On Saturday, September 14th, at the “STAR NAVIGATION 2024” event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, we interviewed Kaito Kiyomiya, who was nominated for Ryohei Oiwa’s last NOAH match. As the GHC Heavyweight Champion, the N-1 VICTORY 2024 winner, and the person who brought Ryohei Oiwa over from New Japan Pro-Wrestling, how does he feel about this fight? We get to the bottom of his true feelings.
[Player Interviews]
–Looking back on your tour of the UK, what do you think?
Kiyomiya: “I felt the wrestling fever in the UK. From the moment I entered the ring, I was so happy to receive such a huge cheer. I think they were probably watching it on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. I was so happy to be able to feel that NOAH was broadcasting it overseas, and it made me realize once again how important broadcasting is. It was the last day, and it was a title match, so I was really nervous even though I was overseas, but Ricky Knight Jr. is about the same age as me, and we have similar careers. Fighting against such a wrestler, I was able to experience the excitement and cheers that you can only find overseas, and it was a great experience.”
–After the title match, MASA Kitamiya announced his challenge.
Kiyomiya: “The N-1 match ended in a draw. To be honest, my feelings about that match were a little different from the other fighters. I want to settle it properly in the title match.”
–Looking back on N-1 VICTORY 2024, what do you think?
Kiyomiya: “We lost the first match against Luis Mante, but then we drew. We had some draws along the way too, and we really went into the match as champions with the determination to win every match, but it was so tough to win every single match, that’s how intense the league really is.”
–What do you think about your opponent in the deciding match being Kenoh?
Kiyomiya: “I thought, ‘I’m going to face Kenoh here again.’ I really felt that we have a special connection. However, as I said at the press conference, we both want to take NOAH to the next level, so we clashed with each other on the ring with all our might, and I also wanted to change the way NOAH wrestling matches are conducted. In a sense, this was a match where I was able to express those feelings. When I watch Pro Wrestling Noah’s matches now, I feel that they rely a lot on techniques, and I really felt that. I wanted to express more of my feelings on the ring. I think techniques are very important in a match, and they are an element that determines whether you win or lose, but I think that feeling…there is a feeling before you use a technique. And when you realize it, you’re using it, so I think that’s a technique. In that sense, I think you can put feeling into even a single elbow. I wanted to change NOAH in that way. Well, it was a defense match, a fight for the leadership of All Rebellion, and it was a match where I challenged myself, with the N-1 title and the title of champion on the line.”
–Your final move was an arm drag.
Kiyomiya: “It came out on impulse. I had no other moves left to use. I’d come that far and given it my all, and the only move I could come up with was the arm drag.”
–Ogawa Yoshinari, who was there to provide commentary, also gave some critical comments.
Kiyomiya: “Of course, as Ogawa said, I need to improve the precision of my moves one by one, if I want to be the best in the world, if I want to be the best in the world of professional wrestling, I need to be more and more innovative. I want to create something new. I will take Ogawa’s comments as a challenge, and I believe it is up to me to overcome the challenges. I hope everyone looks forward to my upcoming matches.”
–Please tell us about Ryohei Oiwa, who will be fighting at Korakuen Hall on September 14th. First of all, he ended up in a draw in the N-1 A block.
Kiyomiya: “That’s really frustrating. I think he was a little bit like Oiwa Ryohei… No, his ability to absorb was beyond my imagination. He was absorbing the matches he had done in NOAH. I think I was being too naive and I feel ashamed as a champion.”
–What do you think about Oiwa’s growth?
Kiyomiya: “I can really feel it. I think he’s the wrestler who has grown the most in the past year in NOAH. Even when we were teaming up for 8 months, I thought he would try new moves every time we had a match, and I saw him making those techniques his own day by day. He used my (Kiyomiya’s) moves. In that respect too, he was really greedy, and I felt that he wanted to steal everything from our time together, which is very important as a wrestler. The feeling of being greedy in order to go up.”
–Do you feel that Oiwa is a threat right now?
Kiyomiya: “I always think of him as a threat. He’s been in his career for nine years now. And he’s trying to learn everything he’s done in that time in just one year. It’s amazing. I stood next to him with the feeling that I wanted him to learn everything he could by being with me, and I really thought his aggressiveness was frightening.”
–Oiwa nominated you to be his opponent in your NOAH graduation match.
Kiyomiya: First of all, why did you decide to “graduate from NOAH” first? Where were you when you said, “I’m going to beat Kaito Kiyomiya, I’m going to crush him. Don’t worry, I’m going to crush Kaito Kiyomiya”? You see, when I saw your comment, I was wondering how you felt. If you were going to defeat him and then graduate, I would understand that feeling, but if you decided to graduate first, then please let me face Kaito Kiyomiya at the end…isn’t this just to make memories? If that’s how you feel, then I really want to beat him in one minute. There’s something about that that’s bothering me, myself. Well, I don’t mind you letting it all out on the ring, and I think it’s fine if you do. It would be a problem if you thought I could surpass him so easily. You can feel what kind of match it will be by watching the match at Korakuen. However, I think that it will be an unforgettable match for Ryohei Oiwa. I will crush him with all my heart and soul, with all my love.
–As the GHC Heavyweight champion and N-1 VICTORY 2024 winner, please tell us about any future goals you have.
Kiyomiya: “I want to build NOAH with the energy of young people. I went to England this time and had a title match with a wrestler of my generation. It would not be strange if a wrestler like that emerged in NOAH. Until there are more and more young wrestlers in NOAH who are good enough to be involved in title matches, it doesn’t matter if they are junior or heavyweight, right? I will pull and pull up the momentum of the young wrestlers, both junior and heavyweight. I will build NOAH, a new NOAH, with the energy of youth.”
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2024 in professional wrestling
Kaito Kiyomiya: The Rising Star of Pro Wrestling NOAH
Kaito Kiyomiya, the current GHC Heavyweight Champion and N-1 VICTORY 2024 winner, has been making waves in the world of professional wrestling. In a recent interview at the “STAR NAVIGATION 2024” event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Kiyomiya shared his thoughts on his experiences, challenges, and aspirations in the sport.
Inspired by the UK Tour
Kiyomiya reflected on his tour of the UK, where he faced Ricky Knight Jr. in a title match. “I felt the wrestling fever in the UK,” he said. “From the moment I entered the ring, I was so happy to receive such a huge cheer. I think they were probably watching it on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. I was so happy to be able to feel that NOAH was broadcasting it overseas, and it made me realize once again how important broadcasting is.” [[2]]Kiyomiya’s enthusiasm for the UK tour is evident, and his experience fighting against a wrestler with a similar career path was a valuable one.
Overcoming Challenges in N-1 VICTORY 2024
Kiyomiya discussed his journey in the N-1 VICTORY 2024 league, where he faced stiff competition, including a loss to Luis Mante [[3]]and draws along the way. “We lost the first match against Luis Mante, but then we drew. We had some draws along the way too, and we really went into the match as champions with the determination to win every match, but it was so tough to win every single match, that’s how intense the league really is.” Despite these challenges, Kiyomiya’s determination and perseverance ultimately led to his victory in the league.
A Special Connection with Kenoh
Kiyomiya spoke about his opponent in the deciding match, Kenoh, with whom he has a special connection. “I thought, ‘I’m going to face Kenoh here again.’ I really felt that we have a special connection. However, as I said at the press conference, we both want to take NOAH to the next level, so we clashed with each other on the ring with all our might, and I also wanted to change the way NOAH wrestling matches are conducted.” [[2]]Kiyomiya’s desire to innovate and take NOAH to new heights is clear, and his connection with Kenoh is a key aspect of this journey.
Improving and Innovating
Kiyomiya acknowledged the importance of technique in professional wrestling, but also emphasized the need for feeling and expression in the ring. “I think techniques are very important in a match, and they are an element that determines whether you win or lose, but I think that feeling…there is a feeling before you use a technique. And when you