By Mark Pickering
GHC Heavyweight Champion Kaito Kiyomiya finally lost his patience with his protege-turned-rival OZAWA, who turned his back on the All Rebellion group leader in November.
OZAWA (formerly Taishi Ozawa) was unveiled by Kiyomiya as the latest member of the All Rebellion stable when he appeared alongside his fellow NOAH dojo graduate upon returning from his European excursion. OZAWA then attacked Kiyomiya following his successful title defense against Takashi Sugiura on November 17 and joined the villainous TEAM 2000X group.
Kiyomiya took exception to OZAWA’s antics at the press conference after the latter showed the media a picture of the champion smoking. The three-time and reigning GHC kingpin sent OZAWA, who has been taking shots at the former Supernova on X and revealing details about his private life, through a table with a brainbuster five days out from the biggest match of their respective careers.
Before attacking his eighth title challenger, Kiyomiya said, "When he joined NOAH he was a man with a bright future. Now he's a fraud. Bring it on at the Nippon Budokan. You can't run away anymore."
OZAWA, who hobbled into the conference as he recovers from the broken leg he sustained in training in October, sent a message to the champion as well.
"You've lived your life walking neatly along the path laid out for you by the company. Is that the kind of person to start a Rebellion? You were the one who told the company to reduce the number of matches I had, right? I know that,” he said.
Kiyomiya will defend the GHC Heavyweight Championship against OZAWA at NOAH The New Year 2025 on January 1.
NOAH THE NEW YEAR is available to order with English commentary on ABEMA Live.
The event will steam in the USA, Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. For all other regions, the event will be added to Wrestle Universe at a later date.
Fightful will have coverage of NOAH The New Year 2025 once it airs on January 1.
