Tag: Noah The New Year

WWE star Omos wins Pro Wrestling NOAH tag titles with Jack Morris

Posted on by Joseph Currier

WWE star Omos is now a champion in Japan.

To kick off 2025, Omos was in Tokyo to compete at NOAH The New Year. He teamed with Jack Morris at the show, dethroning Naomichi Marufuji & Takashi Sugiura as GHC Tag Team Champions. Omos got the pin on Marufuji after a double-handed chokeslam. This marks the first time a WWE-contracted wrestler has ever been a champion in NOAH.

Morris had teased that he would have the “biggest” ever mystery partner for NOAH The New Year, and that was confirmed to be Omos last week. Omos said before the show that he was a little bit nervous but excited to compete in Japan.

Following the match, Omos & Morris cut a backstage promo where Omos declared that he’s not just a super heavyweight — he’s the “super megaweight of this world.”

“I came to Pro Wrestling NOAH, and I won the Tag Team [Championship],” Omos said. “This is the beginning of history, people. You’re witnessing the greatest thing to ever grace this country.”

The Great Muta congratulated Omos on his win, tweeting that he’s happy he’ll be able to see Omos appear for NOAH again.

This was Omos’ first match since April. He was off WWE television for most of 2024 but did compete at some house shows earlier in the year.

WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura — the current United States Champion — also wrestled at NOAH The New Year, defeating former UFC fighter Ulka Sasaki. A World title change headlined the event with Taishi Ozawa winning the GHC Heavyweight Championship from Kaito Kiyomiya.

KENTA returning to Pro Wrestling NOAH for 25th anniversary celebration

Posted on by Joseph Currier

One of the biggest stars in Pro Wrestling NOAH history is returning to the promotion to celebrate its 25th anniversary.

KENTA will be back in NOAH for a match against Kenoh at NOAH The New Year 2025 on Wednesday, January 1. The match was made official after Kenoh showed up at Friday’s NJPW event, confronting KENTA and challenging him to a match.

Kenoh said that, if KENTA still had feelings for the promotion where he came from, he would return to NOAH and face him on January 1. The challenge was then accepted by KENTA. Kenoh teased that, after he defeats KENTA in NOAH, they could potentially wrestle each other again in NJPW.

During his NOAH career, KENTA was a decorated champion with both Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight title reigns. He left the promotion in 2014 but has returned a few times since then, making appearances while with WWE and NJPW.

Kenoh is a three-time GHC Heavyweight Champion in NOAH with his most recent reign lasting from October 2023-February 2024.

NOAH The New Year 2025 — a celebration of NOAH entering its 25th year in existence — is taking place from Budokan Hall in Tokyo. It will air live as a pay-per-view with English commentary. WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura is part of the card, facing off against Ulka Sasaki.

Kota Ibushi apologizes for NOAH The New Year match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Kota Ibushi has issued an apology for his performance at NOAH The New Year 2024.

Ibushi faced Naomichi Marufuji in the main event of the January 2 show. Despite being injured going into the match, Ibushi wrestled for 33 minutes. The match fell apart and Ibushi’s performance was clearly hindered by injury. He further injured both of his ankles during the match and was taken to the hospital after the show.

On Friday, Ibushi posted a message on X apologizing for the match and stating that it was his fault. Ibushi claimed that he was scammed by a C5 Clinic that he received treatment from.

Ibushi hurt his ankles during the match when hitting a moonsault to the outside.

“Ibushi definitely needs a lot of time off and there are real questions about him going forward given how little he wrestles and how many injuries he has,” Dave Meltzer wrote in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. “He did walk backstage on his own after the match but said he was in so much pain he couldn’t do post-match interviews. They called an ambulance for him and took him to the hospital.”

Ibushi hasn’t been the same physically since injuring his shoulder against Kazuchika Okada in the 2021 G1 Climax finals. He was out of action from October 2021 to March 2023 after that injury.

Last November, it was confirmed that Ibushi is officially signed to an AEW contract. Ibushi described it as a flexible deal where he’s also able to wrestle for other promotions.

“I’m based in Japan and I will travel for the matches,” Ibushi said. “Basically, I’m in Japan, I work in Japan, I will be active.”

Ibushi defeated Marufuji in their match for Pro Wrestling NOAH. There was a staredown between Ibushi and Jake Lee & Kaito Kiyomiya after the match.

Kota Ibushi challenges Naomichi Marufuji for NOAH The New Year 2024

Posted on by Joseph Currier

For the first time in more than a decade, Kota Ibushi will be competing for Pro Wrestling NOAH.

Ibushi made a surprise appearance for NOAH on Saturday, setting up a match against Naomichi Marufuji for NOAH The New Year 2024. Ibushi issued a challenge that Marufuji accepted.

NOAH The New Year 2024 is taking place at Ariake Arena on Tuesday, January 2 and will air live on Wrestle Universe with English commentary.

“Today I was able to step into Noah’s ring for the first time in 12 years. And thank you, Marufuji-san, for accepting the match,” Ibushi posted on social media.

“Welcome, Ibushi-kun, to Ariake Arena on 2 January,” Marufuji said in a post-show press conference. “It’s finally time to do it. Let’s do it first thing next year, on the best stage, one on one.”

NOAH has officially confirmed the match and announced that it will be the main event of NOAH The New Year.

Last month, it was officially announced that Ibushi is under contract with AEW. It’s a “flexible” deal that allows Ibushi to wrestle for other promotions.

“I’m based in Japan and I will travel for the matches,” Ibushi said. “Basically, I’m in Japan, I work in Japan, I will be active.”

NOAH The New Year 2024 will feature a GHC Heavyweight Championship match with Kenoh defending against Manabu Soya. Among the other matches scheduled for the show is a tag bout with Zack Sabre Jr. & Yoshinari Ogawa facing Hiroshi Tanahashi & HAYATA.