{"id":108557,"date":"2022-01-22T10:00:12","date_gmt":"2022-01-22T15:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=108557"},"modified":"2022-01-22T10:05:11","modified_gmt":"2022-01-22T15:05:11","slug":"njpw-vs-noah-whats-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2022\/01\/22\/njpw-vs-noah-whats-next\/","title":{"rendered":"NJPW vs NOAH: Where Do We Go From Here?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

The rebirth of New Japan Pro-Wrestling<\/strong> and Pro Wrestling NOAH\u2019s<\/strong> relationship in the back end of 2021 posed a great prospect. Their shared Wrestle Kingdom 16<\/em><\/strong> in Yokohama Arena show was set up to be the defining moment in what could evolve to be a treasured alliance. While the show didn\u2019t live up to admittedly lofty standards, the same grand prospects regarding NJPW vs NOAH remain.<\/p>\r\n

I\u2019ve been contemplating whether or not to write about the New Japan and NOAH joint, supposed \u201csupershow\u201d card on January 8th since it happened. Billed under the lauded Wrestle Kingdom<\/em> banner, the show promised to be a card fitting of being called a \u201csupershow\u201d, but instead, we were royally underwhelmed.<\/p>\r\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/njpwglobal\/status\/1480494634862190594?s=20<\/p>\r\n

NJPW vs NOAH – The Road Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

Following the Announced Supercard<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

When the initial announcement was made, I wrote very excitedly about the dream match potential and world-beating possibilities of an alliance revived<\/a> between Japan\u2019s two most premier promotions. However, that whirlwind of excitement didn\u2019t withstand the disappointing thud of the card being presented to us. Instead of a flurry of singles matches topping an undercard of tag matches, the card saw tag team matches top to bottom; not quite how it was built before the card became realized.<\/p>\r\n

This is where the overwhelming disappointment stemmed from, as the build was dominated by singles pairings – Shingo Takagi<\/strong> vs Katsuhiko Nakajima<\/strong>, Hiroshi Tanahashi<\/strong> vs Keiji Muto<\/strong>, Kazuchika Okada<\/strong><\/a> vs Kaito Kiyomiya<\/strong>. Even though we got to see these pairings in tag team form, it was fundamentally an underwhelming announcement when these came to fruition outside of one-on-one battles. The drama and specialty that important, main-event level singles matches give can\u2019t quite be matched by multi-man tags, which is essentially the problem of the NJPW vs NOAH Wrestle Kingdom 16<\/em> show.<\/p>\r\n

It wasn\u2019t a \u201csupershow\u201d level card by any means, as dream matches were nowhere to be seen. Instead, we sat through bizarre combinations in inconsequential tag matches before eventually reaping rewards for our investment in the top 3 matches.<\/p>\r\n

The Top Matches of NJPW vs NOAH Event<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

First, Zack Sabre Jr.<\/strong> and Yoshinobu Kanemura\u2019s<\/strong> historically influenced limb-work war with Naomichi Marufuji<\/strong> and Yoshinari Ogawa<\/strong> took place. Afterward, fans saw the chaotically fun Los Ingobernables de Japon<\/strong> and KONGO<\/strong> clash, before Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi rounded out the show against Keiji Muto and Kaito Kiyomiya (a truly star-defining performance for Kiyomiya).<\/p>\r\n

The trudging undercard gave the headline matches a true uphill battle if they were to pull off a rescue job, but at least in part, the key matches left a lasting impression. It was the co-main events of LIJ vs KONGO and the star-studded show closer that proposed the most promising signs of more exciting things to come from the alliance. Despite the mostly underwhelming nature of the card, it did promise more noteworthy crossover to come.<\/p>\r\n

The essence of this article is to look at where we go from here. The fiery announcement followed by the uninspired card and inconsistent show means the revived alliance hasn\u2019t quite lived up to expectations. However, we must remember, it isn\u2019t over yet.<\/p>\r\n

The seeds have been sown, now we have to see them grow.<\/p>\r\n

LIJ victorious over Kongo as the struggle for #prowrestlingpower<\/a> between Kenoh, Nakajima, Naito and Takagi take center stage

https:\/\/t.co\/A9bY1BgRoU<\/a>

Watch the replay now!
https:\/\/t.co\/QRefrXH41E<\/a> \u2026#njpw<\/a> #noah_ghc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yQOlx0Fhzm<\/a><\/p>— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) January 9, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>