Pro Wrestling NOAH “The First Navigation 2017”, 01/09/17

- Akitoshi Saito vs. Hitoshi Kumano

Standard opening match. I want to say that Kumano looks like a rookie, but he looks about 40. Saito has these cold, dark eyes as if he's questioning his life decisions up until this point. Low energy, slow and generally a pretty so so match. Saito wins following the Sickle Death (awesome name) [meh]

Taiji Ishimori vs. Hi69 (FREE) 

Still don't know if he's got a gimpy knee as he's walking funny to the ring or whether thats due to the length of his career. He does launch himself over the top rope though, so it might not be a story issue. Found out that you don't say 69, it's more like the Japanese for six and nine sound like his name, so it's like hiyata (I think). 

Hi69 does a figure four with Ishimoris leg wrapped around the ring post which looked pretty sloppy, but the effect is intended. But then he does a simple ankle lock, but it's the opposite way to the way Angle does it (ishi on his back) and the angle he twists it too looks really frigging gnarly. Ishi tries a handstand jumping kick thing but because his knee is worked over, it gets countered into a submission attempt. 

Weird ending where Ishimori wins with a Mexican Roll, which is just an elaborate pin. Didn't even hit a move before it. Might be cut short for whatever reason, but the jarring end is strange. [ok] 

~ Ishimori and Hi69 agreed to a tag formation after the match. Ishimori hinted that he will aim not just for the junior, but for the heavy ones as well.
~ Ishimori stated that if all of the focus is going to be on the heavyweight division, but that he and Hi69 will try and break that barrier down. That juniors still have a place.

- Muhammad Yone vs. Hajime Ohara

This is a heavyweight vs Junior match and it really tries to hammer it home. Especially since Yone looks like he should be in DDT with his afro and disco gimmick. He makes it really hard to take him seriously, even when he's slapping the shit out of you. 

OK match, which didn't outstay its welcome. I don't think it would have been a massive shock for Ohara to get the win but Yone wins with the Kinniku Buster (muscle buster) [OK] 

~ Yone stated that the meaning of heavy needs continue to show its place. That heavies used to be seen as a wall between the divisions. If the juniors want to take the next step that it will take a lot of climbing to do so.

- Masa Kitamiya vs. Daisuke Harada

This was another OK match. Kitamiya wins with the prison lock, which is like a sitting up figure four. While he had it locked in, he held Haradas hand and kept pulling him in so he could elbow him, which was neat. 

We get some clips of matches from 1/8, looked good, but you can't take too much from it. 

- Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Takashi Sugiura

Excited to see more Kiyomiya as he impressed in his last match. Expecting the young rookie to get the piss beaten out of him by the grumpy Sugiura. And that's what we get! There's some fight in Kaito but Sugiura just boots him in the head repeatedly. 

Match ends with a TKO because the ref calls for the bell. Sugiura applies a Front Neck Lock and makes Kaito go to sleep. It shows the fighting spirit which Japanese wrestlers are proud to showcase. He never quit! After the match while Kaito is on the floor ko'd, sugiura slaps him about some more [good] 

~ Respect was shown between the growing rookie and the veteran. Kiyomiya stated that he wants to become stronger.
~ Sugiura offered the young rookie a place by his side as Kiyomiya accepted.
~ Today is a national holiday in Japan, (Seijin no Hi) Coming-of-age Day, as Kiyomiya aims to take the next step in his career.

- Go Shiozaki vs. Atsushi Kotoge

The follow up to the headbutt match. A lot of early Go beating the crap out of Kotoge. They do the choke on the top rope spot. Kind of dragged a bit, especially in the middle. Kotoge does a nice flip over there top rose and smashes into the barrier with his knee. 

Kotoge also does an absolutely terrible superkick which seemed to miss by about four years. Both their heads start to bleed again, which isn't surprising after the damage they've inflicted on each other. Go picks up the win after knocking Kotoges head off with a Short Range Gowan Lariat. [OK] 

~ Shiozaki made it known that he will aim to go back after the GHC Heavy belt, but first he is focused on defending the Tag belts at the upcoming Osaka show.
~ Kotoge stated that his new pursuit will not end like this.

- Maybach Taniguchi vs. Naomichi Marufuji

Marafuji has a belt, but this isn't a title match. I love Marafuji (as everyone should) but he's at the the age where his pants are a little bit higher than they should be. They start with chops and elbows. Marafuji has some disgusting chops, and Ko-oh chest is red before the match, but it's a mess after a few minutes. You can see the welts forming as they zoom in on it, ouch. 

Marafuji does one of the slowest cross bodies over the top rope, it just doesn't look like it would hurt at all. Ends by KO where Taniguchi can't get up after multiple knees to the chin by Marafuji. Short but fun match, which was refreshing following the previous long match. [good] 

- Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kenoh

They keep showing wide shots of Korakuen and it highlights how sparse the crowd is. It's a shame as this and the last show have been really good. This match is the main event with the challenger Kenoh attempting to get a win over Nakajima. Belt isn't on the line, but pride is. 

This is the battle of kicks. Lots of kicks. Really enjoyed this one as Kenoh was trying to prove he can hang with Nakajima. Unfortunately though Nakajima retains the belt after landing the Vertical Spike. [good] 

~ The GHC Heavy Champion asserts his dominance with a win over the hungry Kenoh.
~ Nakajima said that he was pleased with what he seen today, but that everyone, even NOAH, needs to gain both strength and momentum to carry the future.
~ Kenoh declared that this is the last time that he and Nakajima will face, but next time he wants the GHC belt to ve in defense. That he will be the one to push forward this new era of NOAH.

Another long show, and another low turnout. Noah seems to have a problem with trimming matches, Go was in two matches which both went for nearly an hour in total. 

Out of all the companies I've watched (other than Big Japan) NOAH is the one I'm most interested in. Z1 has Sato and All Japan has some good uppercard, but the lower guys for those are pretty forgettable.