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JAPAN NEWS: Full line-up announced for NOAH vs. New Japan

Jan 19, 2015 - 2:02:15 PM

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By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Japan Newswire

-- January 19: NOAH has announced the full card for their NOAH vs. New Japan themed "Great Voyage" show on February 11 featuring several North American wrestlers.

Included is a main event of TMDK vs. Lance Archer & Davey Boy Smith, Jr. for the GHC Tag Titles, Shelton Benjamin vs. Muhammed Yone, GHC Hvt. champion Naomichi Marufuji vs. TAKA in a non-title match, and Minoru Suzuki vs. Daisuke Harada. [ LINK: Full Line-up HERE via PuroresuSpirit.com ]

-- January 14: NOAH and New Japan's 2015 cross-over will continue March 15 when Naomichi Marufuji defends the GHC Hvt. Title against Minoru Suzuki at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo. This is the main event of NOAH's "Great Voyage 2015" in Tokyo. [ LINK: Announcement HERE ]

-- January 13: TV announcer Mauro Ranallo talked to Brian Fritz of Sporting News about calling New Japan's new foray into the U.S. TV market via AXS TV on Friday night.

“To be able to help introduce, to hopefully many casual fans because the hardcores - the New Japan Pro Wrestling fan base - is extremely knowledgeable and passionate. For Josh Barnett and I and the folks at AXS TV, we’re hoping to introduce this brand of professional wrestling, the strong style, the puroresu, as the lead-in to the AXS TV Fight Night, which, of course, covers mixed martial arts and muay thai," Ranallo said of the show's goal. [ LINK: Full Interview HERE ]

-- January 13: Wrestle-1 announced top title matches for their next big show on January 30. Notably, Great Muta will be defending the W-1 Title against Manabu Soya. [ LINK: Full Card reported HERE via PuroresuSpirit.com ]

-- January 10: NOAH had a very newsworthy "New Year's Navigation 2015" show in Tokyo. Included was "TMDK” Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste capturing the GHC Tag Titles fresh off their Tokyo Dome Show appearance for New Japan.

Plus, New Japan star Minoru Suzuki and the Suzuki-Gun stable attacked GHC Hvt. champion Naomichi Marufuji after Marufuji's successful GHC Hvt. Title defense against Satoshi Kojima. There is now a feud between Suzuki-Gun and NOAH. [ LINK: Full Results HERE via PuroresuSpirit.com ]

-- January 9: Alex Koslov of the "Forever Hooligans" tag team says he is taking a "much needed indefinite sabbatical" from pro wrestling to "focus on my life." Koslov says he's "hesitant to say I'm retiring," though.

For now, Koslov wrestled his final match at New Japan's "New Year's Dash" show on January 5. Kozlov, teaming with long-time partner Rocky Romero, took the fall against ROH tag champs/IWGP Jr. Hvt. tag champs ReDragon. Koslov then took an extended victory lap around the ring while selling the effects of the loss.

"I wanna thank my partner @azucarRoc for being the best tag team partner and just someone I shared my career with for the best decade," Koslov tweeted. [ LINK: More info on Koslov via Twitter & Facebook ]

With Reporting by PuroresuSpirit.com.

-- January 5: NOAH announced a big line-up for their "New Year Navigation 2015" show on January 10 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Included is GHC Hvt. champion Naomichi Marufuji defending against Satoshi Kojima representing New Japan.

Also scheduled are Tokyo Dome competitors TMDK (Mikey Nicholls & Shane Haste) challenging for the GHC Tag Titles. [ LINK: Full January Line-ups HERE ]

-- January 5: New Japan's "New Year's Dash" show after "Wrestle Kingdom" set up A.J. Styles as the next challenger to IWGP World Hvt. champion Tanahashi.

-- January 5: All Japan held a press conference to set up their next big matches following Go Shiozaki's Triple Crown Title victory on January 3. Shiozaki's first challenger will be determined on January 12 when KENSO and Zeus have a #1 contender match. [ LINK: Jan. 12 Line-up for Osaka, Japan HERE ]

[Torch art credit Cory Gould (c) PWTorch.com]