Jake Lee entered NOAH on 1st January 2023 an outsider, entering in the same costume and to the same entrance theme he used just weeks before in AJPW. Those elements haven’t changed but Jake’s hands (or at least his gloves) are now, quite literally, dyed the same green as the company whose highest belt he now holds.
AMAKUSA is a genius. In a matter of months he has overcome being cast as NOAH’s perennial loser, won (and lost) the GHC Junior Heavyweight championship and managed to turn denial of his past identities into a t-shirt slogan. Just in case you’re at all uncertain of my position I’ll say it again – AMAKUSA is a genius.
After reaching a level of prominence deeming him undeniable in NOAH, the winds of change would take Kenoh beyond the ark itself. Through opposing bigger names and brands, while continuing on “internal” growth through more familiar opposition, Kenoh would go on a path to become the protagonist of pro wrestling, getting his promotion, his unit onto the biggest stage.
In Pro Wrestling, like in other mediums, part of the key to success is not going unnoticed. Making our presence felt in some way. There is one wrestler out there, vowing to change the hierarchy for years, now taking this statement to a whole other level.
he singles match with Okada has the potential to reveal a matured, post-Mutoh Kaito or, yet again, could define Kaito by who and what he is not.
Okada is now adept at overcoming interruption. Each apparent step back in his journey has later provided an opportunity – first the creation of a rival, then the adoption of a mentor, then the resilience to craft a narrative outside of NOAH’s main stage and finally, a story that may surpass them all.
Loss and losing is an essential part of wrestling. It’s part of compelling struggles retold a thousand different ways. Even our favourites need to lose. After all, who doesn’t love a redemption arc?
When Harada walked into the arena, he was facing an opponent who could barely acknowledge the ties between them, who repeatedly denied their connection as rivals or as partners. But by the end of this match, something important shifted.
Nakajima Katsuhiko betrayed Shiozaki Go on the 30th August 2020 in front of a small and shocked crowd, ending their partnership as Axiz and seemingly aligning with Kongo. Between the moment of betrayal and meeting as opponents competing for Shiozaki’s GHC heavyweight belt in November, they faced each other seven times.
In 2021, NOAH’s Harada Daisuke is cheerful, enthusiastic and open. But things weren’t always this way…
