NOAH The New Year 2022 - 01/01/2022
GHC National Title Match: Kenoh (c) vs. Kaito Kiyomiya
No matter how little I watch NOAH, I can always get behind these two in a match regardless of story. I think many expected Kiyomiya to win this and potentially face Mutoh, linking into that feud but the result makes sense to me. Kiyomiya is the likely pin eater in the upcoming tag team match on the 8th (Okada/Tanahashi vs Kiyomiya/Mutoh) and him being champion would make that a more damaging result than it already will be. This was typical between the two. Solid grappling to start off the match. Kiyomiya worked Kenoh’s arm, via the chicken wing, before Kenoh started throwing kicks before going to the closing stretch. The nearfalls were really well done although repetitive with the Tiger and Dragon suplex variations. I dug the finish though, with the round house kick that KOd’ Kiyomiya. ***3/4
GHC Heavyweight Title Match: Katsuhiko Nakajima (c) vs. Go Shiozaki
This was a good result for Nakajima to firmly establish his GHC Heavyweight title reign. In the Nippon Budokan of all places, too. The history was there, the chemistry, despite not always having the greatest matches, such as their last singles match, and the moment was there. Using all of that made for quite the main event. The teasing of the suplex of the rampway was excellent with the tension and struggle, plus the eventual payoff to it. They utilised the chops and kick exchanges very well to create a compelling back and forth struggle. The match faltered at the end. I can’t decide whether they ended the match too early or too late. The peak of the match didn’t match the finishing stretch and that empathetic ending didn’t happen. Nevertheless this was a borderline great match. I’m happy to see Go back in good health. ***3/4
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