When Kenoh was announced to be wrestling Kaito Kiyomiya tonight for the GHC Heavyweight Championship – he was excited to finally get his main event match in the iconic Nippon Budokan arena… only to have it stolen by Great Muta & Shinsuke Nakamura. This is the type of thing that makes someone like Kenoh or Kiyomiya extra motivated to steal the entire show. Kenoh even apologised to the likes of Kenta Kobashi and the late Mitsuharu Misawa, saying this match lets the legacy of the belt down
Kiyomiya won the N-1 Victory tournament in 2022 to earn his shot at Kenoh, winning the GHC Heavyweight Championship in the process. After successful defences against hard competition in Kazuyuki Fujita and Timothy Thatcher – Kiyomiya now must face Kenoh again, on the biggest possible stage. He has grown a lot in the past year, being the final protege of Muto and adopting the Shining Wizard as a finisher, and will look to show how far that he’s come.
Kaito Kiyomiya Risks It All With A Massive Dive
These two rivals would lock up in the middle of the ring with Kiyomiya grabbing a wrist lock. Kenoh would gain control of the hold, but only briefly before being taken down to the mat and ending up in a headlock. He’d try to reverse the hold, but instead had to shove Kiyomiya off the ropes and dropped him with a roundhouse kick.
Some mocking kicks to the neck would follow, firing Kiyomiya up. A snapmare put Kenoh down for the Flashing Elbow Drop. Kiyomiya looked for a springboard out of the corner, with Kenoh instead catching him with a German Suplex. Kenoh would notice Kiyomiya rolling to the floor, and nailing a slingshot foot stomp.
Kiyomiya would be thrown into the barricades before being rolled into the ring – only getting a one count. Double knee drop would keep Kiyomiya on the defensive, and some forearm smashes from the champion had little behind them due to a lack of breath. Kenoh nailed a knee to the midsection to take Kiyomiya down again, before stomping him into the corner.
Kiyomiya was able to send Kenoh to the apron, and hit a springboard forearm smash to send his challenger to the floor. Finally with a moment to breathe, Kiyomiya would launch himself over the turnbuckle and right onto Kenoh on the floor, a daring stunt with lots of risk. Back in the ring, a missile dropkick would land, getting a two count.
Shining Wizard was avoided with Kenoh nearly applying an ankle lock, but Kiyomiya slipped free. Kiyomiya threw uppercuts as Kenoh threw kicks, getting kicked in the neck and falling off the ropes, coming back with a Misawa style rolling elbow for a double down. Hitting his feet first, Kiyomiya hit a dropkick and German Suplex for a two count.
Kenoh Will Take Out Kiyomiya Permanently If That’s What It Takes
Kiyomiya would nail an early Shining Wizard, only getting a two count. A second would be blocked into a Rear Naked Choke, with Kiyomiya able to shift into a pinfall for two. Kenoh would hit the Bicycle Kick, only to be taken down with the Flying Knee and a Tiger Suplex for the two count. Kiyomiya is not holding back tonight, looking to take out Kenoh early.
An Avalanche Tiger Suplex would be set up, with Kenoh fighting free using some headbutts. Kenoh would keep the headbutts coming, setting up a Falcon Arrow from the top rope – with Kiyomiya landing on his left arm and spine as he crashed onto the apron. Kenoh smelled blood in the water, and hit the diving flying double stomp for a near fall, the champion not giving up yet.
Kiyomiya would be slammed down with the Moonsault Knee Drop avoided, with Kenoh nearly being pinned with a Frankensteiner. Kenoh would lock in a Rear Naked Choke, but was too close to the ropes – leading to an easy rope break for the champion. A trio of PK’s would land, with each one just firing Kiyomiya up.
Kiyomiya Pulls Out A Deadly Finishing Combo
Dragon Suplex from Kenoh was blocked, but a slap to the face was not. Kenoh went for the Dragon Suplex again, with Kiyomiya landing on his feet and hitting a Shining Wizard to the back of the neck. A second Shining Wizard would follow, the knee hitting Kenoh in the face – but not being enough to end this match.
Kenoh would apply the sleeper hold once again, and Kiyomiya again fought free before folding to a kick. Kiyomiya would duck a high kick and nail the Poisonrana, before a Tiger Suplex would be turned into a Sit Out Driver. Feeding off the energy of the fans, Kiyomiya would focus in on his opponent, nailing a massive Shining Wizard for the win.
This marks the third successful defense of Kiyomiya in this reign, and he was able to show a new edge – taking down one of his biggest rivals in under twenty minutes. The path back to the top for Kenoh will not be an easy one after this match, with Kiyomiya proving that he belongs on top of Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Will Kaito Kiyomiya remain champion for the full year? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40Kj6nMaaB8
