river on his way to the hotel, were retirement or suicide. However, if he disappeared from the ring, there would be no one to vent feelings to, so Saito chose to accept come what may. He decided to show how he lived in the ring, always carrying the heavy cross of being Misawa's final opponent. At times he was subjected to cruel slander, but he faced even that head on. His contract as an exclusive wrestler with Noah, expired at the end of 2011, but he continued to carry the message that "Noah is in my heart", and after a singles match with Naomichi Marufuji on June 13th 2014*, he was asked to rejoin the company. Since then, Noah has weathered many rough seas, and even though there have been many farewells to his teammates, Akitoshi has always been a member of the promotion, and has continued to bear the cross of being Misawa's final opponent. He announced his retirement immediately after losing to Go Shiozaki in July of this year.
The man he chose to carry out his execution, was Marufuji.
In October 2000, they stood opposite each other in Akitoshi's first Noah match, which coincidentally took place at the same venue as his retirement match, Dolphins Arena (formerly the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium). More than anything, it's the fact that "I feel he carries Misawa". At the press conference three days before the match, Akitoshi said, "This is the last day I can fight Misawa through Marufuji". Hearing this, Marufuji understood his feelings and said, "For the first and last time, I want to fight Saito with Misawa with me. That's why it's two against one. It's the image of Misawa & Marufuji vs Akitoshi Saito".
Holding a large flag with messages from fans printed on it, and Misawa's gown in one hand, Akitoshi heads to the ring for his retirement match. He is already overcome with emotion as he walks down the ramp. Marufuji was desperately trying to hold himself back, but his eyes were moist.
Akitoshi showed such a powerful fight that it was surprising that he was retiring. He performed the Iron Claw Slam, which had been the signature move of his close friend Bison Smith, who had been his partner in Misawa's final match. Then immediately after overcoming Marufuji's Emerald Flowsion, he 
hit a backdrop. Of course there was damage, but Marufuji quickly got up and seemed to accomplish what Misawa had wanted to do but couldn't on June 13, 2009, when he sank Akitoshi with an elbow combo. Before the match, Marufuji said, "I thought it would be nice to one day put the cross down, and I thought that it would be in the Noah ring." Naturally, Akitoshi will continue to carry that burden, even after he retires from active duty. However, with this retirement match, it felt as if the clock that had stopped since June 13th 2009, had quietly started to move again.
After the match, Akitoshi, along with the wrestlers, the staff, and the fans, expressed his gratitude to Misawa, Kuniaki Kobayashi*, Masashi Aoyagi* and Bison Smith*, saying "To those in heaven, I'd like to thank my grand seniors, my karate master, my blue eyed comrade, and also Misawa-san, Kuniaki Kobayashi-san, Masashi Aoyagi-san, and Bison-san". He also spoke of his expectations for the main event, saying, "I'm going to retire, and become a Noah fan, but the first thing I'll see is the GHC, isn't that great?". He continued, "Many people tell me, "Thank you for your hard work", and I'm truly grateful for that, but I'm still a professional wrestler until the time I step down from the ring. So a pro wrestler is someone who doesn't lose face, doesn't fall down, and doesn't get tired! My life on the ark, my heart, a single cloud on the moon shining in the night sky". He recited his farewell poem in the ring as a professional wrestler.
Akitoshi Saito, who had been carrying this cross for such a long time, stepped out of the ring on his own two feet and bought the curtain down on his lonely battle.
Translated from Weekly Pro
Picture credit: Weekly Pro
Notes
June 13th 2014: This took place in Hiroshima, and ended with both of them in tears. I think the experience was too traumatic, and Noah have not held a Misawa Memorial Show in Hiroshima since.
Kuniaki Kobayashi: See Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuniaki_Kobayashi
Masashi Aoyagi: See Wikipedia article https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masashi_Aoyagi
Bison Smith: Wrestled in Noah in the "Golden Era", and teamed often with Saito, who termed him "The Blue Eyed Samurai". He was Saito's partner on that night in Hiroshima in 2009. Sadly, he passed away suddenly in November 2011. Noah still mark his passing.
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