Friday 27 July 2018

Emerald Flowsion


Mitsuharu Misawa's finisher of which himself had innovated. Technically a powerslam, it had two variations, sometimes it was from the second rope, or it was preceeded by a firemans carry. In short the opponent was lifted on to the right shoulder with the opponents head upside down and facing the mat.
The name comes from the image of the opponent falling to the mat under a green waterfall.

Variations
Samoa Joe - Island Driver
Eddie Edwards - Die Hard Flowsion

Wednesday 13 June 2018

Grand Sword


Theme music of Kenta Kobashi, composed in 1998 by Osamu Suzuki.

Kenta Kobashi first used the theme on June 12th 1998 in All Japan when he won the Triple Crown for the second time.
There are four versions.

"Big Match Version"
Slow version of "GRAND SWORD", which he used for his entire All Japan run.

"Version III"
A mix of theme song "Burning". This theme was used early on in Noah during the match against Jun Akiyama for the inaugural show.

"NOAH Version"
This was first used in 2001 and combined the "Big Match Version", it has been rarely used since 2001.

"Full Version"
Kenta Kobashi used this for his return in February 2002 until the GHC Heavyweight match against Mitsuharu Misawa in March 2003, and then again on July 18th 2005 against Kensuke Sasaki. This theme was only used for big matches.

Saturday 12 May 2018

NoahFul Gift

The newly revived "NoahFul Gift 2017"

Formerly known as "NoahFUL Gift in Differ" (and sometimes "Fan Appreciation" or "Fan Thanksgiving Festival") this is the name given to the end of year show which takes place after the final night of Winter Navigation, and usually during late December\early January when Japan rests for a week during New Year.
These shows are fun, all rivalries and story lines are forgotten, and like the Halloween show, wrestlers dress up. Memorably one year, Misawa appeared in blue (ironically the color of All Japan) as opposed to his usual green, in a match against Takashi Sugiura, he ended up sitting in the crowd and a little child offered him some water.

In yesteryear it was also the time when Noah held a flea market in which they sold their own old ring wear. Due to Noah's difficulties these did not take place during the dark years, but was revived again in 2017. In yesteryear these were far more full on with a lottery, talk shows, photo sessions and dojo Chanko served.

Genba's pants
Genba Hirayanagi (retired September 2016) said he was going to turn up in the pants in the picture above. Naomichi Marufuji said that was what was known as obstruction of business, while Takashi Sugiura pointed out that no one was going to want to buy those.

Sunday 1 April 2018

"Jaw"


This comes originally from New Japan and means basically Antonio Inoko.

Amongst Noah fans it meant Jun Akiyama...there was something about the dimple in his chin which reminded people of Inoki, and no one could help but look even though they wanted to look away (he has a beard now and so has covered it).

Sunday 25 February 2018

Satoko's Room

Kenoh on "Satoko's Room" in September 2015 doing a rare moment of comedy.

"Satoko's Room" is a comedy talk show created by Noah and hosted by the exuberant Satoko (Mohammed Yone, although in the credits she is listed as a "friend of Mohammed Yone"). It is filmed in Tokyo at Yone's restaurant "Yoneya".
Satoko's name comes from Yone's real surname "Satoshi" while the restaurant comes from his first name "Yoneyama".

Production values are not great; it is done in front of a static camera, and unfortunately the microphones do not always carry the sound well. The episodes tend to be loud and full of Satoko shrieking or singing, and the staff in the background talking and laughing loudly. Unfortunately everyone tends to talk over each other at times. That said, the episodes are entertaining, and various wrestlers (not just Noah) have appeared on them. Satoko has also hosted events in Tokyo outside of the restaurant.

The episodes usually start with Marilyn Monroe singing "I wanna be loved by you" and fade to an image of Satoko posing, she then winks and it star fades out and cuts to the episode.

Noah guests have included: Kenoh, Go Shiozaki, Kaito Kiyomiya (pre-expedition and after returning), Hajime Ohara, Atsushi Kotoge and Masao Inoue (who sadly didn't do anything like fall over a chair, knock the camera or cause the pictures to fall off of the walls). Yone usually announces the next guest on either his official Twitter, or the official Twitter for the restaurant. Episodes are sporadic and there is no schedule of filming as of course it needs to take into account Yone's schedule, that of the guest and the restaurant availability (it shuts on the day of filming).

Link to official YouTube channel
Link to official Twitter (Satoko)
Link to FreshLive TV (episodes not on YouTube)
Link to official Twitter (Mohammed Yone)

Monday 29 January 2018

SEM & NOAH the HOME


Sem (named after Noah's eldest son) was founded in 2006 by Mitsuharu Misawa (ironically the biblical Sem was said to have died at the age of 600 years), was a smaller satellite promotion of Noah that showcased the trainee\rookies in Noah's dojo. Naomichi Marufuji and KENTA worked as the head trainers and they, along with other Noah wrestlers (and those of outside promotions) would make appearances at the shows.
Misawa created Sem after seeing the wXw Academy when he was in Germany, and he would often sit and watch from the balcony. Being only what amounted to a televised house show, there were no separate SEM titles, and neither where any Noah championships ever defended at the events (although Noah champions did make appearances from time to time).

The shows were smaller and more intimate and were held at Differ Ariake, Tokyo, where Noah had their offices and dojo at the time. Rather than aiming to sell out the arena, (which they knew they couldn't do for this), Noah aimed to sell only one hundred seats which were placed closer to the ring that you would have in a normal Noah show. The colors of SEM where also changed to purple, and it functioned as an entity in its own right with different logo, music and format from Noah.

Due to money issues and Noah entering in their dark years, Sem was disbanded in 2015. 


NOAH the HOME
During the coronavirus pandemic, Noah hit upon the old formula of holding shows geared around their younger roster without any storylines or titles being defended, and in this manner the dojo shows were born again. First broadcast on YouTube in June 2021 from the Noah dojo in Saitama (Noah having moved out of Differ Ariake about five years ago or so), they gradually took on a formula of special guests (usually either their trainers or veterans), with Junta Miyawaki and Yasutaka Yano presenting special shows to announce the next series. Fans were also encouraged to donate money which would go towards maintaining the dojo, and as an extra incentive for both wrestler and viewer, this money would buy a member of the roster a gift should they be nominated as MVP. 

The shows moved from YouTube to WrestleUniverse in October 2021. 

Thursday 25 January 2018

Hi69 (name meaning)



Hi69's real name is "Hiroki", his ring name "Hi69" is an amalgamation

Hi - Hi
Ro - "Roku" is the word for 6 in Japanese
Ki -  "Kyū" is the word for 9 in Japanese

Thursday 11 January 2018

Horst Hoffman


(Born 29 September 1935, German-Czechslovakia)

A 6'3 wrestler known for his shoot style who did tours in Japan in the early 1970's and was much admired by Mitsuharu Misawa. Misawa wore green trunks in tribute to Hoffman, and this is also the reason for Noah's colors.

Sunday 7 January 2018

Noah's Ark


1. Term used to refer to Noah
2. Noah's official fan club "Noah's Ark"

 "Noah's Ark" Fan club

The fan club is open to people of all ages, not just kids.


There are four tiers:

1. For those over fifteen (5,000 yen annual fee) membership card with credit function will be issued
2. You can have a joint membership (3,000 yen annual fee), but the other person must be over fifteen and in the same household, no membership card for this one
3. Persons under fifteen years old (2,500 yen annual fee)
4. Persons over sixty (2,500 yen)
Admission fee in all cases are 1,000 yen

The usual benefits apply - magazine with exclusive content, fan club events etc.

Thursday 4 January 2018

"Big Boy"


Nickname given to Eddie Edwards by Yoshihiro Takayama

"Although Takayama suffered a stroke in 2004, he returned in 2006 and returned to Noah's front. Edwards, who had just debuted at that time was nicknamed "Big Boy" and said he loved it. "Takayama gave it to me because I resembled a famous hamburger restaurant character and I was always encouraged by it. Everything was "Big Boy", even in e-mails" 
Eddie Edwards,
"NOAH GHC Championship first defence, Edwards thoughts of "Emperor" Takayama"
2nd October 2017, interview with yahoo.co.jp

Tuesday 2 January 2018

"Seconding"


Term used for the wrestlers who wait on the other (usually senior) wrestlers in the ring and then post match afterwards. Their jobs are to take ring wear (i.e. robes and t-shirts), act as cheering squad, and after the match put ice-packs on and under the neck (never on the heart as this would slow blood circulation) and if needs be unlace boots and the back of masks. They will also escort (and at times physically carry) the seniors from the ring. After the match the trainees and the rookies will be expected to unlace their seniors boots, wipe down their backs, and fetch them anything they require. Rookies and trainees may also be required to do laundry, fold clothes and pack bags prior and\or after the match for their seniors and especially their teachers. 

The term is different to "ring attendant" (see below) 

Traditionally "seconding" was something that was done by trainees, rookie and junior wrestlers. The role can be performed by established wrestlers for another wrestler, as long as they are junior to them in some way. For example, Atsushi Kotoge seconded Go Shiozaki during his bout against Kenoh at the final night of Global League in 2017; while Kotoge is certainly neither a rookie, a trainee or a junior, he is both a friend and considered "younger" than Shiozaki due to both company position and length of time with the company.

In the All Japan days when the wrestlers used to have to run the gauntlet through the crowd, the seconds were expected to keep the crowd back by force and there were many incidents of people getting knocked aside with physical force. Mitsuharu Misawa detested this practice so much, that it was very rarely done in Noah, and especially not by him. 

Senior established wrestlers do not do seconding or ring attending. 

Ring attendants


A "ring attendant" is a junior or rookie wrestler (never an established one) whose sole function is to show the wrestlers were to exit to. These are the young people you see standing by an open gate etc with their arms outstretched. In bigger arenas they will be expected to escort the entering or exiting wrestler to and from the ring (plus holding the ropes open for them), but they are not generally expected to take care of them before or after the match. "Ring attendants" are also responsible (along with the seconds) of keeping the crowd back and away during spots that go into the crowd. 

"Talking like Kenoh"

A phrase coined by Yoshinari Ogawa in an interview with STINGER in "Weekly Pro" in 2022, when he and Chris Ridgeway teased HAYATA ...