Pro Wrestling Noah Holds First Major Event in Osaka in Two Years - Yoshiki Inamura Discusses the Osaka Event and the Current Appeal of Noah!
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Pro Wrestling Noah will hold "HaRENO Presents SUMMER EPIC 2026" at Intex Osaka on Saturday, July 18th. Marking the promotion's first major event in Osaka in two years, the card features a singles match between Yoshiki Inamura and Kazuyuki Fujita. We spoke with Inamura about the current appeal of Pro Wrestling Noah, the highlights of the singles match between Tetsuya Naito and Kaito Kiyomiya (which had already been announced at the time of the interview), and his own future goals.
Q: Pro Wrestling Noah boasts a diverse roster of wrestlers; what do you consider to be the current appeal of the promotion?
INAMURA: I think if you come to a Noah event, you can see a bit of everything. You have someone like OZAWA, who’s practically a genetic anomaly; then there’s 'Mr. Kiyomiya' —a powerhouse who carries on the legacy of founder Mitsuharu Misawa, incorporates the DNA of Keiji Muto, and has honed a rock-solid wrestling style under the tutelage of Yoshinari Ogawa. With such a diverse array of talent, the real appeal of Pro Wrestling Noah is that, no matter what kind of pro wrestling you’re looking for, you’re guaranteed to find it here.
Q: Many wrestlers who have made their mark in other promotions—like Karl Anderson—are participating as well.
INAMURA: That’s right. The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows) are prime examples, as are Naito and BUSHI; I think Noah's Lately, there have been some voices suggesting we’re just riding Naito’s coattails, but the fact is that 'Mr. Naito' chose Noah to compete here, and he’s drawing people to watch the promotion who otherwise might not have. I don’t see that as a negative at all. I believe Pro Wrestling Noah is a promotion that offers something for everyone to enjoy, so if there’s even just one hook that gets someone to come watch a match, that’s a great thing."
Q: Hopefully, this Osaka event will serve as a springboard. As of this interview, a singles match between Naito and Kiyomiya has been announced for the Osaka event. Could you tell us what to look out for in this matchup?
INAMURA: I fought Mr. Kiyomiya in Sendai with the title on the line, and I won to retain it. Looking at the pro-wrestling world today, there are very few—or perhaps virtually no—wrestlers who possess such solid technical skills at that age. That’s why I think facing someone like Tetsuya Naito—who is known as a 'charismatic' figure—will allow the public to see the high level of Mr. Kiyomiya’s wrestling ability. I want him to fully unleash that talent and come out on top. He might not realize it himself, but I consider Mr. Kiyomiya a genius. It’s a clash between a genius and a charismatic star—though I suppose the generational gap isn't actually that wide—and I really want people to pay attention to this battle between two modern-day wrestling icons."
INAMURA: Right. He’s a total fighter, isn't he? You might think his style is a bit understated when facing someone like OZAWA—who relies on high-flying aerial maneuvers—but he *has* won "Best Bout" honors. Of course, that was a match *with* Mr. Kiyomiya; it wasn't just OZAWA winning it on his own. Every time I face Mr. Kiyomiya, I’m reminded of how fascinating pro-wrestling is. He has this bottomless depth—an endless arsenal of moves and a profound range of ability. I’d love for new fans to see that greatness, and I’d be happy to see him rise to the top. I might sound a bit arrogant talking like this after just one win, but hey, I *did* win the last singles match we had (laughs). Facing Mr. Kiyomiya is genuinely fun—whether one of us holds a title or not, or even in a non-title singles match—so I’d definitely love to do it again.
Q: That’s certainly something to look forward to! So, once again, please tell us your mindset heading into the Osaka event.
INAMURA: Settling the score with Mr. Fujita right there in Osaka is definitely one of my goals. If that wish comes true, I’ll be able to put on a truly spectacular show for the Osaka fans—and create a match that makes people all over Japan and the world want to tune in to the Intex Osaka event. As the self-proclaimed captain, I’m going to lead the charge for this Osaka show, so please keep your eyes on me.
Q: In a sense, Osaka is a place where you have a history with Fujita, isn't it?
INAMURA: That’s right. I love Osaka, but I just haven't been able to get any results in any of my matches there—ironically enough. There was the match against Josh (Briggs), and I’m pretty sure I lost to Mr. Fujita in a tag match there at least once, too. I’ve taken some massive powerbombs there, and I think it was also in Osaka where I lost to a lariat from Mr. Kojima and ended up slicing off about a third of my tongue. Since I haven't had much luck there and have suffered some pretty painful experiences, I really want this time to be a positive turning point.
Q: We’re looking forward to it! Is there a particular aspect of your performance—a "check this out!" point—that you want fans to focus on?
INAMURA: I really want people to see the sheer impact and the convincing power of the DIS CHARGE. The body press is a move used by many wrestlers; some execute beautiful rotations, others spin rapidly, and OZAWA’s Phoenix Splash is magnificent. However, when you consider how utilizing the rebound off the ropes and maintaining perfect form in mid-air amplifies the impact, I take pride in believing that my body press ranks number one in terms of sheer persuasiveness. That’s an aspect I’d love for people to notice. The same goes for the *Musou*; I’m a firm believer that "simple is best" when it comes to pro-wrestling moves. If someone asks, "What kind of move is the *Musou*?" the only way to describe it is lifting your opponent high and dropping them. But it’s a move that originated with Takeshi Rikio, and it carries incredible impact—I hope people check that out, too. Also, it makes me happy when people tell me, "Watching your match made me happy." I want my matches to bring happiness to people, and I want them to experience everything I have to offer.
Q: Did you ask Rikio-san for permission to use the Musou?
INAMURA: Yes. I think the first time I used it was at the Yoyogi No. 2 Gymnasium event, right? I actually executed it during a match when I thought, 'Now's the time!' and *then* contacted Rikio-san afterward (laughs). When I got through to him and said, 'I went ahead and used it,' he told me, 'I saw the footage, and you did it really well. Please, feel free to keep using it.' So, I thanked him and have continued to use it ever since."
Q: It’s great to see that legacy being properly carried on!
INAMURA: Pro Wrestling Noah currently champions a style known as 'Neo High-Standard Wrestling,' but I believe traditional elements are also essential, so I aim to be a wrestler who carries on that legacy. I’m not as big as Rikio-san, but since no other big wrestlers were using the 'Musou', I felt that such a magnificent technique absolutely shouldn't be allowed to disappear, so I decided to adopt it myself. In terms of carrying on a legacy, I think Daiki Odajima is a huge presence. He’s a protégé of Tamon Honda—he learned wrestling at Honda’s school and employs many of Honda’s signature moves. Since Honda was an Olympic wrestler, those moves require genuine technical skill to pull off; Odajima competed in the Junior Olympics, so even though he’s small in stature, he has the necessary technique to carry on Honda’s legacy. You have incredible, one-of-a-kind talents like OZAWA—who’s like a genetic anomaly—alongside guys like Odajima and myself who cherish traditional styles; it makes for a really entertaining mix. I’d love for long-time fans to come back and see us again after all this time.
INAMURA: Right - I think you’ll hear people saying things like, 'Wow, Marufuji is still active!' or 'Sugiura is still amazing!' Whether it’s 'Mr. Marufuji' or 'Mr. Sugiura,' having wrestlers who have been active since Noah's early days is a huge blessing for us younger guys. It’s truly great to have seniors like that around—though, honestly, they’re still *too* full of energy! (Laughs)"
Q: Fujita-san is full of energy too, isn't he?
INAMURA: He’s fifty-five years old—how is he so energetic? He’s huge, too; it’s mind-boggling. Guys like Mr. Sugiura—seeing so many people who stay full of energy even past 50 gives me hope. It makes me realize I need to put in that kind of effort myself, so I’m really grateful for that.
Q: By the way, would you consider yourself to be a young wrestler?
INAMURA: I suppose I’d still be considered a 'young' wrestler? Yone-san (Mohammed Yone) used to say you're still a youngster until your 20th year in the business (laughs). The pro-wrestling world is full of monsters who maintain incredible physical condition despite putting their bodies through such brutal punishment.
Q: Seeing those superhumans going at it fiercely in the ring creates a truly extraordinary atmosphere, doesn't it?
INAMURA: It truly does, and that's exactly what I want people to come and enjoy. Even though we’re human just like everyone else, there’s a sense of the extraordinary—I think that’s the beauty of pro-wrestling.
Q: Finally, could you tell us about your future goals?
INAMURA: This is a goal for me personally, but also one I hope will benefit Noah as a whole: given my extensive experience outside the promotion, I want to forge stronger connections with the rest of the world. The title we hold as the pinnacle—the Global Honored Crown—is truly a belt of global significance. To live up to that name and make it the number one title on the global stage, we need to venture out into the world and elevate its value. I want to lead that charge as captain, charting new courses to various destinations. To do that, I have to face formidable opponents, win, and reclaim the title so that I can truly earn the title of "Captain." Right now, it’s just a self-proclaimed title, so I need to win it back. That’s why—with a global focus—one of my goals is to become the kind of wrestler whom promoters around the world want to bring in.
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