OZAWA Claims Shane Haste Has No Love For Pro Wrestling NOAH, Haste Challenges OZAWA To Face Him Without Interference

By: Lewis Carlan

On July 18th, Pro Wrestling NOAH will hold it’s SUMMER EPIC 2026 event at the INTEX Osaka Hall 5 in Osaka. The featured bout will see Shane Haste making his second defense of the GHC Heavyweight Title against the former champion OZAWA.

Ahead of their highly anticipated bout, NOAH held a press conference and contract signing ceremony in which champion and challenger came face to face as they each made final comments aimed at one another.

Before the signing of the contract, Haste asked OZAWA how is currently feeling and OZAWA didn’t hold back his words and offered a long response. OZAWA claimed that Haste has no real love for NOAH which is resulting in diminishing crowds.

From OZAWA:

“First of all, do you know what time it is? It’s past 1pm, right? Past 1pm on a weekday? Who’s going to watch a press conference for some crappy indie pro-wrestling organization at this time? Normally, on a weekday, they’d do it in the evening or something, right? How incompetent are the people running this organization?… That’s what Shane Haste was saying in the locker room earlier. No, hey. Don’t say that. What if that comment infuriates someone higher up? What if they lose sleep over it and decide to transfer all of Pro Wrestling Noah’s CyberFight shares, and Cyber ​​abandons NOAH? Think about what you’re going to do with yourself, man. Anyway, Shane Haste. I, OZAWA, lost the belt and became a champion in various other leagues, and then Shane Haste took over, and NOAH’s audience has been steadily declining. I think that’s partly because the public has started to see through Shane Haste’s lack of love for NOAH, his love for Pro Wrestling NOAH. I mean, Shane Haste, if he’s invited to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, he’ll go to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and there he’ll probably say something like, “I was a huge fan of Antonio Inoki. I became a pro wrestler because I admired Antonio Inoki.” If he’s invited to WWE, he’ll probably say something like, “I love John Cena. I’m a big fan of John Cena.” And if he comes to NOAH , he’ll say something like, “I love Kenta Kobashi, They’ll probably say things like, “He has an incredible love for NOAH,” but the fans aren’t stupid, they can see right through that. Someone without that love for NOAH is the champion. Who’s going to come to a match like that? Who’s going to come to a match like this? That’s why we’re in this situation. I, who am overflowing with love for NOAH, will take the belt back from Shane Haste and win back the fans. That’s the spirit I’m going into this match with.”

Shane Haste shot back with a rebuttal and said as GHC Heavyweight Champion, he is full of love for Pro Wrestling NOAH.

From Shane Haste:

“We’ve been doing all sorts of fun and silly things in the lead-up matches, both in the ring and on social media, but when the belt is on the line, it’s not like that. When the bell rings, the fun is over. I’m going to fight as Shane Haste, worthy of the GHC Championship, and as Shane Haste, who is full of love for Pro Wrestling NOAH.”

As the verbal confrontation continued, Haste challenged OZAWA to face him alone in the championship bout without the aid of TEAM 2000x.

From Shane Haste:

“I think if KENTA were here, this wouldn’t have happened. I don’t think he would make comments that sound like he’s bullying the staff like this, so why does he always do bad things? Why does he always use dirty tricks? I’ve watched all your matches, of course. I think you’re a really great wrestler in the ring. You’re full of talent and have so much potential. You’re a young wrestler who’s already become a champion. So why do you always do bad things? I think you can do it. That’s why I want you to come to the ring in Osaka alone. Let’s have a NOAH, GHC title match worthy of the two of us. This is my request, my challenge, to come to the ring in Osaka alone. Will you accept this?”

OZAWA responded by saying their GHC Heavyweight Title match will be a fair and square one on one match without any interference.

From OZAWA:

 “Well, to be honest, I was moved. Not only by Shane’s respect for the GHC Heavyweight Championship, but also by the fact that he thought I, OZAWA, am athletic, entertaining in the ring, very active outside the ring, and on top of that, I’m good-looking. To think that he thought that about me… Finally, someone acknowledged me. I was honestly happy to feel that way. For this match, I won’t bring any members of TEAM 2000X to ringside or anything, and it will be a fair and square one-on-one match, with absolutely no interference. Trust me.”

Haste indicated that he trusted OZAWA, which may or may not be a mistake, and signed the contract.

As the press conference was ending, OZAWA and Haste came face to face when TEAM 2000x members Masa Kitamiya & Takashi Sugiura appeared and grabbed Haste which left him helpless to an attack by OZAWA.

Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling NOAH

OZAWA told Kitamiya and Sugiura that he was okay and pulled them away from Haste. OZAWA and Haste shook hands to close out the signing ceremony and press conference as they both now head for their final preparations for their July 18th GHC Heavyweight Championship showdown.

Fans can watch the entire July 12th press conference here: