At Sunday’s Pro Wrestling NOAH Great Voyage in Yokohama Vol. 2, history was made as NOAH crowned a new GHC Heavyweight Champion in 22-year old Kaito Kiyomiya. But it was a busy night for new champions, as NOAH saw the crowning of new GHC Tag Team and Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, as well as a new GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion. GHC (Global Honored Crown) is the governing body of NOAH (similar to how IWGP – International Wrestling Grand Prix – is the governing body of NJPW).
応援本当にありがとうございました。
やっとスタートラインに立つ事が出来た。
これから思いっきり駆け上がるぞ！！#noah_ghc #世代闘争 @PKDX pic.twitter.com/2jHauICLdX
— 清宮 海斗 (@noah_kiyomiya) December 16, 2018
Kaito Kiyomiya officially became the new face of Pro Wrestling NOAH on Sunday, when at 22 years old, he became the youngest man to ever hold NOAH’s top singles title (beating Naomichi Marufuji‘s record of 26 years old by a wide margin). He also set a new record for the fastest run to win the title from their NOAH debut, but winning it in his fourth year (he debuted in 2015). This was Kiyomiya’s first full time year with NOAH in 2018, as he spent much of 2017 on an excursion to Canada for the NOAH Young Boy to train further. He trained with IMPACT Wrestling‘s Scott D’Amore at the Can-Am Wrestling School in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and spent last year working for D’Amore’s Border City Wrestling, as well as Smash Wrestling, Destiny Wrestling, and Canadian Wrestling Elite (CWE). He also worked several tapings for IMPACT Wrestling, appearing on episodes of Xplosion. He came back to NOAH with some thunder, and captured the GHC Tag Team titles this past spring alongside Go Shiozaki (who incidentally held the record for quickest GHC Championship win from debut at five years, debuting in 2004 and winning first title in 2009).
CONGRATULATIONS to Can-Am Wrestling School Alumnus @noah_kiyomiya on becoming the youngest @noah_ghc Heavyweight Champion ever!!! We couldn't be prouder! pic.twitter.com/0OW2S4nSWD
— Border City Wrestling (@bcwonline) December 16, 2018
The GHC Heavyweight Championship wasn’t the only title that changed hands on Sunday, as NOAH’s entire championship tree changed hands. Daisuke Harada defeated Kotaro Suzuki for his third GHC Junior Heavyweight title.
https://twitter.com/Hi5ame/status/1074452073192796162
It’s been a topsy-turvy week for the GHC Tag Team titles, as Marufuji & Akitoshi Saito‘s GHC Tag titles were vacated at the end of November, and won by Go Shiozaki & Katsuhiko Nakajima in a tournament final just over a week ago on the first night of NOAH Winter Navigation. But only 9 days later, and The Hooligans (Maybach Taniguchi & Yuji Hino) have won their first GHC Tag Team titles.
(NOAH) Violent army "Hooligans" take the GHC Tag Throne
Translated article from Tokyo Sports https://t.co/ICm8kV9kHF#noah_ghc #NOAHtheLIVE #Hi5ame pic.twitter.com/Z5bE20d6sp
— Pro-Wrestling Noah Eng (Hisame, 冰雨) (@Hi5ame) December 17, 2018
The GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team titles also changed hands as The Back Breakers (Hajime Ohara & Hitoshi Kumano) defeated Hi69 & Minoru Tanaka.
https://twitter.com/PKDX/status/1074295633807327232
It also marked the final NOAH appearance for UK Legend Doug Williams, who is finishing up the dates of his retirement tour before the end of the year.
(NOAH) Doug William's post match interview
"My opponent was one who was filled with memories, and he added it to it by focusing on my knee at one point which was hurting a while ago. That is truly Ogawa"https://t.co/4mmznEmXpZ#noah_ghc #NOAHtheLIVE #Hi5ame #BritWres pic.twitter.com/MMH9ggO4cB
— Pro-Wrestling Noah Eng (Hisame, 冰雨) (@Hi5ame) December 17, 2018
