Tag: Rivals
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The Budokan Rebellion: a play of light and shadow
The Budokan Rebellion is more than the destruction of one man and the elevation of another. It is the culmination of and synthesis of two parallel visions and the creation of a rivalry that has the potential to shape NOAH’s future.
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Flight of the Eagle: Yuuto Kikuchi
The story of those six months between Kikuchi’s first foray into the NOAH ring and the confirmation of his place within it is one of friendship, betrayal, jealousy, and ambition. This is the story of how Yuuto Kikuchi became the Black Eagle.
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“I fucking hate Shingo Takagi” – the story of the eternal rivalry of Dragon Gate’s first trueborns
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The rivalry of BxB Hulk and Shingo Takagi spanned over a decade and, as Dragongate’s first ‘trueborn’ wrestlers, is a core part of the company’s history.
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A Midwinter Night’s Dream
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The coin drops, much to everyone’s surprise and delight, including Kenny who is shocked at hearing the theme of his greatest rival. The same man he had those historic, boundary pushing matches against, every single one of which was incredibly taxing and probably took years off of both their careers. The matches most people laud…
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The Weight of Legacy – ISHIN vs Mochizuki Junior
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In perhaps no other storytelling medium is legacy as important as it is in wrestling. There are no different installments or clear breaks in continuity. The beginning and end of a character’s journey are marked by the abilities and limitations of a real person’s body as they grow, age and get injured. Having someone new…
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Kenoh. The protagonist of Pro-Wrestling. Part Two.
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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…
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Kenoh. The protagonist of Pro-Wrestling. Part One.
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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.
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The Ace, The Wrestler, and Second Chances
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For Katsuyori Shibata, his departure and then return to New Japan Pro Wrestling in late 2012 was rooted in several years of genuine animosity. This provided the groundwork for an eventual feud with company Ace, Hiroshi Tanahashi. One centered around Shibata’s second chance. Now in a vastly different landscape, this second chance would ultimately have…
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Clearing the Rainy Skies-II, the Endless Waltz
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While the Wrestle Kingdom match between them was about control, not just over each other but also the company as a whole, their Dominion match is about pain, punishment, and at times the teasing denial of it.
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“Don’t say rivals”: The match that marked the beginning and end of a rival story.
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.