Team NOAH, is a professional wrestling stable primarily appearing in the Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH (NOAH).
The group was formed by Atsushi Kotoge, Go Shiozaki, Hi69, Muhammad Yone, and Akitoshi Saito on January 2, 2024, which they subsequently named "Team NOAH", in reference to Shiozaki's catshphrase I am NOAH. In February, Team NOAH produced its own event at the Korakuen Hall, named Limit Break, a event which they started to usually promote.
History[]
In May 2019, Hideki Suzuki told Go Shiozaki, that "NOAH is you". Kaito Kiyomiya, reigning GHC Heavyweight Champion at the time, was also there, but Suzuki looked only at Shiozaki. Shiozaki was expected to be the future of Noah, and although there was a blank period, he was able to build up a solid career and mature, and then restart as the Ark's ace. At that moment, Kaito Kiyomiya, a rising star, threatened Shiozaki. In January 2020, after Shiozaki won the GHC Heavyweight Championship for the fourth time by defeating Kiyomiya, Shiozaki adopted the catshphrase "I am NOAH!" and that became popular among fans, with Shiozaki taking more of a leading role in Pro Wrestling NOAH and consolidating himself as one of the promotion's leading wrestlers in the following years.
On January 2, 2024 at NOAH The New Year, Shiozaki defeated New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Satoshi Kojima. After the match, Shiozaki formed "Team NOAH", alongside Atsushi Kotoge, Hi69, Muhammad Yone, and Akitoshi Saito, whom had already had significant history in the prommotion. Later that night, Shiozaki challenged Kenoh to a title match for the GHC Heavyweight Championship, after he had successfully defended his title against Manabu Soya. Shortly after, Shiozaki, exclaimed that they would be the ones to change NOAH's current "insufficient" status, following the demotion of GHC Heavyweight Championship to the semi main event at NOAH The New Year. Kenoh would brand them "the least anticipated unit in Noah's history", and suggested that the members be reorganized, as "there were only transfers and a returning member". Kenoh also went to say that "if Shiozaki's "I AM NOAH" were to disappear, then "TEAM NOAH" would suddenly lose its significance", before also suggesting Naomichi Marufuji to join the stable, which Marufuji alongside Takashi Sugiura, later refused. On January 13, Shiozaki unsucessfully challenged Kenoh for the GHC Heavyweight Championship. The following day, NOAH announced that Team NOAH would produce their first events named Limit Break, on February 15 at Korakuen Hall, and the second on March 20 at Yokohama Radiant Hall. On March 1, Team NOAH made an appearance in Pro Wrestling Zero1 as part of a interpromotional rivalry with Real Zero1 stable, which Team NOAH won by a aggregate score of 2–1. From February 24 to March 10, Kotoge and Shiozaki took part in the 2024 Victory Challenge Tag League. After finishing the tournament with a record of three wins, three losses and a draw, they were defeated in the final day of the tournament by Kaito Kiyomiya and Ryohei Oiwa and thus were eliminated from the finals. On March 31 at a Pro Wrestling Zero1 event, Saito defeated Chris Vice to win Zero1's World Heavyweight Championship. On May 29, at Limit Break 2, Saito faced Shiozaki in a title match for the World Heavyweight Championship, which ended in a time limit draw. In a rematch on July 13 at Destination, Shiozaki defeated Saito to win Zero1's World Heavyweight Championship. After the match, Saito announced that he was seeking his retirement soon from professional wrestling. On September 28, Hajime Ohara was accepted into the stable, becoming Team NOAH's sixth member. On November 17, at Deathnity, Saito wrestled his retirement match being by Naomichi Marufuji, leaving the stable in the proccess.
Members[]
| * | Founding member |
|---|---|
| I | Leader |
Current[]
| Member | Joined | |
|---|---|---|
| Atsushi Kotoge | * | January 2, 2024 |
| Go Shiozaki | *I | January 2, 2024 |
| Hajime Ohara | September 28, 2024 | |
| Hi69 | * | January 2, 2024 |
| Muhammad Yone | * | January 2, 2024 |
Former[]
| Member | Duration | |
|---|---|---|
| Akitoshi Saito | * | January 2, 2024 |
Timeline[]
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Pro Wrestling Zero1
- World Heavyweight Championship (2 times, current) – Saito (1) and Shiozaki (1, current)
