Wrestle Odyssey, one of Pro Wrestling NOAH’s biggest shows of the year, was held at the Ryogoku Sumo Hall today in Japan. NJPW was represented in the card by Hiroshi Tanahashi and reigning GHC Jr. Heavyweight champion Hiromu Takahashi in high-profile matches.
Both men were on the winning side, with Tanahashi tasting victory in his final match in the emerald green ring alongside NOAH’s own Kaito Kiyomiya. On the other hand, Takahashi had his second successful defense of the GHC Jr. title against Eita.
Tanahashi And Kiyomiya Team Up
The Ace teamed up with the Supernova against two of NOAH’s big-time players in Kenoh and Naomichi Marufuji. The two came out on top, proving their first-time partnership to be legit.
Kiyomiya came to NJPW himself at Destruction almost two weeks ago to ask Tanahashi to wrestle in NOAH before he retires in January. NOAH paired them up and had them face two of their all-time best.
After the match, Kiyomiya gave Tanahashi his appreciation and also announced that he will hold his 10th debut anniversary show in December at Korakuen Hall. The two walked together to the back, all smiles.
Takahashi Prevails Over Eita, Miyawaki Steps Up to Challenge
The Time Bomb defeated two-time GHC Jr. Heavyweight champion Eita, successfully defending the same title for a second time after beating another one of its former holders, Taiji Ishimori, in NJPW at Destruction. He did not need to look further for his next challenger, as Junta Miyawaki stepped up to the plate. However, Takahashi did not want to put the title on the line against him. He conducted a “public approval rating survey” of Miyawaki’s challenge, to which the fans in attendance responded with boos.
Instead, the champion told Miyawaki that he would give him a title opportunity if he earned it. To do so, Miyawaki would have to beat him first in a non-title match at NOAH’s next Korakuen Hall show.
Miyawaki got his first taste of gold in his eight-year career last March when he became GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team champions with AMAKUSA, who is one of Takahashi’s former tag team partners, but he only had one successful defense.
