When the Pro Wrestling NOAH Junior Heavyweight division was looking weak, an influx of names from Dragon Gate like Kzy would boost it back up to incredible levels. Just nine days ago, Kzy & YO-HEY would defeat Atsushi Kotoge & Seiki Yoshioka for the GHC Tag Team Championships, which was their first time as a tag team. Now they enter the hallowed grounds of the Nippon Budokan, as their teamwork will be tested by NOAH legend Yoshinari Ogawa and Eita of Dragon Gate.
After a high energy entrance from Kzy & YO-HEY got the fans excited for the action to come – ensuring they meet the hype that comes with such high billing on a show. For the Junior Tag Team Champions to go on after the GHC Tag Team Champions defending against legends like Marufuji & KENTA? This is a big chance for the champions and challengers to elevate the belts.
Yoshinari Ogawa Doesn’t Quite Trust Eita Yet
Eita would kick things off with YO-HEY, locking up in the middle of the ring – with neither man gaining ground. YO-HEY would avoid the single leg takedown, and nearly grabbed a hammerlock only for Eita to counter. Eita would trip YO-HEY up with a double leg lock, working on slowing one half of the champions down, but lost the grip. A fast paced exchange led to another stalemate, before YO-HEY took his time to taunt and tagged in Kzy.
Ogawa would get the tag from Eita – who he doesn’t quite trust yet. After all, they were previously sworn enemies – just with a common goal tonight. He’d succeed in tripping up Kzy and hitting a double stomp to the back. Arm wrench would follow, with Kzy doing The Worm to get free. Ogawa would refuse to play the games of Kzy, taking him down to the mat and stomping the arm.
Kzy hit the ropes and hit the jumping neckbreaker, sending Ogawa into a tag from Eita. An irish whip would be blocked, with Kzy grabbing a headlock. A rake to the eyes from Eita would follow, only for YO-HEY to get the tag. YO-HEY set up the Muta Lock, allowing Kzy to hit a dropkick to the jaw of Eita. Eita would gain back control, taking Kzy off the apron and tagging Ogawa into the match.
Ogawa hit a back elbow smash, letting Eita back into the ring for a rear chinlock. YO-HEY would be driven into the challenger’s corner shoulder first, with Ogawa coming back in. Kzy tried to make the save, but Ogawa stood tall in the middle of the ring. Eita would hit a snap suplex for a two count, YO-HEY kicking out.
New GHC Junior Heavyweight Champions Crowned
A backdrop driver from Ogawa would follow, before YO-HEY was able to land the dropkick in the middle of the ring. Kzy would get the much needed tag, hitting the ring with purpose, taking Ogawa & Eita down with swift strikes. Ogawa would take an European Uppercut and a brainbuster – setting up a dive from the top rope.
Kzy would miss the Kzy Time Frog Splash, and was thrown into the ring post. He’d counter a backdrop, before diving off the ropes with Ogawa blocking with a low blow… but Kzy jumped onto the knee, so it wasn’t a DQ. Eita would set up a suplex out of the corner and followed with a roundhouse kick and running double stomp for a two count.
Vertebreaker was blocked by Kzy, before Eita was dropped with a jumping forearm smash. YO-HEY hit the flying dropkick before a double knee smash on the ropes. Twist Of Fate landed, but Eita was able to kick out. Ogawa hit a cheap shot with a knee to the back, but Kzy hit a spear to keep Eita from gaining control.
A double team attempt from the champions accomplished very little, but a running Destroyer from Kzy would drop Eita. Ogawa dropped Kzy with a backdrop driver, before YO-HEY nearly got a KO off a stiff dropkick. YO-HEY dove off the top rope into an Imperial Uno superkick before the Trauma would end this match.
Eita & Ogawa are the new GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, the first title change of the show. This is the ninth reign with the belts for Ogawa, and second for Eita. Will they have a lengthy reign? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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