Pro Wrestling NOAH began the 2-day MAJESTIC 2022 blowout event today with the monthly N INNOVATION event, the new monthly series spotlighting the promotion’s deep Jr. Heavyweight division with their biggest event so far.
Today’s event was held at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in English. Remember there is now a new trial option that allows new subscribers to watch for 2 weeks FOR FREE! Cancel before the end of day 13 (Japan time) and pay nothing. Take advantage!
The announced paid attendance was 1585. There are still capacity limits in place but still, as has often been the case with their big shows lately, on paper that does not sound like a good number.
Match 1: Ikuto Hidaka beat Kai Fujimura by submission.
Match 2: Slex beat Yasutaka Yano.
Match 3: Kotaro Suzuki vs. Yuya Susumu went to a 20 minute time limit draw.
Match 4: NOSAWA Rongai, Texano Jr. & Super Crazy beat Tadasuke, Hajime Ohara & Shuji Kondo (Big Japan). Texano pinned Tadasuke after Road To Texas.
Match 5: In a Loser Ring Deprivation Match, also possibly a Hair vs. Hair Match as well, Haoh beat Nioh. As a result, Nioh loses his ring name, and possibly his hair. (Will verify when I watch a replay later today)
Match 6: Extreme Tiger beat Seiki Yoshioka.
Match 7: Shun Skywalker, H•Y•O & SB KENTo (Dragon Gate) beat Daisuke Harada, Alejandro & Junta Miyawaki. Skywalker pinned Alejandro after SSW.
Match 8: Ninja Mack beat Alpha Wolf & Dragon Bane in a 3-way elimination match. Bane first eliminated Wolf, then Mack beat Bane.
Match 9: Yoshinari Ogawa & Chris Ridgeway beat GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Atsushi Kotoge & YO-HEY to win the titles. Ogawa & Ridgeway become the 50th GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champions. Ridgeway beat Kotoge with a stretch muffler hold.
Main Event: HAYATA beat GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Eita to win the title. HAYATA becomes the 49th GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion.
Detailed match recaps & grades will follow later today. But for now it’s all about Stinger as they have the belts back.
Day 2 is tomorrow with a regular event. And it’s now official-the main event will be Go Shiozaki vs. Kaito Kiyomiya for the vacant GHC Heavyweight Championship. Kiyomiya was to have been in a tag team match with Naomichi Marufuji, who will now have the vaunted TBA as a replacement. Live streaming on WRESTLE UNIVERSE will begin TONIGHT at 11 PM PT/2 AM ET. So you dedicated fans should stock up on caffeine now and, between WWE, AEW, Tokyo Joshi Pro and this, get ready for an all-night epic wrestling marathon!
The next N INNOVATION will be on 5/14 at Yokohama Radiant Hall in Yokohama. The first match was announced after today’s event, it’s Harada vs. H•Y•O.
