Kongo (professional wrestling)

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Kongo
Logo of the stable
Stable
MembersSee below
DebutMay 4, 2019
DisbandedJune 24, 2023
Years active2019–2023

Kongo (金剛, Kongō) was a Japanese professional wrestling stable, based in the Pro Wrestling Noah (Noah) promotion. It was founded and led by Kenoh between 2019 and 2023.[1]

History[edit]

Formation[edit]

On the finals night of the 2019 edition of the Global Tag League from May 4, Kenoh, Masa Kitamiya, Atsushi Kotoge and Yoshiki Inamura allegedly founded the unit after they protested against Noah's new ownership under Lidet Entertainment.[2]

Under Kenoh's leadership (2019–2023)[edit]

First and current leader of the stable, Kenoh.

At Noah Kawasaki Go on August 30, 2020, after he alongside "AXIZ" tag team partner Go Shiozaki dropped the GHC Tag Team Championship to Naomichi Marufuji and Masaaki Mochizuki, Katsuhiko Nakajima betrayed Shiozaki and aligned himself with Kongo after shaking hands with Kenoh.[3]

At CyberFight Festival 2021 on June 6, Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Manabu Soya, Haoh, Nioh and Tadasuke teamed up in a losing effort against Team DDT (Sanshiro Takagi, Akito, Kazusada Higuchi, Yukio Sakaguchi, Naomi Yoshimura and Yukio Naya) in five-way tag team competition.[4]

At Noah Bumper Crop 2022 In Sendai on January 16, Haoh turned on the stable, and Kenoh and Manabu Soya unsuccessfully challenged M's Alliance (Keiji Muto and Naomichi Marufuji) for the GHC Tag Team Championship.[5] At Noah Higher Ground 2022 on January 22, Hao went into a time-limit draw against former tag team partner Nio after betraying the stable. In the main event, leader Kenoh dropped the GHC National Championship to Masakatsu Funaki.[6] At Noah Gain Control 2022 In Nagoya on February 23, Aleja, Hajime Ohara and Tadasuke defeated Hao, Junta Miyawaki and Kai Fujimura. Aleja began showing compassion towards real life brother Kai Fujimura, after stopping Tadasuke's attack on him.[7] Two days later at "Noah Step Forwrard", after growing unsatisfied with Tadasuke's actions, Aleja decided to turn on Tadasuke, and left Kongo, defecting to "Noah Juniors", before reverting to his previous ring name "Alejandro".[8] At Noah Great Voyage in Fukuoka 2022 on March 21, (Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kenoh, Manabu Soya and Masakatsu Funaki teamed up in a losing effort against Sugiura-gun (Hideki Suzuki, Kazushi Sakuraba, Kendo Kashin and Takashi Sugiura).[9] On the first night of the Noah Majestic 2022 event from April 29, Hajime Ohara, Tadasuke and Shuji Kondo fell short to Los Perros del Mal de Japón (El Texano Jr., Nosawa Rongai and Super Crazy) and Nio fell short to Hao.[10] On the second night from April 30, Hajime Ohara, Manabu Soya and Tadasuke defeated Funky Express (Akitoshi Saito, King Tany and Mohammed Yone), Masakatsu Funaki successfully retained the GHC National Championship against Simon Gotch, and Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kenoh unsuccessfully challenged Sugiura-gun (Hideki Suzuki and Takashi Sugiura) for the GHC Tag Team Championship.[11] At Noah Dream On Final 2022 on May 21, Hajime Ohara, Hi69, Tadasuke and Shuji Kondo defeated Momo No Seishun Tag (Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada), Hao and Yo-Hey, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Manabu Soya and Masakatsu Funaki fell short to Sugiura-gun (Hideki Suzuki and Takashi Sugiura) and Masaaki Mochizuki, and Kenoh defeated Simon Gotch.[12] At CyberFight Festival 2022 on June 12, Katsuhiko Nakajima teamed up with Atsushi Kotoge and Yoshiki Inamura to defeat Burning (Tetsuya Endo and Jun Akiyama) and Kazusada Higuchi, and Kenoh defeated Daisuke Sasaki.[13] At Noah Destination 2022 on July 16, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Manabu Soya and Masakatsu Funaki fell short to Go Shiozaki, Kazuyuki Fujita and Takashi Sugiura, and Kenoh defeated Satoshi Kojima to win the GHC Heavyweight Championship.[14] At Noah Departure 2022 on August 5, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Manabu Soya defeated Anthony Greene and Stallion Rogers, and Hajime Ohara, Hi69, Kenoh and Tadasuke fell short to Alejandro, El Hijo del Santo, Kaito Kiyomiya and Último Dragón.[15] At Noah Grand Ship In Nagoya 2022 on September 25, Hajime Ohara, Hi69 and Tadasuke fell short to Alejandro, Extreme Tiger and Ninja Mack, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Masakatsu Funaki fell short to Kazuyuki Fujita and Keiji Muto, and Kenoh dropped the GHC Heavyweight Championship to Kaito Kiyomiya.[16] At Noah Ariake Triumph 2022 on October 30, Hajime Ohara, Manabu Soya and Shuji Kondo defeated Alejandro, Extreme Tiger and Shuhei Taniguchi, Hi69 and Tadasuke unsuccessfully challenged Stinger (Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka) for the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, Masakatsu Funaki defended the GHC National Championship against Kazushi Sakuraba, Katsuhiko Nakajima and Kenoh unsuccessfully challenged TakaKoji (Satoshi Kojima and Takashi Sugiura) for the GHC Tag Team Championship.[17] At Noah Global Honored Crown 2022 on November 10, Hajime Ohara and Shuji Kondo defeated Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka to win the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship and Masakatsu Funaki dropped the GHC National Championship to El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr.[18] At Noah The Best 2022 on November 23, Hi69 and Tadasuke fell short to Funky Express (Akitoshi Saito and Mohammed Yone), Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kenoh and Manabu Soya fell short to Kaito Kiyomiya, Masa Kitamiya and Satoshi Kojima, and Hajime Ohara and Shuji Kondo dropped the GHC Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka.[19] At N Innovation 2022 on December 23, Hi69 fell short to Shoki Kitamura, and Hajime Ohara, Shuji Kondo and Tadasuke fell short to Alejandro, Andy Wu and Ninja Mack.[20]

At Noah The New Year 2023 on January 1, Hi69, Shuji Kondo and Tadasuke fell short to Alejandro, Dante Leon and Ninja Mack, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Masakatsu Funaki, Manabu Soya and Hajime Ohara got outmatched by Kazuyuki Fujita, Kendo Kashin, Nosawa Rongai and Hiroshi Hase, and Kenoh unsuccessfully challenged Kaito Kiyomiya for the GHC Heavyweight Championship.[21] At The Great Muta Final "Bye-Bye" on January 22, Hajime Ohara and Hi69 defeated Atsushi Kotoge and Seiki Yoshioka, and Kenoh, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Masakatsu Funaki and Manabu Soya fell short to Sugiura-gun (El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. & Takashi Sugiura), Kaito Kiyomiya and Satoshi Kojima.[22]

At Kenoh's Debut 15th Anniversary Show from June 24, 2023, the leader himself announced that Kongo have split amically during a backstage interview.[23]

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2022–2023)[edit]

Due to Pro Wrestling Noah sharing a business partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling, various members of the stable participated in the latter's biggest yearly event, the Wrestle Kingdom, usually on the second or third night dedicated to inter-promotional prizeless matches. At Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 8, 2022, Katsuhiko Nakajima, Kenoh, Manabu Soya, Tadasuke, and Aleja fell short to Los Ingobernables de Japón (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Sanada, Bushi, and Hiromu Takahashi).[24] At Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 21, Tadasuke defeated Bushi, Manabu Soya defeated Sanada, Katsuhiko Nakajima fell short to Shingo Takagi and Kenoh to Tetsuya Naito.[25]

Members[edit]

Manabu Soya
Masakatsu Funaki
Hajime Ohara
Shuji Kondo
* Founding member
L Leader

Former members[edit]

Member[26] Joined Left
Kenoh L* May 4, 2019 June 24, 2023
Atsushi Kotoge * July 27, 2019
Yoshiki Inamura * October 28, 2020
Masa Kitamiya * May 31, 2021
Tadasuke August 22, 2020 March 19, 2023
Katsuhiko Nakajima August 30, 2020 May 4, 2023
Manabu Soya June 24, 2023
Haoh December 14, 2019 January 16, 2022
Hi69/Nioh May 31, 2023
Aleja July 23, 2021 February 25, 2022
Masakatsu Funaki January 22, 2022 June 24, 2023
Hajime Ohara February 17, 2022
Shuji Kondo April 8, 2022

Associates[edit]

Associate Joined Left
Jinsei Shinzaki December 26, 2020

Sub-groups[edit]

Affiliate Members Tenure Type
Haoh&Nioh Haoh
Nioh 		2019–2022 Tag team
The Tough Masa Kitamiya
Yoshiki Inamura 		2019–2021 Tag team
The Aggression Katsuhiko Nakajima
Masa Kitamiya 		2020–2021 Tag team
KenOhara Kenoh
Hajime Ohara 		2022–2023 Tag team
Aagan Iisou[a] Shuji Kondo
Takuya Sugawara
Toru Owashi 		2022–2023 Trio

Timeline[edit]

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Aagan Iisou was a stable in Dragon Gate that Shuji Kondo reformed in Pro-Wrestling Basara. Sugawara and Owashi were considered associates of the stable.
  2. ^ Sugawara and Owashi were not part of the stable while holding the titles with Kondo.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rose, Ashley (29 September 2022). "Pro-Wrestling NOAH: Introduction to Kongoh". twm.news. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Dark Angel (May 12, 2019). "NOAH: "Global Tag League 2019" Sugiura and Sakamoto win". superluchas.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  3. ^ Dark Angel (September 9, 2020). "NOAH: "Kawasaki, Go!" Katsuhiko Nakajima betrays Go Shiozaki". superluchas.com. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Voices Of Wrestling Stuff (June 6, 2021). "CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2021 (JUNE 6) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  5. ^ David, Neil (January 17, 2022). "PRO WRESTLING NOAH BUMPER CROP IN SENDAI (JANUARY 16) RESULTS AND REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  6. ^ Blanchard, Matthew (January 22, 2022). "Pro Wrestling NOAH Higher Ground 2022 Sees Two New Champions Crowned". theovertimer.com. Retrieved April 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Rose, Bryan (February 23, 2022). "Kazuyuki Fujita wins GHC Heavyweight Championship at NOAH Gain Control Fujita defeated Katsuhiko Nakajima to win the championship for the first time". f4wonline.com. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Alef, Por (February 26, 2022). "Cobertura: Pro-Wrestling NOAH Step Forward 2022 – Day 5 – Reunião!". wrestlingnoticias.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  9. ^ Dark Angel (March 26, 2022). "NOAH: "Great Voyage 2022 in Fukuoka" 1st defense of Kazuyuki Fujita". superluchas.com. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  10. ^ Dark Angel (April 29, 2022). "NOAH: "Majestic 2022" New monarchs are crowned, Mexicans in action". superluchas.com. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  11. ^ Di Trolio, Gerard (April 30, 2022). "NOAH MAJESTIC 2022 (APRIL 30) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  12. ^ Dark Angel (May 25, 2022). "NOAH: «Dream On 2022 Final» The return of Mutoh, new couples monarchs". superluchas.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (June 12, 2022). "CyberFight Festival 2022 Results (6/12): DDT, NOAH, TJPW, NJPW Talent In Action". fightful.com. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  14. ^ Di Trolio, Gerard (July 16, 2022). "NOAH DESTINATION 2022 (JULY 16) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. ^ Dark Angel (August 8, 2022). "NOAH: «Departure 2022» HAYATA retains; Son of the Saint triumphs in his debut". superluchas.com. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Pollock, John (September 25, 2022). "POST PURORESU: Burning Spirit, Kiyomiya wins title, AJPW 50th Anniversary". postwrestling.com. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  17. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (October 30, 2022). "Pro Wrestling NOAH Ariake Triumph Results (10/30): New GHC Junior Heavyweight Champ, NJPW Stars Compete". fightful.com. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  18. ^ Carlan, Lewis (November 10, 2022). "Pro Wrestling NOAH "Global Honored Crown" Results (11/10/22), 3 Title Changes". pwmania.com. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  19. ^ Black, Ethan (November 23, 2022). "Pro Wrestling Noah The Best Results – November 23, 2022". pwmania.com. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Pollock, John (December 23, 2022). "Two title changes highlight final Pro Wrestling NOAH card of 2022". postwrestling.com. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  21. ^ Rose, Bryan (January 1, 2023). "NOAH The New Year notes: Jake Lee, Hiroshi Hase, new champions crowned". f4wonline.com. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  22. ^ Fritts, Chick (January 22, 2023). "Great Muta Final Bye-Bye live results: Muta, Sting & Darby Allin trios match/Kazushi Sakuraba takes on Hideki Suzuki in a GHC martial arts rules match". f4wonline.com. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  23. ^ 拳王チャンネル (June 24, 2023). 【全試合無料生中継】6.24（土） 拳王チャンネル presents 拳王 Debut 15th ANNIVERSARY ｜拳王チャンネル. youtube.com (in Japanese). Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  24. ^ "2022.01.08 Wrestle Kingdom 16 in Yokohama Arena | New Japan Pro-Wrestling". NJPW. Retrieved 2022-01-08.
  25. ^ "2023.01.21 Wrestle Kingdom 17 in Yokohama Arena". New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  26. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Kongo/Members". cagematch.net. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  27. ^ Wrestling Titles. "Global Honored Crown Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  28. ^ Wrestling Titles. "Global Honored Crown Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  29. ^ a b c Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2022". profightdb.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  30. ^ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2019". profightdb.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
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