Relive Daisuke Harada’s Favorite Matches Ahead of His Retirement

Relive Daisuke Harada’s Favorite Matches Ahead of His Retirement

Courtesy of Pro Wrestling NOAH

NOAH Juniors ace, Daisuke Harada, will retire on March 9th at Korakuen Hall. On the day, a retirement match—a one-minute exhibition with a doctor at ringside for precaution—has been scheduled. Daisuke Harada himself carefully selected his final opponent, his ally Atsushi Kotoge, Harada’s first opponent in his debut match in 2006.

All three matches have been released on Pro Wrestling NOAH’s official YouTube channel. In addition, the Korakuen Hall event on Thursday, March 9th will be available on ABEMA as a free live broadcast. WRESTLE UNIVERSE will broadcast live English commentary and post-match Japanese commentary as soon as the card finishes.

Due to the damage to the neck that has accumulated up to that point, it was discovered by regular inspections. Harada has been absent from active competition since August 27th of last year. He has undergone thorough examinations from various angles to concentrate on treatment.

#BREAKING

Daisuke Harada has announced that he will be retiring.

5x GHC HR HVT Champion Harada, 36, has been out injured since August and has been urged to retire by his doctors.

Harada will have an exhibition match on Thursday 9 March at Korakuen Hall.#noah_ghc pic.twitter.com/IiYvG34bGn

— Pro Wrestling NOAH Global (@noahglobal) March 2, 2023

The ultimate decision was based on the idea that if there was no sign of recovery, and the damage caused during matches were to increase, it would likely interfere with Harada’s daily life in the future. After talking with Harada himself, both he and NOAH came to the conclusion that he should retire. Harada has expressed that his strong final intention is to have one more match.

Additionally, with the consent of Harada’s family, the medical team will also participate in the one-minute exhibition match and will be available at ringside. An interview video will be released at a later date regarding Mr. Harada’s comments. Three of Harada’s full matches will be released on YouTube for a limited time! Harada himself carefully selected the matches that he would like to see again for YouTube.

November 16, 2019, Korakuen Hall

IPW Junior Heavyweight Championship: Atsushi Kotoge vs. Daisuke Harada

Comments from Harada on the avalanche-style Katayama German Suplex Hold, which received a great response on social media:
“I didn’t think there would be such a reaction. About a month ago at the time, I came up with the idea for the next title at the dojo. I was thinking of using it if there is a match. That happened to be Mr. Kotoge, and I thought, “Let’s go here!” Later on, I realized that I had done a great job. The only thing I decided on was that one match, before and after. But I also think that it was good just for that one time.

October 11, 2020, EDION Arena, Osaka

GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Championship Yoshinari Ogawa & HAYATA vs. Daisuke Harada & Atsushi Kotoge

Comments from Harada on the title match made by the revival of the “Momo no Seishun” tag team, which was thought to be completely discontinued:
“It’s been a long time since I switched to being a heavyweight, but even though it’s been a few years since I teamed up to take on the challenge, our cooperation will be smooth. When I think about our relationship so far, Atsushi Kotoge is definitely different. It was a battle that I felt. Defeating the absolute champions, Yoshinari Ogawa & HAYATA, was also a big factor.”

Momo no Seishun, or “Peaches of Youth,” were a popular tag formed in Osaka Pro Wrestling by both Harada and Kotoge. Kotoge later transferred to NOAH and disbanded the team, but Harada also transferred to NOAH, so Momo no Seishun was revived in Pro Wrestling NOAH. Here again, the two showed their excellent tag team skills by leading the NOAH Jr army. against Suzuki-gun. However, at the end of 2016, Kotoge and Harada split, and the two never spoke to each other after that, having only met in the ring once since then. On 9.23.2020 at Korakuen Hall, Kotoge rescued Harada, who was in a pinch due to betrayal, which again led to the team’s reformation. They challenged for a title match immediately after their reunion.

February 21, 2021, Budokan Hall

GHC Jr. Heavyweight Championship Daisuke Harada vs. Seiki Yoshioka

Comments from Harada on the title match with Seiki Yoshioka at the Nippon Budokan Tournament, which was the first solo NOAH event at Budokan in 11 years:
“For NOAH, it’s been a while since doing a show at Nippon Budokan. Actually, the first match at the venue I went to after joining NOAH was Kenta Kobashi’s retirement match at Nippon Budokan. I was happy to be able to wrestle there and have a title match. Yoshioka is one of the wrestlers I wish I had met sooner. Seiki Yoshioka, ever since WRESTLE-1, he’s been stuck on my mind for a long time. When the television matches (COVID-19 disaster) started, there was no audience in the studio. When we had a 20-minute match, I felt like I had arrived. The next singles match was at Budokan. The result? I lost to him, but he is one of the wrestlers I wanted to meet sooner.”

Pro-wrestling is unforgivable, but @noahglobal's Daisuke Harada is willing to help his contemporaries. pic.twitter.com/RFntuk6j1O

— Monthly Puroresu (@MonthlyPuroresu) March 3, 2023

Harada started wrestling in high school to become a professional wrestler, which he had dreamed about since elementary school. He entered Osaka Pro Wrestling after graduating. He debuted on August 5, 2006 against Atsushi Kotoge. Leap forward with “Momo no Seishun” with Kotoge. In February 2012, he won his first pro wrestling singles title. Harada joined NOAH in May 2013. At the Ariake Coliseum on March 8, 2014, the GHC Junior defeated Taiji Ishimori, who had broken the record for the most defenses of the near-heavyweight title, and won the title for the first time. He won on the Junior Championship five times and the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship six times. Harada has always been a central figure of NOAH Junior division, leading with his fighting spirit, and winning two championships in the 2019 Global Tag League matches. The “Young Master” also specializes in suplex-type techniques and striking techniques, such as jumping kneebutts and rolling elbows.