Pro Wrestling NOAH N-1 Victory August 18th 2024

We got about 400 people in Sendai here as the N-1 is creeping to a close. Sorry about the delays but y’know, I got a job and I follow other promotions but we’re going to finish strong regardless!

Jack Morris & Super Crazy vs. All Rebellion (Alejandro & Kenoh)

Background: No real heat in particular over Jack and Kenoh having had scuffles in the past, just sort of a “get the N-1 guys on the card even though their regular matches were canceled due to injuries” deal.

The Match: Kenoh and Morris start and they preen and pose (okay mostly Kenoh preens and poses). International and a shoulderblock won by Jack and Morris preens and then we get some rollups and reversals before Kenoh gets a kick and does his own flexing …and Kenoh kinda has some guns going on. Alejandro comes in and also flexes, and then Super Crazy comes in and he…does not flex. Coward. Alejandro flips around a bit while Crazy mugs at the camera in disbelief and then they do a lucha sequence with armdrags and Crazy rolls to the outside but the veteran evades a dive and laughs about it. Jack gets some cheapshots and its back inside where Crazy gets a rolling surfboard Jack in to do some hard whips on Alejandro and do pushups in-between. Super is back in with a whacky lucha submission and Morris is back and man this is a brutal butt whooping on the fake Mexican (yes Alejandro is Japanese but he wears a mask and does lucha). Delayed brainbuster is slipped out of and Alejandro evades the Tiger Driver next and after an enzuigiri brings in Kenoh to kick everybody. We get the slam, knee drop and kick but Jack gets a Falcon Arrow and tunes up the band, Kenoh ducks, gets a German that Morris flips out of, then we get a pele kick and then the Good Looking Knee before a double down loads up a Super Crazy hot-tag who wipes everybody out. But we get a Kenoh anklelock and then it’s all falling apart. Alejandro gets a somersault plancha on Morris and Kenoh isolates on Crazy with a PK and then the Kenoh Special gets the tap.

**¼

Look these guys were not exactly dialed in but even lazy Kenoh is good enough, plus Crazy has charisma and Jack has…something that I’m not totally sure about. Alejandro also just took a beating and that’s fine.

Hajime Ohara vs. AMAKUSA vs. Daga

Background: So AMAKUSA is the junior champ, Daga is the no. 1 contender, and Ohara is…available. Zero points for guessing who eats the pin here.

The Match: Daga and AMAKUSA stare each other down and shove while Ohara is like “yo, I’m here too.” And Daga punches him for that, hahahaha. The two important people trade hammerlocks and headlocks and do their technical stuff before Ohara joins the fray with…a headlock. Three person international into a triple dropkick whiff. Ohara gets tossed and Daga goes NUTS on AMAKUSA, stomping him out in the corner and going frantic as he sells his anger and desperation. AMAKUSA eventually evades and does his high-flying routine but Ohara breaks up the party and chokes AMAKUSA in the ropes as he’s heeling it up. Methodical holds wear down the champ before Daga pops in to relentlessly stomp on AMAKUSA but Ohara chops down Daga and goes for more power stuff and spams the backbreakers and poses a bit. Pretty athletic sequence with Daga and Ohara and the Mexican gets an eyepoke into a DDT (beautiful) before AMAKUSA breaks it up. Daga and him do a sequence that ends with AMAKUSA being suplexed onto Ohara and then Daga gets a double crab. Ropebreak and some more contrived triple team spots but we get AMAKUSA tope-ing everybody (though not the upside down version) and the twisting senton gets 3 on Ohara.

**

Look, triple threats just mostly suck, but they had fun spots.

Titus Alexander [6] vs. Ulka Sasaki [4] – B Block Match

Background: No real heat, Titus is a high-flying ‘movez’ American 23 year old, and Ulka is a MMA crossover ‘rookie’ who is in his mid-30s. They do feel vaguely on the same level though despite Ulka’s title and Titus could be a guy to beat Sasaki down the line.

The Match: Lockup and Titus wins and gives the clean break. Wrist-control by Titus and some fancy athletics sets up a dropkick and Ulka bails but eats a tope from the American. Back in and Ulka ducks a top rope move and it’s back to shoulderblocks in an odd order of moves but Ulka evades a leapfrog and cranks in an anklelock but Titus makes the ropes. Ulka uses those same ropes to crank on the knee regardless. Titus collapses outside and Ulka follows with kicks and knees before tossing the American back in. Titus reverses a whip and limps into a float-over and painfully climbs the ropes to hit a crossbody, then the rolling back double-kick and a death valley neckbreaker. He remembers to clutch his knee again at the end and limps up. Weird sequence as Titus is trying to sell but also doesn’t really know what offense to hit so we get a kick and some stalling, so Ulka takes over with feints into chokes and then a flurry of strikes before TItus catches the cutter attempt but Sasaki gets his jump kick anyway for a nearfall. Titus kips up (?) to hit a hook kick but Sasaki reverses a brainbuster into a Jackhammer…but Titus reverses a backdrop driver attempt with a backflip and then he gets a dropkick and a brainbuster as his knee is fine now. Titus loads up the big jumping knee but Ulka dodges and rolls him up…and gets a sick shining wizard set up transitioned into a triangle choke. The Californian tries to counter with a powerbomb but Ulka gets a guillotine for a while before Titus explodes with a Samoan driver. Ulka gets some weak kicks but Titus gets the half-nelson slam and signals for the end and goes for his handspring…that gets caught with a cutter and then Sasaki follows with a backdrop driver. Titus responds with his handspring again and Ulka reverses that into a juji-gatame in a sick spot. Alexander reverses the armbar into a German, gets the big knee, and then hits two handspring cutters for the dub!

**¾

I’m sure some people would LOVE this match and there’s a lot to like about it, both guys feel very different and they had a ton of creative reversals, but I can’t help but feel like the closing sequence was just “I do stuff, you reverse it, then you do stuff and I reverse it.” I also am always going to be bothered by Titus’ knee magically healing and that not mattering after the 5 minute mark. Still, they worked hard, had a lot of really neat reversals, but the cracks in both guys was definitely showing as they still lack the ability to do anything with the moments between the big spots.

Dragon Bane [6] vs. Ryohei Oiwa [5] – A Block Match

Background: So both guys are still technically in the chase here and this is a must win match. Dragon isn’t in his full regalia here, instead having a golden mask and white and red trunks while wearing a dragon themed silk pajama top that looks absurdly comfortable and I want. Ryohei is once again avoiding anything fancy and is wearing his gold and silver tights. Oiwa easily outweighs the luchador and the dynamic of the match to me seems apparent.

The Match: Ryohei immediately goes for a leg pick early and takes the back and tries some amateur stuff as Bane reverses with wristlocks and lucha-armdrags. They speed it up with an international and then some lucha style quick pin attempts and then a kip-up as they seem to give a nod of respect and circle around. We get our approach now as Oiwa reverses a Bane headlock into a kneecrusher and then goes to work in the ring and through posting the Mexican. More legwork follows but Bane reverse a whip into a leg lariat and then a pescado while he remembers to sell the leg consarnit. Back in and the Mexican gets a double-arm stretch and some stomps and a hesitation dropkick in the corner. We get some chops from Dragon, and run and gun stuff until Oiwa blocks a gamengiri with a forearm and that crumples the Mexican (the knee mattered!) and we get a brainbuster over the ropes and Oiwa fires up with shoulderblocks and the falling splash as he shakes off his arm. Bane gets a few kicks and then reverses a lariat with a Spanish Fly and goes up with a springboard back elbow. Handspring gets caught for a German…but Bane flips out and gets his own German…that Oiwa screams and no-sells. Lariat from Oiwa! Bicycle knee from Dragon! Double-down and the crowd fires up as both guys rest before we get a slugfest that Bane wins with a kick combo…and then he hits the rope-assisted gamengiri and goes up for a SSP that Oiwa reverses into a small package for 2. Hesitation dropkick sets up the Dragon Driver, but Oiwa blocks and goes for the Doctor Bomb that Bane ranas out of. A big dropkick shuts down the Mexican’s flurry though and Oiwa goes to work with a series of suplexes. Bane dodges the lariat with a kip-up into a thrust kick and then a poison rana gets 2.8. Another Dragon Driver is blocked by Ryohei grabbing the luchadors leg and the Doctor Bomb lands and that’s 3.

***¼

It’s interesting to compare this to the last match that had another simple contrast between wrestlers, but Dragon Bane remembered that his knee was bothering him throughout the match more regularly (and had it set up a few key comebacks/reversals for the New Japan man) and overall it just being a lot more cohesive. Both these guys know the notes between the notes a lot better. This match also paid off a lot of the moves that Bane used to actually win matches with, a flash rana counter out of a powerbomb, a poison rana, and a SSP.

HAYATA, Tadasuke & YO-HEY vs. Junta Miyawaki, Kai Fujimura & Yu Owada

Background: TAFKA RATELS (HAYATA, Taddy, YO-HEY) are back together and are going to whoop some rookies. The veteran squad are wearing a bit of their GLG gear with black, gray, and white, but they have a bit of purple mixed in as well. Junta has actual gear, but Kai and Yu look very similar other than Owada having actual muscle.

The Match: Owada and YO-HEY start with the basic stuff. YO-HEY takes over with arm stuff and brings in HAYATA to continue but Owada gets the backflip kick out of the corner and the rookies take over on HAYATA’s dodgy elbow. Kai gets his sequence and the somersault senton and goes back to arm wrenches before HAYATA just gouges the eye and tags in Tadasuke, okay I chuckled. Taddy Daddy misses an elbow drop and Junta takes him apart with fireman’s carry takeovers before Taddy speeds it up with shoulders while Miyawaki counters with armdrags and then when Tadasuke rolls outside Junta gets a gorgeous triangle pescado. Kai back in with simple stuff but Tadasuke gets a legsweep and in comes HAYATA and YO-HEY to work over Kai with their fast stuff before HAYATA and YO-HEY get more deliberate offense solo. YO-HEY fires it up with a flying headscissors and flops huge for a Yu missile dropkick that lets Junta come in and test the veteran high-flyer. More armdrags set up a hammerlock legsweep DDT by the rook and YO-HEY is selling big. The vet gets some tricky stuff with a float-over and a kick and in comes Tadasuke to get some jumping stomps. A brainbuster attempt is reversed though and Jun ta brings in Owada to go up with a diving crossbody. Kai and Owada get some doubles and Yu finishes with a delayed fisherman’s that gets 2, but Tadasuke fires off a desperate kitchen sink knee and a cradle brainbuster that brings in everybody and it’s breaking loose in Sendai. Kneebreaker and a spinning toehold by by Tadasuke gets the tap.

**

Look, the vets were not busting their buns and the rookies were just there. It was fine but nothing else. Respect to Tadasuke for bringing back the spinning toehold at least.

Manabu Soya [8] vs. Alpha Wolf [3] – B Block Match

Background: A bit of a power bout as Manabu is a bruising powerhouse and Alpha has plenty of power of his own. Wolf is out but he can play spoiler against the surging Soya.

The Match: We start hot with Wolf throwing shoulders to knock down Soya and then hitting a springboard crossbody and then a dropkick to knock Soya outside and we know what the means…Alpha eats it on a dive that Manabu dodges and then whips the younger man around the ringside area. Back in and we get some stomps from the vet and some ploddy wear down stuff until Alpha gets a thrust kick out of a whip and then does some comedy by distracting Manabu before a slap and then low-bridging the older wrestler. Wolf hits a splash/press off the mezzanine and then tosses the vet around before Soya reverses a slam and both guys tease a count outside. Wolf bites Soya’s fingers…so Manabu bites Wolf’s fingers! Back in and we get a chop fest that has both guys knock each other down with Soya finishing with a mostly worked headbutt but Alpha reverses a brainbuster to get back control and he goes up with a springboard moonsault for 2. Next the Mexican lets us know it’s time for the Wolf Driver but Soya reverses into a spear but Wolf gets a Northern Lights suplex off a second attempt and pulls down the straps. Manabu gets a jumping lariat though and signals for a running one next, but the luchador gets a thrust kick to block and a lariat of his own to put the vet down for 2.8. Second attempt at the Wolf Driver and Soya blocks with the fireman’s carry knee lift, jumping DDT is blocked with a headbutt but a second jumping DDT gets the win for Soya.

**¾

Pretty solid match, but I think both guys were definitely leaving some stuff in the tank on a smaller show, nice finishing sequence though and I think a longer match could be really special if they gave it more time and effort

Luis Mante [8] vs. Josh Briggs [6] – A Block Match

.Background: Battle of the outsiders, and battle of the power guys as both dudes have a lot of big offense. That said, the lucha stuff of Luis and the WWE/gaijin cowboy routine are way different in delivery. Luis is still in the running for the A block and Briggs could squeeze through as well so this is an important one. Briggs is a LOT taller but both are wearing pleather pants. But yes, this is Mexico vs. America, and DragonGate vs. NXT, all in one match, how bizarre!

The Match: Both lounge in the ropes to start but Briggs lumbers forward and Luis dodges before being tossed down. Another toss and we’re getting Swearing Josh tonight, oh joy. Luis gets a rope-assisted armwrench coming back in and then a springboard armdrag and then some more arm stuff before running into a release sidewalk slam and a jumping splash from the American. Josh stomps away on the outside and keeps up the constant trash talk while dropping Mante on the barricade. Basic power stuff works Mante’s back as the Mexican is tossed into the apron and barricade. Back in and more taunting sets up a Bossman Slam by Briggs and then…he goes up? Well he just sits on the top turnbuckle as Mante sells big on the mats. More hard whips from the NXT guy and then some elbow drops as this has basically been all Josh while Mante sells and writhes on the mat. Josh even busts out some ‘technical’ stuff as he slams Luis’ wrist against the mat and then does a bizarre leg stretch to set up a knee drop and then a super technical…chinlock, okay well that fits the vibe more. More basic slams and stomps and this is ALL Josh. Luis fights back with some chops and then flips over the ropes to get a kick and an inverted tope as he goes from the ring ramp INTO the ring in a nice spot. More stuff as Mante reverses a brainbuster and gets an…armdrag/scoop slam thing that looked awkward, it doesn’t last though cause Josh gets a monster big boot to shut it down and then puts the Mexican on the top turnbuckle and loads up a superplex or something and we get in a convoluted position that ends with Mante getting a top-rope rana on Briggs, eh, contrived but props to taking that bump on this small a show. Mante tries to go for an Argentine rack but Josh is too big. Chokebomb attempt is countered with another rana but Josh rolls through and gets the running lariat for 3.

**¼

Look, Luis is just not a very interesting babyface. He was selling I guess, but he had no fire and he wasn’t doing any sort of mini-comebacks or pleading to the crowd to set anything up, and Josh was back in his annoying “constantly talk all the time” mode which I hate. Not a very impressive match but it had some nice spots and effort.

Yoshiki Inamura [6] vs. Tavion Heights [6] – B Block Match

Background: Both young (well kinda) guys with a lot to prove and a power base, Tavion is an amateur wrestler while Yoshiki is more of a pure power guy with his sumo and rugby background.

The Match: Tavion picks the ankle early and takes the back as they go to the mat with Heights looking strong to start. Tavion can’t get a suplex but settles for an armdrag and goes for the arm as Yoshiki keeps trying to power out before Tavion shuts him down. Inamura finally tosses the American across the ring and then we reset to a headlock sequence with Inamura grinding out the smaller man and following with a shoulderblock and then another headlock. International and we get…another Yoshiki shoulderblock. Extended international and Tavion manages to rope-a-dope into a nice running clothesline to a good reaction but Yoshiki tries out some dirty boxing with a kitchen sink knee, a forearm to the neck, and then a clothesline to the apron that lets Yoshiki stretch out his still injured arm before bringing Tavion back inside. We get some corner clubbering as Yoshiki is in kicky-punchy mode before getting a stinger splash and the VICTORY!!! Taunt into the Vader Bomb. Tavion fights out of a suplex attempt and goes for a German but Yoshiki is just too beefy so Tavion mixes it up and goes for a running crossbody that knocks the man down instead. Tavion does some cartoon bumps for Inamura’s strikes but manages to dodge a corner splash and the Olympian finally gets a suplex off of that. Heights is rolling now with a clotheslines and a big overhead belly-to-belly before hitting his absolutely terrible slingblade, honestly it’s so bad it might not even be a slingblade and I’m judging it wrong. Tavion keeps it up with a fireman’s carry attempt but Yoshiki is too big and slips out but Heights keeps in control with more clotheslines but he goes for a power move again and gets debacled. Tavion FINALLY gets another power move when he lands the fireman’s carry into a…pretty sloppy Death Valley Driver and we get a double-down as Tavion is selling from having to hoist this hunk of beef around. Inamura gets the running thrust into the corner and then another shoulder that Tavion takes an absurd bump off of, his limbs spinning in every direction as he kersplats. Big powerslam gets 2.7 for Yoshiki and he follows with a Musu attempt that Tavion slips out of. Slug fest with the American being delightfully rubber-legged but we get a rope-running sequence and Inamura runs into the spinning suplex and that’s 3!

***

Hrm. I’m not sure I love Tavion’s finish being an OUTTA NOWHERE deal, but the story of Yoshiki being too big and massive for Heights who was rag-dolling around despite his superior technical skill, and only winning when Yoshiki gave Tavion the momentum to hit a big finish on him is interesting. In some ways this was a very All Japan match with a very basic story (Yoshiki is bigger and more powerful, Tavion is quicker and more skilled) playing through EVERY note of the match, and Tavion only having success when it was run and gun and Yoshiki winning all the static, slow, interactions. Good stuff and Tavion was bumping like a champ here.

Masa Kitamiya [4] vs. Kaito Kiyomiya [7] – A Block Match

Background: So Kaito is creeping along in the tournament while Masa is eliminated, so we’re fighting for pride here. Lots of history as Kaito and Masa have won tag-titles together in the past and faced off oodles of time. Both guys use the figure-four as well, with Masa being more of a bruising brawler and Kaito being an athletic jack of all trades.

The Match: Big lockup to start and we maneuver into a grapple with Masa getting the advantage and working Kaito’s arm with basic stuff in-between keylock attempts. We work that for a while until Kaito gets a rope-walk springboard armdrag to get out of the hold. Another lockup with them jockeying for position and get tangled in the ropes. Masa gives a clean break but slaps Kaito…who slaps back, and they slap each other around before Masa gets a slam and stomps the champ down. Kaito comes back with more slaps but Masa keeps on the arm with wrenches and slams as he flings Kaito into the mat who is selling big. Masa gets some shoulders to put the pretty boy down and gets some slams into the turnbuckle to ramp up the pain and then gets a lariat out of the corner and brushes his shoulder off. More big selling from Kaito who slips outside and rests on the mats but Masa won’t tolerate that and steps out to stomp and slap the champ and sends him into the barricade. Back in and we get a camel clutch from Masa as Kaito is just taking a drubbing. Ropebreak and Kaito makes his feet but his back is now wrecked and he goes all Shawn Michaels after a backdrop. Kaito is grounded again and we get more stomps from Masa but Kaito makes his feet and gets a desperation clothesline and we get the double-down as they are milking this clock…until Kaito has had enough and kips up! Flying forearm, jumping elbow drop! And now Kaito is throwing the disrespectful kicks and then we get some uppercuts in the corner by Kiyomiya and then a calf branding (diving kneedrop bulldog) in a new move for the guy. Masa bails and Kaito regains his breath for a second before going outside and now it’s the champ’s turn to whip the older wrestler around, even getting a dropkick on the outside. Kaito, man…there are 390 people here. Relax. Back in and we get a missile dropkick to the knee. More disrespect kicks from Kaito and now Masa does the jowl shake and no sells everything and gets a kneebreaker. Prison lock by Masa and now we’ve worked I think every part of Kaito’s body in this match. Ropebreak and Kaito is screaming in agony while Masa now works the knees. Kaito gets a dragonscrew though and loads up his OWN figure four. We get some rolling reversals of that as Masa tries to invert the pressure but we make the ropes and we go on. Kaito’s shining wizard is blocked with a Masa dragonscrew and then both guys exchange suplexes and it is a double down. Oh boy. Masa fires up though and is beet red and dripping sweat as he stomps on Kaito and slams the champ’s face off the mat. Masa signals for a lariat but Kaito gets a jumping knee and then a Tiger suplex. The champ doesn’t stop though and we got a figure four but Masa attacks Kaito’s damaged knee in an attempt to break it. After approximately eight horus, Masa finally reaches the ropes. Kitamiya gets a headbutt and then hits Kiyomiya with a piledriver for 2.9. Prison Lock time and Kaito wails in agony as Masa clamps it on and beats his chest. Kaito fights back with chops but gets headbutted down again. Big reaction as Masa shuffles around to block the rope break but Kaito finally shuffles over to the ropes. They both stumble around as they ‘brawl’ but Kaito reverses a backdrop into a crossbody and then gets an O’Connor Roll but Masa hits the Samoan drop and senton for a nearfall. Diving senton misses and Kaito gets a shining wizard which Masa kicks out of. Transformed Shining Wizard attempt but Masa blocks and then gets a Saito Suplex…that Kaito blocks with a knee but once again Masa blocks it and finally gets the Saito suplex, they trade inside cradles and Kaito gets a shining wizard but Masa kicks out and Kaito can’t get a second attempt so it’s a draw.

**¾

Look, I don’t like overly long matches and boy, this was like…17 minutes of match stretched into 30, but they had some neat sequences. I will say I don’t mind the Figure Fours not doing a lot as both guys have ‘mastered’ the move, so them being especially resistant to it is fine in the weirdo wrestling logic. Honestly Masa just isn’t very interesting and his shaky head mannerisms and chest-beating and no-selling all do nothing to sell him as a bad dude for me. One of Masa’s better matches as it didn’t totally bore me, but nothing worth writing home about either. A quarter star as Kaito’s overly long finishing sequence is once again biting his buns.

Overall…eh it’s a show, not the best but a lot of guys did try more than I expected from such a small crowd.

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

B Block:
Manabu: 10
Kenoh: 9
Titus: 8
Tavion: 8
Yoshiki: 6
Ulka: 4
Alpha: 3
Wagner: 2

Paths to victory, Josh needs to beat Dragon Bane and he needs Kaito to not win. Luis needs like…everybody to lose and then for them to do some tiebreaker match but I don’t think that’s happening. Kaito needs to beat Jack Morris, or tie and have Josh tie or lose to Dragon Bane. Oiwa needs to beat Masa and have Josh and Kaito lose. Jack has the head to head over Luis and Josh, so if he beats Kaito he’s in.

For B Block, Manabu needs Kenoh to lose. Kenoh needs to beat or tie Inamura and Tavion to not win. Titus can maybe make a tiebreaker if a bunch of top seeds all lose. Tavion can force a triple threat tiebreaker if Kenoh ties and he beats Ulka. Everybody else is out.