Pro Wrestling Noah
Encyclopedia
is a major Japanese professional wrestling promotion
, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling
ace Mitsuharu Misawa
. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan. NOAH has working agreements with Ring of Honor
, World League Wrestling
, Pro Wrestling Zero1, and Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
.
died, leaving the company in the hands of his widow Motoko Baba as owner and Misawa as president. However, disheartened with Motoko Baba's proposed direction for the company, Misawa departed the promotion on May 28, 2000 to form a new promotion called Pro-Wrestling NOAH. All but two native stars (Masanobu Fuchi
and Toshiaki Kawada
) followed Misawa. The promotion's name alludes to the Biblical story of Noah
, in which the people and animals in the ark survive the flood and make a new beginning in the world, a story which was seen as a parallel to the wrestlers' departure from All Japan. NOAH's promotional symbol, an ark with a dove holding an olive branch, refers to this.
Pro-Wrestling NOAH is essentially a continuation of All Japan's promotional system in the 1990s, with a slight leeway to allow wrestlers from other promotions to compete, which is something that Giant Baba had forbid. NOAH also features a strong junior heavyweight
division, which was something that All Japan had been relatively lacking in the 1990s due to lack of pushes for the younger stars (such as Yoshinobu Kanemaru
, Kenta
and Naomichi Marufuji
, who quickly became NOAH's junior aces).
Despite not being considered the #1 promotion in Japan, NOAH has been able to outdo its rivals in many ways since 2005 and has managed to outdraw arch-rival New Japan Pro Wrestling
in several key places (such as the Tokyo Dome
). The Wrestling Observer also named NOAH as the best promotion in 2004 and 2005, as well as having the best weekly television show in 2003.
A spinoff league called Pro Wrestling SEM was recently launched. Similar to New Japan Pro Wrestling
's "Young Lions" system, it will function as a training facility for rookies, with Naomichi Marufuji
and Kenta
acting as trainers. Pro Wrestling SEM is also a reference to the Biblical story of Noah, with Sem
being Noah's eldest son.
On June 13, 2009, Misawa teamed with Go Shiozaki
against Akitoshi Saito
and Bison Smith
at Hiroshima Green Arena
. After taking a belly to back suplex from Saito, Misawa lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital. He was pronounced dead in the hospital at 10:10 p.m. JST
due to spinal damage. On June 27, 2009, Akira Taue
was named as Misawa's successor and is the current President of Pro-Wrestling NOAH.
In 2010 Pro Wrestling NOAH announced a new 'Global League tournament' comprising twelve of NOAH's top heavyweight stars.
The promotion will celebrate its 10th anniversary in summer 2010. They have a series of special events planned to commemorate the milestone.
, the eldest son of Noah. SEM is headed by Naomichi Marufuji and KENTA, acting as coach for the rookie competitors. Mitsuharu Misawa's inspiration for the venture came from the German Westside Xtreme Wrestling
promotion, where he wrestled in March 2005. The presentation and close proximity of the fans to the ring impressed Misawa enough to recreate them, thus matches in SEM take place on a pink ring mat and the audience seats are limited to a few hundred, so that all fans can sit close to the ring. The events of SEM usually take place in the Differ Ariake Arena
in Tokyo.
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
, founded in 2000 by former All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
ace Mitsuharu Misawa
Mitsuharu Misawa
was a Japanese professional wrestler. He made his professional debut on August 21, 1981 for All Japan Pro Wrestling . From 1984 until 1990, Misawa wrestled as the second generation Tiger Mask, as All Japan Pro Wrestling had purchased the rights of the Tiger Mask gimmick from New Japan Pro Wrestling...
. NOAH is broadcast weekly in Japan. NOAH has working agreements with Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
, World League Wrestling
Harley Race's Wrestling Academy
Harley Race's Wrestling Academy is a professional wrestling school located in Eldon, Missouri. It was established in 1999 by former World Heavyweight Champion, Harley Race. Students of the school are incorporated into the professional wrestling promotion World League Wrestling.-School:The Harley...
, Pro Wrestling Zero1, and Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración
Asistencia Asesoría y Administración is a lucha libre professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico...
.
History
In January 1999, All Japan founder and promoter Giant BabaShohei Baba
was a professional wrestler and co-founder of All Japan Pro Wrestling. He was also known as Giant Baba. Baba, along with Antonio Inoki, became one of the most famous Japanese wrestlers of his era, with a popularity in Japan comparable to Hulk Hogan's in the United States of America...
died, leaving the company in the hands of his widow Motoko Baba as owner and Misawa as president. However, disheartened with Motoko Baba's proposed direction for the company, Misawa departed the promotion on May 28, 2000 to form a new promotion called Pro-Wrestling NOAH. All but two native stars (Masanobu Fuchi
Masanobu Fuchi
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for All Japan Pro Wrestling as a full-time wrestler, as well as a director. Fuchi holds the record for the longest AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship reign and has competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling longer than any wrestler on the...
and Toshiaki Kawada
Toshiaki Kawada
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions....
) followed Misawa. The promotion's name alludes to the Biblical story of Noah
Noah
Noah was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the tenth and last of the antediluvian Patriarchs. The biblical story of Noah is contained in chapters 6–9 of the book of Genesis, where he saves his family and representatives of all animals from the flood by constructing an ark...
, in which the people and animals in the ark survive the flood and make a new beginning in the world, a story which was seen as a parallel to the wrestlers' departure from All Japan. NOAH's promotional symbol, an ark with a dove holding an olive branch, refers to this.
Pro-Wrestling NOAH is essentially a continuation of All Japan's promotional system in the 1990s, with a slight leeway to allow wrestlers from other promotions to compete, which is something that Giant Baba had forbid. NOAH also features a strong junior heavyweight
Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a cruiserweight is a wrestler weighing 220 lb and less, sometimes 215. The older term junior heavyweight, which was used to describe the division, is more favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called junior heavyweight titles...
division, which was something that All Japan had been relatively lacking in the 1990s due to lack of pushes for the younger stars (such as Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Yoshinobu Kanemaru
Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Kanemaru holds the records for the most reigns for both of Noah's Jr...
, Kenta
Kenta Kobayashi
, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...
and Naomichi Marufuji
Naomichi Marufuji
is a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling Noah, with occasional appearances in other professional wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, among others. Marufuji is the first of only two Grand Slam Champion in Pro...
, who quickly became NOAH's junior aces).
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
in several key places (such as the Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Dome is a 55,000-seat baseball stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan.The stadium opened for business on March 17, 1988. It was built on the site of the Velodrome which was next door to the site of the predecessor ballpark, Kōrakuen Stadium...
). The Wrestling Observer also named NOAH as the best promotion in 2004 and 2005, as well as having the best weekly television show in 2003.
A spinoff league called Pro Wrestling SEM was recently launched. Similar to New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
's "Young Lions" system, it will function as a training facility for rookies, with Naomichi Marufuji
Naomichi Marufuji
is a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling Noah, with occasional appearances in other professional wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, among others. Marufuji is the first of only two Grand Slam Champion in Pro...
and Kenta
Kenta Kobayashi
, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...
acting as trainers. Pro Wrestling SEM is also a reference to the Biblical story of Noah, with Sem
Shem
Shem was one of the sons of Noah in the Hebrew Bible as well as in Islamic literature. He is most popularly regarded as the eldest son, though some traditions regard him as the second son. Genesis 10:21 refers to relative ages of Shem and his brother Japheth, but with sufficient ambiguity in each...
being Noah's eldest son.
On June 13, 2009, Misawa teamed with Go Shiozaki
Go Shiozaki
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the current GHC Heavyweight Champion. In addition to Noah, he has previously worked in the American-based promotion Ring of Honor and its former sister promotion Full Impact Pro, where he won the latter's...
against Akitoshi Saito
Akitoshi Saito
is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah.-Before pro wrestling:Before pro wrestling, Akitoshi Saito was trained in karate by Masashi Aoyagi. Saito seconded Aoyagi in his matches against Atsushi Onita in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling in 1989...
and Bison Smith
Bison Smith
Mark Smith was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Bison Smith. He best known for his appearances with Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan and International Wrestling Association in Puerto Rico...
at Hiroshima Green Arena
Hiroshima Green Arena
Hiroshima Green Arena and was known as Hiroshima Prefectural Gymnasium is an indoor sporting arena located in Hiroshima, Japan. The capacity of the arena's main stadium is 8,000. The arena was rebuilt for 1994 Asian Games...
. After taking a belly to back suplex from Saito, Misawa lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital. He was pronounced dead in the hospital at 10:10 p.m. JST
Japan Standard Time
Japan Standard Time or JST is the standard timezone of Japan, and is 9 hours ahead of UTC. For example, when it is midnight in UTC, it is 09:00 in Japan Standard Time. There is no daylight saving time, though its introduction has been debated several times. Japan Standard Time is the same as...
due to spinal damage. On June 27, 2009, Akira Taue
Akira Taue
is a Japanese professional wrestler, and the current President of Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former AJPW Triple Crown champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and has had 14 5 Star Matches as awarded by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter....
was named as Misawa's successor and is the current President of Pro-Wrestling NOAH.
In 2010 Pro Wrestling NOAH announced a new 'Global League tournament' comprising twelve of NOAH's top heavyweight stars.
The promotion will celebrate its 10th anniversary in summer 2010. They have a series of special events planned to commemorate the milestone.
Roster
- Akihiko Ito
- Akira TaueAkira Taueis a Japanese professional wrestler, and the current President of Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former AJPW Triple Crown champion, a former GHC Heavyweight Champion and has had 14 5 Star Matches as awarded by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter....
- Akitoshi SaitoAkitoshi Saitois a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah.-Before pro wrestling:Before pro wrestling, Akitoshi Saito was trained in karate by Masashi Aoyagi. Saito seconded Aoyagi in his matches against Atsushi Onita in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling in 1989...
- Atsushi AokiAtsushi AokiAtsushi Aoki is a Japanese professional wrestler working for the Japanese wrestling promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Aoki made his professional wrestling debut in 2005 and has worked primarily for NOAH where he was part...
- Go ShiozakiGo Shiozakiis a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the current GHC Heavyweight Champion. In addition to Noah, he has previously worked in the American-based promotion Ring of Honor and its former sister promotion Full Impact Pro, where he won the latter's...
- Jun AkiyamaJun Akiyamais a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah and All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion. Akiyama is known for his serious style and outstanding, time-tested work as a tag team wrestler...
- Junji Izumida
- Keith WalkerKeith WalkerKeith Walker is an American professional wrestler who competes in North American and international promotions including Ring of Honor, Harley Race's World League Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah....
- KENTAKenta Kobayashi, also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion...
- Kenta KobashiKenta KobashiNot to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars....
- Kentaro ShigaKentaro Shigais a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working as a freelancer. He returned from a two-year hiatus due to injury in 2005.-All Japan Pro Wrestling :...
- Kishin Kawabata
- Kotaro SuzukiKotaro SuzukiKotaro Suzuki , born June 18, 1978 in Warabi, Saitama is a professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.- Career :...
- Makoto HashiMakoto Hashiis a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in Pro Wrestling Noah.-Career:Hashi's first championship reign in NOAH came after he defeated Naomichi Marufuji for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship via stoppage; however, unsatisfied with his victory, Hashi vacated the...
- Masao InoueMasao Inoueis a professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah as a member of Dark Agents. He has previously worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling.-All Japan Pro Wrestling:...
- Mitsuo MomotaMitsuo Momotais a Japanese professional wrestler and executive, known for his work in the Japanese promotions All Japan Pro Wrestling and later in Pro Wrestling NOAH. He is the son of wrestler Rikidōzan.-All Japan Pro Wrestling :...
- Muhammad YoneSatoshi Yoneyama, better known by his ring name Mohammed Yone , is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is currently one half of the GHC Tag Team Champions with Takeshi Rikio. He is known for his trademark afro hairstyle, which has earned him the nickname "Mr. Afro"...
- Mushiking JokerRicky MarvinRicardo Fuentes Romero is a Mexican professional wrestler, known by his ring name Ricky Marvin and is most known for his work in the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH...
- Mushiking TerryKotaro SuzukiKotaro Suzuki , born June 18, 1978 in Warabi, Saitama is a professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.- Career :...
- Naomichi MarufujiNaomichi Marufujiis a Japanese professional wrestler who competes for Pro Wrestling Noah, with occasional appearances in other professional wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor, All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, among others. Marufuji is the first of only two Grand Slam Champion in Pro...
- Ricky MarvinRicky MarvinRicardo Fuentes Romero is a Mexican professional wrestler, known by his ring name Ricky Marvin and is most known for his work in the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH...
- Shuhei TaniguchiShuhei TaniguchiShuhei Taniguchi is a professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah.-Amateur Background:Shuhei Taniguchi first started competitive wrestling when he was in high school. Just as NOAH wrestlers Takashi Sugiura and Tamon Honda before him, Shuhei represented the armed forces in...
- Taiji IshimoriTaiji Ishimoriis a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Pro Wrestling NOAH as well as making appearances for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración through a NOAH/AAA working relationship.-Professional wrestling career:...
- Takashi SugiuraTakashi Sugiurais a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Sugiura, an accomplished amateur wrestler, joined NOAH's dojo in 2000, making his professional debut on December 23, 2000, and thus becoming the first wrestler to make his pro wrestling debut in NOAH. He has also...
- Takeshi MorishimaTakeshi Morishimais a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently performing for Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan and has performed for Ring of Honor in the United States in the past. He is a former Ring of Honor World champion...
- Takeshi RikioTakeshi RikioTakeshi Inoue, known by his stage name , born December 20, 1972, is a Japanese professional wrestler, who works for Pro Wrestling Noah. He is also a former sumo wrestler.- Sumo career :...
- Takuma SanoNaoki Sanois a Japanese professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He currently goes by the name Takuma Sano.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
- Tamon HondaTamon Hondais a Japanese professional wrestler who is currently a freelancer, he most recently worked for Pro Wrestling Noah.-1984, 1988, and 1992 Summer Olympics:Honda represented Japan in three Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling in 1984, 1988, and 1992...
- Tsutomu Hirayanagi
- Tsuyoshi KikuchiTsuyoshi Kikuchiis a professional wrestler currently working as a freelancer. He has previously worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH. Kikuchi idolized and patterned his style after the Dynamite Kid....
- Yoshihiro TakayamaYoshihiro Takayamais a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Takayama is well known for his ability to endure massive amounts of punishment, especially after his fight at PRIDE 21 against Don Frye...
- Yoshinari OgawaYoshinari OgawaYoshinari Ogawa is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah. He has earned the nickname of "Rat Boy" due to his sneaky, clever in-ring tactics and baiting his opponents into quick pins.- Career :...
- Yoshinobu KanemaruYoshinobu KanemaruYoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Kanemaru holds the records for the most reigns for both of Noah's Jr...
Kensuke Office
- Akira Hokuto - manager, wife of Kensuke Sasaki
- Kento Miyahara
- Katsuhiko NakajimaKatsuhiko Nakajimais a Japanese professional wrestler, represented as a freelancer by his mentor Kensuke Sasaki's Kensuke Office dojo and agency. He along with Sasaki and other Kensuke Office graduates currently most frequently wrestle in Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the current GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion in...
- Takashi Okita
- Kensuke SasakiKensuke Sasakiis a Japanese professional wrestler who currently wrestles for various promotions through his own agency, Kensuke Office. He is the first of two men ever to hold all 3 of puroresu's major heavyweight titles , the other being Yoshihiro Takayama.-Early years :Kensuke Sasaki...
- Satoshi Kajiwara (appears occasionally)
Current champions
| Championship | Champion(s) | Defeated | Date Won | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GHC Heavyweight Championship GHC Heavyweight Championship The Global Honored Crown Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. It was created on April 15, 2001 when Mitsuharu Misawa defeated Yoshihiro Takayama in a 16-man tournament final... |
Go Shiozaki Go Shiozaki is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the current GHC Heavyweight Champion. In addition to Noah, he has previously worked in the American-based promotion Ring of Honor and its former sister promotion Full Impact Pro, where he won the latter's... |
Takashi Sugiura Takashi Sugiura is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Sugiura, an accomplished amateur wrestler, joined NOAH's dojo in 2000, making his professional debut on December 23, 2000, and thus becoming the first wrestler to make his pro wrestling debut in NOAH. He has also... |
July 10, 2011 | Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... , Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
| GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship The Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, specifically for junior heavyweight The Global Honored Crown (GHC) Junior Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title in Japanese promotion Pro... |
Katsuhiko Nakajima Katsuhiko Nakajima is a Japanese professional wrestler, represented as a freelancer by his mentor Kensuke Sasaki's Kensuke Office dojo and agency. He along with Sasaki and other Kensuke Office graduates currently most frequently wrestle in Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is the current GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion in... |
Ricky Marvin Ricky Marvin Ricardo Fuentes Romero is a Mexican professional wrestler, known by his ring name Ricky Marvin and is most known for his work in the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH... |
November 27, 2011 | Tokyo, Japan |
| GHC Tag Team Championship GHC Tag Team Championship The Global Honored Crown Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah. It was created on October 19, 2001, when Scorpio & Vader defeated Jun Akiyama & Akitoshi Saito in a tournament final... |
Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson Karl Anderson Chad Allegra is an American professional wrestler better known by his stage name Karl "Machine Gun" Anderson currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently one half of the IWGP and GHC Tag Team Champions with partner Giant Bernard.-Personal life:Allegra grew up in Asheville,... |
Takuma Sano and Yoshihiro Takayama Yoshihiro Takayama is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. Takayama is well known for his ability to endure massive amounts of punishment, especially after his fight at PRIDE 21 against Don Frye... |
June 18, 2011 | Osaka Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe... , Japan |
| GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship The Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, contested exclusively among junior heavyweight wrestlers. It was created on July 16, 2003 when Kenta and Naomichi Marufuji defeated Jushin Liger... |
Atsushi Aoki Atsushi Aoki Atsushi Aoki is a Japanese professional wrestler working for the Japanese wrestling promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Aoki made his professional wrestling debut in 2005 and has worked primarily for NOAH where he was part... and Kotaro Suzuki Kotaro Suzuki Kotaro Suzuki , born June 18, 1978 in Warabi, Saitama is a professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.- Career :... |
Kenta Kenta Kobayashi , also known by his ring name KENTA, is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is a former three-time Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Champion... and Yoshinobu Kanemaru Yoshinobu Kanemaru Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Kanemaru holds the records for the most reigns for both of Noah's Jr... |
October 16, 2011 | Tokyo, Japan |
| GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship The Global Honored Crown Openweight Hardcore Championship is a semi-official professional wrestling championship contested in Pro Wrestling Noah. It was originally created in 2004 as a singles title known as the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship; in 2007 it was announced that it would be... |
Kenta Kobashi Kenta Kobashi Not to be confused with his protégé Kenta Kobayashi is a Japanese professional wrestler currently under contract to Pro Wrestling Noah. He worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988–2000, where he became one of the promotion's top stars.... |
Makoto Hashi Makoto Hashi is a Japanese professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in Pro Wrestling Noah.-Career:Hashi's first championship reign in NOAH came after he defeated Naomichi Marufuji for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship via stoppage; however, unsatisfied with his victory, Hashi vacated the... |
June 8, 2009 | Hachiōji Hachioji, Tokyo is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and a population density of 2,962.27/km². The total area is 186.31 km². It is the eighth largest city in the... , Japan |
Tournaments
NOAH also holds annual tournaments to decide the top wrestler or tag team in the promotion:| Tournament | Latest winner(s) | Date won |
|---|---|---|
| Global League Tournament Global League Tournament The Global League Tournament is an annual professional wrestling round-robin tournament held by Pro Wrestling NOAH, established in 2010.The Global League Tournament adopts a points system, with two points for a win, one for a time expired draw, and, none for other draw or a loss... |
Takeshi Morishima Takeshi Morishima is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is currently performing for Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan and has performed for Ring of Honor in the United States in the past. He is a former Ring of Honor World champion... |
November 20, 2011 |
| Global Tag League Global Tag League The Global Tag League is a professional wrestling round-robin tag team tournament held by Pro Wrestling NOAH. It was created in 2008.The Global Tag League is held under a points system, with two points for a win, one for a time limit draw and none for a loss. The team finishing atop the points... |
Akitoshi Saito Akitoshi Saito is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah.-Before pro wrestling:Before pro wrestling, Akitoshi Saito was trained in karate by Masashi Aoyagi. Saito seconded Aoyagi in his matches against Atsushi Onita in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling in 1989... and Jun Akiyama Jun Akiyama is a Japanese professional wrestler who currently works for Pro Wrestling Noah and All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion. Akiyama is known for his serious style and outstanding, time-tested work as a tag team wrestler... |
April 29, 2011 |
| Junior League NOAH Junior League The Junior League is an annual professional wrestling round-robin tournament held by Pro Wrestling NOAH, to decide the promotion's top junior heavyweight wrestler. It was established in 2009 as a two-block round-robin tournament, in which each block's two highest scorers face off in the semi finals... |
Yoshinobu Kanemaru Yoshinobu Kanemaru Yoshinobu Kanemaru is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Kanemaru holds the records for the most reigns for both of Noah's Jr... |
October 31, 2009 |
| Nippon TV Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League Nippon TV Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League The Nippon TV Cup Jr. Heavyweight Tag League is an annual professional wrestling tag team professional wrestling tournament held by Pro Wrestling NOAH since 2007.- List of winners :*2007: KENTA and Taiji Ishimori*2008: KENTA and Taiji Ishimori... |
Atsushi Aoki Atsushi Aoki Atsushi Aoki is a Japanese professional wrestler working for the Japanese wrestling promotion Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Aoki made his professional wrestling debut in 2005 and has worked primarily for NOAH where he was part... & Kotaro Suzuki Kotaro Suzuki Kotaro Suzuki , born June 18, 1978 in Warabi, Saitama is a professional wrestler who currently wrestles for Pro Wrestling Noah, where he is one half of the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.- Career :... |
July 30, 2011 |
Pro-Wrestling SEM
Pro Wrestling SEM is the junior associate of Pro-Wrestling NOAH, the name coming from the biblical figure ShemShem
Shem was one of the sons of Noah in the Hebrew Bible as well as in Islamic literature. He is most popularly regarded as the eldest son, though some traditions regard him as the second son. Genesis 10:21 refers to relative ages of Shem and his brother Japheth, but with sufficient ambiguity in each...
, the eldest son of Noah. SEM is headed by Naomichi Marufuji and KENTA, acting as coach for the rookie competitors. Mitsuharu Misawa's inspiration for the venture came from the German Westside Xtreme Wrestling
Westside Xtreme Wrestling
Westside Xtreme Wrestling, officially stylized as westside Xtreme wrestling «wXw», is a professional wrestling promotion based in Oberhausen, Germany...
promotion, where he wrestled in March 2005. The presentation and close proximity of the fans to the ring impressed Misawa enough to recreate them, thus matches in SEM take place on a pink ring mat and the audience seats are limited to a few hundred, so that all fans can sit close to the ring. The events of SEM usually take place in the Differ Ariake Arena
Differ Ariake Arena
is an indoor sporting arena located in the Ariake neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan, next to the Pro Wrestling Noah headquarters office. The capacity of the arena is 1,246 seats and it was opened in 1999...
in Tokyo.