NOAH Destination 2024 Naomichi Marafuji vs AJ Styles
Transcript
00:00at the budokan in tokyo japan this is incredible once in a lifetime
00:08versus pro wrestling noah perhaps this could be the first of many who knows but today it's all
00:14about these two men the genius of the arc representing no one home turf a phenomenal
00:20opponent it was a tremendous success around the world and especially here in japan mike
00:27two-time iwgp heavyweight champion former leader of the bullet club styles is
00:35unbelievable he has been all over the world he's won titles all over the world
00:41absolutely legendary wrestler over here but marukoji is no slouch he has been in noah
00:49for years and years has done everything in this company and has been the rock of noah exactly
00:55he's been flying the flag isn't he since day one cartwheel for marukoji drop kick
00:59he outmaneuvers aj styles there now he understands fully the task that he's
01:05up against today the phenomenal one he's in there with a genius
01:12i think he knows exactly the challenge he has in front of him right now marukoji chance swing
01:18out there was immense respect between these two at the press conference yesterday mike
01:23oh of course now travel all the way to japan for a fight without
01:29a serious tremendous amount of respect for your opponent like this
01:32yeah both relishing and savoring this is perhaps one time only experience
01:39modern day great aj styles everywhere he's been
01:44setting a fast pace here in the early going aj styles said yesterday he was envious of the fact
01:49that marukoji has wrestled the likes of noah great mitahara misawa kenta kobashi and he said
01:55that's what makes the genius of the art so dangerous mike but then again we're talking
02:00about the former leader of the bullet club that's wrestled all around japan himself
02:06former iwgp champion but has never been in the pro wrestling no ring
02:12you're very special on it pro wrestling no one for mariposa today
02:17j styles said he received the list potential opponents for today and as soon as he saw
02:22mariposa that was it for him that was the match that was the most sought after
02:29and you know when we go back we talk about others that have sought out this particular gentleman
02:35and you have to ask yourself why will ospreay came over in japan before he went to america
02:41he wanted marufuji
02:45i got the speed of marufuji great job picked it up from aj styles
02:51gorgeous phenomenal response wipes out marufuji four-time ghe heavyweight champion
02:58he's creating some distance between him and aj now that's a wise move for marufuji
03:03there's a reason he's called the genius of the art
03:05in five years last appearance here was in 2019 he's competed in japan 92 times between 2003
03:19and 2019 he's got 39 singles matches under his belt in japan he's 126 he's lost 13
03:28and he can do it all for sure still at 47 years old this man can do it all
03:38he is jacked he's all get up he's in the best condition of his career
03:42that was in particular for the matches against cody rhodes wwe undisputed champion backlash in
03:48france he's going to the cold plunger within the sauna he said they're not things that he wants to
03:54do but this stage of his career at 47 in order to stay at the top of his game those are things
04:00that he has to do it's a necessity actually and marufuji is no sledge either still
04:06it's incredibly impressive style he's now in his ninth reign as a ghg tag team champion
04:12unbelievable j styles for so many years carried tna wrestling on his back
04:17finally made the jump to the wwe in 2016 in the royal rumble so much success in that time
04:24he's also at the distinction and the honor between the undertaker's final opponent
04:29at wrestlemania in 2020 in the special boneyard match as well mike incredible
04:36he is just at the top of his game even still
04:40you just wonder where the peak is he's been at the peak for so long
04:44um speaking of different kind of pick this has picked the interest of fans around the world
04:49it's also picked the interest of other members of the wwe roster carl anderson luke gallows
04:54and cody rhodes are only talking about this they've been saying how special a talent marufuji
05:00is but carl anderson former ghg tag team champion he said aj styles is the best wrestler in the world
05:08no no no i believe it
05:13just had these slabs of muscle onto his frame this year isn't he
05:16aj styles came up just short in those two matches against cody rhodes
05:24i quit match in scotland
05:27pushed american nightmare right to his limit both occasions speaking of muscles though he's
05:33grinding in his marufuji on aj styles arm making sure those muscles are well worked over
05:41brutal shot there from aj styles just wiping the feet from under marufuji
05:50there is very important not just the pro wrestling all this is the spiritual home
05:55this company but also for marufuji captured his first ghg
05:59heavyweight championship here in 2006 when he conquered
06:05relentless attack now from aj styles he's pushing the pace and aj is showing he hasn't forgotten
06:10what it's like to wrestle in japan he's going hard holding nothing back
06:17yes showing great respect in and out of the ring for marufuji
06:29oh and working over that knee that has been a problem for a while and it will be a problem
06:38in this match for sure yeah definitely and you can tell aj styles has done his homework
06:42he knows full well the difficulty the problems over the years that marufuji's had with his knees
06:48knee bust up there to marufuji he's had numerous minor surgeries in recent years on the knees just
06:55to drain fluid away he's trying to prolong his career he can still roll back the years on any
07:03given occasion especially when he's in there for someone special like aj styles
07:09shots to the body for marufuji stiff right hand from aj
07:16real for marufuji but he's struggling on that left knee mike he tried for the flare
07:21but the knee wasn't there textbook aj styles in that diving forearm
07:27little marufuji could do about that
07:38marufuji breathing heavy now
07:42pendulum backbreaker from aj styles working him over with a barrage of offense
07:49and at the same time it's still staying methodical isn't he mike
07:52he's pacing himself as aj styles that comes with all his years of experience
07:58so decorated
08:04marufuji trying to fight back here he's gripping the tights of aj
08:10we need a timely response from marufuji here snap suplex from aj
08:19aj wants you to go you're gonna go he willed that suplex into existence knows exactly when
08:26to push the pace senses any weakness in his opponent capitalizes instantly
08:37aj acknowledging the crowd's marufuji chance
08:42downward elbow from aj and you've got to love japan the crowd is
08:47silent and loud all at the same time
08:53irish with marufuji goes into the corner
08:57aj gets lifted up and over onto the apron or could it be time
09:06just when it looked like he was going for that phenomenal forearm perhaps my
09:09genius move from the genius of the ark right there took out his base
09:17yeah and did so by connecting with the ropes which unbalanced aj and sent him out onto the floor
09:26what does marufuji do here though does he try and regain his composure or does he go and confront
09:31aj on the outside this is the question you know he's been dealing with injuries for a while now
09:38if anybody can uncork some brilliance some magic it's now mitchie marufuji
09:49marufuji looking to open up aj now
09:55this doesn't bode well for the two-time wwe champion first chop of our double main event part one
10:08second for marufuji
10:13sickening chops it's going to be some lacerations across the chest of aj
10:19nonchalant kicks to the face now from marufuji signature offense
10:26stamp on the foot and that new spin kick he's added to his arsenal recently
10:33irish whip aj styles reverses it marufuji into the corner
10:37marufuji gets a boot up on the rope connects with a kick
10:48marufuji with the marufuji rope yep cody rhodes american nightmare he said he calls up the
10:53marufuji in his interview exactly
11:00there's the foot stomp another move that was innovated by marufuji
11:08oh there's the one count there marufuji now this is a good spell for him mike yeah styles
11:14looks a little bit shocked i don't know if he imagined that he'd be dealing with this
11:18level of offense to be honest
11:29marufuji's got to deal with the strength now of aj
11:41suplex into the turnbuckle
11:42oh
11:46definitely turn the tide over there it's a move so dangerous that he's used to such great effect
11:51over the years
12:00trying to regain his composure as the slide out of the ring but
12:04he's
12:05AJ Styles has got arguably a wider repertoire than perhaps anyone in the sport mike
12:11so little moments like that and turn a contest around and he's not afraid to go to the sky
12:17for a plancha for a kick then blocked by marufuji he buster onto the apron
12:25right here in front of us now on the outside
12:33uh
12:39beautifully done
12:46styles now regaining his composure if he can but marufuji looks ready to pounce yeah
12:52uh
12:59he gets driven into the guardrail
13:16you knew it was going to happen it's only a matter of time you're right in
13:20front of us here at the announced table this shows the serious nature of this contest
13:25it's one that both men desperately want to win they know that they'll get one chance at this might
13:32springboard off the guardrail phenomenal forearm forearm right in front of us
13:42that was the first commentating standing up my god what a maneuver
13:47AJ Styles chance to ring out to the Nippon Budokan
13:54ecstatic of these fans they get to see AJ Styles back in person
13:58first time in five years wrestling in japan
14:02he's built up quite the legacy here
14:12left springboard phenomenal forum from the guardrail on the outside marufuji is still down
14:29super kick from marufuji right there oh what is he thinking here
14:36on the guardrail oh my lord innovating to this very day the four-time GHE
14:44heavyweight champion now meeting marufuji just launched AJ Styles headfirst into the guardrail
14:52they look like he's bent at the middle of the guardrail with AJ Styles head
15:01thought he was going to go the opposite way mike towards the turnbuckle towards the apron
15:04i did also
15:09you never know what is in the mind of now meeting marufuji he's always thinking several
15:14steps ahead always thinking and targeting the unexpected that's what made him such a beloved
15:19figure here in japan send AJ Styles finally back into the ring referee breathes a sense of relief
15:28that no countouts
15:38to the back of the head of AJ
15:45marufuji wants to finish this mike again those back of the neck shots are brutal yeah marufuji
15:52possesses kale power with these strikes looking for the shiranui
15:57oh AJ was alert to the danger
16:08back and forth how much pressure did he apply in that pin attempt do you see that
16:14double leg of everything to try and get that coveted w from marufuji but it wasn't enough
16:21what does it take
16:27for this kind of setting we press the buttons of marufuji pro-wrestling no a major event
16:35double main event huge jam-packed crowd at the nippon budokan
16:41fighting pride of pro-wrestling aj styles climbing up top mike slap to the face here
16:47oh high risk
16:52headbutts all around marufuji just up in the physicality now
16:57right hands from aj right hand for marufuji trading shots in a highly precarious position mike
17:09you're going for something big this is unfamiliar domain in recent times
17:14but not over the years aj's trying to slip out and under and he's managed so
17:18puts the leg away of marufuji loaded him up again now oh no
17:25torture rack it's a rack bomb from aj styles
17:332.9 reoccurring there shades of a burning hammer yep i was worried for a moment there
17:41we've had some serious impacts aj styles did in fact use kentucky
17:45bashi's burning hammer in that match with cody rose and backlash in may
17:54gotta wonder if he's not scouted that out in advance of this match
17:59that wasn't a preparation for marufuji these two are so well matched aren't they
18:04the juniors who became heavyweight superstars
18:09aj can send over to the apron big forearm
18:16fake to hell yeah
18:20aj styles he's outmaneuvered and outfoxed marufuji 450 the superman he misses marufuji
18:28both knees up that patented superman
18:34he went for everything there he risked it all aj styles with the 450 he calls it the superman
18:40but the intelligence of marufuji came to the fore marufuji's not happy though he used the knee to
18:47block it yep he had no choice in that scenario there mike that could have been game over
18:54aj styles connected
18:59i feel like they're going to claw their way to the middle in this
19:02titanic tussle at the nippon budokan
19:10trading the center of the canvas now right beside the pro wrestling noah logo
19:17huge overhand right hand aj styles dishing out offense now marufuji trying to get the blood
19:23flowing in those legs again come on come on says aj styles huge chop for marufuji
19:31might be regretting that each other applies to the one in kind
19:40marufuji one of the real specialists though in this environment like
19:45when it comes to chops marufuji's got him in spades that right hand though marufuji's
19:51lucky to still have a vertical base
19:59maybe a sting behind that one aj styles needed a few seconds to recover there
20:04re-degaining his composure
20:09marufuji a little unsteady on his knees on his feet over there yeah stare down and a showdown
20:15he's building momentum now mike
20:20down to one knee chopping him down thunderous right hand from aj styles
20:30tremendous intensity now
20:35releasing into him into the corner gets the book aj signature marufuji combination but he
20:42misses once again now it's an aj combination marufuji gets the hot kick this time there's
20:54flashes of brilliance from both men mike incredible the budokan is rocking right now
21:00so high stakes took pressure to live up to this dream match
21:14they get one crack creating something special today folks men have given it their all
21:22who can take one major stealth to add to their respective cvs today
21:30hey jay up the ropes for marufuji though elbow for marufuji
21:38calf crusher from aj styles
21:42working over that knee still yeah he would more than take a submission victory over marufuji
21:49at this point he'll take it any way he can yeah
21:52okay he's thrown every bit of his offense at marufuji and somehow
22:00yeah he's gone right through the playbook jay styles his playbook
22:03put away some of the biggest names in the sport over the years
22:09he j styles his shoulders were down momentarily then switching through now he's looking for the
22:14short arm scissors that perfect key lock he could switch into an arm bar
22:18kabura and with pressure momentarily
22:24trying to fight back marufuji trying to work on the arm here mike beautiful sequence right there
22:30marufuji with some exotic submissions right there yeah that perfect key lock it is from
22:35marufuji short arm scissors well-versed in submissions rising in pain right now
22:42yep
23:00marufuji retaining wrist control here hands onto one elbow there's the hot kick
23:07there's the call
23:09mother i'm gonna take it
23:24marufuji just looking to dismantle him brutal knees
23:31marufuji is just putting everything together at the right time it feels here mike
23:36yeah great series of attacks there styles feeling around his mouth to make sure he
23:43didn't lose a tooth there yep he's gonna go back shirinui block
23:49over the top elbow from aj styles second rope moonsault he's looking for the inverted ddt
23:58superkick for marufuji
24:06it's just the moment
24:13the crowd counting in unison here at the bombuda can't
24:18and now marufuji overcome aj styles in the pro wrestling oa ring marufuji signaling for the end
24:26mike he's signaling for something special because he knows styles is not going down for anything less
24:35he's going to have to reach deep into his arsenal if marufuji became prepared exactly for that
24:43looking for fishermen perhaps
24:49block this
24:54can he get it oh no he's got him set up for the styles clash marufuji's fighting back with some
25:00kicks fighting back look at this for marufuji incredible defense to block the styles clash
25:07well scouted sunset
25:13to load him up from this position
25:17he can loop the arms it's over
25:19oh
25:25almost over
25:25two over styles clash styles clash no marufuji shoulders are down
25:34wwe superstar aj styles defeats narumichi marufuji on his pro wrestling noah debut
25:44on