N-1 VICTORY 2022 – The Story So Far Highlights, Results & Video Link
By Mark Pickering
Pro Wrestling NOAH’s annual heavyweight singles league, the N-1 VICTORY, has gripped the sport since it burst into life in Yokohama on 11 August.
Following day 6 on Saturday (20 August) the 16-man tournament takes its first breather now over the coming week days until it resumes with a crucial seventh instalment this Saturday (27 August) in Nagoya before a block-deciding day 8 in Kawasaki on Sunday.
This respite offers a perfect time to take stock on the world-class action we’ve seen so far and to recap the highlights as NOAH fans the world around switch on to witness the Ark’s first time presenting all N-1 shows live with on-site English commentary on Wrestle Universe.
Day 1 – 11 August, Yokohama Budokan
The 2022 edition of the sport’s showpiece tournament opened with a pulsating show in Yokohama that featured all 16 N-1 competitors.
The first match pitted eternal arch-rivals Katsuhiko Nakajima and Masa Kitamiya against each other in the B Block. Reigning N-1 champion Nakajima registered a win over Kitamiya, whose initial pro wrestling tryout he oversaw along with Kensuke Sasaki and Akira Hokuto – via his trademark Vertical Spike after 11 minutes.
Former ECW World Heavyweight Champion Masato Tanaka bested N-1 newcomer Anthony Greene - who first discovered Japanese wrestling via FMW video tapes - after a Sliding D following a back-and-forth 12-minute A Block battle.
N-1 VICTORY 2021 semi-finalist Masakatsu Funaki, the oldest N-1 competitor this year at 53, ruthlessly dismissed N-1 debutant Kinya Okada as he forced the referee the stop the match. The Pancrase co-founder choked out the homegrown NOAH heavyweight with a rear naked choke for 2 points in the B Block.
Catch wrestler Hideki Suzuki, the last disciple of the late, great Briton Billy Robinson, saw off Dragon Gate’s Masaaki Mochizuki after 15 minutes with a Double Arm Suplex to kickstart his inaugural N-1 campaign in the A Block.
Little-known Scottish heavyweight Jack Morris sent shockwaves through the sport after he stunned the Supernova Kaito Kiyomiya who entered on the back of a victory over Keiji Muto at the Nippon Budokan in July. Dunfermline’s Morris, 28, lived up to his promise having said at the pre-N-1 press conference that the whole world would be talking about him after his first match in Japan. Kiyomiya fell to a Tiger Driver after 12 minutes in the B Block.
NOAH GHC Heavyweight Champion Kenoh, who has spoken of his desire to win the N-1 and nominate Keiji Muto for his first title defence, defeated a spirited El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. who returned to N-1 duty for the first time since 2019. KONGO supremo Kenoh sunk in a Doujime Sleeper to see off the third generation Mexican star in A Block.
Takashi Sugiura triumphed over New Japan’s Satoshi Kojima in a clash of former GHC Heavyweight Champions. The Killing Machine subdued the leader of Bread Club with a brutal Front Necklock to get off the mark in B Block.
Yokohama’s main event produced fireworks as Go Shiozaki and Kazuyuki Fujita finally went one-on-one for the first time since their 2020 empty-arena epic. Five-time GHC Heavyweight Champion Shiozaki fell to Ironhead Fujita, a one-time GHC Heavyweight Champion, after a thunderous Beast Bomb to underline his credentials as he chases a return to the summit of Pro Wrestling NOAH.
Watch here: https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/lives/w9P8YxoFPtFYsdosUjLWqX
English review: https://youtu.be/ihb_L9Vu59Q
Day 2, August 13 - EDION Arena Osaka #2
Two days removed from the first night in Yokohama, the N-1 arrived in Osaka for a star-laden offering.
Go Shiozaki, who has never won a N-1 VICTORY league, scored his first contest win this year at the expense of the gutsy Florida-based Greene with a Gowan Lariat after 10 minutes in A Block.
N-1 first-timer Satoshi Kojima, the fourth man to claim the heavyweight ‘Grand Slam’ in Japan, fired up his signature right arm to dismiss an overmatched Kinya Okada with his Western Lariat which he was taught by Stan Hansen. Kojima’s first N-1 win provided him with two points in B Block.
Mexican hope Wagner scored the biggest win of his career against Ironhead Fujita. A Casadora caught the former PRIDE FC star by surprise and although he fought to escape the pin, the son of Dr. Wagner Jr. picked up the spoils in A Block after 10 minutes.
Kenoh added to the woes of Masaaki Mochizuki by conquering the Open The Triangle Gate Champion with a Dragon Suplex Hold after 14 minutes in A Block.
Former GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champions Kaito Kiyomiya and Masa Kitamiya collided in B Block with the Supernova suffering a second straight loss. Kitamiya went for broke and had the number of his former partner in Osaka as he finished the N-1 VICTORY 2020 finalist with his Prison Lock.
GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Hideki Suzuki stretched out Masato Tanaka to secure his second win in three days. The Snakepit Koenji man outgrappled Tanaka who had to submit to his foe’s Royal Stretch after 16 minutes in A Block.
KONGO stablemates Katushiko Nakajima and GHC National Champion Masakatsu Funaki met in the main event and it didn’t disappoint. Funaki handed 2020 and 2021 N-1 champion Nakajima a stinging defeat with his Hybrid Blaster after 23 minutes in B Block.
Watch here: https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/lives/mopNuHVsFBoF1VxFs9yVsj
English review: https://youtu.be/o9yYMGiAyE0
Day 3, August 14 - Hiroshima Sunplaza
Hiroshima was the next stop on the N-1 tour just 24 hours after the second day in Osaka.
Takashi Sugiura thwarted Kinya Okada with little resistance as he beat the former taekwondo man with an Olympic Slam after just seven minutes in B Block.
Randolph, Massachusetts native Anthony Greene picked up his first N-1 points by defeating Wagner in a USA v Mexico A Block contest. The Alternative outfoxed the luchador with a Casadora Cutback for two precious points.
Masa Kitamiya delivered one of the greatest performances of his career to claim a stirring win over Masakatsu Funaki in B Block. Funaki had no answer to Kitamiya’s Saito Suplex in the 10th minute.
Satoshi Kojima saw off man of the moment Jack Morris with his Western Lariat but was full of praise for the Scot afterwards on social media. Kojima, who described Morris as a future star, proved to be too powerful for the athletic Briton at the 13-minute mark in B Block.
Go Shiozaki continued to build momentum by handing Mochizuki another loss in A Block. Shiozaki utilised his Limit Break after 15 minutes to beat Mochizuki whose form has seemingly alluded him at the worst possible time.
Kaito Kiyomiya was close to being stopped by Nakajima in the opening minutes but eventually fought back and, for the first time, turned to his new box of tricks which have been officially passed down to him by Keiji Muto. The Supernova earnt his first N-1 points this summer by tapping out Nakajima with a Figure-Four Leglock.
Evergreen Masato Tanaka shocked Kenoh in Hiroshima with a battling display in the main event in A Block. A Sliding D at the 20 minute mark provided vital points for Tanaka who showed the world that on his day he can still beat anyone.
Watch here: https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/lives/vFZsR4zGbsMg6eemLzvBYF
English review: https://youtu.be/RpkVLaRUsI8
Day 4, August 17 - Sendai Sunplaza
The N-1 VICTORY travelled North to Sendai for its fourth instalment.
Jack Morris returned to winning ways by defeating Kinya Okada with his Tiger Driver in B Block after 12 minutes.
Wagner beat a misfiring Mochizuki with a Huracanrana Cutback for his second victory in A Block. Mochizuki slipped further off the pace as his N-1 record dropped to 0-4 after he was pinned just short of the 15 minute mark.
Satoshi Kojima broke the resistance of the always game Masa Kitamiya by registering with his Western Lariat in B Block. Kojima needed 13 minutes to pick up his third straight win.
Ironhead Fujita downed Hideki Suzuki in a technical A Block contest. Inoki’s protégé handed Suzuki his first loss in this year’s N-1 via a Rear Naked Choke after 20 minutes.
Katsuhiko Nakajima put his Hiroshima defeat behind him by returning to form with a rousing win over Takashi Sugiura in B Block. The KONGO KO artist put away Sugiura in the 17th minute with a Vertical Spike.
In the main event Kenoh, who like KONGO colleagues Nakajima and Funaki suffered a painful defeat in Hiroshima, returned to the winning column by beating Go Shiozaki. Kenoh used his P.F.S to score three count at the 20 minute mark to bolster his A Block campaign.
Watch here: https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/lives/5XDQwarWSuBjuzDjkPYnfM
English review: https://youtu.be/iKt3Q-6vCmU
Day 5, August 19 - Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
The N-1 VICTORY descended on Tokyo for the first time this year on Friday.
Kazuyuki Fuijta powered his way past Anthony Greene with a Beast Bomb after 5 minutes in the A Block.
Katsuhiko Nakajima, who claimed his 2021 N-1 VICTORY Trophy at Korakuen last year, turned up the heat on Jack Morris who saw his Tiger Driver countered by the reigning champion for a three count in B Block after 14 minutes.
Masaaki Mochizuki finally tasted victory after he defeated his former M’s alliance colleague Masato Tanaka with a High Kick after 14 minutes in A Block.
Takashi Sugiura, who has said that this could be his last N-1 if he doesn’t win the tournament, earned two more points by besting Masa Kitamiya. The Sugiura-gun boss stopped Kitamiya with a Front Necklock after 11 minutes in B Block.
Kenoh and Hideki Suzuki left everything in the ring as they pushed each other to their limits for 30 minutes. Neither champion could find a way through and the co-main event went to a time limit draw offering both men 1 point in A Block.
The Supernova added the name of another legend to his CV as he beat Masakatsu Funaki with a Muto-inspired display in the main event. Kiyomiya defeated Funaki after 14 minutes with a Modified Shining Wizard to improve his record to two wins and two defeats In B Block.
Watch here: https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/lives/iT8mWXB7Lwegwadvr2zHB1
English review: https://youtu.be/bRzQH3Pa41Y
Day 6, August 20 - Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
The Korakuen double header closed out Tokyo’s N-1 experience for 2022.
In the opening contest Kaito Kiyomiya beat winless Kinya Okada in a battle between two homegrown NOAH heavyweights. A reverse cradle provided the Supernova with his third win a row in B Block after 10 minutes.
Hideki Suzuki defeated one of his students during his stay in America as the catch wrestling master submitted Anthony Greene with his Royal Stretch. Suzuki wrapped up the A Block win after nine minutes.
Takashi Sugiura had to call upon an Avalanche Olympic Slam from the top turnbuckle to beat Jack Morris who once again rose to the occasion at Korakuen Hall. Sugiura added two more points to his B Block tally after 17 minutes.
Go Shiozaki scored a morale-boosting win over Wagner in A Block with a Gowan Lariat. Shiozaki and Wagner traded chops and the latter turned to his high-flying offence with success but ultimately fell to the record-breaker after 16 minutes.
In a first-time match between legends, Satoshi Kojima saw off Masakatsu Funaki for a fourth consecutive win. Kojima’s Western Lariat was the difference as the former G-1 winner prevailed after 10 minutes in a fascinating B Block battle.
Ironman Masato Tanaka defeated Kazuyuki Fujita in a must-see main event. Tanaka absorbed Fujita’s most violent offence and showed his conditioning, courage and heart to earn a momentous win after a Sliding D after 21 minutes. The A Block showdown saw a post-match handshake with both men earning a rapturous ovation from the crowd.
Watch here: https://www.wrestle-universe.com/en/lives/dwGyQ4oTC7C4Lurfm883HV
English review: https://youtu.be/6_-rEMbm5Qg
N-1 Victory Standings:
Block A:
1. Kenoh [7]
-. Hideki Suzuki [7]
3. Masato Tanaka [6]
-. Go Shiozaki [6]
-. Kazuyuki Fujita [6]
6. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. [4]
7. Anthony Greene [2]
7. Masaaki Mochizuki [2]
Block B:
1. Satoshi Kojima [8]
-. Takashi Sugiura [8]
3. Katsuhiko Nakajima [6]
-. Kaito Kiyomiya [6]
5. Masakatsu Funaki [4]
-. Masa Kitamiya [4]
-. Jack Morris [4]
8. Kinya Okada [0]
N-1 VICTORY 2022 Schedule:
Day 7, August 27 - Nagoya
Day 8, August 28 – Culttz Kawasaki
N-1 VICTORY GRAND FINAL, 3 September – EDION Arena Osaka
Watch the three remaining N-1 VICTORY 2022 shows live on Wrestle Universe with English commentary.
Use the hashtag #n12022 to let us know your N-1 predictions on social media.
