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Momo no Seishun

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Momo no Seishun (桃の青春, Momo no Seishun, "Peaches of Youth") is a professional wrestling tag team formed by Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada, who currently work for Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah), where they are former record-breaking four-time GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, while also being the winners of the 2015 NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League. As part of a working relationship between NOAH and Dragon Gate (DG), they are a former one-time Open The Triangle Gate Champions.

The team was formed after Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada ended their rivalry as part of their rookies years in Osaka Pro Wrestling (OPW) in November 2006. The team abruptly ended when Kotoge turned on Harada to join Bad Force, before reuniting as part of the Blood and Guts stable on the following year. At the end of 2009, following the disbanding of Blood and Guts, Kotoge and Harada kept their team renaming it to Momo no Seishun, meaning the "Peach of Youth". Subsequently, Kotoge and Harada found various success in Osaka Pro Wrestling, going on to hold the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship for a record of three times. As part of a working relationship with Osaka Pro, Kotoge, and Harada have also worked for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania–based Chikara in the United States. The team would disband in April 2012, after Kotoge left Osaka Pro to sign with Pro Wrestling Noah, which Harada soon followed him on the following year.

After a four-year break, the team reunited for the second time in August 2015 for the 2015 NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League. Kotoge and Harada won the tournament and subsequently became a record three times GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, before disbanding in February 2017, due to Kotoge moving to the heavyweight division. In 2019, after Kotoge returned to the junior heavyweight division, the two began feuding with each other as part of the RATEL'S and Stinger feud, before reuniting in September 2020, for the third time, quickly regaining the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the record breaking fourth time, holding them for almost a month.

History[]

Osaka Pro Wrestling (2006–2012)[]

Early days and Kotoge's betrayal (2006–2008)[]

On August 5, 2006, Daisuke Harada made his debut on Osaka Pro Wrestling facing Atsushi Kotoge in a losing effort. He would spend his first months in the promotion feuding with Kotoge, before forming a tag team with him in November. During the partnership, in May 2007, Harada defeated Kotoge in a tournament final to win the Kamigata Pro–Wrestling Newcomer Grand Prix. After working as a tag team for over a year, Harada and Kotoge were finally granted a shot at the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship, on January 5, 2008, but were unsuccessful in their attempt at dethroning the defending champions, Bad Force (GAINA and Zero). Just a month later on February 11, the team came to an abrupt end, when Kotoge turned heel and joined Bad Force.

First reunion and formation of the Momo no Seishun (2008–2012)[]

In May, Bad Force was dissolved, when the majority of its members jumped to splinter promotion Okinawa Pro Wrestling, after which Kotoge jumped to Blood & Guts, reforming its team with Harada. The rest of the year, Harada and Kotoge spent mostly teaming up and on November 15 the two received a shot at the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championships, but were once again unsuccessful in defeating the reigning champions, Black Buffalo and Tigers Mask. In March 2009, Harada, and Kotoge entered the Indie Junior Challenger Determination round-robin tournament, with the finals of the tournament on April 4 being a three-way match between Kotoge, Harada, and their Blood and Guts stablemate Tadasuke, with Harada once again being victorious. As a result, Harada was granted a shot at the Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship but was defeated by Makoto Oishi on April 29. Later that year, after Tadasuke and Zeus left Blood and Guts, Harada and Kotoge renamed their team to Momo no Seishun, meaning the "Peach of Youth Tag" and concentrated on chasing the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship.

Momo no Seishun Tag

Momo no Seishun in April 2010

On January 16, 2010, Harada and Kotoge defeated Orochi and Tadasuke to become the number one contenders for the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championships and finally, on February 11, they defeated Hideyoshi and Masamune to win the Tag Team Championships for the first time ever. On May 9, Harada and Kotoge teamed with Takoyakida to defeat the reigning champions Tokyo Gurentai (FUJITA, MAZADA and Nosawa Rongai) for the UWA World Trios Championship. They hold the Trios Championships for a month, before losing the titles to Ebessan, Kanjyuro Matsuyama, and Kuishinbo Kamen. On July 17, Momo no Seishun lost the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championships to Don Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki, representing rival promotion Dragon Gate.

In October, Harada and Kotoge made their debut for another major promotion, Pro Wrestling Noah, entering in the 2010 Nippon TV Jr. Heavyweight Tag League. After one victory and three losses, Momo no Seishun finished in the last place in their block. Upon their return to Osaka Pro, Momo no Seishun defeated Fuji and Mochizuki on October 31 to regain the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championships for their second time. Their second reign was less than two months as they lost the title to JOKER (Kuuga and Orochi) on November 28. On January 15, 2011, Harada and Kotoge returned to Noah to unsuccessfully challenge Atsushi Aoki and Naomichi Marufuji for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. On March 6, Harada and Kotoge wrestled JOKER representatives Orochi and Tadasuke to a draw in an Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship number one contenders' match and afterwards agreed to a three–way match for the titles. The title match took place on March 19, when Orochi and Tadasuke defeated Momo no Seishun and the previous champions, Big Guns (Zeus and The Bodyguard) to become the new Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions. On July 18, Momo no Seishun defeated the teams of JOKER (Orochi and Tadasuke) and Takoyakida and Ultimate Spider Jr. in a three-way match to win the Osaka Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship for their third time. Four days later, Momo No Seishun returned to Pro Wrestling Noah to take part in the 2011 NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League. After two victories and two losses, Harada and Kotoge finished in the 3rd place in their respective block, missing the finals of the tournament.

On November 27, Harada and Kotoge entered in the Osaka Pro's annual Tenno-zan tournament, with Harada defeating Kotoge in the first round match. On December 18, Harada defeated Kuuga to win the 2011 Tenno-zan. Later that same day, Momo no Seishun returned to Pro Wrestling Noah, where they teamed with Shane Haste to defeat Atsushi Aoki, Kotaro Suzuki, and Taiji Ishimori in a six-man tag team match, afterwards challenging Aoki and Suzuki to a match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships. On January 22, 2012, Momo no Seishun failed to capture the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships from Atsushi Aoki and Kotaro Suzuki. On February 26, Harada defeated Billyken Kid to win the Osaka Pro Wrestling Championship for the first time, before losing the title to Black Buffalo in his first title defense, ending his reign at 28 days, the shortest reign in the title's history. On April 7, Kotoge announced that he would be leaving Osaka Pro at the end of the month. Momo no Seishun wrestled their final match together on April 21, when they battled Hideyoshi and Masamune to a thirty-minute draw. On April 29, Kotoge, Daisuke Harada, and Tadasuke defeated Billyken Kid, Black Buffalo, and Tigers Mask in Kotoge's final Osaka Pro match. Following the match, Kotoge announced Pro Wrestling Noah as his new home promotion.

Pro Wrestling Noah (2015–2017, 2020–Present)[]

Second reunion and Junior Heavyweight success (2015–2017)[]

On August 22, Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada announced they were reuniting for the 2015 NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League, which would mark their first match together as a tag team in four years. On September 22, Momo no Seishun finished their round-robin block in the NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League with a record of three wins and one loss, winning their block and advancing to the finals. Later that same day, they defeated the reigning GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions El Desperado and Taka Michinoku in the finals to win the tournament. This led to a match on October 4, where Harada and Kotoge defeated El Desperado and Taka Michinoku to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, to become the first Noah wrestlers to reclaim one of the four GHC titles from the Suzuki-gun stable. Afterwards, Harada and Kotoge continued feuding with Suzuki-gun by successfully defending their title against members of the stable; first defeating El Desperado and Michinoku in a rematch on December 23 and then defeating Taichi and Michinoku on January 31, 2016, and finally defeating Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru on February 19. On March 19, Harada and Kotoge lost the title to KenOhara (Hajime Ohara and Kenoh), before regaining them on April 5 in a rematch. They then went back to defending the title against Suzuki-gun, defeating El Desperado and Taka Michinoku for their first successful defense on April 30, before defeating Ohara and Kenoh in a title rematch on May 28. On June 12, Kotoge and Harada won a three-way match, defeating the Suzuki-gun team of Michinoku and Taichi as well as Gedo and Jado, to make their third successful title defense. The following month, Kotoge and Harada made it to the finals of the 2016 NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League, but were defeated there by ACH and Taiji Ishimori. This led to a title match on August 21 at an NJPW show, where Kotoge and Harada defeated ACH and Ishimori for their fourth successful title defense, afterwards nominating Gedo and Jado as their next challengers.[1][2]

On September 23, Kotoge defeated Yoshinobu Kanemaru to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship for the second time.[3][4] On October 8, Kotoge and Harada lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Gedo and Jado.[5][6] On November 22, Harada unsuccessfully challenged Kotoge for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. On December 24, Kotoge and Harada regained the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship from Gedo and Jado.[7] Following the win, Kotoge stated he wanted to join the heavyweight division in 2017.[8] On December 26, Noah held a press conference to officially announce Kotoge's transition into the heavyweight division, resulting in him relinquishing both the GHC Junior Heavyweight and GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.[9] Momo no Seishun formally disbanded on February 14, after Kotoge defeated Harada in a singles match.[10]

Kotoge's return to the junior heavyweight division and reignited feud (2019–2020)[]

On August 3, 2019, Kotoge and Yoshinari Ogawa defeated Harada and Tadasuke in Kotoge's return match to the junior heavyweight division. Afterwards, Harada tried to attack Kotoge, but he was held back by Tadasuke and Ogawa, who announced Kotoge as the newest member of Stinger, who was feuding with Harada's RATEL'S stable. On August 25, after Harada successfully defended the IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship against Kotoge's Stinger stablemate Chris Ridgeway, Kotoge challenged Harada to a title match for his IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship. This led to on September 16, Kotoge defeating Harada to win IPW:UK Junior Heavyweight Championship, before losing it back to him on November 16. On November 26, Kotoge and Kotaro Suzuki defeated Harada and Tadasuke to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. The feud between Kotoge and Harada would in March 2020, after Stinger was disbanded.

Third reunion (2020–Present)[]

On September 23, YO-HEY turned on Harada, before Harada was attacked by Stinger. Afterwards, Full Throttle led by Kotoge went to help, with only Kotoge getting in the ring to help him, while Hajime Ohara and Seiki Yoshioka were at ringside. This led to Kotoge reforming Momo no Seishun with Harada for the third time, which in turn led Kotoge to be kicked out of the stable and replaced by YO-HEY. Kotoge and Harada then challenged Stinger's HAYATA and Yoshinari Ogawa to a title match for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. This led to on October 11, Harada and Kotoge defeating HAYATA and Yoshinari Ogawa to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship for the record breaking fourth time. Harada also challenged Kotaro Suzuki for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship attempting to become a double champion, leading him to defeat Suzuki on November 8 to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship for the fourth time, making him a double champion in the process. On November 22 at NOAH The Chronicle Vol. 4, Momo no Seishun lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship back to HAYATA and Ogawa. On February 12, 2021 at Destination, Harada lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to Seiki Yoshioka. However, on March 14, at Great Voyage in Fukuoka, Kotoge defeated Seiki Yoshioka to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship for the third time. On June 27, at Muta The World, Kotoge lost the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship to HAYATA.

On November 26, in a press conference, Harada and Kotoge announced the creation of N Innovation, a new brand exclusive for NOAH's junior heavyweight division. At the brand's first event on January 6, Harada won a battle royal to become the #1 contender to the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship. Four days later, Harada defeated HAYATA to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Championship for the fifth time. He lost the title to Eita on March 13 at Great Voyage in Yokohama. On June 8, Harada, Kotoge, and YO-HEY defeated Stinger's Yoshinari Ogawa, Seiki Yoshioka and Yuya Susumu to win Dragon Gate's Open The Triangle Gate Championship. They vacated the titles on June 23, after Harada registered a fever.

In wrestling[]

  • Double-team finishing moves
    • Combined running dropkick to a cornered opponent
    • Katayama German Suplex Hold (Harada) followed by the Killswitch (Kotoge)
  • Double-team signature moves
    • Death valley driver (Harada) followed by a Thrust kick and the Onsoku Leg Shot (Kotoge)
    • Henkei Knee Upper (Combined hip toss transitioned into a knee strike to the head)
  • Kotoge's Finishing moves
    • Arm trap somersault cradle[11]
    • Dragstar (Crucifix bomb)[12]
    • Killswitch (Inverted double underhook facebuster)[13][14]
    • Maxam (Running cutter)
    • Shiranui Kai (Moonsault slam)[15]
  • Harada's Finishing moves
    • Diving elbow drop[16][17][18]
    • Harada Pistol (Running dropkick to a cornered opponent)[16]
    • Katayama German Suplex Hold (Bridging high-angle German suplex)[19][20][21][16]
  • Entrance themes

Championships and accomplishments[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Super J-Cup 2016 (in Japanese). New Japan Pro Wrestling. Retrieved on 2016-08-21.
  2. ↑ ja:原田組がＧＨＣジュニアタッグ王座死守！邪道＆外道を次期挑戦者に指名 (in Japanese). Tokyo Sports (2016-08-22). Retrieved on 2016-08-22.
  3. ↑ Shiny Navig. 2016 (in Japanese). Pro Wrestling Noah. Retrieved on 2016-09-25.
  4. ↑ ja:小峠がGHCジュニア奪取　タッグと合わせ2冠に=ノア (in Japanese). Sports Navi. Yahoo! (2016-09-24). Retrieved on 2016-09-25.
  5. ↑ Autumn Navig. 2016 (in Japanese). Pro Wrestling Noah. Retrieved on 2016-10-08.
  6. ↑ ja:【ノア】レジェンド復活！邪道＆外道がＧＨＣジュニアタッグ王座奪取 (in Japanese). Tokyo Sports (2016-10-09). Retrieved on 2016-10-09.
  7. ↑ Winter Navig. 2016 (in Japanese). Pro Wrestling Noah. Retrieved on 2016-12-24.
  8. ↑ ja:小峠がＧＨＣジュニアタッグ奪回直後にヘビー級転向を宣言 (in Japanese). Daily Sports Online. Kobe Shimbun (2016-12-25). Retrieved on 2016-12-25.
  9. ↑ ja:「来年のプロレスリング・ノアも俺が光を照らしていきたいと思います（中嶋）」 12.26、中嶋選手＆小峠選手の記者会見の模様. Pro Wrestling Noah (2016-12-26). Retrieved on 2016-12-26.
  10. ↑ en. Puroresu Spirit (2016-02-14). Retrieved on 2016-02-14.
  11. ↑ The Navig. in May 2012 (in Japanese). Pro Wrestling Noah. Retrieved on 2012-05-26.
  12. ↑ Leung, Jonathan. Atsushi Kotoge . Osaka Holiday Paradise. Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved on 2011-04-21.
  13. ↑ The First Navig.2013 (in Japanese). Pro Wrestling Noah. Retrieved on 2013-02-13.
  14. ↑ The First Navig.2013 (in Japanese). Pro Wrestling Noah. Retrieved on 2013-02-13.
  15. ↑ Leung, Jonathan. KOT Coverage #5: Kotoge & Harada Get 3 Points . Osaka Holiday Paradise. Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved on 2011-04-21.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Leung, Jonathan. Daisuke Harada . Osaka Holiday Paradise. Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved on 2011-04-21.
  17. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named OsakaPro011913
  18. ↑ ja:２月８日試合結果 (in Japanese). Osaka Pro Wrestling (2013-02-08). Archived from the original on 2013-10-10. Retrieved on 2013-02-13.
  19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named OsakaPro
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Noah
  21. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Purolove
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