Shuji Kondo Emerges as Next Challenger for Naomichi Marufuji’s GHC National Championship

By: Ian McCord

On May 17th, Naomichi Marufuji had his first defense of the GHC National Championship taking on TEAM 2000X’s Tadasuke in the main event of NOAH LETHAL ODYSSEY TOUR 2026 in Nagoya.

Marufuji won the GHC National Championship back on May 5th after defeating Alpha Wolf at NOAH LEGACY RISE 2026 in Korakuen Hall, becoming NOAH’s first Grand Slam champion. After the match, Tadasuke stepped up as Marufuji’s first challenger, with a match between the two being made official for May 17th.

Marufuji would ultimately get the better of Tadasuke, forcing the TEAM 2000X member to tap out to his Perfect Necklock submission in just over 16 minutes.

After the match, Shuji Kondo, who was celebrating 25 years since his debut, emerged as the next challenger for Marufuji’s National Championship, reminding the champion of their match in All Japan Pro-Wrestling back in 2008 that was voted Match of the Year by Tokyo Sports.

From Shuji Kondo:

“Congratulations on defending your title. Do you remember? Our World Junior title match. It was the bout that was voted ‘Best Bout.’ I was incredibly happy back then. But I was also incredibly frustrated. Because I lost to you, I’m still carrying that frustration with me. Let me challenge you for that belt.”

(English Translation via DeepL)

After shaking hands, Kondo attacked Marufuji with a lariat and posed with the championship before leaving the ring. A match between the two for the GHC National Championship was later announced for June 25th in Korakuen Hall.

Here are the full results from NOAH LETHAL ODYSSEY TOUR 2026 in Nagoya on May 17th courtesy of purolove.com:

• 3-Match Series, Match 2: RYUSEI defeats Hiroto Tsuruya (5:46) with a single-leg crab hold.
• KENTA, Tetsuya Endo, HAYATA & Katsumi Inahata defeat Kid Lykos, Kid Lykos II, Hi69 & Black Menso~re (7:34) following a Kona Otoshi by Inahata on Menso~re.
• OZAWA, Takashi Sugiura & Kai Fujimura defeat Mohammed Yone, AMAKUSA & Midori Takahashi (7:41) following Fujimura’s Death Hanger on Takahashi.
• Harutoki & Atsushi Kotoge defeat Yuki Iino & Yuto Koyanagi (8:55) following Harutoki’s El Momento de Muerte on Koyanagi.
• Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI defeat Masa Kitamiya & Jun Masaoka (6:54) following Naito’s Pluma Blanca against Masaoka.
• Eita defeats Alejandro (9:22) with a cradle.
• Shuji Kondo 25th Anniversary: KENOH, Manabu Soya & Shuji Kondo defeat Kaito Kiyomiya, Yoshiki Inamura & Daiki Odashima (12:20) following Kondo’s King Kong Lariat against Odashima.
• GHC National Title: Naomichi Marufuji (c) defeats Tadasuke (16:02) with a Perfect Necklock (1st defense).