Pro Wrestling NOAH N-1 Victory August 17th 2024

Welcome back to more Pro Wrestling NOAH action and I swear I’m going to catch up for you all. We’ve got a very intimate crowd of like…400 people here in some small Tokyo convention center, but we got wrestling and we love wrestling so let’s get to it.

Alejandro vs. Junta Miyawaki

Background: No real heat here as this is just junior vs. junior. Alejandro is in the top babyface All Rebellion stable and Junta is debuting darker tights with a graffiti style so maybe he’s a heel now?

The Match: Standing switches and headlock/hammerlock reversals start us out A few gentle takeovers from Junta but both do some legsweeps and quick covers and it’s a stalemate. Dropkick forces Junta to bail but we get the feint dive from Alej and Junta comes back with his own dropkick and a springboard triangle plancha. Junta follows with an armwrench using the ropes and Miyawaki is definitely heeling it up a bit. More armwork in the ropes with Junta even getting a missile dropkick to the arm. More armwork follows until Alejandro finally reverses a whip and gets his feet up and lands a dropkick. Alejandro follows by using the ropes to assist a gamengiri and following with a slingshot splash. A diving clothesline gets a nearfall for Alejandro but the masked man runs into a tilt-a-whirl shoulderbreaker, running corner dropkick follows and Junta goes up and gets a missile dropkick for 2. Miyawaki gets a hammerlock DDT to keep on the arm and a Falcon Arrow keeps Junta on the aggression, kickout by Alejandro and Junta grabs an armbar next before Alejandro makes the ropes. Junta goes back to the arm when they both get up again but Alejandro gets a springboard reverse dropkick to get himself a breather and when Junta bails we finally get that dive. That gets 2 for the masked man, and a frog splash does the same. Muta Lock attempt by Junta is stymied and they fight over a victory roll and then a small package and then a sunset flip. Yoshi-Tonic by Alejandro leads to a back and forth fight over a pinning combo and then Junta finally gets his Muta Lock/Top Wristlock combo but time expires while Alejandro is in it.

**

15 minutes is just a long time for these guys to stretch out but the work was all solid with no real mistakes.

Tadasuke, Tavion Heights & YO-HEY vs. Kai Fujimura, Ryohei Oiwa & Yu Owada

Background: This is a bit of a random match but we at least have eternal friends Tadasuke and YO-HEY working with young buck Tavion, and the rookie squad of Kai, Owada, and Oiwa standing their ground.

The Match: Oiwa and Tavion start and just trade takedowns in an explosive fashion before tagging out and we get Kai and YO in the ring. Weirdly the juniors are slower as they go through headlock/headscissors routines and milk the heck out of them. They hit the regular stuff and Kai wins with a flip senton before we get Yu and Tadasuke. We get Yo showing off his athleticism with dropkicks and then they double-team Tadasuke. Kai takes the reigns and gets a missile dropkick and then Oiwa is back in. Wrist control from the New Japan man but YO-HEY breaks up a submission. Tadsuke is still our wolverine in peril and he finally gets the hot-tag with a DDT on Oiwa and in comes Tavion to throw clotheslines and bit suplexes. Tavion gets a dropkick and goes for the Doctor Bomb but Heights reverses into his own gutrwrench. Another attempt by the American and we get nothing as Ryohei reverses. That said, Kai’s crossbody is snatched b Tavion and slammed but the rookie side tries a double suplex, get foiled, and go for double-dropkick. Tavion catches one of them and slams the other as he’s a house a fire. The POUUUUUNCE sets up a Heights Bomb on Owada and that’s that.

**¼

Mostly a pretty lazy trios but that final flurry from Tavion was awesome.

Kenoh [8] vs. Alpha Wolf [2] – B Block Match

Background: So Kenoh has been on a super hot streak before being upset his last match, and now here is Alpha Wolf who won his first match and has lost every one since. Battle of the contrasts here as the VERY NOAH Kenoh with the big emotions and the strikes and all that is now going to face the very bombastic and spot-forward Alpha Wolf. Absolutely a sicko match and here we go.

The Match: We get a hot start with Wolf kicking Kenoh as he enters the ring and hitting a tope to follow. The luchador bites the fingers and whips Kenoh into the barricade to follow before coming back in with a quick cover and some more biting. The Mexican works the wrist and bites some more and it’s getting pretty good heat at least. Kenoh makes his comeback with the chest kick, legsweep, stomp to the back and flying knee combo and then Kenoh mixes in some cheating by going for the mask. Kenoh’s anklelock is quickly countered into a kneebar by Alpha though, and Kenoh goes for the mask again and in a funny spot Wolf bites it. Kenoh eventually breaks the kneebar by making the ropes. Wolf tries a German but Kenoh flips out of it, but the Mexican gets a high knee and lands the German for a 2 count. Wolf follows with a moonsault but he misses and Kenoh gets a quick kick to drop him. More kicks from Kenoh but Alpha makes his feet and responds with chops. Kenoh goes for the Pele but Wolf catches it and goes for his own anklelock. Kenoh makes the ropes and manages to block a followup charge by Wolf as the Mexican takes a monster backbody drop over the top rope and takes a nice spill over the barricade as Kenoh kicks his butt outside as well (making sure to check his foot between kicks). Wolf flies back into the ring and gets a desperation tope that looks pretty ugly as he’s definitely dialing down the crazy dives (especially in front of 400 people). They slug it out on apron, and Wolf wins with a headbutt and then does a safe but impressive looking diving clothesline/body press off the apron. More brawling on the outside and Kenoh lands the Pele kick…but when Kenoh tries to get back into the ring Wolf desperately tackles him and we get a double count out!

**¾

Kenoh being the right guy to nurture Wolf’s development as a heavyweight was the right call, and being able to mix in some high-flying/big spot stuff that doesn’t kill his opponents is wise. Nice finish too as Wolf knows he’s beat but he’ll take Kenoh down with him, fits his daredevil style.

Luis Mante [8] vs. Jack Morris [4]- A Block Match

Background: No real heat here but Mante is kind of an outsider heel and Jack is kind of a homegrown babyface. Luis is going to have the power edge, and Jack will have the speed and striking edge. Luis remains dressed as a romance novel cover model and Jack is in the bike shorts and has a kilt for the entrance.

The Match: Both guys preen and pose for the fans. They do some quick stuff (though not THAT quick, 400 people after all) and Jack gets a dropkick but can’t land the brainbuster. Tilt-a-whilr backbreaker by Mante and the Scot bails to the outside and they work the count. Jack finally crawls back in but eats another backbreaker and does some flailing around on the mat. Mante slams the Scot into the corner and does some boot assisted choking and then some uh, deliberate stomping. Fireman’s carry gutbuster follows and at least Morris is flopping like a fish for all this stuff even if Luis looks like he just did some Quaaludes. More kicky punchy from the Mexican and a hard whip into the corner follows. Boston Crab by the DragonGate guy has Jack screaming in agony more. Ropebreak and Jack slugs back, and when Mante flips over the ropes to evade a whip, Morris dropkicks him and lands a pretty decent tope. Nice segment there as they showed a bit of life. Second tope crushes the Mexican and Jack goes back in for a missile dropkick. Falcon Arrow by the Scot and he loads up the Tiger Driver but Mante counters with an ugly looking Eat Defeat and a much better big boot to follow. Tilt-a-whirl into an Argentine Rack drop but Morris kicks out at 2 and spams rollups until he gets caught with a brainbuster and we have a double-down. Mante gets going with a dropkick and a lariat that Jack flips around for. Vuelta Finale attempt by Mante is countered with a rana and then a Good Looking Knee and we get a second GLK for 2.8. Another charge is cut off by a tilt-a-whirl Tombstone by Mante and we get another Vuelta Finale attempt that Morris counters with an inside cradle for 3.

**¼

Well this is basically all Morris who sold his buns off to give this match any heat, he still doesn’t really sell the effects of his damage, but he at least flops around and screams in an entertaining fashion. Mante looked utterly bored out there and didn’t try at all, or if this is him trying, no thanks. Morris at least showed some good babyface fire here but overall mostly a snoozer with a few decent sequences.

AMAKUSA & HAYATA vs. Daga & Super Crazy

Background: Well AMAKUSA beat Daga for the junior title and the Mexican wants it back and ambushed him after getting another shot, HAYATA also wants the title but is playing nice for now and is going for tag-team gold with YO-HEY. Super Crazy is uh…here too.

The Match: AMAKUSA immediately attacks HAYATA (deservedly so!) and hits a flip dive and is fired up! That’s my champion. Daga hides behind Super Crazy who plays the…voice of reason and tells people to calm down so the match can start? Well I’ll be. Crazy tries to keep it slow with AMAKUSA but the champ takes him down with armdrags and gets a shot on Daga on the apron…who repays the favor and cuts him off when AMAKUSA climbs to the top and Crazy tosses the smaller man off and we get some double teams from the Mexicans and Daga breaks him down. AMAKUSA fires back against Super Crazy but Daga cuts him off again until we get a flying elbow by the champ to bring in HAYATA who gets his regular (inverted atomic drop, sliding kick) and now it’s Daga in trouble until Crazy catches HAYATA’s legs on a handspring and Daga kicks him in the face. More blatant cheating by the former Stinger (no idea if the stable is still around) members and we get Crazy’s flipping elbow drop before Daga comes in for more damage as he targets HAYATA”s repaired elbow. Crazy back in with a slam and some trash talk but HAYATA finally gets a dropkick and in comes AMAKUSA who foils the double teams and reverses a tilt-a-whirl something into a slick rollup on Daga. Daga catches a springboard into a backdrop driver though and gets the Diablo Wings for 3.

**¾

Maybe I’m just starved for effort, but this was a quality heeling tag-team versus good and acceptable babyfaces doing their thing. And they tried unlike Luis Mante.

Manabu Soya [6] vs. Ulka Sasaki [4] – B Block Match

Background: So we got power vs. skill as the veteran bruiser Soya takes on the rookie wrestler Ulka. No real history besides that as most of Ulka’s run has been when Manabu was out with elbow surgery. Obviously Ulka is the National champion as well and a win would line up Soya for a title shot down the road.

The Match: They go to the mat in what seems like a bad idea for Soya and indeed it doesn’t go well for the big guy. Soya unleashes some chops and that goes better but Ulka grabs a quick kneebar and Soya flies to the ropes. Ulka keeps Manabu grounded with kicks as he keeps working for an armbar and finally gets it and Soya gets the ropes and bails. Sasaki has dominated so far and Manabu works the count as he shakes his arm out and slowly gets back in. Ulka throws strikes and gets a stunner but he runs into a slam corner clothesline sets up a bulldog and a knee drop and Soya cranks out his usual comeback. A crab by Soya gets Sasaki for a while before he makes the ropes and Manabu keps on the back by throwing shots at Sasaki’s kidneys. Ulka goes for the rollups here with an inside cradle out of a brainbuster and then he rolls into a triangle but Soya is still too close to the ropes. Running cutter follows by Sasaki. Sleeper attempt is blocked though and Soya gets a brainbuster, but on a second attempt Ulka gets a guillotine choke. Soya powers out but Ulka immediately goes to the wrist again and when Soya gives up his back, we get a suplex but Manabu responds with a spear and we have a double-down. We get a slug fest with Soya throwing chops and Ulka kicking, but Soya goes to the headbutts and then gets a German suplex and a running short DDT on the champ. Fireman’s carry knee strike sets up Manabu’s lariat but Ulka catches it and gets another armbar attempt but Soya fights out and gets the lariat. A running lariat gets the win for Soya.

**½

Once again the inexperience and awkwardness of Ulka shines out. His selling is weird and his movement can be haphazard, I liked the contrast of this match but it just had too many awkward moments to call it good.

Kaito Kiyomiya [5] vs. Josh Briggs [6] – A Block Match

Background: Big ugly mean American guy versus honorable smaller Japanese guy. Pretty basic setup here and lets see if Josh really has the sauce.

The Match: We get the classic big vs. little start with Briggs going for a lumbering lockup and Kaito ducking out of it. Josh gets headlocked but he just picks up Kaito and tosses him outside which fires up the champ. Kaito goes back in and tries to go quick but he eats a big jumping clothesline from the American and then we get the release sidewalk slam and the jumping frog splash. A hard whip has Kaito reeling as he bounces off the turnbuckle. Kaito gets a few low dropkicks on Josh’s legs to soften them up. Kaito works over the legs in the ropes with more dropkicks and Josh is limping. Dragon screw by Kiyomiya follows! More work on the leg as Kaito cranks on a simple kneebar. Josh eventually makes his feet and gets a backdrop driver out of a Kaito floatover attempt and Kaito bounces out of the ring. Baseball slide by Briggs knocks Kaito down again and Josh beats Kaito up outside. Props to Josh for limping throughout the beating and stretching his leg out in the dead periods. Back in and Josh lays out Kaito with a forearm and talks trash, but in a more general fashion and not the try-hard excessive swearing fashion, which I appreciate. Kaito blocks the next forearm and builds up speed for a crossbody, another low dropkick, and then takes the Flair flip to set up a missile dropkick and a kip-up for good measure as he’s feeling it. Josh rolls outside and Kaito gets the Ultra Tiger Drop and rolls the American back in but Josh gets a desperation Bossman Slam and clubbers away. Chokeslam into the corner and a Yakuza kick have Josh looking pretty good but Kaito dodges a second kick, hanging Briggs on the ropes and we get another dropkick to the knee and then a dragonscrew. Kaito goes up and we have some clipping (?!) but I assume he hits a missile dropkick to Josh’s knee and then gets the figure four cause that’s where we’re rejoined on. Josh eventually uses his long arms to make the ropes but he’s barely mobile and Kaito is fired up and goes back to the leg but gets shoved off, another dropkick, this time to the back of the leg sets up a Tiger Suplex for Kaito but Josh kicks out at 2.8. The shining wizard is blocked and we get the chokebomb for 2.9. Crowd is HOT for Kaito here and Josh smells blood. And we get the Josh Moonsault (!!!) but that’s only 2.9. Frankensteiner by Kaito for 2.8 but Josh is up and boots Kaito’s head off and calls for the lariat…but Kaito blocks it! A second one is countered with a Kaito knee, but Josh recovers and gets a pseudo-rainmaker for 2.9. Another chokebomb attempt but Kaito counters with the knee! Springboard knee out of the corner and the transformed Shining Wizard finishes.

***½

Very, very good smaller champion versus big invader heel match. Fun stuff and Briggs is a lot better when he’s not constantly swearing and is just a mean big guy, dialing it back is the best way to go.

Overall not a fantastic show but it was 2 hours and it flew by. Here are the rankings as of this show.

A Block:
Luis: 8
Kaito: 7
Dragon: 6
Jack: 6
Josh: 6
Oiwa: 5
Masa: 4
Atsushi: 0

B Block:
Kenoh: 9
Manabu: 8
Titus: 6
Tavion: 6
Yoshiki: 6
Ulka: 4
Alpha: 3
Wagner: 2