(NOAH) Noah has Tamon Honda! The WEW Tag Team Championship changes hands. Marufuji wins a title for the first time in his third year since his debut.

Weekly Pro 7th November 2000

(Issue No. 1002)

The hastily formed team of Honda and Marufuji won the first title match held in Noah.

Their victory should be described not so much as the result of teamwork, but rather as the outcome of each individual pouring their desire to win into the effort. 

In his third year since his debut, Marufuji needed a championship belt to take the next step and expand his horizons. Gaining experience through many matches is crucial for expanding one's potential. Marufuji was driven by a fierce desire to win this particular bout; victory meant becoming the champion, which would secure his spot in a title defense match at the FMW Korakuen Hall event.

His partner, Honda, was staking something on this match, although in a different sense than Marufuji.

Honda returned to action from a knee injury just in time for the series opener on October 7; his first match came about two months later than that of the other competitors. 

Honda wanted to make up for lost time as quickly as possible, but reality wasn't so kind. Although he had returned, he was still wrestling in the preliminary matches every day, and he was far from being fully recovered. Entering this title match under these circumstances represented a major opportunity for Honda to make his presence felt, and, at the same time, the perfect chance to confirm his own complete comeback. That is precisely why he was overflowing with the desire to win.

Marufuji wanted to win to pave the way for new opportunities, while Honda wanted to win to demonstrate his full comeback. These respective motivations worked powerfully to their advantage.

Honda praised Marufuji for stepping up and fighting hard on his behalf while he was not at full physical strength, saying, "We were saved because Marufuji was in such good form; he really gave it his all." For his part, Marufuji acknowledged Honda's immense importance, remarking, "To return the sentiment, I was constantly relying on Honda-san."

A bond of trust had formed unconsciously.

It seems that the hastily assembled team’s capture of the title was no mere coincidence, but an inevitability.

The biggest takeaway from this match is the return to form of Tamon Honda.

While most wrestlers in Noah have updated their costumes and entrance themes, Honda has made no major changes to either; the only eye-catching detail is his footwear, as in the spirit of returning to basics, Honda began wearing amateur wrestling boots. 

Since his return, Honda has been using a lot of amateur wrestling techniques, both in a return to his roots, and because they are the moves that he is most familiar with. However, on this day, he not only showcased the delicate movements of amateur wrestling, but also actively displayed the powerful moves of a professional wrestler. 

His double-leg takedowns and front chokes after counter-attacks are typical amateur wrestling moves. His rough characteristic style, like the one-legged shoulder throw and the Tamon's Powered, has also been revived. Finally, he pulled out the Dead End, which he showed for the first time since his return. The impact of the single blow, which forcefully pulled Kanemaru out of the ground, was tremendous. 

Finally, the powerful Tamon Honda has returned to the Noah mat. 

Moreover, the current Honda is not just rough and powerful; having re-examined his roots after his injury, he now also possesses the delicate movements of wrestling. 

His powerful and unparalleled, Dead End, unleased after a long absence, was a strike that powerfully reinforced the idea that Tamon Honda is a force to be reckoned with in Noah.