[8.0] "This was a great match. This match took place during the Covid Era, regulations for which lasted longer in Japan. This is one of those matches that was severely hurt by the lack of a real crowd reaction. There were fans in attendance, but they were forced to wear masks and could only clap to make noise. That being said, that didn't stop both wrestlers from trying to have an excellent match. Naomichi Marufuji had faced Katsuhiko Nakajima multiple times before and it should be no surprise that they had good chemistry together. The finish had Nakajima beat Marufuji with a Brainbuster, regaining the GHC Heavyweight Championship in the process. ****1/4"
[8.0] "A really good fight but overrated. I don't know if it's the pandemic era that didn't age well or just this fight. The first 15 minutes are slow and almost boring, nothing of relevance happens there. Then, they start to be so stiff on each other, it was really good. Like many puro matches, and here King's Road style, big moves are progressively coming. I think the finish is kind of flat, like maybe this Brainbuster is a really strong move of Nakajima's moveset but it doesn't connect with me like it should've been. Overall, a good fight but I've seen far better from this era in Japan."
[7.0] "Another big NOAH/Nakajima match I wasn't super high on despite the extremely positive general consensus, but that doesn't mean I didn't still really enjoy this. This is one of those matches where I struggle figuring out exactly why I'm confident it was 'really good' but why I feel clearly held back from considering it close to being anything truly 'great'. I think it was a combination of various small factors that came together for a greater whole which ultimately stopped this being ****+ territory. There's the obvious issue of the ridiculous crowd restrictions that caused a lot of would-be big moments to get those disappointing near-silent reactions. There's also the fact that this NOAH strikefest style is a dime a dozen, thus I need each new iteration to try something unique or go to extreme lengths to truly stand out, which is difficult to do. I did also have issue with how Nakajima's arm-injury story was both introduced and followed up on, as it felt very convenient how Marufuji simply powered up from Nakajima's early control period in order to then injure Nakajima's arm as he threw him over the ropes to the outside. Thankfully Marufuji made sure to pretty consistently target the arm through-out the middle period of the match, so it's not like this story of Nakajima's injured arm was anywhere near being 'wasted', but we still had the standard pro-wrestling annoyance where that limb-targeting was eventually forgotten for the final 1/4th as both guys instead just traded big bombs, with sadly neither Nakajima's previously strong arm-selling nor Marufuji's previously strong arm-targeting being present. It's a real shame because, as mentioned, I was impressed with both guys' respective arm-selling and -targeting whenever they were actually doing them, but to not properly incorporate them there in that big ending period felt wasteful. The last negative I'll mention was that for some reason it seemed like Nakajima held back on a good number of his kicks here. Perhaps he's more respecting or/considerate towards Marufuji (perhaps because of his age? ), so some of the signature Nakajima spots didn't feel the same as they usually do. While I was perhaps a bit more disappointed with Nakajima's offence than expected, I was pleasantly surprised by Marufuji's, since although it took him a while to get going, he eventually looked surprisingly spry and slick as he went for his more athletic and speedy counters and spots, managing to mostly keep up with Nakajims when it came to their more complex sequences. Marufuji's two power moves on the apron also felt appropriately significant, though again the lack of crowd reaction did unfortunately cause them to come across more hollow that they should have. Both guys went through their big-move trades after that, with Marufuji's all looking good and Nakajima's all looking really good, but the way both guys so conveniently traded (and survived) them one after the other did feel pretty robotic and generic. Marufuji's Cobra Clutch and Key Lock were cool, if only because they were a big change of pace from all the big-move trades they'd been going through prior, and it genuinely felt like Nakajima's extensive selling (especially of his targeted arm when in the Key Lock) might actually lead to the finish. Nakajima catching Marufuji out of an attempting Ko-oh Knee was very cool (a shame they then repeated this later in the finishing stretch though).., acting as a very convincing transition spot to allow Nakajima to move back to more or less equal standing with Marufuji. They then went back to trading their various signature strikes, with Marufuji's managing to look quite equal in explosiveness to Nakajima's, which was in part due to Nakajima's great job selling and bumping for each of them. While seeing truly stiff strikes back and forth will always be impressive, the lack of creativity did remain an issue for me, since I've seen so many matches like this (including ones with both those guys) so many times before that the charm isn't nearly the same anymore. While I did also think they were going overkill with their big power moves and accompanying near falls, not to mention I never thought their power moves were as explosive as they should've been (though still good), I at least thought their various strike trades were getting better and better the longer they went on. with it being genuinely surprising just how long they were extending them for. As previously mentioned, I didn't like how heavily Nakajima's previously injured arm had fallen out of focus by this point, but at least all those big-move trades were still really fun. I'm still a fan of these sorts of NOAH matches, but I've been watching them for nearly 10 years now, so who knows how much longer I'll still be positive on them without them properly developing. For the time being, though, I really enjoyed this just for the physicality and intensity on display. ***1/2"
[7.0] "Watched it a second time. My feelings on the match are mostly unchanged. If this was <20 minutes I would have loved this, but as is I think it's still a solid match, but not one I would tell my friends to go out of their way to watch. The match was a grounded and the strikes felt real and intense, but the pacing was sluggish and it doesn't really get going until the second half. ***3/4 stars."
[8.0] "The action is brilliant here, both guys are fantastic, loved the arm work by Marufuji, loved Nakajima's kicks, its great. However, the pacing and flow was a little off, and I can't quite give it a 9 for that reason. But its a very good match and I'd recommend to anyone to watch it."
[10.0] "Gently and prudently paced except for particular segments of the match. It had a classical feel to it and in modern times it offered a different product that was not familiar to newer audiences. The pacing never really accelerates in a proper manner i.e. it picks up at certain points but never really persists. Nakajima wins the opening sequence. with the collar and elbow tie-up and demonstrates his clever and sly personality. Nakajima's playing all sorts of mind games and dirty tricks in order to gain the upper hand. He would kick sneakily due to his remarkable reflexes when they would lock in against each other which serves as an element of surprise. His overconfidence does not serve him well during the remaining course of the match-up and he dares not to go down that path afterwards. The peculiar landing injures Nakajima's arm which is targeted continually for a good portion of the match. The stiff striking and blistering exchanges were the life and soul of the match and became more prominent and profound, it was a battle of Marufuji's chops and Nakajima's kick-strikes. The high spots include a pile-driver on the apron by Marufuji followed by a low-height brain buster on the apron as well. Marufuji's series of quick blitz kicks is beguiling to witness and overall the timing and execution of the sequences are amazing and complement the flow of the match. The utilized the submission sequences very well too and Marufuji made good work of Nakajima's damaged arm further weakening it considerably affecting his potential to inflict damage ( his kicks however offset that effect). The nearfalls were awesome too adding lots of suspense and excitement. Other moves such as the Tiger Flowsion were heart-touching (a tribute to the late great Misawa). A very interesting home sequence to top it off as the drama had swelled up on the outcome of the match. Not a very popular format but it was a brilliant show of aggression, resilience, toughness, and perseverance. The ending was subtle and fulfilling as Nakajima almost knocked him out with his swiftly sudden kick strike. Marufuji survives and lays down a barrage of strikes and prepares to put him away but it is countered into a delayed vertical prize enabling Nakajima to capture one of the most prestigious prizes in professional wrestling. Worth the wait for sure. 37 minutes and it all built up to the moment. Unconventional match but damn enjoyable. ****3/4"
[8.0] "Despite the 37 minutes this bout never evolved in anything more than a good match. The stricking was very good as everything in the second half but I never thought "hell, this is perfect". Perhaps I wasn't in the Mood since almost 40 minutes of Nakajima vs Marufuji is something I should love on the paper. ****1/4"
[9.0] "I expected this match would deliver at least one thing, a lot of super hard strikes, and it definitely delivered that. The way Nakajima cracks his kicks into people is crazy, and I can't help but love the cocky, sneering vibe of the longtime NOAH veteran. Marufuji boasts an even deeper connection to the green brand and definitely brought his A game as well in a very hard hitting match. My only critique is the length, at nearly 40 minutes it needed some editing, cutting 10 to 15 minutes off would have pushed it over the edge. Still a great match."
[8.0] "Why do Shiozaki & Sugiura have the shortest on-screen time during the pre-match GHC title-holder video? Nakajima is freshly spiky blonde. Marufuji holds the victory in their only GHC title contest, but Nakajima does hold two subsequent victories over Naomichi in Global League competition. Onto, only during some of the superfluous striking exchanges late-on did these 37 minutes feel long-in-the-tooth. This is the first time I've felt the timing and awarding of a singles title belt is truly deserving to be around Nakajima's waist. In late '11 I was in Ariake when 90% of the crowd wanted and deserved to see Bison-Smith-buddy Ricky Marvin win the Jr title, but b/c of backstage politics (incl people like Akiyama finding Marvin to be annoying, ) and nepotism, Nakajima got that belt for the second time. From there, I've always felt an otaku fan's grudge against Sasaki's adopted son. Yet ever-since breaking-out of AXIS and really solidifying that menacing smile, he has earned this due. The beginning feel-out and brilliant Nakajima psych-out set the stage for an epic though measured pace. From there Marufuji controlled 80% of the match w/ a variety of attacks on KN's left-arm and neck-head areas. There were a couple of notable bumps involving the ring-apron, and loads of face abuse from knees and a slap, but Nakajima endured, even when in-the-grasp of a deadly NM submission. The turning-points late involved NM being too-cute for his own good leading to a vicious Diamond Bomb that served as the beginning-of-the-end for the former champ. I wasn't jumping-out-of-seat from the excitement, but was never bored & did feel increasing tension. It's rightful that Tanaka, who beat Nakajima in N-1, should be the first challenger. This is the best NOAH match I've seen since Shiozaki/Sugiura from Dec '20, but it was not at that level nor that of the best NOAH match in 2020, Shiozaki/Nakajima, probably coming-up, as others have written, in Budokan on January 1st, 2022. 3 2/3 - 7/10 7.7 rounded-up"
[9.0] "Both men put on an absolute masterclass here. The kicks and strikes were stiff as hell and both men sold the offense they received brilliantly. I also loved Marufuji's gold gear and really liked that opening shot at the beginning of the match that showed Nakajima sitting on the turnbuckle surrounded by his Kongo buddies while Marufuji stood alone. I'm glad Nakajima is champ again."
[9.0] "This match was absolutely captivating. There was a great feeling-out period at the start of the match, with both Nakajima and Marufuji being somewhat heelish. The direction of the match shifts when Nakajima takes a supposedly bad landing on his left arm, which Marufuji then works for the remainder of the match. Nakajima's selling is brilliant and consistent throughout the match. In the strike exchange near the end of the match, Nakajima goes for a palm strike with his left hand, and sells it like it hurts him too. There's a great sequence with Marufuji's shiranui, where Nakajima counters it, so Marufuji then does a weird front-flip-counter thing from the same position, then proceeds to complete the shiranui because Nakajima is anticipating--or at least has to be wary of--the other move. The apron piledriver sequence was great, and I loved the strike exchanges in this match. The match doesn't quite feel like it reaches all time classic levels, but it is excellent."
[8.0] "This was a great hard hitting match. Delighted Nakajima won and is back on top of the promotion. This match is like ronseal, does exactly what's on the tin."
[8.0] "My boy Waruhiko Nakajima finally conquered the GHC Heavyweight Championship once again! God, this was such a great match with an excellent psychology from both wrestlers. Nakajima mocking and humiliating Marufuji was fascinating and it really told a great story, especially when Marufuji got his chance to strike back and nearly killed his opponent. I just feel it didn't need to be 37 minutes long, but ok. ****1/2"
[8.0] "Great match! Sweat flinging strikes, heart, & very well well paced. The Kongoh buddies are so supportive of Nakajima. The defending champion Marufuji pulling out the desperate stops."
[8.0] "2 stars for the first 15 minutes, 5+ for the next 22. I recognize that matches start slow so you can appreciate when they pick up but the fact is when the timekeeper called out that 15 minutes had passed my reaction was "really' But nothing's happened." Right at that moment these two kicked into overdrive and gave a HELL of a performance that if I was basing it just on that it'd be a 10/10, but I feel compelled to move it down a peg due to that excessively slow start."
[9.0] "First NOAH match I've ever seen. Very different than most other stuff I watch. It felt like it flourished with what they didn't do - the slow methodical pace allowed the bigger spots to really pop, like the piledriver on the apron or the weird athletic flip thingy Marafuji did. I'll admit I watched this late at night so my focus was a bit lower so some of the finer aspects of the selling may have been lost on me. **** 1/4"
[6.0] "I could try to write a big paragraph going through the positives of the match, the good work on the arm by Marufuji, the quick bursts of strikes and the solid link-up work in between everything but honestly, this didn't fully engage me as a viewer. Nakajima has long deserved another shot at the GHC Heavyweight Title reign after his great work for the last few years now so I'm glad he won out and Marufuji is a fine person to beat with his legacy. But this had no real value to me other than background noise to have on while I eat. It didn't really wow me or blow me away despite the perfect capabilities these two possessed. I'll be polite and give it ***"
[9.0] "This match is fucking awesome in so many ways it felt like the big match formula was finally earned and not thier just because big title match also this felt like for the first time in a long time I saw big match marufuji he was not only on fire but his facials very much reminded me of early king's road jumbo where he's the top of the top and for the first time in this reign he felt like the man to beat I guess this match also showed me that they really fumbled what could've been marufuji's last reign by having him face older and more limited guys like sugiura and sakuraba (all do respect to the two) instead of the younger and more athletic guys like kaito, kenou, and masa (who they fed to muto for some reason) this match really made the belt feel important after a down year this is by far the best GHC title match of the year (that includes sugiura v. fujita) when marafuji brought out all the stops bumping around and doing something he rarely does bring intensity add in a couple of big moves from the past I won't spoil and it makes for an awesome encounter I also enjoyed nakas cocky attitude early on seeming to be what fires up fuji (but I could be reading to deep into it) nakas selling was on point and his kicks as deviating as always him coming of an 2nd N-1 Win in a row being the only one (so far) to win it twice makes it seem sure proof that he'll win but midway through I wasn't so sure. All this rambling to say I love this match, I love NOAH if you're a fan of either man i think you'll enjoy if not I don't really know if you should start here....9/10"
[10.0] "Glorious match. Strikes a perfect balance between a more traditional limb based storytelling, scarier head/neck bump spots as well as intense striking. Both players brought their S-tier game. The match also knew how to not blow it's gasket and not go too over the top. The delibirate pace helps the nuances to not be lost, as well as the selling (especially by Nakajima) truly shine. One of the best matches of 2021. Long live NOAH."
[7.0] "7.5 - I don't mind a slow start, but I hate time padding. The first minute was tense, but then it dragged out for another five. A lot of that in the early stage, with Nakajima overselling his arm. Eventually they got into their sequences, which were buttery smooth. The striking was incredible too. Felt strangely flat given the occasion, but a rightful winner."
[7.0] "For me, this was a good match, yet very disappointing (like a lot of big NOAH match in 2021 basically, Go come back fast please). The beginning is pretty slow as we see all the time, then Marufuji starts a really great work on Nakajima's left arm, that was a little bit forgotten later but tbh it didn't bother me when watching, and then the last sequence is a little bit too slow for me but some parts are really good, like when Marufuji did a Tiger Flowsion, and I don't think you can do a move more charged in emotions in NOAH as it is a move that starts like Misawa's first finisher and ends like his last / special one, for an amazing near-fall that nearly made me pop, and they build up the finish pretty well. The match itself is worth a ***3/4 imo, good but not enough to really invest me. However, something that can really elevate a match is good commentary, and here, well I feel forced to add it in my review as it's part of the match imo because of how awfully emotionless it was. The most shocking for me is at the Tiger Flowsion spot that I mentioned earlier, and the commentary was just "marufuji drops nakajima, and nakajima kicks out." Overall it was not a bad match, but it could have been way better imo. Nakajima winning the bel is great, and his reign should be good. ***3/4"
[6.0] "For sure, this was a good match, but it's clearly a disappointing match to me, that I can call really overrated. The beginning of the match was awesome and truly made me think that we were gonna have an insane match, Nakajima's heat was excellent and the selling of Marufuji was great. Marufuji logically had his big return, he started to work the arm of Nakajima and during the whole match, Nakajima kept his seling consistant. However, even if the first half of the match was excellent, from Marufuji's Piledriver on the apron to the end, this match became really flat and they clearly had no direction at all. Some good strikes here and there, but some sequences were ridiculous, like some kickouts during the match ( Nakajima kicking out of a Tiger Flowsion was really, really bad ). Fortunately, this match had a good ending and the right man won. Nakajima's reign should be great even with thi disappointing match, and I really look forward to Go Shiozaki's return for a rematch between him and Nakajima, as their 2020 match is one of my favorites bout ever. ***"
[10.0] "What an excellent match. Nice slow build up in the opening moments which led to some great mind games from Nakajima. Then Marufuji gets the upper hand with after Nakajima's arm is hurt and this becomes the story of the match. Nakajima is able to fight through the pain to put him down in a real come-from-behind effort in this one. Great action and the right guy won, what more could you want?"
[9.0] "Have to come clean here and say I was very disappointed by this match on first watch. However upon rewatch I have completely changed my mind. Great match, lots of callbacks which the English commentators did a fantastic job of referencing, a fitting end to Marufuji's very serviceable title reign. It's a slow match at times, but well worth the wait and build up to a good climax. This surely sets us on a course to Shiozaki vs Nakajima at Budokan. I love NOAH and to see it get the buzz it's currently getting warms my heart."
[9.0] "This was gold match. Started with staredown where they were trying to grip each other it went long. And then Naka running from Maru. Naka finally took control with cheap shot and after that he went on dominating for a long period. He was looking cocky, soon Maru returned and got payback. He ripped Naka arm through guardrail. That Brainbuster and Piledriver on apron were so brutal by Maru. Striking sequence was amazing too in ending stages. Great match. (****3/4)"
[10.0] "What can i say ? What a great match that was! I mean like I expected from two great performers like these two with Marufuji being in his best condition since 2016-2017! Nakajima won the match as should be but i think Marufuji was star of the match in a 5 star match!"
[10.0] "A MOTYC. Absolutely brutal kicks, palm strikes, chops, knees, all of that. Even though Nakajima's arm selling lost consistency towards the end, it still could not devalue how much of an instant classic this match was. BTW, NOAH has an amazing ability to pace a long match where it doesn't even feel that long once the match comes to an end. Congratulations to Katsuhiko Nakajima. Rating for this match: ****3/4"
[9.0] "A lot of the comments I see here are probably those who watched live, bless you guys for staying up till 4am to watch NOAH your the real ones. I had the result spoiled for me because I needed to know NOAH made the right decision, and thank god they did. Watching the match afterward there are a lot of things I liked about the first half stalling with Nakajima using the tension and mind games to gain ground on Nakajima, but the segment with the hurt arm definitely could have been cut down. The whole match honestly could have been trimmed a lot, and yet I was still invested the whole time. Nakajima finally won he's back at the top ready to prove himself again after a failed run in 2016. You should go out of your way to see this, it's not the same level as the N1 final but the moment of Nakajima's victory might make you bump the match up a level if you are invested in him and NOAH."
[10.0] "This is one of best matches, i've ever seen. Marufuji did a great job in this match. I've never noticed crying fans after their idol's defeat, and it made impression on me. This is one of the matches of the year. *****"
[10.0] "This match was slow, a very slow match. But how it escalated, how both men pulled out bigger moves one by one and how in the end it felt like any move could finish the match. With how both men tried all their tricks, but none of them worked until the Vertical Spike put Marufuji away. A really good match and one of the best NOAH matches in 2021. 10/10"
[9.0] "I love this match, absolutely elated with the result. Think they hit on some of the best of both of their careers in this one. Only thing holding me back for going higher is that I think it's about 5 minutes too long and I don't know about the delayed vertical spike as the finish. 4.5 stars"
[10.0] "Nakajima and Marufuji have given us another classic. Even better than the N-1 final between Nakajima and Kenoh. The match started out a bit slow, but the match structure and steady escalation made it worthwhile. Marufuji tries to put Nakajima out of commission early as he knows he can't hang with Nakajima in a long match, and works on Nakajima's arm and tries to knock him out with a piledriver on the edge of the ring. Nakajima manages to recover and drags Marufuji back into his own comfort zone. 37 minutes seems long but this was easy to watch. Incredible work by both men. *****"
[9.0] "Started off incredibly slow, there were 2 hits in the first five minutes, really building off the expectation and ambience, the next 5 or 10 minutes, while faster, it was still rather slow, Nakajima beating Marufuji mercilessly, until there was an "accident" that hurt Nakajima's arm, then it's time for Marufuji to start beating Nakajima mercilessly, the match remains rather slow and technical for the first 20-25 minutes, it never really gets fast, but that makes the brutal moves look bigger, the brainbuster in the apron followed by a piledriver, they hit their big moves, Shiranui, Ko-oh's, Tiger Flowsion, Diamond Bomb, Vertical Spike, that were either kicked out of, but also many were they couldn't follow through, the match remaining this epic style, never quite fast, end with Nakajima doing a delayed Vertical Spike that took long enough to give me hope the match could continue, as with this pace and style they could've done close to the time limit. At the end, finally Nakajima is once again GHC heavyweight champion, the best wrestler in the world gets his title, from one of the best in history."
[10.0] "This is that kind of classic Japanese Championship match I was looking for. It's indelible and brought me excitement, which I haven't feel from any championship match since Naito become the double champion in WK14. Marufuji might be the bigger star, but I am really a fan of Nakajima, so I am glad to see his winning. An incredible match which you can say THIS IS NOAH."
[8.0] "This was a pretty solid "epic" and I enjoyed the match but I think there was a LOT of down time and standing around for filler that didn't need to be there. This didn't need to go almost forty minutes and I feel like Nakajima shouldn't have had to hit 3 finishers to win. That aside, the match did (for the most part) have a good flow to it and it didn't feel like a slog. Nakajima and Marufuji work well together and they had some good striking exchanges and great counters. I'd say scrap the first 10 minutes with Nakajima in control and the like 4 minute staredown and go directly into Marufuji throwing Nakajima over the top rope to hurt his arm. The first 10 minutes never really played back into the match anyway."
[10.0] "I was so invested in this match from the beginning. Nakajima is one of my fav wrestlers in Wrestling right now and I wanted him to win here and he did! He crowned himself Champ in one hell of a match. The first ten minutes were okey but then it started to pick up and it was insane. Their chemistry, the excitement and everything else were just amazing. The time flew by so fast. (**** 3/4)"
[10.0] "One of the greatest matches I've seen in live. Marafuji sold Nakajima perfectly. I don't know how you can give this match a score less than 10, it will be like an insult to the greatness that was happening in the ring today. Marafuji once again proved that he is a legend, and even despite the defeat, he did everything for the sake of his company."
[10.0] "This is probably one of the best matches in the history of Pro Wrestling NOAH. I knew right away that two brilliant artists would be working on this canvas. Even though it was originally constructed unusually, I wasn't worried about its quality. The bout seemed rather slow, staged. The idea with Katsuhiko Nakajima accidental "injury" during the fall is genius. Katsuhiko sold it perfectly, without question. Up to a certain point, the bout was slow going, the handling of Nakajima hand, which was perfectly sell it. Naomichi Marufuji at one point started getting revenge on Nakajima for beating him up like a puppet at the beginning of the match and giving him a very dangerous brainbuster and piledriver, it looked really creepy. I think that in this match Maru showed a classy selling of Nakajima kicks. Katsuhiko himself was often referred to the kind of harsh hand handling that Marufuji did. The bout then went to an interesting stage, where Marufuji recalled his old Tiger Flowsion, it's a beautiful move. The sequences between these two were incredible, some of the best I've seen. At one point, Fighting Spirit was off the charts. These two chopped each other to the last drop of sweat. I haven't felt Marufuji chops this strong in a long time, he gave it 200%, that's why I respect him so much. Nakajima didn't forget about the selling even at the end of the fight. The fans were just screaming all over the place, they were tearing up-the arena was perfectly chosen. Until the very end, it was unclear who the pancake would prove to be the winner. I haven't seen this many upsets in a long time in a NOAH match. It's perfect. I think this is an ABSOLUTE masterpiece that everyone should watch. MATCH OF THE YEAR *****"
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