NEW SUNRISE - 04/01
Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Michael Elgin
Michael Elgin in NOAH seemed something out of Elgin’s TEW game because who would’ve thought last year that he’d show up and be a well regarded wrestler and a possible big draw? No me. Anyway, here he in, against Katsuhiko Nakajima. Elgin on paper doesn’t seem like a good match but I think NOAH needs more clash of styles. Something more akin to Brian Cage having a tour and using his spotheavy focused offence to perfection. Elgin is more strike heavy but he does still bring that breakneck pace to it. Nakajima was his usual self. Starting out in his usual cocky manner, baiting Elgin in and then taking advantage of that and taking so much glee in that. The crowd get behind Elgin as he contrast Nakajima by adopting a rather plain face role. Helps that his offence is easy on the eye. His power moves are a sight to see in the world of NOAH where strikes and the name of the game. Exceptions are there, of course. The match was decent enough for its position on the show. It didn’t try to be great, we have to be thankful for that when Elgin is involved. It was a condensed match where they took turns beating on each other. ***1/4
GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match: Stinger (Atsushi Kotoge & Kotaro Suzuki) (c) vs. Kongoh (Hao & Nio)
NOAH has been a blip on my TV for nearly six months now so I see Kotoge is back as a Jr (which I know and like) but now he’s apart of Stinger. It’s a natural place given his rival with RATEL’s member Daisuke Harada. Hi69 changed his name to Nio along with the debuting Yuki Sato who’s now Hao. Kongoh is looking pretty strong from where I’m looking. This was the usual Jr Tag wrestling match. Heavy emphasis on fast tag wrestling with Kongoh leading the line with their tandem offence and Jr prowess against Stinger’s individualistic approach. The main portion of the match is Kotoge vs Nio and they did a fine job of working against each other - I can’t pretend it was the most engaging stretch of wrestling I’ve seen. I much preferred it when all four guys were in the ring. Nio went down too easily with little substantial offence as well. **3/4
GHC National Title Match: Takashi Sugiura (c) vs. Masa Kitamiya
Phew, what a disappointment this was. I usually love a Masa Kitamiya title challenge. He never wins and nor do you think he will but the effort is high and you can’t help but get behind his grit. Another thing I normally like about his title challenges is that you usually see something different with his brutish offence, mixed with the Prison Lock set ups. The should tackle block start was a good example of that, even if it outstayed its welcome after the first 10 attempts. But unlike his match against Nakajima and Kiyomiya, this was only half worked like that and half worked like a completely different match Kitamiya goes to town on the knee of Sugiura. Initially using the apron and then the guardrail. It wasn’t really effective though since Sugiura went back on offence shortly after and he didn’t really well the leg. Even when Kitaymiya went back to the leg, he didn’t sell it. Sugiura was fine but his portions of the match brought a big disjointed feel to the match. Not to suggest Sugiura himself was bad but it didn’t come together well at all. Kitamiya would work the leg on offence. Sugiura would ignore that and hit his usual suplexes and elbows - he should know better. The finishing stretch was poorly built before hand and I didn’t get invested one bit as a result. **
GHC Heavyweight Title Match: Kaito Kiyomiya (c) vs. Go Shiozaki
This was one of the most predictable matches you’ll ever see. Or is it? Sometimes wrestling can shock you in ways that you didn’t expect. Go Shiozaki winning the GHC Heavyweight title in 2020? It seemed destined for Kiyomiya to beat the person who helped mould him into a title contender and eventual champion. The one that took him under his wing when he was struggling to flourish post excursion. The implications are big enough but it seemed like a standard win for Kaito. You get the point, it’s a big shocking win. Go is kitted out in a fabulous new green jacket and blondish hair. He pulls it off much better than Kiyomiya does - both jacket and hair. Kiyomiya attacks the arm of Shiozaki in a basic but effective manner. Sinking on arm holds, tying the arm in the ropes and pulling, tearing away at the weak elbow joints. It leaves Shiozaki vulnerable given his offence mainly requires use of his arms and makes the Tiger Suplex easier to set up. Go’s selling was mostly pretty good. You can forgive a bit of no selling here and there if you’re not too nitpicky. His chops were on point but he still sells the pain afterwards. Go as a fighting from beneath babyface can vary from match to match, from person to person but the crowd is really behind him in the match and he is very fiery and animated in his facial expressions. His offence is super explosive as well, playing into the match well. Loved the back and forth struggle the closing stretch had. The crowd was super into it and they escalate their offence superbly well with strikes getting more stiffer with every blow. The match does a great job of savouring the respective finishers of both wrestlers. Shiozaki lands on his feet for the tiger suplex, Kiyomiya moves out of the way of the moonsault. Allowing for maximum effect when Go kicks out of a Tiger Driver and when Go hits the Moonsault for the finish. If there was one thing I didn’t like about the match, it was Kiyomiya doing the no-sell/fired up spot. It doesn’t suit him at all and he isn’t expressive enough to pull it off with enough gusto. Korakuen Hall is a great setting for the title switch though. The crowds match the wrestling in the ring and it makes for a great atmosphere. ***3/4
REBOOT - 05/01
GHC Tag Team Title Match: AXIZ (Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima) (c) vs. Masaaki Mochizuki & Naomichi Marufuji
A fun main event. Mochizuki working as the FIP was good with AXIZ seemingly having his number and cutting him off at every turn. His selling was good and the surprise win was extremely effective. AXIZ was good on top with their counters and double team moves. ***1/2
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