Text and photo exclusively by Tokio Tsukada (Edited by Kyle Dunning)
Copyright & Courtesy: PRO WRESTLING NOAH

PRO WRESTLING NOAH’s 25th Anniversary event, LINE Yahoo Presents Memorial Voyage 2025, was held at Tokyo’s iconic Kokugikan Sumo Arena on May 3. The venue was sold out, showing just how much momentum NOAH and Team 2000X, led by OZAWA, have built. You can check out more from NOAH here.

In April, KENTA (formerly Hideo Itami in WWE) pinned OZAWA during a tag match and outperformed him in a war of words during the GHC Championship signing ceremony. This added more intensity to their clash, where OZAWA defended the GHC Heavyweight Championship in the main event.

The match began with KENTA putting pressure on OZAWA through his stiff, kick-heavy offense. Things shifted when KENTA went for a soccer ball kick, but Yoshitatsu, manager of the villainous Team 2000X, interfered. While the referee was distracted trying to remove Yoshitatsu and Owadasan from ringside, OZAWA took advantage. He connected with a skewer dropkick, followed by a moonsault press into a kick in the corner.

OZAWA then trapped KENTA in a Rope Paradise, a twist on the Paradise Lock using the ring ropes, and celebrated by breakdancing in the ring. He taunted KENTA by pushing his nose in his face, sitting on him, and hitting a low dropkick. OZAWA then locked in his signature STF, applied in front of special guest Masahiro Chono, the “Black Charisma” himself, who was present on commentary.

As the match neared its end, OZAWA hit a kamikaze into a standing shooting star press. The two exchanged a flurry of elbows and slaps. KENTA regained momentum and kicked OZAWA onto a long desk set up outside the ring. After returning him to the ring, KENTA connected with the Go 2 Sleep. Before the three-count could be made, Jack Morris and Daga of Team 2000X interfered, followed by Kenoh and Ulka Sasaki, leading to an all-out six-man brawl.

When the chaos cleared, OZAWA struck KENTA with two brutal knee strikes. After dodging KENTA’s buzzsaw kick, he hit a wrist-clutch Blue Thunder Bomb and followed with a dropkick into the Real Rebel, a one-step Phoenix Splash, to score the pin and retain his title.

To close the anniversary show for NOAH, Kaito Kiyomiya entered the ring. Kiyomiya, who lost the belt to OZAWA on New Year’s Day in what fans now call the “OZAWA Shock,” was met with boos from the crowd loyal to the champion. Still, he stood his ground and addressed OZAWA:

“Ozawa, it’s been a long time since I stood in front of you. You seem to be doing whatever you want these days, but I consider what you are doing for NOAH. So many people have gathered here to see NOAH. Thank you for making NOAH so exciting.”

He continued:

“I am a man who will defeat a monster like you! I will get back the GHC champion belt from you, I will be the next challenger.”

OZAWA responded:

“I heard that you think you can challenge for the GHC belt just by winning a match today against Naomichi Marufuji. No one really understands, such as the Ark’s Succession. But you’re also feeling ecstasy, aren’t you? You came out here knowing that you would be booed.

But I understand. I totally understand how Kiyomiya feels. Booing feels really good, doesn’t it? Did you want to feel ecstasy too? I see, you’re actually from this side, too. I’ll put the belt on the line in the next match at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on May 18. I’ll make you feel the greatest ecstasy!”

With that, OZAWA accepted Kiyomiya’s challenge. He then shook hands with Chono at the commentary table. Chono praised him with a simple, “Good match!” The symbolic handshake reflected a merging of generations, as Chono, once a member of the original Team 2000 under the New World Order banner, showed respect to the new leader of Team 2000X.

Author’s Note: OZAWA’s performance and growth should be praised. His ability to chain together flying missile kicks, moonsaults, and high-impact finishers stands out. While he may look flashy, it’s clear that his success is the result of tireless effort and detailed study of his opponents.

OZAWA has established himself as a unique anti-hero, and possibly the most eccentric and unpredictable champion in wrestling today. It’s clear that we can’t take our eyes off OZAWA as his strange and powerful reign continues over Pro Wrestling NOAH.

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