By: Thom Fain

TOKYO – KENTA reclaimed the GHC Heavyweight Championship on July 20, defeating Kenoh with his signature Go 2 Sleep finisher to capture Pro Wrestling NOAH’s top prize for the second time in his career.

The victory marks a dramatic end to what may be the shortest title reign in GHC Heavyweight Championship history, as Kenoh held the belt for just one day before losing it back to his predecessor. In a symbolic moment following the match, legendary NOAH founder Kenta Kobashi personally presented the championship belt to the new titleholder.

KENTA’s championship victory represents a return to the top of NOAH after a decade-long absence from the main event scene. His first GHC Heavyweight Championship reign concluded in 2014, shortly before he departed for WWE where he competed under his real name Kenta Kobayashi and later as Hideo Itami.

The 43-year-old wrestler’s journey back to NOAH’s championship picture has been one of the promotion’s most compelling storylines. After spending several years in WWE’s developmental system and main roster, KENTA returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2019 before eventually making his way back to NOAH, the company where he first established himself as one of Japan’s premier talents.

Pro Wrestling NOAH, founded by the late Mitsuharu Misawa in 2000 after his departure from All Japan Pro Wrestling, has long been considered one of Japan’s “Big Three” promotions alongside New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan. The GHC Heavyweight Championship, established in 2001, has been held by legendary wrestlers including Misawa, Kobashi, Jun Akiyama, and Naomichi Marufuji.

Kenoh’s brief championship reign began on July 19, making his loss to KENTA one of the most short-lived title runs in modern professional wrestling. The rapid title change adds another chapter to the ongoing rivalry between the two wrestlers and sets the stage for potential future encounters.

KENTA’s signature finishing move, the Go 2 Sleep – a fireman’s carry transitioned into a knee strike – has been his calling card throughout his career and proved decisive once again in capturing NOAH’s most prestigious championship.

Naomichi Marufuju appears to be next in line for a title shot, saying backstage after the event that it was “destiny”. NOAH will start its next tour later this month streaming on Wrestle Universe.