Last week was very busy for the recently formed Cyber Fight alliance which includes Pro-Wrestling NOAH (NOAH), Dramatic Dream Team (DDT), and Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW).
This was all capped off with the announcement that NOAH’s recently crowned GHC Heavyweight Champion, Keiji Muto, be defending the title against former champion Kaito Kiyomiya on 3/14 at NOAH GREAT VOYAGE 2021 IN FUKUOKA.
There was also an interesting bit of foreshadowing from the 58-year-old legend Keiji Mutoh about defending the GHC Heavyweight title in the U.S.
Muto on Defending the GHC Heavyweight Championship
In a translated press conference clip tweeted by TNAmarkFromIndia, Keiji Muto mentioned that a company in America—IMPACT Wrestling—contacted him about wrestling for them.
Given Muto’s demeanor and the translation, he acknowledges that he is getting older and would like to retain the belt while also remaining injury-free.
While the statement got some chuckles from those in attendance his challenger remained stoic. That was the more modest Muto. In discussing his plans for the belt and mentioning IMPACT, there was a degree of confidence that he would retain on 3/14.
As a matter of fact, even going into his plans for the belt—which included defending it in Taiwan and his drawing ability there—hints that he believes he can beat Kiyomiya.
Could Keiji Muto Defend In IMPACT Wrestling?
So, what of IMPACT Wrestling? Could we see him in a TNA/IMPACT ring again? The last time he was active with the company was at a crossover show with House of Hardcore in June 2019.
Before that, it was in 2015 for a TNA One Night Only event. Muto coming in for a match—likely as The Great Muta—would be well within his recently signed contract with Pro Wrestling NOAH.
At his age, it’s expected he’ll do major singles matches and probably the “special” or “skirmish” tag matches. After all, you do want your champion visible.
Muto has always been one to push for working agreements and some degree of cross-promotion as talent and as leadership. His ties and status to the American wrestling scene would only benefit NOAH, Cyber Fight, and IMPACT Wrestling.
As for contenders, Eddie Edwards, Willie Mack, and Sami Callihan would all be interesting matches. However, I can see it going in the direction of Eric Young or Moose easily.
That is unless there’s some cross-cross-promotion with an All Elite Wrestling star. This would make for a weird daisy-chain way to have the belt appear elsewhere.
It’s important to note that if a defense did occur, it could happen before the scheduled 3/14 defense. That could point to either Muto getting a tomato can for the defense or the 3/14 card changing and a potential IMPACT Wrestling vs. All Japan showdown.
Who would you like to see Muto face in IMPACT Wrestling?
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