Pro Wrestling NOAH
Neo Global Tag League 2026 (Night 6)
June 2, 2026
Shinjuku FACE
Tokyo, Japan
Watch: Wrestle Universe
I am already feeling nostalgic as we enter the final summer before Shinjuku FACE closes its doors on September 30. With this beloved venue closing, I’ve heard that Kota Ibushi wants to build a new venue to fill the void. I hope nobody tells him about my idea to surround the ring with flaming spikes because if anyone on earth would think that was a good idea it’s him. I love Kota Ibushi, he is just a raving lunatic with no instincts for self-preservation.
Atsushi Kotoge & Hajime Ohara def. Alejandro & Hiroto Tsuruya
Tsuruya was an honorable mention in this year’s Voices of Wrestling 30 Under 30 list. VOW’s own Gerard Di Trolio wrote “Though it is still very early days in his career, Tsuruya has a real chance of being NOAH’s ace one day,” and I could not agree more with that statement. And I want to thank Gerard and Paul for their great work on the Emerald FlowShow Podcast. It has been a valuable asset in following NOAH & AJPW, amongst others, over the years, especially now.
This Shinjuku FACE crowd voiced their support for Kotoge & Ohara from the jump, and this was a really good opener. All four men looked great in this energy filled opening tag and was another shining example of why I believe NOAH’s tag team division would really benefit from just going openweight. I am all for tradition, but why would you intentionally hamstring a division over weight classes in 2026? It’s not like NOAH is stacked with super heavyweights. Anyway, Kotoge got the win after a “Killswitch” to Tsuruya. Again, this was a really good opener and one of my personal favorites so far on this tour. Good
Hi69 def. Black Menso-re
I will keep this short like the match itself. I am not a big fan of Black Menso-re, so his singles matches do nothing for me. It was a silly match where Hi69 thankfully got the win with the “European Clutch.” Silly
Los Tranquilos de Japon (BUSHI, RYUSEI & Tetsuya Naito) def. AMAKUSA, Daiki Odashima & Midori Takahashi
Takahashi & RYUSEI were the first two men in, with the crowd chanting “Midori” in support of one rookie over the other. Odashima was next in, and his boost in confidence sure has been noticeable as of late. He quickly nailed Naito, who was not the legal man and was minding his own business off the apron, sending him to the floor. This was all done much to the delight of the Tokyo crowd. The match then turned into a bit of chaos as they all began fighting on the floor, where Naito got a measure of revenge by whipping Odashima into the seats at ringside. The rest of the match was no nonsense with AMAKUSA, of course, all fired up, and the rookies standing their ground. RYUSEI got the submission win with an ankle lock on Takahashi that was locked in so deep that I was apparently heard by my son in the next room yelling “Tap, Tap!” I really liked this. Good Stuff
Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson), Stallion Rogers & Yoshiki Inamura def. Team 2000X (Jun Masaoka, Kai Fujimura, OZAWA & Tadasuke w/ Yoshi Tatsu)
During this match two things were evident, the first is that this crowd was not a fan of Team 2000X’s shenanigans and the second was that, as I’ve said before, Stallion Rogers & OZAWA have good chemistry. I know that it’s an odd request, but I want to see that singles match. This match though was ok, The Good Brothers got the win with a “Magic Killer,” to Jun Masaoka. Fine
Eita, Katsumi Inahata & KENTA def. Passionate RATEL’S (Manabu Soya & Yuki Iino) & Yuto Koyanagi
This was another fun opening tag that really put a nice spotlight on the young talent. Soya & Iino are also beginning to connect with the NOAH fans, and that is no surprise. The closing stretch between Inahata & Koyanagi was the clear highlight and took this match from okay to good. Inahata pinned Koyanagi after a couple of suplex variations, with one of them making me audibly gasp, as Koyanagi was dropped right on his head. Thank goodness for those traps and boulder shoulders of Koyanagi. Good
Neo Global Tag League 2026 (Block A Match)
White Raven Squad (HAYATA & Tetsuya Endo) [4] def. Team 2000X (Masa Kitamiya & Takashi Sugiura w/ Yoshi Tatsu) [2]
The fans in Tokyo were behind Endo here as he prepares for his GHC Title match against Shane Haste on June 25, in Korakuen Hall. The match went to the outside early and for the 2nd & 3rd time this evening I saw wrestlers thrown into the seating at ringside. I am trying hard not to continually complain about the same thing, but it’s difficult. The worst part for me is thinking that these rookies, with all of their promise, are watching and thinking “I should start doing that!” The match did get better though once they got back inside the ring, especially when Endo was in there. He really has reminded me on this tour; how much I like him as a worker. I remember so distinctly how peeved I was when Nakajimi “shoot” knocked Endo out. Honestly though, I would still like Nakajima back in NOAH, if he doesn’t knock people out, of course. And while we are at it, let’s throw in Hayabusa, Junya Matsunaga & Masato Tanaka, sorry Zero1 fans. The crowd got into this, and it was solid enough despite the wonky finish, with Hayata reversing Sugiura and rolling him up for the pin. Okay
Neo Global Tag League 2026 (Block A Match)
Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II) [2] def. All Rebellion (Harutoki & Kaito Kiyomiya) [2]
Every wrestler in this match is under 30-years-old and Kiyomiya even made the VOW 30 Under 30 list at #22. Lykos Gym is a very smooth moving tag team, and they seem very happy to be in NOAH, which is important. Both teams worked well opposite each other, especially Kiyomiya & Lykos. It is also possible that they go to the same barber, but that is for a different review. This match, of course, ended up outside the ring but at least Lykos Gym made it exciting with a “Topé con Hilo” from Lykos 2 & a moonsault from Lykos I. This match resembled a junior heavyweight tag match, complete with a near fall sequence towards the end. Lykos Gym has been one of the MVPs of this tournament, Kiyomiya looked good, as always, and the more I see of Harutoki the more I enjoy watching him. Lykos Gym got the upset win when Kid Lykos hit Harutoki with a double knee strike, Kid Lykos II then trapped him in a cradle for the pin. Lykos Gym have picked up their first 2 points as All Rebellion remains at 2. That was definitely one of the best matches of the tournament so far. Well Done
Final Thoughts
Every promotion needs to focus on building young talent, but in my opinion, NOAH needs to focus the most of all. NOAH needs a reboot, and they have the talent to do so right now. It would be nice to snatch a few talents from the indies out there to help the process, but a match like the main event shines a light on the potential of this promotion. I am not sure how Big Damo & Nikki Storm’s acquisition of PROGRESS Wrestling will affect the relationship between the two companies but if I was NOAH I would try and strengthen it. PROGRESS regulars like Lykos Gym, Michael Oku, Luke Jacobs, Jay Joshua and Man Like DeRiess would be great additions to this roster, even as part timers. This was the second-best night of this tour so far, behind Night 4 in Korokuen Hall.
Pro Wrestling NOAH
Neo Global Tag League 2026 (Night 7)
June 3, 2026
Hodogaya Public Hall
Yokohama, Japan
Watch: Wrestle Universe
AMAKUSA & Yuto Koyanagi def. Hiroto Tsuruya & Kenoh
When NOAH announced this opener, I knew immediately that at the very least, I would enjoy it. First, I’m a big fan of rookies getting in there and just wrestling. Second, I am, of course, a fan of Kenoh and his “gatekeeping” ways. Kenoh suggested recently, after the announcement of NJPW’s sale to TV Asahi/CyberAgent, that there should be no interaction between NOAH & NJPW wrestlers and that the New Japan roster should start calling him “Big Brother.” How could you not love this guy? And third, AMAKUSA is one of the most exciting wrestlers to watch on earth, in my opinion.
The match itself was, of course, better in theory than in actuality. I mean it was an opening tag in front of 318 people, what was I expecting? AMAKUSA pinned Tsuruya after a tope rope “450.” Fine & Dandy
Atsushi Kotoge, Hajime Ohara & Hi69 def. Team 2000X (Jun Masaoka, OZAWA & Tadasuke w/ Yoshi Tatsu)
Well, recently I said that I would like to see more disqualifications if these wrestlers are going to insist on doing whatever they want and we actually got one! Of course, the referee didn’t have much of a choice as Tatsu came into the ring and broke Ohara’s submission hold on Tadasuke by hitting him multiple times with his cane, but beggars can’t be choosers. This one was under seven minutes and not much happened. Meh
After the match, as Team 2000X was still beating on Ohara, Daiki Odashima ran out to make the save but soon he was on the receiving end of a Team 2000X assault. Kaito Kiyomiya & Alejando quickly ran down to even up the odds but soon after, the rest of Team 2000X came down and they all brawled throughout the Hall until it turned into an official 12-Man Tag Team Match. Ok, I figured out the mystery of who is booking NOAH these days, it’s Paul Heyman! Just kidding.
Team 2000X (Jun Masaoka, Kai Fujimura, Masa Kitamiya, OZAWA, Tadasuke & Takashi Sugiura w/ Yoshi Tatsu) def. All Rebellion (Alejandro & Kaito Kiyomiya), Atsushi Kotoge, Daiki Odashima, Hajime Ohara & Hi69
This match was simply an extension of the previous match’s post-match. It repeatedly broke down into chaos with all men fighting at once. If I didn’t know any better, I would say we were headed towards an Anarchy in the Arena! Tadasuke pinned Odashima after a running knee. In backstage comments, Odashima said that “this wasn’t the kind of wrestling that made him a fan and that he was going to get much stronger and get payback.” Meh Part 2
Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II) & Eita def. Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) & Midori Takahashi
One thing that stood out during this match was that the support for Lykos Gym from the NOAH faithful is getting stronger, most likely helped by their victory over All Rebellion the night before and their performance so far on this tour. They continued their streak of good showings, as this match was pretty good. At one-point Gallows got “stuck” between the stage next to the ring and the ring itself and while that was happening Kid Lykos made Takahashi tap to arm submission to his left arm which was taped up. Pretty Good
Los Tranquilos de Japon (BUSHI, RYUSEI & Tetsuya Naito) def. White Raven Squad (HAYATA & Tetsuya Endo) & Black Menso-re
This was a “house show special” that got a little silly. The focus of the match early on, was trying to make Endo look strong as the #1 contender for the GHC Title. There was nothing much else of interest, Bushi did tap out Menso-re, so I enjoyed that, at least. House Show Special
Neo Global Tag League 2026 (Block B Match)
Passionate RATEL’S (Manabu Soya & Yuki Iino) [6] def. Katsumi Inahata & KENTA [0]
The initial stages of this match were simply the power duo of Soya & Iino dominating the young Inahata, who refused to lay down. Passion Max made quick and officiant tags, keeping Inihaya on their side of the ring. When he was able to tag KENTA in, the tides turned, and Passion Max was on the defensive. Once tagged back in, we got to see Inahata’s offensive flurry, and I was once again impressed. Passion Max got the win after a “Passion IS” to Inahata, as their momentum continues to build, standing at 6 points. Unfortunately for KENTA and Inahata, they have yet to gain a single point so far. But what they have lacked in victory, they have gained in a good learning experience for Inahata. Solid
Neo Global Tag League 2026 (Block B Match)
Kazuyuki Fujita & Mohammed Yone [2] def. Stallion Rogers & Yoshiki Inamura [4]
This match began with Fujita twice refusing Inamura’s attempt at a handshake. The two then exchanged hard forearms, followed by a series of hard shoulder blocks. It was clear that Fujita still looks down on “Mr. Smack Daddy,” and was not in the mood to put up with any disrespect. This was the focus of the main event, two hosses trying to beat the crap out of each other. Rogers looked good again here, and he was giving as good as he was taking. If I had to guess, Rogers is hoping to get a job out of his performance on this tour, and if I was NOAH, I would give him one. I would insist though that we find a new look for him, as he comes across a bit generic. Maybe he could wrestle in a sweater as Mr. Rogers! Just kidding, please don’t. Just put him in a mask and call him Invader #82 or something, wrestling isn’t that hard. As far as Yone, he was Yone, and I mean that as a compliment.
Yone got the pin on Invader #82, after a “Kinniku Buster,” in a match that I thoroughly enjoyed, to pick up their first 2 points. After the match, Inamura once again extended his hand to Fujita, who was bleeding from the mouth, and Fujita once again refused the gesture. Fujita then slapped Inamura and a brawl ensued. Rookies, and Yone broke up the fight as these two bulls did not want to stop clashing. Inamura then challenged Fujita to a match and Fujita accepted. They got me, I’m hooked, I want to see this match! Really Good Stuff
Final Thoughts
With only 5 nights remaining, Soya & Iino lead the B Block with 6 points as Block A have 3 teams tied as leaders with 4 points each. The main event match and angle after were a highlight of this tour so far and got me excited for the upcoming match between Inamura and Fujita!
A Block
- Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI (L.T.J./Los Tranquilos de Japon) [GHC Tag Team Champions] [4]
- Kaito Kiyomiya & Harutoki (Kaisei/All Rebellion) [2]
- Tetsuya Endo & HAYATA (Elegant Darkness/White Raven Sqwad) [4]
- Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows (The Good Brothers) [4]
- Kid Lykos I & Kid Lykos II (Lykos Gym) [2]
- Masa Kitamiya & Takashi Sugiura (God’s Chairmen/Team 2000X) [2]
B Block
- Naomichi Marufuji & KENOH (MaruKEN) [4]
- Yoshiki Inamura & Stallion Rogers (Sunsetters) [4]
- Kazuyuki Fujita & Muhammad Yone (Beast Funkies) [2]
- KENTA & Katsumi Inahata (TMP Sqwad) [0]
- Manabu Soya & Yuki Iino (Passion Max/Passion Ratels) [6]
- OZAWA & Tadasuke (Real Outcasts/Team 2000X) [2]
