At sundown on June 25, 2026, Ashura began. Ashura is celebrated by many around the world as the day Noah’s Ark landed, after the great flood. That is your history lesson for the day and now it’s time for some wrestling history, or is it?
Stewart Fulton & Mark Pickering were on English commentary. “Welcome aboard the Ark!”
Pro Wrestling NOAH
Legacy Rise 2026
June 25, 2026
Korakuen Hall
Tokyo, Japan
Watch: Wrestle Universe
AMAKUSA, Stallion Rogers & Yoshiki Inamura def. Lykos Gym (Kid Lykos & Kid Lykos II) & Kenoh
This was a short opening tag highlighted by the interactions between AMAUKUSA & Lykos Gym. AMAKUSA got the win with a crucifix pin on Kid Lykos, and it looks like Lykos Gym will be sticking around for a while, which I am glad to hear. Rogers, on the other hand, announced that this was his last match in NOAH before he heads back to the US. All three men performed well on this tour and definitely earned a “spot,” in my opinion. Short & Sweet
Daiki Odashima, Hiroto Tsuruya, Midori Takahashi & Yuto Koyanagi def. Team 2000X (Alpha Wolf, Jun Masaoka, Tadasuke & Takashi Sugiura w/ Yoshi Tatsu) via DQ
We are on the road to Summer Epic 2026, where Odashima will compete in a 4-way ladder match, with Tadasuke’s spot in this year’s N-1 Victory on the line. Masaoka & Alpha Wolf are the other two men in that match, which actually makes it a 3-on-1, more than a 4-way, but Odashima is well aware of that. It didn’t take long before a ladder was introduced in this match, as Tadasuke was disqualified after hitting Odashima with the ladder he now brings to the ring with him. AMAKUSA ran down to the ring to assist Odashima and also requested that he be added to the ladder match at Summer Epic, to lend his aid, and possibly win the spot in the N-1. Story Driven
HAYATA & Katsumi Inahata def. Eita & Super Crazy
This was a preview tag as HAYATA pinned Super Crazy after a DDT, gaining momentum as he will soon challenge the newly crowned GHC Junior Heavyweight Champion Eita, on July 5. Short Preview
Team 2000X (Kai Fujimura, Masa Kitamiya & OZAWA w/ Yoshi Tatsu) def. All Rebellion (Alejandro & Kaito Kiyomiya) & Dragon Bane
Before the bell rang, it occurred to me how much I appreciate the clear heel/face dynamic in this match. I am as sick of the “black t-shirt” groups as the next guy, but seeing them across the ring from these three clear babyfaces made me dislike them just a little bit less, or a little bit more, if I am keeping with kayfabe. I enjoyed this match, even if it kind of fell apart a bit at the closing stretch. Alright
GHC National Title Match
Naomichi Marufuji (c) def. Shuji Kondo
These two haven’t gone one-on-one since their 2008 Tokyo Sports Match of the Year encounter back on November 3, 2008, for All Japan Pro Wrestling. In that match, Marufuji successfully defended the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title; this time, he defended NOAH’s “red strap,” and did so successfully in a really good match via submission. With a combined age of 94, these two had a hard-hitting, gritty match that included a Marufuji “Triple Jump Moonsault,” like it was still 2008. Marufuji is in the midst of a surprisingly good 2026 and has me invested in this National Title run. I was out on this title after the “OZAWA incident” last year, but I don’t want to discuss that as it will sour my mood after this match has boosted it. Is this match going to win any awards? No, but it exceeded my expectations, as Marufuji’s enjoyable run rolls on. Really Good
Following the match, Kenoh challenged Marufuji for a shot at the National Title, and that match will take place on July 18 at Summer Epic.
GHC Tag Team Title Match
Passionate RATEL’S (Manabu Soya & Yuki Iino) def. Los Tranquilos de Japon (BUSHI & Tetsuya Naito) (c)
It looks like history was made as PASSION Max won the GHC Tag Team Titles! I enjoyed this story as a whole, and it was executed perfectly. NOAH made a team, had them win the NEO Global Tag League, then go on to win the titles. They had a plan, and they stuck to it. The fans were invested and clearly happy with the results. Simple. Did Naito look great? Nope. Was the match a little shtick-heavy at times? Yes. But the right team won, the match was pretty good, and the closing stretch was very good. Good Stuff
Before Passion MAX could celebrate their victory, they were attacked by Team 2000X’s Masa Kitamiya & Takashi Sugiura, who were brandishing chairs. A challenge was issued and later made official for Summer Epic.
GHC Heavyweight Title Match
Shane Haste (c) def. Tetsuya Endo
The first Australian-born GHC Heavyweight Champion, Shane Haste, enters this match 54 days into his first reign as GHC Champion and is facing Tetsuya for the first time in singles competition. The match began with Endo twice refusing the extended hand of his faction mate, Shane Haste. Haste returned the favor by soon refusing Endo’s extended hand. It was then a show of one-upmanship, as they both tried to gain the favor of those in attendance in Korakuen Hall. Stoo said on commentary that “tonight, pressure creates either a stronger champion or a new one.” Now that is an incredible line! The champion and challenger made their way to the outside a few times, but they never outstayed their welcome. There were some gnarly-looking spots when they were on the floor, but they both managed to make it back inside in one piece. Most of the action was contained to the center of the ring where Endo came close on multiple occasions to pinning the champion. The closing stretch saw Haste try multiple times to pin Endo unsuccessfully. It took a “Bomb Valley Death,” to get the job done and end this match. Shane Haste’s streak of very good matches continued here, as he is on the run of his career, in my opinion. Very Good
After the match, OZAWA came to the ring to “translate” Haste’s post-match promo. His true intention was to challenge Haste for the GHC Heavyweight Title and that match will be taking place at NOAH’s biggest event of the summer, Summer Epic. I am glad to see Haste being challenged by someone outside of his faction, that is a clear heel. Because if you couldn’t tell already, I like good guys versus bad guys.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this was another good showing for NOAH in Korakuen Hall in 2026 and gets a thumbs up from me. The top three matches delivered or over-delivered and a lot was set up for future events including the big one on July 18. I will be back “with bells on” to review that show, as I may be turning into a “NOAH guy.” So long.
Upcoming NOAH Events
NOAH Legacy Rise 2026 (July 5, 2026)
- GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: Eita (c) vs HAYATA
- Singles Match: Kaito Kiyomiya vs. Alejandro
NOAH Lethal Odyssey Tour 2026 “Final Rumble in Shinjuku FACE”
- Tetsuya Naito vs. Daiki Odashima
NOAH Summer Epic 2026 (July 18, 2026)
- GHC Heavyweight Title Match: Shane Haste (c) vs. OZAWA
- GHC National Title Match: Naomichi Marufuji (c) vs. Kenoh
- GHC Tag Team Title Match: Manabu Soya & Yuki Iino (c) vs. Masa Kitamiya & Takashi Sugiura
- N-1 Victory 2026 Entry 5-Way Ladder Match: Tadasuke vs. Alpha Wolf vs. Jun Masaoka vs. TBA vs. TBA
- Daiki Odashima vs. AMAKUSA
- GHC Junior Heavyweight Title Match: Alejandro & Dragon Bane (c) vs. JACKY KAMEI & Riiita
- Singles Match: Tetsuya Naito vs. Kaito Kiyomiya
- Singles Match: Kazuyuki Fujita vs. Yoshiki Inamura
Listen to Voices of Wrestling’s NOAH & AJPW podcast: Emerald FlowShow!
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