(NOAH): Post-match comments - Jun Akiyama & Kenta Kobashi

Weekly Pro 

5th September 2000 (Issue No.993)

JUN AKIYAMA

Q: Hashi, Morishima and Shiga also joined in? Did you talk to each other beforehand? 

AKIYAMA: In Morishima's case, he wanted to break through the wall somehow, so that's what he did. In Shiga's case, I think he's already at rock bottom, so I don't think there's any point in him staying there, and I think he should do it in order to impose even more responsibility on himself. On the other hand, there was no "team up with me" or anything like that, and I thought it would be better to move up to a place that would attract the most attention in order to move up, so I told him that and he agreed and did what he did.

Q: Takayama and Asako also came?

AKIYAMA: I'm not joining NO FEAR, so for now, let's leave NO FEAR as NO FEAR. If we leave it to the executives, I can't see much happening, so we'll do it ourselves. I don't know if the company is in a bind and can't do much, but we're going to get the people who can do it together. There was no particular teaming up, we just had the same ideas so we decided to do it.

Q: You've said before that you'll cut out anyone useless?

AKIYAMA: If I see something that doesn't look good, I will just discard them. It's not good enough to just try your best when fighting the opponent we did today. No matter what kind of match it is, you have to show something good, so I want them to take responsibility for their own actions. I'm not the one telling them what to do, though. 

Q: After the match, Kikuchi attacked you. 

AKIYAMA: I don't really care. I've been on the front line all this time, so I don't think I'll lose to someone who's been taking a break all this time, but this is not a question of whether I'll lose or not.      

KENTA KOBASHI

KOBASHI: I have no words. It's not that I can't find the words, I just don't have any.

Q: This has gone from an individual to a group? 

KOBASHI: There are still some parts of the situation that I don't fully understand. I was just asking the doctor about my knee and the treatment. I want to fix it....

Q: Its gotten worse again? 

KOBASHI: It's not that it gets worse, but rather that it just takes time.

Q: Shiga betrayed you? 

KOBASHI: If he himself has come to that conclusion, then he should follow through if that is the path he believes in. In return, the next time we meet in the ring, I'll be standing in the opposite corner, so prepare yourself.

Q: Are you seething with anger? 

KOBASHI: Well, just a little bit. That Shiga thing. Mentally, I was a little surprised. It was a shock that Morishima and others have done things like that. There have been some surprising things and shocking parts. Docile Morishima and others came. I don't know how they managed to do it, but we'll have to take them all down. That's the only way. Kikuchi-san didn't want to get involved in our fight, but now he's here. I don't know what's going to happen, but I think it'll be interesting to see what does. 

 

Notes

See the somewhat hostile article on Shiga for his being at "rock-bottom" by Weekly Pro from Noah's first show. 

Blurb notes

Kikuchi came to rescue Kobashi, who was left alone and without help. Kikuchi said it was to "help bring the situation under control". The crowd chanted for Kikuchi. Kikuchi later said "Kobashi has a partner in Rikioh, but I hope I can help him in some way", and that he just couldn't sit back and do nothing.  

Morishima said, "I took action to get to the top"

Morishima and Akiyama doing the "Fuck You" pose, "this was a strong self assertion to break out of the status quo"

Akiyama told the audience that, "I'll lead Noah, don't take your eyes off of me." Weekly Pro commented, "The Revolution has happened!"