NEWS: Puro Power November Roundup

Bison Smith Passes Away: On November 22nd the wrestling world was saddened by the new of the passing of Mark ‘Bison’ Smith in Puerto Rico at the age of 38 due to heart issues. Smith had been a long-time visitor to Japan for Pro Wrestling NOAH after his debut with the promotion in May 2005. Despite his in-ring achievements, it is sad to think his career may be over-shadowed by tragedy, given his own untimely passing, and his involvement in what would become Mitsuharu Misawa’s final match. Tagging with his partner that night in Akitoshi Saito, the pair had won the 2008 Global Tag League, and had also lifted GHC Tag Team Title with Saito, and once with fellow gaijin Keith Walker. He will be best remembered as perhaps the top foreign talent in Pro Wrestling NOAH’s history.

Pro Wrestling NOAH: Takeshi Morishima defeated KENTA on November 20th to win the Global League after the two had topped their respective blocks in the round robin portion of the tournament. The tour had been drawing badly, with just 1,600 in Sapporro for the final, and low crowds of 1,000 and 1,150 at Differ Ariake and Korakuen Hall respectively… The group’s last big show of the year, Great Voyage 2011 in Tokyo Vol. 4 took place on November 27th, with Go Shiozaki succeeding in his third defence of the GHC Heavyweight Championship against KENTA, who is arguably the biggest name in the promotion’s history to have not held the title. Also on the card, Katsuhiko Nakajima lifted the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Title in a decision match over Ricky Marvin, and Jun Akiyama made his first defence of the All Japan Triple Crown on his home soil, overcoming AJPW’s Taiyo Kea. The show drew 5,800 fans toTokyo’s Ariake Colosseum… The group finishes 2011 with the annual NOAHful Gift In Differ shows on December 23rd and 24th.

New Japan Pro Wrestling: Hiroshi Tanahashi moved one step closer to equalling the record for the most defences of the IWGP Heavyweight Title in a single reign when he overcame Toru Yano at the Power Struggle show in Osaka on November 12th in 22:01 match to complete his V9 defence. Also on the show the IWGP Tag Team Champions Giant Bernard and Karl Anderson overcame the G-1 Tag League winners Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer in their 10th defence of the titles. Already the longest reigning champions in the title’s history, can anyone stop them? The show drew 6,000 fans at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium… Tanahashi get the opportunity to equal the IWGP Heavyweight Title defences record on December 4th in Aichi against the man who currently holds the record in Yuji Nagata. Also on the card, Prince Devitt defends the IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Title against current ROH World Champion Davey Richards, in what could be one of the best matches anywhere in the world this year… New Japan returns to the Tokyo Dome on January 4th 2012 for the start of their 40th anniversary celebrations. Should Tanahashi overcome Nagata on December 4th, who could be in line to challenge the champion?

All Japan Pro Wrestling: The group is currently in the middle of the 2011 edition of the Real World Tag League, arguably one of the longest running and prestigious tag team tournaments in the wrestling world. This year’s ten teams are: Daisuke Sekimoto and Yuji Okabayashi; Takao Omori and Manabu Soya; Seiya Sanada and KAI; Taiyo Kea and Masanobu Fuchi; Akebono and Ryota Hama; Masakatsu Funaki and Masayuki Kono; Big Daddy and Joe Doering; Koji Kanemoto and Minoru Tanaka; Suwama and Takumi Soya; and KENSO and Kaz Hayashi. The tour ends on December 4th in Aichi, with both league matches and the final on the same show, which should make for some very interesting matches on the show… All Japan also celebrates their 40th anniversary next year.